Podcast #25: Nick Calathes, Panathinaikos
April 26, 2011
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Born in the United States to a family of Greek descent, Nick Calathes has taken a unique route to Euroleague prominence. Calathes had been a star player for two seasons at the University of Florida when he decided to join one of the storied clubs, Panathinaikos, in the homeland of his family. He soon embraced his heritage to represent the Greek national team at EuroBasket 2009, where he won a bronze medal, and in the 2010 World Championships. Through his first season-and-a-half with the Greens, playing time was difficult to come by for the young guard, who spent time learning from stars like Dimitris Diamantidis and Drew Nicholas, not to mention head coach Zeljko Obradovic. Calathes got his chance to do more in the recent playoffs and proved a difference-maker as Panathinaikos knocked out defending champion Regal FC Barcelona to reach the 2011 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four. When the series was said and done, compliments came from all around about his defensive role, not the least from Barcelona head coach Xavi Pascual, who said: "Diamantidis was the MVP of the series, but Calathes was the key player." Calathes talked to Euroleague.net editor Frank Lawlor this week for a special Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four edition of the Euroleague.net Podcast!
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