Vasilis Xanthopoulos
Encyclopedia
Vasilis Xanthopoulos (Greek
: Βασίλης Ξανθόπουλος); born April 29, 1984 in Maroussi, Athens
, Greece
is a Greek professional basketball player. He is 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) tall and he plays the point guard
position.
junior teams, starting to play with them in 1997. He began his professional career in 2002, with Near East
, in the Greek A2 League
. Xanthopoulos transferred from Near East to Panathinaikos of the Greek A1 league
in 2004.
In 2005, he transferred to PAOK Thessaloniki
. In 2006, he returned to Panathinaikos and with them he won the Triple Crown
Championship in 2007. His team accomplished this by winning the Greek Championship
, Greek Cup
, and the Euroleague
all in the same season. With Panathinaikos, Xanthopoulos won 2 Greek Championships
and 2 Greek Cups
.
In 2007, he transferred to Panionios. In 2009, he moved to Panellinios.
, the bronze medal at the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Championship
, and the silver medal at the 2005 FIBA Under-21 World Championship
. He also played at the 2004 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
.
He has also been a member of the senior men's Greek national basketball team.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Βασίλης Ξανθόπουλος); born April 29, 1984 in Maroussi, 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
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
is a Greek professional basketball player. He is 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) tall and he plays the point guard
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...
position.
Pro career
Xanthopoulos grew up playing for the Olympiacos PiraeusOlympiacos 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...
junior teams, starting to play with them in 1997. He began his professional career in 2002, with Near East
Near East BC
AO Near East BC is one of the oldest professional basketball clubs in Greece. The basketball club was founded in the year 1927. The team is located in Kaisariani, Greece, which is a suburb of the city of Athens, Greece...
, in the Greek A2 League
A2 Ethniki
The HEBA A2 or commonly called, the Greek A2 League, is the second division of the highest professional basketball competition among pro clubs in Greece. It is operated by the Hellenic Basketball Clubs Association . The league has 16 teams...
. Xanthopoulos transferred from Near East to Panathinaikos 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...
in 2004.
In 2005, he transferred to PAOK Thessaloniki
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...
. In 2006, he returned to Panathinaikos and with them he won the Triple Crown
Triple Crown in Basketball
The Triple Crown is a term in European professional club basketball that refers to a club winning their country's top tier national domestic league, primary national domestic cup, and the top tier European continental level competition in the same season. It is the highest accomplishment that a...
Championship in 2007. His team accomplished this by winning the Greek Championship
A1 Ethniki 2006-07
The Greek Basket League 2006–07 season saw Panathinaikos finish both in first place in the regular season and win the championship via the playoff.-Standings:...
, Greek Cup
Greek basketball Cup
The 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:...
, and the Euroleague
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...
all in the same season. With Panathinaikos, Xanthopoulos won 2 Greek Championships
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...
and 2 Greek Cups
Greek basketball Cup
The 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:...
.
In 2007, he transferred to Panionios. In 2009, he moved to Panellinios.
Greek national team
Xanthopoulos was also a member of the Greek junior national teams. He won the bronze medal at 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:...
, the bronze medal at 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...
, and the silver medal 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...
. He also played at the 2004 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, previously known as European Championship for Men 'Under22 and Under, is a basketball competition inaugurated in 1992. Until 2004 it was held biannually, but from 2004 onwards it is held every year. The current champions are Spain.Since 2005, a second level...
.
He has also been a member of the senior men's Greek national basketball team.
Pro career
- Won 2 Greek ChampionshipsA1 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...
(2005, 2007) - Won 2 Greek CupsGreek 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:...
(2005, 2007) - 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 (2007) - Won the Triple CrownTriple Crown in BasketballThe Triple Crown is a term in European professional club basketball that refers to a club winning their country's top tier national domestic league, primary national domestic cup, and the top tier European continental level competition in the same season. It is the highest accomplishment that a...
(2007)
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-21 World ChampionshipFIBA Under-21 World ChampionshipThe 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...
: Silver Medal (2005)