Giannis Giannoulis

Giannis Giannoulis
Argonaftis Kalamarias
Position Power forward / Center
Personal information
Born (1976-06-05) June 5, 1976
Toronto, Ontario
Nationality Greek / Canadian
Listed height 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight 255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
Playing career 1992–present
Career history
1992–1994 Esperos Kallitheas
1994–2001 PAOK Thessaloniki
2001–2002 Panathinaikos
2002–2003 Huntsville Flight
2003–2004 Panionios
2004 Unicaja Málaga
2004–2005 BC Kyiv
2005–2006 Cajasol Sevilla
2006–2007 Aris Thessaloniki
2007–2009 Panionios
2009–2010 AEL Limassol
2010–2011 Vouliagmeni
2012–2013 Doukas
2014–2015 Iraklis Kozanis
2015–present Argonaftis Kalamarias
Career highlights and awards

Giannis Giannoulis (alternate spellings: Yannis, Yiannis, Ioannis) (born June 5, 1976) is a Greek–Canadian professional basketball player. He is 2.08 m (6'10")[1] in height and he plays at the center position, although he can also play at the power forward position.

Professional career

Europe

A great talent at the center position, Giannoulis competed many years at the highest European level, and played in many Euroleague games. He was an All-Euroleague Second Team member in the Euroleague 2000–01 season, while playing for PAOK, before winning the Euroleague 2001–02 championship with Panathinaikos the following year.

In his career, he played with some of the following European teams: PAOK Thessaloniki, Panathinaikos, Panionios, Unicaja Málaga, BC Kiev, Cajasol Sevilla, Aris Thessaloniki, AEL Limassol, Vouliagmeni, and Doukas. He is one of only two Greek players in history, along with Dimos Dikoudis, to compete in the Euroleague with 4 different teams.

Fall from grace

A controversial failed drug test at the end of the 2001–02 season cost him a ban from all European continental competitions for 2 years, and basically ruined his career. However, that does not change the fact that Giannoulis was widely considered to be one of the best big men competing in Europe at the time he was banned.

United States

Giannoulis also played with the NBA club the Toronto Raptors during the 2002 NBA preseason. He also played with the Huntsville Flight (now the Canton Charge) of the D-League during the 2002–03 season. Giannoulis requested to be waived from his NBDL team, and returned to the Greek League.

Return to Europe

After playing professionally in the United States during his drug ban, Giannoulis returned to Europe to play in the Greek League for the 2003–04 season, but for several years his career never recovered to its previous level before the failed drug test.

Redemption

The 2007–08 season did however mark a great comeback for Giannoulis. Playing with Panionios in the Eurocup, he had a great individual season; and in the Greek League 2007–08 season, he led Panionios to a 3-2 series playoff victory over Maroussi, in the league's next season's 3rd place Euroleague qualifier match.

Greek national team

Giannoulis was also a member of the senior men's Greek national basketball team. He competed for Greece at the EuroBasket 1997, the EuroBasket 1999, and also the EuroBasket 2001. After being banned from pro competitions due to a failed drug test, he was removed from the national team and was never recalled to it.

Awards and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ ACB.com nombre completo: Ioannis Giannoulis altura: 2.08 m (Spanish).
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