Dimitrios "Dimitris" Despos (Greek: Δημήτρης Δέσπος, Greek pronunciation: [ði'mitɾis 'ðespos]; born March 30, 1976) is a Greek professional basketball player. Despos has spent his entire playing career in the Greek professional leagues. He also represented Greece at the youth levels and won the gold medal in the 1993 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship and the 1995 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. At a height of 2.10 m (6' 1034") tall,[1] he plays at the center position.

Dimitris Despos
Δημήτρης Δέσπος
Despos playing for Iraklis Thessaloniki, in 2016.
No. 17 – AO Trikala B.C.
PositionCenter
Personal information
Born (1976-03-30) March 30, 1976 (age 48)
Larissa, Greece
NationalityGreek
Listed height2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)
Listed weight109 kg (240 lb)
Career information
Playing career1994–present
Career history
1994–1996GS Larissa
1996–1999PAOK Thessaloniki
1999–2000GS Larissa
2000–2001MENT
2001–2004Makedonikos
2005–2006Maroussi
2006–2008MENT
2008–2009Peristeri
2009–2011Iraklis Thessaloniki
2011–2014AEK Athens
2014—2017Iraklis Thessaloniki
2018–2020Farsala BC
2020–2022Aiolos
2022–2023Trikala B.C.
2024–AO Trikala BC
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  Greece
FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship
Gold medal – first place 1993 Turkey Under-16
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1995 Greece Under-19

Professional career

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Despos started playing basketball in the amateur club, Ikaroi Trikala, of his hometown, before moving to GS Larissa in 1994.[2] In the 2007–08 season, while with MENT, Despos lead the Greek 2nd Division in rebounds, with 279 in 30 games.[2] In July 2008, he signed with Peristeri.[3] In 2011, Despos signed with AEK.[4] He stayed with the team for three years, helping them to gain a league promotion to the Greek top-tier level.[5] In September 2014, he signed with Iraklis of the Greek A2 (2nd Division).[6] In a game against Filippos Veria, Despos exceeded 3,000 career points scored in the Greek 2nd Division.[7]

In September 2016, Iraklis announced that Despos would play for the team in the 2016–17 season.[8]

National team career

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Despos represented the Greek Under-16 junior national team at the 1993 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, where Greek the team won the gold medal.[9][10] He was also a member of the Greek Under-19 junior national team that won the gold medal at the 1995 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.[10][11] During the tournament, he appeared in 4 games, averaging 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.[12] Despos represented Greece at the youth levels in 91 games, averaging 4.8 points per game.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Height DIMITRIOS DESPOS 2.10m Position C.
  2. ^ a b Ο θηριώδης σέντερ Δημήτρης Δέσπος (36 ετών, 2.09μ) έτοιμος να φορέσει την φανέλα του ΟΦΗ (in Greek). kretaworldbasket.gr. 21 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  3. ^ Περιστέρι: Απέκτησε Δέσπο, Τσαμάτο (in Greek). ethnos.gr. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  4. ^ Alexiou, Vassilis (15 October 2011). Στην ΑΕΚ ο Δέσπος (in Greek). Trikalavoice.gr. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Kλείνει στον Ηρακλή ο Δέσπος" (in Greek). gentikoule.gr. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  6. ^ Στον Ηρακλή ο Δέσπος (in Greek). northbasket.gr. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  7. ^ Ο Δέσπος έσπασε το κοντέρ των 3.000 πόντων! (in Greek). Bluearena.gr. 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  8. ^ Ανακοίνωσε Δέσπο, Ονάσογλου και Χρυσόπουλο (in Greek). Bluearena.gr. 16 September 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Demetrios Despos profile". FIBA. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  10. ^ a b c Δέσπος Δημήτρης (in Greek). Hellenic Basketball Federation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  11. ^ Maragousia, Antonia (22 July 2011). Παγκόσμιο Εφήβων 1995: 16 χρόνια μετά (in Greek). sport24.gr. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  12. ^ "Demetrios Despos - 1995 World Championship for junior men". FIBA. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
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