Fanis Christodoulou Explained

Fanis Christodoulou
Φάνης Χριστοδούλου
Height Ft:6
Height In:8
Weight Lbs:250
Team:Panionios
Position:General Manager
Birth Date:22 May 1965
Birth Place:Athens, Greece
Draft Year:1987
Draft Round:4
Draft Pick:90
Draft Team:Atlanta Hawks
Career Start:1983
Career End:1998
Career Position:Small forward / power forward
Career Number:4, 15
Years1:1983–1997
Team1:Panionios
Years2:1997–1998
Team2:Panathinaikos
Highlights:As a player:

Theofanis "Fanis" Christodoulou (Greek, Modern (1453-);: 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]

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 FIBA EuroBasket All-Tournament Team selection, in 1993 and 1995, Christodoulou is also a candidate for the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Professional career

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

Christodoulou was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1987 NBA draft as the 90th pick overall, but decided to stay in Greece and didn't join the NBA.

National team career

Christodoulou was an important member of the Greece men's national basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1987 FIBA EuroBasket and the silver medal at the 1989 FIBA 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 FIBA EuroBasket, the 1995 FIBA EuroBasket, the 1997 FIBA EuroBasket, and at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. On an individual level, Christodoulou was the MVP of the Acropolis Tournament in 1996.

Executive career

In 2022, Christoudoulo became the general manager of the Greek Basket League club Panionios.[3]

Personal life

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

Club titles

Greek senior national team

Personal awards

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/kh/fanis-khristodoulou-1.html Sports-Reference.com Fanis Khristodoulou Nickname(s): Bembis.
  2. https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/1436169/heba-introduces-hall-of-fame-inducts-30-players-alphonso-ford-dino-radja-dejan-bodiroga-dominique-wilkins-roy-tarpley/ Greek League Hall of Fame welcomes Ford, Bodiroga, Radja, Wilkins, Tarpley.
  3. https://www.eurohoops.net/el/ellada/1358568/fanis-christodoulou-episimi-i-megali-epistrofi-tou-ston-panionio/ Φάνης Χριστοδούλου: Επίσημη η μεγάλη επιστροφή στον Πανιώνιο!