Efthimios Rentzias
Encyclopedia
Efthimios Rentzias (in Greek
: Ευθύμιος Ρεντζιάς; born January 11, 1976 in Trikala
, Greece) is a retired Greek
professional basketball
player. He was most notably a member of the NBA
's Philadelphia 76ers
. At 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) in height, he played the center
position.
of the Greek League
in the 1993-94 season. With PAOK he won the Korać Cup
championship in the 1993-94 season and the Greek Cup
championship in the 1994-95 season. He was named the MVP of the 1995 FIBA Under-19 World Championship
, helping Greece to win the tournament's gold medal. In the process Greece beat (by a score of 98-78) a U.S. team that featured future NBA
players Stephon Marbury
and Samaki Walker
. During that period Rentzias was considered to be one of the most talented European basketball players.
in the 1996 NBA Draft
while under contract with PAOK
, Rentzias opted not to play in the NBA
at that time.
He later transferred to FC Barcelona
for the 1997-98 season. In his last year with Barcelona (2001–02), Rentzias averaged 9.2 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game in 17.3 minutes per contest in 51 games in both the Spanish League
(ACB) and the Euroleague
. He shot 61.6 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three-point range and 71.4 percent from the foul line. With Barcelona Rentzias won his second Korać Cup
championship in the 1998-99 season and he also won 2 Spanish League
championships in the 1998-99 and 2000-01 seasons.
In his only season in the NBA
, during the 2002-03
campaign with the 76ers
, he played in only 35 games, averaging 1.5 points per game. He was the second Greek-born basketball player at the time to ever suit up for an NBA team.
He subsequently played for Ülkerspor
(Turkish League
), Montepaschi Siena (Italian League
) and Forum Valladolid
(Spanish League
).
Rentzias had plans to come back to PAOK BC
to finish his career. Unfortunately, in August 2006, he announced his retirement from basketball at the age of 30 because of injury problems.
. He was voted the MVP of the tournament.
Rentzias was a member of the senior men's Greek national basketball team
from 1994 to 2002 and competed in the 1996 Olympic Basketball Tournament
at Athens. That was the just the second ever appearance by Greece
's men's basketball team in a Summer Olympics and their first since the 1952 Olympic Basketball Tournament
. He averaged 5.0 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game in 12 minutes per game over seven contests in the 1996 Olympic Games.
He also played in the 1995 FIBA European Championship
, the 1997 FIBA European Championship
, the 2001 FIBA European Championship
, the 2003 FIBA European Championship
, the 1994 FIBA World Championship
and the 1998 FIBA World Championship
with the Greek national squad.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Ευθύμιος Ρεντζιάς; born January 11, 1976 in Trikala
Trikala
Trikala is a city in northwestern Thessaly, Greece. It is the capital of the Trikala peripheral unit, and is located NW of Athens, NW, of Karditsa, E of Ioannina and Metsovo, S of Grevena, SW of Thessaloniki, and W of Larissa...
, Greece) is a retired Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
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. He was most notably a member of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
. At 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) in height, he played the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
position.
Early career
Rentzias played his first basketball for the youth team Danaos, a local team of Trikala. He began his professional career at the age of 17 with PAOK ThessalonikiPAOK BC
P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki B.C. is the professional basketball department of the Greek multi-sports club P.A.O.K., originally founded in 1926 and is based in Thessaloniki, Greece. The club has established a firm reputation in Greek sports, especially for its success in European leagues...
of the Greek League
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
in the 1993-94 season. With PAOK he won the Korać Cup
Korac Cup
The Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA between the 1971-72 and 2001-02 seasons. It was the third-tier level club competition in European basketball, after the European Champions' Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup...
championship in the 1993-94 season and the Greek Cup
Greek basketball Cup
The Greek Basketball Cup or Hellenic Basketball Cup is an annual pro basketball national cup competition. It is organized by the Hellenic Basketball Federation .-History and format:...
championship in the 1994-95 season. He was named the MVP of the 1995 FIBA Under-19 World Championship
FIBA Under-19 World Championship
The FIBA Under-19 World Championship is a men's under-19 only basketball competition organized by FIBA. From its inauguration in 1979 until 2007 it was held every four years...
, helping Greece to win the tournament's gold medal. In the process Greece beat (by a score of 98-78) a U.S. team that featured future NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
players Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury
Stephon Xavier Marbury is an American professional basketball player.The , point guard was selected out of the Georgia Institute of Technology by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 4th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, but was traded shortly thereafter to the Minnesota Timberwolves.He was an NBA...
and Samaki Walker
Samaki Walker
Samaki Ijuma Walker is an American professional basketball power forward and center. Walker played college basketball at the University of Louisville and was drafted in 1996 by the Dallas Mavericks, where he played until 1999...
. During that period Rentzias was considered to be one of the most talented European basketball players.
Late career
Originally selected with the 23rd overall pick by the Denver NuggetsDenver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
in the 1996 NBA Draft
1996 NBA Draft
The 1996 NBA Draft was the 50th draft in the National Basketball Association . It was held on June 26, 1996 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the Turner Network Television...
while under contract with PAOK
PAOK BC
P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki B.C. is the professional basketball department of the Greek multi-sports club P.A.O.K., originally founded in 1926 and is based in Thessaloniki, Greece. The club has established a firm reputation in Greek sports, especially for its success in European leagues...
, Rentzias opted not to play in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
at that time.
He later transferred to FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
FC Barcelona Bàsquet, known as FC Barcelona Regal for sponsorship reasons, is a Spanish professional basketball club. It is part of the FC Barcelona sports club and was founded on August 24, 1926 which makes it the oldest club in Liga ACB. The club competes in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto...
for the 1997-98 season. In his last year with Barcelona (2001–02), Rentzias averaged 9.2 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game in 17.3 minutes per contest in 51 games in both the Spanish League
Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto
The Liga ACB, known as the Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Spain. It was founded in 1956 with the name of Liga Nacional. The league changed its name to the current one in 1983. The league is rated as one of the three "A" level European...
(ACB) and the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
. He shot 61.6 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three-point range and 71.4 percent from the foul line. With Barcelona Rentzias won his second Korać Cup
Korac Cup
The Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA between the 1971-72 and 2001-02 seasons. It was the third-tier level club competition in European basketball, after the European Champions' Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup...
championship in the 1998-99 season and he also won 2 Spanish League
Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto
The Liga ACB, known as the Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Spain. It was founded in 1956 with the name of Liga Nacional. The league changed its name to the current one in 1983. The league is rated as one of the three "A" level European...
championships in the 1998-99 and 2000-01 seasons.
In his only season in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, during the 2002-03
2002-03 NBA season
The 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs beating the New Jersey Nets 4-2 in the 2003 NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
campaign with the 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, he played in only 35 games, averaging 1.5 points per game. He was the second Greek-born basketball player at the time to ever suit up for an NBA team.
He subsequently played for Ülkerspor
Alpella B.K.
Trabzonspor is a professional basketball team based in the city of Trabzon in Turkey. It is branch of the multi-sports club of Trabzonspor. The club was established in 2008...
(Turkish League
Turkish Basketball League
The Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
), Montepaschi Siena (Italian League
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
) and Forum Valladolid
CB Valladolid
Club Baloncesto Valladolid, S.A.D., actually known as Blancos de Rueda Valladolid, is a professional basketball team based in Valladolid, Castile-Leon, Spain. CB Valladolid is member of the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto...
(Spanish League
Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto
The Liga ACB, known as the Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Spain. It was founded in 1956 with the name of Liga Nacional. The league changed its name to the current one in 1983. The league is rated as one of the three "A" level European...
).
Rentzias had plans to come back to PAOK BC
PAOK BC
P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki B.C. is the professional basketball department of the Greek multi-sports club P.A.O.K., originally founded in 1926 and is based in Thessaloniki, Greece. The club has established a firm reputation in Greek sports, especially for its success in European leagues...
to finish his career. Unfortunately, in August 2006, he announced his retirement from basketball at the age of 30 because of injury problems.
Career with the Greek national team
Rentzias was a part of the junior Greek national men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1995 FIBA Under-19 World ChampionshipFIBA Under-19 World Championship
The FIBA Under-19 World Championship is a men's under-19 only basketball competition organized by FIBA. From its inauguration in 1979 until 2007 it was held every four years...
. He was voted the MVP of the tournament.
Rentzias was a member of the senior men's Greek national basketball team
Greece national basketball team
The Greece national basketball team is the representative for Greece in international men's basketball competitions, organized and run by the Hellenic Basketball Federation. Traditionally, Greece is considered among the world's top basketball powers; they were runners-up in the 2006 FIBA World...
from 1994 to 2002 and competed in the 1996 Olympic Basketball Tournament
Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Basketball contests at the 1996 Olympic Games were held from July 20, 1996 to August 4, 1996. Games took place at the Morehouse College Gymnasium and the Georgia Dome. For the second straight Olympic games, the American men's team composed almost entirely of NBA players won the gold medal...
at Athens. That was the just the second ever appearance by Greece
Greece national basketball team
The Greece national basketball team is the representative for Greece in international men's basketball competitions, organized and run by the Hellenic Basketball Federation. Traditionally, Greece is considered among the world's top basketball powers; they were runners-up in the 2006 FIBA World...
's men's basketball team in a Summer Olympics and their first since the 1952 Olympic Basketball Tournament
Basketball at the 1952 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 1952 Summer Olympics was the third appearance of the sport. 23 nations entered the competition.The top six teams at the 1948 Summer Olympics qualified automatically, as did the 1950 World Champion , the top two at the 1951 European championships , and the host country...
. He averaged 5.0 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game in 12 minutes per game over seven contests in the 1996 Olympic Games.
He also played in the 1995 FIBA European Championship
EuroBasket 1995
EuroBasket 1995 final tournament stage was XXIX European basketball championship and was held in Athens, Greece from 21 June to 2 July, 1995. This European championship was the first one that saw the successful return of Lithuania national basketball team to the tournament, since its last triumph...
, the 1997 FIBA European Championship
EuroBasket 1997
-Venues:The tournament was played at three venues in Spain. Girona and Badalona hosted the first and the second round, while the entire knockout stage was played at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona.-First round:-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:...
, the 2001 FIBA European Championship
EuroBasket 2001
The EuroBasket 2001 was the 32nd EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Turkey, began on 31 August 2001 and concluded with the final on 9 September 2001. Yugoslavia won the gold medal,...
, the 2003 FIBA European Championship
Eurobasket 2003
-5th to 8th place:-Awards:-All-Tournament Team : Tony Parker Šarūnas Jasikevičius Saulius Štombergas Andrei Kirilenko Pau Gasol-Top scorers :# Pau Gasol 25.8# Andrei Kirilenko 23.1# Dirk Nowitzki 22.5# Mehmet Okur 18.7...
, the 1994 FIBA World Championship
1994 FIBA World Championship
The 1994 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Canada from August 4 to August 14, 1994. The tournament was held at SkyDome and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto as well as at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton...
and the 1998 FIBA World Championship
1998 FIBA World Championship
The 1998 FIBA World Championship was the 13th FIBA World Championship, an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation and hosted in Athens, Greece from July 29 to August 9, 1998...
with the Greek national squad.
Club career synopsis
- Danaos Trikalon
- 1993-97: PAOK BCPAOK BCP.A.O.K. Thessaloniki B.C. is the professional basketball department of the Greek multi-sports club P.A.O.K., originally founded in 1926 and is based in Thessaloniki, Greece. The club has established a firm reputation in Greek sports, especially for its success in European leagues...
(Greek A1 LeagueA1 EthnikiThe Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
) - 1997-02: FC Barcelona (Spanish ACB)
- 2002-032002-03 NBA seasonThe 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs beating the New Jersey Nets 4-2 in the 2003 NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
: Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
(NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
) - 2003-04: ÜlkersporAlpella B.K.Trabzonspor is a professional basketball team based in the city of Trabzon in Turkey. It is branch of the multi-sports club of Trabzonspor. The club was established in 2008...
(Turkish LeagueTurkish Basketball LeagueThe Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
) - 2004-05: Montepaschi SienaMens Sana BasketMens Sana Basket, more frequently referred to as Montepaschi Siena, is an Italian League professional basketball club from Siena. More precisely, it is the now-autonomous basketball section of the comprehensive sports club Polisportiva Mens Sana...
(Italian A LeagueSerie A (basketball)Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
) - 2005-06: Fórum ValladolidCB ValladolidClub Baloncesto Valladolid, S.A.D., actually known as Blancos de Rueda Valladolid, is a professional basketball team based in Valladolid, Castile-Leon, Spain. CB Valladolid is member of the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto...
(Spanish ACB)
Club trophies
- 2 Korać CupKorac CupThe Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA between the 1971-72 and 2001-02 seasons. It was the third-tier level club competition in European basketball, after the European Champions' Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup...
s: with PAOK in 1994; and with FC Barcelona in 1999. - Greek CupGreek basketball CupThe Greek Basketball Cup or Hellenic Basketball Cup is an annual pro basketball national cup competition. It is organized by the Hellenic Basketball Federation .-History and format:...
with PAOK in 1995. - 2 Spanish Championships with FC Barcelona: in 1999 and 2001.
- Spanish CupCopa del Rey de BaloncestoThe Copa del Rey de Baloncesto is an annual cup competition for Spanish basketball teams organized by Spain's top professional league, Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto. It was originally known as the Copa de España de Baloncesto and was first played in 1933. It was the first nationwide...
with Barcelona in 2001.