Nikolaos Georgalis, commonly known as either Nikos Galis, or Nick Galis, is a Greek former professional basketball player. Galis, who during his playing days was nicknamed, "Nick The Greek", "The Gangster", and "The Iron Man", is widely regarded as Europe's greatest scorer to ever play the game, and as one of the all-time greatest players in FIBA international basketball history. In 1991, Galis was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players. In 2007, he became an inaugural member of the FIBA Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was chosen as one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors. In 2017, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2022, he was inducted in to the Greek Basket League Hall of Fame.
Panagiotis "Notis" Giannakis, alternatively spelled Panayiotis Yiannakis or Yannakis, is a former Greek professional basketball player and coach. He is considered to be one of the greatest sportspeople of Greece. He started his senior career at the age of just 13 at Ionikos Nikaias and after noticeable success, he achieved extraordinary success as a player with Aris Thessaloniki from 1984 to 1993, in partnership with Greek basketball's biggest star Nikos Galis along with the rest of the squad, while achieving victory as the national team captain in EuroBasket 1987 in Athens, Greece's first major tournament win in non-Olympic sport which, along with Aris' extraordinary success, cultivated the sport in the country. At the end of his career, he won the EuroLeague with Panathinaikos in 1996 As head coach, he most prominently led Greece to its second European trophy in EuroBasket 2005 at Serbia and Montenegro, where a team of new and talented stars shone brightest under the nurturship of Giannakis. He would repeat the success the next year, acquiring the silver medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, where the team most notably scored a decisive win against the USA stars of the NBA in the semi-final, which would be USMNBT's last loss in a tournament until 2019. However, Greece's arch rivals Spain would defeat Giannakis' team in the final, as they would do again in the semi-finals of the 2007 EuroBasket. Outside of the Greek national team, he would coach Greek clubs like Aris, where he had the most success as player, Olympiacos, where he achieved renewed success, and the China men's national basketball team. As a player, he was primarily a point guard, but he could also play at the shooting guard position. During his playing career, Giannakis was also widely-known under his nickname of "O Drákos", or "The Dragon" in English.
Andreas Glyniadakis is a Greek former professional basketball player. During his pro club career, at a height of 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) tall, Glyniadakis played at the center position. His pro club playing career started in 1997, and ended in 2020.
Viktor Sanikidze is a Georgian politician, former professional basketball executive and former player. He played at both the small forward and power forward positions in his entire career.
Panagiotis Vasilopoulos, commonly known as Panos Vasilopoulos is a Greek former professional basketball player who last served as an assistant coach for Peristeri of the Greek Basket League and the Basketball Champions League, under head coach Vassilis Spanoulis. He is 2.05 m tall. He played at both the small forward and power forward positions.
Giannis Ioannidis was a Greek basketball player, professional basketball coach, and Greece New Democracy (ND) politician. Ioannidis was generally considered to be the best Greek professional basketball club head coach of all-time, since he was the one with the most top-tier level major Greek national club titles won. In all competition levels overall, he won a total of 20 club league titles as a head coach. He also holds the all-time record for the most wins as a head coach, in the history of the Greek Championship.
Lazaros Papadopoulos is a Greek former professional basketball player. He was listed at 7 ft 265 lbs (120 kg), and he played the center position. During his playing career, he was best known for his signature skyhook move.
Aris Basketball Club known in European competitions as Aris Thessaloniki, is the professional basketball team of the major Thessaloniki-based Greek multi-sport club A.C. Aris Thessaloniki. Aris BC was founded in 1922, eight years after the founding of the multi-sport club and the football team. Their traditional home arena is Alexandreio Melathron.
Ioannis Bourousis, commonly known as Giannis Bourousis is a Greek former professional basketball player and basketball executive. He is the general manager of the Greek basketball club ASK Karditsa. During his playing career, at a height of 7 ft 3⁄4 in tall and a weight of 270 lb. (122 kg), Bourousis played at the center position. Bourousis, who was a two-time All-EuroLeague First Team selection, was compared to FIBA Hall of Fame / Basketball Hall of Fame center Vlade Divac, by San Antonio Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich.
Joseph John Arlauckas is an American former professional basketball player of Lithuanian descent. During his playing career, he played at the power forward position. In 2018, Arlauckas was named to the 101 Greats of European Basketball list.
Georgios Printezis is a Greek former professional basketball player, who spent the majority of his pro club career with Olympiacos Piraeus of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague. Printezis won back-to-back EuroLeague titles with Olympiacos in 2012 and 2013. His game-winning shot against the Russian club CSKA Moscow, at the end of the 2012 EuroLeague Final, off an assist from Vassilis Spanoulis, is one of the all-time highlights in the history of the EuroLeague.
Michalis Pelekanos is a Greek professional basketball player. During his pro club career, at a height of 199 cm tall, Pelekanos played primarily at the small forward position. However, he also played as a shooting guard in the early part of his career, and as a power forward, in the latter part of his career. During his playing career, Pelekanos was mostly known for his spectacular athletic ability and defensive prowess.
Giorgos Sigalas, is a retired Greek professional basketball player and basketball coach. During the decade of the 1990s, the 2.01 m (6'7") tall swingman was the regular team captain of the pro club Olympiacos Piraeus, of the Greek League and the EuroLeague, and also of the Greece men's national basketball team. Nicknamed Rambo, during his playing career, Sigalas was one of the best European defensive players of his generation.
Giannis Giannoulis (alternate spellings: Gioannis, Yannis, Ioannis, Yiannis is a Greek-Canadian former professional basketball player. During his playing career, at a height of 2.08 m tall, he played at both the power forward and center positions.
Konstantinos "Kostas" Sloukas is a Greek professional basketball player and the team captain for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague. He is also a regular member of the senior Greek basketball national team. He is a left-handed, 1.90m (6'3") tall combo guard.
Konstantinos "Kostas" Papanikolaou is a Greek professional basketball player and the team captain for Olympiacos of the Greek Basket League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. Standing at 2.04 m tall, he plays at the small forward position. He has previously played in the NBA for the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets, as well as for the EuroLeague powerhouse FC Barcelona. Papanikolaou is also a regular member of the senior Hellenic national team. He is widely considered amongst the best defensive players in European basketball.
Basketballin Greece erupted with the win of the Greece men's national basketball team at the 1987 EuroBasket in Athens, which caused a general basketball euphoria in the country. Since then, the Greece men's national teams have achieved consistent international success, leading Greece to join Russia, Serbia, Croatia, Italy, Spain, France, and Lithuania in the circle of European basketball powers. In addition to the Greece national team's triumph in 1987, they won the gold medal at the 2005 EuroBasket, silver medals at the 1989 EuroBasket, and the 2006 FIBA World Cup, and the bronze medal at the 2009 EuroBasket.
Aleksandar Vezenkov, most commonly known as Sasha Vezenkov, is a Bulgarian professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a 2.03 m tall stretch power forward.
Giannoulis Larentzakis is a Greek professional basketball player for Olympiacos of the Greek Basket League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. At a height of 1.96 m (6'5") tall, he plays at the shooting guard position.
Michalis Tsairelis is a Greek professional basketball player for PAOK of the Greek Basket League. Standing at 2.08 m tall, he plays at the power forward and center positions.
