Jake Tsakalidis facts for kids
Tsakalidis with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2003
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 June 1979 Rustavi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Nationality | Georgian / Greek |
| Listed height | 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) |
| Listed weight | 290 lb (132 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 2000 / Round: 1 / Pick: 25th overall |
| Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |
| Pro career | 1996–2008 |
| Career history | |
| 1996–2000 | AEK Athens |
| 2000–2003 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2003–2007 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2007 | Houston Rockets |
| 2007–2008 | Olympiacos |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 1,497 (4.8 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,238 (3.9 rpg) |
| Blocks | 223 (0.7 bpg) |
Iakovos "Jake" Tsakalidis, born on June 10, 1979, is a former professional basketball player. He was born in Georgia (which was then part of the Soviet Union) but grew up in Greece. Jake is very tall, standing at 7 feet 2 inches, and played as a center during his career. He has citizenship in both Georgia and Greece.
Contents
Jake's Basketball Journey
Starting in Greece
Jake Tsakalidis started his professional basketball career in 1996. He was only 17 years old when he joined the Greek League team AEK Athens. With AEK, he achieved some great things. He helped his team reach the finals of the Greek Cup twice, in 1998 and 1999. In 2000, he won both the FIBA Saporta Cup and the Greek Cup with AEK. He was known for his strong play near the basket, working well with teammates like Michalis Kakiouzis and Dimos Dikoudis.
Playing in the NBA
In 2000, Jake was chosen by the Phoenix Suns in the 2000 NBA draft. He was the 25th player picked overall in the first round. Even though his Greek team, AEK, wanted him to stay, Jake decided to play in the NBA. He spent the next seven seasons playing for different NBA teams.
On September 30, 2003, the Suns traded Jake to the Memphis Grizzlies. He played for the Grizzlies until February 13, 2007. Then, he was traded again, this time to the Houston Rockets. Jake's last NBA game was on April 28, 2007. It was a playoff game where his team, the Rockets, played against the Utah Jazz.
During his time in the NBA, Jake Tsakalidis averaged about 4.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. After his NBA career, he returned to Greece in 2007. He joined the Greek team Olympiacos, which plays in the EuroLeague. He played there until 2008.
Playing for His Country
Jake Tsakalidis also played for the senior men's Greek national basketball team. He represented Greece in several big international tournaments:
- The 1998 FIBA World Championship, where Greece finished in 4th place.
- The EuroBasket 1999, a European championship.
- The EuroBasket 2003, where his team finished in 5th place.
About Jake's Life
In 2000, Jake Tsakalidis shared that his birth name is actually Alexey Ledkov. Before this, many people thought he had a different background.
See also
In Spanish: Jake Tsakalidis para niños
