:Tibor Pleiß
{{Short description|German basketball player (born 1989)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Tibor Pleiß
| image = Tibor Pleiß 2015.jpg
| caption = Pleiß with Germany in 2015
| position = Center
| height_ft = 7
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 256
| league = GBL
EuroLeague
| team = Panathinaikos
| number = 24
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|11|2}}
| birth_place = Bergisch Gladbach, West Germany
| draft_year = 2010
| draft_round = 2
| draft_pick = 31
| draft_team = New Jersey Nets
| career_start = 2006
| career_end =
| years1 = 2006–2009
| team1 = RheinEnergie Köln / Köln 99ers
| years2 = 2009–2012
| team2 = Brose Baskets
| years3 = 2012–2014
| team3 = Baskonia
| years4 = 2014–2015
| team4 = FC Barcelona
| years5 = {{nbay|2015|full=y}}
| team5 = Utah Jazz
| years6 = 2015–2016
| team6 = → Idaho Stampede
| years7 = 2016–2017
| team7 = Galatasaray
| years8 = 2017–2018
| team8 = Valencia
| years9 = 2018–2024
| team9 = Anadolu Efes
| years10 = 2024–2025
| team10 = Trapani Shark
| years11 = 2025–present
| team11 = Panathinaikos
| highlights = * 2× EuroLeague champion (2021, 2022)
- 3× Turkish League champion (2019, 2021, 2023)
- Turkish Cup winner (2022)
- Turkish Cup Final MVP (2022)
- Spanish Supercup winner (2017)
- 3× German League champion (2010–2012)
- 2× All-German League Team (2011, 2012)
- 2× German League Best Young Player (2010, 2011)
- 4× German Cup winner (2007, 2010–2012)
}}
Tibor Pleiß ({{IPAc-en|p|l|aɪ|s}}, alternative spelling Pleiss; born 2 November 1989) is a German professional basketball player for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. Standing {{convert|7|ft|3|in}}, he plays at the center position. He is also a regular member of the German national team.
Early life, family and education
{{expand-section|date= April 2025}}
Pleiß was born in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany,{{Cite web| url=https://sportando.basketball/en/trapani-sharks-officially-signs-tibor-pleiss/ |title= Trapani Sharks officially signs Tibor Pleiss | date=August 8, 2024|website= Sportando.basketball |publisher=| language= en| url-status= live| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20240808212605/https://sportando.basketball/en/trapani-sharks-officially-signs-tibor-pleiss/| archivedate= August 8, 2024 |access-date= April 21, 2025 |last1= Carchia |first1= Emiliano }} near Cologne.
Professional athletic career
=Europe=
Pleiß played for RheinEnergie Köln (a year later they changed their name to Köln 99ers) of the German Bundesliga as a 17-year-old in 2006. He played with the club for three years, playing in the 2008 EuroCup. After the season ended, he joined the Brose Baskets where he played for three years.
On 24 June 2012, Pleiß left Germany and signed a four-year contract with the Spanish club Saski Baskonia, one of the top teams of the Liga ACB.{{cite news|title=Caja Laboral ficha a Tibor Pleiss y Fabien Causeur|url=http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=85695 |work= ACB.com |date=24 June 2012 |language=es |access-date=15 July 2015}} In the 2013–14 season, he averaged 12.4 points on 58.3 percent shooting and 6.0 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game. He left Baskonia after two years.
On 11 August 2014, he signed a two-year contract with the Spanish club FC Barcelona.{{cite news|title=FC Barcelona lands Pleiss|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/138633/fc-barcelona-lands-pleiss |work=Euroleague.net|date=11 August 2014 |access-date=15 July 2015}} In the 2014–15 ACB season, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game while shooting 62.3 percent from the floor. In July 2015, he broke the contract with Barcelona, in order to sign in the NBA.{{cite news |title= Tibor Pleiss broke the contract with Barcelona, heads to the Utah Jazz| url= http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/167907/tibor-pleiss-broke-the-contract-with-barcelona-heads-to-the-utah-jazz.html| url-status= dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150710211702/http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/167907/tibor-pleiss-broke-the-contract-with-barcelona-heads-to-the-utah-jazz.html| archivedate= 10 July 2015 | work= Sportando.com |date=9 July 2015| access-date= 14 July 2015}}
=NBA=
Pleiß declared for the 2010 NBA draft.{{cite news| title= 104 players declared for NBA draft|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/usa/nba/81088/104-players-declared-for-nba-draft.html| url-status= dead| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150715172504/http://www.sportando.com/en/usa/nba/81088/104-players-declared-for-nba-draft.html| archivedate= 15 July 2015 |work=Sportando.com |date=29 April 2010 | access-date= 21 April 2025}} He was drafted by the New Jersey Nets, who traded his rights to the Atlanta Hawks.{{cite news| title=Nets trade Jordan Crawford, Tibor Pleiß draft rights to Hawks for Damion James| url= http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=6079| work=insidehoops.com |publisher= |format= blog| date=25 June 2010| access-date= 21 April 2025}} The Hawks then sold his rights to the Oklahoma City Thunder.{{cite web |url= http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/team_release2_2010_06_25.html |title= Thunder Acquires Pleiß, Williams, Reid and Future First Round Pick in 2010 NBA Draft| date=24 June 2010| work=NBA.com| access-date= 21 April 2014}} In February 2015, his draft rights were traded to the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team trade.{{cite web| url= http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/jazz-acquire-three-players-and-two-future-draft-picks-three-team-trade |title= Jazz Acquire Three Players and Two Future Draft Picks in Three-Team Trade |date=19 February 2015| work=NBA.com| access-date=19 February 2015}}
On 14 July 2015, Pleiß signed a multi-year deal with the Utah Jazz.{{cite news|title=Jazz Sign Tibor Pleiß to Multi-Year Contract |url= http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/jazz-sign-tibor-pleiss-multi-year-contract| access-date=15 July 2015|work= NBA.com |date=15 July 2015}} He made his NBA debut on 30 October in a 99–71 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, recording two points and one rebound in two minutes.{{cite news |title= Jazz beat 76ers 99-71 for 1st victory of season|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20151030/UTAPHI/gameinfo.html|access-date=30 October 2015 |work= NBA.com |date=30 October 2015}} On 2 January 2016, in a 92–87 overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Pleiß set career-highs with six points, six rebounds and 17 minutes.{{cite news| title= Hood scores 32 as Jazz beat Grizzlies 92-87 in OT| url= http://www.nba.com/games/20160102/MEMUTA/gameinfo.html|access-date= 3 January 2016| work=NBA.com |date=2 January 2016}} During his rookie season, he received multiple assignments to the Idaho Stampede, Utah's D-League affiliate.{{cite web |url= http://dleague.nba.com/news/assignments/|title=2015-16 NBA Assignments |work=NBA.com |access-date= 4 February 2016}}
On 26 August 2016, Pleiß was traded, along with two 2017 second-round draft picks and cash considerations, to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Kendall Marshall.{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/sixers/sixers-complete-trade-utah |title= Sixers Complete Trade With Utah |work=NBA.com |publisher= Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=26 August 2016|access-date=26 August 2016}} Five days later, he was waived by the 76ers.{{cite web| url=http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/sixers-waive-pleiss-landry |title=Sixers Waive Pleiss, Landry |work=NBA.com| publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. |date=31 August 2016 |access-date=31 August 2016}}
=Return to Europe=
On 12 September 2016, Pleiß signed with Turkish club Galatasaray for the 2016–17 season.{{cite news| title= Former Utah Jazz C Tibor Pleiss Signs with Galatasaray| url= https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/former-utah-jazz-c-tibor-pleiss-signs-with-galatasaray |work= foxsports.com | date= June 30, 2017 |access-date= 21 April 2025}} On 28 July 2017 Pleiß signed a two-year deal with the Spanish club Valencia Basket.{{cite news |title= Valencia places veteran Pleiss in the middle for the next two years |url= http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/839977go7mhxrike| url-status=dead| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20180313025459/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/839977go7mhxrike| archivedate= 13 March 2018 | work= Euroleague.net| date=28 July 2017 |access-date= 21 April 2025}} On 1 August 2018 Pleiß signed a two (1+1) year contract with the Turkish club Anadolu Efes S.K.{{cite news| title= Tibor Pleiss Anadolu Efes'te...|url=https://www.anadoluefessk.org/haber/tibor-pleiss-anadolu-efeste |language= tr|access-date= 1 August 2018| work= anadoluefessk.org| date= 1 August 2018}} On 12 July 2020 Pleiß renewed his contract with Efes for another three (2+1) seasons.{{cite news |title= Tibor Pleiss stays with Anadolu Efes |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/tibor-pleiss-stays-with-anadolu-efes/ |website= Sportando.basketball |access-date=July 12, 2020 |date= July 12, 2020 |last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }} On June 17, 2024, Pleiß parted ways with the team after six successful years. On August 8, 2024, he signed with Trapani Shark of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A. On February 26, 2025, Pleiß signed with the defending EuroLeague champions Panathinaikos, reuniting with his Anadolu Efes coach Ergin Ataman.{{cite web|url= https://basketnews.com/news-220250-thibor-pleiss-officially-joins-panathinaikos.html| title= Tibor Pleiss officially joins Panathinaikos| website= basketnews.com| publisher= | date= 26 February 2025 | access-date= April 21, 2025}}
German national team
Pleiß was a member of the junior national teams of Germany. He played for the German junior national teams at the 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and at both the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship Division B and the 2009 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship.{{cite news| title= Tibor Pleiß| publisher= Eurobasket 2009 |url= http://www.eurobasket2009.org/en/cid_toT,ovGDH2EaLKL67XnPo2.teamID_288.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2009.roundID_6328.playerID_59398.html#{06E41094-955A-4B96-93FF-CA016D3ECBC6} |access-date=30 November 2015 |work=Eurobasket2009.org |url-status=unfit |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111114002834/http://www.eurobasket2009.org/en/cid_toT,ovGDH2EaLKL67XnPo2.teamID_288.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2009.roundID_6328.playerID_59398.html#{06E41094-955A-4B96-93FF-CA016D3ECBC6} |archive-date=14 November 2011 }}
Pleiß is a member of the senior men's German national basketball team. He first played for the senior team at EuroBasket 2009 and saw action in three games. He was also in the German team that participated in the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey, where he was the starting center for Germany. He also played at the EuroBasket 2011 and the EuroBasket 2013.
Career statistics
{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}
=NBA=
==Regular season==
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2015}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Utah
| 12 || 0 || 6.8 || .440 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.3 || .2 || .1 || .2 || 2.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 12 || 0 || 6.8 || .440 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.3 || .2 || .1 || .2 || 2.0
{{S-end}}
=EuroLeague=
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#AFE6BA; width:3em;"|†
|Denotes season in which Pleiß won the EuroLeague |
| style="background:#CFECEC; width:1em"|*
| Led the league |
{{Euroleague player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Bamberg
| 10 || 10 || 19.1 || .413 || .444 || .789 || 6.3 || .9 || .1 || 1.5 || 6.7 || 8.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12
| 10 || 4 || 18.5 || .500 || .000 || .682 || 5.4 || .4 || .0 || .8 || 6.5 || 8.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Baskonia
| 25 || 4 || 14.2 || .607 || .333 || .846 || 3.9 || .2 || .2 || .6 || 5.0 || 6.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14
| 24 || 21 || 21.0 || .557 || .333 || .863 || 5.4 || .5 || .5 || 1.0 || 12.0 || 13.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15
| style="text-align:left;"| Barcelona
| 25 || 1 || 13.1 || .584 || .500 || .848 || 3.9 || .2 || .2 || .6 || 5.3 || 6.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17
| style="text-align:left;"| Galatasaray
| 28 || 20 || 17.1 || .567 || .400 || .765 || 4.6 || .5 || .2 || 1.2 || 7.7 || 10.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18
| style="text-align:left;"| Valencia
| 29 || 14 || 19.3 || .565 || .500 || .797 || 5.2 || .6 || .4 || 1.1 || 10.1 || 12.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="6"| Anadolu Efes
| style="background:#CFECEC;"|37* || 5 || 14.2 || .623 || .333 || .878 || 3.7 || .4 || .4 || .5 || 8.1 || 9.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="background:#CFECEC;"|28* || 22 || 18.8 || .613 || .250 || .926 || 4.3 || .4 || .5 || .5 || 9.5 || 11.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2020–21†
| 24 || 9 || 12.0 || .574 || .412 || .889 || 2.7 || .5 || .2 || .3 || 6.8 || 7.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2021–22†
| style="background:#CFECEC;"|40* || 26 || 18.1 || .569 || .442 || .891 || 4.3 || .6 || .4 || .5 || 9.6 || 11.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23
| 33 || 19 || 15.1 || .535 || .326 || .913 || 2.9 || .5 || .2 || .3 || 6.7 || 6.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24
| 23 || 19 || 18.0 || .486 || .435 || .889 || 3.6 || .7 || .3 || .6 || 7.8 || 8.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 336 || 174 || 16.6 || .564 || .391 || .842 || 4.2 || .5 || .3 || .7 || 8.0 || 9.5
{{S-end}}
=EuroCup=
{{Euroleague player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08
| style="text-align:left;"| Köln 99ers
| 2 || 0 || 3.5 || {{sort|-|—}} || .000 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 0.0 || -1.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10
| style="text-align:left;"| Bamberg
| 12 || 10 || 17.7 || .521 || {{sort|-|—}} || .758 || 5.7 || .2 || .3 || .8 || 8.3 || 9.8
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 14 || 10 || 15.6 || .514 || .000 || .758 || 4.9 || .1 || .3 || .7 || 7.1 || 8.1
{{S-end}}
=Domestic leagues=
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! Year
! Team
! League
! {{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}
! {{Tooltip|MPG|Minutes per game}}
! {{Tooltip|FG%|Field goal percentage}}
! {{Tooltip|3P%|3-point field-goal percentage}}
! {{Tooltip|FT%|Free-throw percentage}}
! {{Tooltip|RPG|Rebounds per game}}
! {{Tooltip|APG|Assists per game}}
! {{Tooltip|SPG|Steals per game}}
! {{Tooltip|BPG|Blocks per game}}
! {{Tooltip|PPG|Points per game}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} Köln 99ers || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 6 || 3.3 || .444 || .667 || .000 || 1.0 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || .2 || 1.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} Köln 99ers || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 6 || 6.6 || .200 || .000 || .625 || 1.5 || .2 || .2 || {{sort|-|—}} || 1.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} Köln 99ers || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 27 || 12.0 || .482 || .250 || .650 || 2.8 || .2 || .3 || .8 || 5.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} Bamberg || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 45 || 19.3 || .564 || .444 || .708 || 5.9 || .3 || .2 || 1.3 || 8.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} Bamberg || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 47 || 20.1 || .523 || .389 || .764 || 6.5 || .7 || .4 || 1.6 || 8.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} Bamberg || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 44 || 20.0 || .593 || .429 || .826 || 6.0 || .5 || .2 || 1.4 || 10.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} Baskonia || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 34 || 16.3 || .584 || .333 || .725 || 4.9 || .3 || .3 || .8 || 6.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} Baskonia || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 34 || 22.4 || .596 || {{sort|-|—}} || .811 || 6.5 || .5 || 1.1 || 1.2 || 12.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} Barcelona || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 43 || 13.9 || .644 || .500 || .864 || 3.8 || .3 || .3 || .5 || 5.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA|size=20px}} Idaho Stampede || style="text-align:center;"|D-League || 28 || 31.5 || .583 || .316 || .877 || 10.4 || 1.6 || .5 || 1.4 || 12.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Turkey|size=20px}} Galatasaray || style="text-align:center;"|TBSL || 25 || 22.0 || .644 || .500 || .797 || 6.9 || .7 || .4 || 1.2 || 9.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} Valencia || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 24 || 18.9 || .555 || .385 || .731 || 6.2 || .6 || .3 || .8 || 9.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Turkey|size=20px}} Anadolu Efes || style="text-align:center;"|TBSL || 6 || 25.4 || .571 || .400 || .889 || 7.8 || 2.0 || .2 || .5 || 15.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Turkey|size=20px}} Anadolu Efes || style="text-align:center;"|TBSL || 15 || 22.3 || .620 || .429 || .857 || 6.6 || .6 || .6 || .5 || 11.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Turkey|size=20px}} Anadolu Efes || style="text-align:center;"|TBSL || 13 || 21.9 || .658 || .400 || .935 || 6.4 || 1.1 || .7 || .4 || 15.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Turkey|size=20px}} Anadolu Efes || style="text-align:center;"|TBSL || 25 || 25.3 || .579 || .388 || .857 || 5.5 || 1.1 || .5 || .7 || 12.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Turkey|size=20px}} Anadolu Efes || style="text-align:center;"|TBSL || 16 || 24.2 || .486 || .296 || .857 || 6.2 || .7 || .6 || .4 || 9.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Turkey|size=20px}} Anadolu Efes || style="text-align:center;"|TBSL || 2 || 23.0 || .500 || .556 || 1.000 || 5.5 || {{sort|-|—}} || .5 || .5 || 14.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2024–25 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Italy|size=20px}} Trapani Shark || style="text-align:center;"|LBA || 17 || 14.2 || .534 || .238 || .826 || 3.4 || .5 || .6 || .3 || 6.0
{{S-end}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{basketballstats|bbr=p/pleisti01}}
- [http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=219 Tibor Pleiß] at acb.com {{in lang|es}}
- [https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tibor-pleiss/lhk/ Tibor Pleiß] at euroleaguebasketball.net
- [https://www.fiba.basketball/en/players/157637-tibor-plei Tibor Pleiß] at fiba.basketball
- {{facebook|TiborPleiss.official}}
{{Panathinaikos B.C. current roster}}
{{Navboxes|list=
{{BBL Best Young Player}}
{{2010 NBA draft}}
{{Anadolu Efes S.K. 2020–21 EuroLeague champions}}
{{Anadolu Efes S.K. 2021–22 EuroLeague champions}}
{{Turkish Basketball Cup MVP}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pleiss, Tibor}}
Category:2010 FIBA World Championship players
Category:Anadolu Efes S.K. players
Category:Bamberg Baskets players
Category:FC Barcelona Bàsquet players
Category:Galatasaray S.K. (men's basketball) players
Category:German expatriate basketball people in Greece
Category:German expatriate basketball people in Italy
Category:German expatriate basketball people in Spain
Category:German expatriate basketball people in Turkey
Category:German expatriate basketball people in the United States
Category:German men's basketball players
Category:Idaho Stampede players
Category:NBA players from Germany
Category:New Jersey Nets draft picks
Category:Panathinaikos B.C. players
Category:Sportspeople from Bergisch Gladbach
Category:Saski Baskonia players