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{{short description|Greek basketball player}}{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

factoids

| birth_place = Trikala, Greece| draft_year = 2012| draft_round = 2| draft_pick = 48| draft_team = New York Knicks| career_start = 2008| career_end = | years1 = 2008–2009Aris B.C.>Aris Thessaloniki| years2 = 2009–2013Olympiacos B.C.>Olympiacos| years3 = 2013–2014FC Barcelona Bàsquet>FC Barcelona2014|full=y}}| team4 = Houston Rockets2015|full=y}}| team5 = Denver Nuggets| years6 = 2016–present| team6 = Olympiacos| highlights =

• 2× EuroLeague champion (2012, 2013)
• EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer (2012)
• EuroLeague Rising Star (2013)
• Liga ACB champion (2014)
• Catalan League champion (2013)
• Liga ACB Defensive Player of the Year (2014)
• 4× Greek League champion (2012, 2016, 2022, 2023)
• 5× Greek Cup winner (2010, 2011, 2022–2024)
• 2× Greek Super Cup winner (2022, 2023)
• Greek League Finals MVP (2012)
• Greek League Best Defender (2017)
• 2× Greek League Domestic Player of the Year (2012, 2023)
• 2× Greek League Best Young Player (2009, 2012)
• 4× All-Greek League First Team (2012, 2013, 2017, 2023)
• 2× All-Greek League Second Team (2018, 2022)
• 5× Greek All-Star (2013, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)
• FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship MVP (2009)| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}{{MedalCountry|{{bk|GRE}}}}{{MedalCompetition|FIBA U-19 World Cup}}{{MedalSilver|2009 New Zealand|Under-19}}{{MedalCompetition|FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship}}{{MedalGold|2009 Greece|Under-20}}{{MedalSilver|2010 Croatia|Under-20}}{{MedalCompetition|FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship}}{{MedalGold|2008 Greece|Under-18}}{{MedalSilver|2007 Spain|Under-18}}}}Konstantinos "Kostas" Papanikolaou (; born 31 July 1990) nicknamed "Air Pap" is a Greek professional basketball player and the team captain for Olympiacos of the Greek Basket League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. Standing at 2.04 m (6'8 {{1/2}}") tall,PAPANIKOLAOU, KOSTAS HEIGHT: 2.04.WEB, Olympiacos officially announced Papanikolaou,weblink Eurohoops.net, 20 January 2016, 20 January 2016, he plays at the small forward position. He has previously played in the NBA for the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets, as well as for the EuroLeague powerhouse FC Barcelona. Papanikolaou is also a regular member of the senior Hellenic national team. He is widely considered amongst the best defensive players in European basketball.WEB, 2018-05-08, EuroLeague Best Defender by Eurohoops: Κώστας Παπανικολάου, Greeks do it better,weblink 2022-03-18, Eurohoops, el,

Professional career

Aris (2008–2009)

Papanikolaou began playing basketball with the youth teams of Proteas Grevenon and Aris, and he made his pro debut in the Greek League, with Aris, during the 2008–09 season. He was named the MVP of the Greek Youth All-Star Game in 2009. He was also named the Greek League's Best Young Player in 2009.WEB,weblink Best young player, Papanikolaou, ArisBC.gr, 24 June 2009, 24 June 2009, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140809163300weblink">weblink 9 August 2014,

Olympiacos (2009–2013)

On 14 September 2009, Papanikolaou signed a five-year, €1.3 million net income deal with Olympiacos,WEB,weblink OLYMPIACOS nabs prospect Papanikolaou, Euroleague.net, 14 September 2009, 14 September 2009, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140809213046weblink">weblink 9 August 2014, after Olympiacos paid a €950,000 buyout fee to Aris, to secure his player rights.WEB,weblink el:Πάει στην Μπαρτσελόνα ο Παπανικολάου!, RedPlanet.gr, 20 July 2013, 20 July 2013, el, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140726043335weblink">weblink 26 July 2014, Papanikolaou's contract with Olympiacos had an NBA buyout clause worth €1 million.WEB,weblink el:Παπανικολάου: "Ο καθένας μπορεί να γράφει ό,τι θέλει", RedPlanet.gr, 22 April 2013, 22 April 2013, el, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140810070743weblink">weblink 10 August 2014, With Olympiacos, he won the EuroLeague and Greek League championships in 2012. Papanikolaou was voted the EuroLeague Rising Star for the EuroLeague 2012–13 season.WEB, Rising Star Trophy winner: Kostas Papanikolaou, Olympiacos Piraeus,weblink Euroleague.net, 1 May 2013, 1 May 2013, With Olympiacos, he also won the 2012–13 season EuroLeague championship.

FC Barcelona (2013–2014)

On 20 July 2013, Papanikolaou signed a four-year deal with Spanish League club FC Barcelona,WEB,weblink FC BARCELONA lands Kostas Papanikolaou!, Euroleague.net, 20 July 2013, 20 July 2013, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140726000350weblink">weblink 26 July 2014, after Barcelona bought Papanikolaou out of his contract with Olympiacos, paying a transfer buyout fee of €1.5 million to Olympiacos, and giving Papanikolaou a contract worth €5.5 million net income, during the contract's first three years (the 4th optional year would be at an additional salary). The contract included NBA buyout clauses in the amounts of €1.1 million for 2014,WEB,weblink Interest from Houston for "Pap", not offer yet, Eurohoops.net, 15 July 2014, 15 July 2014, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140918112237weblink">weblink 18 September 2014, and €750,000 for 2015.WEB,weblink el:ΑΠΟΚΛΕΙΣΤΙΚΟ: Πάει Μπαρτσελόνα ο Παπανικολάου!, Sport24.gr, 20 July 2013, 20 July 2013, el, Barcelona went on to win the 2013–14 Spanish Liga ACB championship.

Houston Rockets (2014–2015)

On 28 June 2012, Papanikolaou was selected with the 48th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. On July 16, 2012, his draft rights were acquired by the Portland Trail Blazers, via a trade that sent Raymond Felton to the Knicks.WEB,weblink Knicks Acquire Felton & Thomas, KnicksNow.com, 16 July 2012, 16 July 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140419012802weblink">weblink 19 April 2014, On 10 July 2013, Papanikolaou's rights were acquired by the Houston Rockets, via a trade that sent Thomas Robinson to the Trail Blazers.WEB,weblink Rockets Acquire Papanikolaou, Todorovic and Two Future 2nd Round Picks, NBA.com, 10 July 2013, 10 July 2013, On 23 September 2014, Papanikolaou signed with the Houston Rockets.WEB,weblink Rockets Sign Kostas Papanikolaou, NBA.com, 23 September 2014, 23 September 2014, On 13 February 2015, he took part in the Rising Stars Challenge of the NBA All-Star Game; in spite of an injury-plagued rookie season, during which he averaged 4.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, while coming off the bench, the Rockets decided to pick up his team option for the 2015–16 season.NEWS, Rockets pick up option on Kostas Papanikolaou,weblink 24 June 2015, blog.chron.com, 24 June 2015,

Denver Nuggets (2015–2016)

On 20 July 2015, the Rockets traded Papanikolaou, Joey Dorsey, Nick Johnson, Pablo Prigioni, a 2016 first-round draft pick, and cash considerations to the Denver Nuggets, in exchange for Ty Lawson and a 2017 second-round draft pick.WEB,weblink Nuggets Acquire Joey Dorsey, Nick Johnson, Kostas Papanikolaou, Pablo Prigioni, Cash Considerations and First Round Pick From Houston, NBA.com, 20 July 2015, 20 July 2015, On 25 September 2015, he was waived by the Nuggets.NEWS, Stein, Marc, Sources: Kostas Papanikolaou, part of Ty Lawson deal, waived by Nuggets,weblink 25 September 2015, ESPN.com, 25 September 2015, He later re-signed with Denver on November 5, 2015,WEB,weblink Nuggets Sign Kostas Papanikolaou, NBA.com, 5 November 2015, 5 November 2015, and made his debut for the team that night.WEB,weblink Hayward scores 20, Jazz beat Nuggets 96-84, NBA.com, 5 November 2015, 5 November 2015, He was waived again by the Nuggets on 7 January 2016, before his salary became fully guaranteed.WEB, Wojnarowski, Adrian,weblink Sources: Nuggets waive forward Kostas Papanikolaou, Yahoo.com, 7 January 2016, 8 January 2016,

Return to Olympiacos (2016–present)

On 20 January 2016, Papanikolaou signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Olympiacos, returning to the club for a second stint.WEB, Olympiacos officially announced Papanikolaou,weblink Euroleague.net, 20 January 2016, 20 January 2016, On 5 July 2018, Papanikolaou and Olympiacos officially agreed on a new three-year contract extension. He signed another three-year extension on 22 September 2020.WEB, Olympiacos signs Kostas Papanikolaou to contract extension,weblink Sportando, September 22, 2020, September 22, 2020, On July 6, 2023, Papanikolaou renewed his contract with the Greek club through 2026.

National team career

Greek junior national

As a member of the junior national basketball teams of Greece, Papanikolaou won the silver medal at the 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and the gold medal at the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He also won the silver medal at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. Papanikolaou also won the gold medal at the 2009 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team and won the MVP award.NEWS, GOLDEN GREEKS CONQUER FRANCE,weblink 26 July 2009, FIBAEurope.com, 26 July 2009, He then won the silver medal at the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship with Greece's junior national team, where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team.NEWS, MVP ALBICY HEADLINES ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM,weblink 18 July 2010, FIBAEurope.com, 18 July 2010,

Greek senior national team

In August 2009, Papanikolaou made his debut with the senior men's Greek national basketball team, in a friendly game. With Greece's senior national team, he then played at EuroBasket 2011, the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the EuroBasket 2013, the 2014 FIBA World Cup, the EuroBasket 2015, the EuroBasket 2017, the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the EuroBasket 2022.He has appeared in 134 games for the senior national side and has scored a total of 842 points.

Player profile

A smart off-ball player with speed and size, Papanikolaou can play the positions 2-4 comfortably. He is a very effective shooter from 3-point range, and also loves to attack close-outs and finish strong at the rim. On the other side of the ball, Papanikolaou is a excellent defenderWEB, 2020-06-17, Κώστας Παπανικολάου: Το αμυντικό "πολυεργαλείο" του Ολυμπιακού (video),weblink 2022-03-22, Eurohoops, el, WEB, Πάλλας, Γιάννης, 2021-11-05, Όταν λέμε άμυνα, εννοούμε... Παπανικολάου!,weblink 2022-03-20, Onsports.gr, el, WEB, thrylos24.gr, 2020-04-17, Μιλουτίνοφ: "Από τους κορυφαίους αμυντικούς στην Ευρώπη ο Παπανικολάου...",weblink 2022-03-23, Thrylos24.gr, el, to his long legs and elusive abilities, while helping him play left-handed, he was the 2017 Greek League Best Defender, winning the same honor in the Spanish ACB League in the 2014 season. He has also been recognized as a leader, captaining Olympiacos to the Euroleague Championship Game in 2023.

Awards and accomplishments

Club career

Titles won

• 2× EuroLeague Champion: 2012, 2013 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
• Spanish League Champion: 2014 with FC Barcelona)
• Catalan League Champion: 2013 (with FC Barcelona)
• 4× Greek League Champion: 2012, 2016, 2022, 2023 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
• 5× Greek Cup Winner: 2010, 2011, 2022, 2023, 2024 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
• 2× Greek Super Cup Winner: 2022, 2023 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)

Other honors

• 2× EuroLeague Finals Finalist: 2017, 2023 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
• 8× EuroLeague Final Four Participation: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024 (with Olympiacos Piraeus), 2014 (with FC Barcelona)
• 5× Greek League Finalist: 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
• 3× Greek Cup Finalist: 2012, 2013, 2018 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
• Spanish Cup Finalist: 2014 (with FC Barcelona)
• Spanish Supercup Finalist: 2013 (with FC Barcelona)

Greek junior national team

• 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: {{silver medal}}
• 2008 Albert Schweitzer Tournament: {{gold medal}}
• 2008 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: {{gold medal}}
• 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Cup: {{silver medal}}
• 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: {{silver medal}}

Individual

Pro clubs

• Olympiacos Small Forward of the Decade: 2010–20WEB, 2020-08-12, Ολυμπιακός: Με Πρίντεζη, Σπανούλη, Σλούκα και Παπαλουκά η ομάδα της δεκαετίας,weblink 2022-03-19, Eurohoops, el,
• EuroLeague Rising Star: (2013)
• EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer: (2012)
• 2× EuroLeague MVP of the Round
• EuroLeague three-point field goal percentage leader: (2013)
• Eurohoops.com's EuroLeague Best Defender: (2018)WEB, 2018-05-08, EuroLeague Best Defender by Eurohoops: Kostas Papanikolaou,weblink 2023-03-01, Eurohoops, en,
• 5× Euroleague Best Defensive Players: (2017,WEB, 2017-02-15, Παπανικολάου και Μπιρτς στους κορυφαίους αμυντικούς της Ευρωλίγκας!,weblink 2022-03-19, Eurohoops, el, 2018,WEB, newsroom, sport-fm, Υποψήφιοι για κορυφαίοι αμυντικοί Παπανικολάου, Σίνγκλετον,weblink 2022-03-18, sport-fm.gr, el, 2019,WEB, 2019-09-28, Ευρωλίγκα: Καλάθης και Παπανικολάου στα φαβορί για τον κορυφαίο αμυντικό,weblink 2022-03-18, Eurohoops, el, 2022, 2023WEB, Walter Tavares is the 2022-23 EuroLeague Best Defender {{!, EuroLeague |url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/walter-tavares-is-the-2022-23-euroleague-best-defender/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Euroleague Basketball |language=en-GB}})
• Brainbasketball.com's All-Euroleague Defensive Team: (2020)WEB, 2020-03-27, The 5 starters of All-Euroleague defensive team of the season,weblink 2023-02-26, Brainbasketball, en-US,
• Spanish League Defensive Player of the Year: (2014)
• Greek League Finals MVP: (2012)
• 2× Greek League Domestic Player of the Year: (2012, 2023)
• 4× All-Greek League First Team: (2012, 2013, 2017, 2023)
• 2× All-Greek League Second Team: (2018, 2022)
• Greek League Best Defender: (2017)
• 5× All-Greek League Defensive Team: (2012 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019)
• 5× Greek League All-Star: (2013, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)
• 2× Greek League Best Young Player: (2009, 2012)
• Eurobasket.com's All-Greek League Player of the Year (2012)WEB, Ivana, 2012-05-25, Haralampos Giannopoulos- Co-most Improved Player of the Year,weblink 2023-02-27, BDA Sports International, en-US,
• Greek Youth All-Star Game MVP: (2009)
• (:el:Πρωτάθλημα Ελλάδας καλαθοσφαίρισης εφήβων|Panhellenic Youth League) MVP: (2009)
• (:el:Πρωτάθλημα Ελλάδας καλαθοσφαίρισης εφήβων|All-Panhellenic Youth League Team): (2009)
• (:el:Πρωτάθλημα Ελλάδας καλαθοσφαίρισης εφήβων|Panhellenic Youth League) Best Defender: (2009)

Greek Youth national team

• 2009 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship MVP
• 2009 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship All-Tournament Team
• 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship All-Tournament Team

EuroLeague records

• First Player in EuroLeague History with:WEB, 2022-11-10, Κώστας Παπανικολάου: Ένα απίστευτο “milestone”, μοναδικό στην ιστορία της Ευρωλίγκας! (pic),weblink 2023-02-07, Eurohoops, el,

+2.000 Points, +1.000 Rebounds, +400 Assists, +300 3 PM, +200 Steals, +100 Blocks

• Olympiacos Piraeus' All-Time EuroLeague Steals LeaderWEB, Stathakopoulos, Christos, Οι 7 πρώτοι όλων των εποχών στην Ευρώπη,weblink 2022-03-18, Olympiacos BC, el-gr,

Career statistics

{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}{| class="wikitable"†EuroLeague champion>EuroLeague and Domestic League |Led the league

NBA

Regular season

{{NBA player statistics start}} {{nbay|2014}} Houston43 >18.5 >.722 >2.7 >2.0 >.7 >.3 >| 4.2 {{nbay|2015}} Denver6 >.364 >.313 >| 2.6 class="sortbottom" Career| 3.6

Playoffs

{{NBA player statistics start}} 2015 Houston| .4 class="sortbottom" Career| .4

EuroLeague

{{Euroleague player statistics start}} 2009–10 Olympiacos| 2.0 2010–11| 4.6 2011–12†| 7.4 2012–13†.521 .723 4.4 1.4 .9 .7 8.7 11.7 2013–14 Barcelona2.2 >| 8.5 2015–16Olympiacos| 5.9 2016–174.8 >| 9.7 2017–18| 11.3 2018–19| 8.1 2019–201.4 >| 9.4 2020–21.895 >| 5.9 2021–22| 6.6 2022–2338 >38 >25.2 >647>8.7 >| 10.3 class="sortbottom" Career| 8.6

Domestic leagues{| class"wikitable sortable" style"font-size:95%; text-align:center;"

! Season! Team! League! {{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}! {{Tooltip|MPG|Minutes per game}}! {{Tooltip|2P%|2 point field goal percentage}}! {{Tooltip|3P%|3 point field goal percentage}}! {{Tooltip|FT%|Free throw percentage}}! {{Tooltip|RPG|Rebounds per game}}! {{Tooltip|APG|Assists per game}}! {{Tooltip|SPG|Steals per game}}! {{Tooltip|BPG|Blocks per game}}! {{Tooltip|PPG|Points per game}} 2008–09 Greek Basket League> Aris B.C.> Greek Basket League >| 0.6 2009–10 Greek Basket League>2009–10 rowspan="4"Olympiacos B.C.>Olympiacos 21 10 .578 277 .727 1.2 .6 .4 .0 2.32010–11 Greek Basket League>2010–11 30 16.8 .634 209 .634 3.5 .9 1.0 .2 5.7 2011–12 32 20 .598 363 .683 4.5 .6 1.0 .3 7.82012–13 Greek Basket League>2012–13 34 22.1 .697 400 .634 4.1 1.7 1.0 .6 9.2 2013–14 ACB season >FC Barcelona Bàsquet>Barcelona Liga ACB 40 23.4 .527 .333 .787 4.0 1.1 .9 .4 6.6 2015–16 Greek Basket League > Olympiacos B.C. > Greek Basket League >| 9.42016–17 Greek Basket League>2016–17 32 21.3 .621 .360 .791 4.5 1.4 .9 .3 9.72017–18 Greek Basket League>2017–18 30 22.4 .647 .315 .737 4.9 2.0 .8 .4 8.32018–19 Greek Basket League>2018–19 22 23.4 .564 .328 .729 3.1 2.4 1.1 .1 7.32021–22 29 21.6 .611 .400 .687 3.1 2.3 .9 .1 7.02022–23 30 22.3 .630 .340 .688 2.9 3.2 .8 .4 7.6

References

{{Reflist|2}}

External links

• {{basketballstats|nba=kostas_papanikolaou|bbr=p/papanko01}}
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150704031810weblink">Kostas Papanikolaou at acb.com {{in lang|es}}
• Kostas Papanikolaou at draftexpress.com
• Kostas Papanikolaou at esake.gr {{in lang|el}}
• Kostas Papanikolaou at eurobasket.com
• Kostas Papanikolaou at euroleague.net
• Kostas Papanikolaou at FIBA.com

{{Olympiacos B.C. current roster}}{{Navboxes|list1={{FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship MVP Award}}{{Greek Basket League Best Young Player}}{{Greek Basket League Finals MVPs}}{{2012 NBA draft}}{{Olympiacos B.C. 2011–12 Euroleague champions}}{{Olympiacos B.C. 2012–13 Euroleague champions}}{{Euroleague Finals Top Scorer}}{{Euroleague Rising Star Award}}}}