Greek Basketball - You've Got Some Great Players - Period.
When Diana Ross turned the world “Upside Down” it’s a safe bet she wasn’t thinking of Greek basketball. That is, however, exactly what her success did in the land of Socrates; basketball would never the same.
Diana’s agent, Bill Manon, is a hero to Greek Bball worshipers:
In the spring of 1979 Galis [Nick Galis or Gallis or Νίκος Γκάλης] realized that the time had come for him to try and play in the NBA . . . . his manager, Bill Manon, . . . was the agent of a few basketball players but mostly actors and artists . . . Among those was the famous Diana Ross who had just launched her solo career away from her band ‘The Supremes’. 'Upside Down' became a big hit and the agent started making money hand over fist, neglecting his then 22 year old Greek basketball player.
So, from the first round of drafts, Galis found himself in the fourth with the number 68 and was picked by the Boston Celtics who had already chosen Larry Bird and wanted Galis just to make up the numbers. Galis tried to stay in the NBA but at the worst possible moment an injury left him out for 2 weeks and on his return, he found his place had been taken by Gerald Henderson.
Playing ball for Seton Hall on a scholarship, Nick dreamed of the NBA. In his junior year (1977-78) he averaged 17.3 points per game; as a senior he led the nation in scoring (Indiana State forward Larry Bird was second) at 27.5 points per game, with a career high 48 points against the University of Santa Clara.
If you believe in fate, and I think the Greek position on this topic is clear, Nick Galis was never meant for the NBA. Born to Greek parents, Giorgos and Stella, from the island of Rhodos, Nick would confess in later years he wasn’t even aware, as a college student, that the Greeks played basketball.
One of the eight founding members of FIBA in 1932, basketball had been firmly entrenched in Greece for more than 40 years when Nick began the painful process which would lead him overseas.
Panathinaikos and Olympiakos had showed some interest in the newcomer, but it was Aris Thessaloniki who were the most active club. Giorgos Tsiligaridis was sent by Aris to the USA to convince Galis to sign with his team and he managed to return with his signature on a contract.
Galis came to Thessaloniki at the start of the 1979-1980 and it took the young guard all of one game to show his potential. In his debut he lit up rival Thessaloniki club Iraklis for 30 points and an epic career was underway.
The Greek national basketball team remained in relative obscurity until Nick arrived. Led by Nick Gallis (or Galis or Nickos Georgalis-Galis), the Greek national team took Eurobasket 1987 by storm, winning a gold medal and the first international title for a Greek national team.
The “Michael Jordan of Greece” ran smack into his destiny and came out the other side brandishing a trophy. In a somewhat backhanded compliment, Michael Jordan himself comments on Gallis:
I did not expect to find such a good offensive player in Europe, especially in your country. --Michael Jordan (October 1983, National team of Greece v. North Carolina State University for the "Dimitria" tournament)
Bob McAdoo threw away all qualifiers:
I've seen Galis doing things that I have not seen neither Lakers nor Celtics doing. --Bob McAdoo
Building on their 1987 success, experiencing good years and bad years, and watching Nick Galis move from player to coach, Greece saw decades of had work come to fruition on an even larger international stage during the 2006 World Championship.
Leading up to the game that stunned America, Greece:
Won the 2006 Stanković Cup (going undefeated in the tournament)
Beat Australia by a score of 68-60
Eliminated Dirk Nowitzki's Germany 84-47 in the tournament's final game
In Japan, Greece advanced undefeated with five close wins, and then defeated China 95-64 in an elimination game to reach the quarter-finals. There they faced France, beating them 73-56.
In the semifinals, Greece defeated the United States in a 101-95 upset, rallying back from 12 points down. Although losing to Spain in the finals, Greece brought home a silver medal to adoring fans. A Spanish loss pales in comparison to beating the hands down world-wide favorite.
Nick Galis resides forever, alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Peja Stojakovic, in the European Hall of Fame; his legacy endures through his mentoring of young players. It’s time to remove “considering we’re talking about Greece” from the “you’ve got some great players” comment.
Americans in Greek Basketball
April 24, 2008 Massey: “We played for the history of ARIS”
“. . .despite the fact that he comes from Detroit, often times you find yourself thinking that he is not an American, but he is a Greek! Jeremy Massey, the player that through his appearances this season has made all of Basketball Europe bow down to his amazing talents! The ARIS TT Bank power forward was the sole leader of last night’s game against P.A.O.K., and for yet another time performed miracles on the floor destroying all defensive systems set forth by our opponents. With 22 points, 15 rebounds, three steals, one block and one assist, he was the engine of the yellow machine, and was not stopped by the many obstacles he met on his way. All this took place despite the fact that just two days earlier, he and Bracey Wright were attacked by strangers, who made an attempt to burn their cars. This unfortunate event was not enough to stand in his way, and keep him from doing what he knows best, which is simply being the best!
The “unfortunate event” (and you thought a punch to the jaw was rough):
SALONIKA, Greece (AFP) — A car driven by two American basketball players was set on fire Monday by youths in the northern Greek city of Salonika, but the athletes got out unhurt, a local police source said. The Americans playing for local club Aris Salonika -- 26-year-old forward Jeremiah Massey and fellow forward Reyshawn Terry, 24 -- were driving in an area which is a stronghold of cross-town rivals PAOK when they were attacked by five youths on motorbikes, the source said. The youths broke a car window and threw a smoke flare inside. Both players got out unhurt. The incident occurred a few days ahead of key game between Aris and PAOK.
. . . Three-time NBA ALL-STAR player Predrag "Peja" Stojakovic spoke to students at De La Salle School, the Greek-French private school in Thessaloniki. . . The students of De La Salle prepared a detailed DVD of Peja’s career from his young age as a player of a Serbian team, to his professional career as a PAOK B.C. player (a local Thessaloniki team) and finally showing highlights of his 9-year career with the NBA. . . . Peja talked about his career emphasizing the challenges he faced in becoming a professional basketball player, including the hard work and long hours of practice. He went on to say that De La Salle students are very lucky to have the opportunity to combine studies and athleticism, an opportunity he did not have when he was their age. [Peja left Belgrade with his family in 1993 during the Yugoslav wars and moved to Thessaloniki at age 16 in order to play professional basketball, eventually becoming a Greek citizen.] Peja, who currently plays for the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets, signed autographs for the children and shot three-pointers in the outdoor school basketball court.
American Basketball Players Capture Audience at Anatolia College
Five American members of a local professional basketball team Aris visited the prestigious English speaking secondary institution, Anatolia College. Players Terrell Castle, Alex Scales, Mike Wilkinson, Kevin Fletcher, and Jeremiah Massey are the five American representatives of the Aris basketball team who previously pursued prominent college basketball careers in the United States, and are now continuing their professional careers as members of the Aris team. Each player gave a heartfelt presentation discussing their various backgrounds, what basketball signifies in their lives as a “passion and career”, and expressed how much they have enjoyed their stay in Thessaloniki. The presentations stressed the importance of education, the value of being open to learning from other cultures, and more importantly encouraged the primary school students to hone their talents through a rigorous work ethic and determination. The fourth and fifth graders of Anatolia listened attentively to each personal anecdote of the players, following an exhibition of various basketball shots including three pointers and slam dunks of the imposing Aris contingency. The concluding activity was an animated ball handling interaction between the Aris team and the youth of Anatolia College. The event helped everyone recall how basketball as an international sport, knows no cultural boundaries.
Click here for Aris Basketball Club Web site
Greek players in America
Konstantinos D. “Kosta” Koufos (Greek Κώστας Κουφός)
Kóstas Koufós, born on February 24, 1989 in Canton, Ohio, is a Greek American basketball player. He attends The Ohio State University, where he is currently completing his freshman year. Koufos holds dual citizenship of both the United States and Greece. NBA draft information.
Iakovos "Jake" Tsakalidis (Greek: Ιάκωβος Τσακαλίδης)
Born June 10, 1979 in Rustavi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union (present Georgia), Jake currently plays for the Houston Rockets of the NBA. A 7'2", 290 lbs. center, Tsakalidis was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 1st round (25th overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft. On September 30, 2003, Tsakalidis was traded by the Suns with teammate Bo Outlaw to the Memphis Grizzlies for Brevin Knight, Robert Archibald, and Cezary Trybanski. He holds dual citizenship in Georgia, where he was born, and Greece, where he was raised.
Kurt Rambis (Kyriakos Rambidis)
2006 World Championships
Maestro of the high pick-and-roll which embarrassed Team USA at the World Championships.
Terrific post, Carolyn. Loved the Nick Galis story, and the extra effort in reproducing the names in Greek alphabet.
Posted by: Jeff W | May 05, 2008 at 11:31 AM