How Good Was The Biggest EuroLeague Player Ever?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- How would you nickname a center who once weighed 170 kilos while teams sent 4 players to defend him? Well, basketball fans picked ‘Baby Shaq’ for the Greek legend Sofoklis Schortsanitis. In this video, BasketNews’ Augustas Suliauskas analyzes how good the Greek legend actually was.
USE CODE: BASKETNEWS for a 30% discount on your carVertical check. Get 30% off carVertical with this link: basketne.ws/Ca...
Join our BN+ community for more unique content: basketnews.com...
Don't forget to follow us on social media:
Instagram: / basketnews
Threads: www.threads.ne...
Twitter: / basketnews_com
BasketNews e-shop: shop.basketnew...
Inquiries for partnership: commerce@basketnews.com
#EuroLeauge #NBA #Basketball 
Спорт
USE CODE: BASKETNEWS for a 30% discount on your carVertical check. Get 30% off carVertical with this link: basketne.ws/CarVertical
Is Sofoklis Schortsanitis one of the most dominant big men in the EuroLeague's history? 👀 Let us know in the comments below ✍
If you enjoyed the video, help us grow by hitting the like button & subscribing to our channel! 🙌
Lastly, follow us on social media for more content:
Twitter: twitter.com/basketnews_com/
Instagram: instagram.com/basketnews/
Inquiries for partnership: commerce@basketnews.com
Sofoclis 1st team in Greece was IRAKLIS Thessaloniki from 2000-2003 after is Cantou Italy 2003-2004 and after is Aris Thessaloniki..
His weight has been a big mental issue. What you didn't mention is that in the season that he almost entirely missed for Olympiacos he was secretly enclosed in a mental health clinic, paid by the team, while the announcement was that he was injured.
Sofoklis has been a great talent. It is not only his size an strength, his footwork and touch were excellent. Maybe if he did the jump to the NBA he could have benefited from the better training facilities and professional team monitoring
true, but you also have to remeber that hey are playing on hard surface in every basketball matches and most tranings. i dont wanna wish to weight that much
He was locked in a psychward for a year?Can you tell us more about it cuz I had always been fascinated by his physique, I want to thoroughly do the case study on him.
as a macabbi fan sofo was my favorite player as a kid. One time we went on the court to meet the players and he was the largest human I've ever seen.
Yall were lucky to have for quite some time!
עדין צופה במכבי?
One of the most beloved Greek players of all time. Truly an ustoppable force during his prime. Always love for Big Sofo ❤❤❤
Some more proof he was a fan favorite!
First of all, as Greek I have to comment that Sofo is one of most beloved player in Greece. Sofo is really a good, hymble and kind person. Many times have said to his interviews that didn't reach his peak as he had faced various promblems. Sofo was the guy that with his car gave a lift at two unknown teenagers every day to practice, the name of them Giannis and Thanasis Antentokounmpo.
Thank you for this video. There was a time around 2003 to 2006 where Sofoklis needed triple teaming under the basket. Legendary centres like Louis Scola were really struggling against him in Euroleague games. Part of the credit goes to coach Kauslaskas who utilised him well on court. Before Sofo stepped on the court to face the US in the 2006 world championships, Greece was trailing. Without his impact, Greece would have probably lost. While Sofo achieved a bronze with Greece in 2009, a final four with Olympiacos in 2010 and the Euroleague trophy with Macabbi in 2014, he wasn't the same player. The difference between 2005 and 2009 was huge and mainly down to his weight. It would have been interesting to see Shaq face a Sofo in his prime. Sofo definitely captured the hearts of many Greek fans and was also one of the players that inspired the Antentokoubros to take up basketball. A true greek basketball legend.
Thanks for the comment! Definitely that 2003-2006 period was the best Sofoklis we saw. Those Olympiakos clips look absolutely insane, the way he moved around the court and jumped. Nobody could do anything
You're exaggerating by saying that without Sofo, Greece would have lost. I mean by the view that Greece at that time was not a one-man show like today with Giannis, but everyone individually was a game-changing player. So, if it was not Sofo, another player would play, and the US would defend differently. You can't know the outcome.
One of the players I always enjoyed to watch playing. He was spectacular. The guy suffered a lot from the psychological impact of his size in his life since childhood, he tried to fight with it. Exclellent modest character.
He also reached Euroleague Final with Olympiacos in 2010
I'm a macabbi fan. We still love Sofo 💛💙
Big Sofo had the best and most laughable cursing anthem written for him by the opponents. ("είναι χοντρός, είναι και π* γιος, τρώει πολύ, τον λένε Σοφοκλή") He used to laugh at it too. That tells you a lot about the man. We love u Sofo.
I liked 'έφαγες όλο τον σκλαβενίτη, σχορτσιανίτη' more : )
"You ate the whole *big super market chain name*, Schrortsaniti", accompanied by people waving that super market's plastic bags
@@glothτζάμπα διαφήμιση
@@kornaros96 όντως 🤣🤣🤣 πέρα απ την πλάκα όμως, μ'αρεσε σα παίχτης και θα μπορούσε να είχε γράψει ιστορία ο σόφο αν πρόσεχε περισσότερο το σώμα του...
Imagine Sofoklis against Wemby 😂
I remember someone on Greek radio, back in the day, saying that Sofo had small lungs for his size. This meant that he would get winded really fast, and could never play for extended minutes, regardless of his weight problems. Can't say if it's true or not, just something that came to mind while watching this vid.
Shame that mental health was such a taboo issue in the 2000s here in Greece (TBH, it still is to a lesser extend) because if Sofo had the help he needed, his career would have been legendary. I still remember Dwight Howard saying "I can't push him" in the 2006 game. Still, he had Thanasis and then Giannis training with him when those two dudes were super young and had no other pros to train with.
PS. I think Sofo himself hated the "Baby Shaq" nickname. :)
Interesting stuff in your comment, thanks a lot! I hope somebody asks him about the nickname
"a blessing and a disguise" :)) A blessing and a curse. Good video! Too bad he didn't have the right staff around to help him trim a bit. He was Zion, before Zion for sure.
Yeah my bad there! Thanks for the comment
That game against Team Usa in 2006 was so satisfying to watch...tottal oblitaration...in their Game
Small correction: His breakthrough took place while playing for Iraklis bc, not for Aris. 😊
Thanks!
I remember watching him destroy the USA team as a child ❤ I don't think there is a more kind and beloved player in Greece. Always be happy Big Sofo!
As I said in the video and see in the comments: Sofo was definitely liked by the fans!
@@AugustasSuliauskas yes! 😁
We loved Soto in Tel Aviv
loved him in Maccabi
what a nice blast from the past ^_^
Legend says somebody took a charge from big Sofo, thats why nowdays they wipe the floor before every game in honor of that player
😂
💀💀
He was a beast, agile and fast too for his weight.
Those Olympiakos highlights look crazy. Cant believe he actually moved that fast there
Interesting Fact: Coach Giannakis was sleaping with Sofoklis at the same hotel room in order to prevent him from eating too much during the Greek national teams games.
No way! That's a fact?!
@@AugustasSuliauskas100% true
What a missed oportunity to show the clip that he sent Shaq to the stands in that friendly game :P
Took it for granted thinking many people actually saw it already
Sofo battled with some mental issues according to his own words on an interview couple years ago, found was his comfortable zone/place. We can only wish him the best for the rest of his life.
Apart from this Sofo did his breakthrough playing on Iraklis at the age of 15, second game against Radja. I still remember looking an image of him (in his best shape of his life, he was looking like a grown man full of muscles and he was only 16) wondering who is the US player that Iraklis brought. Worth mentioning his performance in Eurobasket of 2009 who was his best international tournament.
Sofo is definitely the biggest what if in Greek Basketball but also left his mark everywhere because of his character and great personality. Imagine Sofo being 125kg and in great shape all of his career!
Sofoklis vs Jawai and Sofoklis vs Kambala rivalries were good!
We all have to admire that cruciate ligament when he is landing after a rebound...god bless Sophoklis , he is a very nice guy
lots of love for Big Sofo...named my dog after him!!
WOW! Somehow never heard of this guy! Man, he was a monster in his prime! Too bad he never played in the NBA. Anyway, thank you for this video and keep up the good work.
Great player, great soul. One of the coolest guys in sports
🙏
I hope he watch the video and will cheer him up cause he was fighting with depression
He was but only about 10-15 minutes and after his first season with Olympiacos was so inconsistent. Though was a true monstrous powerhouse.
Those 15 minutes of the game when he was in seemed like a completely different match
he was the scariest opponent for every team, he wasn't stay inside the court for long but this little was enough to change the balance of the game and forcing the other team to make fast fouls. He was unstoppable, i remember that game with Shaquille O'Neal there was a moment when sofoklis bump on O'Neals body and throwed him outside the court to the funs
i think it was in 2007-2008 Olympiakos (coach Pini Gherson? ) sent Sofo to a special center to Switzerland in order to control his weight, he almost lost whole season
No my friend he s not going there for the weight problems ... Back then sofo have issues with other problems ... The excuse is the weight ...
@@Themistoklis16 you could say gaining extreme amounts of weight was part of his mental issues.
@@reignmans Do not put words in my mouth my friend ! No the reasons is different ...
Actually in the Oly-Pao matchups, Tomasevic would do pretty well against him since he had the strength/smarts combo to limit him adequately. Sofo matchups against Pekovic would have been great but by then, Sofo's mental and weight problems had brought him down.
Great video! Truly a rollercoaster career!
Thanks a lot!
Big size but even Bigger heart ! Every team wanted to have him in her roster even for 10 minutes per game . Every fan loved him even when he was playing against their team .
Also he was the one of the biggest influence and helping of yiannis in his bad life teen years.
p.s We still dreaming and wondering how effective that well deserving punch to milos face would have been . ( for those who remember the game )
If Sofo had less weight, he would have played in the NBA for sure, and he would have had a great time
When you have sofo on your team, you basically have a tool that other teams cannot stop, doesnt matter if its 16 minutes, the other team will have to prepare for this and will feel frustrated when he goes unstoppable.
therefore sofo brought a mental unstoppable edge to his team, giving a team like maccabi 2014 confidance and his paint dominance was frustrating for the other teams , therefore he was a psychological weapon as well.
Great video but the end where it says “It was a blessing and a disguise” got me. Had to rewind the video :D seems like somebody older from the staff wrote that part
we love SOFO
As I said, fan favorite!
He had one absolutely incredible half against Milano I think he scored 22 in the first half. Definetly one of the fans favorites
Seeing his Olympiacos highlights when he was 20, gotta say I'm shocked at how insanely fast he was then.
I feel reminded of Oliver Miller, another immensely talented guy, who could impact the game in a meaningful way when he wasn't completely unplayable due to his shape. Oliver Miller's first four seasons were promising because he could score inside, rebound, block shots and be a gifted passer. But after that, he had just one productive season in 99-00.
Those highlights from Olympiakos' peak is probably the best shape of his life. How fast he was moving is insane.
Thank you SOFO
I remember this guy he was really gifted
What a bulldozer!
He's got really good athletic abilities too, not just somebody that pushes people around
Zionis Williamsonis. He was a killer at the '06 World Cup!
if had gone to the nba , they would be on his case all the time like they always mocking zion williams
As an American, couldn't be more true
Difference...Sofo was allways fat....and Zion was day and night compared him in Duke days and first year in NBA...his gained weight after draft fucked up all his athletic freakish abilities..go watch ZIon at duke and Zion in NBA...dude lost crazy amount of hops
Hello to all.
I think now big Sofo (Sofoklis ...his full Greek Name he had).....i think now Sofo of course now not play any more.....but as i know his kiddneys are off now and begin to make. Dialisys Therapies ( or Hemodialisy Therapies)....unfortunatelly. I hope he will be strong and God help him becouse he is a Good Person...and hope God help Him.... to be strong and healthy ..... him and to his family and he keep smile.
Anyway we all thank him for all the Basket Show he gave to the fans and the happy to the most of the maches. 👍🙏🇬🇷❤️
Have a Good day to all from Greece 🇬🇷😉
great video man
Thanks a lot!
Great vid. Very fair. Sofo was a monster in the paint, but he never got control over his weight, so his longevity suffered for it.
I remember him killing Team USA in 2006 World Championships
One amazing game by Greece.. Only to lose tragically in the finals by almost 30 I believe
@@AugustasSuliauskas yeah, they got toasted by Spain.
I remember seeing him in the Olympics for Greece. And I said.. wow he looks like a baby version of Shaq... and then the next thing the announcer said was.. "Baby Shaq goes to the rim"... and I was like 🤯. I thought I was onto something...and didn't even know they were already calling him Baby Shaq for years lol
sofo💛💙
i remember him being drafted and their being an interview with him asking him about being called baby shaq
Amazing work thank you
one of the greek gods of our Nation! Beloved one! WE NEVER FORGET YOU BIG MAN!
If he was some centimetres longer he would have a great career!
Similar to this is also Rashard Griffith, also an Europeague Champion, but with Bologna this time.
Your BN+ GM member Ionut Georgescu can tell you more about it 😉
First time I saw him when i bumped into him walking on thessaloniki seafront, in 2000. here's this guy >2m with hands bigger than my legs, all muscle. and the face of a child.. he was 15! big sofo was one of the strongest players ever, but also quite fast and with a great vertical in his prime, not to mention actual skills (esp. footwork)
Baby stood for if KD and Shaq had a baby it'd look like this guy.
He also played in Italy for one season
i remember when he played against Shaq , hope he is okay now recenly he had major health issues.
Hello,you are wrong about his age playing for aris thessoloniki.He started for IRAKLIS THESSALONIKI and left for one year in italy ,played for cantou
Great video congrats!
Hello from Greece.
You are quite popular here in Greece and numerous Web media outlets are often mentioning what you say about the Greek teams and players!
I have an idea for a video for you guys!
You should do a European Countries Power ranking (a top10 for all time) based on these factors
1. National Team success in Europe and World Cup/Olympics
2. National Leagues status
3. Euroleague successes
4. Individual players and coaches success and talent whether in Euroleague or NBA
Thanks! We'll think about it
if sofo went to the NBA when he got drafted from Iraklis, I do beleive he would have been in better shape and he would have also done more. but he will is clearly the most dominate powerful center ever in Europe. I think even more than Sabonis, Sabonis can pass and can shoot. your video says it all. Sofo's 19 minutes a game were a big part of those teams winning.
Maccabi legend 💙💛
Seeing it now the way he moved and attacked actually kind of reminds me of Zion
He is the only Greek player in history that has played with Olympiakos -Panathinaikos,and Aris-PAOK which have a huge rivalry nd he is a fan favorite in all 4 of them.Nobody could hate hate cause he was a beast and always was producing great moments in the court
Nice haircut, Now go summon the court wizard and have my steed ready. Or you will be flogged
The biggest what if. Not saying he wasn't good, but imagine he had an athletic body
I almost forgot about this dude. Sofoklis Schortsanaitis if I pronounce his name right? When Maccabi were a powerhouse in the Euroleague.
Instant offense on both ends of the court. I do believe he would have had the same stats and rile in the NBA. Especially since Pekovic, with a somewhat similar profile did have playing time.
Was born in Cameroon? Cool.
Not baby shaq but Big Sofo;)
I wish he had lived in the weight room like Shaq !
The best shaq greek dominant
Panathinaikos fans waved him plastic bags of a supermarket brand called "Sklavenitis" and chanted "You ate all the Sklaveniti, Schortsianiti Schortsianiti" 🙄😄(they welcomed him though some years laters wearing the greens, he is one of the best guys ever stepped on the court and beloved by everybody, no matter the rivalries)
κάποτε κάναμε ένα debate με την παρέα: ποιος θα κέρδιζε άν έπαιζαν ξύλο Σχορτσιανίτης με Ζαμπίδη ... καταλήξαμε στο οτι θα είχε μεγάλη σημασία το μέρος που θα πλακώνονταν ... π.χ. μέσα σε ρίνγκ ή μέσα σε ασανσέρ ....
He had two problems: the first is that he did not have the mentality of a professional athlete (he could be a very good person, but that does not matter to be a successful sports professional, demanding, organized and mentally strong). The second, probably due to the first, is that he never progressed in his game, he only limited himself to doing what he was already doing when he was 20 years old (he did not achieve a mid-distance game, nor reading the game, nor defensive positioning, etc.)
great talent, one of the best ever in Europe, but wasted potential due to his weighing issues and faulty mentallity. The way he dominated Team USA with Lebron, Wade, Carmelo, Howard, Boss trying to unsuccesfully stop him was trully impressive
Big Sofo ❤😊
My best friend and teammate
He is big Sofo,not baby Shaq
If Shaq and KD had a kid together...
Kennath Lofton daddy😂😅😂.
סופווווו❤
Cant even avoid carvertical in basketball videos ffs
Μόνο αγάπη για τον Μέγα Σοφοκλή ❤
Thank you for sharing this captivating video! Despite being familiar with Sofoklis' career, the professional editing and narration added a new depth. It's commendable how the video maintains authenticity. Adding to the discussion, Sofoklis' temper and propensity for violent outbursts, coupled with his physical stature, likely hindered his NBA prospects. One particular incident stands out, not featured in the video: after a derby game between Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv, Sofoklis jumped into the stands and chased a fan. This moment underscores the mental challenges he faced off the court. It's unsettling to witness a massive man, over 2 meters tall and weighing over 170 kilos, pursuing a much smaller individual. This incident, likely triggered by remarks about his size or skin color, reveals his inability to brush off such comments. While such actions wouldn't be tolerated in the NBA, it sheds light on the complexities of navigating professional sports. Thanks again for this video!
I know it sounds crazy, but he was _somewhat_ of a Zion Williamson prototype. Major difference being that Zion was more athletic, a better defender, and better passer.
You could see a little bit of resemblance here
The first Zion
Just keep in mind that he never really wanted to become an athelt and a basketball player.
It wasn't on his dreams or mind.
It just happend in his life and he went along with it.
At least thats what he said more than one time on interviews
The Zion before Zion
Lebum james couldn't guard him and now calls him daddy! True story look it up
Αγαπάμε Σοφοκλή για την προσφορά του στο μπάσκετ και ακόμη περισσότερο για την προσφορά του σε κοινωνικό επίπεδο.
His early version really looks like Zion
I can see some resemblance here definitely. Not the jumping ability, but especially the clips from Olympiakos when he was 21 yo reminds a bit of Zion
Heaviest and biggest are two different things ;)
He just said greek legend wtf xd
Thats not how to use the term "blessing and disguise"
Zvezda🔴⚪️
One of the best centers real good player better than Nigerian freak
This guy Never played in the NBA. Oliver Miller, Jahidi White, Eddy Curry, Stanley Roberts, Michael Sweetney, Glen Davis, Robert Traylor, John Williams, and Shawn May!