Scherbak: Basketball is definitely his jam

MONTREAL - For Nikita Scherbak, the NBA All-Star Game is must-see TV.

Fortunately, the 22-year-old winger and the rest of the Habs are scheduled to land in Philadelphia approximately 90 minutes before tip-off on Sunday evening, so he should be able to catch the annual contest in its entirety.
It's no secret Scherbak enjoys hitting the hard court with his friends during the offseason back home in Moscow. His Instagram account is riddled with posts showing his hoop skills and baller style.
"It's probably my favorite sport outside of hockey," said Scherbak, who learned his basketball basics from his mother Evgeniya, a former pro. "I've been playing a lot since I was 12. I probably played every day until I was 16. After that, it was hard to manage with hockey."

But Scherbak never did give up hoops for good. To this day, it remains an integral part of his summer training program when he isn't on the ice or in a local gym.
"It's good for me. It helps keep me in shape. It's a different game, a dynamic game," explained Scherbak. "Just like hockey, I'm trying to get better at basketball and push myself at the same time. It's like my hobby when I'm not working out."
While you'll most likely find the self-described point guard/shooting guard playing pickup games at a few different venues around the Russian capital, Scherbak does enjoy taking part in tournaments every now and then.
"We'll play in 3-on-3, 4-on-4 or even 5-on-5 events. We always have the same team. We have a pretty perfect team, actually. All of the guys are bigger than me, though," cracked Scherbak, who stands 6-foot-2. "A lot of the time, we just play for us, but we enjoy playing for something - prizes, backpacks. It's interesting."
Vorobiovy Gory and Gorky Park are two of his favorite spots for a game of street ball.
"At Vorobiovy, you play under the bridge. It's not too far from where Spartak Moscow plays soccer," mentioned Scherbak. "Then there's Gorky Park. But there's only one court there. On weekends in the summer, if you come and play and you lose, you have to go to the back of the line and wait three or four hours to play again."
Growing up, Scherbak was a fervent supporter of the Seattle SuperSonics and he stuck with the franchise when they relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder following the 2007-08 campaign.
"I remember my mom bought me Sonics shorts when I was young, so that's why I became a fan. I remember Kevin Durant was drafted there, and so was Russell Westbrook," explained Scherbak, who still considers Westbrook to be his favorite player. "I really enjoy watching him play. He's so athletic, physical and fun to watch."
Even if Westbrook and the Thunder aren't being featured on TV, the former first-rounder will still tune in just to get his basketball fix.
"I'm a big NBA guy. I prefer OKC, but no matter who plays, I'll watch. Any game is a good game for me," concluded Scherbak, who boasts a jersey collection that includes the likes of Westbrook, Chris Paul, and Paul Pierce. "I even follow the Slam Dunk Contest every year. I'm in it all the way."