Lazaros Papadopoulos
Encyclopedia
Lazaros Papadopoulos is a Greek
professional basketball player. He is 7 ft (2.13 m) 280 lbs. and he plays at the center
position.
, then-USSR, on June 3, 1980, as Lazar Popandopulo (Лазарь Попандопуло) to Greek
father and Russian
mother.. In 1990, he came to Thessaloniki
with his parents Theodore and Marina, and younger sister Agapi.
He got married in August 2002, and has two daughters, Daphne and Nefeli.
powerhouse Panathinaikos in 2001, and he stayed there until 2003. He then returned to Iraklis the following season, and stayed there for only one year, before next signing with Dynamo Moscow
of the Russian Superleague
in the year 2004. In 2007, he joined the Spanish ACB League club Real Madrid
. In 2008, he joined Fortitudo Bologna
of the Italian League.
He won the Euroleague
Championship during the Euroleague 2001-02
season, while he was with Panathinaikos, and also the ULEB Cup
Championship while he was with Dynamo Moscow
in the year 2006. In 2007, his performances with Dynamo Moscow
during the Euroleague 2006-07
season, earned him a selection into the All-Euroleague Second team. He joined PAOK
for the 2009-10 season and donated his salary to charity.
On February 2011, he joined Russian club Khimki BC
.
In August 2011 he signed a one-year deal with Olympiacos.
. He also competed with the Greek junior team at the 1999 FIBA Under-19 World Championship
. With the senior Greek National Basketball Team
Papadopoulos won the gold medal at the EuroBasket 2005
and he was voted the best center of the tournament.
With Greece, he also won the silver medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship
. Papadopulos was also a member of the Greek teams that competed at the EuroBasket 2001
and the EuroBasket 2007
. He was also part of Greece's 2004 Olympic 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 7 ft (2.13 m) 280 lbs. and he plays at the center
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...
position.
Personal
Papadopoulos was born in KrasnodarKrasnodar
Krasnodar is a city in Southern Russia, located on the Kuban River about northeast of the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. It is the administrative center of Krasnodar Krai . Population: -Name:...
, then-USSR, on June 3, 1980, as Lazar Popandopulo (Лазарь Попандопуло) to Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
father and Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
mother.. In 1990, he came to Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
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...
with his parents Theodore and Marina, and younger sister Agapi.
He got married in August 2002, and has two daughters, Daphne and Nefeli.
Pro career
Papadopoulos began his professional career playing for the Greek club Iraklis in the 1996-97 season. After five years with Iraklis, he signed to play for the Greek LeagueA1 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...
powerhouse Panathinaikos in 2001, and he stayed there until 2003. He then returned to Iraklis the following season, and stayed there for only one year, before next signing with Dynamo Moscow
MBC Dynamo Moscow
MBC Dynamo Moscow is a Russian professional basketball team from Moscow, Russia.-Early Years:Created in 1923 when Russia was part of the Soviet Union, Dynamo is among the oldest sports clubs in the country. Its name was chosen because Dynamo means 'power in motion'. The club was backed by the...
of the Russian Superleague
Russian Basketball Super League
The Russian Basketball SuperLeague is a men's professional basketball league that was the pre-eminent league of Russian professional basketball until 2010...
in the year 2004. In 2007, he joined the Spanish ACB League club 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 ....
. In 2008, he joined Fortitudo Bologna
Fortitudo Bologna
Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna is an Legadue Basket professional basketball club that is based in Bologna. It's currently sponsored by Conad.-History:...
of the Italian League.
He won the 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...
Championship during the Euroleague 2001-02
Euroleague 2001-02
The Euroleague is an international basketball club competition for elite clubs throughout Europe. The Euroleague season 2001-02 started on October 10, 2001 and ended with the championship final game on May 5, 2002, in PalaMalaguti, Bologna, Italy. 32 teams competed for the championship, which was...
season, while he was with Panathinaikos, and also the ULEB Cup
ULEB Cup
Eurocup Basketball is the second-tier level transnational professional basketball competition in Europe. The Eurocup is the level that is one tier below the Turkish Airlines Euroleague level...
Championship while he was with Dynamo Moscow
MBC Dynamo Moscow
MBC Dynamo Moscow is a Russian professional basketball team from Moscow, Russia.-Early Years:Created in 1923 when Russia was part of the Soviet Union, Dynamo is among the oldest sports clubs in the country. Its name was chosen because Dynamo means 'power in motion'. The club was backed by the...
in the year 2006. In 2007, his performances with Dynamo Moscow
MBC Dynamo Moscow
MBC Dynamo Moscow is a Russian professional basketball team from Moscow, Russia.-Early Years:Created in 1923 when Russia was part of the Soviet Union, Dynamo is among the oldest sports clubs in the country. Its name was chosen because Dynamo means 'power in motion'. The club was backed by the...
during the Euroleague 2006-07
Euroleague 2006-07
The Euroleague is an international basketball club competition for elite clubs throughout Europe. The 2006-2007 season featured 24 competing teams from 13 different countries. The draw for the groups was held on September 14, 2006 in Athens. The competition began on October 24, 2006 at the Olympic...
season, earned him a selection into the All-Euroleague Second team. He joined 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 2009-10 season and donated his salary to charity.
On February 2011, he joined Russian club Khimki BC
Khimki BC
BC Khimki is a Russian professional basketball team that is based in Khimki, Moscow Oblast. The club's first team participates in the PBL, the VTB United League, and also the Euroleague.-History:...
.
In August 2011 he signed a one-year deal with Olympiacos.
Greek national team
As a member of the junior Greek national team, Papadopoulos won the bronze medal at the 1998 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:...
. He also competed with the Greek junior team at the 1999 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...
. With the senior Greek National Basketball Team
Greece national basketball team
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...
Papadopoulos won the gold medal at the 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...
and he was voted the best center of the tournament.
With Greece, he also won the silver medal at 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...
. Papadopulos was also a member of the Greek teams that competed at the 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,...
and 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 :...
. He was also part of Greece's 2004 Olympic Basketball
Basketball 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:...
team.
Pro career
- 5x 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...
: (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010) - Won the EuroleagueEuroleagueEuroleague 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...
Championship: (2002) - Won the Greek ChampionshipA1 EthnikiThe 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...
: (2003) - Won the Greek CupGreek basketball CupThe Greek Basketball Cup or Hellenic Basketball Cup is an annual pro basketball national cup competition. It is organized by the Hellenic Basketball Federation .-History and format:...
: (2003) - Won the EurocupULEB CupEurocup Basketball is the second-tier level transnational professional basketball competition in Europe. The Eurocup is the level that is one tier below the Turkish Airlines Euroleague level...
Championship: (2006) - All-Euroleague Second Team: (2007Euroleague 2006-07The Euroleague is an international basketball club competition for elite clubs throughout Europe. The 2006-2007 season featured 24 competing teams from 13 different countries. The draw for the groups was held on September 14, 2006 in Athens. The competition began on October 24, 2006 at the Olympic...
)
Greek national team
- Won the bronze medal at the 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:...
: (1998) - Won 5 Acropolis TournamentAcropolis TournamentThe Acropolis International Basketball Tournament is an international basketball competition between national teams, which has been held annually since the year 1986 and takes place in Athens, Greece each summer...
s: (2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007) - Won the gold medal at the 2005 FIBA European ChampionshipEurobasket 2005The 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...
- Won the silver medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship2006 FIBA World ChampionshipThe 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...