Greece's next ΝΒΑ rep or EuroLeague star: Nikos Rogkavopoulos ready to take the big stage / News - Basketnews.com

Before he even turns 22, Nikos Rogkavopoulos has met Michael Jordan in the flesh, seen his face on fake dollar bills, and played professionally for three teams. Now, he's at the crossroads between the NBA and Europe's top level. Where is he likely to end up and how did he get to this point?

Credit: Yukatel Merkezefendi Belediyesi Credit Yukatel Merkezefendi Belediyesi

It was a slightly cold February evening at the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall the place and time Nikos Rogkavopoulos chose to showcase his offensive firepower to those less familiar with his talent. Greece were playing Serbia with a severely short-handed roster, having already secured their spot in the upcoming FIBA World Cup.

2-pointers this season

57%20,1Points made:20,1Accuracy:57,5%Place in standings:6Record max:28Record min:13Most made 2FGs:Maik KotsarTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

The hosts struggled badly for the better part of the contest as Serbia had the upper hand and desperately needed the win in order to follow the hosts in the final round. When the game went to overtime, Rogkavopoulos took over hitting three triples in a row and giving Greece a four-point lead which proved enough.

Having stayed away from the media spotlights since the start of the season, the author of 28 points spent the 45 minutes after the final buzzer doing interviews and standing in front of cameras, microphones, and dozens of -mostly young- fans who were on the lookout for a selfie.

"I feel like I'm evolving and progressing in all parts of my game," he told Sport24.gr the next day.

"I improved my dribbling, I put the ball on the court, increased my speed, respond better in close-out plays, one-on-one, on floaters. I understand that my feet are stronger."

If Rogkavopoulos and his former AEK Athens teammate Dimitris Moraitis had been a well-hidden secret for quite some time, their performances with the Greek national team brought them to the attention of the general public and whetted the appetite of clubs with wide financial backgrounds.

Moraitis' defense on Shane Larkin in Greece's win in Turkey and his 23-point game against Serbia, along with a full-court shot that changed the outing's momentum, were enough to show that the young guard did, in fact, stand a chance of growing into something more than a promising player.His rumored move to Panathinaikos this summer is expected to be announced once the season is officially over.

But while Moraitis, 24, is a tall guard that can defend, Rogkavopoulos is the type of player Greece had stopped producing for years. A guard-forward who can dribble, shoot under time pressure, finish plays on isolation, and provide instant scoring. However, in contrast to Moraitis, his immediate future isn't linked to any Greek team.

The agency that represents the player has decided that their client's future lies in a place where he can get minutes and showcase his potential.

"We are absolutely delighted with his progress," a spokesperson for Network Sports International (NSI) told BasketNews. "For us, the most important thing from the moment we started representing him, is to set out our priorities and a plan for his career."

That's why the agency wanted to move him from Greece to Turkey. It wasn't just about changing the setting. It was mostly escaping an environment where neither side (the team and the player) wasn't happy.

But how did Rogkavopoulos come to that point? Looking back, there's plenty to reflect on.

One need only remember that 'Rogka' was introduced to professional basketball at the tender age of 16. He hired his first agent at 15 (in 2016), while still being a special project at Doukas high school, where he showed that he had the makings to grow into a star player.

Two incidents and decisions marked his path to pro basketball. In April 2017, Rogkavopoulos received an invitation to play in the Jordan Brand Classic International Game, where he relished the opportunity to meet Michael Jordan in person.

The event was held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. At some point, the young swingman saw MJ and almost lost his mind.

"When I saw him up close, I greeted him and I hugged him," he recalled in his first statements as an AEK player. "I had seen him in my sleep days before I met him, and suddenly there he was in front of me. I was in awe, I went crazy. It's a shame I wasn't allowed to take pictures with him."

His initial plan had him explore opportunities for a spot on an American high school team and spend some years in the States. But that didn't happen, as he was constantly getting offers from Europe.

A few months earlier, Rogkavopoulos had received another invitation. Real Madrid asked him to do some workouts with the Junior team. Rogkavopoulos traveled to the Spanish capital and saw the Wizink Center and all the practice facilities. However, when AEK came knocking with a lucrative and multi-year (until 2023) offer, he didn't give it too much thought.

"Madrid was something else," he admitted back then. "I think those guys are one step behind the NBA in terms of organization. But I chose Greece and I'm very happy about it."

The signing of the contracts between the two sides took place in the presence of AEK's major shareholder, Makis Angelopoulos, with the former Doukas School athlete taking an important step after winning the Panhellenic championship with his team.

What transpired between the summer of 2017 and this summer, when his AEK deal was supposed to end? Well, quite a lot.

Rogkavopoulos made his Greek league debut on 8 October 2018 in AEK's away match against Peristeri, going scoreless in less than eight minutes of playing time. Overall, he didn't get to play much in his first two seasons with the Athens-based club, which decided to stash the player in Doukas for the 2017-18 campaign.

Entering the 2020-21 season and his fourth year of contract, he was already 19. His highlight from the 2019-20 campaign that the BCL somehow managed to conclude was his performance in the Final Four semi-final game against Casademont Zaragoza, where he scored 10 points in 19 minutes.

However, once the next season set in, things didn't change much for Rogkavopoulos. In fact, the situation got worse, since AEK were dealing with severe financial issues. In March 2021, the Greek prospect refused to practice with the team, on the eve of the departure for Turkey and the crucial match against Turk Telecom for the BCL. The player's side mentioned a debt worth 100,000 euros which extended over two seasons.

At the same time, Rogkavopoulos was displeased with his playing time and role on the team. Even though he checked in at 10 BCL games with an average time of 12 minutes per contest, he wasn't able to leave an imprint. The Greek club reacted instantly and issued an announcement, stating that the athlete "put himself out of the team."

The two sides eventually reached a settlement in order for Rogkavopoulos to be able to be released with two seasons left on his contract. "It was a totally conscious decision I made after mature deliberation. I felt it was the best choice for me and I decided to make it at any cost. We are our choices and I will always stand by mine," Rogkavopoulos commented.

The talented forward was certain that he should find a team where he could showcase what he didn't get to demonstrate or prove on a star-packed roster of the mid-tier level. The summer of 2021 could have been busier for him if COVID hadn't gotten in the way of his plans to declare for the NBA Draft.

But before choosing his next destination, 'Rogka' had an assignment with the Greek national team to accomplish. The injuries of several key players in the forward positions opened up a spot for him, despite his being far from an obvious choice for the 12-man squad that would travel to Canada for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Credit FIBA Media

Greece coach Rick Pitino thought Rogkavopoulos would be ideal for a squad that lacked perimeter shooting. One of his first moves, when he gathered all the players at OAKA, was to ask the 20-year-old forward to have individual workouts with him. Pitino had reportedly heard a lot about the player and wanted to see his potential first-hand. Ultimately, the Hall-of-Fame coach ended up including 'Rogka' in the squad.

"It certainly gave me tremendous confidence," he laterreflected in an interview.

"The man knows how to make you feel very important and gives you a tremendous psychological boost, he's awesome in that part. But most of all, I liked the way he approached all the players. Coach Pitino is a man who came to work with us with the utmost respect."

Following Greece's elimination from the Olympics, the veteran coach and his player flew out directly to the States. Pitino had to prepare for Iona's season, while Rogkavopoulos wanted to do some pre-draft workouts with some teams. Alas, all plans amounted to nothing, as he tested positive for COVID before his first workout and couldn't attend Chicago's Draft Combine.

Upon his return to Greece, he received a three-year deal from Promitheas Patras, which he took. The EuroCup club had decided to entrust their squad to Spanish play-caller Luis Casimiro, who essentially recruited Rogkavopoulos. Although Casimiro didn't stay in Patras for more than four months, he saw the Greek forward pull off at least two memorable performances against Spanish sides Valencia Basket (13 points, 7 rebounds) and Gran Canaria (21 points, 6 rebounds).

"The guy is long, with a good wingspan, rebounds the ball well and shoots very well from distance, like all modern power forwards today. He can play there, but I would say that he is a small forward," Casimiro clarified in an interview with a Basque outlet.

The experienced coach, who wished to work with Rogkavopoulos again at Real Betis, pointed out that his former player "is capable of playing the pick and roll, albeit not making good reads yet because he's very young."

"He really wanted to learn and was eager to take it all in, like a sponge," he commented.

Rogkavopoulos' journey in Patras started off in an ideal way, as he led Promitheas to the win against AEK, tallying 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. When the teams locked horns again at AEK's gym, the home fans made sure their former player would have something to remember.

'Rogka' heard a lot from the stands throughout the game, but AEK fans went as far as to print dollar bills with his face on them. During and after the game, those bills were thrown in the player's direction, as an indication that he left the team for financial reasons.

Casimiro was succeeded by Ilias Zouros and Makis Giatras in a development that took a toll on Rogkavopoulos' role and playing time. However, he finished the season averaging 6.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in the Greek league, recording his best numbers in four years of playing professionally.

In the summer of 2022, the 21-year-old prospect saw that a shift had to be made. Since he wasn't getting interest from either Olympiacos or Panathinaikos, taking a chance outside the Greek borders was a no-brainer. He changed representation, leaving his long-time agent Marios Olympios for NSI, run by Nikos Spanos. In addition, he leaned toward teams that could guarantee him minutes on the court.

He found that team in Turkish mid-level club Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli Basket. The choice provided him with a unique springboard to take the next step in his career, as he surpassed all expectations. Rogkavopoulos became one of his team's main players, usually starting as well as finishing games. Since the squad's top scorer, Max Heidegger, moved to Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in January, he even took on the leading role.

He averaged 15.7 points, 1.9 assists, 6.3 rebounds in the Turkish league, on 36% shooting from the 3-point line in 27 games. His average playing time skyrocketed to 32 minutes per game. His name was being brought up more and more frequently in Greece and abroad.

However, his agency had instructed him to stay away from the media and had made it clear that their client wasn't going to consider a potential return to Greece, regardless of the team's name.

His course at Merkezefendi, which offered him a less convulsive context and one conducive to developing his talent outside his comfort zone, has placed him in the EuroLeague showcase. One could safely argue that Rogkavopoulos is the best undrafted European player in the Under-22 age group.

For how long? Time will tell, but it seems that 'Rogka' has set his eyes high, waiting for the NBA Draft on June 22. Having withdrawn from the selection process twice already, this year he's automatically eligible.

"I've always loved the NBA and playing there is my dream," Rogkavopoulos let everyone know of his intentions two years ago in aninterview with the Greek league's website. "Since I was a kid, I've been watching the NBA and when I played in the open courts I wore NBA teams' jerseys."

"We think players with as much potential as Nikos should find room to get playing time, confidence and support," a spokesperson for NSI agency told BasketNews.

"Right now, there's a lot of interest from NBA teams contacting us, asking for more information about his family, character, and many aspects of his life. We grant that information. The interest is quite high and we think he'll get drafted by some team."

According to the latest info, Rogkavopoulos is projected as a late second-round pick and might hear his name among the 58 chosen ones this year. The Greek international is currently participating in the Global Camp in Treviso, Italy. The camp takes place from June 9 to 11 and is the only one approved by the NBA and sponsored by Adidas. The opportunity to capture the attention of a franchise is open, but finding a contract on the other side of the Atlantic is still a dream.

Rogκavopoulos had a pre-draft workout with the Charlotte Hornets in Orlando and also participated in the event held in Chicago. That's where Montverde Academy assistant coach and former overseas veteran Giovonne Woods met him.

Credit Charlotte Hornets

"I had heard of him before. I knew he was an up-and-coming player in Europe," Woods told BasketNews.

When 'Rogka' got to Chicago, they had an hour-long, early-morning workout. The next day, they did the same, but also walked through his pro-day workout as well.

Woods thinks that Rogkavopoulos' maturity is readily apparent, despite his young age.

"He's been playing basketball for some time now. He can definitely shoot the basketball at a high level. For him being so tall and still able to handle the basketball, come off ball screens and make play-making decisions is very important," he noted.

Credit FIBA Media

As a matter of fact, Rogkavopoulos has improved his catch-and-shoot skills with a fast release that's hard to contest. His footwork allows him to adjust to defenders and create open looks for himself off-ball. He can generate fast-break opportunities off defensive rebounds and run the court.

He can even demonstrate some flashes of decentathleticism, despite his lack of strength and debatable defense against pick-and-rolls and smaller opponents.

"He can improve on his athletic ability, that's the only part that might hold him back a little bit," Woods maintains.

"I haven't seen him play a lot above the rim. Even though he doesn't have to do that all time, it would definitely benefit him -- just to prove that he can play like everyone else here. Shooting-wise, he'll be fine."

Woods isn't sure the Greek prospect will end up getting drafted, but he thinks he might have an opportunity to make the Summer League team and possibly get an Exhibit-10 with a team.

"That's my opinion, but his agent might say something different. I asked him what he'd like to do and he told me, 'I want to play in the NBA, of course. If it happens, that will be great. If not, I'll go back to Europe. No problem.'"

His agency seems to be humming along to the same tune.

"If Nikos doesn't get a guaranteed contract for 2-3 years, he will have to stay in Europe and play at the top level, which is the EuroLeague," the spokesperson for NSI said.

"From that point on, he'll have to improve and proceed with steady steps. We are trying to help him and open doors for his career he hadn't been able to open so far."

Woods thinks Rogkavopoulos could play in the NBA or the EuroLeague, depending on the situation and opportunity.

"If he gets the chance to fit in the NBA, he can definitely make a roster and play there at some point. If not, I think he will have a long career in the EuroLeague. Even if he has to go back overseas, he can still be a very good EuroLeague player.

He can play well until his late 30s because he's very skilled. He's very young and has been playing since 16. For him to be playing professionally for so long, he has a leg up on everyone else."

The player's overall outlook indicates that he's capable of getting big minutes with a EuroLeague team and contributing to winning, starting next season. Even though the player's side hasn't yet confirmed the report about Rogkavopoulos' rumored move to Baskonia, the deal between the two sides looks imminent.

With his addition, Baskonia would sign a forward with a profile similar to Rokas Giedraitis -- energetic, hard-working, strong on the rebound, refined and possessing a coveted shot-making ability. Rogkavopoulos has taken a step forward in Turkey and he showed it last February at the FIBA ​​windows.

Regardless of the other forwards' availability for the national team, coach Dimitris Itoudis might still pick him over other players with more experience. Last December, Rogkavopoulos beat Fenerbahce almost single-handedly, scoring 25 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in Merkezefendi's narrow (80-77) win.

The question marks that are related to his weaknesses are counterbalanced by his size, hard work and room for improvement. Since he may as well end up as a draft-and-stash option, like other players in the past, Rogkavopoulos would potentially be a good fit for any team because the game is based on shooting and stretching the floor.

Right now, while his full potential is still to be determined, a solid EuroLeague career looks like the minimum goal.

Giovonne Woods, who has worked out with many NBA prospects and European players, says Rogkavopoulos reminds him of Alexey Shved.

"He plays like him a little bit. He's less athletic but has the same type of game in terms of shooting and how he puts the ball on the floor."

As for the NBA prototype? Woods mentioned the name of the best European shooter of the last decade.

"He also reminds me of Bogdan Bogdanovic and the way he gets his shot off. If he can get to that point, I think he'll be alright."

It's probably safe to assume that Rogkavopoulos wouldn't mind those comparisons at all.

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