Giannis Giannoulis
Giannis Giannoulis (alternate spellings: Yannis, Yiannis, Ioannis) (born June 5, 1976) is a former Greek professional basketball player. At a height of 2.08 m (6'10")[1] tall, he played at the center position, although he could also play at the power forward position.
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
| Born | June 5, 1976 Toronto, Ontario | |||||||||||||
| Nationality | Greek / Canadian | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 255 lb (116 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1992–present | |||||||||||||
| Position | Power forward / Center | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 1992 | Esperos Kallitheas | |||||||||||||
| 1992–2001 | PAOK Thessaloniki | |||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Panathinaikos | |||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Huntsville Flight | |||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Panionios | |||||||||||||
| 2004 | Unicaja Málaga | |||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | BC Kyiv | |||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Cajasol Sevilla | |||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Aris Thessaloniki | |||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Panionios | |||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | AEL Limassol | |||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Vouliagmeni | |||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Doukas | |||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Vouliagmeni | |||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Iraklis Kozanis | |||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Argonaftis Kalamarias | |||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | M.E.N.T. B.C. | |||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | AP.A.S. 'Ta Fanaria' | |||||||||||||
| 2019–present | Akrata | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Professional career
Europe
A great talent at the center position, Giannoulis competed many years at the highest European level, and played in many EuroLeague games. He was an All-EuroLeague Second Team member in the Euroleague 2000–01 season, while playing for PAOK, before winning the Euroleague 2001–02 championship with Panathinaikos the following year.
In his career, he played with some of the following European teams: PAOK Thessaloniki, Panathinaikos, Panionios, Unicaja Málaga, BC Kiev, Cajasol Sevilla, Aris Thessaloniki, AEL Limassol, Vouliagmeni, and Doukas. He is one of only two Greek players in history, along with Dimos Dikoudis, to compete in the EuroLeague with 4 different teams.
Fall from grace
A controversial failed drug test at the end of the 2001–02 season cost him a ban from all European continental competitions for 2 years, and basically ruined his career. However, that does not change the fact that Giannoulis was widely considered to be one of the best big men competing in Europe at the time he was banned.
United States
Giannoulis also played with the NBA club the Toronto Raptors during the 2002 NBA preseason. He also played with the Huntsville Flight (now the Canton Charge) of the D-League during the 2002–03 season. Giannoulis requested to be waived from his NBDL team, and returned to the Greek League.
Return to Europe
After playing professionally in the United States during his drug ban, Giannoulis returned to Europe to play in the Greek League for the 2003–04 season, but for several years his career never recovered to its previous level before the failed drug test.
Redemption
The 2007–08 season did however mark a great comeback for Giannoulis. Playing with Panionios in the EuroCup, he had a great individual season; and in the Greek League 2007–08 season, he led Panionios to a 3-2 series playoff victory over Maroussi, in the league's next season's 3rd place EuroLeague qualifier match.
Greek national team
Giannoulis was also a member of the senior men's Greek national basketball team. He competed for Greece at the EuroBasket 1997, the EuroBasket 1999, and also the EuroBasket 2001. After being banned from pro competitions due to a failed drug test, he was removed from the national team and was never recalled to it.
Awards and accomplishments
- All-EuroLeague Second Team: (2001)
- EuroLeague Champion: (2002)
- Greek League All-Star: (2000, 2004, 2008)
References
- "ACB.com nombre completo: Ioannis Giannoulis altura: 2.08 m" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-01.