Georgios Kalaitzakis
No. 18 – Oklahoma City Blue | |
---|---|
Position | Small forward |
League | NBA G League |
Personal information | |
Born | Heraklion, Crete, Greece | January 2, 1999
Nationality | Greek |
Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
Listed weight | 192 lb (87 kg) |
Career information | |
NBA draft | 2021 / Round: 2 / Pick: 60th overall |
Selected by the Indiana Pacers | |
Playing career | 2016–present |
Career history | |
2016–2021 | Panathinaikos |
2019–2020 | →Nevėžis Kėdainiai |
2021 | Milwaukee Bucks |
2021 | →Wisconsin Herd |
2021–present | Oklahoma City Blue |
Career highlights and awards | |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Georgios Kalaitzakis (Greek: Γιώργος Καλαϊτζάκης; born January 2, 1999) is a Greek professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League. He can play as a combo guard, and he can also operate as a point forward. As a youth, Kalaitzakis was regarded as one of the top young prospects in Europe, in his age range.
Professional career[]
Panathinaikos (2016–2019)[]
After playing with the junior youth clubs of Aris, Kalaitzakis began his professional career in 2016, with the Greek club Panathinaikos. With Panathinaikos, he won the Greek Cup title in 2016, 2017, and 2019, and also the Greek League championship, in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
In March 2018, Kalaitzakis announced his intention to declare for the 2018 NBA draft.[1] He later withdrew from the draft before the draft's withdrawal deadline.
Nevėžis (2019–2020)[]
On August 28, 2019, Kalaitzakis signed with Nevėžis Kėdainiai of the Lithuanian Basketball League, on a loan deal from Panathinaikos.[2] In 23 games played in the Lithuanian League's 2019–20 season, he averaged 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, in 28.7 minutes per game.[3]
Return to Panathinaikos (2020–2021)[]
In April 2020, Kalaitzakis declared for the 2020 NBA draft.[4] However, he withdrew before the draft took place. On August 11, 2020, he re-signed with Panathinaikos, through the end of the 2021–22 season.[5][6] With Panathinaikos, he won both the 2020–21 Greek Cup title, and the 2020–21 Greek League season championship.
Milwaukee Bucks (2021)[]
Kalaitzakis was selected by the NBA's Indiana Pacers, with the 60th overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft. His draft rights were then traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, along with the draft rights of the 54th pick, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and two second round draft picks, for Isaiah Todd.[7] Kalaitzakis' contract with the Greek Basket League club Panathinaikos had a buyout amount of $300,000, which was paid by the Bucks.[8] On August 11, 2021, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that they had signed with Kalaitzakis.[9] Kalaitzakis made his debut in the NBA on October 19, 2021, coming-off from bench with two rebounds in a 127–104 win over the Brooklyn Nets.[10] On December 3, he was waived by the Bucks after nine appearances.[11]
Oklahoma City Blue (2021–present)[]
On December 30, 2021, Kalaitzakis was claimed off waivers by the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League.[12]
National team career[]
Kalaitzakis was a member of the junior national teams of Greece. With Greece's junior national teams, he played at the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, and the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He also played at the 2018 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, and the 2019 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, which he led in scoring, with an average of 19.7 points per game.[13]
Career statistics[]
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA[]
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | Milwaukee | 9 | 0 | 5.3 | .455 | .500 | .444 | .9 | .0 | .1 | .1 | 1.8 |
Career | 9 | 0 | 5.3 | .455 | .500 | .444 | .9 | .0 | .1 | .1 | 1.8 |
Personal life[]
Kalaitzakis' twin brother Panos[14] is also a professional basketball player. He was Georgios' teammate with the Lithuanian League club Nevėžis Kėdainiai.
References[]
- ^ Greek guard Georgios Kalaitzakis to declare for NBA draft.
- ^ "Prie komandos jungiasi talentingieji broliai Kalaitzakiai" (in Lithuanian). BC Nevėžis Official Website. August 28, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ^ GEORGIOS KALAITZAKIS STATISTICS.
- ^ Greek guard Georgios Kalaitzakis declares for NBA draft.
- ^ Panathinaikos locks up talent Kalaitzakis until 2022.
- ^ "Panathinaikos re-signs Giorgos Kalaitzakis until 2022". Sportando. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ Bucks acquire draft rights to 2 players in trade with Pacers.
- ^ Αποχωρεί από τον Παναθηναϊκό ο Καλαϊτζάκης για να διεκδικήσει θέση στο ρόστερ των Μιλγουόκι Μπακς (in Greek).
- ^ "Milwaukee Bucks Sign Georgios Kalaitzakis". NBA.com. August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ "Bucks begin title defense with 127-104 victory over Nets". ESPN.com. October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ "Milwaukee Bucks Sign Wesley Matthews". NBA.com. December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ "2021-22 NBA G League transactions". gleague.nba.com. December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- ^ PLAYERS STATISTICS.
- ^ "Nevezis signs Georgios and Panagiotis Kalaitzakis". Sportando. August 28, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
External links[]
- 1999 births
- Living people
- BC Nevėžis players
- Greek Basket League players
- Greek expatriate basketball people in the United States
- Greek men's basketball players
- Indiana Pacers draft picks
- Milwaukee Bucks players
- National Basketball Association players from Greece
- Oklahoma City Blue players
- Panathinaikos B.C. players
- Point guards
- Shooting guards
- Small forwards
- Sportspeople from Heraklion
- Twin people from Greece
- Wisconsin Herd players