By Terry Poulos, special to the Hellenic News of America
Milwaukee Bucks superstar “The Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t the only Hellene making headlines in 2026. A long list of Greeks – particularly in the Midwest – are making a splash in and around the hardwood.
NBA’S POULA-THREE-DAS: That’s what the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks have taken to calling one of the Chicago area’s very own. In February, the team signed 22-year old rookie John Poulakidas to a 2-way contract. He’s been shuttling between the NBA roster and the team’s G-League affiliate. The 6’6 guard and former Neuqua Valley H.S. (Naperville, IL) star has a silky-smooth lightning-quick release that often catches opponents flat-footed. And he heats up fast and is lethal from long range. As of March 25, Poulakidas was averaging 5.5 ppg on 44% FG shooting and a well-above NBA average 40% on threes. In two March games for the Mavericks, he scored 10 points in 15 minutes and 9 points in 12 minutes. He’ll eventually add more muscle and can only improve his game. In 2025, he averaged 19.4 ppg in leading Yale University to the NCAA tournament. John’s sister, Tia Poulakidas, plays for the Rochester University women’s basketball team. Proud parents are Michael and Hadi.
MANTIS FOLLOWS NBA PAPOU: Northwest Indiana native Chris Mantis, a 6’5 guard also known for his shooting prowess from deep, plays for the NBA G-League Capital City Go-Go, an affiliate of the NBA’s Washington Wizards. The Wizards are owned by AOL chairman emeritus Ted Leonsis, who also has ties to Chicago as a board member and principle investor at Groupon. Chris is the grandson of the late Nick Mantis, who played for the then Minneapolis Lakers before the franchise relocated to Los Angeles. Another former Laker standout was NBA champion Kurt Rambis who played during the Earvin “Magic” Johnson “Showtime” glory years. Magic’s agent early in his NBA career was Greek American George Andrews, an attorney and Chicago-area native. And might we also call Earvin “Mageia” Johnson?”
NBA SENIOR DIRECTOR: Cornell University grad Erika Kontos serves as Senior Director of business strategy and financial lead focusing on the NBA and WNBA international media teams. The NBA is about to launch an NBA Europe league and Kontos will be a central figure in operations. She was recently honored by the Alpha Omega Council in Boston, where she was presented with the Harry Agganis award. One prominent figure looking to become a partner in an NBA Europe franchise is Alex Saratsis of the Octagon agency. He’s the personal agent to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Saratsis is a Northwestern University grad who’s based in Chicago.
FINAL FOUR FOR SON OF NBA ALL-STAR: University of Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic, son of Serbian legend and former NBA all-star Peja Stojakovic, is one of Illini basketball’s leading scorers. He scored 17 points in the Elite Eight round to help Illinois reach the NCAA Final Four. Andrej’s mother is former Greek high jumper turned model and TV host Aleka Kamila. The family are residents of Greece.
PEJA WHISPERER: Speaking of Peja Stojakovic, when the NBA’s Sacramento Kings selected the European star in the first round of the 1996 draft, he didn’t speak enough English but he was fluent in Greek. The Kings found a Greek American attorney at an area law firm named Matina Romas Kolokotronis, a Chicago native, to negotiate terms of his contract. She quickly rose through the ranks and today serves as COO of the franchise.
PISTONS’ GORES EYES PADRES: Greek American businessman Tom Gores, founder of Platinum Equity and owner of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, is rumored to be mulling a bid to acquire MLB’s San Diego Padres.
WNBA & NCAA EXECS, COACH: Northwest Indiana native Alisha Valavanis is President and CEO of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. Her father, Spero Valavanis, was lead architect on the Storm’s practice facility…Chicago native Kyra Vidas is COO of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury…Former Ohio State University star player Samantha Prahalis is now assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at James Madison University.
ESPN HIGHLIGHT: An early-season buzzer-beater by Paris Papadatos of St. Francis University in Joliet, IL was ESPN’s #9 highlight on the nightly Sportscenter broadcast. The 6’4 freshman guard hails from Alimos, Greece.
3 FACE OFF IN SEMIS: It doesn’t happen often but when it does, it’s news to us. Three Greek American high school boys basketball players faced off in the same game in the semifinals of the IHSA tournament. Marist, led by Adoni Vassilakis, topped John Vlahos and Costa Kampas of York. Marist and Vassilakis wound up winning the state 4A title.
WNBA & NCAA EXECS, COACH: Northwest Indiana native Alisha Valavanis is CEO of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. Her father, Spero Valavanis, was lead architect on the Storm’s practice facility…Chicago native Kyra Vidas is COO of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury…Former Ohio State University star player Samantha Prahalis is now assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at James Madison University.
Until next…
Terry Poulos is a writer and publisher of TheSportsIndex.com who also chronicles Greek America. He’s co-founder of Chicago’s Greek Media Club and a member of the AHEPA Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee
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