| Nick Mantis | |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 3 |
| Weight Lb: | 190 |
| Birth Date: | 7 December 1935 |
| Birth Place: | East Chicago, Indiana |
| Death Place: | Schererville, Indiana |
| Nationality: | American / Greek |
| High School: | Washington (East Chicago, Indiana) |
| College: | Northwestern (1956–1959) |
| Draft Year: | 1959 |
| Draft Round: | 5 |
| Draft Pick: | 37 |
| Draft Team: | St. Louis Hawks |
| Career Start: | 1960 |
| Career End: | 1964 |
| Career Number: | 16, 11, 23 |
| Career Position: | Shooting guard |
| Team1: | Minneapolis Lakers |
| Years2: | 1961–1962 |
| Team2: | Kansas City Steers |
| Team3: | St. Louis Hawks |
| Team4: | Chicago Zephyrs |
| Years5: | 1962–1964 |
| Team5: | Grand Rapids Tackers |
| Highlights: |
|
| Stats League: | NBA |
| Stat1label: | Points |
| Stat1value: | 236 |
| Stat2label: | Rebounds |
| Stat2value: | 91 |
| Stat3label: | Assists |
| Stat3value: | 92 |
| Bbr: | mantini01 |
| Historical Profile: | Nick_Mantis |
Nicholas Mantis (December 7, 1935 – August 13, 2017) was an American-Greek professional basketball player.[1]
After having a standout career as a high school player at East Chicago Washington High, while playing for head coach Johnny Baratto; Mantis enjoyed a stellar collegiate career at Northwestern, where he led the Wildcats in field goal percentage as a senior. That season (1958–59), he served as team captain, and led them to their best finish in the Big Ten - a tie for 2nd with an 8-6 conference record, 15-7 overall. The Wildcats won nine of their first ten games, dropping a stunner to #5 ranked North Carolina in the University of Louisville-hosted 'Bluegrass Festival Tournament.' The Wildcats spent seven consecutive weeks on the AP Poll, and knocked off the Jerry West-led West Virginia Mountaineers.[2]
Mantis was selected in the 1959 NBA draft, by the St. Louis Hawks, after a collegiate career at Northwestern University.[1] He played for the Hawks, Minneapolis Lakers, and Chicago Zephyrs, during a two-year NBA career.[1] Mantis also played in the American Basketball League in the 1961–62 season, and in the Midwest Professional Basketball League, earning league MVP and first-team all-league honors, in the 1963–64 season.[3]
Mantis died on August 13, 2017, at the age of 81.[4]
Source[1]
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | 10 | 7.1 | .256 | .500 | .6 | .9 | 2.1 | ||
| St. Louis | 9 | 6.4 | .400 | .333 | .7 | .8 | 2.1 | ||
| Chicago | 33 | 19.0 | .384 | .600 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 5.9 | ||
| Career | 52 | 14.5 | .367 | .549 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 4.5 | ||