Greece national basketball team
Encyclopedia
The Greece national basketball team is the representative for Greece
in international men's basketball competitions, organized and run by the Hellenic Basketball Federation
. Traditionally, Greece is considered among the world's top basketball powers; they were runners-up in the 2006 FIBA World Championship
and they have won the European Championship
twice, in 1987
and 2005
. They are currently placed fourth in the FIBA World Rankings
.
, as the country was one of the eight founding members of the International Basketball Federation
, more commonly known by its French acronym FIBA, in 1932. However, the men's national team was considered as a second-class power in international basketball for several decades but came into prominence in the mid-1980s by winning the EuroBasket 1987
. It was the first ever major international title won by a Greek national team in any sports. As a result basketball became extremely popular in the country and since then Greece has been placed in the high level on the basketball stage.
, the inaugural FIBA European Championship held in Geneva
, but were not able to travel to Switzerland
due to financial problems. Thus, Greece made their international debut fourteen years later in the EuroBasket 1949
in Cairo
, Egypt. That tournament has been marked as the weakest in the history of the competition, as most of the leading European basketball nations at the time refused to travel by plane to Egypt. Greece entered the tournament as a rookie and got through to make their first major success in their very first appearance in the competition, finishing in the third place behind hosts Egypt
and strong side France
.
After their first international success, the Greeks were also present in the following tournament in 1951
, where they qualified to the semi-final round and finally finished 8th among the eighteen nations that participated. They also made their first appearance at the Olympic Games, taking part at the basketball tournament in 1952
. They were narrowly eliminated in the preliminary round, finishing at the bottom of the classification along with other six teams, ending the first period in the history of the team as Greece did not enter any major tournament for the rest of the 1950s.
competitions but were never in contention, their best performances being 8th place in 1965
and 9th place in both 1979
and 1981
. They also failed to qualify for the Olympic Games
and the FIBA World Championship
.
, the top scorer in the history of European basketball, Panagiotis Giannakis
, Panagiotis Fasoulas
and Fanis Christodoulou
. The beginning was their qualification for the 1986 FIBA World Championship
, for the first time in their history and the end of the tournament found them 10th among the twenty-four nations.
In the next year, Greece faced up their biggest challenge, as the country was the host of the EuroBasket 1987
and the team enjoyed a formidable line-up. Qualified from the preliminary round, they eliminated Italy
and Yugoslavia
, both among the favourites to win the tournament, in the quarter-finals and the semi-finals respectively. In the final, Greece faced the defending champions and heavily favoured Soviet Union
. In front of 17,000 Greek fans at the Peace and Friendship Stadium
, the hosts won the gold medal after a thrilling win 103–101 over the Soviets. It was the first time that a Greek national team won a major tournament in any sports, thus basketball was made the national team sport overnight and the national team was to be considered the official cherished of the Greek nation.
The European champions failed to qualify for the 1988 Olympic Games
for a first time in 36 years, despite a decent performance in the pre-Olympic tournament. In the EuroBasket 1989
, the defending champions were under pressure to prove that they could stand at the top level of international basketball and they did so in a convincing way. After they had qualified from the group stage, the Soviet Union stood in their way in the semi-finals but Greece defeated them once again and reached the final. Contrary to what happened two years ago, this time Greece had to overcome Yugoslavia and the latter's home court advantage, as the tournament was held in Zagreb
. Eventually, the Greek team bowed to the home side taking the silver medal, their third medal in total and second in a row.
. In the period between 1990 and 1998, Greece never fell below 6th place and usually ended up 4th. They also qualified for a second Olympic appearance in 1996
, where the team reached the 5th position.
Ιn the 1990 FIBA World Championship
, the team would face a new challenge as they would have to compete without their leading scorer Nikos Galis who was injured, but performed better than four years ago and were placed 6th. For the next two competitions in 1994
and 1998
Greece finished 4th. In 1994
, the team reached the semi-finals but was eliminated by the United States and played for the third place against Croatia
to which they lost and were placed 4th, a result that was considered to demonstrate the continued prominence of the team. In 1998
, the tournament was held in Athens and the Greeks hoped to qualify for the final, but in the semi-final they were eliminated by Yugoslavia
in extra time and their disappointment of missing the chance to reach the final led to an easy defeat to the United States in the bronze medal game, once more leaving Greece 4th.
In the EuroBasket 1991
Greece finished 5th and for the next three competitions in 1993
, 1995
and 1997
they reached the semi-finals but ultimately ended up 4th. The 1995 tournament was hosted in Greece but the Greeks failed to repeat the triumph of 1987 and were defeated in the semi-final by Yugoslavia, something that happened again in 1997, while hosts Germany
had eliminated Greece in 1993.
The years 1999–2002 were marked by an obvious decline of Greece. The beginning of this era was the shocking 16th and last place of the team in the final standings of the EuroBasket 1999
, having suffered three defeats in the preliminary round. Consequently, Greece was absent from the 2000 Olympics
. In the next European championship in 2001
, the Greek team was placed 9th, thus failed to qualify for the 2002 FIBA World Championship
. The revival of Greece started in the EuroBasket 2003
, where an overhauled team finished 5th; the experiment was partly successful but the public was not very enthusiastic. The 2004 Olympics
in Athens were considered as the biggest chance of hosts Greece to win their first Olympic medal but a close loss to eventual gold medalists Argentina
in the quarter-finals stopped their way and they were finally placed 5th.
Greece were considered a strong outsider for the medals at the EuroBasket 2005
. They advanced from the group stage with two wins in three games and eliminated Israel
and Russia
to reach the semi-finals, where they faced France. The French were leading the score by seven points with only one minute left, Greece appeared to have no chance to pull out the win and one more lost semi-final was coming. However, the Greeks managed to get within a two-point distance and won 67–66 with a three-pointer by Dimitris Diamantidis
with three seconds remaining, setting off a joyous celebration from the Greek side. At the final and in front of a raucous pro-Greece sold-out crowd of 20,000 at the Belgrade Arena
, the Greeks defeated Germany in a convincing way with 78–62 and won the gold medal for a second time in their history.
In the next year, the European champions won the 2006 Stanković Cup
going undefeated in the tournament and defeating Germany again at the final with an impressive 84–47 win. In the 2006 FIBA World Championship
, Greece were glazed to win a medal that had closely missed in their last two participations in the tournament and reached once more the semi-finals with a record of seven consecutive wins, some of them impressive. In the semi-finals, Greece defeated the popular odds-on United States in a 101–95 upset, rallying back from twelve points down, and qualified for the final, but they proved to be exhausted from their dramatic game with the Americans and lost 70–47 to Spain
, ending up with the silver medal. Despite the loss the players were greeted enthusiastically by celebrating fans on their return to Greece, due to their first medal in a World Championship and their glorious win over the United States.
In the EuroBasket 2007
, the defending European champions advanced to the semi-finals where they faced up hosts and world champions Spain, in a repeat of the final one year ago. Greece came close to take a revenge but finally lost 82–77 and played in the bronze medal game, where they succumbed to Lithuania
. At the 2008 Olympic tournament
, another last-second defeat 80–78 to Argentina in the quarter-finals led Greece to the 5th place once more. In the EuroBasket 2009
, the national team was potently changed; with a bunch of young players and without key players Theodoros Papaloukas
and Dimitris Diamantidis
, as well as Panagiotis Vasilopoulos
and Kostas Tsartsaris
, the tournament was perceived as the turning point for Greece after their major recent achievements. However, after their fourth consecutive defeat to Spain in the semi-finals and sixty years after their first, and last, bronze medal they managed to take the podium in the third position against the odds, with a thrilling 57–56 win over Slovenia
, ceasing the curse of being defeated in all bronze medal games throughout their history.
In 2010 FIBA World Championship
the team exhibited impressive performance during friendly preparation matches, beating Germany 82–54, Russia 101–63, Croatia 90–81, Canada 123–49, Slovenia 96–72 and Serbia 74–73 in a game that ended up in a brawl. That brawl exposed problems within the team, which showed a different face in crucial matches in the World Championship. In the group stage, it lost to Turkey and Russia (being accused of purposely losing the game with Russia to avoid playing with Spain in the knock-out stage). France's loss to New Zealand meant that Greece had to face Spain anyway in the phase of 16. The two teams met once more in a dramatic game that Spain won in the last minutes (a game that lead to Greek complaints about critical referee calls). That loss meant that the Greek team was eliminated from the next stage, ending up 11th (its worst performance in a World Championship).
That game lead to the fifth consecutive Spanish victory over Greece in major international competitions. This actually represents a reversal of the previous situation, as Greece had defeated Spain in the four previous major international competitions where the two teams had played against each other (1998 FIBA World Championship, Eurobasket 1995, Eurobasket 1993 and 1990 FIBA World Championship), while the last Greek victory over Spain was in a friendly in Madrid in September, 2005. After the elimination in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, top class player Dimitris Diamantidis
announced his retirement from the national team.
During preparations for Eurobasket 2011
new coach Ilias Zouros
faced one of the greatest challenges in the history of the Greek basketball team, with the absences of no less than 9 key players (including star players Dimitris Diamantidis
, Theodoros Papaloukas
, Sofoklis Schortsanitis
and Vassilis Spanoulis
). Zouros had to assemble a team mostly made of young players (half of the team players had never participated in Eurobasket), with little time to prepare. The new national team exhibited promising signs during friendlies, beating Russia 83–80, Germany 69–56 and Turkey 62–38. At Eurobasket, Greece managed to reach the quarterfinals where it lost to eventual finalist France (64–56). Subsequently, victory against Serbia (87–77) and loss to Lithuania (73–69) lead Greece to 6th place, thus securing participation in the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament
.
.
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Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
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Legend:
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Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in international men's basketball competitions, organized and run by the Hellenic Basketball Federation
Hellenic Basketball Federation
The Hellenic Basketball Federation , is a governing body for basketball in Greece. It directs and oversees all of the national basketball teams of Greece. From 1969 to 1992, the E.O.K. oversaw the Greek National Basketball League, before it was taken over by HEBA, starting with the 1992-93...
. Traditionally, Greece is considered among the world's top basketball powers; they were runners-up in the 2006 FIBA World Championship
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
and they have won the European Championship
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...
twice, in 1987
Eurobasket 1987
The EuroBasket 1987 was held in Greece between June 3 and June 14, 1987. Twelve national teams entered the event under the auspices of FIBA Europe, the sport's regional governing body...
and 2005
Eurobasket 2005
The EuroBasket 2005 was held in Serbia and Montenegro between 16 September and 25 September 2005. Greece won the gold medal by defeating Germany, while France won the bronze medal over Spain...
. They are currently placed fourth in the FIBA World Rankings
FIBA World Rankings
The International Basketball Federation calculates the world rankings of all of its basketball teams.-Calculation:...
.
History
Basketball has a long tradition in GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, as the country was one of the eight founding members of the International Basketball Federation
International Basketball Federation
The International Basketball Federation, more commonly known as FIBA , from its French name Fédération Internationale de Basketball, is an association of national organizations which governs international competition in basketball...
, more commonly known by its French acronym FIBA, in 1932. However, the men's national team was considered as a second-class power in international basketball for several decades but came into prominence in the mid-1980s by winning the EuroBasket 1987
Eurobasket 1987
The EuroBasket 1987 was held in Greece between June 3 and June 14, 1987. Twelve national teams entered the event under the auspices of FIBA Europe, the sport's regional governing body...
. It was the first ever major international title won by a Greek national team in any sports. As a result basketball became extremely popular in the country and since then Greece has been placed in the high level on the basketball stage.
Early years and international debut
Greece was to take part in EuroBasket 1935Eurobasket 1935
The 1935 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1935, was the first Eurobasket regional championship held by FIBA Europe as well as a test event preceding the first Olympic basketball tournament at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Ten national teams affiliated with the International...
, the inaugural FIBA European Championship held in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, but were not able to travel to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
due to financial problems. Thus, Greece made their international debut fourteen years later in the EuroBasket 1949
Eurobasket 1949
The 1949 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1949, was the sixth regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Seven national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation took part in the competition...
in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt. That tournament has been marked as the weakest in the history of the competition, as most of the leading European basketball nations at the time refused to travel by plane to Egypt. Greece entered the tournament as a rookie and got through to make their first major success in their very first appearance in the competition, finishing in the third place behind hosts Egypt
Egypt national basketball team
The Egypt national basketball team is the basketball side that represents Egypt in international competitions.-Eurobasket 1937:The Egyptians finished last at the second European basketball championship, the Eurobasket 1937 held by FIBA Europe continental federation...
and strong side France
France national basketball team
The French national basketball team is the national basketball team representing France. It is administrated by the Fédération Française de Basket-Ball . The team has been competitive, but has yet to win a major international tournament...
.
After their first international success, the Greeks were also present in the following tournament in 1951
Eurobasket 1951
The 1951 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1951, was the seventh regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eighteen national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation entered the competition, a record number and more than twice the number that had...
, where they qualified to the semi-final round and finally finished 8th among the eighteen nations that participated. They also made their first appearance at the Olympic Games, taking part at the basketball tournament in 1952
Basketball at the 1952 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 1952 Summer Olympics was the third appearance of the sport. 23 nations entered the competition.The top six teams at the 1948 Summer Olympics qualified automatically, as did the 1950 World Champion , the top two at the 1951 European championships , and the host country...
. They were narrowly eliminated in the preliminary round, finishing at the bottom of the classification along with other six teams, ending the first period in the history of the team as Greece did not enter any major tournament for the rest of the 1950s.
Decades of obscurity
During the 1960s, the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s, Greece appeared in most of the EuroBasketEurobasket
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...
competitions but were never in contention, their best performances being 8th place in 1965
EuroBasket 1965
-Venues:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # First roundGroup A - MoscowGroup B - Tbilisi-Places 13 - 16:-Places 9 - 12:-Places 5 - 8:-Places 1 - 4:-Finals:-Team rosters:...
and 9th place in both 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...
and 1981
EuroBasket 1981
The 1981 FIBA European Basketball Championship, commonly called EuroBasket 1981, was the 22nd regional championship held by FIBA Europe. The competition was hosted by Czechoslovakia and took place from May 26 to June 5, 1981...
. They also failed to qualify for the Olympic Games
Basketball at the Summer Olympics
Basketball has been a Summer Olympics sport for men consistently since 1936. Prior to its inclusion as a medal sport, it was held as demonstration event in 1904 and 1932, both in the United States. Women's basketball was played in the Olympics only since 1976....
and the FIBA World Championship
FIBA World Championship
The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body...
.
Rise to the top level
The history of the national team was not overly impressive until the mid-1980s, when Greece arose as the new power in international basketball spearheaded by top-class players Nikos GalisNick Galis
Nikolaos Georgalis , commonly known as either Nikos Galis , or Nick Galis , is a retired Greek professional basketball player...
, the top scorer in the history of European basketball, Panagiotis Giannakis
Panagiotis Giannakis
Panagiotis Giannakis , nicknamed "The Dragon", is a retired Greek professional basketball player and coach. He is the former head coach of the pro club Olympiacos, and the Greek National Basketball Team. Under Giannakis' guidance, the Greek National team won the gold medal at the 2005 EuroBasket...
, Panagiotis Fasoulas
Panagiotis Fasoulas
Panagiotis Fasoulas is a Greek politician and former professional basketball player...
and Fanis Christodoulou
Fanis Christodoulou
Theofanis Christodoulou, or Fanis Christodoulou , is a retired Greek professional basketball player...
. The beginning was their qualification for the 1986 FIBA World Championship
1986 FIBA World Championship
The 1986 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Spain from July 5 to 19 1986.The Final phase of the tournament was held at the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid...
, for the first time in their history and the end of the tournament found them 10th among the twenty-four nations.
In the next year, Greece faced up their biggest challenge, as the country was the host of the EuroBasket 1987
Eurobasket 1987
The EuroBasket 1987 was held in Greece between June 3 and June 14, 1987. Twelve national teams entered the event under the auspices of FIBA Europe, the sport's regional governing body...
and the team enjoyed a formidable line-up. Qualified from the preliminary round, they eliminated Italy
Italy national basketball team
The Italian national basketball team is the national basketball team representing Italy. It is administrated by the Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro ....
and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national basketball team
The Yugoslavian national basketball team represented the Kingdom and socialist Yugoslavia. Its of governing body was the Basketball Federation of Yugoslavia, whose seat was in Belgrade....
, both among the favourites to win the tournament, in the quarter-finals and the semi-finals respectively. In the final, Greece faced the defending champions and heavily favoured Soviet Union
Soviet Union national basketball team
The Soviet national basketball team was the basketball side that represented the Soviet Union in international competitions. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the successor countries all set up their own national teams...
. In front of 17,000 Greek fans at the Peace and Friendship Stadium
Peace and Friendship Stadium
The Stadio Eirinis kai Filias , known as S.E.F., is a multi-use indoor sports arena that is located in Faliro, Piraeus, Athens, Greece. It is the central venue of the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex and is mostly known for being the long-time home court of the famous Euroleague basketball club...
, the hosts won the gold medal after a thrilling win 103–101 over the Soviets. It was the first time that a Greek national team won a major tournament in any sports, thus basketball was made the national team sport overnight and the national team was to be considered the official cherished of the Greek nation.
The European champions failed to qualify for the 1988 Olympic Games
Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics took place at the Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea. The United States won the gold medal in the women's competition, thus repeating their performance from the 1984 tournament. In the men's tournament, the Soviet Union took home their second gold medal in...
for a first time in 36 years, despite a decent performance in the pre-Olympic tournament. In the EuroBasket 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...
, the defending champions were under pressure to prove that they could stand at the top level of international basketball and they did so in a convincing way. After they had qualified from the group stage, the Soviet Union stood in their way in the semi-finals but Greece defeated them once again and reached the final. Contrary to what happened two years ago, this time Greece had to overcome Yugoslavia and the latter's home court advantage, as the tournament was held in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. Eventually, the Greek team bowed to the home side taking the silver medal, their third medal in total and second in a row.
Sustained success but no medals
In the 1990s there was a series of successful results for the national team, which was present in all major international tournaments every year except for the 1992 OlympicsBasketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics
The Basketball games of the 1992 Summer Olympics were played at the Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona. 12 men's teams and 8 women's teams participated in the tournament....
. In the period between 1990 and 1998, Greece never fell below 6th place and usually ended up 4th. They also qualified for a second Olympic appearance in 1996
Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Basketball contests at the 1996 Olympic Games were held from July 20, 1996 to August 4, 1996. Games took place at the Morehouse College Gymnasium and the Georgia Dome. For the second straight Olympic games, the American men's team composed almost entirely of NBA players won the gold medal...
, where the team reached the 5th position.
Ιn the 1990 FIBA World Championship
1990 FIBA World Championship
The 1990 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Argentina from August 8 to August 20, 1990.The competition final phase was held at the Luna Park, Buenos Aires.Yugoslavia emerged as the tournament winner...
, the team would face a new challenge as they would have to compete without their leading scorer Nikos Galis who was injured, but performed better than four years ago and were placed 6th. For the next two competitions in 1994
1994 FIBA World Championship
The 1994 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Canada from August 4 to August 14, 1994. The tournament was held at SkyDome and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto as well as at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton...
and 1998
1998 FIBA World Championship
The 1998 FIBA World Championship was the 13th FIBA World Championship, an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation and hosted in Athens, Greece from July 29 to August 9, 1998...
Greece finished 4th. In 1994
1994 FIBA World Championship
The 1994 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Canada from August 4 to August 14, 1994. The tournament was held at SkyDome and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto as well as at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton...
, the team reached the semi-finals but was eliminated by the United States and played for the third place against Croatia
Croatia national basketball team
The Croatian national basketball team represents Croatia at international tournaments. It is organized by the Croatian Basketball Federation...
to which they lost and were placed 4th, a result that was considered to demonstrate the continued prominence of the team. In 1998
1998 FIBA World Championship
The 1998 FIBA World Championship was the 13th FIBA World Championship, an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation and hosted in Athens, Greece from July 29 to August 9, 1998...
, the tournament was held in Athens and the Greeks hoped to qualify for the final, but in the semi-final they were eliminated by Yugoslavia
Serbia national basketball team
The Serbian national basketball team represents Serbia in international basketball matches....
in extra time and their disappointment of missing the chance to reach the final led to an easy defeat to the United States in the bronze medal game, once more leaving Greece 4th.
In the EuroBasket 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:...
Greece finished 5th and for the next three competitions in 1993
EuroBasket 1993
-Venues:-First round:-A - Karlsruhe:-B - Berlin:-C - Karlsruhe:-D - Berlin:-Second round:-E - Karlsruhe:-F - Berlin:-Finals in Munich:-Places 5-8 in Munich:-Finals in Munich:-Final rankings:# # #...
, 1995
EuroBasket 1995
EuroBasket 1995 final tournament stage was XXIX European basketball championship and was held in Athens, Greece from 21 June to 2 July, 1995. This European championship was the first one that saw the successful return of Lithuania national basketball team to the tournament, since its last triumph...
and 1997
EuroBasket 1997
-Venues:The tournament was played at three venues in Spain. Girona and Badalona hosted the first and the second round, while the entire knockout stage was played at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona.-First round:-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:...
they reached the semi-finals but ultimately ended up 4th. The 1995 tournament was hosted in Greece but the Greeks failed to repeat the triumph of 1987 and were defeated in the semi-final by Yugoslavia, something that happened again in 1997, while hosts Germany
Germany national basketball team
The German national basketball team for men is the basketball side that represents Germany in international competitions. Their biggest successes are the victory in the European Championship of 1993 at home in Germany, the silver medal in the 2005 European Championships and the bronze medal in the...
had eliminated Greece in 1993.
Decline and rebirth
EuroBasket 1999
-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:-5th place bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :...
, having suffered three defeats in the preliminary round. Consequently, Greece was absent from the 2000 Olympics
Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics
-Group B:-Championship bracket:-Classification matches:-Preliminary round:The four best teams from each group advanced to the quarterfinal round.-Group A:-Group B:-Championship bracket:...
. In the next European championship in 2001
EuroBasket 2001
The EuroBasket 2001 was the 32nd EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Turkey, began on 31 August 2001 and concluded with the final on 9 September 2001. Yugoslavia won the gold medal,...
, the Greek team was placed 9th, thus failed to qualify for the 2002 FIBA World Championship
2002 FIBA World Championship
The 2002 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA from August 29 to September 8, 2002.-Venues:-Squads:...
. The revival of Greece started in the EuroBasket 2003
Eurobasket 2003
-5th to 8th place:-Awards:-All-Tournament Team : Tony Parker Šarūnas Jasikevičius Saulius Štombergas Andrei Kirilenko Pau Gasol-Top scorers :# Pau Gasol 25.8# Andrei Kirilenko 23.1# Dirk Nowitzki 22.5# Mehmet Okur 18.7...
, where an overhauled team finished 5th; the experiment was partly successful but the public was not very enthusiastic. The 2004 Olympics
Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena in Athens, Greece for the preliminary rounds, with the latter stages being held in the Olympic Indoor Hall at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex....
in Athens were considered as the biggest chance of hosts Greece to win their first Olympic medal but a close loss to eventual gold medalists Argentina
Argentina national basketball team
The Argentina national basketball team represents Argentina in basketball international competitions, and is controlled by the Argentine Basketball Federation....
in the quarter-finals stopped their way and they were finally placed 5th.
Eurobasket 2005
The EuroBasket 2005 was held in Serbia and Montenegro between 16 September and 25 September 2005. Greece won the gold medal by defeating Germany, while France won the bronze medal over Spain...
. They advanced from the group stage with two wins in three games and eliminated Israel
Israel national basketball team
The Israeli national basketball team is the basketball team that represents Israel in international competition.The Israeli team has participated 25 times in the European championship tournament. Their best achievements were a silver medal in Eurobasket 1979, and 5th place in 1953 and 1977...
and Russia
Russia national basketball team
The Russian national basketball team represents Russia in international basketball matches. The team came into existence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and its powerful basketball team. It has won 2 silver medals in the FIBA World Championships...
to reach the semi-finals, where they faced France. The French were leading the score by seven points with only one minute left, Greece appeared to have no chance to pull out the win and one more lost semi-final was coming. However, the Greeks managed to get within a two-point distance and won 67–66 with a three-pointer by Dimitris Diamantidis
Dimitris Diamantidis
Dimitris Diamantidis is a Greek professional basketball player. Standing at 1.98 m , Diamantidis mainly plays at the point guard position, but he also has the ability to play as a shooting guard, as well as to assume the small forward position, being utilized as a point forward...
with three seconds remaining, setting off a joyous celebration from the Greek side. At the final and in front of a raucous pro-Greece sold-out crowd of 20,000 at the Belgrade Arena
Belgrade Arena
The Belgrade Arena is an indoor arena located in Novi Beograd, Belgrade. It is designed as a universal hall for sport, cultural events and other programs. With a total space that covers 48,000 square metres, and an official total capacity of 19,982 seats , it is one of the largest indoor arenas in...
, the Greeks defeated Germany in a convincing way with 78–62 and won the gold medal for a second time in their history.
In the next year, the European champions won the 2006 Stanković Cup
2006 Stankovic Continental Champions' Cup
The 2006 Stanković Continental Champions' Cup of the annual Stanković Cup Tournament was held in Nanjing and Kunshan, People's Republic of China from August 11 to 15....
going undefeated in the tournament and defeating Germany again at the final with an impressive 84–47 win. In the 2006 FIBA World Championship
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
, Greece were glazed to win a medal that had closely missed in their last two participations in the tournament and reached once more the semi-finals with a record of seven consecutive wins, some of them impressive. In the semi-finals, Greece defeated the popular odds-on United States in a 101–95 upset, rallying back from twelve points down, and qualified for the final, but they proved to be exhausted from their dramatic game with the Americans and lost 70–47 to Spain
Spain national basketball team
The Spanish national basketball team is the basketball team representing Spain in international competitions, organized and run by the Spanish Basketball Federation...
, ending up with the silver medal. Despite the loss the players were greeted enthusiastically by celebrating fans on their return to Greece, due to their first medal in a World Championship and their glorious win over the United States.
In the EuroBasket 2007
Eurobasket 2007
-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :...
, the defending European champions advanced to the semi-finals where they faced up hosts and world champions Spain, in a repeat of the final one year ago. Greece came close to take a revenge but finally lost 82–77 and played in the bronze medal game, where they succumbed to Lithuania
Lithuania national basketball team
The Lithuanian national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in international men's basketball. Lithuania won bronze medals in three out of five Olympic tournaments it participated in....
. At the 2008 Olympic tournament
Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Basketball contests at the 2008 Olympic Games were held from August 9, 2008 to August 24, 2008. Competitions were held at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China...
, another last-second defeat 80–78 to Argentina in the quarter-finals led Greece to the 5th place once more. In the EuroBasket 2009
EuroBasket 2009
The EuroBasket 2009 was the 36th EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Poland, began on 7 September 2009 and concluded with the final on 20 September 2009...
, the national team was potently changed; with a bunch of young players and without key players Theodoros Papaloukas
Theodoros Papaloukas
Theódoros "Teó" Papaloukás is a Greek professional basketball player. He currently plays as a point guard for the Israeli League, Adriatic League and Euroleague club Maccabi Tel Aviv....
and Dimitris Diamantidis
Dimitris Diamantidis
Dimitris Diamantidis is a Greek professional basketball player. Standing at 1.98 m , Diamantidis mainly plays at the point guard position, but he also has the ability to play as a shooting guard, as well as to assume the small forward position, being utilized as a point forward...
, as well as Panagiotis Vasilopoulos
Panagiotis Vasilopoulos
Panagiotis "Panos" Vasilopoulos is a Greek professional basketball player. He measures 203 cm tall...
and Kostas Tsartsaris
Kostas Tsartsaris
Konstantinos "Kostas" Tsartsaris , is a Greek professional basketball player. He is a 6 ft 10 ¾ in tall 115.4 kg power forward, who can also play at the center position if needed...
, the tournament was perceived as the turning point for Greece after their major recent achievements. However, after their fourth consecutive defeat to Spain in the semi-finals and sixty years after their first, and last, bronze medal they managed to take the podium in the third position against the odds, with a thrilling 57–56 win over Slovenia
Slovenia national basketball team
The Slovenian National Basketball Team is a team that is selected by the Basketball Federation of Slovenia to compete in major international basketball events in representation of Slovenia....
, ceasing the curse of being defeated in all bronze medal games throughout their history.
In 2010 FIBA World Championship
2010 FIBA World Championship
The 2010 FIBA World Championship, hosted by Turkey, was the international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams. The tournament ran from August 28 to September 12, 2010. It was co-organized by the International Basketball Federation , Turkish Basketball Federation and the...
the team exhibited impressive performance during friendly preparation matches, beating Germany 82–54, Russia 101–63, Croatia 90–81, Canada 123–49, Slovenia 96–72 and Serbia 74–73 in a game that ended up in a brawl. That brawl exposed problems within the team, which showed a different face in crucial matches in the World Championship. In the group stage, it lost to Turkey and Russia (being accused of purposely losing the game with Russia to avoid playing with Spain in the knock-out stage). France's loss to New Zealand meant that Greece had to face Spain anyway in the phase of 16. The two teams met once more in a dramatic game that Spain won in the last minutes (a game that lead to Greek complaints about critical referee calls). That loss meant that the Greek team was eliminated from the next stage, ending up 11th (its worst performance in a World Championship).
That game lead to the fifth consecutive Spanish victory over Greece in major international competitions. This actually represents a reversal of the previous situation, as Greece had defeated Spain in the four previous major international competitions where the two teams had played against each other (1998 FIBA World Championship, Eurobasket 1995, Eurobasket 1993 and 1990 FIBA World Championship), while the last Greek victory over Spain was in a friendly in Madrid in September, 2005. After the elimination in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, top class player Dimitris Diamantidis
Dimitris Diamantidis
Dimitris Diamantidis is a Greek professional basketball player. Standing at 1.98 m , Diamantidis mainly plays at the point guard position, but he also has the ability to play as a shooting guard, as well as to assume the small forward position, being utilized as a point forward...
announced his retirement from the national team.
During preparations for Eurobasket 2011
Eurobasket 2011
EuroBasket 2011 was the 37th men's 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 the 1939 championship. FIBA Europe asserted that Lithuania managed to...
new coach Ilias Zouros
Ilias Zouros
Ilias Zouros is a Greek professional basketball coach. He has been a head coach in the Euroleague, and also of the senior men's Greek national basketball team.-Club coaching career:...
faced one of the greatest challenges in the history of the Greek basketball team, with the absences of no less than 9 key players (including star players Dimitris Diamantidis
Dimitris Diamantidis
Dimitris Diamantidis is a Greek professional basketball player. Standing at 1.98 m , Diamantidis mainly plays at the point guard position, but he also has the ability to play as a shooting guard, as well as to assume the small forward position, being utilized as a point forward...
, Theodoros Papaloukas
Theodoros Papaloukas
Theódoros "Teó" Papaloukás is a Greek professional basketball player. He currently plays as a point guard for the Israeli League, Adriatic League and Euroleague club Maccabi Tel Aviv....
, Sofoklis Schortsanitis
Sofoklis Schortsanitis
Sofoklis Schortsanitis is a Greek professional basketball player. He was born in Tiko, Cameroon, to a Greek father and a Cameroonian mother.He is listed at and...
and Vassilis Spanoulis
Vassilis Spanoulis
Vassilis Spanoulis is a Greek professional basketball player who plays for the Greek League and Euroleague club Olympiacos Piraeus. A 6 ft 4 in tall guard, Spanoulis first played for GS Larissa and enjoyed a highly successful career start, winning the Greek League's award for Best Young...
). Zouros had to assemble a team mostly made of young players (half of the team players had never participated in Eurobasket), with little time to prepare. The new national team exhibited promising signs during friendlies, beating Russia 83–80, Germany 69–56 and Turkey 62–38. At Eurobasket, Greece managed to reach the quarterfinals where it lost to eventual finalist France (64–56). Subsequently, victory against Serbia (87–77) and loss to Lithuania (73–69) lead Greece to 6th place, thus securing participation in the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament
2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament
The 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament is a men's basketball tournament that will consist of 12 national teams, where the top three teams earn a place in the 2012 Olympics basketball tournament. It will be held from 2 July to 8 July 2012 in a yet to be determined venue. Angola,...
.
Roster
This is Greece's roster for Eurobasket 2011Eurobasket 2011
EuroBasket 2011 was the 37th men's 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 the 1939 championship. FIBA Europe asserted that Lithuania managed to...
.
|}
| valign="top" |
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
----
Legend:
- (C) Team captain
- Club field describes current pro club
|}
Depth Chart
| Pos. | Starter | Bench | Bench | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well... |
Ioannis Bourousis | Kosta Koufos Kosta Koufos Konstantine Demetrios "Kosta" Koufos is a Greek-American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets. He was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft... |
Dimitrios Mavroeidis Dimitrios Mavroeidis Dimitrios Mavroeidis is a Greek professional basketball player. He is a 2.12 m tall center.... |
||||
| PF Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low... |
Antonis Fotsis Antonis Fotsis Antonis Fotsis is a Greek professional basketball player. He is a 2.09 m power forward... |
Kostas Kaimakoglou Kostas Kaimakoglou Konstantinos "Kostas" Kaimakoglou is a Greek professional basketball player. He is a 6 ft 8¾ in tall cornerman.-Pro career:Kaimakoglou began his professional career with the Greek League club Near East during the 2002–03 season. In 2004, he moved to Maroussi... |
|||||
| SF Small forward The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall... |
Michael Bramos Michael Bramos Michail Antonios Bramos, commonly known as Michael Bramos is a Greek American professional basketball player. He is a 1.98 m tall shooting guard-small forward with a 2.13m wingspan.-College career:... |
Kostas Papanikolaou Kostas Papanikolaou Konstantinos "Kostas" Papanikolaou is a Greek professional basketball player. He is 2.03 m tall... |
style="height:40px; background:white" | SG Shooting guard The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team... |
Nikos Zisis Nikos Zisis Nikolaos "Nikos" Zisis is a Greek professional basketball player. He is currently with the pro club Montepaschi Siena.-Player profile:... |
Kostas Vasileiadis | |
| PG Point guard Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that... |
Nick Calathes Nick Calathes Nicholas William "Nick" Calathes is an American-born Greek professional basketball player. Calathes played American college basketball for the University of Florida. He currently plays for Panathinaikos, the Athens, Greece affiliate of the EuroLeague.-High school career:Calathes was born in... ] |
Vasilis Xanthopoulos Vasilis Xanthopoulos Vasilis Xanthopoulos ; born April 29, 1984 in Maroussi, Athens, Greece is a Greek professional basketball player. He is 6 ft 2 in tall and he plays the point guard position.-Pro career:Xanthopoulos grew up playing for the Olympiacos Piraeus junior teams, starting to play with them in 1997... |
Kostas Sloukas |
Olympic Games
| Year | Position | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
 1952Basketball at the 1952 Summer Olympics Basketball at the 1952 Summer Olympics was the third appearance of the sport. 23 nations entered the competition.The top six teams at the 1948 Summer Olympics qualified automatically, as did the 1950 World Champion , the top two at the 1951 European championships , and the host country... |
17th | 1 | 2 |
 1996Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics Basketball contests at the 1996 Olympic Games were held from July 20, 1996 to August 4, 1996. Games took place at the Morehouse College Gymnasium and the Georgia Dome. For the second straight Olympic games, the American men's team composed almost entirely of NBA players won the gold medal... |
5th | 5 | 3 |
 2004Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's basketball The men's tournament of basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics at Athens, Greece began on August 15 and lasted until August 28. The games were held at the Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena and Olympic Indoor Hall.-Medalists:-Qualifying:-Format:... |
5th | 4 | 3 |
 2008Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics Basketball contests at the 2008 Olympic Games were held from August 9, 2008 to August 24, 2008. Competitions were held at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China... |
5th | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 4/17 | 13 | 11 |
FIBA World championship
| Year | Position | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
 19861986 FIBA World Championship The 1986 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Spain from July 5 to 19 1986.The Final phase of the tournament was held at the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid... |
10th | 4 | 6 |
 19901990 FIBA World Championship The 1990 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Argentina from August 8 to August 20, 1990.The competition final phase was held at the Luna Park, Buenos Aires.Yugoslavia emerged as the tournament winner... |
6th | 4 | 4 |
 19941994 FIBA World Championship The 1994 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Canada from August 4 to August 14, 1994. The tournament was held at SkyDome and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto as well as at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton... |
4th | 4 | 4 |
| 1998 1998 FIBA World Championship The 1998 FIBA World Championship was the 13th FIBA World Championship, an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation and hosted in Athens, Greece from July 29 to August 9, 1998... |
4th | 5 | 4 |
 20062006 FIBA World Championship The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee... |
 |
8 | 1 |
 20102010 FIBA World Championship The 2010 FIBA World Championship, hosted by Turkey, was the international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams. The tournament ran from August 28 to September 12, 2010. It was co-organized by the International Basketball Federation , Turkish Basketball Federation and the... |
11th | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 6/16 | 28 | 22 |
EuroBasket
| Year | Position | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
 1949Eurobasket 1949 The 1949 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1949, was the sixth regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Seven national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation took part in the competition... |
 |
4 | 2 |
 1951Eurobasket 1951 The 1951 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1951, was the seventh regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eighteen national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation entered the competition, a record number and more than twice the number that had... |
8th | 2 | 6 |
 1961EuroBasket 1961 The 1961 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1961, was the 12th regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eighteen national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation entered the competition. The competition was hosted by Yugoslavia... |
17th | 2 | 4 |
 1965EuroBasket 1965 -Venues:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # First roundGroup A - MoscowGroup B - Tbilisi-Places 13 - 16:-Places 9 - 12:-Places 5 - 8:-Places 1 - 4:-Finals:-Team rosters:... |
8th | 5 | 4 |
| 1967 EuroBasket 1967 -Venues:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # First roundGroup A - HelsinkiGroup B - Tampere-Places 13 - 16 in Tampere:-Places 9 - 12 in Helsinki:-Places 5 - 8 in Tampere:... |
12th | 3 | 6 |
 1969EuroBasket 1969 -Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # -Group A - Caserta:-Group B - Naples:-Places 9 - 12 in Naples:-Places 5 - 8 in Naples:-Places 1 - 4 in Naples:-Finals - all games in Naples:-Team rosters:... |
10th | 2 | 5 |
| 1973 EuroBasket 1973 -Venues:-Group A - Badalona:-Group B - Barcelona:-Places 9 - 12:-Places 5 - 8:-Places 1 - 4:-Finals:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # -Team rosters:... |
11th | 2 | 5 |
| 1975 EuroBasket 1975 -Group A - Split:-Group B - Karlovac:-Group C - Rijeka:-Places 7 - 12:-Places 1 - 6 in Belgrade:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # -Team rosters:... |
12th | 1 | 6 |
| 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... |
9th | 3 | 4 |
 1981EuroBasket 1981 The 1981 FIBA European Basketball Championship, commonly called EuroBasket 1981, was the 22nd regional championship held by FIBA Europe. The competition was hosted by Czechoslovakia and took place from May 26 to June 5, 1981... |
9th | 2 | 6 |
| 1983 EuroBasket 1983 -Venues:-Group A - Limoges :-Group B - Cannes :-Places 9 - 12:-Places 5 - 8:-Places 1 - 4:-Finals:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # -Team rosters:... |
11th | 2 | 5 |
| 1987 Eurobasket 1987 The EuroBasket 1987 was held in Greece between June 3 and June 14, 1987. Twelve national teams entered the event under the auspices of FIBA Europe, the sport's regional governing body... |
 |
6 | 2 |
| 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... |
|
3 | 2 |
| 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:... |
5th | 3 | 2 |
 1993EuroBasket 1993 -Venues:-First round:-A - Karlsruhe:-B - Berlin:-C - Karlsruhe:-D - Berlin:-Second round:-E - Karlsruhe:-F - Berlin:-Finals in Munich:-Places 5-8 in Munich:-Finals in Munich:-Final rankings:# # #... |
4th | 5 | 4 |
| 1995 EuroBasket 1995 EuroBasket 1995 final tournament stage was XXIX European basketball championship and was held in Athens, Greece from 21 June to 2 July, 1995. This European championship was the first one that saw the successful return of Lithuania national basketball team to the tournament, since its last triumph... |
4th | 5 | 4 |
| 1997 EuroBasket 1997 -Venues:The tournament was played at three venues in Spain. Girona and Badalona hosted the first and the second round, while the entire knockout stage was played at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona.-First round:-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:... |
4th | 7 | 2 |
| 1999 EuroBasket 1999 -Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:-5th place bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :... |
16th | 0 | 3 |
| 2001 EuroBasket 2001 The EuroBasket 2001 was the 32nd EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Turkey, began on 31 August 2001 and concluded with the final on 9 September 2001. Yugoslavia won the gold medal,... |
9th | 2 | 2 |
 2003Eurobasket 2003 -5th to 8th place:-Awards:-All-Tournament Team : Tony Parker Šarūnas Jasikevičius Saulius Štombergas Andrei Kirilenko Pau Gasol-Top scorers :# Pau Gasol 25.8# Andrei Kirilenko 23.1# Dirk Nowitzki 22.5# Mehmet Okur 18.7... |
5th | 5 | 1 |
 2005Eurobasket 2005 The EuroBasket 2005 was held in Serbia and Montenegro between 16 September and 25 September 2005. Greece won the gold medal by defeating Germany, while France won the bronze medal over Spain... |
|
6 | 1 |
| 2007 Eurobasket 2007 -Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :... |
4th | 5 | 4 |
 2009EuroBasket 2009 The EuroBasket 2009 was the 36th EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Poland, began on 7 September 2009 and concluded with the final on 20 September 2009... |
|
6 | 3 |
 2011Eurobasket 2011 EuroBasket 2011 was the 37th men's 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 the 1939 championship. FIBA Europe asserted that Lithuania managed to... |
6th | 7 | 4 |
| Total | 24/37 | 88 | 87 |
Mediterranean Games
| Year | Position |
|---|---|
| 1951 Basketball at the 1951 Mediterranean Games The basketball tournament at the 1951 Mediterranean Games was held in Alexandria, Egypt.-Medalists:-References:... |
4th |
| 1955 Basketball at the 1955 Mediterranean Games The basketball tournament at the 1955 Mediterranean Games was held in Barcelona, Spain.-Medalists:-References:... |
|
 1959 |
did not compete |
| 1963 |
did not compete |
 1967 |
4th |
| 1971 |
|
 1975Basketball at the 1975 Mediterranean Games The basketball tournament at the 1975 Mediterranean Games was held in Algiers, Algeria.-Medalists:-References:... |
5th |
| 1979 |
|
 1983 |
4th |
 1987 |
|
| 1991 |
|
| 1993 |
4th |
| 1997 |
4th |
| 2001 |
|
| 2005 Basketball at the 2005 Mediterranean Games The Basketball Tournament at the 2005 Mediterranean Games was held in the El Ejido Sports Hall from Friday June 24 to Friday July 1, 2005 in Almería, Spain.-Rosters:*... |
|
| 2009 Basketball at the 2009 Mediterranean Games The basketball tournament at the 2009 Mediterranean Games was held in the Elettra Sports Hall, Ortona Sports Hall, Teramo Sports Hall and the Roseto Sports Hall from June 27 to July 4, 2009 in Pescara, Italy.-Medalists:-Medal count:... |
|
| Total | 14/16 |
Memorable matches
| Date | Tournament | Place | Match | Score | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1981 | EuroBasket 1981 EuroBasket 1981 The 1981 FIBA European Basketball Championship, commonly called EuroBasket 1981, was the 22nd regional championship held by FIBA Europe. The competition was hosted by Czechoslovakia and took place from May 26 to June 5, 1981... Challenge round |
Istanbul Istanbul Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and... , Turkey |
– | 85 - 84 | ||||||
| June 1987 | EuroBasket 1987 Eurobasket 1987 The EuroBasket 1987 was held in Greece between June 3 and June 14, 1987. Twelve national teams entered the event under the auspices of FIBA Europe, the sport's regional governing body... Group stage |
Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , Greece |
– | 84 - 78 | ||||||
| June 1987 | EuroBasket 1987 Eurobasket 1987 The EuroBasket 1987 was held in Greece between June 3 and June 14, 1987. Twelve national teams entered the event under the auspices of FIBA Europe, the sport's regional governing body... Semi-final |
Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , Greece |
– | 81 - 77 | ||||||
| 14 June 1987 | EuroBasket 1987 Eurobasket 1987 The EuroBasket 1987 was held in Greece between June 3 and June 14, 1987. Twelve national teams entered the event under the auspices of FIBA Europe, the sport's regional governing body... Final |
Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , Greece |
– | 103 - 101 | ||||||
| 24 June 1989 | EuroBasket 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... Semi-final |
Zagreb Zagreb Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city... , Croatia |
– | 81 - 80 | ||||||
| 28 June 1993 | EuroBasket 1993 EuroBasket 1993 -Venues:-First round:-A - Karlsruhe:-B - Berlin:-C - Karlsruhe:-D - Berlin:-Second round:-E - Karlsruhe:-F - Berlin:-Finals in Munich:-Places 5-8 in Munich:-Finals in Munich:-Final rankings:# # #... Preliminary round II |
Berlin, Germany | – | 76 - 75 | ||||||
| 1 July 1993 | EuroBasket 1993 EuroBasket 1993 -Venues:-First round:-A - Karlsruhe:-B - Berlin:-C - Karlsruhe:-D - Berlin:-Second round:-E - Karlsruhe:-F - Berlin:-Finals in Munich:-Places 5-8 in Munich:-Finals in Munich:-Final rankings:# # #... Quarter-final |
Berlin, Germany | – | 61 - 59 | ||||||
| 8 August 1994 | 1994 FIBA World Championship 1994 FIBA World Championship The 1994 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Canada from August 4 to August 14, 1994. The tournament was held at SkyDome and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto as well as at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton... 2nd round |
Toronto, Canada | – | 74 - 71 | ||||||
| 30 June 1995 | EuroBasket 1995 EuroBasket 1995 EuroBasket 1995 final tournament stage was XXIX European basketball championship and was held in Athens, Greece from 21 June to 2 July, 1995. This European championship was the first one that saw the successful return of Lithuania national basketball team to the tournament, since its last triumph... Quarter final |
Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , Greece |
– | 66 - 64 | ||||||
| 2 August 1996 | 1996 Summer Olympics 1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.... 5th place game |
Atlanta, USA | – | 91 - 72 | ||||||
| 25 June 1997 | EuroBasket 1997 EuroBasket 1997 -Venues:The tournament was played at three venues in Spain. Girona and Badalona hosted the first and the second round, while the entire knockout stage was played at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona.-First round:-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:... Group stage |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... , Spain |
– | 74 - 52 | ||||||
| 26 June 1997 | EuroBasket 1997 EuroBasket 1997 -Venues:The tournament was played at three venues in Spain. Girona and Badalona hosted the first and the second round, while the entire knockout stage was played at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona.-First round:-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:... Group stage |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... , Spain |
– | 74 - 72 | ||||||
| 31 Aug 2001 | EuroBasket 2001 EuroBasket 2001 The EuroBasket 2001 was the 32nd EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Turkey, began on 31 August 2001 and concluded with the final on 9 September 2001. Yugoslavia won the gold medal,... Preliminary round |
Antalya Antalya Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :... , Turkey |
– | 83 - 82 | ||||||
| 24 September 2005 | EuroBasket 2005 Eurobasket 2005 The EuroBasket 2005 was held in Serbia and Montenegro between 16 September and 25 September 2005. Greece won the gold medal by defeating Germany, while France won the bronze medal over Spain... Semi-final |
Belgrade Belgrade Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe... , Serbia |
– | 67 - 66 | ||||||
| 25 September 2005 | EuroBasket 2005 Eurobasket 2005 The EuroBasket 2005 was held in Serbia and Montenegro between 16 September and 25 September 2005. Greece won the gold medal by defeating Germany, while France won the bronze medal over Spain... Final |
Belgrade Belgrade Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe... , Serbia |
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| 20 August 2006 | 2006 FIBA World Championship 2006 FIBA World Championship The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee... Group stage |
Hamamatsu, Japan | – | 81 - 76 (OT) | ||||||
| 22 August 2006 | 2006 FIBA World Championship 2006 FIBA World Championship The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee... Group stage |
Hamamatsu, Japan | – | 72 - 69 | ||||||
| 27 August 2006 | 2006 FIBA World Championship 2006 FIBA World Championship The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee... Round of 16 |
Saitama Saitama, Saitama ' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance... , Japan |
– | 95 - 64 | ||||||
| 9 September 2006 | 2006 FIBA World Championship 2006 FIBA World Championship The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee... Semi-final |
Saitama Saitama, Saitama ' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance... , Japan |
– | 101 - 95 | ||||||
| 9 September 2007 | EuroBasket 2007 Eurobasket 2007 -Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :... Qualifying round |
Madrid Madrid Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan... , Spain |
– | 81 - 78 | ||||||
| 14 September 2007 | EuroBasket 2007 Eurobasket 2007 -Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :... Quarter-final |
Madrid Madrid Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan... , Spain |
– | 63 - 62 | ||||||
| 18 September 2009 | EuroBasket 2009 EuroBasket 2009 The EuroBasket 2009 was the 36th EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Poland, began on 7 September 2009 and concluded with the final on 20 September 2009... Quarter-final |
Katowice Katowice Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2... , Poland |
– | 76 - 74 (OT) | ||||||
| 17 August 2010 | Acropolis Tournament 2010 Acropolis International Tournament 2010 Acropolis International Tournament 2010 was a basketball tournament held in OAKA arena in Athens, Greece from August 17 till August 19, 2010. This was the 24th Acropolis International tournament. The four participating teams were Greece, Serbia, Canada and Slovenia.- Standings :- Tiebreaker... |
Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , Greece |
– | 123 - 49 |
See also
- Greek national basketball team past rosters