Kostas Papanikolaou
Encyclopedia
Konstantinos "Kostas" Papanikolaou (Greek
: Κωνσταντίνος "Κώστας" Παπανικολάου; born August 1, 1990 in Trikala, Greece) is a Greek
professional basketball player. He is 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) tall. He plays mainly as a small forward
, but he can also play the power forward
position.
during the 2008-09 season. He was named the MVP of the Greek Under 22 All Star Game in 2009. He was also named the Greek League's Best Young Player in 2009. In 2009, he moved to Olympiacos
.
and the gold medal at the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship
. He also won the silver medal at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship
. Papanikolaou also won the gold medal at the 2009 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team and won the MVP award.
In August 2009, he made his debut with the senior Greek national basketball team in a friendly match. He also won the silver medal at the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
with Greece's junior national team, where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
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;...
: Κωνσταντίνος "Κώστας" Παπανικολάου; born August 1, 1990 in Trikala, Greece) is a 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 player. He is 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) tall. He plays mainly as a small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
, but he can also play the power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
position.
Pro career
Papanikolaou began playing basketball with the youth teams of Proteas Grevenon and Aris and he made his pro debut in the Greek League with Aris ThessalonikiAris BC
Aris Basketball Club is the professional basketball team of the Thessaloniki-based Greek sport club Aris Thessaloniki. Aris BC was founded in 1922, eight years after the founding of Aris Thessaloniki....
during the 2008-09 season. He was named the MVP of the Greek Under 22 All Star Game in 2009. He was also named the Greek League's Best Young Player in 2009. In 2009, he moved to Olympiacos
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...
.
Greek national team
As a member of the junior national basketball teams of Greece, Papanikolaou won the silver medal at the 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 ChampionshipFIBA 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:...
and the gold medal at the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship
U18 European Championship Men 2008 Division A
The 2008 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship was an international basketball competition held in Greece from July 25, 2008 until August 3.-Squads:At the start of tournament, all 16 participating countries will have 12 players on their roster.- Venues :...
. He also won the silver medal at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship
FIBA Under-19 World Championship 2009
The 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship was an international basketball competition held in Auckland, New Zealand from July 2, 2009 until July 12.-Qualification:*FIBA Africa Under-18 Championship 2008*#*#*FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship 2008*#*#*#...
. Papanikolaou also won the gold medal at the 2009 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team and won the MVP award.
In August 2009, he made his debut with the senior Greek national basketball team in a friendly match. He also won the silver medal at the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
The 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship was the 13th edition of the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. The cities of Zadar, Crikvenica and Makarska, in Croatia, hosted the tournament...
with Greece's junior national team, where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
Greek national team
- 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 - 2008: FIBA Europe Under-18 ChampionshipU18 European Championship Men 2008 Division AThe 2008 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship was an international basketball competition held in Greece from July 25, 2008 until August 3.-Squads:At the start of tournament, all 16 participating countries will have 12 players on their roster.- Venues :...
: Gold Medal - 2009: FIBA Under-19 World ChampionshipFIBA Under-19 World Championship 2009The 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship was an international basketball competition held in Auckland, New Zealand from July 2, 2009 until July 12.-Qualification:*FIBA Africa Under-18 Championship 2008*#*#*FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship 2008*#*#*#...
: Silver Medal - 2009: FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: Gold Medal
- 2009: FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: All-Tournament Team
- 2009: FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: MVP
- 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 ChampionshipThe 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship was the 13th edition of the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. The cities of Zadar, Crikvenica and Makarska, in Croatia, hosted the tournament...
: Silver Medal - 2010: FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: All-Tournament Team
Pro career
- Greek Under 22 All Star Game: MVP: 2009
- Greek 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...
: Best Young Player: 2009 - Won 2 Greek CupsGreek 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:...
: 2010, 2011