Georgi Glouchkov
Encyclopedia
Georgi Nikolov Glouchkov (born January 10, 1960 in Tryavna
) is a Bulgaria
n former professional basketball
player. A 6 ft 8 in (204 cm) forward, he was the first player from an Eastern bloc
country to compete in the American
National Basketball Association
(NBA).
, and by the mid-1980s, he had established a reputation as one of Europe's top five players. After averaging 23 points and 19 rebounds
during the 1984-85 season in which his team won the national championship, he attracted the attention of the Phoenix Suns
, who selected him in the seventh round (148th pick overall) of the 1985 NBA Draft
. The Suns signed him to much fanfare on September 25, 1985, releasing a special press kit
which included a history of Bulgaria and a glossary of Bulgarian phrases.
Glouchkov knew very little English and was accompanied by Bozhidar Takev, a Bulgarian coach and trainer who translated for him. At the beginning of the season, Glouchkov impressed the Suns with his strong rebounding and became a regular member of the team's playing rotation; as the year went on, however, Glouchkov began gaining weight, and his productivity decreased. Some Suns' staff members attributed his weight gain to his taste for American fast food
and candy, but rumors also surfaced that he was experimenting with steroids. He ended the 1985-86 NBA season
with averages of 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
As the season came to a close, Glouchkov began losing weight at a dramatic pace. When he reported to the Suns' 1986 summer league team, he weighed 25 pounds less than he had weighed when he first signed with the Suns. The Suns never determined the cause of his weight fluctuations, but after a poor performance in summer league competition, the Suns advised him to return to Europe.
Glouchkov did return to his homeland and continued to play basketball in the European leagues. He had his most post-NBA success with the Italian club Phonola Caserta
, whom he led to the European Winner's Cup finals in 1989 before losing to Real Madrid
.
He participated in 4 European Championships
(1979
, 1985
, 1989
, 1991
).
Tryavna
Tryavna is a town in central Bulgaria, situated in the north slopes of the Balkan range, on the Tryavna river valley, near Gabrovo. It is famous for its textile industry and typical National Revival architecture, featuring 140 cultural monuments, museums and expositions...
) is a Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n former professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A 6 ft 8 in (204 cm) forward, he was the first player from an Eastern bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
country to compete in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA).
Professional career
Glouchkov began playing with Bulgaria's national team as a teenager. He also played with the club Akademik VarnaCherno More IG Varna
Cherno More is a Bulgarian basketball team based in Varna. The team finished second in the 2005-2006 championship. The last time Cherno More won the championship was in 1999.-History:...
, and by the mid-1980s, he had established a reputation as one of Europe's top five players. After averaging 23 points and 19 rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
during the 1984-85 season in which his team won the national championship, he attracted the attention of the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, who selected him in the seventh round (148th pick overall) of the 1985 NBA Draft
1985 NBA Draft
The 1985 NBA Draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA Draft of the "Lottery" era. A total of 162 players were selected over 7 rounds by the league's 23 teams. The New York Knicks were awarded the first overall pick, by winning the first-ever NBA Draft Lottery, which was held...
. The Suns signed him to much fanfare on September 25, 1985, releasing a special press kit
Press kit
A press kit, often referred to as a media kit in business environments, is a pre-packaged set of promotional materials of a person, company, or organization distributed to members of the media for promotional use...
which included a history of Bulgaria and a glossary of Bulgarian phrases.
Glouchkov knew very little English and was accompanied by Bozhidar Takev, a Bulgarian coach and trainer who translated for him. At the beginning of the season, Glouchkov impressed the Suns with his strong rebounding and became a regular member of the team's playing rotation; as the year went on, however, Glouchkov began gaining weight, and his productivity decreased. Some Suns' staff members attributed his weight gain to his taste for American fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
and candy, but rumors also surfaced that he was experimenting with steroids. He ended the 1985-86 NBA season
1985-86 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics*Rookie of the Year: Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs...
with averages of 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
As the season came to a close, Glouchkov began losing weight at a dramatic pace. When he reported to the Suns' 1986 summer league team, he weighed 25 pounds less than he had weighed when he first signed with the Suns. The Suns never determined the cause of his weight fluctuations, but after a poor performance in summer league competition, the Suns advised him to return to Europe.
Glouchkov did return to his homeland and continued to play basketball in the European leagues. He had his most post-NBA success with the Italian club Phonola Caserta
Juvecaserta Basket
JuveCaserta Basket , also known for sponsorship reasons as Pepsi Caserta, is an Italian League professional basketball team from the town of Caserta. For past club sponsorship names, see the list below.-The Beginnings:...
, whom he led to the European Winner's Cup finals in 1989 before losing to Real Madrid
Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid Baloncesto is a Spanish professional basketball team founded in 1932 as a division of the Real Madrid club. They play in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto ....
.
National team
Glouchkov began playing with Bulgaria's national team at the age of seventeen.He participated in 4 European Championships
Eurobasket
The EuroBasket, also referred to as the FIBA European Basketball Championship, is the main basketball competition contested biennially by the men's national teams governed by FIBA Europe, the European zone within the International Basketball Federation. The championship was first held in 1935 and...
(1979
EuroBasket 1979
The 1979 European Basketball Championship, and in short Eurobasket 1979, was the 21st regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Twelve national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation entered the competition. The competition was hosted by Italy...
, 1985
EuroBasket 1985
-Venues:-Group A - Karlsruhe :-Group A - Leverkusen :-Places 9 - 12 in Stuttgart:-1/4 finals :-Places 5 - 8 in Stuttgart:-Places 1 - 4 in Stuttgart:-Finals in Stuttgart:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # #...
, 1989
EuroBasket 1989
-Group A:-Group B:-Places 5 - 8:-Places 1 - 4:-Finals:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # -Team rosters:#Yugoslavia: Dražen Petrović, Toni Kukoč, Vlade Divac, Dino Rađa, Žarko Paspalj, Stojan Vranković, Predrag Danilović, Jure Zdovc, Zoran Čutura, Zdravko Radulović, Zoran Radović, Mario Primorac...
, 1991
EuroBasket 1991
Eurobasket 1991 was the tournament contested by men's professional basketball teams from Europe. It was hosted by Italy.-Group A:-Group B:-Places 5 - 8:-Places 1 - 4:-Finals:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # -Team rosters:...
).
External links
- Georgi Glouchkov Player Info at NBA.com
- ACB.com Profile