Constantin Popa
Encyclopedia
Constantin Popa is a 2.22 m (7' 3½") retired Romanian-Israel
i professional basketball
player.
Popa played for Dinamo Bucureşti
in his native Romania before going overseas to play college basketball
in the United States
for the University of Miami
. He was the tallest player to ever wear a Hurricanes' uniform, and finished as Miami's all-time leader in blocked shots (263), 3rd in starts (83), 5th in minutes played (2,624), tied for 8th in steals (89), 9th in rebounds (701), and 14th in scoring (1,132). He was a two-time Third Team AII-Big East selection.
In large part on the strength of a highly effective hook shot
, he was selected by the L.A. Clippers
with the 53rd pick in the 1995 NBA Draft
. In the same year he was selected by the Miami Tropics
of the USBL
as a first round territorial selection (4th pick overall). He never ended up playing a game in either league, although he did play for the Florida Beachdogs of the American CBA
, where he developed somewhat of a cult fan following.
He also played in France
with Pau-Orthez
and with Maccabi Tel Aviv
and Hapoel Jerusalem
of Israel.
Although not Jewish, he obtained Israel
i citizenship as his wife is Jewish.
He retired from professional basketball in 2001. Mr Popa is currently assistant coach of the University of Indianapolis Greyhound Women's basketball team (http://athletics.uindy.edu/coaches.aspx?rc=139&path=wbball).
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
Popa played for Dinamo Bucureşti
Dinamo Bucuresti
Fotbal Club Dinamo Bucureşti is a Romanian professional football club based in Bucharest. Dinamo is one of the two most successful football teams in Romania, having won 18 Romanian Liga I titles, 12 Romanian Cups and 1 Romanian Supercup....
in his native Romania before going overseas to play college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. He was the tallest player to ever wear a Hurricanes' uniform, and finished as Miami's all-time leader in blocked shots (263), 3rd in starts (83), 5th in minutes played (2,624), tied for 8th in steals (89), 9th in rebounds (701), and 14th in scoring (1,132). He was a two-time Third Team AII-Big East selection.
In large part on the strength of a highly effective hook shot
Hook shot
A hook shot, in basketball, is a play in which the offensive player, usually turned perpendicular to the basket, gently throws the ball with a sweeping motion of his arm in an upward arc with a follow-through which ends over his head. Unlike the jump shot, it is shot with only one hand; the other...
, he was selected by the L.A. Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
with the 53rd pick in the 1995 NBA Draft
1995 NBA Draft
The 1995 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 1995 at SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It marked the first NBA draft for the two Canadian expansion teams, Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies...
. In the same year he was selected by the Miami Tropics
Miami Tropics
The Miami Tropics were a team in the Premier Basketball League that began to play in 2007 in Miami, Florida. The team was owned by the Imperiali Organization, which also owns the Palm Beach Imperials. They originally played their inaugural season in the American Basketball Association, but moved...
of the USBL
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
as a first round territorial selection (4th pick overall). He never ended up playing a game in either league, although he did play for the Florida Beachdogs of the American CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, where he developed somewhat of a cult fan following.
He also played in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with Pau-Orthez
Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez
The Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez is a French professional basketball club that is based in Pau. They play their home games at the Palais des Sports de Pau.- History :...
and with Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv (basketball)
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv B.C. is a professional Israeli basketball club based in Tel Aviv. The team plays in three leagues: the Euroleague, the Israeli Basketball Super League, and the Adriatic League....
and Hapoel Jerusalem
Hapoel Jerusalem (basketball)
Hapoel 'Migdal' Jerusalem is a professional basketball team that is based in Jerusalem, Israel. The club currently plays in the Eurocup, Israeli Super League , and the Israeli State Cup.-History:...
of Israel.
Although not Jewish, he obtained Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i citizenship as his wife is Jewish.
He retired from professional basketball in 2001. Mr Popa is currently assistant coach of the University of Indianapolis Greyhound Women's basketball team (http://athletics.uindy.edu/coaches.aspx?rc=139&path=wbball).
Awards/achievements
- Romanian Junior National Team - 87-90
- Romanian National Team - 87-92
- European Championships - 87
- European Championships for Juniors - 90(2)
- Big East Conf. 3rd Team - 93, 95
- French ProA Champion - 96
- Israeli League Champion - 98, 99, 00
- Israeli Cup Winner - 99, 00
- Euroleague Finalist - 00
- Israeli State Cup Finalist - 01
- Israeli League Finalist - 01
