Giannis Politis

Ioannis "Giannis" Politis (Greek: Ιωάννης "Γιάννης" Πολίτης; 15 March 1952 – 13 June 2020) was a Greek basketball player and coach, best known for his fourteen-year playing career with PAOK from 1970 to 1984.

Politis made 289 Greek league appearances for PAOK and scored 3,225 points, placing him among the club's leading all-time scorers. He was the captain of the PAOK team that won the 1984 Greek Cup, the club's first cup title, defeating Aris 74–70 in the final.

He also represented Greece at youth, university and senior international level, including the Greek team that won the bronze medal at the 1971 Mediterranean Games.

Early life Politis was born on 15 March 1952 in Thessaloniki.

He began playing basketball with Aetos Thessaloniki in the 1960s and reached the Greek top division with the club.

Playing career

Aetos Thessaloniki Politis developed as a player with Aetos Thessaloniki and played with the club in the Greek First Division.

During his PAOK career, Politis played 289 league games and scored 3,225 points.

PAOK went through several difficult seasons during the 1970s before returning to contention for domestic honours at the beginning of the following decade.

In the 1981–82 season, PAOK reached the Greek Basketball Cup final for the first time, losing 65–63 to Panathinaikos at the Alexandreio Melathron.

1984 Greek Cup By 1984, Politis was PAOK's team captain. It was PAOK's first Greek Cup and the club's first major basketball trophy since winning the national championship in 1959. He contributed to the club's promotion to the Greek national divisions and subsequently took charge of its men's team in the Greek Third Division.

International career Politis represented Greece at youth, university and senior international level between the late 1960s and the 1970s.

He also worked extensively in youth basketball and player development, holding responsibility for academy programs at several clubs and later becoming involved with the Future Stars basketball academy.

He served as president of the association of former PAOK basketball players and remained involved with former players and youth basketball activities.

Death Politis died on 13 June 2020 at the age of 68. His funeral was held in Kalamaria on 15 June, with former teammates, coaches and other figures from Thessaloniki basketball attending.

Honours

Club PAOK

Greek Basketball Cup: 1984

National team Greece

Mediterranean Games bronze medal: 1971