Aris B.C.
Aris Basketball Club known in European competitions as Aris Thessaloniki, is the professional basketball team of the major Thessaloniki-based Greek multi-sport club A.C. Aris Thessaloniki. Aris BC was founded in 1922, eight years after the founding of the multi-sport club and the football team. Their traditional home arena is Alexandreio Melathron.
Aris B.C. is one of the most successful Greek basketball clubs of all time, tallying ten Greek League championships and eight Greek Cups, making the Double four times. They have also won three European titles: the FIBA European Cup, the FIBA Korać Cup and the FIBA Europe Champions Cup. They are also one of only two non-relegated teams from the Greek League, with participation in every Greek First Division Championship until today. Aris holds the record for the most straight wins in the Greek League, at an amazing 80 consecutive wins in a row. Before the arrival of Nikos Galis to Aris, and the first European successes of the team, Greek basketball wasn't as competitive as it was in other European countries. Consequently, Aris helped to establish basketball in Greece, and to greatly increase its popularity across the country.
Under the leadership of the legendary duo of Nikos Galis and Panagiotis Giannakis, Aris was the dominant force in Greek basketball during the 1980s and early 1990s. It is for this period of dominance that Aris BC has been nicknamed "The Emperor", and was voted the most successful Greek sporting club of the 20th century. Aris is also one of the most renowned Greek clubs in European basketball, participating in three consecutive FIBA European Champions Cup Final Fours, and later on winning three lower-tier level European titles. The historic win of the FIBA Korać Cup in the 1996–97 season in particular, bolstered the notion that Aris has a unique place in the history of Greek basketball, and in the history of Greek sports in general.
Well-known notable players that have played with the club over the years, among others, include: Nikos Galis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Nikos Filippou, Lefteris Subotić, Miroslav Pecarski, Stojko Vranković, Mike Jones, Walter Berry, Edgar Jones, Roy Tarpley, Reggie Theus, Panagiotis Liadelis, Harold Ellis, José "Piculín" Ortiz, Mario Boni, Žarko Paspalj, Martin Müürsepp, Tiit Sokk, Mikhail Mikhailov, Joe Arlauckas, Giorgos Sigalas, Andrew Betts, Nikos Chatzivrettas, Nestoras Kommatos, Will Solomon, Michalis Kakiouzis, Dimos Dikoudis, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Jeremiah Massey, Kostas Papanikolaou, Kostas Sloukas and Bryant Dunston.
History
Early history
Aris B.C., the basketball branch of Aris Thessaloniki AC, was founded in 1922, 8 years after the founding of Aris AC. The sport of basketball was still new to Greece then, having been introduced in the country in 1919. In those days, the teams shared a single open-air court, and Aris competed in the local Thessaloniki regional championship, which it won 5 times, in the years 1926–30. During these first steps of the sport, it was significant also the contribution of the Armenian community of the city, with players like Exoutzian, Daneilian, Benlian, Marasian, Kontaxian, Karabetian, Isujian and Jamjian.The first nationwide Greek Championship was held in 1927–28, and Aris BC won its first Greek championship title on 23 April 1930, after beating ΧΑΝΘ with a score of 32–22. Aris quickly created a remarkable tradition in basketball, with notable figures, like Faidon Matthaiou and Anestis Petalidis, who was coach of the team for almost two decades.
The first appearance by Aris in an official international European-wide competition was during the 1966–67 season, when they participated in the 2nd-tier level European Cup Winner's Cup, as the Greek League runners-up. From that season onward, Aris acquired the Alexandreio Melathron as its home court, which it still is to this day.
Legendary years: Galis, Giannakis and Ioannidis era (1978–1993)
1978–79 Greek Champions
The post-World War II Greek League period was marked by the dominance of basketball teams from Athens, but this all began to change in 1979. In that year, Aris won their first Greek League championship in the modern era, largely through the inspired play of Charis Papageorgiou, and the coaching of Giannis Ioannidis, an ex-player of the team. It helped provide the spark for the complete domination of Greek basketball by Aris, during the second half of the 1980s and the early 1990s.Nikos Galis arrives (1979)
If that first Greek championship was the spark, then the fuel for Aris' brilliant stint at the top of the sport was undoubtedly Nikos Galis, thought by many Greek basketball fans to be the best Greek basketball player of all time, and one of the best ever in Europe. Galis, the son of Rhodian immigrants from New Jersey, signed on to the team in October 1979, and played his first game against Iraklis in December of that year, scoring 30 points. Fred Develey, the former coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv, who later became coach of Aris, was instrumental in convincing the management that Galis would not only change Greek basketball, but that he would change also Greek basketball in Europe. The management was more concerned about his lack of height than his ability, until they saw him play.1982–83 Greek Champions
It would take another four years for Aris to rise to the top of the Greek League again, winning the national championship in 1983, with Galis taking the game in Greece to new heights, showing coordination and creativity that was then unprecedented in Greek courts, and almost beating powerhouse rivals like Olympiacos and Panathinaikos single-handed. That year also marked the return of Giannis Ioannidis to the Aris bench as coach.A very successful 1983–1984 season had a bitter ending, as Aris battled for both the Greek League championship and the Greek Cup, but lost the national cup final to crosstown rivals PAOK, and the league championship game to Panathinaikos, under dubious circumstances. A taste of things to come, however, had been offered during Aris' games against Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv in the qualifying round for the first-tier level FIBA European Champions Cup, in the fall of 1983. Aris was narrowly eliminated by the very powerful Israeli League team, but not before posting an away win at Tel Aviv, something that no other European team had managed to do for many years.
The coming of Giannakis and the domination in Greece
1985–1991: 7 consecutive Greek Championships (5 Doubles)
Disappointment did not get much in the way of Aris' progress. With the financial support of Akis Michailides, a successful Greek businessman and President of the team, one of the most crucial transfers ever in the Greek League occurred after the 1983–1984 season, when Aris brought Panagiotis Giannakis to the team from Ionikos Nikaias. Nikos Galis now had a first-class partner. The result was total carnage for other teams. The lethal back court blazed through the Greek League for seven consecutive years, with the help of players such as Nikos Filippou, Michalis Romanidis, Lefteris Subotić, Georgios Doxakis, Vassilis Lipiridis, and others, winning 7 Greek League championships, and 5 Greek Cups. Especially between 1985–1988, the question was not who the Greek League champion would be, but if Aris would go undefeated or not, as the club won an unparalleled 80 games in a row at one point.European distinction
In the 1984–1985 season, came Aris' first significant European success: Aris reached the semifinals of the 3rd-tier level FIBA Korać Cup, eventually losing to Ciaocrem Varese of the Italian League, and without the services of Galis for the first game in Thessaloniki.Aris formed the backbone of the senior men's Greek national basketball team, sending Galis, Giannakis, Filippou, Romanidis, and Lipiridis. The back court combination of Galis-Giannakis first came to European prominence at the 1986 FIBA World Championship in Spain, where upstarts Greece performed surprisingly well, while Galis won the top-scorer of the tournament award.
It was during that year, 1986, that Aris made headlines in Europe in the FIBA European Champions Cup qualifying round. Having been unceremoniously eliminated by Limoges CSP of the French League in 1985, Aris was arbitrarily paired against Tracer Milano in the qualifying round. An insurmountable task, considering that Tracer were arguably the best team in Europe, and furthermore had acquired Bob McAdoo, possibly the best American player to ever play in Europe. Aris, sporting Nikos Galis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Lefteris Subotić, and a third rate American player, Jackson, managed an unbelievable win in Thessaloniki, by 31 points, almost assuring the elimination of Tracer, and an advancement into the final group of the 6 best European teams. However, the return leg game saw Olimpia win by 34 points, thus eliminating Aris. Galis was absent due to an injury problem.
Aris had to wait for another year to compete in Europe again, but their strength had been established. In 1987, Aris was not paired against an established FIBA European Champions' Cup team, and thus advanced to the final round of the 8 best European champions. The same was achieved in the next four years, and while Aris did not win the FIBA European Champions' Cup, they were very successful in the tournaments, reaching the Final Four of the tournament in 1988, 1989, and 1990. By then, Aris had become a household name in basketball in Europe.
Favourite team in Greece
The most important contribution of Aris to Greek basketball, was the establishment of the sport in Greece as an almost pure viewing spectacle. Aris elevated the measly standards that previously existed among Greek teams, to new heights that demanded the attention of the sports fans. It was a team that mesmerized audiences that were used to boring styles of play, and showed flashes of brilliance night in and night out. The fervent desire to see the team they supported win, quite evident in the Greek people, succumbed to the enjoyment that the fans received from watching a team perform in such an entertaining fashion, even while dismantling their opponents.Greek League arenas were completely sold out wherever Aris was playing, the opponents' fans were applauding Aris for their performance, and many of the streets in towns and cities were empty when Aris played European games. As Greeks throughout the country were glued to their TV sets, to watch the inspired play of Galis and company. Such was the impact that basketball briefly overtook football as the most popular sport in Greece. For example, Aris was playing basketball with other European teams every Thursday night. From that time, and even up until 2003, every Thursday night, cinemas in Greece offered tickets at reduced prices.
The Aris–PAOK rivalry
A special reference must be made to the rivalry between Aris and PAOK. The two clubs are fierce rivals in all sports, but the Aris and PAOK basketball face-offs had a distinct flavor between 1985 and 1992, as they were the top two basketball teams in Greece at that time. In games where a defeat is more than just a lost game, the mood of most of the fans of either Aris or PAOK, is quite seriously affected, for some time following a defeat to their opponents., head coach of the team
The most memorable game between Aris and PAOK was the third playoff game between the two teams in 1991. Aris had a two-game lead, after winning the first two games of the series, but PAOK managed to even the score with two victories in the first two playoff games, so, naturally, they had the momentum going into the fifth game of the best-of-seven series. PAOK was up by four points, almost 10 seconds before the end of that fifth game. What followed left bad memories for many PAOK fans: Aris' Panagiotis Giannakis scored a quick two-point basket, reducing the deficit to two points. A sloppy in-bounds pass from PAOK was then stolen by Aris' Dinos Angelidis, who then passed the ball to Nikos Galis, who started to penetrate, but then Galis passed the ball to Giannakis, who promptly drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer. Aris went on to win the next playoff game, and thus win the 1991 Greek League championship.
1992–93 FIBA European Cup Winners
In 1992, Aris won the Greek Cup, versus AEK. That Greek Cup Final was quite significant, since it marked Galis' last game with Aris. The player who almost by himself, had made basketball hugely popular in Greece, had won 8 Greek League championships and 6 Greek Cups with Aris, in 13 years.The team's management made what was proven to be a mistake in their plans for the 1992–93 season. The President, in cooperation with Steve Giatzoglou, decided to build the new team around Giannakis, instead of around Galis. Even though Roy Tarpley was signed by the team, and Aris was dominating at the start of the season, things eventually fell apart. Irresponsible team management, in conjunction with a lack of discipline, led to the team finishing in the 5th spot in the final standings of the Greek League. However, a surprise European-wide success came for the team, as Aris won the European 2nd-tier level FIBA European Cup, after beating Efes Pilsen, by a score of 48–50, in a very dramatic game, in which Aris won their first European-wide title.
Years of crisis and mismanagement (1993–2003)
With the departure of Michailides from the team's presidency in 1992, a long period of financial mismanagement of the club began, with the result that the club became indebted, and the team declined, especially in the Greek League.With the exception of advancing to the semifinals of the FIBA European Cup of 1994, those two seasons were marked by players filing lawsuits against the team, for not receiving their salaries and bonus incentives. Repeated wrong choices of foreign players, changing of coaches, as well as inept management by the ownership, were the highlights, rather than success on the court. Well-known Terry Catledge fled the team, Sam Vincent and Sean Higgins were released, while other inappropriate player choices, such as Anthony Frederick and Chris King were made. Despite all of this, the usual support of the fans, combined with the rise of some Greek players supported Aris, and the team managed to qualify for the Korać Cup of the next year.
1996–97 FIBA Korać Cup Winners
The 1995–96 season can be considered as a messenger of a change in Aris' fate. With Soulis Markopoulos as the team's head coach, Aris played disciplined basketball, with an extra emphasis on defense. Panagiotis Liadelis and Dinos Angelidis, along with the unexpectedly good Harold Ellis, started to draw the crowds back into Alexandreio Melathron. That Aris team beat their arch-rivals PAOK, once during the Greek League regular season, while also advancing to a 4-team group in the European-wide FIBA Korać Cup, where they almost got first place in their group. It was clear that things were on the upswing once again for the club.In the summer of 1996, something extraordinary happened for Aris. The team's main sponsor, Zafiris Samoladas, spent a huge amount of money, and revitalized the team. José Ortíz, Charles Shackleford, Tzanis Stavrakopoulos, Floros, Mario Boni, Papadatos, and Cholopoulos joined the team, which, all of a sudden, appeared to be very strong and with exceptional depth at every position. The team started well, by beating PAOK and Panathinaikos, but faltered against Olympiacos, both in the Greek League championship, and for the Greek Cup, losing both games in Thessaloniki, and prompting the firing of Markopoulos.
Subotić, one of the team's three key players from the 1987–1992 era, took over as head coach, and produced some satisfactory results, but Aris still displayed a lot of the disadvantages of a newly formed team. Aris, though, had a spectacular run to the Korać Cup title, Beşiktaş of the Turkish League, Beobanka of the Yugoslavian League, Nikas Peristeri of the Greek League, and Benetton Treviso of the Italian League, were all eliminated by Aris during the competition, in dramatic fashion, with the overtime return leg game in Italy reminding many of the old glory days of Aris in Europe.
The FIBA Korać Cup Final was against Tofaş of the Turkish League, and there couldn't be a more satisfying way of winning the Korać Cup. Aris, the heavy favorites, lost in shocking fashion by 11 points in the first game in Thessaloniki. Centuries old passions and nationalistic enmity resurfaced, as the Turks, feeling assured of the Korać Cup win at that stage, were waiting to give the final blow in Bursa. Fortunately for Aris' fans and Greek fans, the difference in talent and coaching showed in the game in Bursa, where Aris dramatically won by 18 points, in an arena filled with fanatic spectators, who finally broke down and started hurling debris towards the court, when the outcome was evident.
It was a remarkable moment, as Panagiotis Liadelis, Dinos Angelidis, Giannis Sioutis, and the other Greek players, lifted the Korać Cup inside the Turkish arena, and filled millions of Greeks with pride. That was proven to be the high point of the season. Aris returned to the Greek League games, and in idiotic fashion, lost three games against inferior opponents Panionios, Papagou, and Peiraikos.
In the 1997–98 season, which was yet to start, Aris was sort of an enigma. Having retained all but one of its main players, and having signed Žarko Paspalj, Tiit Sokk, and Nasos Galakteros, the talent was still there, although rebounding problems were sure to appear. The hiring of Efthimis Kioumourtzoglou as head coach was viewed skeptically by many, as he was regarded as an old-fashioned coach who employed aged and predictable tactics for his teams' play. Samoladas had stepped down from the team's sponsor position, and the team still did not have a wealthy sponsor, or a certain source of revenue to pay for the players' high salaries. Qualification for the EuroLeague was critical that season, but not many of Aris' fans believed it was a realistic goal, as Olympiacos, AEK, and Panathinaikos seemed to be way ahead in terms of personnel and financial status. Still, miracles can happen.
A miracle
Miracles can happen, and this sentence was perfectly understood by the Aris club players. Suddenly, José Ortíz left in mid-January 1998, due to the fact that the team didn't have the money to pay him. Tiit Sokk followed him on his way out as well. The leadership of Lefteris Hatzopoulos ended, Efthimis Kioumourtzoglou was no longer the team's head coach, and Aris was in God's hands, while some of the most dramatic moments in the club's history were taking place. The club had no money, but they had plenty of soul. Within two weeks, they beat all of the considered to be big teams of Greece,, beating the last two in the Final Four of the Greek Cup, and they became winners of the 1997–98 Greek Cup. Mario Boni was about to leave the team too, before the Greek Cup Final Four, but he stayed because he loved the team and its fans, and he helped the team a lot in this tremendous effort. Then he moved on to join Aeroporti di Roma Virtus, as he couldn't stand it anymore either. Brave heart Aris continued with just 8 players thereafter in the season. Nonetheless, the downfall of Aris continued during the next years.Recent history
2003–14
In 2003, the old Aris BC company was dissolved, due to the large amount of debts that it owed, and a new K.A.E. was created. A group of local businessmen from Thessaloniki, through the "Genesis Association", decided to take the majority stake.2002–03 season
In October 2002, Aris beat Peristeri, at the eighth-finals of the Greek Cup, and proceeded to the Greek Cup Final Four for the first time since 1999. Aris' fans realized that the best was yet to come, as along with the qualification Aris, was a very competitive team that was among the top teams in Europe's 4th-tier level FIBA EuroCup Challenge. Among others, Aris had in its squad, players such as Will Solomon, Ryan Stack, Fedor Likholitov, Miroslav Raičević, and Ivan Grgat.However, the first attempt to regain the title of the Greek Cup was unsuccessful. The final four of the competition, held in Larissa, was the great rendezvous for all Aris fans around Greece. There were 3,500 crazy Aris fans in the sold out 5,500 capacity stadium of Larissa Neapolis Arena, and they did their best to support the team, in order to win the first Aris BC title since 1998. In the semifinal, Aris came back from a −24 point deficit, and finally beat Makedonikos by a score of 92–86. Aris proceeded on to the Greek Cup Final against rival Panathinaikos, whose task was much easier, as they had only needed to overcome Irakleio in the other semifinal.
The Greek Cup Final, held the next day, was a very tight and competitive game, but at the end, some critical and partial decisions of the referees in favor of Panathinaikos, as well as the fatigue of Aris' players from the previous day's semifinal, were the decisive factors that gave Panathinaikos the title. However, Aris' fans renewed their rendezvous for the upcoming final four of FIBA Europe Champions Cup, that was going to take place in Alexandreio, at Thessaloniki.
2002–03 FIBA EuroCup Challenge Winners
In front of 6,000 fans, that filled the Alexandreio Melathron stadium, as early as two hours before the starting jump-ball, Aris hosted KK Hemofarm of the Serbian League, for the semifinal game of the competition, on 2 May 2003. Aris was very nervous and needed a sudden wake-up in the second half, to overcome the difficulties of the game, and overcome the Serbian opponents. Aris was back in a European final. After six difficult and unbearable years. Now, there was only one game left to win a championship. The game would be against Prokom Trefl Sopot of the Polish League. Aris' fans were again ready at their positions, and created a unique atmosphere that remained the trademark of the competition. So on 5 May 2003, Aris and Prokom battled for the title. The game was almost the same as the previous one for Aris, and although a second-halftime wake-up call gave the impression that Aris had won the game, Prokom made an unexpected comeback, and was in the lead, 83–81, after a successful three-point shot by Tomas Masiulis, with only six seconds left in the game. At that time, the "ghost" of "the Empire", the one that "led" Aris to its great seven-year reign during the late 1980s, appeared once again in the Alexandreio Melathron. Will Solomon drew a foul for Aris, against Prokom. He made the first free throw, then missed the second free throw, but Miroslav Raičević grabbed the rebound, and put the ball in the basket, and Aris won the game at the very end, by a score of 84–83.2003–04 season
The beginning of the 2003–04 season found Aris as a nomad inside its own city. Alexandreio Melathron was closed down, in order to get renovated for the 2004 Olympic Games, and Aris was obliged to play its home games in the 2,443 seat Ivanofeio Sports Arena, the home court of Iraklis. The season tickets were sold-out, and available tickets for each game were out of sight at each occasion. The constant packed atmosphere helped to lead Aris to great moments., top scorer of the 2003–04 Greek Basket League season
Aris was lucky enough that season to have probably its strongest team in a decade, as the club had well-known players that season like: Smush Parker, Toby Bailey, Nestoras Kommatos, Ryan Stack, Fedor Likholitov, and Miroslav Raičević. Aris eliminated Iraklis during the Greek Cup, and proceeded to the Greek Cup Final Four, for the second consecutive season. The Cup's Final Four that year was held at Lamia Indoor Hall Chalkiopoulio, in March.
2,600 Aris fans cheered the team on, as they overcame Apollon Patras in the Cup semifinal game, and proceeded to the final game against rival Olympiacos. During the Cup final game against Olympiacos, some Olympiacos fans acted out with some serious violent behavior, throwing fire rockets into the stands, where the Aris fans were seated and both teams' fans were subsequently forced by the referees to evacuate the arena. Because of the delay caused by this, the game lasted more than 4 hours.
The game continued after the fans were escorted out. Aris' players were able to remain concentrated on the game, and were able to pull out the victory, by a score of 73–70, giving the club its 8th Greek Cup title. The Aris fans that had evacuated the stadium, had remained in their cars to listen to the radio broadcast of the game, and had also gathered at roadside cafes and bars, in order to be able watch the rest of the game on television.
After the victory, the fans rushed out onto the streets, to celebrate, and were soon joined by the team itself in the street celebration, that eventually formed into a celebration convoy that headed back to Thessaloniki. At Thessaloniki, Aris' supporters gathered at the White Tower of Thessaloniki, which is the symbol of the city. The team's players climbed up to the top of the White Tower, to watch the crowd below them and to celebrate with them.
On the other hand, though, that same season, Aris was eliminated in the FIBA EuroCup by fellow Greek League club Maroussi, and it's rising star player, Vassilis Spanoulis. Aris lost the best of 3 games series, 2 games to 1, in the final eight round versus Maroussi. That same season, Aris was eliminated in the Greek Basket League playoffs by AEK Athens, who managed to beat Aris at Ivanofeio in the quarterfinals. The Greek League playoff loss to AEK knocked Aris out of a EuroLeague position for the next season.
2004–05 season
In the next season, Aris returned to its home arena, the newly renovated Alexandreio. Aris changed almost its entire squad that year, and added the young and talented player Sofoklis Schortsanitis. In October, Aris drew a bracket match up to play against Makedonikos in the Greek Cup semifinals. That season, there was no Final Four system, and the semifinal match up was a two-game series, rather than a single-elimination game.Aris had to play its "home" game in the match up at the Larissa Neapolis Arena, instead of at Alexandreio Melathron, as a punishment for what had happened at the previous Greek Cup final game against Olympiacos, where the fans of both clubs had gotten out of control. Aris lost the game in Larissa, the first in the 2 game series, 73–74. The second game was held in Kozani, at Makedonikos' home.
Makedonikos decided to make tickets for the game unavailable to Aris supporters. Nonetheless, about 500 Aris fans went to Kozani, and were able to secure tickets. They cheered the club on, as it won the second game, by a score of 89–78, and Aris advanced to the Greek Cup final game, as it had outscored Makedonikos by 10 points over the two games, and thus won the tie breaker. Aris had to play the EuroLeague powerhouse Panathinaikos in the final.
The Cup final took place at Irakleio, on Crete, and the Hellenic Basketball Federation decided not to allow any tickets to the game to be sold to the fans of the two teams, but instead only to the local people of the Irakleio area. However, about 150 Aris fans were able to manage their way into the arena, to help support the club. The Cup final was a tough and hard-fought game. Aris played well, but lost to Panathinaikos, by a 72–68 margin. The Aris players complained during the game, about the refereeing.
That same season Aris participated in a ULEB competition for the first time, as it was a part of the ULEB Cup that year. The club's goal was of course to win the ULEB Cup, so that the team would secure a berth in the EuroLeague competition the following season. Aris proceeded to the Top-16 round of the ULEB Cup, where it was matched up against Lietuvos Rytas of the Baltic League in a two-game series.
Aris split the two games with Lietuvos rytas, but lost the series on the points aggregate differential of −2 points. That same season, Aris was also eliminated from the Greek League without taking home the national championship. The club was eliminated in a fashion that, was at the time, the worst possible scenario for both the team's players and fans, as Aris lost in the playoffs once again to AEK Athens. But what made the loss even more painful, was that AEK managed to secure the clinching series victory at Aris' home arena, the Alexandreio Melathron.
2005–06 season
Aris finished the regular season of the Greek Basket League in 4th place, with a 15–11 win-loss record. Aris lost to Panathinikos during the play-off semifinals, and had to face Maroussi in a best-of-five series, for third place. With the series tied at 2–2, Aris went on to beat Maroussi, 59–63, in a dramatic game 5 in Athens. This earned Aris a return to the EuroLeague, after a 14-year absence, to the delight of its fans.Although Aris was eliminated from the Greek Cup, they managed to reach the ULEB Cup final game, which was held at the Spiroudome in Charleroi, Belgium. Aris proceeded from the group phase to the Top 16 stage, where the team eliminated fellow Greek club Panionios, in a two-game series. Aris won the first game in the series, by a score of 72–70, in Athens. In the second game at Alexandreio, Aris defeated Panionios, 112–105, in double overtime. Aris then eliminated the French Pro A League club ASVEL, with two victories, by scores of 67–60 and 77–67.
In the semifinals, Aris then faced Hemofarm, in a repeat of the semifinal of the 2003 Champion's Cup. Aris lost by a score of 74–71, in the game in Serbia, and needed a late victory in the game in Thessaloniki to make it to the final against Dynamo Moscow. On 11 April, Dynamo Moscow defeated Aris, 73–60, in the final, and won the ULEB Cup championship.
2006–07 season
Aris performed outstandingly during the 2006–07 season of the Greek Basket League, finishing the regular season in second place, with a 21–5 win-loss record. Although this gave Aris a home court-advantage in the Best-of-five playoff semifinal against Olympiacos, Aris lost game five by a score of 75–83, and had to face Panionios in the 3rd place series, and a chance at a renewed EuroLeague berth. Aris defeated Panionios 73–60 in game five, securing their second consecutive EuroLeague appearance.The 2006–07 season also marked the return of Aris to the EuroLeague, for the first time since the 1991–92 season, a 15-year absence. Aris was placed in Group C, along with CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona, Benetton Treviso, Pau Orthez, Eldo Napoli, Fenerbahçe, and Žalgiris Kaunas. With a 6–8 win-loss record, Aris managed to clinch 5th place in the group, and thus qualify to the Top 16. Aris was then placed in Group D, alongside Unicaja Málaga, Dynamo Moscow, and Benetton Treviso. Aris was eliminated from the competition, only managing a 1–5 win-loss record in the Top 16, and finishing at the bottom of the group.
2007–14
During the following years of this era, Aris continued to have only moderate success. Their best season was in 2010–11, when they finished in fourth place in the Greek League. During these years, the club continued to promote young talented players, such as Kostas Papanikolaou, Kostas Sloukas, Sasha Vezenkov, and others.2015–present
In 2015, a new era started for the club, as Nikolaos Laskaris became the club's new major shareholder. With head coach Dimitris Priftis, and new players in the team, Aris B.C. once again began aspiring to be competitive, with the goal to either return to the EuroLeague, or have success in the FIBA Champions League, during the upcoming years.Roster
Depth chart
Retired numbers
Honours
Domestic competitions
- Greek League
- Greek Cup
- Greek Super Cup
European competitions
- EuroLeague
- FIBA Saporta Cup
- EuroCup Basketball
- FIBA Korać Cup
- FIBA EuroCup Challenge
Regional
- Thessaloniki Championship
Other
- Sofia, Bulgaria Invitational Game
- Pescara, Italy Invitational Game
Individual honours
- Nikos Galis
- Nikos Galis
- José Ortiz
- Nikos Galis
- Panagiotis Giannakis
- Dušan Ivković
- Nikos Galis
- Nikos Galis
- Nikos Galis
- Charis Papageorgiou
- Nikos Galis
- Nestoras Kommatos
- Keydren Clark
- Sasha Vezenkov
- Dimitrios Tsaldaris
- Kostas Papanikolaou
- Kostas Sloukas
- Sasha Vezenkov
- Nikos Galis
- Sasha Vezenkov
- Nikos Galis
- Roy Tarpley
- Spencer Nelson
- Panagiotis Giannakis
- Nikos Galis
- Dimitris Priftis
- Panagiotis Liadelis
- Nestoras Kommatos
Records and statistics
Greek League records
Sponsors and Manufacturers
Since 1980 Aris had a specific kit manufacturer and a kit sponsor. The following tables detail the shirt sponsors and kit suppliers of Aris by year:Period | Kit supplier | Shirt sponsor |
1980–1981 | adidas | None |
1981–1982 | asics | Mpezas |
1982–1984 | asics | Sato |
1984–1985 | asics | Stimorol |
1985–1989 | asics | Sato |
1989–1990 | asics | National Bank of Greece |
1990–1991 | asics | ATEbank |
1991–1992 | asics | Coplam |
1992–1994 | adidas | Sato |
1994–1995 | adidas | Intersalonika |
1995–1996 | adidas | Moda Bagno |
1996–1997 | adidas | None |
1997–1998 | adidas | Moda Bagno |
1998–1999 | adidas | Macmilan |
1999–2003 | adidas | ? |
2003–2005 | adidas | Egnatia Bank |
2005–2008 | adidas | TT Bank |
2008–2010 | adidas | Dmiss Group |
2010–2011 | Reebok | Dmiss Group |
2011–2012 | Spalding | OPAP |
2012–2014 | Nickan | OPAP |
2014–2015 | Macron | Dmiss Group |
2015– | NG 6 | Global Swiss Trade |
Current Sponsorships
- Great Shirt Sponsor: Global Swiss Trade
- Official Sport Clothing Manufacturer: NG6
- Official Sponsor: ideaL
Crest evolution
Arena
In the club's early days, Aris played its home games at the Thessaloniki Forum. Since then, Aris' long-time home court is the Alexandreio Melathron, with its main hall being named "Nick Galis Hall", in honour of the former Aris player Nikos Galis. The venue was completed in 1966, and it was renovated for the 2004 Summer Olympics. The arena has a seating capacity of 5,138 people.Nick Galis Cup
Since 2014, Aris B.C. organizes every year, in the start of the season, a friendly mini-tournament in honour of Nikos Galis.Top performances in European & Worldwide competitions
The road to the three European Cup victories
1992–93 FIBA European Cup
1996–97 FIBA Korać Cup
2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup
The road to the Great European Journeys
1987–88 FIBA European Champions Cup
1988–89 FIBA European Champions Cup
1989–90 FIBA European Champions Cup
2005–06 ULEB Cup
Season-by-season
Season | Greek League | Greek Cup | Europe | Thessaloniki | Head Coach | Roster |
1925–26 | No tournament | No tournament | No tournament | Champion | ||
1926–27 | No tournament | No tournament | No tournament | Champion | Manolis Achelleos, Daniil Daneilan, Nahabet Exouzian, Onik Isujian, Parseh Kontaxian, Thodoros Stefanopoulos, Vartan Jamjian, Petros Fetsis | |
1927–28 | 3rd place | No tournament | No tournament | Champion | Armenian, Manolis Achelleos, Daniil Daneilan, Panagiotis Dimoudis, Panagiotis Iasonidis, Karampetian, Parseh Kontaxian, N. Marasian, Argyris Termentzis | |
1928–29 | 5th place | No tournament | No tournament | Champion | Manolis Achelleos, Daniil Daneilan, Panagiotis Dimoudis, Panagiotis Iasonidis, Patrik Benlian, Argyris Termentzis | |
1929–30 | Champion | No tournament | No tournament | Champion | Manolis Achelleos, Daniil Daneilan, Panagiotis Dimoudis, Fotis Zografos, Panagiotis Iasonidis, Karatzas, Patrik Benlian, Papafotiou | |
1930–31 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 3rd place | ||
1931–32 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | Runner Up | ||
1932–33 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | Runner Up | ||
1933–34 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | Runner Up | ||
1934–35 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 6th place | ||
1935–36 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 4th place | ||
1936–37 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | Not participated | ||
1937–38 | No tournament | No tournament | No tournament | Not participated | ||
1938–39 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | Not participated | ||
1939–40 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 3rd place | Kostas Dimitriou, Charis Theocharidis, Kolias Karazisis, Takis Kurou, Petros Ladenis, Takis Nikolaidis, Christos Tsakiris, Mimis Charpidis, Menelaos Chatzigeorgiou, Hatzi | |
1945–46 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 3rd place | Giorgos Vlasiadis, Vagelis Theodorou, Tilemahos Theodorou, Charis Theocharidis, Petros Ladenis, Petros Lekkas, Fedon Mattheou, Christos Tsakiris, Nikos Chatzinikolaou, Kostas Chatziparaskeuas, Nasos Chatzopoulos | |
1946–47 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 3rd place | Giorgos Vlasiadis, Vagelis Theodorou, Tilemahos Theodorou, Charis Theocharidis, Petros Ladenis, Petros Lekkas, Fedon Mattheou, Vasilis Mpataras, Christos Tsakiris, Menelaos Chatzigeorgiou, Nasos Chatzopoulos | |
1947–48 | No tournament | No tournament | No tournament | Runner Up | Kostas Vintsentzatos, Vagelis Theodorou, Tilemahos Theodorou, Koulaxidis, Petros Ladenis, Petros Lekkas, Fedon Mattheou, Vasilis Mpataras, Nikos Nikolaidis, Christos Tsakiris, Nikos Chatzinikolaou, Kostas Chatziparaskeuas, Nasos Chatzopoulos | |
1948–49 | 6th place | No tournament | No tournament | Runner Up | Kostas Vintsentzatos, Giorgos Vlasiadis, P. Vragkos, Panagiotis Gounaris, Vagelis Theodorou, Tilemahos Theodorou, Kostas Kazampampas, Kalogiannis, Dimitris Karthasiadis, Giorgs Karidas, Giorgos Lappas, Dimitris Leontidis, Fedon Mattheou, Giorgos Meimaridis, Vagelis Mikromastoras, Moscholios, Nikos Nikolaidis, Fedon Papasynnefakis, Giannis Papacharisis, Antonis Trakatellis, Christos Tsakiris, Antonis Flokas, Filippos Charisis, Nikos Chatzinikolaou, Kostas Chatziparaskeuas | |
1949–50 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 5th place | Petros Vasilakos, Kostas Vintsentzatos, Giorgos Vlasiadis, Giorgos Gkioulmichalakis, Vagelis Theodorou, Kostas Kazampampas, Kalogiannis, Dimitris Karthasiadis, Giorgos Meimaridis, Nikos Nikolaidis, Christos Tsakiris, Antonis Flokas, Filippos Charisis, Nikos Chatzinikolaou, Kostas Chatziparaskeuas | |
1950–51 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 5th place | Giorgos Vlasiadis, Giorgos Gkioulmichalakis, Kostas Thionusopoulos, Alekos Kalnteremtzidis, Giorgos Meimaridis, Takis Nikolaidis, Nikos Nikolaidis, Giorgos Papathanasiou, Stavros Tazedakis, Kostas Taliathoros, Antonis Flokas, Filippos Charisis, Kostas Chatziparaskeuas | |
1951–52 | No tournament | No tournament | No tournament | 4th place | Giorgos Gkioulmichalakis, Kostas Thevetzis, Nikos Thellios, Kostas Thionusopoulos, Alekos Kalnteremtzidis, Tasos Kortesis, Nikos Makris, Giorgos Meimaridis, Vagelis Mikromastoras, Giorgos Bousvaros, Nikos Nikolaidis, Giorgos Papathanasiou, Giannis Paraschos, Petros Petrakis, Polys Raptopoulos, Stavros Tazedakis, Kostas Taliathoros, Antonis Flokas, Filippos Charisis, Lakis Chatzigiannakis | |
1952–53 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 3rd place | Anestis Petalidis | Sakis Thaskalou, Kostas Thevetzis, Nikos Thellios, Kostas Thionusopoulos, Tasos Kortesis, Nikos Makris, Giorgos Bousvaros, Giorgos Papathanasiou, Petros Petrakis, Polys Raptopoulos, Stavros Tazedakis, Kostas Taliathoros, Antonis Flokas, Filippos Charisis, Lakis Chatzigiannakis |
1953–54 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 3rd place | Anestis Petalidis | Kostas Devetzis, Tasos Kortesis, Grigoris Ladas, Nikos Makris, Thodoros Ballidis, Giorgos Bousvaros, Stergios Bousvaros, Lazaros Papadopoulos, Giorgos Papathanasiou, Petros Petrakis, Nikos Stagkos, Stavros Tazedakis, Kostas Taliathoros, Lakis Chatzigiannakis |
1954–55 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 6th place | Anestis Petalidis | Kostas Valaouris, Vasilis Vasiakostas, Stelios Gousios, Tasos Kortesis, Antonis Konstantaras, Grigoris Ladas, Nikos Makris, Thodoros Ballidis, Thanasis Bacharidis, Stergios Bousvaros, Lazaros Papadopoulos, Giorgos Papathanasiou, Petros Petrakis, Panagiotis Spyrou, Nikos Stagkos, Filippos Charisis, Lakis Chatzigiannakis |
1955–56 | No tournament | No tournament | No tournament | 5th place | Anestis Petalidis | Epameinondas Anastasiadis, Dimitris Vlahopoulos, Stelios Gousios, Thomas Guikoas, Giannis Devetzis, Tasos Kortesis, Antonis Konstantaras, Christos Lolas, Nikos Makris, Thodoros Ballidis, Stergios Bousvaros, Manolis Papadakis, Antonis Papantonis, Petros Petrakis, Nikos Stagkos, Leuteris Tsaousis, Lakis Chatzigiannakis |
1956–57 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 3rd place | Anestis Petalidis | Epameinondas Anastasiadis, Alexis Vasileiadis, Stelios Gousios, Antonis Konstantaras, Christos Lolas, Nikos Makris, Thodoros Ballidis, Stergios Bousvaros, Manolis Papadakis, Nikos Papaioannou, Antonis Papantonis, Petros Petrakis, Nikos Stagkos, Leuteris Tsaousis, Lakis Chatzigiannakis |
1957–58 | Runner Up | No tournament | No tournament | Champion | Anestis Petalidis | Mikos Amarantidis, Stelios Gousios, Kostas Dionusopoulos, Giorgos Karamitsos, Antonis Konstantaras, Christos Lolas, Nikos Makris, Thodoros Ballidis, Stergios Bousvaros, Manolis Papadakis, Anestis Petalidis, Petros Petrakis, Kostas Skufalidis, Panagiotis Spiliakos, Antonis Flokas, Dimitris Fourountzopoulos |
1958–59 | Runner Up | No tournament | No tournament | Runner Up | Anestis Petalidis | Antonis Antonakis, Michalis Vagianos, Stelios Gousios, Kostas Dionusopoulos, Giorgos Karamitsos, Antonis Konstantaras, Christos Lolas, Nikos Makris, Pantelis Markakis, Thodoros Ballidis, Stergios Bousvaros, Manolis Papadakis, Nikos Papaioannou, Anestis Petalidis, Petros Petrakis, Panagiotis Spiliakos, Antonis Flokas, Dimitris Fourountzopoulos |
1959–60 | 4th place | No tournament | No tournament | Runner Up | Anestis Petalidis | Antonis Antonakis, Michalis Vagianos, Stelios Gousios, Giorgos Karamitsos, Antonis Konstantaras, Christos Lolas, Nikos Makris, Giorgos Bousvaros, Stergios Bousvaros, Manolis Papadakis, Dimitris Rokkos, Josef Tsiggros, Giorgos Tsitouras, Antonis Flokas, Dimitris Fourountzopoulos |
1960–61 | 4th place | No tournament | No tournament | Runner Up | Anestis Petalidis | Giorgos Anastasopoulos, Antonis Antonakis, Roulis Arguropoulos, Stelios Gousios, Giannis Ioannidis, Giorgos Karamitsos, Antonis Konstantaras, Christos Lolas, Nikos Makris, Kostas Metallidis, Giorgos Bousvaros, Stergios Bousvaros, Ntinos Palmas, Manolis Papadakis, Dimitris Rokkos, Leuteris Tsavdaroglou, Josef Tsiggros, Giorgos Tsitouras, Dimitris Fourountzopoulos, Leuteris Hatzopoulos |
1961–62 | Not participated | No tournament | No tournament | 4th place | Anestis Petalidis | Giorgos Anastasopoulos, Antonis Antonakis, Michalis Vagianos, Giannis Ioannidis, Savvas Kalpidis, Giorgos Karamitsos, Themis Katrios, Antonis Konstantaras, Christos Lolas, Stergios Bousvaros, Ilias Panteliadis, Dimitris Pesmatzoglou, Stefanos Rammos, Giorgos Sountouridis, Giorgos Tsitouras, Leuteris Hatzopoulos |
1962–63 | 5th place | No tournament | Not participated | Runner Up | Anestis Petalidis | Giorgos Anastasopoulos, Antonis Antonakis, Stelios Gousios, Giannis Ioannidis, Savvas Kalpidis, Giorgos Karamitsos, Themis Katrios, Giorgos Krystalidis, Antonis Konstantaras, Stergios Bousvaros, Kostas Parisis, Dimitris Rokkos, Giorgos Sountouridis, Giorgos Tsitouras, Takis Tsolos, Kostas Chatzistavrou, Leuteris Hatzopoulos |
1963–64 | 5th place | No tournament | Not participated | No tournament | Anestis Petalidis | Giorgos Anastasopoulos, Antonis Antonakis, Stelios Gousios, Giannis Ioannidis, Giorgos Karamitsos, Themis Katrios, Antonis Konstantaras, Stergios Bousvaros, Dimitris Rokkos, Giorgos Sountouridis, Giorgos Tsitouras, Kostas Chatzistavrou, Leuteris Hatzopoulos |
1964–65 | Runner Up | No tournament | Not participated | No tournament | Anestis Petalidis | Antonis Antonakis, Giorgos Antonakopoulos, Stelios Gousios, Kostas Dionusopoulos, Giannis Ioannidis, Themis Katrios, Antonis Konstantaras, Stergios Bousvaros, Dimitris Rokkos, Giorgos Sountouridis, Giorgos Tsitouras, Kostas Chatzistavrou, Leuteris Hatzopoulos, Giannis Hortis |
1965–66 | Runner Up | No tournament | Not participated | No tournament | Anestis Petalidis | Tasos Avanoglou, Giorgos Antonakopoulos, Giannis Ioannidis, Themis Katrios, Stergios Bousvaros, Thodoros Rodopoulos, Giorgos Sountouridis, Giorgos Tsitouras, Kostas Chatzistavrou, Leuteris Hatzopoulos, Giannis Hortis |
1966–67 | 3rd place | No tournament | European Cup 2nd round | No tournament | Anestis Petalidis | Tasos Avanoglou, Giorgos Antonakopoulos, Giannis Ioannidis, Kostas Kaloudis, Themis Katrios, Stergios Bousvaros, Kostas Parisis, Thodoros Rodopoulos, Giorgos Tsitouras, Kostas Chatzistavrou, Leuteris Hatzopoulos, Giannis Hortis |
1967–68 | 3rd place | No tournament | Not participated | No tournament | Anestis Petalidis | Giorgos Antonakopoulos, Giannis Ioannidis, Kostas Kaloudis, Haris Karapalisis, Themis Katrios, Stergios Bousvaros, Kostas Parisis, Thodoros Rodopoulos, Giorgos Tsitouras, Kostas Chatzistavrou, Leuteris Hatzopoulos, Giannis Hortis |
1968–69 | 4th place | No tournament | Not participated | No tournament | Anestis Petalidis | Giorgos Antonakopoulos, Giannis Ioannidis, Giannis Kallipolitis, Kostas Kaloudis, Themis Katrios, Stergios Bousvaros, Kostas Parisis, Giorgos Tsitouras, Leuteris Hatzopoulos |
1969–70 | 4th place | No tournament | Not participated | No tournament | Anestis Petalidis | Giorgos Antonakopoulos, Nikos Drakopoulos, Giannis Ioannidis, Kostas Kaloudis, Themis Katrios, Vasilis Mpaxevanos, Kostas Parisis, Giorgos Tsitouras, Leuteris Hatzopoulos |
1970–71 | 6th place | No tournament | Not participated | No tournament | Anestis Petalidis | Giorgos Antonakopoulos, Dimitris Darnakas, Nikos Drakopoulos, Giannis Ioannidis, Kostas Kaloudis, Themis Katrios, Makis Tzoumelas, Giorgos Tsakiris, Giorgos Tsitouras, Nikos Fessas, Leuteris Hatzopoulos |
1971–72 | 8th place | No tournament | Not participated | No tournament | Anestis Petalidis | Giannis Ioannidis, Themis Katrios, Giorgos Tsitouras, Dimitris Darnakas, Haris Papageorgiou, Giorgos Antonakopoulos, Vangelis Alexandris, Kostas Kaloudis, Kostas Xatzistavrou, Stergios Bousvaros, Giorgos Tsakiris, Giorgos Pagonis, Takis Symeonidis |
1972–73 | 8th place | No tournament | Not participated | No tournament | Anestis Petalidis | Leuteris Xatzopoulos, Giannis Ioannidis, Dimitris Nastos, Tasos Spartalis, Dimitris Darnakas, Haris Papageorgiou, Giorgos Antonakopoulos, Vangelis Alexandris, Giorgos Tsakiris, Kostas Kaloudis, Panagiotis Kontogiannis, Nikos Nikolis, Giorgos Pagonis, Dimitris Rokkos, Nikos Fessas |
1973–74 | 3rd place | No tournament | Not participated | No tournament | Fedon Mattheou | Leuteris Xatzopoulos, Giannis Ioannidis, Themis Katrios, Giorgos Chalatsiadis, Dimitris Nastos, Giorgos Tsitouras, Dimitris Darnakas, Haris Papageorgiou, Michalis Spiliotis, Vangelis Alexandris, Dimitris Papaioannou, Tasos Spartalis, Minas Kalogridis |
1974–75 | 8th place | No tournament | Korać Cup 1st round | No tournament | Anestis Petalidis | Giannis Ioannidis, Stelios Kalantidis, Dimitris Nastos, Stavros Holopoulos, Diamantis Skondras, Tasos Spartalis, Dimitris Darnakas, Haris Papageorgiou, Michalis Spiliotis, Vangelis Alexandris, Apostolos Hatziioannou, Themis Katrios, Dimitris Rokkos, Mpampis Tsontzos, Dimitris Tsoumas |
1975–76 | Runner Up | Last 16 | Not participated | No tournament | Harry Pappas | Giorgos Tsakiris, Giannis Ioannidis, Stelios Kalantidis, Stavros Holopoulos, Dimitris Nastos, Diamantis Skondras, Tasos Spartalis, Dimitris Darnakas, Haris Papageorgiou, Michalis Spiliotis, Vangelis Alexandris |
1976–77 | 4th place | Last 8 | Korać Cup 1st round | No tournament | Harry Pappas | Giorgos Tsakiris, Giannis Ioannidis, Stelios Kalantidis, Stavros Holopoulos, Dimitris Nastos, Diamantis Skondras, Tasos Spartalis, John Viskos, Haris Papageorgiou, Michalis Spiliotis, Vangelis Alexandris, Apostolos Hatziioannou, Kostas Stilianou, Dean Rougas |
1977–78 | 8th place | Last 8 | Korać Cup 1st round | No tournament | Irakleios Klaglas | Dimitris Darnakas, Giannis Ioannidis, Stelios Kalantidis, Stavros Holopoulos, Tasos Spartalis, Diamantis Skondras, Vasilis Paramanidis, Dimitris Nastos, Haris Papageorgiou, Michalis Spiliotis, Vangelis Alexandris, Apostolos Hatziioannou, Lazaros Voreadis, Kostas Stilianou, Lazaros Lazaridis |
1978–79 | Champion | Last 16 | Not participated | No tournament | Giannis Ioannidis | Isaak Degemertzis, Dionisis Ananiadis, Stelios Kalantidis, Stavros Holopoulos, Tasos Spartalis, Diamantis Skondras, Vasilis Paramanidis, Dimitris Nastos, Haris Papageorgiou, Michalis Spiliotis, Vangelis Alexandris, Stratos Vamvakoudis, Lazaros Voreadis, Kostas Stilianou |
1979–80 | Runner Up | Last 8 | Euroleague 1st round | No tournament | Fred Develey | Tasos Thomaidis, Dionisis Ananiadis, Stelios Kalantidis, Nikos Galis, Tasos Spartalis, Diamantis Skondras, Vasilis Paramanidis, Dimitris Nastos, Haris Papageorgiou, Kostas Stilianou, Vangelis Alexandris, Stratos Vamvakoudis, Stavros Holopoulos, Tim Joyce, Phil Taylor |
1980–81 | 3rd place | Last 32 | Korać Cup Last 16 | No tournament | Dušan Ivković | Nikos Tsahtanis, Dionisis Ananiadis, Tasos Oikonomou, Nikos Galis, Tasos Spartalis, Diamantis Skondras, Vasilis Paramanidis, Dimitris Nastos, Kostas Stilianou, Nikos Georgiadis, Stratos Vamvakoudis, Stavros Holopoulos, Michalis Romanidis, Tasos Tsitakis |
1981–82 | Runner Up | Last 8 | Korać Cup 2nd round | No tournament | Dušan Ivković | Nikos Tsahtanis, Dionisis Ananiadis, Nikos Galis, Michalis Giannouzakos, Nikos Georgiadis, Michalis Romanidis, Vasilis Paramanidis, Nikos Filippou, Haris Papageorgiou, Kostas Stilianou, Giorgos Doxakis, Stratos Vamvakoudis, Petros Stamatis, Nikos Zeimpekis |
1982–83 | Champion | Last 4 | Korać Cup 2nd round | No tournament | Giannis Ioannidis | Nikos Tsahtanis, John Karagiorgis, Nikos Galis, Grigoris Christofakis, Nikos Georgiadis, Michalis Romanidis, Vasilis Paramanidis, Nikos Filippou, Haris Papageorgiou, Kostas Stilianou, Giorgos Doxakis, Petros Stamatis, Diamantis Skondras, Tasos Tsitakis, Minas Toukmenidis |
1983–84 | Runner Up | Runner Up | Euroleague 2nd round | No tournament | Giannis Ioannidis | Nikos Tsahtanis, John Karagiorgis, Nikos Galis, Chris Nikitas, Nikos Georgiadis, Mihalis Romanidis, Vassilis Paraminidis, Nikos Filippou, Petros Stamatis, Giorgos Doxakis, Dimitris Kokolakis, Tasos Tsitakis, Giannis Mantopoulos, Grover Woodland, Howard McNeill |
1984–85 | Champion | Winner | Korać Cup Last 4 | No tournament | Giannis Ioannidis | Nikos Tsahtanis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Nikos Galis, Dimitris Nastos, Grigoris Christofakis, Michalis Romanidis, Vasilis Paramanidis, Nikos Filippou, Petros Stamatis, Giorgos Doxakis, Dimitris Kokolakis, Tasos Tsitakis, George Wenzel, David Binion |
1985–86 | Champion | Last 4 | Euroleague 2nd round | No tournament | Giannis Ioannidis | Vasilis Lipiridis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Nikos Galis, Giannis Mantopoulos, Tasos Tsitakis, Michalis Romanidis, Petros Stamatis, Nikos Filippou, Haris Papageorgiou, Giorgos Doxakis, Dimitris Kokolakis, Tom Scheffler, Brett Vroman |
1986–87 | Champion | Winner | Euroleague 2nd round | No tournament | Giannis Ioannidis | Vasilis Lipiridis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Nikos Galis, Slobodan Subotić, Tasos Tsitakis, Michalis Romanidis, Petros Stamatis, Nikos Filippou, Haris Papageorgiou, Giorgos Doxakis, Dimitris Kokolakis, Vangelis Athanasiadis, Giorgos Kasmeridis, Stratos Karamanolis, Dimitris Karamanolis, Andreas Parisis, Will Jackson |
1987–88 | Champion | Winner | Euroleague 4th place | No tournament | Giannis Ioannidis | Vasilis Lipiridis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Nikos Galis, Slobodan Subotić, Vangelis Athanasiadis, Michalis Romanidis, Petros Stamatis, Nikos Filippou, Dimitris Bousvaros, Giorgos Doxakis, Giorgos Kasmeridis, Argiris Daliaris, Stratos Karamanolis, Michail Misounov, Greg Wiltjer |
1988–89 | Champion | Winner | Euroleague 3rd place | No tournament | Giannis Ioannidis | Vasilis Lipiridis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Nikos Galis, Slobodan Subotić, Michail Misounov, Michalis Romanidis, Dimitris Avdalas, Nikos Filippou, Manthos Katsoulis, Giorgos Doxakis, Greg Wiltjer, Vagelis Vourtzoumis, Larry Kopczyk |
1989–90 | Champion | Winner | Euroleague 4th place | No tournament | Giannis Ioannidis | Vasilis Lipiridis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Nikos Galis, Slobodan Subotić, Michail Misounov, Michalis Romanidis, Vagelis Vourtzoumis, Nikos Filippou, Manthos Katsoulis, Giorgos Doxakis, Stojko Vranković, Kostas Baltatzis, Nikos Tsirakidis, Mike Jones |
1990–91 | Champion | Last 8 | Euroleague Last 8 | No tournament | Lazar Lečić Michalis Kyritsis | Vasilis Lipiridis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Nikos Galis, Slobodan Subotić, Michail Misounov, Michalis Romanidis, Vagelis Vourtzoumis, Nikos Filippou, Dinos Angelidis, Giorgos Doxakis, Brad Sellers, Kostas Baltatzis, Dimitris Bousvaros, Argiris Daliaris, Argiris Piaras, Dimitris Kalogiros, Vaios Gioras, Goran Sobin |
1991–92 | 3rd place | Winner | EuroLeague Last 16 | No tournament | George Fisher, Lazar Lečić Michalis Kyritsis Memos Ioannou | Vasilis Lipiridis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Nikos Galis, Slobodan Subotić, Michail Misounov, Michalis Romanidis, Vagelis Vourtzoumis, Miroslav Peckarski, Dinos Angelidis, Kostas Baltatzis, Edgar Jones, Igor Moraitis, Theodosis Paralikas, Kleanthis Gallos, Tasos Kotzagkiaouridis, Giorgos Kuriazis, Haris Mpimpisidis, Sakis Nikoloudis, Michalis Pournaras, Dimitris Tolios, Memos Ioannou, |
1992–93 | 5th place | Runner Up | European Cup Winner | No tournament | Steve Yatzoglou, Zvi Sherf | Vasilis Lipiridis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Slobodan Subotić, Michail Misunov, Giorgos Gasparis, J.J. Anderson, Miroslav Pecarski, Dinos Angelidis, Vagelis Vourtzoumis, Memos Ioannou, Roy Tarpley, Igor Moraitis, Theodosis Paralikas, Reggie Theus |
1993–94 | 7th place | Last 8 | European Cup Last 4 | No tournament | Vlade Đurović, Memos Ioannou | Vasilis Lipiridis, Panagiotis Liadelis, Igor Moraitis, Michail Misunov, Theodosis Paralikas, Giorgos Maslarinos, Miroslav Peckarski, Dinos Angelidis, Vangelis Vurtzumis, Sam Vincent, Sean Higgins, Mihalis Pournaras, Kleanthis Galos, Giorgos Gasparis, |
1994–95 | 6th place | Last 4 | Korać Cup Last 32 | No tournament | Memos Ioannou, Soulis Markopoulos | Vasilis Lipiridis, Panagiotis Liadelis, Igor Moraitis, Michail Misunov, Tony White, Theodosis Paralikas, Mihalis Pournaras, Dinos Angelidis, Vangelis Vurtzumis, Nestor Papoutsis, Kleanthis Galos, Chris King, Fotis Takianos, Srtzan Karageorgiou, |
1995–96 | 5th place | Last 16 | Korać Cup Last 16 | No tournament | Soulis Markopoulos | Vasilis Lipiridis, Panagiotis Liadelis, Igor Moraitis, Michail Misunov, Yannis Siutis, Giorgos Chrysanthopoulos, Mihalis Pournaras, Dinos Angelidis, Harold Ellis, Srtzan Karageorgiou, Ed Stokes, Samir Gouda, Stelios Kostis, Vasilis Kasianos, |
1996–97 | 6th place | Last 16 | Korać Cup Winner | No tournament | Soulis Markopoulos, Slobodan Subotić | José Ortiz, Panagiotis Liadelis, Tzanis Stavrakopoulos, Giannis Sioutis, Giorgos Floros, Mike Nahar, Dinos Angelidis, Aris Holopoulos, Walter Berry, Mario Boni, Alexis Papadatos, Michail Misunov, |
1997–98 | 10th place | Winner | Korać Cup Last 8 | No tournament | Eftimis Kioumourtzoglou, Christos Magotsios | Andreas Balis, Panagiotis Liadelis, Giorgos Chrysanthopoulos, Žarko Paspalj, Yannis Siutis, Nasos Galakteros, Mike Nahar, Dinos Angelidis, Giorgos Floros, Hartmut Ortmann, Kuriakos Trouliaris, Filippos Symeonidis, |
1998–99 | 4th place | Last 4 | Saporta Cup Last 4 | No tournament | Soulis Markopoulos, Zvi Sherf | Giorgos Floros, Panagiotis Liadelis, Giorgos Chrysanthopoulos, Giorgos Sigalas, Yannis Siutis, Nasos Galakteros, Alexander Kühl, Dinos Angelidis, Dimitris Makris, Martin Müürsepp, Randy White, Andreas Balis, Michalis Pournaras, Mark Nees, |
1999-00 | 8th place | Last 8 | Korać Cup Last 16 | No tournament | Soulis Markopoulos, Christos Magotsios | Joe Arlauckas, Panagiotis Liadelis, Giorgos Sigalas, Giorgos Chrysanthopoulos, Giorgos Floros, Vladimir Petrovic-Stergiou, Torgeir Bryn, Giorgos Papaulidis, Yannis Gakis, Cristos Miriunis, Andreas Balis, |
2000–01 | 12th place | Last 8 | Saporta Cup Last 16 | No tournament | Dragan Sakota, Steve Yatzoglou | Nikos Papanikolopoulos, Andreas Balis, Yannis Lappas, Sasa Markovic, Yannis Siutis, Giorgos Floros, Vladimir Petrovic-Stergiou, Gordon Firic, Kostas Kakaroudis, Miroslav Raičević, Milos Sakota, |
2001–02 | 10th place | Last 8 | Not participated | No tournament | Steve Yatzoglou, Milan Minić | Apostolos Koutroulias, Yorick Williams, Yannis Lappas, Robert Renfroe, Franco Nakic, Yannis Gagaludis, Kostas Kakaroudis, Steve Bucknall, Torraye Braggs, Geert Hammink, Miroslav Raičević, Stamatis Mpakertzakis, Joseph Nikolaidis, Nikos Orfanos, Nikos Savvoulidis, |
2002–03 | 5th place | Runner Up | EuroCup Challenge Winner | No tournament | Milan Minić, Vangelis Alexandris | Will Solomon, Alan Gregov, Giannis Lapas, Prodromos Nikolaidis, Dimitris Haritopoulos, Giannis Gagaloudis, Dimitar Angelov, Kostas Kakaroudis, Fedor Likholitov, Ryan Stack, Ivan Grgat, Miroslav Raičević, Nikos Orfanos, Dimitris Meraxtsakis, Giorgos Brozos, Xristos Papanikolaou |
2003–04 | 5th place | Winner | FIBA EuroCup Last 8 | No tournament | Vangelis Alexandris, Charles Barton | Smush Parker, Nikos Orfanos, Yannis Lappas, Alexis Kiritsis, Dimitris Haritopoulos, Nestoras Kommatos, Nikos Vetoulas, Toby Bailey, Fedor Likholitov, Ryan Stack, Antti Nikkila, Miroslav Raičević, Diamantis Koukouvinos, |
2004–05 | 5th place | Runner Up | ULEB Cup Last 16 | No tournament | Charles Barton | DeJuan Collins, Terrel Castle, Alexis Kiritsis, Arthur Johnson, Dimitris Haritopoulos, Antonis Asimakopoulos, Yahor Meshcharakou, Nikolay Padius, Sotiris Karapostolou, Ryan Stack, Sofoklis Schortsianitis, Miroslav Raičević, Nikos Orfanos, |
2005–06 | 3rd place | Last 8 | ULEB Cup Runner Up | No tournament | Elias Zouros, Andrea Mazzon | Terrel Castle, Giorgos Sigalas, Savas Kamberidis, Corey Brewer, Dimitris Haritopoulos, Antonis Asimakopoulos, Mike Wilkinson, Nikolay Padius, Panagiotis Karavanas, Ryan Stack, Ante Grgurevic, Nikos Orfanos, Dimitris Karadolamis, Marios Matalon, Vladimir Petrovic-Stergiou, |
2006–07 | 3rd place | Last 16 | Euroleague Last 16 | No tournament | Andrea Mazzon | Terrel Castle, Giorgos Sigalas, Simonas Serapinas, Alex Scales, Giorgos Kalaitzis, Savas Iliadis, Mike Wilkinson, Kevin Fletcher, Panagiotis Karavanas, Jeremiah Massey, Giannis Giannoulis, Dimitris Tsaldaris, Spyros Panteliadis, Marios Matalon, Gaios Skordilis, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf |
2007–08 | 5th place | Last 4 | Euroleague Last 16 | No tournament | Gordon Herbert | Reyshawn Terry, Darius Washington, Bracey Wright, Giorgos Kalaitzis, Savas Iliadis, Vladimir Boisa, Gaios Skordilis, Hanno Möttölä, Jeremiah Massey, Lazaros Agadakos, Dimitris Tsaldaris, Spyros Panteliadis, Dimitris Karadolamis, Michalis Tsairelis, |
2008–09 | 4th place | Last 8 | ULEB Eurocup Last 32 | No tournament | Andrea Mazzon | Keydren Clark, Bracey Wright, Andrew Betts, Nikos Argiropoulos, Savas Iliadis, Anton Gavel, Gaios Skordilis, Kostas Papanikolaou, Lazaros Agadakos, Nikos Barlos, Dimitrios Tsaldaris, Spencer Nelson, Linos Chrysikopoulos, Spyros Mourtos, |
2009–10 | 7th place | Last 4 | ULEB Eurocup Quarterfinals | No tournament | Andrea Mazzon, Fotis Katsikaris, David Blatt | Keydren Clark, Nikos Argiropoulos, Andrew Betts, Jeremy Richardson, Nikos Hatzivrettas, Dimos Dikoudis, Gaios Skordilis, Ivan Paunić, Michalis Kakiouzis, Nikos Barlos, Christos Papanikolaou, Aaron Miles, Linos Chrysikopoulos, Spyros Mourtos, Matt Walsh, |
2010–11 | 4th place | Last 4 | ULEB Eurocup Last 16 | No tournament | Sharon Drucker, Slobodan Subotic | Bobby Brown, Brendan Winters, Christos Tapoutos, Anthony King, Michalis Tsairelis, Nikos Hatzivrettas, Kostas Haralabidis, Anatoly Kashirov, Fanis Koumpouras, Edin Bavcic, Linos Chrysikopoulos, Dimitris Verginis, Kostas Sloukas, |
2011–12 | 7th place | Last 8 | ULEB Eurocup Last 16 | No tournament | Vangelis Alexandris | Dan Mavraides, Sergio Kerusch, Christos Tapoutos, Michalis Tsairelis, Ronald Davis, Matej Krusic, Lefteris Bochoridis, Giorgos Bogris, Sam Muldrow, Dimitris Verginis, Tasos Dimas, Sasha Vezenkov |
2012–13 | 6th place | Last 10 | Not participated | No tournament | Vangelis Alexandris, Vangelis Angelou | Sotiris Karapostolou, Muhamed Pasalic, Giorgos Tsiaras, Lefteris Bochoridis, Jeremy Hunt, Mihalis Pelekanos, Dimitris Verginis, Tasos Dimas, Sasha Vezenkov, Antonis Asimakopoulos, Kostas Harisis, Zisis Sarikopoulos, Spyros Mourtos, Petros Geromichalos, Nikos Bochoridis, Efthymios Tsakaleris |
2013–14 | 7th place | Runner Up | Not participated | No tournament | Vangelis Angelou, Milan Minić | Stelios Poulianitis, Kostas Mitoglou, Giannoulis Larentzakis, Lefteris Bochoridis, Jeremy Hunt, Mihalis Pelekanos, Nikos Gkikas, Giannis Athinaiou, Sasha Vezenkov, Antonis Asimakopoulos, Kostas Harisis, Zisis Sarikopoulos, Spyros Mourtos, Efthymios Tsakaleris |
2014–15 | 4th place | Last 8 | Not participated | No tournament | Dimitris Priftis | Muhamed Pašalić, Giorgos Tsiaras, Tasos Dimas, Lamarcus Reed, Torey Thomas, Stelios Poulianitis, Kostas Charissis, Giannis Karathanasis, Sasha Vezenkov, Drew Naymick, Spyros Mourtos, Vasileios Symtsak, Dimitris Flionis, Ogo Adegboye |
2015–16 | 4th place | Last 4 | Eurocup Basketball Last 32 | No tournament | Dimitris Priftis | Vassilis Xanthopoulos, Tasos Dimas, Michalis Pelekanos, Slaven Cupkovic, Dimitris Flionis, Okaro White, Dominic Waters, Nikos Diplaros, Theodoros Zaras, Jamelle Hagins, Jake Cohen, Spyros Mourtos, Vassilis Symtsak, Jerel McNeal |
Notable players
;Greece- Lazaros Agadakos
- Vangelis Alexandris
- Dionysis Ananiadis
- Dinos Angelidis
- Antonis Asimakopoulos
- Ioannis Athinaiou
- Nikos Barlos
- Lefteris Bochoridis
- Kostas Charalampidis
- Kostas Charissis
- Nikos Chatzivrettas
- Georgios Chrysanthopoulos
- Linos Chrysikopoulos
- Dimos Dikoudis
- Georgios Doxakis
- Nikos Filippou
- Georgios Floros
- Ioannis Gagaloudis
- Nasos Galakteros
- - Nikos Galis
- Georgios Gasparis
- Panagiotis Giannakis
- Giannis Giannoulis
- Nikos Gkikas
- Savvas Iliadis
- Giannis Ioannidis
- Memos Ioannou
- Michalis Kakiouzis
- Georgios Kalaitzis
- Manthos Katsoulis
- Vassilis Kavvadas
- Dimitris Kokolakis
- Nestoras Kommatos
- Alexis Kyritsis
- Giannis Lappas
- Giannoulis Larentzakis
- Panagiotis Liadelis
- Vassilis Lipiridis
- Sotiris Manolopoulos
- Marios Matalon
- Faidon Matthaiou
- Dinos Mitoglou
- Spyros Mourtos
- Christos Myriounis
- Makis Nikolaidis
- Charis Papageorgiou
- Kostas Papanikolaou
- Vassilis Paramanidis
- Michalis Pelekanos
- Michalis Romanidis
- Zisis Sarikopoulos
- Sofoklis Schortsanitis
- Georgios Sigalas
- Ioannis Sioutis
- Gaios Skordilis
- Kostas Sloukas
- Tzanis Stavrakopoulos
- Vassilis Symtsak
- Christos Tapoutos
- Michalis Tsairelis
- Dimitris Tsaldaris
- Dimitris Verginis
- Nikos Vetoulas
- Vangelis Vourtzoumis
- Vassilis Xanthopoulos
- Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
- J.J. Anderson
- Joe Arlauckas
- Toby Bailey
- Corey Belser
- Walter Berry
- David Binion
- David Booth
- Anthony Bowie
- Torraye Braggs
- Corey Brewer
- Bobby Brown
- Eric Buckner
- - Terrel Castle
- Terry Catledge
- - Kee Kee Clark
- DeJuan Collins
- Will Cummings
- Ronald Davis
- Laron Day
- Rodney Dent
- Juan Dixon
- - Bryce Douvier
- - Bryant Dunston
- Harold Ellis
- A. J. English
- Desmon Farmer
- - Kevin Fletcher
- James Forrest
- Anthony Frederick
- Kevin Freeman
- Anthony Goldwire
- Gary Grant
- - Josh Grant
- Jamelle Hagins
- Sean Higgins
- Jermaine Jackson
- Will Jackson
- Dominic James
- Michael Jenkins
- Edgar Jones
- Mike Jones
- Tim Joyce
- - Sergio Kerusch
- Anthony King
- Chris King
- Frankie King
- Sean Marshall
- - Jeremiah Massey
- Howard McNeal
- Jerel McNeal
- Aaron Miles
- Isaiah Morris
- Sam Muldrow
- - Spencer Nelson
- Smush Parker
- Pierre Pierce
- Adrian Oliver
- Khalid Reeves
- - Rob Renfroe
- Jeremy Richardson
- Darnell Robinson
- Alex Scales
- Tom Scheffler
- Melvin Scott
- Brad Sellers
- Charles Shackleford
- Will Solomon
- - Ryan Stack
- Ed Stokes
- Roy Tarpley
- Kenny Taylor
- Phil Taylor
- Reyshawn Terry
- Reggie Theus
- John Thomas
- P.J. Tucker
- Sam Vincent
- Brett Vroman
- Jermaine Walker
- Matt Walsh
- - Darius Washington Jr.
- Dominic Waters
- George Wenzel
- Randy White
- Okaro White
- Tony White
- - Mike Wilkinson
- Brandon Winters
- Grover Woodland
- Brandon Wolfram
- Bracey Wright
- José Ortiz
- Greg Wiltjer
- Dimitar Angelov
- Edin Bavčić
- Andrew Betts
- - Vladimir Boisa
- Mario Boni
- Dejan Borovnjak
- Torgeir Bryn
- Steve Bucknall
- - Gordan Firić
- - Anton Gavel
- Alan Gregov
- Ivan Grgat
- Ante Grgurević
- Geert Hammink
- Anatoly Kashirov
- Alexander Koul
- Matej Krušič
- Alexander Kühl
- - Srđan Jovanović
- Dragan Labović
- Fedor Likholitov
- - Saša Marković
- Yegor Mescheriakov
- Mikhail Mikhailov
- --Michail Misounov
- - Igor Moraitov
- Hanno Möttölä
- Martin Müürsepp
- Mike Nahar
- - Franko Nakić
- Mark Nees
- Tim Nees
- Antti Nikkilä
- Hartmut Ortmann
- Nikolay Padius
- Muhamed Pašalić
- Žarko Paspalj
- Ivan Paunić
- - Miroslav Pecarski
- - Vladimir Petrović-Stergiou
- Zdravko Radulović
- - Miroslav Raičević
- Viktor Sanikidze
- Blagota Sekulić
- Simonas Serapinas
- Goran Sobin
- - Tiit Sokk
- - Slobodan Subotić
- Alan Tomidy
- Philippe Urie
- -- Sasha Vezenkov
- Stojko Vranković
- Yorick Williams
- Samir Gouda
- - Cheikou N'Diaye
Greek national team players
Aris head coaches by season
Head Coach | Seasons |
Anestis Petalidis | 1952–53 to 1972–73 |
Faidon Matthaiou | 1973–74 |
Anestis Petalidis | 1974–75 |
- Harry Pappas | 1975–76 & 1976–77 |
Irakleios Klaglas | 1977–78 |
Giannis Ioannidis | 1978–79 |
Anestis Petalidis Fred G. Develey | 1979–80 |
Dušan Ivković | 1980–81 & 1981–82 |
Giannis Ioannidis | 1982–83 to 1989–90 |
Lazar Lečić Michalis Kyritsis | 1990–91 |
George Fisher Lazar Lečić Michalis Kyritsis Memos Ioannou | 1991–92 |
- Steve Giatzoglou Zvi Sherf | 1992–93 |
- Vlade Đurović Memos Ioannou | 1993–94 |
Memos Ioannou Soulis Markopoulos | 1994–95 |
Soulis Markopoulos | 1995–96 |
Soulis Markopoulos - Slobodan Subotić | 1996–97 |
Efthimis Kioumourtzoglou Christos Magotsios | 1997–98 |
Soulis Markopoulos Zvi Sherf | 1998–99 |
Soulis Markopoulos Christos Magotsios | 1999–00 |
Head Coach | Seasons |
- Dragan Šakota - Steve Giatzoglou | 2000–01 |
- Steve Giatzoglou Milan Minić | 2001–02 |
Milan Minić Vangelis Alexandris | 2002–03 |
Vangelis Alexandris Charles Barton | 2003–04 |
Charles Barton | 2004–05 |
Ilias Zouros Andrea Mazzon | 2005–06 |
Andrea Mazzon | 2006–07 |
Gordie Herbert | 2007–08 |
Andrea Mazzon | 2008–09 |
Andrea Mazzon Fotis Katsikaris - David Blatt | 2009–10 |
Sharon Drucker - Slobodan Subotić | 2010–11 |
Vangelis Alexandris | 2011–12 |
Vangelis Alexandris Vangelis Angelou | 2012–13 |
Vangelis Angelou Milan Minić | 2013–14 |
Dimitris Priftis | 2014–15 to 2016–17 |
Panagiotis Giannakis Vangelis Angelou | 2017–18 |
Vangelis Angelou Ioannis Kastritis | 2018–19 |
Soulis Markopoulos Savvas Kamperidis | 2019–20 |