“This is a great atmosphere. I mean you don’t get a chance to really get out with kids during the season because everything is so serious,” CSKA’s Jon Robert Holden said. “We do this every year. So I think it’s a lot of fun”.

“It’s always important… in one time in our lives we’re all the same – growing up and looking up at players, who are successful. So it’s great to come back and put smiles on kids’ faces and see them have fun,” Trajan Langdon added.

The Muscovites are in the infancy of their pre-season training, with their first competitive game coming on October 15.

There have been quite a few changes in the off season – with long-standing head coach, Ettore Messina being replaced by Evgeny Pashutin.

“He’s young, he’s new and he’s fresh. He’s going to bring leadership to us. I don’t think he’s going to come and be coach Messina or coach Ivcoviv. He’s going to come and be himself,” J. R. Holden said. “CSKA’s history is phenomenal and Evgeny is going to be a part of that.”

However, the core of the squad remains intact, and the Army men were given a big boost, with Jon Robert Holden resisting more lucrative offers from other clubs in Europe to stay in Moscow for at least another season.

“I’ve always said Russia is like a second home to me. In the end, it came to CSKA and two other teams. At the time, CSKA is the best fit for me. I really love Evgeny as a coach. I’ve played with him.” J.R. Holden explained. “It’s always nice to come back home. So I am happy to be here.”

CSKA will once again start as hot favorites to pick up what would be an eighth successive domestic championship, as well as being one of the teams to beat in the Euroleague.

And for the kids watching their heroes’ masterclass, they'll be dreaming of perhaps one day putting on the red CSKA jersey, and playing with Europe's finest.