Igor Nesterenko

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Igor Nesterenko

| image = Igor Nesterenko1.jpg

| caption = Nesterenko

| image_size = 230px

| position = Center

| height_m = 2.04

| weight_kg = 100

| league = Liga Leumit

| team = Maccabi Rishon LeZion

| number = 18

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|08|18}}

| birth_place = Kiliya, Ukraine

| nationality = Israeli / Ukrainian

| high_school = Gymnasia Realit (Rishon LeZion)

| draft_year = 2012

| career_start = 2008

| years1 = 2008–2015

| team1 = Maccabi Rishon LeZion

| years2 = 2012–2013

| team2 = → Elitzur Yavne

| years3 = 2015–2016

| team3 = Ironi Nes Ziona

| years4 = 2016–2019

| team4 = Ironi Nahariya

| years5 = 2019–2022

| team5 = Hapoel Haifa

| years6 = 2022–present

| team6 = Maccabi Rishon LeZion

| highlights =

}}

Igor Nesterenko ({{langx|he|איגור נסטרנקו}}; born August 18, 1990) is an Israeli-Ukrainian professional basketball player for Maccabi Rishon LeZion of the Israeli Basketball Premier League in Israel.

Early life

Nesterenko was born in Kiliya, Ukraine, to a Jewish family. Nesterenko lived his first three years in Ukraine before growing up in Rishon LeZion, Israel. He played for the Maccabi Rishon LeZion youth team and the Gymnasia Realit high school team.{{cite news|title=סנטר ראשון|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/sport/basketball/1.1518520|work=haaretz.co.il|date=October 9, 2011|accessdate=July 26, 2018|language=he}}

Professional career

In 2008, Nesterenko started his professional career with Maccabi Rishon LeZion. On November 1, 2008, he made his professional debut in a match against Maccabi Haifa.{{Cite web|url=http://basket.co.il/game-zone.asp?GameId=3272&lang=en|title=Winner League, Game 2: M. Rishon Vs Heat Haifa|work=basket.co.il|access-date=July 26, 2018|date=November 1, 2008}}

In his fourth season with Rishon LeZion, Nesterenko was loaned to Elitzur Yavne of the Liga Leumit.{{cite news|title=נסטרנקו חתם ביבנה, ברוקס בכפ"ס/כוכב יאיר|url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/202373.html|work=ONE.co.il|date=July 6, 2012|accessdate=July 26, 2018|language=he}} In his seventh season, Nesterenko helped Rishon LeZion reach the 2015 Israeli League Semifinals, where they eventually were eliminated by Hapoel Jerusalem.

On August 17, 2015, Nesterenko signed a one-year deal with Ironi Nes Ziona.{{cite news|title=עירוני נס ציונה: איגור נסטרנקו חתם לעונה אחת|url=https://sports.walla.co.il/item/2882554|work=walla.co.il|date=August 17, 2015|accessdate=July 26, 2018|language=he}}

On July 5, 2016, Nesterenko signed with Ironi Nahariya for the 2016–17 season.{{cite news|title=עירוני נהריה: ניב ברקוביץ' ואיגור נסטרנקו חתמו לעונה אחת|url=https://sports.walla.co.il/item/2976290|work=walla.co.il|date=July 5, 2016|accessdate=July 26, 2018|language=he}} Nesterenko helped Nahariya reach the 2017 Israeli League Quarterfinals, as well as reaching the 2017 FIBA Europe Cup Quarterfinals, where they eventually were eliminated by Telekom Baskets Bonn.

On July 23, 2017, Nesterenko signed a two-year contract extension with Ironi Nahariya.{{cite news|title=Igor Nesterenko signed a new 2-year contract with Ironi Nahariya|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/europe/israel/242071/igor-nesterenko-signed-a-new-2-year-contract-with-ironi-nahariya.html|work=Sportando.basketball|date=July 23, 2017|accessdate=July 26, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On January 3, 2018, Nesterenko recorded a career-high 20 points, shooting 7-of-8 from the field, along with four rebounds and three assists in a 90–98 loss to Hapoel Holon.{{cite news|title=Winner League, Game 11: UNET Holon Vs Nahariya|url=http://basket.co.il/game-zone.asp?GameId=23214&lang=en|work=basket.co.il|date=January 3, 2018|accessdate=July 26, 2018}} In 33 games played during the 2017–18 season, he averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

On September 8, 2019, Nesterenko joined Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli National League, signing a one-year deal with an option for another one.{{cite news|url=https://www.one.co.il/Article/343286.html|title=איגור נסטרנקו חתם בהפועל חיפה לעונה אחת|date=September 8, 2019|work=ONE.co.il|accessdate=September 8, 2019|language=he}}