Fanis Christodoulou facts for kids
Christodoulou playing with Panathinaikos, in 1998.
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| Panionios | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| General Manager | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | May 22, 1965 Athens, Greece |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1987 / Round: 4 / Pick: 90th overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1983–1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983–1997 | Panionios | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Panathinaikos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As a player:
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Medals
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Theofanis "Fanis" Christodoulou (born May 22, 1965) is a famous Greek former professional basketball player. He was known for being a very versatile player. This means he could play almost any position on the court. Many sports writers even called him "The European Charles Barkley" because of his all-around skills. His teammates had a special nickname for him: "Bembis Agori," which means "Baby Boy."
Fanis Christodoulou's jersey number 4 was retired by his team, Panionios. This is a big honor, meaning no other player on that team will ever wear that number again. In 2022, he was also added to the Greek Basketball League Hall of Fame. He was part of the FIBA European Selection team in 1991. He was also chosen for the FIBA EuroBasket All-Tournament Team twice, in 1993 and 1995. Fanis Christodoulou is even considered a possible future member of the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Fanis Christodoulou started his basketball journey with the youth teams of a Greek club called Dafni. In 1983, he moved to another Greek club, Panionios. Dafni received money and six players in exchange for him. He played most of his professional career with Panionios, from 1983 to 1997.
Winning the Greek Cup
With Panionios, Fanis Christodoulou helped his team win the Greek Basketball Cup in 1991. He was also named the Greek Basketball League MVP (Most Valuable Player) in 1993. This award goes to the best player in the league.
Joining Panathinaikos
For his last year as a player, Christodoulou joined the Greek club Panathinaikos in 1997. He signed a big contract with them. With Panathinaikos, he won the Greek Basketball League championship in the 1997–98 season. After this great win, he decided to retire from playing professional basketball.
NBA Draft Opportunity
In the 1987 NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks picked Fanis Christodoulou as the 90th player overall. However, he chose to stay in Greece and did not join the NBA (National Basketball Association) in the United States.
Playing for Greece's National Team
Fanis Christodoulou was a very important player for the Greek national team. He played in many major international tournaments.
Winning Gold and Silver Medals
- He won a gold medal at the 1987 FIBA EuroBasket tournament.
- He also won a silver medal at the 1989 FIBA EuroBasket.
He represented Greece at the 1986 FIBA World Championship and the 1990 FIBA World Championship. He also played in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA.
Individual Honors in National Play
Fanis Christodoulou was recognized for his excellent play in national tournaments. He was named to the FIBA EuroBasket All-Tournament Team in both 1993 and 1995. This means he was one of the best players in those tournaments. In 1996, he was also named the Acropolis Tournament's MVP.
Life After Playing Basketball
In 2022, Fanis Christodoulou returned to his former club, Panionios. He became the general manager of the team. This role involves overseeing the team's operations and decisions.
Family and Personal Life
Fanis Christodoulou comes from a family of athletes. His older brother, Christos, was also a professional basketball player. They even played together on the same team, Panionios. His niece, Stella, is a professional volleyball player. Fanis Christodoulou owns a betting shop in Paros, Greece. His family is originally from Rozena in Corinthia.
Awards and Achievements
Fanis Christodoulou achieved many great things during his basketball career.
Club Achievements
- Greek League Champion: 1 (with Panathinaikos: 1997–98)
- Greek Cup Winner: 1 (with Panionios: 1990–91)
Greek National Team Medals
- 1983 Balkan Championship:
Silver
- 1984 Balkan Championship:
Bronze - 1985 Balkan Championship: Bronze
- 1986 Balkan Championship:
Gold
- 1987 FIBA EuroBasket: Gold
- 1989 FIBA EuroBasket: Silver
Personal Awards and Honors
- FIBA Balkans Selection: (1991)
- 2× Greek League All-Star: (1991, 1994)
- Greek League MVP: (1993)
- Number 4 jersey retired by Panionios
- Greek Basketball League Hall of Fame: (2022)
- FIBA EuroBasket All-Tournament Team: 2 (1993, 1995)
- Acropolis Tournament MVP: (1996)
- FIBA Hall of Fame Candidate
See also
In Spanish: Fanis Christodoulou para niños
