Vlad Goldin developed into one of the better bigs in college basketball over his half decade playing for three programs. He’ll now continue that into the league after the NBA Draft.
The Miami Heat have signed Goldin to an undrafted free agent contract after the 2025 NBA Draft, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. It will be a two-way deal.
Goldin spent five years playing for Texas Tech as well as, more notably, Florida Atlantic and Michigan. He appeared in 154 games, 143 being starts, and averaged 11.7 points (61.6% FG), 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks for the Red Raiders, Owls, and Wolverines.
Spending most of his career, with 106 starts made, at FAU, Goldin posted 10.9 points (62.8% FG), 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. He’d earn all-conference honors, All-Conference USA Third Team in 2023 and All-AAC First Team in 2024, in the two best seasons in program history, with the Owls going 60-13 (.822) in that time, winning two conference titles, and making a pair of appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including the Final Four in 2023.
Then, after transferring to Ann Arbor to follow his coach in Dusty May, Goldin had a career-best season in putting up 16.6 points (60.7% FG), 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 assists in being a selection as Second Team All-Big Ten and to the All-Big Ten Tournament Team as the MVP of the Big Ten Tournament. He’d lead the Wolverines in scoring, blocks, and field-goal percentage, helping the team to a record of 27-10, to winning the Big Ten Tournament, and the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Goldin comes from overseas as a native of Voronezh, Russia, having appeared in two events for the Russian National Team at the 2019 U19 World Cup and the 2019 U18 European Championship. He’d then come to the United States and played one season of high school basketball at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut.
What NBA Draft experts are saying about Vlad Goldin
Goldin comes to the association immediately as one of its bigger players at seven-feet and 250 pounds. He pairs that with skills on both sides of the court that could make him a rotational piece as his game continues to grow as well, per his draft profile by RotoWire.com.
“Goldin’s collegiate track record speaks for itself. The big man dominated at every step in a variety of ways and is an intriguing older prospect that could contribute right away. He’s got great footwork in the post, an array of moves and can finish with both hands. However, he’s a more efficient player when rolling or popping after setting a ball screen. Goldin is also a menace on the glass, offensively and defensively, which should be his best trait as a professional. Defensively, Goldin will anchor the paint and protect the rim.”
“Goldin’s blend of size and skill will allow him to make an offensive impact at the NBA level, but his conditioning and defense will determine how many minutes he gets a night.”
