We are recalling all foreign players that have ever played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project. Today we will tell about basketball in Greece.
Population: 10,9 mln
Players in the history of League: 14.
Full list of players: Ian Vougioukas, Andreas Glyniadakis, Nikolaos Zisis, Konstantinos Kaimakoglou, Nicholas Calathes, Patrick Calathes, Leonidas Kaselakis, Dimitrios Katsivelis, Loukas Mavrokefalidis, Vangelis Mantzaris, Theodoros Papaloukas, Lazaros Papadopoulos, Zisis Sarikopoulos, Christos Tapoutos.
The most famous Greek player in the history of VTB United League is Theodoros Papaloukas. In 2012 legendary guard got back to CSKA (before he played for them since 2002 till 2008), to retire and became League’s champion with CSKA. Moreover, Lazaros Papadopoulos won gold medals as well (Khimki, 2011).
In 2012/13 season Nicholas Calathes became Lokomotiv-Kuban leader in points (13,9), assists (6,1) and efficiency (16,1). Krasnodar managed to get to VTB United League final for the first time in their history thanks in large part to Greek point guard. Nicholas’ brother – Patrick Calathes also played in VTB League, he has been Astana center since 2013 till 2016. Besides, three more Greek players were playing for Kazakhstan: Andreas Glyniadakis, Leonidas Kaselakis and Dimitrios Katsivelis.
UNICS share the first place in terms of Greek players with Astana. Niko Zisis, Ian Vougioukas, Konstantinos Kaimakoglou and Vangelis Mantzaris were playing for UNICS over the years.
Furthermore, 8 Greek coaches have worked in VTB United League: Dimitris Itoudis (CSKA, 2014-present), Dimitrios Priftis (UNICS, 2017-present), Georgious Bartzokas (Lokomotiv-Kuban, 2015-2016, Khimki, 2017-2019), Ilias Zouros (Zalgiris, 2011), Ilias Papatheodorou (Astana, 2016-2017), Kostas Flevarakis (Astana, 2017-2018), Argiris Pedoulakis (UNICS, 2014) and Fotios Katsikaris (Lokomotiv-Kuban, 2016).
Itoudis has 5 League gold medals and 3 coach of the year awards. Bartzokas has on silver medal and Priftis – one bronze. Moreover, Itoudis (90,1% of wins), Priftis (76,5% of wins) and Bartzokas (67,6% of wins) are in Top-5 most winning coaches in League’s history, who played at least 50 games.
Basketball in Greece
League: Greek Basket League (GBL)
Founded: in 1927
Number of teams: 14
League’s web-site: http://www.esake.gr/
In one of the oldest basketball championships there are 14 teams nowadays, 5 of them are from Athens (Greece capital, biggest city) and three from Thessaloniki (second largest city in Greece). After 2-rounded regular season 8 best teams continue to fight for the title in play-offs, two worst teams go down to second division (Greek A2 Basket League).
Throughout the history of Greece championship there were 77 different teams in the highest division, but only 9 of them have won the title at least once. The total leader is Panathinaikos – 38 titles. Their main and implacable rival – Olympiacos – they are second (12 titles), and Aris are third (10 titles), their main success is linked with Nikos Galis and were in 80-s.
Besides the main tournament, Greek clubs participate in Greece Cup and European competitions. Since 2016 in Greece Cup there are 62 teams-participants, and in European tournaments there were 5 teams in 2019/20 season. Panathinaikos and Olympiacos represented Greece in Euroleague, Promitheas in Eurocup and AEK, Peristeri and PAOK in Champions League.
Greek teams are obliged to play on arenas with minimal capacity of 2000 people, to have a budget at least of 800 thousand dollars per season and have at least 6 Greek players on their roster.
After each of Greece championship individual awards are being presented. Some of irregular awards are the most spectacular player, the most popular player and best player in female opinion. In 2013 ex-center of UNICS Stephane Lasme became regular season and finals MVP, in 2017 the most spectacular player was CSKA guard Mike James, and since 2017 till 2019 Loko’s ex-guard Nicholas Calathes has been regular season MVP.
Moreover, annually in Greece All-Star Game is held, it has 3-point shootout contest and slam dunk contest. Last season in Greece All-Star Game Jonas Maсiulis’ team played against Nikolas Calathes’ team, both players participated in VTB United League, playing for Lokomotiv-Kuban.
Besides, Greek championship was always popular among Russian players. Over the years Alexey Savrasenko (Olympiacos and Peristeri), Nikolay Padius, Fedor Likholitov, Mikhail Mikhailov, Anatolyi Kashirov (all – Aris), Vasiliy Karasev (Iraklis), Sergei Bazarevich (PAOK) and Yaroslav Korolev (Rethymno and Panionios).
Interesting fact
In 2019 Nike company set a basketball rim on the top of Olymp mountain in honor of Milwaukee player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who became the first Greek player to become NBA regular season MVP. The rim was set at an altitude of 2911 metres.
Greece National team
FIBA rank: 7
FIBA members: since 1932
Achievements: Eurobasket champions (1987, 2005), World Cup silver (2006), Eurobasket silver (1989), Eurobasket bronze (1949, 2009)
Greece was one of eight FIBA founders in 1932, but debuted in International tournaments only 17 years later, it happened on European championship in Cairo. Back then, Greece Ntional team won bronze medals, letting France and Egypt get higher.
Team’s first significant success was in the late 80-s: in 1986 Greece National team for the first time qualified to World Cup, a year later on a domestic Eurobasket they won their first gold medals. In the decisive game Greece overplayed USSR 103:101 in overtime, and Greece team captain Nikos Galis scored 40 points and became tournament MVP. In 1989 Greece won Eurobasket silver medals, losing to Yugoslavia 77:98.
In the middle of 00-s Greeks again became contenders of international tournaments. In 2005 Greece won Eurobasket for the second time, and a year later they took World Cup silver medals in Japan. In semi-final of world competition 2006 Giannakis Panagiotis team had the most sensational win in its history: Greeks beat USA (101:95) leaded by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.
Last time Greece National team won medals in 2009 (Eurobasket 2009) then didn’t participate in Olympic Games and didn’t get higher than 5th place in Eurobasket and 9th on World Cup. However, Today Greece holds 7th spot in FIBA ranking.
The most famous Greek players in history
Nikos Galis. FIBA Hall of Fame and basketball Hall of Fame member. Nikos Galis is 8-time Euroleague best scorer, 4-time Eurobasket top scorer, and in 1986 best scorer on World Cup. Moreover, legendary guard has 8 Greece championships, 5 Greece championship MVP awards, Eurobasket 1987 golden medal and MVP of this tournament.
Giannis Antetokounmpo. Born in Athens, the most successful Greek player in the history of NBA. At age 25 forward has NBA regular season MVP award (2019), 4 participations on All-Star Game (2017-2020) and 2017 Most Improved Player award.
Vasilis Spanoulis. Number one on Euroleague all-time scoring list (4239 points). Spanoulis is a 3-time Euroleague champion, won Eurobasket 2005 and 7-time Greece champion. Among individual awards – Euroleague regular season MVP 2013, 3-time Euroleague Final Four MVP and 3 Greece championship MVPs.
Dimitrios Diamantidis. Eurobasket 2005 champion, 3-time Euroleague champion and 9-time Greece champion. Legendary guard, his jersey (#13) was retired in Panathinaikos, 2-time Euroleague Final Four MVP, Euroleague regular season MVP, 6-time Euroleague Defensive Player Of the Year and 6-time Greece championship MVP.
Theodoros Papaloukas. Eurobasket 2005 champion, 2-time Euroleague champion, VTB United League champion, 7-time Russia champion and 3-time Russian Cup winner as CSKA player. In 2006 Papaloukas was Final Four Most Valuable Player, a year later Euroleague regular season Most Valuable Player.
Dmitriy Kolinov
