Yura Melikyan to continue his career with Bulgaria’s Botev 2012

Armenia national team basketball player Yura Melikyan has joined Bulgarian club Botev 2012. The team from Vratsa will compete in Bulgaria’s National Basketball League in the 2026/27 season and will continue to play its home games in Botevgrad.

The 20-year-old has already appeared for his new team in a friendly against Levski. Melikyan recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, although Botev 2012 lost 94–106.

Melikyan began preseason preparations with reigning Bulgarian champions Balkan. In a friendly against TFT Skopje, he had 13 points and 13 rebounds. The Armenian basketball player will, however, start the season with a different club.

Correction to Sportaran’s previous report: we reported that Melikyan had signed with Balkan. He did take part in the team’s Europe Cup photoshoot yesterday, but it became clear today that he had joined Botev 2012.

Before moving to Bulgaria, Melikyan played for Latvia’s Latvijas Universitāte and Switzerland’s Starwings Basel. He was selected by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League draft this summer, but will continue his career in Europe.