Theofanis "Fanis" Christodoulou (Greek: Θεοφάνης "Φάνης" Χριστοδούλου; born May 22, 1965) is a Greek former professional basketball player. He played mainly at the small forward position, but his complete all-around skills allowed him to play at all five basketball positions. During his playing career, many sports journalists called him "The European Charles Barkley". While his nickname among his teammates was "Bembis" ("Baby").[1]
Christodoulou started his playing career with the youth teams of the Greek club Dafni. In 1983, he was transferred from Dafni, to the Greek club Panionios. In exchange for the player rights to Christodoulou, Dafni received a transfer fee in the amount of 3 million Greek Drachmas, and six players. He ended up spending most of his pro club career with Panionios, where he played from 1983 to 1997. With Panionios, he won the Greek Cup title in the year 1991. With Panionios, he was also a member of the FIBA Balkans Selection team in 1991, and the Greek League MVP in 1993.
Christodoulou spent the last year of his club career playing with the Greek club Panathinaikos, after he signed a $1.6 million contract with the club in 1997. With Panathinaikos, he won the Greek League championship, in the 1997–98 season. After that, he retired from playing pro club basketball.
NBA draft rights
Christodoulou was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1987 NBA draft as the 90th pick overall, but decided to stay in Greece and didn't join the NBA.
Christodoulou's older brother, Christos, was also a professional basketball player. They played together in the same club team, Panionios. His niece, Stella, is a professional volleyball player. He owns an OPAP betting shop in Paros, Greece. His family's hails is from Rozena Corinthia[4]
