There are few Russian stars in world basketball, and the fate of Tom Meschery (real name Tomislav Nikolaevich Meshcheryakov) is remarkable. He was one of the first Russians in the NBA. Born in 1938 in Harbin to an officer of Kolchak's army, his family moved to San Francisco after World War II. In America, Tomislav changed his name to Thomas Meschery. He became interested in basketball in school, where he showed excellent speed and technique. His team became one of the best in California, and Mescheryakov was selected for the symbolic high school All-American team.

Coaches quickly noticed his talent, and in 1960, Tomislav Nikolaevich joined the Philadelphia Warriors. Thanks to his impressive size and height (2.1 meters), he took on the role of the 'bad guy.' Mescheryakov was not afraid to play tough, actively defended the hoop, stood up for his teammates, could argue with referees, but always brought the necessary points to the team. He quickly became popular among fans and a favorite of the public. In 1963, Tomislav Nikolaevich was selected to participate in the NBA All-Star Game. Overall, Mescheryakov played 778 games in the NBA, averaging 12 points per game. However, he also had another 'record': he was ejected from games 89 times due to disputes with referees.

He retired in 1971, and the entire club saw him off into 'retirement.' The management of the Philadelphia Warriors retired the number 14 he wore, exclusively for him. Later, Tomislav Nikolaevich tried his hand at coaching, but his career did not succeed. He blamed himself for being overly impulsive and concluded that coaching was not for him. Now, Mescheryakov is enjoying his well-deserved rest and writing books.