Alexandros Spanoudakis

Alexandros Spanoudakis’ basketball career began after World War II, when he joined Olympiakos B.C. in 1947. After helping his team win the Greek League in 1949, he was selected to represent his country at that year’s EuroBasket, where Greece earned a bronze medal. His next stop was the 1951 EuroBasket, where Greece finished eighth, and then the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, where the nation defeated Israel, but lost against Hungary twice and were eliminated from the tournament. His final major international tournament was the 1955 Mediterranean Games, where he again took home a bronze medal.

Domestically, Spanoudakis remained with Olympiakos until his 1964 retirement, winning one additional Greek League title in 1960. He and his brother Jean were known for having brought American techniques, such as the jump shot, to Europe. Alexandros later served as a coach with Olympiakos.