 Papaloukas with Olympiacos Piraeus in February 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 8 May 1977 Athens, Greece | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 6.75 in (2.00 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1995–2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Point guard / shooting guard | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 4, 44, 6, 5, 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | Ampelokipoi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | Dafni Athens | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | Panionios | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Olympiacos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2008 | CSKA Moscow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2011 | Olympiacos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | CSKA Moscow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Theodoros Papaloukas (Greek: Θεόδωρος Παπαλουκάς; born 8 May 1977), commonly known as Theo Papaloukas or Thodoris Papaloukas, is a retired Greek professional basketball player. He was a four-time All-EuroLeague selection, a member of the EuroLeague 2000–2010 All-Decade Team and was named one of the 50 greatest EuroLeague contributors in 2008. A revolutionary figure in basketball, as illustrated by his unique ability to come off the bench and alter the course of an encounter,[1] and his uncanny feel for the game, he symbolized the rise of European basketball in the new millennium.
Papaloukas started his career in 1995, with his local club of Ampelokipoi, before being transferred two years later to Dafni, and then to Panionios in 1999. His performances with the latter earned him a transfer to EuroLeague powerhouse Olympiacos, where in 2002, he won his first title, the Greek Cup. A year later, he moved to Moscow for CSKA, the club that he would help to regain its past glory. After making a minimal impact during his first two seasons in the Russian capital, he evolved into a major contributor to CSKA's success, playing as a sixth man in the 2004–05 season, both in the EuroLeague and the Russian Super League A.
In 2006, Papaloukas led CSKA to their first EuroLeague title in thirty-five years, and thus earning an All-EuroLeague First Team selection and the EuroLeague Final Four MVP award in the process. The following year, he cemented his status as a EuroLeague competition icon,[1] after being named the EuroLeague MVP, before falling short of a second straight EuroLeague title in the championship's final against Panathinaikos. In 2008, he won his second EuroLeague title with CSKA, in what would be his last year in Moscow. In the summer of 2008, Papaloukas returned to Olympiacos, and with them he reached another two EuroLeague Final Fours, thereby giving him a then record of eight consecutive EuroLeague Final Four appearances, a record he shared at the time with his former teammate J.R. Holden. On 12 December 2013 he was honored with a EuroLeague Basketball Legend Award.[2]
Papaloukas helped lead the Greece men's national basketball team to a title, EuroBasket 2005, and a silver medal in 2006 FIBA World Championship. He was elected to the All-Tournament Team in both competitions.[3] Papaloukas took part in two Olympic tournaments, in 2004 and 2008, with Greece finishing in their personal all-time best fifth position on both occasions. In 2006, he was named the FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year.
- ^ a b Stankovic, Vladimir (10 March 2014). "Theodoros Papaloukas, Euroleague icon". Euroleague.net.
- ^ "CSKA Moscow, Euroleague Basketball honor basketball legend Theo Papaloukas". Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "archive.fiba.com: Players". Retrieved 10 September 2016.