Samson Arakelyan

Samson Arakelyan, known as Big Som, is a prominent figure in Kazakhstan's basketball scene, having served as the general director of the Astana basketball club since May 2022. Born on March 28, 1978, in Aktau, he previously held the position of president of the Basketball Federation of the Mangistau region and led the Aktau basketball club 'Kaspiy.' In addition to his sports administration roles, Arakelyan is recognized as a technical delegate for FIBA and has made a name for himself in the music industry as a rap artist, producer, and film composer. Recently, he announced his resignation from Astana due to principles that he did not disclose, expressing confidence that the initiatives he worked on will benefit Kazakh basketball.