An unusual man..

Career: Ionikos Neas Filadelphias (Greece-A2,1990-1995), AEK Athens (Greece-HEBA A1, 1995-2002), Siena BC (Italy-Lega A1, 2002-2005), Barcelona FC (Spain-Liga ACB, 2005-…)

Although he has never made the NBA, he behaves inside and outside the court like an NBA star. The first Greek player who had his own official internet site, a great player, always passionate, and maybe the athlete with more community support than any other sports star in Greece. A real gentleman.

Mihalis Kakiouzis grew up in Filadelpheia, a territory where everybody loves sport, either football, or basketball. He was a great AEK fan as a youngster and after a few seasons in Ionikos he made his first dream come true. Just a few days before the beginning of the Junior World Championship of Athens in 1995, AEK grabbed three members of that gold team. Barlos, Chatzis and Kakiouzis, hoping to build a brand new team. Kakiouzis, together with captain of the team Chatzis, proved to be a great choice. He played there for 7 years, winning a Greek Championship (2001), two Greek Cups (2000, 2001) and a Saporta Cup in 2000. When problems arose at AEK Kakiouzis refused to accept a reduction in salary and went to Italy and Siena in the summer of 2002. Together with the Italians Kakiouzis celebrated a Lega title and participated twice in the Euroleague final-four becoming, although he was a foreigner, one of the most famous players of the club. Kakiouzis became a men’s national team member in early 1997 playing in the qualification round for EurobBasket in Spain. His first appearance in France (1999) was just for one game as ex coach Kostas Petropoulos didn’t give him the chance to prove his talent. The same happened in Turkey (2001) and Sweden (2003) with Yannis Ioannidis but Kakiouzis never got downhearted. He was always a top player in his club, but a starring role on the National team still eluded him. Finally, during the 2004 Olympic Games, Kakiouzis became a star. A starter in almost every game, was the 2nd scorer and rebounder of the team, plus the most accurate shooter (57,8%). Since the Olympic Games he has become an indispensable national team member. A quick player, with excellent shooting skills from middle and long range, Kakiouzis’ speciality is the offensive rebound which he likes to finish with a lay-up under the basket. An intelligent and cool personality, he is also well known for the community support he has received in past years, after he “abandoned” Greece for Italy. Kakiouzis was the first “pro” to create an official web-site (www.kakiouzis.com) and through this site he often auctions special gifts like National Team shirts and balls signed by all the players, personal items and shirts from Siena, and gives the money to children communities and other charities. He helped a lot during the “television marathon” in aid of the people in Asia after the tsunami in December 2004 and at another TV marathon for UNICEF in Greece. Just after EuroBasket he will move to Catalonia to wear the shirt of the team he loved from his childhood, Barcelona, a new era in a great career.