Fanis Christodoulou
Theofanis "Fanis" Christodoulou (Greek: Θεοφάνης "Φάνης" Χριστοδούλου; born May 22, 1965 in Athens) is a retired Greek professional basketball player. He mainly played at the small forward position, but his complete all-around skills allowed him to play all five positions on the court. During his playing career, many sports journalists called him "The European Charles Barkley". While his nickname among his teammates was "Bembis" ("Baby").[1]
 Christodoulou playing with Panathinaikos in 1998. | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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| Born | May 22, 1965 Athens, Greece | ||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Greek | ||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 1987 / Round: 4 / Pick: 90th overall | ||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1983–1998 | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Small forward / Power forward | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
| 1983–1997 | Panionios | ||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Panathinaikos | ||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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A two-time All-EuroBasket Team selection, in 1993 and 1995, Christodoulou is a candidate for the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Christodoulou started his playing career with the youth teams of the Greek club Dafni. He spent most of his pro club career with Panionios, where he played from 1983 to 1997. With Panionios, he won the Greek Cup title in the year 1991. Christodoulou spent the last year of his career playing with Panathinaikos. With Panathinaikos, he won the Greek League championship, in the 1997–98 season. After that, he retired from playing pro club basketball.
NBA draft rights
Christodoulou was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, in the 1987 NBA Draft, with the 90th pick overall, but he never decided to leave Greece and play in the NBA.
National team career
Christodoulou was an important member of the senior men's Greek national team that won the gold medal at the 1987 EuroBasket and the silver medal at the 1989 EuroBasket. Christodoulou was also a member of the Greek national team that finished in 4th place at the 1994 FIBA World Championship. He also played at the 1986 FIBA World Championship, the 1990 FIBA World Championship, the 1993 EuroBasket, the 1995 EuroBasket, the 1997 EuroBasket, and at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.
Personal life
Christodoulou's older brother, Christos, was also a professional basketball player. They played together in the same club team, Panionios.
Awards and accomplishments
Greek senior national team
- 1987 EuroBasket:
- 1989 EuroBasket:
- FIBA EuroBasket All-Tournament Team: 2 (1993, 1995)
Club titles
- Greek League: 1 (with Panathinaikos: 1997–98)
- Greek Cup: 1 (with Panionios: 1990–91)
Personal awards
- Greek League MVP: (1993)
- No. 4 retired by Panionios
- FIBA Hall of Fame Candidate