Giorgos Kolokithas

Giorgos Kolokithas (alternate spelling: Georgios and Kolokythas; Greek: Γεώργιος (Γιώργος) Κολοκυθάς; November 2, 1945 – March 2, 2013[1]) was a Greek professional basketball player. He is considered one of the best scorers and players in Greek basketball history,[2] and as a player, he had the nickname of "Basket Machine". He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991.

Giorgos Kolokithas
Kolokithas, in 2009.
Personal information
Born(1945-11-02)November 2, 1945
Greece
DiedMarch 2, 2013(2013-03-02) (aged 67)
Greece
NationalityGreek
Listed height6 ft 6.75 in (2.00 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
Playing career1960–1972
PositionShooting guard / small forward / power forward
Number7
Career history
1960–1965Sporting
1965–1972Panathinaikos
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Balkan Championship 0 2 2
Total 0 2 2
Representing  Greece
Men's basketball
Balkan Championship
Silver medal – second place 1963 Greece
Silver medal – second place 1969 Greece
Bronze medal – third place 1966 Bulgaria
Bronze medal – third place 1967 Yugoslavia

Club career

Kolokithas played in his club career with the Greek clubs Sporting and Panathinaikos. While playing with Panathinaikos, he won 4 Greek League championships (1967, 1969, 1971, 1972). He scored a total of 3,529 points in the Greek League, having a personal record game of 51 points. In 1964, 1966, and 1967, he was the Greek League Top Scorer.

In European-wide club competition, with Panathinaikos, he made it to the semifinals of the FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup (FIBA Saporta Cup) in 1969, and the semifinals of the FIBA European Champions' Cup (EuroLeague) in 1972. He was a member of the FIBA European Selection in 1970. He retired at age 28, after suffering a knee injury.[3]

National team career

Kolokithas was a member of the Greek national team. With Greece, he won two silver medals and two bronze medals at the Balkan Championship. He also played with Greece at the 1964 FIBA European Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where he averaged 13.9 points per game, at the 1965 EuroBasket, where he averaged 10.9 points per game, and at the 1967 Mediterranean Games.

At the 1967 EuroBasket, Kolokithas was the Top Scorer of the tournament. During that tournament, he scored a total of 229 points, for a scoring average of 25.4 points per game. He also represented Greece at the 1968 FIBA European Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where he led the tournament in scoring, with an average of 22.8 points per game.

At the 1969 EuroBasket, he was also the Top Scorer of the tournament. At that tournament, he scored a total of 161 points, for a scoring average of 23.0 points per game. Overall, he had 25 caps (games played) at the FIBA EuroBasket, in which he scored a total of 492 points, for a scoring average of 19.7 points per game.

In total, Kolokithas had 90 caps with the senior Greek national team, in which he scored a total of 1,807 points, for a scoring average of 20.1 points per game. In 1971, Kolokithas retired from Greece's national squad, after he scored 36 points in his last game, which was against Scotland.

Executive career

After he retired from playing club basketball, Kolokithas later became the President of all the Greek national teams, and the Vice President of the Hellenic Basketball Federation.

Awards and accomplishments

Pro career

Greece national team

Death

Kolokithas died, after suffering a heart attack, on March 2, 2013.[4]

References
  1. Greek basketball is mourning the death of legend Kolokithas, article on Euroleague.net, March 02, 2013.
  2. Sport24.gr "'Εφυγε" από την ζωή ο Γιώργος Κολοκυθάς (in Greek).
  3. Sport24.gr Ο θρυλικός "μύτος" Γιώργος Κολοκυθάς (in Greek).
  4. Greek basketball is mourning the death of legend Kolokithas, article on Euroleague.net, March 02, 2013.
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