Giorgos Sigalas (alternate spelling: Georgios) (Greek: Γιώργος Σιγάλας; born July 31, 1971 in Peristeri, Greece), is a retired Greek professional basketball player. During the 1990s, the 6'7" swingman was the regular captain of the senior men's Greek national team, as well as of the Athens-based Olympiacos in the Greek League and the Euroleague. Sigalas played regularly along with players like Eddie Johnson, David Rivers, Roy Tarpley, Žarko Paspalj, Willie Anderson, Christian Welp, and Walter Berry. His nickname as a player was Rambo.[1]
Captaincy of Olympiacos and the Greek national team
The long-time captain of the Greek national squad, Sigalas played with the senior men's Greek National Basketball Team in 185 games. He competed in six consecutive EuroBaskets (EuroBasket 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003 with Greece). Sigalas also competed with Greece at both the 1994 FIBA World Championship and the 1998 FIBA World Championship, as well as at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.
Sigalas won five consecutive Greek League championships while playing with Olympiacos from 1993 to 1997. He also won 2 Greek Cups with Olympiacos in 1994 and 1997. In 1997, while playing with Olympiacos, Sigalas won the Triple Crown, meaning his team won the Greek League championship, the Greek Cup, and the Euroleague championship, all in the same year, the only time it has happened in club history.
Late career
Sigalas left Olympiacos in 1997, after winning the Euroleague championship and joined the Italian League team Olimpia Milano. He played there during the 1997–98 season. He then returned to the Greek League the following year to play with Aris. He stayed with Aris until 2000, when he transferred to Aris' arch-rival PAOK, with whom he played with from 2000–02. Sigalas next played in the Spanish League with Granada, at the beginning of the 2002–03 season, and with the Italian League team Viola Reggio Calabria at the end of the 2002–03 season.
In the last years of his career, he returned home to play in the Greek League to finish his career. He played with Makedonikos in the 2003–04 season, Panionios in the 2004–05 season, and finally, Sigalas ended his career back with Aris, where he played from 2005, until he retired in the year 2007.
Post playing career
Since retiring, Sigalas worked as a basketball commentator in Greece for Euroleague games. He also worked as a basketball coach for the national youth Greek basketball teams. He also coached Ermis Lagada during the 2009–10 season. Later, he coached the Cypriot League team Keravnos[2] and Greek team Egaleo.[3]
Awards and accomplishments
References
External links