Myshkin a fatherly figure for Mother Russia

GYOR (EuroBasket Women 2015) - One of the most endearing qualities of Russia head coach Anatoliy Myshkin is an exquisite human touch and one which radiates most beautifully when he is around the number of young players he has on his roster.

Myshkin is as fascinating as it gets, when it comes to observing the dynamics between a play-caller and his players.

His willingness to act not only as a coach, but also like a fatherly figure around his impressionable young guns has been palpable at every twist and turn in the competition.

I have always chosen young players when I have been coach of the national team and I feel an obligation to think about the future. - Myshkin

"I played at CSKA at the same time as the mother of Maria Vadeeva and so when the younger players are away from home, I feel like I have a parenting role to consider," confirmed Myshkin.

"I also remember that when I was a young player, it felt more normal to be relaxed and not to always be made nervous by people being too serious with everything."

At times, the playing legend can seem so relaxed, he is horizontal.

And, he quite literally was before a recent practice session in Gyor, when he jokingly lay down on a courtside table with one of his players who was receiving treatment, which acted as a cue for his staff to gleefully reach for their mobile phones to grab a photo.

To have someone so focused and yet at the same time so relaxed, can give you so much confidence. - Prince

"He really does think he is the funniest guy around," confirmed naturalised guard Epiphanny Prince, who may not be convinced and yet wouldn't have it any other way.

"To see a coach nervous or shaking at critical times always translates to the players.

"Instead, we have someone who is confident and calm, which means he is more likely to come up with the answers we need."

Importantly, Myshkin commands respect to compliment his easy-going approach.

That comes from his own pedigree and standing in the game, which incorporated eight consecutive Russian titles, two  Olympic medals and a FIBA Basketball World Cup title.

He is also nobody's fool - that's for sure.

Myshkin gets more than a little serious when he needs to - as evidenced by his reaction to Russia's historic loss to Latvia in the First Round.

That was quickly followed by Russia blowing out medal contenders Serbia as the players responded to his demands for a better display - including veteran center Irina Osipova, who dished up an astonishing and scintillating 13 assists.

It was a number met with the utmost approval from Myshkin and a smiling endorsement.

"She was like Magic Johnson," laughed the coach, who can't stay too serious, for too long.

"It was special because I love him - he is my absolute favourite and I played against Johnson six times."

They are words which re-enforce a number of values that Myshkin holds around entertaining that simply make you want to spend more time in his company.

Whenever you are around him, a joke or a smile is never too far away - whether it was the moment when his wife kept calling his phone during a post-game media conference or the time when he ran on court during a stoppage against Serbia to retrieve the game ball and gave a quick wave to the crowd.

Yet even when he laughed at a subsequent question about whether his impromptu appearance on court had deserved the MVP award, he quickly switched the conversation around so he could give gushing praise to his players.

Myshkin might like to have some fun, but he certainly doesn't crave being the centre of attention.

This fatherly figure is bursting with pride when it comes to those he has taken under his wing.

And, what shines through most of all, is that he would like nothing more than for his younger players in particular to help guide Russia to some EuroBasket Women 2015 success.

Go to EuroBasketWomen2015.com for full coverage of EuroBasket Women 2015.

FIBA