LOS ANGELES — Chatter, stomps and laughter echoed across the floor and bleachers after more than 3,000 fans, many from the Armenian diaspora and dressed in black, red, orange and blue, saw a glimpse of what their country could become in basketball.
It wasn’t just that Armenia defeated Ireland 74-59 in an international friendly hosted on Saturday night at Cal State Los Angeles.
A festive evening that saw the 91st-ranked Armenia dominate from start to finish in Los Angeles, whose diaspora carries over 200,000 people. Over 200,000 people of Armenian descent call Los Angeles home. Many remain dedicated to its Euroasian roots.
Among the key players was 19-year-old Glendale native and Pepperdine point guard Anto Balian. Balian was swarmed by youngsters who wanted an autograph. He made sure each autograph and picture was one to remember.
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“I might be born in L.A., but I’m 100% Armenian,” Balian said. “There are so many kids and fans here that want to be like us one day. And I know they’re going to be like us one day. I know they’re going to work hard. They’re going to be chasing their dreams and one day I’m going to come and watch them.”
Rex Kalamian coaches his team during a timeout during the Los Angeles International Classic at Cal State Los Angeles on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Armenia is 14 times smaller than California and 23 times smaller than Texas. Armenia head coach Rex Kalamian understands the uphill climb his team faces.
Kalamian is also an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks and of Armenian descent. He was born in Los Angeles and played college basketball at East Los Angeles College and Cal Poly Pomona. He sees the potential in the kind of basketball program his country and heritage can become.
“I’m not going to put any limits or restrictions on this team,” Kalamian said. “Primarily because of who we are as a population. Armenia, Armenians are a resilient group and we build wherever we go, whether that’s through business or through sports. What we are trying to do through Armenia basketball is build, enhance and sustain a team that can be here for decades.”
New generation rises for Armenia
Armenia became an official basketball program in 2016 and is striving to one day reach its first Olympics. And the country is leaning on names like 21-year-old Daniel Kirakosyan.
Kirakosyan might not be known to the average basketball fan. The 6-foot-3 point guard played two years of high school basketball in the United States at St. Monica Preparatory in Santa Monica.
The 21-year-old’s first passion was soccer growing up in Moscow, Russia.
But at 6-foot-3 with his versatility and footwork, his length and soft hands would serve him well.
Any speculation over Kirakosyan’s potential, however, was answered four months ago when he put together the performance of a lifetime. A triple-double where he scored 84 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and dished 10 assists. He shot 36 for 45 from the field, 7 for 12 from 3-point range and 5-of-6 from the free throw line — the greatest single performance in Armenia pro basketball history.
“I didn’t even expect it to happen,” Kirakosyan said. “I just started the game off hot and I had 25 points by the end of the first quarter and it wasn’t just the scoring. I liked the fact that I had the triple-double more. It wasn’t easy, but I just kept hitting shots.”
His performance came against U.S. Titans, a team known for rostering American-born players, including Gary Chivichyan, the first Armenian player to be drafted to the NBA. Chivichyan was taken as the 35th overall pick in the NBA G League Draft by the Lakeland Magic in 2021.
Perhaps Kirakosyan could one day follow suit and become the first player for the Armenian National team to suit up in an NBA game.
Armenia guard Andre Spight-Mkrtchyan (center) scans the floor against Ireland during the Los Angeles International Classic at Cal State Los Angeles on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Kirakosyan has a mentor in Burbank, born Andre Spight-Mkrtchyan. Spight-Mkrtchyan has been a team captain of Armenia since the team’s first game in 2016.
Spight-Mkrtchyan led Armenia to his country’s first gold medal at the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries that same year. Already off to a fast start with Spight-Mkrtchyan, who is Armenian through his mother, Anahit.
“What I take into account is my love for basketball,” Spight-Mkrtchyan said. “It doesn’t matter what team I’m playing for. When I step on the court, it’s game time and I have to win.”
Armenia’s floor general was in full form, taking charges but also taking players like Kirakosyan and Balian aside. Spight-Mkrtchyan sees the future and views his role as both a player, coach and ambassador connecting the generations from the first team in 2016 to the younger ones carrying the basketball identity of Armenia moving ahead.
“I see a lot of poise, I see a lot of discipline and I see a lot of eagerness to want to get better,” Spight-Mkrtchyan said. “I see a lot of eagerness to want to get better. That’s all you can ask for is a willingness and fight to want to get better. And I love what we have coming up.”
Celebrities and artists taking notice
Fans of Armenia are beginning to take notice. Perhaps, there wasn’t a fan in attendance more popular than pop singer Harout Pamboukjian. Pamboukjian, also known as Dzakh Harut — owing to his ability to play guitar with his left hand — sang the Armenian national anthem titled Mer Hayrenik.
The 75-year-old Pamboukjian is considered one of Armenia’s most famous folk and pop artists while carrying a shared love for basketball. Players took their opportunity to shake hands with Pamboukjian, who sat front row on Ireland’s side of the baseline.
“Basketball brings people together,” Pamboukjian said. “It’s different when you have the national team playing and I hope this team can continue to unite our people.”
Harout Pamboukhian cheers during a FIBA friendly between Ireland and Armenia at Cal State LA on June 27, 2026.
Leadership displayed by Spight-Mkrtchyan
University Gymnasium quieted down but children adorning jerseys of Spight-Mkrtchyan, Kirakosyan and Balian stayed. Jerseys were signed and Los Angeles was the center for what could become another rising step for Armenia, whose country size is similar to that of traditional FIBA powerhouse No. 9-ranked Lithuania.
Kalamian knows Armenia still has a way to go before rivaling Lithuania or any of the other Baltic countries, like Latvia, ranked 13th, and Estonia, ranked 37th in the world by FIBA.
“We are far behind our competition,” Kalamian said. “There are so many countries surrounding us that have a 50 and 60-year head start on us. We are up and coming but we have no boundaries. We are going to build, rise and do great things.”
The Los Angeles-Armenia basketball fusion was founded on the skills and leadership of players like Spight-Mkrtchyan, who, in addition to playing professional basketball, is a real estate agent in Glendale, Burbank and La Crescenta.
Both skills for Spight-Mkrtchyan as an athlete and businessman, playing a role in helping develop the next generation of Armenian basketball players that called Southern California home.
“I’ve seen growth year to year,” Spight-Mkrtchyan said. “We’ve been working hard and getting into the gym but we are nowhere near where we need to be. Our goal is to make it to the Olympics. We aren’t close to that right now and it stings us every day and that’s good.”