Nikos Chougkaz

Nikolaos "Nikos" Chougkaz (alternate spellings: Chougaz, Hougkaz, Hougaz) (Greek: Νικόλαος "Νίκος" Χουγκάζ; born October 4, 2000, in Athens, Greece) is a Greek professional basketball player for Peristeri of the Greek Basket League and the Basketball Champions League, on loan from EuroLeague giants Panathinaikos. At a height of 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall,[1][2] he plays at the power forward position.

Nikos Chougkaz
No. 33 – Peristeri
PositionPower forward
LeagueGreek Basket League
BCL
Personal information
Born (2000-10-04) October 4, 2000
Athens, Greece
NationalityGreek
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolPapacharalampio Private School
(Athens, Greece)
College
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2019Panionios
2020–2021Ionikos Nikaias
2021–Panathinaikos
2021–2022→ Ionikos Nikaias
2023–present→ Peristeri
Career highlights and awards

Youth career

Chougkaz played three seasons of youth system basketball with the Greek club Peristeri.

College career

Chougkaz played at a fully professional level of competition in the 2018–19 season. However, he was still able to retain his personal amateur status for the NCAA DI. That was because his contract with Panionios Athens was structured so that his salary would be below the maximum limit that the NCAA allows in order for players to keep their NCAA eligibility.

Chougkaz moved to the United States, in order to play college basketball at Northwestern State University.[3] He played with the Northwestern State Demons, during the 2019–20 season. During his Freshman season, he averaged 9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game, while shooting 40.7% overall from the field, 28.0% from three-point range, and 70.1% from the free-throw line.[4] Ultimately, Chougkaz only played with the Demons for that one season, and he then returned to Greece, to play professionally.

Professional career

Chougaz started his career with Panionios of the Greek Basket League in 2018. In his first season playing at a pro club level (2018–19), he averaged 3.4 points, 1.1 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 0.2 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game, while shooting 42.9% overall from the field, 41.2% from 2-point range, 50.0% from 3-point range, and 87.5% from the free-throw line.[5] While playing with Panionios, his contract allowed him to retain his amateur status for the NCAA. After spending the 2019–20 season with the college basketball team Northwestern State, he joined the Greek League club Ionikos Nikaias.[6]

On November 22, 2020, Chougaz recorded career-highs in both points and rebounds, after he scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, in his team΄s win over Lavrio. On March 21, 2021, he tied the best three-point shooting record of the Greek League, after he shot 7 for 7 from three-point distance, in a win against Larisa. He finished that game with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists, and he was later named league's MVP of the Week.[7] He averaged 10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game, while shooting 42.9% overall from the field, 45.2% from 2-point range, 39.2% from 3-point range, and 74.7% from the free-throw line.[8] during the Greek League's 2020–21 season.

Panathinaikos

On July 20, 2021, Chougkaz signed a four-year contract with Greek Basket League champions and EuroLeague mainstays Panathinaikos. He would remain on loan to Ionikos for the 2021-2022 season. In 12 league games with Ionikos, Chougkaz averaged 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds, playing around 27 minutes per contest.

Chougkaz was recalled to Panathinaikos on February 7, 2022.[9] On February 25, 2022, he made his EuroLeague debut, aged 21, on a game against KK Crvena zvezda.[10] In 13 league games with Panathinaikos, he averaged 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds, playing around 10 minutes per contest. Additionally, he appeared in a total of 4 EuroLeague games, averaging 1 point and 1.2 rebounds, playing around 6 minutes per contest.

On February 3, 2023, after a half-season of limited playing time (8 domestic league matches), Chougkaz was loaned to Peristeri, under coach Vassilis Spanoulis. In 9 games, he averaged 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 15 minutes per contest.

During the 2023 offseason, Chougkaz was informed by Panathinaikos that he would be returning to the active roster for evaluation under new head coach Ergin Ataman. However, on August 11, 2023, it was announced that Chougkaz would remain on loan to Peristeri for the 2023-2024 campaign.[11]

National team career

Greek junior national team

Chougkaz was a member of the junior national teams of Greece. With Greece's under-18 junior national team, he played at the 2018 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He averaged 2.8 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.2 assists, and 0.6 steals per game at the tournament. With Greece's under-19 junior national team, he played at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. He averaged 5.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game at the tournament.

Greek senior national team

Chougkaz first played with the senior Greek national team on 20 February 2021, when he played at the 2022 EuroBasket qualifiers. In his first game with the men's national team, he had 3 points and 1 rebound in Greece's 84–69 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina.[12] Overall, in two games played, he averaged 4.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game during the qualifiers.

Personal life

Chougaz΄s mother Sonia Dafkou, was a long-time professional basketball player, having also played for Panathinaikos. His father Chris, who was born in Alexandria, Egypt, is a former professional basketball player and a coach. He has been the head coach of numerous clubs in Europe.[13] His twin brother Robert,[14] plays college basketball at Northwestern State University.[15]

References
  1. ΧΟΥΓΚΑΖ Νίκος | Basket League 2020-2021 ΥΨΟΣ 2,08 (in English).
  2. NIKOS CHOUGAZ Height: 208 cm.
  3. Nikos Chougkaz| #33 | G | Northwestern State.
  4. NIKOS CHOUGKAZ #33 Athens, Greece.
  5. ΧΟΥΓΚΑΖ Νίκος | BETSHOP BASKET LEAGUE 2018-19 (in Greek).
  6. "Ionikos Nikaias tab rookie Nikos Chougkaz in his first year in pro basketball". eurobasket.com. September 11, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  7. "=A1 Round 18 of Regular Season". eurobasket.com. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  8. ΧΟΥΓΚΑΖ Νίκος | BETSHOP BASKET LEAGUE 2020-21 (in Greek).
  9. Mammides, Chris (February 7, 2022). "Nikos Chougkaz signs at Panathinaikos". Eurobasket. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  10. "Panathinaikos OPAP Athens vs Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade". Euroleague. February 25, 2022.
  11. "Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός ανακοινώνει την παραχώρηση του Νίκου Χουγκάζ στο Περιστέρι". paobc.gr. August 11, 2023.
  12. Greece 69 Bosnia and Herzegovina 84.
  13. "Chris Chougaz Bio". chrischougaz.com. September 12, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  14. ROBERT CHOUGKAZ Northwestern State Demons.
  15. NIKOS CHOUGKAZ Personal.
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