BC Khimki is considered to be one of the most important basketball clubs in Russia. The team was founded on January 5, 1997, and won the first seasons' championship of its regional league, taking the opportunity to earn a place in the Russian Superleague A. The following year, Khimki positioned itself among the top 10 basketball clubs in Russia, guaranteeing a place in the 3rd-tier European cup competition, the FIBA Korać Cup. There, the team competed against a group of defeated leaders of the Turkish Super League, YUBA Liga, and Bulgarian League. In those years, the team featured such famous players as guard Sergei Bazarevich, Valery Sizov (Soviet Union national team player) and Russian national team player Vitaly Nosov.