Konstantinos "Kostas" Papanikolaou ( gr, Κωνσταντίνος "Κώστας" Παπανικολάου; born 31 July 1990) is a Greek professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

player and the

team captain In team sport, captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field. In eithe ...

for Olympiacos of the

Greek Basket League The Greek Basket League (GBL), often also referred to as the Greek A1 Basketball League, or Greek Basketball Championship (originally called Panhellenic Basketball Championship), and also known as the Stoiximan Basket League for sponsorship reaso ...

and the EuroLeague. Standing at 2.04 m (6'8 ") tall, he plays at the

small forward The small forward (SF), also known as the three or swingman, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers but taller, larger, and stronge ...

position. He has previously played in the

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United S ...

for the

Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member team of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division. The team plays its ho ...

and the

Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. The team was founded as the D ...

, as well as for the EuroLeague powerhouse

FC Barcelona Futbol Club Barcelona (), commonly referred to as Barcelona and colloquially known as Barça (), is a professional football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football. Found ...

. Papanikolaou is also a regular member of the senior Hellenic national team. He is widely considered amongst the best defensive players in European basketball.

Professional career

Aris (2008–2009)

Papanikolaou began playing basketball with the youth teams of Proteas Grevenon and Aris, and he made his pro debut in the Greek League, with

Aris Aris or ARIS may refer to: People * Aris (surname) Given name * Aris Alexandrou, Greek writer * Aris Brimanis, ice hockey player * Aris Christofellis, Greek male soprano * Aris Gavelas, Greek sprinter * Aris Howard, Former President of the J ...

, during the 2008–09 season. He was named the MVP of the Greek Youth All-Star Game in 2009. He was also named the Greek League's Best Young Player in 2009.

Olympiacos (2009–2013)

On 14 September 2009, Papanikolaou signed a five-year, €1.3 million

net income In business and accounting, net income (also total comprehensive income, net earnings, net profit, bottom line, sales profit, or credit sales) is an entity's income minus cost of goods sold, expenses, depreciation and amortization, interest, ...

deal with Olympiacos, after Olympiacos paid a €950,000 buyout fee to

, to secure his player rights. Papanikolaou's contract with Olympiacos had an

buyout clause worth €1 million. With Olympiacos, he won the EuroLeague and Greek League championships in 2012. Papanikolaou was voted the

EuroLeague Rising Star The EuroLeague Rising Star in an annual award of the EuroLeague, which is the top-tier level European-wide professional club basketball league, that is given to the player the EuroLeague deems its "top rising star". The award began in the 2004� ...

for the EuroLeague 2012–13 season. With Olympiacos, he also won the 2012–13 season EuroLeague championship.

FC Barcelona (2013–2014)

On 20 July 2013, Papanikolaou signed a four-year deal with Spanish League club

, after Barcelona bought Papanikolaou out of his contract with Olympiacos, paying a transfer buyout fee of €1.5 million to Olympiacos, and giving Papanikolaou a contract worth €5.5 million

, during the contract's first three years (the 4th optional year would be at an additional salary). The contract included NBA buyout clauses in the amounts of €1.1 million for 2014, and €750,000 for 2015. Barcelona went on to win the 2013–14 Spanish Liga ACB championship.

Houston Rockets (2014–2015)

On 28 June 2012, Papanikolaou was selected with the 48th overall pick in the

2012 NBA draft The 2012 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2012, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (2300 UTC), and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Ass ...

by the

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Associa ...

. On July 16, 2012, his draft rights were acquired by the

Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western C ...

, via a trade that sent

Raymond Felton Raymond Bernard Felton Jr. (born June 26, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player. Felton played college basketball for the University of North Carolina under head coach Roy Williams. At North Carolina, Felton led the Tar Hee ...

to the Knicks. On 10 July 2013, Papanikolaou's rights were acquired by the

, via a trade that sent Thomas Robinson to the Trail Blazers. On 23 September 2014, Papanikolaou signed with the Houston Rockets. On 13 February 2015, he took part in the

Rising Stars Challenge The Rising Stars Challenge is a basketball exhibition game held by the National Basketball Association (NBA) on the Friday before the annual All-Star Game as part of the All-Star Weekend. The current format to be used in 2022 includes first- ...

of the

NBA All-Star Game The National Basketball Association All-Star Game is a basketball exhibition game hosted every February by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and showcases 24 of the league's star players. It is the featured event of NBA All-Star Weekend, a ...

; in spite of an injury-plagued rookie season, during which he averaged 4.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, while coming off the bench, the Rockets decided to pick up his team option for the 2015–16 season.

Denver Nuggets (2015–2016)

On 20 July 2015, the Rockets traded Papanikolaou, Joey Dorsey, Nick Johnson,

Pablo Prigioni Pablo Prigioni (born May 17, 1977) is an Argentine-Italian former professional basketball player, currently serving as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played the point guard position, and was a member of the senior Argentina ...

, a 2016 first-round draft pick, and cash considerations to the

, in exchange for Ty Lawson and a 2017 second-round draft pick. On 25 September 2015, he was waived by the Nuggets. He later re-signed with Denver on November 5, 2015, and made his debut for the team that night. He was waived again by the Nuggets on 7 January 2016, before his salary became fully guaranteed.

Return to the Olympiacos (2016–present)

On 20 January 2016, Papanikolaou signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Olympiacos, returning to the club for a second stint. On 5 July 2018, Papanikolaou and Olympiacos officially agreed on a new three-year contract extension. He signed another three-year extension on 22 September 2020.

National team career

Greek junior national

As a member of the junior national basketball teams of Greece, Papanikolaou won the silver medal at the 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and the gold medal at the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He also won the silver medal at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. Papanikolaou also won the gold medal at the 2009 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team and won the MVP award. He then won the silver medal at the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship with Greece's junior national team, where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Greek senior national team

In August 2009, Papanikolaou made his debut with the senior men's Greek national basketball team, in a

friendly game Friendly may refer to: Places * Friendly, West Yorkshire, a settlement in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, England * Friendly, Maryland, an unincorporated community in the United States * Friendly, Eugene, Oregon, a neighborhood in the United States * ...

. With Greece's senior national team, he then played at

EuroBasket 2011 EuroBasket 2011 was the 37th men's EuroBasket, European Basketball Championship, held by FIBA Europe. The competition was hosted by Lithuania. This was the second time EuroBasket had been held in Lithuania, the country having also hosted t ...

, the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the

EuroBasket 2013 EuroBasket 2013 was the 38th edition of the EuroBasket championship that was organized by FIBA Europe. It took place from 4 September until 22 September 2013 in Slovenia. The number of participating teams was 24. France defeated Lithuania in ...

, the

2014 FIBA World Cup The 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup was the 17th edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, the tournament previously known as the FIBA World Championship. Hosted by Spain, it was the last tournament to be held on the then-current four-year cycle. ...

, the

EuroBasket 2015 EuroBasket 2015 was the 39th edition of the EuroBasket championship that was organized by FIBA Europe. It was co-hosted by Croatia, France, Germany, and Latvia, making it the first EuroBasket held in more than one country. It started on 5 Sept ...

, and the

EuroBasket 2017 EuroBasket 2017 was the 40th edition of the EuroBasket championship that was organized by FIBA Europe and held between 31 August and 17 September 2017. Beginning from 2017, the continental championships take place every four years with a similar ...

. He also played at the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualification. He has appeared in 134 games for the senior national side and has scored a total of 842 points.

Player profile

A player who with his energy and athletic ability fills every corner of the parquet. He is a modern guard-forward with the ability to fight at least three positions (2-3-4) with great success. Is good 3 points shooter and he loves to run in surprise and often finish the stages with striking nails. It has a prestigious winning mindset and thanks to this it has already celebrated many national and collective titles. Excellent defender, thanks to his long legs and elusive abilities, while helping him play left-handed.

Awards and accomplishments

Club career

Olympiacos *2× EuroLeague

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, ...

: (2012, 2013) *3× Greek League Champion: (2012, 2016, 2022) *3×

Greek Cup The Greek Football Cup ( el, Κύπελλο Ελλάδος Ποδοσφαίρου), commonly known as the Greek Cup or Kypello Elladas is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation. The Greek Cup is the second most imp ...

Winner: (2010, 2011, 2022) Barcelona * Spanish League Champion: (2014)

Individual

*EuroLeague Best Defender (2018) by ''Eurohoops'' *4× Member of the Best Defenders of EuroLeague (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022) *Olympiacos 2010–20 Team of Decade *

: (2013) *

EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer The EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer is the individual award for the player that gained the highest points in the EuroLeague Finals, the championship finals of the European-wide top-tier level professional club basketball competition, the EuroLea ...

: (2012) * 2× EuroLeague MVP of the Round *2× Greek League Best Young Player: (2009, 2012) *3× Greek League Best Five: (2012, 2013, 2017) *3× Greek League All-Star: (2013, 2018, 2019) * Greek Youth All-Star Game:

MVP In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a partic ...

: (2009) *2009 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: MVP *2009 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: All-Tournament Team *2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: All-Tournament Team

Olympiacos EuroLeague records

*EuroLeague all-time leader in steals

Greek junior national team

* 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: *2008

Albert Schweitzer Tournament The Albert Schweitzer Tournament (AST) is an international basketball competition that is played between national basketball teams of the Under-18 men age category. It takes place every two years in Mannheim, Germany, and is contested between t ...

: * 2008 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: * 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Cup: * 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship:

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

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Houston Houston (; ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in Texas, the Southern United States#Major cities, most populous city in the Southern United States, the List of United States cities by population, fourth-most pop ...

, 43 , , 1 , , 18.5 , , .350 , , .292 , , .722 , , 2.7 , , 2.0 , , .7 , , .3 , , 4.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Denver Denver () is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States#State capital, capital, and List of municipalities in Colorado#, most populous city of th ...

, 26 , , 6 , , 11.3 , , .364 , , .313 , , .643 , , 1.5 , , .6 , , .5 , , .2 , , 2.6 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:left;", Career , style="text-align:left;", , 69 , , 7 , , 15.8 , , .354 , , .297 , , .688 , , 2.3 , , 1.5 , , .6 , , .3 , , 3.6

Playoffs

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, 8 , , 0 , , 2.6 , , .250 , , .000 , , .500 , , .3 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , , .4 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:left;", Career , style="text-align:left;", , 8 , , 0 , , 2.6 , , .250 , , .000 , , .500 , , .3 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , , .4

EuroLeague

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2009–10 , style="text-align:left;" rowspan=4, Olympiacos , 6 , , 1 , , 6.4 , , .250 , , .000 , , .500 , , 1.2 , , .8 , , .5 , , .0 , , .8 , , 2.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2010–11 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...

, 16 , , 14 , , 13.7 , , .447 , , .435 , , .647 , , 3.1 , , .3 , , .6 , , .1 , , 3.9 , , 4.6 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;", 2011–12† , 22 , , 13 , , 19.8 , , .490 , , .333 , , .688 , , 3.4 , , .6 , , .5 , , .3 , , 6.1 , , 7.4 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;",

2012–13 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...

† , 31 , , 30 , , 23.8 , , .497 , , style="background:#CFECEC;", .521 , , .723 , , 4.4 , , 1.4 , , .9 , , .7 , , 8.7 , , 11.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2013–14 , style="text-align:left;",

Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

, 28 , , 27 , , 25.0 , , .507 , , .361 , , .500 , , 3.4 , , 2.2 , , .8 , , .5 , , 6.9 , , 8.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2015–16 , style="text-align:left;" rowspan=6, Olympiacos , 7 , , 5 , , 18.9 , , .410 , , .118 , , .583 , , 4.3 , , 1.0 , , .6 , , .4 , , 5.9 , , 5.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2016–17 , 37 , , 32 , , 23.2 , , .422 , , .316 , , .826 , , 4.8 , , 1.5 , , 1.2 , , .4 , , 8.1 , , 9.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2017–18 , 28 , , 23 , , 24.1 , , .469 , , .373 , , .775 , , 4.3 , , 2.1 , , 1.0 , , .4 , , 8.3 , , 11.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2018–19 , 30 , , 23 , , 23.2 , , .545, , .371 , , .738 , , 3.9 , , 1.6 , , 0.8 , , 9 , , 6.9 , , 8.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2019–20 , 26 , , 21 , , 23.5 , , .606, , .391 , , .708 , , 3.6 , , 1.5 , , 1.4 , , 8 , , 8.5 , , 9.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2020–21 , 4 , , 4 , , 15.3 , , 429, , .010 , , .100 , , 2 , , 0.5 , , 0.1 , , 1 , , 3 , , 2 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:left;", Career , style="text-align:left;", , 231 , , 212 , , 21.5 , , .550 , , .372 , , .723 , , 3.9 , , .14 , , .8 , , .09 , , 7.2 , , 8.9