Lazaros Papadopoulos

Lazaros Papadopoulos (Greek: Λάζαρος Παπαδόπουλος; born June 3, 1980), is a retired Greek professional basketball player. He was listed at 7 ft (2.13 m) 265 lbs (120 kg), and played the center position. Born in Krasnodar, Papadopoulos started his professional career with Iraklis. An All-EuroLeague Second Team selection in 2007, he played for several teams in Europe throughout his professional career, most notably winning the EuroLeague twice, in 2002 with Panathinaikos and in 2012 with Olympiacos. Papadopoulos represented Greece regularly, winning the gold medal in the 2005 EuroBasket, and the silver medal in the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

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 League 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 A 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 EuroCup 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.

In February 2011, he joined the Russian club Khimky. In August 2011, he signed a one-year deal with Olympiacos. With Olympiacos, he won the EuroLeague championship in 2012. On September 5, 2012, he returned after few seasons to his former club PAOK. On February 6, 2014, Papadopoulos came back to Spain after signing with 1939 Canarias. After only one game played, he parted ways with them.

As a member of the junior Greek national team, Papadopoulos won the bronze medal at the 1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. 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.

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 Summer Olympic Games team. He played a total of 103 games for Greece at the senior men's level, averaging 8.2 points per game.

Papadopoulos was born in Krasnodar, then-USSR, on June 3, 1980, as Lazar Popandopulo (Лазарь Попандопуло) to a 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.

Pro career

• 6x Greek League All-Star: (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2013)
• 2x EuroLeague Champion: (2002, 2012)
• 2x Greek League Champion: (2003, 2012)
• Greek Cup Winner: (2003)
• Greek League Best Five: (2004)
• EuroCup Champion: (2006)
• All-EuroLeague Second Team: (2007)

Greek national team

• 1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: 03 ! Bronze
• 5x Acropolis Tournament Champion: (2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007)
• EuroBasket 2005: 01 ! Gold
• 2006 FIBA World Championship: 02 ! Silver