Fanis Christodoulou
Theofanis "Fanis" Christodoulou (Greek: Θεοφάνης "Φάνης" Χριστοδούλου; born May 22, 1965) is a Greek former professional basketball player. He played mainly at small forward, but his complete all-around skills allowed him to play all five positions. During his playing career, many sports journalists called him "The European Charles Barkley". While his nickname among his teammates was "Bembis" ("Baby").[1]
Fanis Christodoulou playing with Panathinaikos. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Panionios | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | General Manager | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | May 22, 1965 Athens, Greece | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 1987: 4th round, 90th overall pick | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1983–1998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Small forward / power forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 4, 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983–1997 | Panionios | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Panathinaikos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As a player:
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| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Christodoulou was inducted into the Greek Basket League Hall of Fame in 2022.[2] A FIBA Balkans Selection member, in 1991, and a two-time All-EuroBasket Team selection, in 1993 and 1995, Christodoulou is also a candidate for the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Professional career edit
Christodoulou started his playing career with the youth teams of the Greek club Dafni. He spent most of his pro club career with Panionios, where he played from 1983 to 1997. With Panionios, he won the Greek Cup title in the year 1991. Christodoulou spent the last year of his career playing with Panathinaikos. With Panathinaikos, he won the Greek League championship, in the 1997–98 season. After that, he retired from playing pro club basketball.
NBA draft rights edit
Christodoulou was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, in the 1987 NBA draft, with the 90th pick overall, but he never decided to leave Greece and play in the NBA.
National team career edit
Christodoulou was an important member of the Greece men's national basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1987 EuroBasket and the silver medal at the 1989 EuroBasket. Christodoulou was also a member of the Greece national team that finished in 4th place at the 1994 FIBA World Championship. He also played at the 1986 FIBA World Championship, the 1990 FIBA World Championship, the 1993 EuroBasket, the 1995 EuroBasket, the 1997 EuroBasket, and at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.
Executive career edit
In 2022, Christoudoulo became the general manager of the Greek Basket League club Panionios.[3]
Personal life edit
Christodoulou's older brother, Christos, was also a professional basketball player. They played together in the same club team, Panionios. Fanis also owns an OPAP betting shop in Paros.
Awards and accomplishments edit
Club titles edit
- Greek League: 1 (with Panathinaikos: 1997–98)
- Greek Cup: 1 (with Panionios: 1990–91)
Greek senior national team edit
- 1983 Balkan Basketball Championship: Silver
- 1984 Balkan Basketball Championship: Bronze
- 1985 Balkan Basketball Championship: Bronze
- 1986 Balkan Basketball Championship: Gold
- 1987 EuroBasket: Gold
- 1989 EuroBasket: Silver
- FIBA EuroBasket All-Tournament Team: 2 (1993, 1995)
Personal awards edit
- FIBA Balkans Selection: (1991 I)
- 2× Greek League All-Star: (1991, 1994 I)
- Greek League MVP: (1993)
- No. 4 retired by Panionios
- Greek Basket League Hall of Fame: (2022)
- FIBA Hall of Fame Candidate
References edit
- ^ Sports-Reference.com Fanis Khristodoulou Nickname(s): Bembis. 2013-12-06 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Greek League Hall of Fame welcomes Ford, Bodiroga, Radja, Wilkins, Tarpley.
- ^ Φάνης Χριστοδούλου: Επίσημη η μεγάλη επιστροφή στον Πανιώνιο!
External links edit
- FIBA Profile
- FIBA Europe Profile
- Draftexpress.com Profile
- TheDraftReview.com Profile
- USBasket.com Profile
- Hellenic Basketball Federation Profile (in Greek)