Kostas Vassiliadis
Encyclopedia
Konstantinos "Kostas" Vasileiadis (alternate spellings include: Costas Vasiliadis, Costas Vassiliadis, Kostas Vasiliadis, Kostas Vassiliadis) , is a Greek
professional basketball player. He is a 2.00 m (6 ft 6 ¾ in) tall swingman
.
, Greece
, and raised in Kilkis
, Greece. He started his professional career with PAOK
of the Greek A1 League
. He was the team captain
of PAOK and he played there for 6 years from 2000 to 2006. He had an outstanding start to his career with the club before joining Unicaja Málaga of the Spanish ACB League.
Vasileiadis was a famous and popular player while he played with the Spanish giants Málaga during the 2006-07 season. The Spanish side was able to make an impact in European competitions partly due to the play and efforts of Vasileiadis while he was a member of the club. The fans of the club say that he will always be remembered and appreciated by them for his efforts and play for the team on the court.
On July 12, 2007, he signed a contract with the Greek Euroleague
giants Olympiacos
, despite them being rivals to his personal favorite club and previous team PAOK
. He helped Olympiacos to a second place finish in the Greek A1 League during the 2007-08 season.
Vasileiadis returned to PAOK
for the 2008-09 season as part of the club's revitalization movement under new ownership, after a previously poor 2007-08 season for the club. He was once again made the team's captain. Before the 2008-09 season was over he moved the Lega Basket Serie A club Sutor Basket Montegranaro
.
He signed a contract with the Spanish ACB League team Obradoiro CAB
in August 2009. In 2010, he signed a 3 year contract with Bilbao Basket, with the third year being optional.
and the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Championship
, where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team. He was named to the 2004 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
All-Tournament Team, which he also led in scoring.
He also won the silver medal and was voted to the All-Tournament Team at the 2005 FIBA Under-21 World Championship
, which was held in Argentina
. He is also a member of the senior men's Greek national basketball team.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
professional basketball player. He is a 2.00 m (6 ft 6 ¾ in) tall swingman
Swingman
A Swingman is a basketball term denoting a player who can play both the small forward and shooting guard positions, and, in essence, swing between the shooting guard and small forward positions." Swingmen males are often between 6'5" and 6'8" .John Havlicek, who played for the Boston Celtics in...
.
Pro career
Vasileiadis was born in ThessalonikiThessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and raised in Kilkis
Kilkis
Kilkis is an industrial city in Central Macedonia, Greece. As of 2001 there were 17,430 people living in the city proper, 24,812 people living in the municipal unit, and 56,336 in the municipality of Kilkis. It is also the capital city of the regional unit of Kilkis.-Name:Kilkis is located in a...
, Greece. He started his professional career with PAOK
PAOK BC
P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki B.C. is the professional basketball department of the Greek multi-sports club P.A.O.K., originally founded in 1926 and is based in Thessaloniki, Greece. The club has established a firm reputation in Greek sports, especially for its success in European leagues...
of the Greek A1 League
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
. He was the team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
of PAOK and he played there for 6 years from 2000 to 2006. He had an outstanding start to his career with the club before joining Unicaja Málaga of the Spanish ACB League.
Vasileiadis was a famous and popular player while he played with the Spanish giants Málaga during the 2006-07 season. The Spanish side was able to make an impact in European competitions partly due to the play and efforts of Vasileiadis while he was a member of the club. The fans of the club say that he will always be remembered and appreciated by them for his efforts and play for the team on the court.
On July 12, 2007, he signed a contract with the Greek Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
giants Olympiacos
Olympiacos BC
Olympiacos B.C. , also known simply as Olympiacos and Olympiacos Piraeus, is a Greek professional basketball club, part of Olympiacos CFP, based in Piraeus. The basketball club, founded in 1931, is one of the most successful in Greece and a traditional powerhouse in European competitions...
, despite them being rivals to his personal favorite club and previous team PAOK
PAOK BC
P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki B.C. is the professional basketball department of the Greek multi-sports club P.A.O.K., originally founded in 1926 and is based in Thessaloniki, Greece. The club has established a firm reputation in Greek sports, especially for its success in European leagues...
. He helped Olympiacos to a second place finish in the Greek A1 League during the 2007-08 season.
Vasileiadis returned to PAOK
PAOK BC
P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki B.C. is the professional basketball department of the Greek multi-sports club P.A.O.K., originally founded in 1926 and is based in Thessaloniki, Greece. The club has established a firm reputation in Greek sports, especially for its success in European leagues...
for the 2008-09 season as part of the club's revitalization movement under new ownership, after a previously poor 2007-08 season for the club. He was once again made the team's captain. Before the 2008-09 season was over he moved the Lega Basket Serie A club Sutor Basket Montegranaro
Sutor Basket Montegranaro
Sutor Basket Montegranaro, also known for sponsorship reasons as Sigma Coatings Montegranaro, is an Italian League professional basketball club from the town of Montegranaro, Marche...
.
He signed a contract with the Spanish ACB League team Obradoiro CAB
Obradoiro CAB
Obradoiro Clube de Amigos do Baloncesto , also known as Blu:sens Monbús by sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball team based in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, that is part of the ACB League...
in August 2009. In 2010, he signed a 3 year contract with Bilbao Basket, with the third year being optional.
Greek national team
At the international level, Vasileiadis played as a youth with the junior men's Greek national teams. He won the bronze medal at both the 2002 FIBA Europe Under-18 ChampionshipFIBA Europe Under-18 Championship
FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship was inaugurated in 1964 and for the following 40 years it had been held biannually. From 2004 onwards, it is held every year.-Summaries:-Performances by nation:...
and the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Championship
FIBA Under-19 World Championship
The FIBA Under-19 World Championship is a men's under-19 only basketball competition organized by FIBA. From its inauguration in 1979 until 2007 it was held every four years...
, where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team. He was named to the 2004 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
2004 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
-Championship:-5th–8th playoffs:-Final standings:-Points:-Rebounds:-Assists:-All-Tournament Team: Yotam Halperin Ivan Koljevic Konstantinos Vasileiadis Linas Kleiza Erazem Lorbek-References:**...
All-Tournament Team, which he also led in scoring.
He also won the silver medal and was voted to the All-Tournament Team at the 2005 FIBA Under-21 World Championship
FIBA Under-21 World Championship
The FIBA Under-21 World Championship was a men's under-21-only basketball competition organized by FIBA. It was formerly the FIBA 22 & Under World Championship before FIBA lowered the age limit to 21 years in December 1998, and had its name changed to World Championship for Young Men. The...
, which was held in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. He is also a member of the senior men's Greek national basketball team.
Pro career
- Greek Youth All Star Game MVP: (2004)
- 3x Greek All Star GameHEBA Greek All Star GameThe Greek HEBA All-Star Game, also known as the Greek ΕΣΑΚΕ All Star Game is the All Star Game of the HEBA Greek basketball association for men, was founded and organized by GUS SARIANIDES which features players from the top Greek pro basketball league the HEBA A1 Division. The game is played in a...
: (2005, 2006, 2008) - FIBA EuroCup All Star: (2006)
- Won the Spanish Championship: (2006)
Greek national team
- FIBA Europe Under-18 ChampionshipFIBA Europe Under-18 ChampionshipFIBA Europe Under-18 Championship was inaugurated in 1964 and for the following 40 years it had been held biannually. From 2004 onwards, it is held every year.-Summaries:-Performances by nation:...
: Bronze Medal: (2002) - FIBA Under-19 World ChampionshipFIBA Under-19 World ChampionshipThe FIBA Under-19 World Championship is a men's under-19 only basketball competition organized by FIBA. From its inauguration in 1979 until 2007 it was held every four years...
: Bronze Medal: (2003) - FIBA Under-19 World Championship: All-Tournament Team: (2003)
- FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship2004 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship-Championship:-5th–8th playoffs:-Final standings:-Points:-Rebounds:-Assists:-All-Tournament Team: Yotam Halperin Ivan Koljevic Konstantinos Vasileiadis Linas Kleiza Erazem Lorbek-References:**...
: Scoring Leader: (2004) - FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: All-Tournament Team: (2004)
- FIBA Under-21 World Championship: Silver Medal: (2005)
- FIBA Under-21 World Championship: All-Tournament Team: (2005)