Greek legend Nick Galis joins Hall of Fame (KaliEllada tribute)

He is Nick Galis to some and Nikos Galis to millions of others. He is the celebrated Greek hero who, almost single-handedly, changed the course of Greek basketball, turning it into a national sport. He’s also a Jersey kid and Boston Celtics draft pick who just entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame thanks to the International committee.

Galis’ first sport was actually boxing, but his mother soon put the clamps on his burgeoning career. Her horror at seeing her son come home every day with a new facial injury led to Galis taking up basketball and in 1970 began to play at Union Hill High School.

The caption under his Union Hill High School yearbook photo (in which he can be seen sporting a jacket and bow-tie very similar to those he wore for his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech) prophetically says about Galis,

“A superb basketball player, Nick will be remembered for all his activities on the court. A future college student, Nick will be “something else” in whatever he attempts and will gain many friendships for being himself.”

His prep career was successful enough to earn him a scholarship at Seton Hall University and he did not disappoint. In his junior year (1977-78) he averaged 17.3 ppg and as a senior he was third in the nation in scoring 27.5 ppg (Indiana State forward and future NBA legend Larry Bird was second), with a career high of 48 points which he recorded against the Santa Clara University.

Galis starred for the Seton Hall Pirates from 1975 to 1979

1979, a year to remember for Greece

Galis was chosen at no. 68 by the Boston Celtics in the 1979 NBA draft but ultimately he pursued a professional career in Greece.

It was a decision which would literally change the future of Greek basketball.


‘Red’ Auerbach, 16 x NBA Champion

“It was my decision too,” Galis said. “We sat down and talked. I had generous offers from Greece, coming from a poor family to go overseas. It was a decision I never regretted because I fell in love with the place and people as soon as I got there. I’ve been there 38 years now. I never left. No regrets.”

The Celtics missed out on a star. Galis averaged 33.4 points per game during his Greek career -- a combo guard capable of both scoring and distributing. But the Celtics had Tiny Archibald and Chris Ford, as well as rookie Gerald Henderson. Galis was the 68th pick -- a fourth-round selection in 1979, back when the NBA draft had more than two rounds. He left for Greece after an underwhelming, injury-riddled training camp.

Then-Celtics general manager Red Auerbach reportedly regretted the decision to let Galis go -- according to the Hall of Fame's information, Auerbach once said in retrospect that “the only big mistake of my career was not signing Galis back then.”

The 1987 EuroBasket triumph

Panagiotis Giannakis, Nikos Galis, Panagiotis Fassoulas, Argyris Kambouris, Fanis Christodoulou

Galis’ crowning glory came during the 1987 European Championship which was held in Greece. He led his side to the gold medal and also earned tournament MVP honors in the process while averaging an unheard of 40:10 minutes per game. He rested for a little under four minutes during Greece’s first game against Romania, and then for the remaining seven games — four group stage, three knockout stage — Galis did not rest. He played every single second of seven straight games, including an overtime in the final victory.

Galis led all players in scoring with 37 points per game, including 40 points in the final, a thrilling 103-101 overtime victory over the Soviet Union.

Former Orlando Magic blogger, Adam Papageorgiou, explains why Galis’ physical stature allowed Greek fans to connect with him more.

“Probably the most remarkable thing about his career is Niko doesn’t look like a legendary basketball player. He’s like the Allen Iverson of Europe. Just some normal guy, not really tall, not a physical behemoth. And I think that plays a role in why all Greeks around the world who care about basketball have so much respect for all of his club/country records and accomplishments.”

Standing just 1.83m it was Galis’ craftiness and ability to hang in the air longer than his defenders that allowed him to dominate both in Greece and internationally.

Fanis Christodoulou, Panagiotis Fassoulas, Nikos Galis, Nikos Filippou, Panagiotis Giannakis

Galis, in the words of some of basketball’s greatest

From the “Dimitria” tournament in Greece, October 1983

“He’s a complete player.

I did not expect to find such a good scorer in Europe, especially in your country.”

– Michael Jordan

Basketball Hall of Fame (2009), FIBA Hall of Fame (2015), 6 x NBA Champion,
2 x Olympic Gold Medalist, 5 x NBA MVP, 10 x NBA Scoring Champion

“If I’m the devil’s son, then Galis is the devil himself.”

“I would love to play on the same team with Galis so that I could pass him the ball and let him score!”

– Dražen Petrović

Basketball Hall of Fame (2002), 2 x EuroLeague Champion, All-NBA Third Team (1993), World Championship MVP (1986), 2 x European Player of the Year

Nikos Galis (4) battles Arvydas Sabonis (11)

“I have the impression that if Galis wants to make a basket, he will score, no matter what the opponent does. He is always determined to succeed.”

– Arvydas Sabonis

Basketball Hall of Fame (2011), FIBA Hall of Fame (2010),
EuroBasket Champion (1985), 6 x European Player of the Year

Nikos Galis (6) attacks Bob McAdoo (15)

“What we suffered today against Aris and Galis, has never happened to me before. Not even in a game against the Celtics.”

– Bob McAdoo

Basketball Hall of Fame (2000), NBA MVP (1975), 5 x NBA Champion,
3x NBA Scoring Champion, 2 x EuroLeague Champion

Toni Kukoč (7) defends Nikos Galis (4)

“He was a great scorer. When the coaches would explain him, they would say ‘Oh he’s like a bouncing ball - he just leaps and he shoots and it’s very hard to guard him’.”

– Toni Kukoč

FIBA Hall of Fame 2017, 3 x NBA Champion, 5 x European Player of the Year,
3 x EuroLeague Champion

Nikos Galis (6) defended by Vlade Divac (12)

“He would take over the game and he was unstoppable.”

– Vlade Divac

FIBA Hall of Fame (2010), 3 x EuroBasket Champion,
2 x World Champion, 2 x Olympic Silver Medalist

Wojciech Krajewski (left)

“Before the game we made our plans on how we will stop the four players of Aris. For Galis, we just said our prayers.”

– Coach Wojciech Krajewski

“He’s a great player and I admire him. Nobody in Europe can stop Galis. I never expected that a short player like him, could cause nightmares all night to the whole team of the Soviet Union.”

(after the final of the 1987 EuroBasket)

– Sergei Belov

FIBA’s “Best European Player Ever” (1991), FIBA Hall of Fame (2007),

13 x USSR Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist (1972)

“Galis is the basketball player of the 21st century.”

– Coach Alexander Gomelsky

Basketball Hall of Fame (1995), FIBA Hall of Fame (2007),
Olympic Gold Medalist (1988)

Dražen & Aleksandar ‘Aco’ Petrović

“Although Drazen is my brother, for best athlete of 1987, I voted for Galis.”

– Aleksandar ‘Aco’ Petrović

Panagiotis Giannakis, Giannis Ioannidis, Nikos Galis

“Whoever is in the basketball business in Greece, should be paying a special tax to Galis.”

– Coach Giannis Ioannidis

12 x Greek League Champion, 6 x EuroLeague Final Four Participant

Audie Norris (14) defends Nikos Galis (6)

“I’ve seen a lot of great players in my life, but what Galis did today, I bet only two or three players can do in the entire world.”

– Audie Norris

“The man is a computer! He knows what, when, how to do everything he does. I’ve never seen a player with so much self confidence. If he’s certain, he can shoot the ball from center court with five players on him and all of his teammates waiting under the basket with nobody around them. If he was by my side at AEK, we should wait for decades to lose a game!”

– George Amerikanos

European Cup Champion (1968), 6 x Greek League Champion

Rik Smits & Ruud Harrewijn

“I found a way to stop Galis. We’ll lock him in his room in the hotel where he stays in, so that he won’t be able to come to the court.”

– Coach Ruud Harrewijn

“I saw Galis as a nightmare all night long.
Thankfully I woke up and remembered that we won.”

(after a game between Greece and France, where Galis scored 43 points)

– Coach Pierre Dao

Giannis Ioannidis, Anestis Petalides, Nikos Galis

“Gentlemen, write down whatever you want. I don’t care.
But watch out, because one day you’re gonna lick where you now spit.
Galis will one day prove that ONE can beat FIVE.”

(after Galis’ first game in Greece)

– Coach & Executive Anestis Petalides

Considered instrumental in bringing Galis to Aris in 1979

Galis takes on four Spanish defenders

Beyond basketball

During his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech, Galis shared a story which highlights how his impact in Greece transcends well beyond basketball,

“In the end it’s not about championships or personal awards.

Speaking for myself, it’s about something more important - and here is a small example.

One day I’m walking down the street in my hometown, Thessaloniki, and a lady I didn’t know stops me. At first I thought she was going to ask for an autograph or a picture as usual, but then she hugs me and she calls me ‘Nikos, Nikos, Nikos’ -that’s how they say ‘Nick’ in Greek- “let me thank you from the bottom of my heart. You've given me the greatest gift of all - you saved my son.” And she explained to me that he was an addict, until he found the meaning in his life - basketball.

I believe that this is the greatest gift that an athlete can offer to society.”

– Nikos Galis

Awards and accomplishments

College

Nick Galis scores his 1,000th point for Seton Hall

Haggerty Award (New York Metro Area Player of the Year): 1979
Member of the Seton Hall Athletic Hall of Fame: 1991

Pro career

Nikos Galis (7) prepares for his Aris debut (1979)

Titles:

8 Greek League Championships: 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
7 Greek Cups: 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993

Personal awards and achievements:

11 x Greek League Top Scorer: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
8 x EuroLeague Top Scorer: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994
Mediterranean Player of the Year: 1987
Euroscar European Player of the Year: 1987
Mr. Europa European Player of the Year: 1987
World's 10th Best Athlete (a vote that included all sports and all countries): 1987
5 x Greek League MVP: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992
5 x Greek League Finals MVP: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
5 x Greek Cup Finals Top Scorer: 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993
4 x Greek League Assist Leader: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
EuroLeague Assist Leader: 1994
Greek Cup all-time scoring leader: 1,935 points (35.2 ppg)
Greek League all-time leading scorer (since the 1963–64 season): 12,857 points (33.4 ppg)
EuroLeague Final Four all-time scoring leader: 231 points
EuroLeague All-Final Four Team: (1994)
Named one of FIBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1991
Member of the EuroBasket.com website’s European Hall of Fame
Member of the FIBA Hall of Fame: 2007
Member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: 2017
50 Greatest Euroleague Contributors: 2008
Along with Panagiotis Giannakis, he led Aris Thessaloniki to an 80-game winning streak in the Greek League, in the 1980s.
His personal scoring record in one game was 62 points, achieved in a Greek League game in 1981 (Aris Thessaloniki vs. Ionikos Nikaias). However, in the same game, Ionikos’ superstar, Panagiotis Giannakis, who would later go on to become Galis’ teammate on Aris, scored 73 points.
In 1981, he also had a 61-point game in the Greek League, against Iraklis Thessaloniki.
Also in 1981, he accomplished his career scoring high in a European continental competition, as he scored 57 points against Pallacanestro Venezia, during the 1981 Korać Cup.
His high scoring game in the Greek Cup was 57 points against Panellinios Athens, in the 1987 cup final.
In 1988, he scored his career high in points in the old FIBA Champions’ Cup (now called the EuroLeague), as he scored 50 points in a game against Tracer Milano.
He also holds 4 of the top 15 all-time individual scoring games in the EuroLeague’s modern record era (since 1991–92).
He scored 55 or more points in a game 10 times in his professional club career, while playing with Aris Thessaloniki and Panathinaikos Athens.
In 1990, in a EuroLeague game versus Korihait Uusikaupunki, he dished out 23 assists.
In 2013 Aris Thessaloniki retired his No. 6 jersey

Greek National Team

Team photo ahead of Galis’ (4) debut for Greece (1980)

1980 Balkan Games: Gold
1986 Balkan Games: Gold
1986 FIBA World Championship: Top Scorer (33.5 ppg)

Scored 53 points against Panama

EuroBasket 1983: All-Tournament Team, Top Scorer (33.3 ppg)
EuroBasket 1987: Gold, Most Valuable Player, All-Tournament Team, Top Scorer (37.0 ppg)

Scored 40 points against the Soviet Union in the final

EuroBasket 1989: Silver, All Tournament Team, Top Scorer (35.6 ppg)

Scored 45 points against the Soviet Union in the semifinal

EuroBasket 1991: All-Tournament Team, Top Scorer (32.4 ppg)
4 x EuroBasket Top Scorer
2nd all-time scoring leader: 5,167 points in 169 games (30.6 ppg)

And as for the rumors that he couldn’t dunk, Galis would remind his doubters that a layup counted for just as many points as a dunk and it didn’t waste his energy.

But every once in a while Galis took off and with him so did an entire nation!