Lefteris Mantzoukas

Eleftherios "Lefteris" Mantzoukas (alternate spelling: Madzoukas) (Greek: Ελευθέριος "Λευτέρης" Μαντζούκας; born July 8, 2003) is a Greek professional basketball player for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague. He is a 2.07 m (6'9 1⁄2") tall power forward.

Lefteris Mantzoukas
No. 72 – Panathinaikos
PositionPower forward
LeagueGreek Basket League
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (2003-07-08) July 8, 2003
Ioannina, Greece
NationalityGreek
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017–2021Promitheas Patras
2021–presentPanathinaikos
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Greece
European U-20 Championship
Bronze medal – third place2023 GreeceUnder-20

Professional career

On 14 February 2018, at the age of 14, Mantzoukas began his pro career with Promitheas Patras, in the Greek Basket League, during the 2017–18 season.[1] He made his Greek League debut in a game versus Panionios, in which he scored 2 points, in 1 minute of playing time.[2] Mantzoukas thus became the second youngest player to ever debut in the top-tier level Greek League, since it became fully professional in 1992. Georgios Papagiannis is the only other player to have previously debuted in the same competition, at a younger age.

Three months later, on 24 May 2017, while still at the age of 13, Mantzoukas became the youngest player to ever start a game in the top-tier level Greek League, since it became fully professional in 1992.[3] He accomplished that when he started a Greek League game against Olympiacos, in which he scored 12 points, in 31 minutes of playing time.[4] During the 2017–18 Greek League season, he averaged 2.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game, in 7 games played.[5]

On 10 October 2018, at the age of 15, Mantzoukas debuted in one of the two European-wide secondary level competitions, the FIBA Champions League, during the 2018–19 season. He made his FIBA Champions League debut in a game versus the Belgian League club Oostende, in which he went scoreless, in 1 minute of playing time.[6] During the 2018–19 FIBA Champions League season, he averaged 3.5 points and 0.5 rebounds per game, in 2 games played.[7] He also averaged 1.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game, in 4 games played, during the 2018–19 Greek League season.[8]

On 2 October 2019, at the age of 16, Mantzoukas debuted in the other European-wide secondary level competition, the EuroCup, during the 2019–20 season. He made his EuroCup debut in a game versus the Israeli Super League club Maccabi Rishon LeZion, in which he scored 2 points.[9]

On 18 December 2020, Promitheas announced that Mantzoukas would be moving to EuroLeague mainstays Panathinaikos on a five-year contract.

During the 2022–2023 campaign, in 21 EuroLeague games, Mantzoukas averaged 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds (shooting with 42% from the 3-point line), playing around 13 minutes per contest. Additionally, in 29 domestic league matches, he averaged 5.5 points and 2.4 rebounds (shooting with 41% from the 3-point line), playing around 18 minutes per contest.

National team career

Mantzoukas has been a member of the junior national teams of Greece. He played at the 2018 FIBA Under-16 European Championship, where he averaged 9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.[10] He also played at the 2019 FIBA Under-16 European Championship, where he averaged 15.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.[11]

References
  1. Regular season stats for Eleftherios Mantzoukas.
  2. GAME: PROMITHEAS PATRAS 69 - 58 PANIONIOS ΒΙΚΟΣ COLA.
  3. PROMITHEAS’ MANTZOUKAS CONTINUES TO SET NEW BASKET LEAGUE RECORDS.
  4. GAME: OLYMPIACOS B.C. 104 - 69 PROMITHEAS PATRAS.
  5. ΜΑΝΤΖΟΥΚΑΣ Λευτέρης | STOIXIMAN.GR Basket League 2017-18 (in Greek).
  6. Regular Season Group D Final Score Filou Oostende 84 93 Promitheas Patras.
  7. Lefteris MANTZOUKAS STATISTICS.
  8. ΜΑΝΤΖΟΥΚΑΣ Λευτέρης | BETSHOP BASKET LEAGUE 2018-19 (in Greek).
  9. 2019-20 Regular Season Round 1 MACCABI RISHON LEZION 55 PROMITHEAS PATRAS 88 OCTOBER 02, 2019 CET: 18:30.
  10. Lefteris MANTZOUKAS 2018 FIBA U-16 European Championship.
  11. Lefteris MANTZOUKAS 2019 FIBA U-16 European Championship.
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