Giorgos Sigalas

Infobox Euroleague Player


name = Giorgos Sigalas
Γιώργος Σιγάλας
nickname = Rambo
position = Shooting guard
Small forward
height_ft = 6
height_in = 7
weight_lbs = 220
league =
team =
nationality = Greek
birth_date = birth date and age|1970|7|31|
birth_place = Peristeri, Greece
college =
career_start = 1992
career_end = 2007
former_teams = Olympiacos (1992–1997)
Stefanel Milano (1997–1998)
Aris BC (1998–2001; 2005–2007)
PAOK BC (2001–2002)
CB Granada (2002–2003)
Viola Reggio Calabria (2003)
Makedonikos BC (2003–2004)
Panionios BC (2004–2005)
awards = Greek League MVP 1996
Greek League playoff MVP 1996
Acropolis Tournament MVP 1999

Giorgos Sigalas, or Georgios Sigalas ( _el. Γιώργος Σιγάλας; born July 31, 1970 in Peristeri, Greece), is a retired Greek professional basketball player. During the 1990s, the 6'7" swingman was the regular captain of the Greek national team, as well as of the Athens-based Olympiacos in the Greek A1 League and the Euroleague. Sigalas played regularly along with players like Eddie Johnson, David Rivers, Žarko Paspalj, Willie Anderson, Christian Welp, and Walter Berry.

Captaincy of Olympiacos and the Greek national team

The long-time captain of the Greek national squad, Sigalas played with the Greek National Basketball Team in 185 games. He competed in six consecutive European championships (EuroBasket 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003 with Greece). Sigalas also competed with Greece at both the 1994 FIBA World Championship and the 1998 FIBA World Championship, as well as at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Sigalas won five consecutive Greek A1 League Championships while playing with Olympiacos from 1993 to 1997. He also won 2 Greek Basketball Cups with Olympiacos in 1994 and 1997. In 1997 while playing with Olympiacos, Sigalas won the Triple Crown in Basketball, meaning his team won the Greek A1 League Championship, Greek Basketball Cup, and the Euroleague Championship all in the same year, the only time it has happened in club history. Sigalas was voted the MVP of the Greek A1 League regular season and playoffs in 1996.

Late career

Sigalas left Olympiacos in 1997 after winning the Euroleague Championship and joined the Italian League team Stefanel Milano. He played there during the 1997-98 season. He then returned to the Greek League the following year to play with Aris BC. He stayed with Aris until 2001, when he transferred to Aris' arch-rival PAOK BC with whom he played with during the 2001-02 season. Sigalas next played in the Spanish League with CB Granada at the beginning of the 2002-03 season and with the Italian League team Viola Reggio Calabria at the end of the 2002-03 season.

In the last years of his career he returned home to play in the Greek A1 League to finish his career. He played with Makedonikos BC in the 2003-04 season, Panionios BC in the 2004-05 season, and finally, Sigalas ended his career back with Aris BC where he played from 2005 until he retired in the year 2007.

Post playing career

Since retiring, Sigalas is a basketball commentator in Greece for Euroleague games. He also works as a coach for the national youth Greek basketball teams.

Awards and accomplishments

*Won 5 consecutive Greek League Championships 1993-1997 with Olympiacos
*Won 2 Greek Basketball Cups 1994, 1997 with Olympiacos
*Won the Euroleague Championship 1997 with Olympiacos
*Won the Triple Crown in Basketball 1997 with Olympiacos
*Greek A1 League All-Star 1997, 1999
*Greek A1 League regular season MVP 1996
*Greek A1 League playoff MVP 1996
*FIBA EuroStars selection 1996
*Acropolis Tournament MVP 1999

External links

* [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?seasoncode=E2006&gamecode=176&clubcode=ari&pcode=AIL Euroleague player profile and stats]
* [http://www.basketpedya.com/Acc002InfJug.php?idjug=3419&idioma=3 Career]
* [http://www.olympionikes.gr/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=178&Itemid=31 Olympionikes.gr]