Sotiris Nikolaidis

Sotiris "Sotos" Nikolaidis (Greek: Σωτήρης "Σώτος" Νικολαΐδης; (born May 25, 1974, in Thessaloniki, Greece), is a retired Greek professional basketball player and current basketball coach. During his club playing career, at a height of 1.86 m (6'1 1⁄4") tall, he played at the point guard and shooting guard positions.

Sotiris Nikolaidis
Personal information
Born (1974-05-25) May 25, 1974
Thessaloniki, Greece
NationalityGreek
Listed height6 ft 1.25 in (1.86 m)
Listed weight181 lb (82 kg)
Career information
Playing career1995–2010
PositionPoint guard / Shooting guard
Coaching career2010–present
Career history
As player:
1995–2000PAOK
2000–2001Maroussi
2001–2002Napoli
2002–2003Iraklis
2003–2005AEK
2005–2006Maroussi
2006–2007AEK
2007–2008Rethymno
2008–2009Ilysiakos
2009–2010Apollon Patras
As coach:
2010–2012HANTH (youth)
2012–2013MENT
2013–2014Trikala Aries (assistant)
2014–2016Stratoni
2016–2018HANTH
2019–2020Pefkochori
2020Ionikos Nikaias (assistant)
2022–2023Lavrio (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As player:
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Greece
FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship
Silver medal – second place1991 GreeceUnder-16

Professional career

Nikolaidis started his youth basketball career in Greece, with HAN Thessaloniki. In 1995, he transferred to the Greek Basket League club PAOK Thessaloniki, where he played for five years. With PAOK, he also played three seasons in Europe's top level competition, the FIBA EuroLeague (1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00). Moreover, Nikolaidis also won the Greek Cup title with PAOK, in 1999.

In 2000, he moved to the Greek club Maroussi Athens, and with them he won the European-wide secondary level FIBA Saporta Cup's 2000–01 season championship. Nikolaidis was the hero of the 2001 FIBA Saporta Cup Final, after he scored the game's two winning points, with free throws made 15 seconds before the end of the game. He also played in the Greek Basket League with Iraklis Thessaloniki, AEK Athens, and Rethymno. With AEK, he also played two seasons in Europe's top level EuroLeague (2003–04 and 2004–05).

Nikolaidis then played with Ilysiakos Athens in the Greek 2nd Division, and in the semi-pro level Greek 3rd Division, with Apollon Patras. He ended his club playing career in the Greek minor leagues, with HAN Thessaloniki.[1][2]

National team career

With Greece's Under-16 junior national team, Nikolaidis won the silver medal at the 1991 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. He also played in one cap (game) with the senior Greek national basketball team, in a game against Belgium, at the 1999 FIBA EuroBasket qualification tournament.

Personal life

His sons Alexandros and Apostolos also became professional basketball players.[3]

References
  1. "Ο Σωτήρης Νικολαΐδης στη ΧΑΝΘ". northbasket.gr. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
  2. "Το Μαρούσι όλης της Ελλάδας". sport24.gr. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
  3. Olympiacos signs youngster Alexandros Nikolaidis.
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