Kosta Koufos

Koufos attended GlenOak High School in Canton, Ohio, where he played center for the GlenOak Golden Eagles high school basketball team. As a junior, Koufos averaged 24 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game, and four blocked shots per game and he was named Second-Team All-State.

As a senior, Koufos averaged 25.9 points per game, 15.4 rebounds per game and 5.2 blocked shots per game. He was instrumental in GlenOak snapping Canton McKinley's 41-game win streak in January 2007, when he posted 32 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks to help the Golden Eagles edge the Bulldogs, 56–55, in overtime. The next day, Koufos recorded 32 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks against Detroit Country Day, to lead GlenOak to its ninth consecutive victory.

Koufos finished second to future Buckeye teammate Jon Diebler in the Mr. Ohio Basketball voting. After his senior season with GlenOak, Koufos was named the Division I player of the year and was also named First-Team All-State. He also earned First-Team Northeast Inland All-District and third-team Parade All-American honors and participated in the 2007 McDonald's All-American Game and 2007 Jordan Brand Classic.

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Koufos was listed as the No. 3 center and the No. 16 player in the nation in 2007.[https://sports.yahoo.com/basketballrecruiting/basketball/recruiting/player-Kosta-Koufos-42185;_ylt=Ah.shJU7NdjSVU1ybeugTdzVO5B4 Kosta Koufos Recruiting Profile]

Koufos played one season of college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes. For the 2007–08 season,{{cite web|last=DeCourcy|first=Mike|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=285793|title=Koufos is Ohio State's Oden encore|work=sportingnews.com|date=October 4, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080310214230/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=285793|archive-date=March 10, 2008|access-date=October 7, 2007}} he was named third-team All-Big Ten and was named to the league's All-Freshman Team. He ranked fifth in the Big Ten in scoring (14.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg), and ranked second in blocked shots (1.8 bpg) and seventh in field goal percentage (.508). He helped the Buckeyes reach the final of the National Invitation Tournament, where they won 92–85 over UMass behind Koufos' 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/draft2008/profiles/KostaKoufos.html|title=Kosta Koufos|work=NBA.com|access-date=June 26, 2019}} He was subsequently named NIT Most Valuable Player.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/nit-mvp.html|title=NIT Most Valuable Player Winner|work=sports-reference.com|access-date=June 26, 2019}} He declared for the 2008 NBA draft following his freshman season.

Koufos was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft.{{cite web|last=Genessy|first=Jody|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/700238659/Utah-Jazz-Draft-pick-Kosta-Koufos-visits.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206201626/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700238659/Utah-Jazz-Draft-pick-Kosta-Koufos-visits.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 6, 2009|title=Utah Jazz: Draft pick Kosta Koufos visits|work=Deseret News|date=June 27, 2008|access-date=June 26, 2019}} During his rookie season, he spent time in the NBA D-League on assignment with the Utah Flash.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/0809_koufos_fesenko_nbdl032609.html|title=Jazz Assigns Koufos to D-League, Recalls Fesenko|work=NBA.com|date=March 26, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328011351/http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/0809_koufos_fesenko_nbdl032609.html|archive-date=March 28, 2009}}{{cite web|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/705298003/Utah-Jazz-With-Okurs-status-uncertain-Jazz-recall-Koufos.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420161628/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705298003/Utah-Jazz-With-Okurs-status-uncertain-Jazz-recall-Koufos.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 20, 2009|title=Utah Jazz: With Okur's status uncertain, Jazz recall Koufos|work=Deseret News|date=April 18, 2009|access-date=June 26, 2019}} He went on to receive two assignments to the Flash during the 2009–10 season.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Kosta-Koufos/Summary/778|title=Kosta Koufos Player Profile|work=RealGM.com|access-date=June 26, 2019}} In two seasons with the Jazz, Koufos played in 84 games and averaged 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/koufoko01.html|title=Kosta Koufos|work=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=June 26, 2019}}

On July 13, 2010, Koufos was traded, alongside two future first-round draft picks, to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Al Jefferson.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/1011_jazzacquirejefferson.html|title=Jazz Acquires Center/Forward Al Jefferson from Minnesota|work=NBA.com|date=July 13, 2010|access-date=June 26, 2019}}

On February 22, 2011, Koufos was acquired by the Denver Nuggets in a three-way trade involving the Timberwolves and the New York Knicks.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets_trade_02_22_2011.html|title=Nuggets acquire five players, three picks in three-team trade|work=NBA.com|date=February 22, 2011|access-date=February 23, 2011}} On January 25, 2012, he signed a three-year, $9 million contract extension with the Nuggets.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/koufos_extension_01_25_2012.html|title=Nuggets sign Kosta Koufos to contract extension|work=NBA.com|date=January 25, 2012|access-date=March 3, 2012}}{{cite web |date=January 25, 2012 |title=Sources: Kosta Koufos gets 3-year deal |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/7503852 |access-date=June 26, 2019 |work=ESPN.com}} He averaged career-best figures in Denver, with 6.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

On June 27, 2013, Koufos was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Darrell Arthur and the draft rights to Joffrey Lauvergne.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-acquire-f-darrell-arthur-memphis-grizzlies|title=Nuggets Acquire F Darrell Arthur From Memphis Grizzlies|work=NBA.com|date=June 27, 2013|access-date=June 27, 2013}} In two seasons with Memphis, he averaged 5.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

On July 13, 2015, Koufos signed with the Sacramento Kings.{{cite web |last=Singh |first=A. |date=July 13, 2015 |title=Kings Sign Rondo, Belinelli, Koufos |url=https://www.nba.com/kings/news/07132015-press-release |access-date=December 13, 2024 |work=NBA.com}} On June 30, 2019, Koufos became an unrestricted free agent.

On July 19, 2019, Koufos signed a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the VTB United League and the EuroLeague.{{cite web|title=CSKA inks veteran center Koufos|url=https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/9t7lcwlgfgmdw3a8/cska-inks-veteran-center-koufos|work=EuroLeague.net|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=July 20, 2019}} He averaged 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. On May 27, 2020, the team opted out of the contract.{{cite news |last=Carchia |first=Emiliano |date=May 27, 2020 |title=CSKA Moscow opts out of Kostas Koufos' contract |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/cska-moscow-opts-out-of-kostas-koufos-contract/ |access-date=May 27, 2020 |newspaper=Sportando}}

On February 20, 2021, Koufos signed with Olympiacos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague until the end of the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web|title=Olympiacos inks Koufos until the end of the season|url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1171848/olympiacos-near-a-deal-with-kostas-koufos/|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=Eurohoops|date=February 20, 2021 }}

On November 5, 2021, Koufos signed with the NBA G League Ignite of the NBA G League.{{Cite web |date=November 5, 2021 |title=Former GlenOak boys basketball star Kosta Koufos joins NBA G League's Ignite |url=https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/2021/11/05/kosta-koufos-nba-g-league-ignite-glenoak-ohio-state-jazz-timberwolves-nuggets-grizzlies-kings-russia/6306098001/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=The Repository}}

On July 13, 2022, Koufos signed with the London Lions for the 2022–23 BBL season.{{cite web|url=https://www.thelondonlions.com/news/london-lions-sign-kosta-koufos|title=LONDON LIONS SIGN KOSTA KOUFOS|website=thelondonlions.com|date=15 July 2022|access-date=16 July 2022}} On April 20, 2023, Koufos and the Lions parted ways.{{Cite web|title=Kosta Koufos Update|url=https://www.thelondonlions.com/news/kosta-koufos-update|access-date=2023-05-02|website=thelondonlions.com|language=en}}

Koufos was a member of the junior Greek national under-18 team at the 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship in Spain. He led his team to the tournament's final game, and although Greece lost in the finals to Serbia's under-18 team, Koufos won the tournament's MVP award, after leading the competition in points, rebounds and blocked shots, with averages of 26.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fibaeurope-u18men.com/en/default.asp?coid=%7BE86B7310-B1A7-41B0-BD1E-4BB884CF96EA%7D&articleMode=on |title=FIBA Europe: Koufos Named MVP. |access-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728052605/http://www.fibaeurope-u18men.com/en/default.asp?coid=%7BE86B7310-B1A7-41B0-BD1E-4BB884CF96EA%7D&articleMode=on |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

File:Valančiūnas against Koufos.jpg]]

In 2009, Koufos debuted with the senior Greek national basketball team, and he competed at the EuroBasket 2009, where he won a bronze medal. During the EuroBasket 2009 tournament, he averaged 5.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. He also played at the EuroBasket 2011, where he averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Koufos also competed at the EuroBasket 2015, where he had his best tournament with the senior Greek national basketball team, as he averaged 10 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, in 8 games played.

He also played with Greece at the 2016 Turin FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where he averaged 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.[https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/kosta%20koufos/pid//_//players.html Kostas KOUFOS (GRE).]

From 2009 to 2016, Koufos has appeared in a total of 57 games, scoring 503 points (an average of 8.8 points per game).{{cite web | url=https://www.basket.gr/playerview/?playerid=1307 | title=Σελίδα Αθλητή }}

Koufos is the son of Greek immigrants Katerina and Alex Koufos, a pediatric doctor in Canton who died when Kostas was nine years old. Koufos holds dual citizenship of both the United States and Greece, thus making him eligible to represent Greece internationally. He can speak Greek.{{Cite web |title=Papagiannis discusses recent success and the importance of mentorship from his teammates. |url=http://cowbellkingdom.com/papagiannis-discusses-recent-success-and-importance-of-mentorship-from-his-teammates/?ex_cid=espnapi_public |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325025209/http://cowbellkingdom.com/papagiannis-discusses-recent-success-and-importance-of-mentorship-from-his-teammates/?ex_cid=espnapi_public |archive-date=March 25, 2017 |access-date=March 24, 2017 |website=cowbellkingdom.com |quote=Koufos has had the biggest impact on him due to the fact that he is also Greek. "It's easy for us to communicate better because we speak the same language," Papagiannis said.}}

• 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: {{silver medal}}
• 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: MVP
• 2008 National Invitation Tournament: MVP
• EuroBasket 2009: {{bronze medal}}

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2008}}

| align="left" | Utah

| 48 || 7 || 11.8 || .508 || .000 || .706 || 2.9 || .4 || .3 || .6 || 4.7

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2009}}

| align="left" | Utah

| 36 || 0 || 4.8 || .468 || .000 || .600 || 1.3 || .2 || .1 || .1 || 1.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2010}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota

| 39 || 1 || 8.6 || .435 || .000 || .500 || 2.5 || .2 || .2 || .5 || 2.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2010}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Denver

| 11 || 1 || 8.9 || .500 || .000 || .632 || 3.0 || .0 || .2 || .5 || 4.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2011}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Denver

| 48 || 24 || 16.5 || .599 || .000 || .600 || 5.4 || .3 || .5 || .9 || 5.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2012}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Denver

| 81 || 81 || 22.4 || .581 || .000 || .558 || 6.9 || .4 || .5 || 1.3 || 8.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2013}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Memphis

| 80 || 22 || 16.9 || .495 || .000 || .645 || 5.2 || .5 || .4 || .9 || 6.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2014}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Memphis

| 81 || 3 || 16.6 || .508 || .000 || .647 || 5.3 || .5 || .4 || .8 || 5.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2015}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento

| 78 || 14 || 19.0 || .532 || .000 || .548 || 5.4 || .4 || .5 || .9 || 6.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2016}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento

| 71 || 62 || 20.0 || .551 || .000 || .613 || 5.7 || .7 || .5 || .7 || 6.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2017}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento

| 71 || 12 || 19.6 || .571 || .000 || .446 || 6.6 || 1.2 || .7 || .5 || 6.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2018}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento

| 42 || 1 || 12.0 || .477 || .000 || .417 || 4.2 || .9 || .4 || .4 || 3.7

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 686 || 228 || 16.4 || .534 || .000 || .582 || 5.0 || .5 || .7 || .4 || 5.7

{{s-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| align="left" | 2010

| align="left" | Utah

| 9 || 0 || 3.4 || .400 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .1 || .9

|-

| align="left" | 2011

| align="left" | Denver

| 1 || 0 || 2.0 || 1.000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 2.0

|-

| align="left" | 2012

| align="left" | Denver

| 3 || 2 || 8.7 || .333 || .000 || .000 || 3.7 || .0 || .0 || .3 || .7

|-

| align="left" | 2013

| align="left" | Denver

| 6 || 2 || 16.7 || .368 || 1.000 || .833 || 3.5 || .5 || .5 || .7 || 3.3

|-

| align="left" | 2014

| align="left" | Memphis

| 7 || 0 || 6.4 || .438 || .000 || 1.000 || 2.1 || .3 || .3 || .4 || 2.6

|-

| align="left" | 2015

| align="left" | Memphis

| 11 || 0 || 11.5 || .540 || .000 || .600 || 3.5 || .4 || .4 || .5 || 3.4

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 37 || 4 || 8.9 || .460 || 1.000 || .800 || 2.6 || .2 || .2 || .4 || 2.4

{{s-end}}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20

| style="text-align:left;"| CSKA Moscow

| 17 || 1 || 9.3 || .547 || – || .556 || 2.8 || 0.2 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 3.7 || 4.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21

| style="text-align:left;"| Olympiacos

| 8 || 5 || 10.1 || .529 || – || .200 || 2.3 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 4.6 || –

{{s-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| align="left" | 2007–08

| align="left" | Ohio State

| 37 || 35 || 27.1 || .508 || .349 || .680 || 6.7 || .5 || .4 || 1.8 || 14.4

|}

• {{Portal-inline|Sports}}
• List of European basketball players in the United States

{{reflist}}

{{commons}}

• {{Basketball stats}}
• {{FIBA profile|new_id=161182|name=Kosta Koufos|old_id=63101}}
• [https://www.basket.gr/playerview/?playerid=1307 Kosta Koufos] at the Hellenic Basketball Federation {{in lang|el}}

{{navboxes|list1=

{{FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship MVP Award}}

{{2008 NBA draft}}

{{Greece Squad EuroBasket 2009}}

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Koufos, Kosta}}

Category:1989 births

Category:Living people

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:American people of Greek descent

Category:Sportspeople of Greek descent

Category:Basketball players from Canton, Ohio

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:Denver Nuggets players

Category:Greek men's basketball players

Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans

Category:Memphis Grizzlies players

Category:Minnesota Timberwolves players

Category:NBA players from Greece

Category:NBA G League Ignite players

Category:Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball players

Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)

Category:PBC CSKA Moscow players

Category:Power forwards

Category:Sacramento Kings players

Category:Utah Jazz players

Category:Utah Jazz draft picks

Category:London Lions (basketball) players

Category:21st-century Greek sportsmen