Panagiotis Fasoulas
Panagiotis "Panos" Fasoulas (alternate spelling: Fassoulas; Greek: Παναγιώτης Φασούλας; born May 12, 1963 in Thessaloniki) is a Greek politician and former professional basketball player. He was selected in the second round by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1986 NBA draft, but never decided to play in the NBA. Considered to be one of the best big men ever in European basketball, Fasoulas became a FIBA Hall of Fame player in 2016. Basketball career. College career. Fasoulas played college basketball in the United States at North Carolina State University, with the N.C. State Wolfpack, where he played under  legendary coach Jim Valvano. In his sole season in college, he averaged 2.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game and led the school with 1.8 blocks per game in 29 games. Professional career. During his professional career, Fasoulas played for PAOK and Olympiacos. With PAOK, he won the FIBA Cup Winners' Cup championship in the 1990–91 season. With Olympiacos, he won the EuroLeague championship and the Triple Crown in the 1996–97 season. In total, he won 5 Greek League championships and 3 Greek Cups. He was also named to the FIBA European Selection three times, in the years 1990 , 1991, and 1995. He was also named the Greek League MVP in 1994 and 1995, and a FIBA EuroStar in 1996. National team career. Fasoulas was also a member of the senior men's Greek national team, where he was the starting center during Greece's 1987 EuroBasket gold medal victory, being also named to the All-Tournament Team. He also won the silver medal with Greece at the 1989 EuroBasket. In Toronto, Canada, at the 1994 FIBA World Championship, where Greece finished in fourth place, Fasoulas played the best basketball of his career. Fasoulas appeared in 244 games for  Greece, averaging 9.77 points per game. He is second all-time in games played and third all-time in points scored for Greece. Managerial career. After his basketball playing career ended, Fasoulas became a basketball executive. He became the sports director of Olympiacos Women, of the Greek Women's League and the EuroLeague Women. Political career. A charismatic personality, Fasoulas entered politics after retiring from sport, joining the political party of PASOK. He contributed in the organization of the Summer Olympic Games in Athens, in 2004. He was elected Mayor of Piraeus on October 15, 2006, and served as Mayor  through 2010.