P.A.O.K. B.C.

P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki B.C.
Nickname Double-Headed Eagle of The North
Leagues HEBA A1
Greek Cup
Eurocup
Founded 1928
History 1928 - present
Arena P.A.O.K. Sports Arena
(capacity: 8,500)[1]
Location Thessaloniki, Greece
Team colors White and Black
         
President Branislav Prelević
Head coach Anastasios Markopoulos
Championships 1 Saporta Cup
(1991)
1 Korać Cup
(1994)
2 Greek Championships
(1959, 1992)
3 Greek Cups
(1984, 1995, 1999)
Website www.paokbc.gr
Uniforms
Home
Away

P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki B.C. is the professional basketball department of the Greek multi-sports club P.A.O.K., originally founded in 1926 and is based in Thessaloniki, Greece. The club has established a firm reputation in Greek sports, especially for its success in European leagues. The club has maintained a presence in the Greek First Division (A1 Ethniki) since the year 1960.

Well-known players that have played with the club over the years have included: Peja Stojaković, John Korfas, Panagiotis Fasoulas, Nikos Stavropoulos, Scott Skiles, Rasho Nesterovič, Zoran Savić, Walter "The Truth" Berry, Charles Shackleford, Lawrence Funderburke, Conrad McRae, Anthony Bonner, Tracy Murray, Cliff Levingston, Ken Barlow, Rafael Addison, Damir Mulaomerović and above all the great legend, the team's captain and leader on and off the court, Branislav Prelević,

Contents

History

1928–1980

The basketball section of PAOK was created in 1928 when Alekos Alexiadis, a young member of the administration council, took the initiative to create a basketball team. He "gave birth" to the basketball department again after World War II. After the war, Alekos Alexiadis began to organize a basketball team from the children that played in the only basketball court in Thessaloniki. The first honor for PAOK was the win of the 1959 Greek League. The team was crowned Champions of Greece with the following players; Dapontes, Kyriakou, Oikonomou, Paschalis, Stalios, Kokkos, Theoridis, Angelidis, Stergiou, Konstantinidis, and player-coach Iraklis Klagas. Four years later the Greek League was reconstructed to a professional National League but PAOK was placed in the Second National Division, winning immediate promotion to the first division the next year. The worst season of the club to date was in 1977 when PAOK avoided relegation with a 66-53 play-out win over Democritus.

1980–1990

PAOK met Panathinaikos in its first Greek Cup Final, in 1982. The Athenians managed to scrape through a two point victory, despite the game being played in Alexandrio Melathron, the then PAOK home ground. The next season the team finished second to Aris, being defeated only in one game by the champions.

The success of both Aris and PAOK fueled the ongoing rivalry between their fans that had long been established in football. In 1984, the two teams reached the Greek Cup Final. PAOK coach, Faidonas Mathaiou, trying to boost his team's morale, ordered the players to completely shave their heads. PAOK won the Greek Cup by four points (74-70) in what is now remembered as the "final of the shaven heads".

The then 22-year old Branislav Prelević debuted in the 1988-89 season. He became the definitive leader and a fan favorite, often compared to the great Nick Galis, who was at the time the captain of Aris. Prelevic was often quoted for his loyalty to the team. He had a number of injuries and medical emergencies because of weak legs, but he would constantly choose to take heavy dosages of painkillers rather than missing out on important games.

1990–2000

PAOK brought limitless joy to its fans by winning the European Cup Winners' Cup when PAOK defeated Zaragoza in Geneva 76-72 on March 26, 1991.

The next season PAOK reached the final again but lost to Real Madrid 63-65. The game was going to overtime, as the two teams were equal at 63 points, when Panagiotis Fasoulas lost the ball in the last 2 seconds and the Real players scored an unexpected basket. In the same year PAOK won the Greek Championship, beating out Aris and Olympiacos.

PAOK participated in the 1992-93 European Champion's Cup for the first time and managed to reach the Athens Final Four. PAOK lost in the semi final game to Benetton Treviso, which was led by superstar Toni Kukoč by a score of 77-79 .

In 1994 PAOK returned to European success by winning the Korać Cup two-leg final against Pallacanestro Trieste, winning both at home and away by 9 points. The following year PAOK won the Greek Cup in a 19 point victory against Panionios 72-53. In 1999 PAOK again won the Greek Cup by defeating AEK Athens 71-54.

2000–2007

The new home of PAOK, the PAOK Sports Arena, able to hold 8,650 fans, was inaugurated on 17 March 2000. That marked the end of a long period of time of sharing the home court of Alexandrio Melathron with Aris. Bane Prelevic returned to PAOK after quick spells at Kinder Bologna and AEK Athens B.C. and then quit basketball at the end of the season. He later returned to PAOK in the 2001–2002 season as an assistant coach.

PAOK finished 6th in the 2003-04 Greek A1 League season, boasting a squad full of youngsters. Prelevic become head coach and led the team into a short winning streak. A month after the start of the A1 Ethniki 2006-07 season, Prelevic was replaced by Kostas Pilafidis and assumed a non-technical position as the General Manager of the team. During a game that year PAOK and Aris put on a spectacular show that PAOK ended up winning after two overtime periods.[2] PAOK changed coaches again in 2007 when Vangelis Alexandris took over as the team's head coach.

Roster

Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
G/F 4 Giddens, J.R. 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 95 kg (209 lb) &1000000000000002700000027
PG 5 Stiggers, Dante 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) &1000000000000002900000029
SF 6 Arapis, Dimitris 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) &1000000000000002100000021
PF 8 Goree, Marcus 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 113 kg (249 lb) &1000000000000003400000034
F/C 9 Dikoudis, Dimos 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) &1000000000000003400000034
SG 10 Kalampokis, Ioannis 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 95 kg (209 lb) &1000000000000003300000033
C 11 Andriuškevičius, Martynas 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) 110 kg (243 lb) &1000000000000002500000025
PG 12 Wright, Rashad 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 86 kg (190 lb) &1000000000000002900000029
C/G 13 Giannakidis, Michalis 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) &1000000000000002300000023
C 14 Kalles, Nikos 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) &1000000000000002400000024
G/F 16 Kalampakas, Dimitris 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) &1000000000000002200000022
PF 19 Tsakaleris, Efthimios 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) &1000000000000002200000022
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Haris Markopoulos
  • Pantelis Boutskos

Legend
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: 13 September 2011

Honors

Greece

Europe

The road to the European Cup victories

Cup Winners' Cup 1991

Round Team Home   Away  
1st Round Bye
2nd Round Sunderland 97–85 96–89
Group Stage CAI Zaragoza 112–102 64–70
Red Star Belgrade 91–80 75–91
Hapoel Galil Elyon 107–77 79–80
Semifinals Dynamo Moscow 95–82 63–75
Final CAI Zaragoza 76–72

Korać Cup

Round Team Home Away
1st Round Bye
2nd Round Bye
3rd Round Samara 101–56 81–77
Group Stage CB Sevilla 92–89 87–82
Olimpia Milano 71–67 74–76
KK Zagreb 84–70 91–77
Quarter finals Scavolini Pesaro 96–58 66–82
Finals Stefanel Trieste 75–66 100–91

Seasons

Season A1 Ethniki Cup Europe Coach Roster
1958-59 Champion No tournament No tournament Iraklios Klagkas Angelidis, Asteriadis, Constantinidis, Ikonomou, Kiriakou, Klagkas, Kokkos, Pashalis, Stalios, Stergiou, Dapontes, Theodoridis
1959-60 Runner Up No tournament Euroleague
Last 32
1974-75 4th place No tournament Korać Cup
Last 32
1975-76 9th place Korać Cup
Last 32
1981-82 3rd place Runner Up Korać Cup
Last 32
Theodoros Rodopoulos Vangelis Alexandris, Panagiotis Fasoulas, Manthos Katsoulis, Giannis Politis, Zaharias Katsoulis, Dimitris Kalpakis, Christos Konstantinidis, Thanasis Koumatsiotis, Gaitanis, Delapashos, Bourlivas, Stratis
1982-83 Runner Up Last 4 Cup Winners' Cup
Last 16
Theodoros Rodopoulos Vangelis Alexandris, Panagiotis Fasoulas, Giannis Politis, Zaharias Katsoulis, Alexis Bakopoulos, Dimitris Kalpakis, Christos Konstantinidis, Thanasis Koumatsiotis, Gaitanis, Polichronakos, Bourlivas, Michael Angelidis
1983-84 3rd place Winner Korać Cup
Last 16
Harry Pappas,
Fedon Matheou
Panagiotis Fasoulas, Nikos Stavropoulos, Manthos Katsoulis, Vangelis Alexandris, Giannis Politis, Zaharias Katsoulis, Alexis Bakopoulos, Dimitris Kalpakis, Christos Konstantinidis, Thanasis Koumatsiotis, Polikratis, Michael Angelidis, Polichronakos
1984-85 Runner Up Last 4 Cup Winners' Cup
Last 8
Josip Gjergja Panagiotis Fasoulas, Nikos Stavropoulos, Steve Giatzoglou, Manthos Katsoulis, Vangelis Alexandris, Sotiris Sakellariou, Giannis Politis, Zaharias Katsoulis, Alexis Bakopoulos, Dimitris Kalpakis, Platon Hotokouridis, Thanasis Koumatsiotis, Bill Varner, Dick Moma
1985-86 5th place Last 16 Korać Cup
Last 16
Theodoros Rodopoulos Takis Koroneos, Nikos Stavropoulos, Manthos Katsoulis, Sotiris Sakellariou, Zaharias Katsoulis, Takis Karatzoulidis, Alexis Bakopoulos, Dimitris Dontsios, Platon Hotokouridis, Thanasis Koumatsiotis, Panagiotis Kalogiros, Christos Konstantinidis, Bill Varner, Mark Simpson
1986-87 3rd place Last 16 Korać Cup
Last 32
Orestis Angelidis Panagiotis Fasoulas, Nikos Stavropoulos, Manthos Katsoulis, Sotiris Sakellariou, Zaharias Katsoulis, Takis Karatzoulidis, Alexis Bakopoulos, John Korfas, Platon Hotokouridis, Giorgos Makaras, Panagiotis Kalogiros, Delaney Rudd, Alvis Rogers
1987-88 Runner Up Last 8 Korać Cup
Last 16
Johnny Neumann Panagiotis Fasoulas, John Korfas, Nikos Stavropoulos, Manthos Katsoulis, Takis Karatzoulidis, Giorgos Makaras, Alexis Bakopoulos, Zaharias Katsoulis, Sotiris Sakellariou, Platon Hotokouridis, Gerasimos Tzakis, Panagiotis Kalogiros, Delaney Rudd, Marc Petway, Hatzigeorgiou, Metsas
1988-89 Runner Up Runner Up Korać Cup
Last 16
Johnny Neumann,
Kostas Politis
Mike Jones, Panagiotis Fasoulas, Branislav Prelević, John Korfas, Nikos Stavropoulos, Takis Karatzoulidis, Giorgos Makaras, Bil Melis, Alexis Bakopoulos, Dimitris Dontsios, Hatzigeorgiou
1989-90 Runner Up Runner Up Cup Winners' Cup
Last 4
Kostas Politis Anthony Cook, Branislav Prelević, Panagiotis Fasoulas, John Korfas, Nikos Stavropoulos, Takis Karatzoulidis, Giorgos Makaras, Nikos Boudouris, Pit Papahronis, Achilleas Mamatziolas, Bil Melis, Theodoros Asteriadis, Christos Papasarantou
1990-91 Runner Up Runner Up Cup Winners' Cup
Winner
Kostas Politis,
Sakis Laios,
Dragan Šakota
Kenneth Barlow, Branislav Prelević, Panagiotis Fasoulas, Nikos Stavropoulos, Nikos Boudouris, Giorgos Makaras, John Korfas, Pit Papachronis, Memos Ioannou, Achileas Mamatziolas, Giorgos Valavanidis, Lazaros Tsakiris, Nikos Katsikis, Tom Katsikis, Irving Thomas
1991-92 Champion Last 4 European Cup
Runner Up
Dušan Ivković Kenneth Barlow, Branislav Prelević, Panagiotis Fasoulas, John Korfas, Nikos Boudouris, Pit Papahronis, Giorgos Makaras, Nikos Filippou, Nikos Stavropoulos, Dimitris Dimakopoulos, Nikos Katsikis, Theodoros Asteriadis, Thanasis Kotsopoulos, Giorgos Kouklakis, Achilleas Mamatziolas, Evripidis Meletiadis, Lazaros Tsakiris, Giorgos Valavanidis, Paliouras, Parisopoulos, Tsafrakidis, Karapournos
1992-93 3rd place Last 8 Euroleague
3rd place
Dušan Ivković Cliff Levingston, Kenneth Barlow, Branislav Prelević, Panagiotis Fasoulas, John Korfas, Nikos Boudouris, Giorgos Balogiannis, Nikos Filippou, Christos Tsekos, Achilleas Mamatziolas, Nikos Katsikis, Giorgos Kouklakis, Giorgos Valavanidis, Stavros Koukouvitskas
1993-94 Runner Up Last 4 Korać Cup
Winner
Dušan Ivković,
Soulis Markopoulos
Walter Berry, Branislav Prelević, Zoran Savić, Nasos Galakteros, Efthimis Rentzias, John Korfas, Nikos Boudouris, Giorgos Balogiannis, Achilleas Mamatziolas, Christos Tsekos, Giorgos Valavanidis, Giorgos Kouklakis, Thanasis Kotsopoulos, Fotis Takianos
1994-95 4th place Winner Euroleague
Last 16
Dragan Šakota,
Sakis Laios,
Vangelis Alexandris
Branislav Prelević, Zoran Savić, Jerrod Mustaf, Matt Bullard, John Korfas, Nasos Galakteros, Giannis Giannoulis, Nikos Boudouris, Efthimis Rentzias, Predrag Stojaković, Giorgos Balogiannis, Christos Tsekos, Lemone Lampley, Achilleas Mamatziolas, Kostas Christou
1995-96 4th place Last 16 European Cup
Runner Up
Vangelis Alexandris,
E. Kioumourtzoglou,
Željko Lukajić,
Dimitris Itoudis
Branislav Prelević, Lawrence Funderburke, Dean Garrett, Trevor Ruffin, Predrag Stojaković, Efthimis Rentzias, Giorgos Balogiannis, Nikos Boudouris, Giannis Giannoulis, Achilleas Mamatziolas, Sotiris Nikolaidis, Christos Tsekos, Kostas Christou, Dimitris Koptis
1996-97 3rd place Last 16 Korać Cup
Last 16
Michel Gomez,
Scott Skiles
Scott Skiles, Predrag Stojaković, Anthony Bonner, Dell Demps, Nikos Boudouris, Giorgos Balogiannis, Efthimis Rentzias, Giannis Giannoulis, Achilleas Mamatziolas, Sotiris Nikolaidis, Christos Tsekos, Stefan Baeck, Dimitris Despos, Giorgos Gallos, Dimitris Koptis, Thanasis Kotsopoulos
1997-98 Runner Up Last 16 Euroleague
Last 16
Zvi Sherf Predrag Stojaković, Charles Shackleford, Rafael Addison, Conrad McRae, Giorgos Balogiannis, Nikos Boudouris, Giannis Giannoulis, Lefteris Kakiousis, Giorgos Maslarinos, Juan Antonio Morales, Sotiris Nikolaidis, Ricardo Peral Antunez, Federico Pieri, Ronald Rowan, Dimitris Despos, Dimitris Nesteropoulos, Vasilis Tsolakidis
1998-99 3rd place Winner Euroleague
Last 32
Zvi Sherf,
Kostas Flevarakis
Walter Berry, Frankie King, Claudio Coldebella, Giorgos Balogiannis, Giannis Giannoulis, Lefteris Kakiousis, Juan Antonio Morales, Ricardo Peral Antunez, Sotiris Nikolaidis, Giorgos Maslarinos, Dimitris Nesteropoulos, Kostas Christou, Dimitris Despos, Vasilis Tsolakidis, Dimitris Iliopoulos
1999-00 Runner Up Last 16 Euroleague
Last 16
Petar Skansi,
Kostas Flevarakis
Victor Alexander, Bill Edwards, Branislav Prelević, Sergei Bazarevich, Dinos Angelidis, Giorgos Balogiannis, Claudio Coldebella, Giannis Giannoulis, Sotiris Nikolaidis, Ricardo Peral Antunez, Nikos Vetoulas, Giorgos Maslarinos, Giannis Papahristou, Dimitris Iliopoulos
2000-01 8th place Last 8 Euroleague
Last 16
Kostas Flevarakis, Giannis Sferopoulos Angelos Koronios, Panagiotis Liadellis, Anthony Avent, Joseph Blair, Giorgos Sigalas, Giannis Giannoulis, Giorgos Limniatis, Kostas Vassiliadis, Jorge Racca, Josep Cargol, Claudio Coldebella, Frédéric Weis, Valeri Dainenko, Giorgos Apostolidis, Efthimios Galis, Theodoros Triftanidis
2001-02 8th place Last 16 Korać Cup
Last 32
Slobodan Subotić,
Vangelis Alexandris
Bill Edwards, Norman Nolan, Andre Woolridge, Panagiotis Liadelis, Nestoras Kommatos, Giorgos Sigalas, Panagiotis Vasilopoulos, Kostas Vassiliadis, Loukas Mavrokefalidis, Claudio Coldebella, Juan Antonio Morales, Giorgos Limniatis, Giorgos Apostolidis, Perry Carter Greene, Daniel Callahan, Kostas Vathis
2002-03 7th place Last 16 EuroCup Challenge
Last 16
Branislav Prelević Brent Scott, Wendell Alexis, Branko Milisavljević, Nestoras Kommatos, Panagiotis Vasilopoulos, Kostas Vassiliadis, Loukas Mavrokefalidis, Giorgos Apostolidis, Giorgos Limniatis, Torraye Braggs, Predrag Materić, Kostas Christou, Dimitris Koptis, Pashalis Panagiotidis, Perry Carter Greene, Kostas Vathis
2003-04 6th place Last 16 EuroChallenge
Withdrawn
Branislav Prelević Damir Mulaomerović, Kasib Powell, Kostas Vassiliadis, Panagiotis Vasilopoulos, Loukas Mavrokefalidis, Ivica Jurković, Ronnie Fields, Alexander Okunsky, Aleksandar Radojević, Sotiris Manolopoulos, Spiros Panteliadis, Thanasis Kamariotis, Kosta Karamanolev, Haris Markopoulos, Giorgos Pasalidis, Ilias Tevetzidis
2004-05 6th place Last 4 ULEB Cup
Last 8
Branislav Prelević Damir Mulaomerović, Matthew Nielsen, Kostas Vassiliadis, Panagiotis Vasilopoulos, Loukas Mavrokefalidis, Giannis Gagaloudis, Amit Tamir, Alexander Bashminov, Ivan Grgat, Giorgos Balogiannis, Kostas Maglos, Sotiris Manolopoulos, James Maye, Aristidis Koronidis
2005-06 6th place Last 4 EuroChallenge
Last 32
Branislav Prelević,
Soulis Markopoulos
Loukas Mavrokefalidis, Kostas Vassiliadis, Vladimir Vuksanović, Giannis Gagaloudis, Stanislav Makshantsev, Mamadou N'Diaye, Tracy Murray, Chester Simmons, Vasilis Xanthopoulos, Dimitris Verginis, Hrvoje Henjak, Marijan Mance, Vladimir Zujovic, Sotiris Manolopoulos, Anestis Tzinopoulos, Giannis Vasiliou, Theodoros Georgitsis
2006-07 6th place Last 8 ULEB Cup
Last 16
Kostas Pilafidis,
Vangelis Alexandris
Vlado Šćepanović, Giannis Kalambokis, Blagota Sekulić, Jerome Allen, Darius Washington, Jason Parker, Drago Pašalić, Đuro Ostojić, Andy Panko, Lazaros Agadakos, J.R. Bremer, Dimitris Verginis, C.J. Watson, Haris Giannopoulos, Dimitris Haritopoulos, Feliks Kojadinović, Nikos Kouvelas, Sotiris Manolopoulos, Ivan Tomas, Giannis Vasileiou, Carolos Galazoulas
2007-08 12th place Last 8 EuroChallenge
Last 16
Tab Baldwin,
Kostas Flevarakis,
John Korfas
İbrahim Kutluay, Dimitris Verginis, Mamoutou Diarra, Edmund Saunders, Giorgos Tsiakos, Michael Hakim Jordan, Lee Humphrey, Dimitris Haritopoulos, Jason Rowe, Reda Rhalimi, Giannis Demertzis, Carolos Galazoulas, Haris Giannopoulos, Antoine Gillespie, Steven Hansell, Zoltán Horváth, Nikos Kouvelas, Martin Ringström, Thrasivoulos Sfeikos, Giannis Vasileiou
2008-09 7th place Last 16 Not participated Argiris Pedoulakis,
Giorgos Kalafatakis
Dejan Tomašević, Damir Mulaomerović, Christos Harisis, Alexis Kyritsis, Mamoutou Diarra, Panagiotis Kafkis, Britton Johnsen, Vassilis Simtsak, Giorgos Tsiaras, Carolos Galazoulas, Michalis Giannakidis, Dimitris Kalampakas, Dimitris Marmarinos, Yiannis Demertzis, Kostas Vassiliadis, Kenny Gregory, Tony Akins, K'zell Wesson, Antonis Kesisoglou, Charalambos Sikalidis, Nikos Papadopoulos
2009-10 5th place Last 8 Not participated Soulis Markopoulos Chris Monroe, Panagiotis Kafkis, Kenny Gregory, Christos Tapoutos, Nikos Kalles, Tomas Delininkaitis, Branko Milisavljević, Dimitris Kalaitzidis, Giorgos Tsiaras, Lazaros Papadopoulos, Michalis Giannakidis, Predrag Drobnjak, Todor Gečevski, Yiannis Demertzis, Wade Helliwell, William Avery
2010-11 3rd place Last 4 Eurocup
Group Stage
Soulis Markopoulos

Notable players

Coaches

This is a list of the last 30 years PAOK B.C. coaches:

1981–82 Theodoros Rodopoulos
1982–83 Theodoros Rodopoulos
1983–84 Harry Pappas
Fedon Matheou
1984–85 Josip Gjergja
1985–86 Theodoros Rodopoulos
1986–87 Orestis Angelidis
1987–88 Johnny Neumann
1988–89 Johnny Neumann
Kostas Politis
1989–90 Kostas Politis
1990–91 Kostas Politis
Sakis Laios
Dragan Šakota
1991–92 Dušan Ivković
1992–93 Dušan Ivković
1993–94 Dušan Ivković
Soulis Markopoulos
1994–95 Dragan Šakota
Sakis Laios
Vangelis Alexandris
1995–96 Vangelis Alexandris
Efthimis Kioumourtzoglou
Željko Lukajić
Dimitris Itoudis
1996–97 Michel Gomez
Scott Skiles
1997–98 Zvi Sherf
1998–99 Zvi Sherf
Kostas Flevarakis
1999–00 Petar Skansi
Kostas Flevarakis
2000–01 Kostas Flevarakis
Giannis Sferopoulos
2001–02 Slobodan Subotić
Vangelis Alexandris
2002–03 Branislav Prelević
2003–04 Branislav Prelević
2004–05 Branislav Prelević
2005–06 Branislav Prelević
Soulis Markopoulos
2006–07 Kostas Pilafidis
Vangelis Alexandris
2007–08 Tab Baldwin
Kostas Flevarakis
John Korfas
2008–09 Argiris Pedoulakis
Giorgos Kalafatakis
2009–10 Soulis Markopoulos
2010–11 Soulis Markopoulos

Notes

References

External links