Vladislav Goldin is a Russian professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Florida Atlantic Owls, and Michigan Wolverines. Goldin earned all-conference honors three times in his college career, including a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2025.
Vladislav Goldin Bio
Vladislav Goldin was born on 12 May 2001 in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia. He grew up in Voronezh after moving with his family from his birthplace. Goldin was a competitive wrestler until age 15 before experiencing a significant growth spurt that prompted his transition to basketball. He played for PBC CSKA Junior for three seasons and averaged 8.3 points, five rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game in his final season with the team. Goldin later moved to the United States to continue his basketball development and academic career.
High School Career
Goldin enrolled at Putnam Science Academy in Putnam, Connecticut. He was rated as a four-star recruit during his time at the academy. His strong performances caught the attention of major college programs, leading him to commit to play college basketball for Texas Tech University. This period marked his formal entry into the American basketball system, setting the stage for his collegiate career across multiple programs.
Vladislav Goldin Career
College Career Overview
Goldin began his college basketball career at Texas Tech in 2020. He appeared in ten games during his freshman season, averaging 1.9 points and one rebound per game. Following the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal seeking a new opportunity. In 2021, Goldin transferred to Florida Atlantic University to join the Owls program.
Florida Atlantic (2021-2024)
At Florida Atlantic, Goldin developed into a consistent contributor for the Owls. In his first season, he averaged 6.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. His second season saw improvement across the board as he averaged 10.2 points per game, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocked shots, earning him third-team All-Conference USA honors. His breakthrough performance came during the 2023 NCAA tournament when he scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in FAU’s 79-76 win over Kansas State in the Elite Eight, helping lead the Owls to the NCAA Final Four. In his third season with Florida Atlantic, Goldin averaged 15.7 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocked shots, leading the team back to the NCAA tournament. He earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors following the program’s conference change.
Michigan (2024-2025)
On April 29, 2024, Goldin withdrew from the NBA draft process and instead transferred to the University of Michigan to join his former FAU head coach Dusty May in Ann Arbor. Goldin and Michigan guard Nimari Burnett had been teammates and roommates as members of Texas Tech’s 2020 recruiting class. He earned the starting center position for the Michigan Wolverines and quickly established himself as one of the most dominant centers in college basketball.
Goldin’s standout performances included a 24-point game against Wisconsin on December 3, 2024, with five rebounds and three blocked shots. Against Iowa on December 7, he recorded his first double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds. For that week, he averaged 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and shot 62.5 percent from the field, earning Big Ten Player of the Week on December 9. On December 18 against Oklahoma, Goldin scored a then career-high 26 points with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.
His historic stretch came in January 2025. On January 7 against UCLA, Goldin scored a career-high 36 points with seven rebounds. Against the four ranked teams Michigan faced to that point, he averaged 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.25 blocks, and shot 70.9 percent from the field. He became the first NCAA Division I player in the last 25 years to average over 25.0 points while shooting at least 70 percent from the field in a four-game span against ranked opponents. For the week, he averaged 27.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 76 percent, earning Co-Big Ten Player of the Week on January 13. He followed with a 31-point, eight-rebound, four-block performance against Northwestern on January 19. On March 5 against Maryland, he recorded 20 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.
Goldin was named a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, given to the nation’s best center each season. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and was awarded MVP of the 2025 Big Ten tournament after leading Michigan to the conference championship. In the NCAA tournament, he recorded 23 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks against Texas A&M in the Second Round, earning his seventh double-double of the season and helping the Wolverines advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
Professional Career (2025-Present)
Goldin went unselected in the 2025 NBA draft but signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat on June 26, 2025. In the 2025 NBA Summer League, he averaged 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game. His standout performance came in the finale where he recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks, including the game-winner with 11 seconds left in a 93-92 victory. On November 7, 2025, Goldin was called up to the Heat roster in response to an injury to Bam Adebayo.
In his G League debut on November 21 against the Wisconsin Herd, Goldin posted 23 points and 9 rebounds, making 10 of 13 field goal attempts including both of his three-point attempts. With seven Heat players sidelined, he made his NBA debut on December 19, 2025, in the final minute of play against the Boston Celtics, playing 55 seconds and recording one assist. On February 1, 2026, Goldin scored his first NBA points on a jump shot during a game against the Chicago Bulls.
Vladislav Goldin Career Highlights
Goldin’s college career featured 1,000-plus points at the Division I level, highlighted by three all-conference selections across three different programs. His most decorated season came at Michigan in 2024-2025 when he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and Big Ten Tournament MVP while leading the Wolverines to the conference championship.
College Statistics Summary
Goldin played meaningful minutes across four seasons at three programs. His Florida Atlantic career included the program’s historic run to the 2023 NCAA Final Four. At Michigan, he posted a 36-point game against UCLA and became the first player in 25 years to average 25 points and shoot 70 percent over a four-game stretch against ranked opponents.
NBA and G League Performance
Goldin’s professional career began with a strong Summer League showing followed by immediate impact in the G League. His call-up to the Heat came early in the season, and his G League performance demonstrated his ability to score efficiently from the field while contributing on the boards. His NBA debut came in December 2025 against the Boston Celtics, with his first NBA points coming in February 2026.
Vladislav Goldin International Career
Goldin represented the Russian national team in international competition before beginning his professional career. He played for Russia in the 2018 FIBA U18 European Championship and the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup. These experiences provided him with valuable international competition experience at the youth level.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Goldin’s transition from college basketball to the professional ranks. After completing his college career at Michigan with a Big Ten championship and first-team All-Big Ten honors, he went undrafted but quickly signed with the Miami Heat organization. His Summer League performance showcased his shot-blocking ability and rebounding prowess, earning him a two-way contract. The call-up to the main roster in November came as the Heat needed frontcourt depth. His immediate contribution in the G League with efficient shooting, including success from three-point range, demonstrated his development as a modern NBA center. The December debut against the Boston Celtics represented the culmination of his journey from Russia to American college basketball to the NBA.