Kosta Koufos
Encyclopedia
Konstantine Demetrios "Kosta" Koufos (Greek:
, ) (born February 24, 1989) is a Greek-American
professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets
. He was selected by the Utah Jazz
with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft
. Koufos played college basketball
for the Ohio State Buckeyes
for one year before declaring for the 2008 NBA Draft
.
Koufos holds dual citizenship of both the United States and Greece. He plays for the senior Greek national basketball team
.
in Canton
, Ohio
. He was a McDonald's All-American as a senior, and he was ranked the #3 center of the 2007 high school class by Rivals.com
. He also played for the AAU
team sponsored by LeBron James
.
In 2007, Koufos finished second to Buckeye teammate Jon Diebler
in the Mr. Ohio Basketball voting. During his senior season with GlenOak, Koufos was named the Division I player of the year and was also named First-Team All-State. He also earned First-Team Northeast Inland All-District honors.
The 2007 McDonald's and EA Sports All-American, Koufos averaged 25.9 points per game, 15.4 rebounds per game and 5.2 blocked shots per game. He was instrumental in GlenOak snapping Canton McKinley's
41-game win streak in January 2007, when he posted 32 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks to help the Golden Eagles edge the Bulldogs, 56–55, in overtime. The next day, Koufos recorded 32 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks against Detroit Country Day
, to lead GlenOak to its ninth consecutive victory.
As a junior, Koufos averaged 24 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game, and four blocked shots per game and he was named Second-Team All-State. In April 2007, Koufos was a member of the Royal team in the Jordan All-American Classic at Madison Square Garden
.
, where he replaced Greg Oden
at center. He was named the MVP of the 2008
National Invitation Tournament
(NIT) after leading the Buckeyes to the championship by defeating the UMass Minutemen
by a score of 92–85.
Over the course of his year at Ohio State, Koufos averaged 14.4 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocked shots per game.
, but initially chose not to hire an agent
; this would have allowed him to return to Ohio State if he withdrew from the draft on or before the June 16 withdrawal deadline. However, at the same time, it was speculated that he would leave the Buckeyes
anyway to sign a professional contract in Greece.
He turned down a 3 year €
5 million euros net income
contract offer from Olympiacos Piraeus
, a Greek A1 League
basketball club. On May 8, the Canton Repository
reported that Koufos signed with Cleveland-based agent Mark Termini, thereby ending his college eligibility.
Koufos was selected by the NBA team Utah Jazz
with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft
. In March 2009, the Jazz assigned him to the NBA D-League club the Utah Flash
. However, after the Flash's first playoff game, the Jazz recalled him from the D-League in time for the playoffs
due to an injury to Jazz starting center Mehmet Okur
.
Koufos was re-assigned to the Flash on March 8, 2010, and recalled on March 22, 2010. On July 14, 2010, Koufos was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves
in a deal involving Al Jefferson
.
On February 22, 2011, Koufos was traded to the Denver Nuggets
in a three-way blockbuster deal which also involved New York Knicks
that brought Carmelo Anthony
to New York.
at the 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship
in Spain. He led his team to the final game and although Greece lost to Serbia, Koufos won the tournament's MVP award after leading the competition in points, rebounds and blocked shots. Koufos is considered to be one of the top Greek basketball center
talents.
In 2009, he debuted with the senior Greek national basketball team and competed at the EuroBasket 2009
, where he won a bronze medal.
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Utah
| 48 || 7 || 11.8 || .508 || .000 || .706 || 2.9 || .4 || .2 || .6 || 4.7
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Utah
| 36 || 0 || 4.8 || .468 || .000 || .600 || 1.3 || .2 || .1 || .1 || 1.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11
| style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota
| 39 || 1 || 8.6 || .435 || .000 || .500 || 2.5 || .2 || .5 || .6 || 2.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11
| style="text-align:left;"| Denver
| 11 || 1 || 8.9 || .500 || .000 || .632 || 3.0 || .0 || .2 || .4 || 4.9
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 134 || 9 || 8.7 || .482 || .000 || .633 || 2.3 || .2 || .2 || .4 || 3.3
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Utah
| 9 || 0 || 3.4 || .400 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .1 || .9
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Denver
| 1 || 0 || 2.0 || 1.000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 10 || 0 || 3.2 || .455 || .000 || .000 || .9 || .0 || .0 || .1 || 1.0
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;...
, ) (born February 24, 1989) is a Greek-American
Greek American
Greek Americans are Americans of Greek descent also described as Hellenic descent. According to the 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimation, there were 1,380,088 people of Greek ancestry in the United States, while the State Department mentions that around 3,000,000 Americans claim to be of Greek descent...
professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets
Denver 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...
. He was selected by the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
. Koufos played 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....
for the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
for one year before declaring for the 2008 NBA Draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
.
Koufos holds dual citizenship of both the United States and Greece. He plays for the senior 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...
.
High school career
Koufos attended GlenOak High SchoolGlenOak High School
GlenOak High School is located in Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio. The school derives its name from the combination of the former Glenwood and Oakwood high schools, which were merged by the district in the fall of 1975...
in Canton
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He was a McDonald's All-American as a senior, and he was ranked the #3 center of the 2007 high school class by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
. He also played for the AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
team sponsored by LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
.
In 2007, Koufos finished second to Buckeye teammate Jon Diebler
Jon Diebler
Jon Keith Diebler is an American basketball player for Panionios B.C. in Greece. He previously played four seasons at Ohio State University. He holds the Ohio high school career scoring record and the Ohio State University and Big Ten career three-point field goals records...
in the Mr. Ohio Basketball voting. During his senior season with GlenOak, Koufos was named the Division I player of the year and was also named First-Team All-State. He also earned First-Team Northeast Inland All-District honors.
The 2007 McDonald's and EA Sports All-American, Koufos averaged 25.9 points per game, 15.4 rebounds per game and 5.2 blocked shots per game. He was instrumental in GlenOak snapping Canton McKinley's
Canton McKinley High School
Canton McKinley Senior High School is a public high school in Canton, Stark County, Ohio, U.S. It is one of the largest and oldest high schools in Ohio.-Athletics:...
41-game win streak in January 2007, when he posted 32 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks to help the Golden Eagles edge the Bulldogs, 56–55, in overtime. The next day, Koufos recorded 32 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks against Detroit Country Day
Detroit Country Day School
Detroit Country Day School is a private, secular school located in four campuses in Oakland County, Michigan, north of Detroit. The administrative offices, facility services, safety and security services, and the upper school are located in a campus in Beverly Hills, along with the middle school...
, to lead GlenOak to its ninth consecutive victory.
As a junior, Koufos averaged 24 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game, and four blocked shots per game and he was named Second-Team All-State. In April 2007, Koufos was a member of the Royal team in the Jordan All-American Classic at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
College career
In 2007, Koufos joined the Ohio State BuckeyesOhio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
, where he replaced Greg Oden
Greg Oden
Gregory Wayne Oden, Jr. is an American basketball player at the center position. Oden is a member of the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA....
at center. He was named the MVP of the 2008
2008 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals and Final:Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 1 and 3* - Overtime game.-External links:*...
National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
(NIT) after leading the Buckeyes to the championship by defeating the UMass Minutemen
UMass Minutemen basketball
The UMass Minutemen basketball team, also known as the Massachusetts Minutemen, represents the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts, in NCAA Division I men's competition...
by a score of 92–85.
Over the course of his year at Ohio State, Koufos averaged 14.4 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocked shots per game.
Pro career
On April 21, 2008, Koufos declared himself eligible for the 2008 NBA Draft2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
, but initially chose not to hire an agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
; this would have allowed him to return to Ohio State if he withdrew from the draft on or before the June 16 withdrawal deadline. However, at the same time, it was speculated that he would leave the Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
anyway to sign a professional contract in Greece.
He turned down a 3 year €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
5 million euros net income
Net income
Net income is the residual income of a firm after adding total revenue and gains and subtracting all expenses and losses for the reporting period. Net income can be distributed among holders of common stock as a dividend or held by the firm as an addition to retained earnings...
contract offer from Olympiacos Piraeus
Olympiacos BC
Olympiacos B.C. , also known simply as Olympiacos and Olympiacos Piraeus, is a Greek professional basketball club, part of Olympiacos CFP, based in Piraeus. The basketball club, founded in 1931, is one of the most successful in Greece and a traditional powerhouse in European competitions...
, a Greek A1 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...
basketball club. On May 8, the Canton Repository
Canton Repository
The Repository is a daily newspaper serving the greater Canton, Ohio, area. Founded March 30, 1815, by John Saxton, it started as a weekly, and began publishing seven-days-a-week in 1892...
reported that Koufos signed with Cleveland-based agent Mark Termini, thereby ending his college eligibility.
Koufos was selected by the NBA team Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
. In March 2009, the Jazz assigned him to the NBA D-League club the Utah Flash
Utah Flash
The Utah Flash was a team of the NBA Development League that began playing in 2007 and folded in 2011. They played their home games at the UCCU Center on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah...
. However, after the Flash's first playoff game, the Jazz recalled him from the D-League in time for the playoffs
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
due to an injury to Jazz starting center Mehmet Okur
Mehmet Okur
Mehmet Murat Okur is a Turkish professional basketball player who currently plays for Türk Telekom B.K.. He is also under contract with the Utah Jazz of the NBA, and can return to that team when the 2011 NBA lockout ends...
.
Koufos was re-assigned to the Flash on March 8, 2010, and recalled on March 22, 2010. On July 14, 2010, Koufos was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
in a deal involving Al Jefferson
Al Jefferson
Al Ricardo Jefferson is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the NBA.-Early life:...
.
On February 22, 2011, Koufos was traded to the Denver Nuggets
Denver 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 a three-way blockbuster deal which also involved New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
that brought Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
to New York.
Greek national team
Koufos was a member of the junior Greek national under-18 teamGreece men's national under-19 and under-18 basketball team
The Greek Under 19 and Under 18 national basketball team , is the representative for Greece in international basketball competitions, and it is organized and run by the Greek Basketball Federation...
at the 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship
FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship
FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship was inaugurated in 1964 and for the following 40 years it had been held biannually. From 2004 onwards, it is held every year.-Summaries:-Performances by nation:...
in Spain. He led his team to the final game and although Greece lost to Serbia, Koufos won the tournament's MVP award after leading the competition in points, rebounds and blocked shots. Koufos is considered to be one of the top Greek basketball 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...
talents.
In 2009, he debuted with the senior Greek national basketball team and competed at the EuroBasket 2009
EuroBasket 2009
The EuroBasket 2009 was the 36th EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Poland, began on 7 September 2009 and concluded with the final on 20 September 2009...
, where he won a bronze medal.
Awards and accomplishments
- 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 ChampionshipFIBA Europe Under-18 ChampionshipFIBA Europe Under-18 Championship was inaugurated in 1964 and for the following 40 years it had been held biannually. From 2004 onwards, it is held every year.-Summaries:-Performances by nation:...
: Silver Medal - 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: MVP
- 2008 National Invitation Tournament2008 National Invitation Tournament-Semifinals and Final:Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 1 and 3* - Overtime game.-External links:*...
: MVP - EuroBasket 2009EuroBasket 2009The EuroBasket 2009 was the 36th EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Poland, began on 7 September 2009 and concluded with the final on 20 September 2009...
: Bronze Medal
Personal
Koufos is the son of Katerina and the late Alex Koufos. He has one brother, Vasilios, and a sister, Maria.Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Utah
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 48 || 7 || 11.8 || .508 || .000 || .706 || 2.9 || .4 || .2 || .6 || 4.7
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | Utah
| 36 || 0 || 4.8 || .468 || .000 || .600 || 1.3 || .2 || .1 || .1 || 1.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
| 39 || 1 || 8.6 || .435 || .000 || .500 || 2.5 || .2 || .5 || .6 || 2.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11
| style="text-align:left;"| Denver
Denver 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...
| 11 || 1 || 8.9 || .500 || .000 || .632 || 3.0 || .0 || .2 || .4 || 4.9
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 134 || 9 || 8.7 || .482 || .000 || .633 || 2.3 || .2 || .2 || .4 || 3.3
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2009–10
2010 NBA Playoffs
The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Utah
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 9 || 0 || 3.4 || .400 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .1 || .9
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2011 NBA Playoffs
The 2011 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2010–11 season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The 2011 NBA Playoffs began on...
| align="left" | Denver
Denver 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...
| 1 || 0 || 2.0 || 1.000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 10 || 0 || 3.2 || .455 || .000 || .000 || .9 || .0 || .0 || .1 || 1.0