#1. This week’s number one is former international forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (211-1994, agency: Octagon Europe, currently plays in NBA). He led Milwaukee Bucks to a victory over the Chicago Bulls (46-35) 93-86 in the NBA in Sunday night’s game.
Antetokounmpo was MVP of the game. He had a double-double by scoring 27 points and getting 16 rebounds. Antetokounmpo also added 3 assists and 2 blocks in 34 minutes on the court.
The Milwaukee Bucks have a solid 51-31 record this season.
It was his team’s third consecutive victory in a row.
Antetokounmpo has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 29.8ppg, 11.7rpg, 5.8apg, 1.4bpg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 61.7%(627-1017), 3FGP: 29.3% and FT: 71.9% in 68 games he played so far.
Antetokounmpo played for the Greek senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international forward Kostas Antetokounmpo (208-1998, college: Dayton, currently plays in France). He was the major contributor in an ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket‘s victory against the 13th-ranked Paris (12-18) crushing them 107-82 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA last Saturday.
Antetokounmpo scored 18 points; quite an impressive performance considering it’s only his first season in pro basketball. ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (11-3) is placed first in the Betclic ELITE ProA.
Antetokounmpo’s overall stats this season are: 4.4ppg, 2.1rpg, 2FGP: 81.0%(34-42), 3FGP: 16.7% and FT: 58.6%.
He played for the Greek national team in 21.
#3. The Greek player who performed third best last week abroad was former international swingman Panagiotis Kalaitzakis (197-1999, also represented by Octagon Europe, currently plays in Lithuania). Kalaitzakis contributed to Lietkabelis‘ victory against the eighth-ranked Dzukija (11-17) 90-86 in the Lithuanian LKL on Thursday night.
He scored 12 points, had 5 boards, dished 3 assists and stole 3 balls in 28 minutes.
Panevezys Lietkabelis (21-6) is placed third in the LKL.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Kalaitzakis has relatively good stats this year: 10.5ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.8apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 47.7%, 3FGP: 35.8% and FT: 80.8% in 25 games.
He played for the Greek national team year ago.
#4. An experienced forward Sotirios Manolopoulos (208-1987, currently plays in Cyprus) was the main contributor in a AEK Larnaca‘s victory against the eighth-ranked Anorthosis (9-13) crushing them 94-59 in the Cypriot OPAP Basket League last Wednesday.
He was the best player in that game. Manolopoulos recorded 23 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in a mere 17 minutes.
Petrolina AEK Larnaca (19-3) is placed first in the OPAP Basket League.
It was his team’s fifth consecutive victory in a row.
This year Manolopoulos has relatively solid stats: 11.9ppg, 4.9rpg and 1.4apg in 16 games.
He used to play for the Greek university national team
back in 9.
#5. Former international point guard Nick Calathes (196-1989, college: Florida, currently plays in Euroleague) managed to help FC Barcelona Lassa to win against the eighth-ranked Bayern Muenchen (14-14) 77-67 in the Euroleague on Tuesday night.
Calathes recorded only 4 points and added 5 assists.
FC Barcelona Lassa (21-7) is placed first in the Euroleague.
Calathes’ overall stats this season are: 7.2ppg, 4.0rpg, 6.0apg and 1.2spg.
He is a naturalized American.
Calathes used to play for the Greek national team
years ago.
He played also for signed 3-year contract with Panathinaikos Athens in Greek league.
#6. Small forward Michael Bramos (198-1987, college: Miami, OH, currently plays in EuroCup). Bramos could not help Venezia (9-9) to beat Metropolitans (11-5).
He recorded 9 points and added 4 assists.
But Venezia was crushed 87-66 on the road by the much higher-ranked Metropolitans (#3).
Bramos’ overall stats this season are: 7.5ppg, 2.6rpg and 1.2apg.
He is a naturalized American.
Bramos is a former international player as he played for the Greek senior team year ago.
Strangely he has never played in Greece.
#7. Former international forward Vasileios Charalampopoulos (202-1997, currently plays in Italy) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Trento (0-4) crushing them 89-69 in the Italian Serie A on Saturday night.
Charalampopoulos recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 3 assists.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Lavoropiu Fortitudo Bolognais placed in the Serie A.
Charalampopoulos’ overall stats this season are: 8.2ppg and 4.2rpg.
He used to play for the Greek national team
years ago.
#8. Power forward Fotios Lampropoulos (206-1983, currently plays in Iceland) contributed to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked KR (10-12) crushing them 91-63 in the Icelandic Subway League last Tuesday.
Lampropoulos was the top player that evening. He recorded a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 12 rebounds.
UMFN Njardvik (17-5) is placed first in the Subway League.
It was his team’s fourth consecutive victory in a row.
This season Lampropoulos has very high stats. He averages: 15.7ppg, 9.7rpg and 1.9apg.
Lampropoulos used to play for the Greek U18 national team
back in 3.
#9. Former U16 international guard Ioannis Giannaras (187-1999, agency: Wasserman, currently plays in Cyprus) contributed to Apoel‘s victory against the seventh-ranked AEL (9-13) 97-87 in the Cypriot OPAP Basket League on Sunday night.
He recorded 10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 28 minutes.
Cytavision Apoel Nicosia (18-4) is placed second in the OPAP Basket League.
Giannaras has reliable stats this year: 10.1ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.3apg and 1.1spg in 23 games.
He used to play for the Greek U16 national team
years ago.
#10. Center Kostas Gontikas (206-1994, college: New York U., currently plays in Romania) was not able to help Pitesti (21-8) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Gontikas’ good performance Pitesti was defeated 75-66 at home by the lower-ranked Galati (#4).
He scored 10 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and made 2 blocks.
Gontikas’ team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial.
Gontikas’ overall stats this season are: 8.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.2apg and 1.2bpg.
He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the Greek senior national team.
#11. Former U20 international guard Ioannis Chatzinikolas (196-1995, currently plays in Austria) was not able to secure a victory for Gunners Oberwart (15-12) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the third-placed Gunners Oberwart lost 78-86 in St.Poelten to the lower-ranked (#8) UBC St. Poelten in the Places 1-6 group.
Chatzinikolas was the top scorer with 20 points. He also added 7 rebounds and dished 5 assists in 34 minutes.
Chatzinikolas’ stats this year are: 12.6ppg, 5.8rpg and 4.4apg in 25 games.
Worth to mention Chatzinikolas played also at Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball. He used to play for the Greek U20 national team
years ago.
#12. Former U20 international power forward Kyprianos Maragkos (206-1994, college: American, currently plays in Cyprus) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Apollon 91-75 in the Cypriot OPAP Basket League in Sunday night’s game.
Maragkos recorded only 3 points in 9 minutes on the court.
This year Maragkos’ overall stats are: 6.1ppg and 3.0rpg in 21 games.
He used to play for the Greek U20 national team
back in 14.
#13. Former U20 international guard Konstantinos Oikonomopoulos (192-1996, currently plays in Austria) contributed to Dukes‘ victory against the leader Raiffeisen Flyers Wels 86-73 in the Austrian BSL last Saturday.
Oikonomopoulos scored 8 points and added 3 passes.
Oikonomopoulos’ total stats this season are: 8.4ppg, 1.8rpg, 2.6apg and 1.5spg.
He used to play for the Greek U20 national team
years ago.
The list of other players, who all have Greek passport but never been selected to any of Greek national teams:
#1. Nazareth Mitrou-Long (193-G-1993, agency: BeoBasket, college: Iowa St., currently plays in Italy) led Brescia to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Reggio Emilia (2-2) crushing them 99-64 in the Italian Serie A in Saturday night’s game.
Mitrou-Long scored 15 points and added 5 assists; not bad, considering it’s only his first season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Germani Brescia Leonessa (1-3) is placed third in the Serie A.
It was his team’s first victory after three consecutive loses.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Mitrou-Long has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.5ppg, 4.3rpg and 4.7apg.
Mitrou-Long has a dual citizenship: Greek and Canadian.
Despite his Greek passport, Mitrou-Long previously played for the Canadian U19 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the Greek team.
#2. Experienced Nikos Stylianou (198-F-1988, college: WT, currently plays in Cyprus) was the major contributor in Keravnos‘ victory against the closely-ranked Apollon (11-11) 91-75 in the Cypriot OPAP Basket League in Sunday night’s game.
Stylianou recorded 18 points and added 6 assists in 30 minutes.
Keravnos Strovolou (18-4) is placed third in the OPAP Basket League.
This year Stylianou’s overall stats are: 9.4ppg, 3.7rpg and 1.9apg in 17 games he played so far.
He is another player who holds two passports: Greek and Cypriot.
#3. Dimitris Sousa (198-SF-1994, college: UVA Wise, currently plays in Brazil) led Sao Jose to an easy victory against the fourth-ranked Brusque (6-6) 97-78 in the Brazilian CBC League (second division) on Sunday night.
Sousa scored 17 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 32 minutes.
Sao Jose dos Camposis placed in Group A.
Sousa has very impressive stats this year: 15.1ppg, 3.4rpg and 2.1apg in 14 games.
He has both Greek and Brazilian nationalities.
Despite Sousa’s Greek passport, he previously played for the Brazilian U19 national team and probably cannot be called to the Greek team.
#4. Zach Auguste (208-C-1993, agency: Pensack Sports, college: Notre Dame, currently plays in ABA League) contributed to a 3-point KK Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana‘s victory against the 12th-ranked Borac CA (8-17) 83-80 in the ABA League in Saturday night’s game.
Auguste scored 8 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
KK Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (17-8) is placed fourth in the ABA League.
There are only two games left until the end of the ABA League Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
Auguste’s overall stats this season are: 9.8ppg and 6.6rpg.
He is a naturalized American.
Apparently Auguste has never played in Greece.
#5. Filippos Tigkas (184-PG-2002, currently plays in Cyprus) is a teammate of previously mentioned Nikos Stylianou and both played together in the last Cypriot OPAP Basket League game.
Tigkas led Keravnos to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Apollon (11-11) 91-75.
He recorded 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in a mere 18 minutes.
This year Tigkas’ overall stats are: 7.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.9apg and 1.1spg in 21 games.
He also holds two passports: Greek and Cypriot.
#6. Aristides Koronides (186-PG-1982, currently plays in Cyprus) led AEK Larnaca to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Anorthosis crushing them 94-59 in the Cypriot OPAP Basket League in Wednesday night’s game.
Koronides recorded 12 points and added 4 assists in a mere 16 minutes.
This year Koronides’ overall stats are: 4.3ppg, 1.2rpg and 1.8apg in 22 games.
He has dual citizenship: Greek and Cypriot.
#7. Caylin Raftopoulos (172-PG-1992, currently plays in United Kingdom) could not help Scorchers (3-4) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Raftopoulos’ good performance Scorchers was crushed 104-81 on the road by the lower-ranked Newcastle Eagles (#5).
He scored 12 points and added 3 passes.
Raftopoulos’ overall stats this season are: 5.4ppg, 1.9rpg and 2.2apg.
He has Zimbabwean and Greek nationalities.
#8. Vassilis Lampropoulos (196-G-1990, currently plays in Germany) led Stuttgart to a victory over the ninth-ranked Ulm BBU 01 crushing them 86-55 in the German Regionalliga (fourth division) on Saturday night.
Lampropoulos was the top player that evening. He scored 25 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 31 minutes.
Lampropoulos has very impressive stats this year: 21.9ppg, 6.7rpg, 3.3apg and 1.6spg in 20 games.
#9. Savvas Mavromatis (202-C/F-1988, currently plays in Cyprus) faced previously mentioned Aristides Koronides in the Cypriot OPAP Basket League last game.
Mavromatis was not able to help Anorthosis in their game against AEK Larnaca.
He recorded 6 points.
His team was crushed by 35 points 94-59.
Mavromatis’ total stats this season are: 3.1ppg and 1.8rpg.
He has dual citizenship: Greek and Cypriot.
Despite Mavromatis’ Greek passport, he previously played for the Cypriot military national team.
#10. Frenki Lilaj (203-F-1998, college: Young Harris, currently plays in Liga Unike) was not able to secure a victory for Teuta (7-7) in their last game. Despite Lilaj’s good performance Teuta was edged 84-82 in Therande by the leading Ylli.
He was the second best scorer with 13 points. Lilaj also added 9 rebounds in 36 minutes.
Lilaj averaged so far 12.9ppg, 6.8rpg and 1.8apg in 16 games.
He holds both Greek and Albanian passports.
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