Panagiotis Fasoulas
Panagiotis "Panos" Fasoulas (alternate spelling: Fassoulas; Greek: Παναγιώτης Φασούλας; born May 12, 1963 in Thessaloniki) is a Greek politician and former professional basketball player. He was selected in the second round by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1986 NBA draft, but never decided to play in the NBA. Considered to be one of the best big men ever in European basketball, Fasoulas became a FIBA Hall of Fame player in 2016.[1]
Panagiotis Fasoulas | |||||||||||||||||
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Mayor of Piraeus | |||||||||||||||||
In office January 1, 2007 – January 1, 2011 | |||||||||||||||||
Deputy | Vicky Leandros | ||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Christos Agrapidis | ||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Vasileios Michaloliakos | ||||||||||||||||
MP of 1st Piraeus periphery | |||||||||||||||||
In office 2000–2006 | |||||||||||||||||
1st City councilman, Thessaloniki | |||||||||||||||||
In office 1990–1993 | |||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||
Born | Thessaloniki, Greece | May 12, 1963||||||||||||||||
Political party | PASOK | ||||||||||||||||
Spouse(s) | Masa Zacharia | ||||||||||||||||
Children | Mariella Fasoula, John | ||||||||||||||||
Residence | Piraeus, Greece | ||||||||||||||||
Occupation | Basketball player | ||||||||||||||||
Basketball career | |||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Greek | ||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | ||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||||||
College | NC State (1985–1986) | ||||||||||||||||
NBA draft | 1986 / Round: 2 / Pick: 37th overall | ||||||||||||||||
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers | |||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 1981–1999 | ||||||||||||||||
Position | Center | ||||||||||||||||
Number | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||||
1981–1993 | PAOK | ||||||||||||||||
1993–1999 | Olympiacos | ||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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FIBA Hall of Fame as player | |||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Basketball career
College career
Fasoulas played college basketball in the United States at North Carolina State University, with the N.C. State Wolfpack, where he played under legendary coach Jim Valvano. In his sole season in college, he averaged 2.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game and led the school with 1.8 blocks per game in 29 games.[2]
Professional career
During his professional career, Fasoulas played for PAOK and Olympiacos. With PAOK, he won the FIBA Cup Winners' Cup championship in the 1990–91 season. With Olympiacos, he won the EuroLeague championship and the Triple Crown in the 1996–97 season.
In total, he won 5 Greek League championships and 3 Greek Cups. He was also named to the FIBA European Selection three times, in the years 1990, 1991, and 1995. He was also named the Greek League MVP in 1994 and 1995, and a FIBA EuroStar in 1996.
National team career
Fasoulas was also a member of the senior men's Greek national team, where he was the starting center during Greece's 1987 EuroBasket gold medal victory, being also named to the All-Tournament Team. He also won the silver medal with Greece at the 1989 EuroBasket. In Toronto, Canada, at the 1994 FIBA World Championship, where Greece finished in fourth place, Fasoulas played the best basketball of his career. Fasoulas appeared in 244 games for Greece, averaging 9.77 points per game.[3] He is second all-time in games played and third all-time in points scored for Greece.[4][5]
Managerial career
After his basketball playing career ended, Fasoulas became a basketball executive. He became the sports director of Olympiacos Women, of the Greek Women's League and the EuroLeague Women.
Awards and accomplishments
Club titles
- EuroLeague: 1 (with Olympiacos: 1996–97)
- FIBA Cup Winners' Cup: 1 (with PAOK: 1990–91)
- Greek League: 5 (with PAOK: 1991–92 and Olympiacos: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97)
- Greek Cup: 3 (with PAOK: 1983–84 and Olympiacos: 1993–94, 1996–97)
Greek national team
- 1987 EuroBasket:
Gold
- 1989 EuroBasket:
Silver
Personal awards
- EuroBasket All-Tournament Team: (1987)
- FIBA European Selection: 3 (1990, 1991, 1995)
- FIBA EuroStar: 1 (1996)
- Greek League Finals MVP: (1992)
- Greek League MVP: 2 (1994, 1995)
- Greek League Rebounding Leader: (1987)
- FIBA Hall of Fame: (2016)
- Professional Greek League all-time leader in blocks
Political career
A charismatic personality, Fasoulas entered politics after retiring from sport, joining the political party of PASOK. He contributed in the organization of the Summer Olympic Games in Athens, in 2004. He was elected Mayor of Piraeus on October 15, 2006, and served as Mayor through 2010.
See also
References
- "Fasoulas Inducted to FIBA Hall of Fame". The National Herald. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- "FINAL 1986 DIVISION I MEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTICS REPORT North Carolina State University" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
- Παναγιώτης Φασούλας Σελίδα Αθλητή (in Greek). Ελληνική Ομοσπονδία Καλαθοσφαίρισης (Hellenic Basketball Federation). Retrieved 6 April 2015.
- "ΟΙ 50 ΚΑΛΥΤΕΡΟΙ ΣΚΟΡΕΡ (ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΑΝΔΡΩΝ) (50 all-time leading scorers for Greece men's team)" (in Greek). Ελληνική Ομοσπονδία Καλαθοσφαίρισης (Hellenic Basketball Federation). Archived from the original on 30 July 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
- "ΟΙ 20 ΠΡΩΤΟΙ ΣΕ ΣΥΜΜΕΤΟΧΕΣ (ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΑΝΔΡΩΝ) (20 most capped players for Greece men's team)" (in Greek). Ελληνική Ομοσπονδία Καλαθοσφαίρισης (Hellenic Basketball Federation). Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
External links
- Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived October 20, 2006)
- Panagiotis Fassoulas at FIBA
- FIBA Euroleague profile
- Basketball-Reference.com profile
- RealGM.com profile
- Hellenic Basketball Federation profile (in Greek)