Basketball in Greece - Players From The Greek Diaspora

Players From The Greek Diaspora

The Greek diaspora has produced a number of prominent players who chose to start or establish their careers in Greece.

Perhaps the country's most celebrated player, Nikos Galis, is the son of Greek emigrants who was born and raised in New Jersey. More recently, Pat and Nick Calathes, born and raised in Florida, who are descended from their Greek grandfather, chose to start their professional careers in Greece. The older Pat began his career at Maroussi, went from there to Kolossos, and then joined Panathinaikos, where Nick had played since beginning his professional career. Both remained at PAO through the 2011–12 season, after which they left Greece to continue their careers elsewhere in Europe (Pat in Israel and Nick in Russia). Michael Bramos is another American born player from the Greek diaspora that chose to begin his pro career in Greece with Peristeri.

Lazaros Papadopoulos and Jake Tsakalidis were born to diaspora Greeks in the former Soviet Union, respectively in modern-day Russia and Georgia, but moved to Greece with their families at young ages and were developed there. Both began their professional careers in Greece, but had extensive tenures outside the country before eventually returning. Papadopoulos established himself as a star with Panathinaikos, but spent many of his best years in Russia, Spain, and Italy, while Tsakilidis spent seven years in the NBA after starting with AEK Athens.

One current Greek NBA player, Kosta Koufos, is also from the diaspora, but has never played with a Greek club. Like Galis, he is the son of Greek emigrants and was born and raised in the U.S. (in his case, Ohio), but went directly from Ohio State University to the NBA without a stopover in Greece. However, Koufos chose to represent Greece internationally, as did both Calathes brothers.