Stoiximan GBL: Profiles of the 13 Championship Teams

Contributors: G. Kouvaris, G. Stavroulakis, N. Karfis, D. Oikonomou, Sp. Markezinis, Ach. Mavrodontis, Eft. Oikonomidou.

The 34th professional season of the Stoiximan GBL is underway, featuring 13 teams vying for supremacy. The perennial giants, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, stand out as the main contenders for the championship trophy, while the other 11 squads aim to carve out their own share of success in this fiercely competitive league.

This season promises to be exceptionally thrilling, not only because both Olympiacos and Panathinaikos have bolstered their rosters significantly, but also due to the determined efforts of several other clubs preparing to challenge the status quo. Enhanced talent and depth across many teams are expected to elevate the overall competitiveness of the league.

Explore detailed insights into each team’s roster, ambitions, standout players, and coaching staff in this exclusive Gazzetta feature dedicated to the opening of the Stoiximan GBL season.

AEK Basketball Team

AEK: Revitalized and Athletic, Aiming for New Heights

Last season, AEK secured third place in the Stoiximan GBL, and the club’s objective is to at least replicate that performance. With Olympiacos and Panathinaikos operating on a different tier in terms of budget and squad depth, AEK’s focus is on closing the gap, especially on home court at the SUNEL Arena, where passionate fans create an electrifying atmosphere that can inspire the team to punch above its weight.

Significant acquisitions, such as the addition of Chris Silva, demonstrate AEK’s ambition to deliver another strong campaign for its supporters. The club aims to progress annually, especially as rival teams below them have also strengthened. AEK also draws motivation from its impressive run in the Basketball Champions League last season, where it finished third in the Final Four, using that success as a springboard for domestic competition.

Leadership on the Bench

Dragan Sakota remains a cornerstone for AEK, bringing invaluable experience and a deep understanding of the club’s culture. His leadership has been instrumental in the team’s recent successes, and his presence commands respect from players and staff alike.

Key Player Spotlight

Center Chris Silva is expected to elevate AEK’s interior game with his athleticism and strength. Having NBA experience, Silva brings a dynamic presence around the basket and is poised to be one of the league’s top centers, delivering highlight-worthy plays throughout the season.

Notable Contributors

The backcourt has undergone significant changes, retaining only Dimitris Flionis and Nikos Arsenopoulos from last year. New signings like Dimitris Katsivelis, Lukas Lekavicius, Frank Bartley, Anthony Arms, and Vassilis Charalampopoulos provide Coach Sakota with a broader tactical palette. The frontcourt remains solid with the retention of Raikouan Gray, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, and veteran Gaios Skordilis, while the shooting ability of Marko Pecharski adds valuable versatility.

Emerging Talent

Seventeen-year-old Vasilis Ioannou is a promising prospect who gained valuable minutes last season. His buzzer-beater three-pointer in the Rising Star Final Eight against Panionios highlighted his potential to become a future cornerstone for AEK.

Season Ambitions

AEK’s primary goal is to maintain its position above teams like Aris, Panionios, and Marousi, all of whom have also strengthened their squads. With an increased budget and strategic signings, AEK aims to improve its standing both domestically and in European competitions.

# Name Position Height Birth Year Country Joined
0 Raikouan Gray Forward 2.01m 1999 USA 2024
1 Gaios Skordilis Center 2.06m 1987 Greece 2024
4 Dimitris Katsivelis Guard 1.98m 1991 Greece 2025
7 Dimitris Flionis Guard 1.88m 1997 Greece 2021
9 Lukas Lekavicius Guard 1.80m 1994 Lithuania 2025
11 Nikos Arsenopoulos Guard 1.96m 2000 Greece 2025
15 Marko Pecharski Forward 2.08m 2000 Serbia 2025
19 Mindaugas Kuzminskas Forward 2.05m 1989 Lithuania 2023
22 Vasilis Ioannou Guard 1.91m 2008 Greece 2025
24 Frank Bartley Guard 1.91m 1994 USA 2025
25 Anthony Arms Forward 1.98m 1998 USA 2025
30 Chris Silva Center 2.03m 1996 Gabon 2025
33 Vasilis Charalampopoulos Forward 2.04m 1997 Greece 2025
77 Haris Bilionis Forward 2.03m 2008 Greece 2025

Aris Basketball Team

Aris: Embarking on a New Chapter

Aris remains one of the historic pillars of Greek basketball, renowned for its golden era in the late 20th century. The legendary squad featuring Nikos Galis and Panagiotis Giannakis is credited with popularizing basketball across Greece. After enduring challenging years, the Thessaloniki-based club is now poised for a fresh start following a change in ownership this summer, with Richard Siao taking the helm. This transition has reignited fan enthusiasm as Aris prepares to enter a promising new phase.

Coaching Direction

At the coaching helm is 42-year-old Serbian Bogdan Karaitisic, who joins after a successful stint as part of the Partizan Belgrade coaching staff. Under the mentorship of Željko Obradović, Karaitisic contributed to Partizan’s Serbian league championship last season. His previous experience includes working alongside Luka Banchi at Lokomotiv Kuban and coaching in Denmark, bringing a wealth of tactical knowledge to Aris.

Standout Performer

Guard Bryce Jones made a significant impact in Aris’s EuroCup opener, scoring 26 points and dishing out 6 assists, accounting for nearly half of the team’s points in their victory over Venezia. The 30-year-old American is expected to be a key leader throughout the season.

Other Key Players

Among the notable contributors are Bryn Forbes, who previously played alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship run, as well as Rony Harrell, Jake Forrester, Arnoldas Kulboka, and veteran Lefteris Bochoridis, all of whom bring valuable experience and skill to the roster.

Promising Young Talent

Rising star Vasilis Kazamias, born in March 2007, recently signed his first professional contract with Aris shortly after turning 18. He debuted with the senior team at just 16, signaling a bright future ahead.

Season Objectives

With renewed energy and EuroCup participation, Aris aims to secure a top-four finish in the domestic league, marking a significant step forward in the club’s rebuilding process.

# Name Position Height Birth Year Country Joined
0 Elijah Mitrou-Long Guard 1.85m 1996 Greece/Canada 2025
1 Chrysostomos Chatzilamprou Guard 1.96m 2008 Greece 2023
2 Panagiotis Rafail Lefas Guard 1.96m 2007 Greece 2025
3 Bryce Jones Guard 1.83m 1994 USA 2025
7 Bryn Forbes Guard 1.88m 1993 USA 2025
10 Jake Forrester Center 2.06m 1999 USA 2025
11 Stelios Poulianitis Guard 1.90m 1995 Greece 2025
12 Giorgos Giouzelis Forward 2.04m 1995 Greece 2024
13 Lefteris Bochoridis Guard 1.93m 1994 Greece 2023
17 Vasilis Kazamias Guard 1.88m 2007 Greece 2019
23 Steven Enoch Center 2.08m 1997 USA 2025
25 Rony Harrell Forward 2.01m 1996 USA 2025
29 Alex Antetokounmpo Forward 2.03m 2001 Greece 2025
50 Giorgos Tanoulis Center 2.08m 2002 Greece 2025
98 Arnoldas Kulboka Forward 2.08m 1998 Lithuania 2025

Iraklis Basketball Team

Iraklis: Returning Strong and Fighting to Stay

Iraklis has earned its place in the Stoiximan GBL through consistent performances in recent years. Their dominant display in the Elite League last season, culminating in a Final Four appearance in Karditsa, secured their promotion back to the top tier after a three-year absence. The current squad is vastly different from last year’s, retaining only three players from the Elite League roster. Despite this overhaul, Iraklis is determined to exceed expectations, focusing on securing their position in the Stoiximan GBL and establishing themselves as a competitive force.

Coaching Stability

Georgios Sigalas returned as head coach midway through the 2024-2025 season, having previously served as an assistant during the 2019-2020 campaign. He successfully guided Iraklis to promotion and now has the opportunity to build a resilient team in the top division. This marks his second head coaching role, following his tenure at Kolossos last season.

Star Player

Dimitris Moraitis, who struggled for playing time at Panathinaikos despite flashes of brilliance, has joined Iraklis on loan. The talented guard is known for his scoring and playmaking abilities and is eager to prove that his development over the past two years has prepared him for a leading role.

Key Contributors

Among the foreign players, Justin Wright-Forman stands out as Iraklis’s most valuable asset. The 28-year-old guard, who represented Team USA in the 2024 AmeriCup qualifiers, is expected to be a cornerstone of the team. Chris Smith has also impressed during preseason, adding depth and versatility.

Rising Prospects

Young talents like Thanos Vlachos and Marios Giannikos, both born in 2007, are considered the future of Iraklis. Vlachos has been with the team since last season, while Giannikos was acquired from Aris this summer, signaling the club’s commitment to nurturing homegrown players.

Primary Goal

Iraklis’s immediate objective is to secure their top-flight status as early as possible. Given the relative inexperience of many squad members at this level, achieving safety will allow the team to set sights on higher ambitions in subsequent seasons.

Team Roster
# Name Position Height Birth Date Country Joined
2 Zakius Darko-Kelly Guard/Forward 1.98m 3/5/1997 USA 2025
3 Justin Wright-Forman Guard 1.83m 27/10/1997 USA 2025
4 Kyle Foster Guard 1.97m 27/5/1997 USA 2025
5 Chris Smith Forward 2.06m 24/10/1999 USA 2025
7 Nikos Tsiakmas Guard 1.88m 29/10/1999 Greece 2024
8 Marios Poulianitis Guard 1.93m 29/11/1999 Greece 2025
10 Dimitris Moraitis Guard 1.94m 3/2/1999 Greece 2025
11 Lance Wear Center 2.06m 8/2/2001 USA 2025
12 Kostas Kampouridis Center 2.02m 24/6/1999 Greece 2024
14 Vasilis Christidis Center 2.08m 10/7/1998 Greece 2025
15 Thanos Vlachos Forward 2.03m 8/1/2007 Greece 2024
16 Cole John Silas Guard 1.96m 1/8/2000 Greece 2025
21 Tim Lambrecht Center 2.08m 15/1/1998 Belgium 2025
72 Marios Giannikos Forward 2.02m 20/2/2007 Greece 2025
95 Alexandros Komnianidis Guard 1.92m 19/10/2007 Greece 2025
Head Coach: Georgios Sigalas

Karditsa Basketball Team

Karditsa has established itself as a consistent competitor in the Stoiximan GBL over recent seasons, known for its formidable home-court advantage at the “Giannis Bourousis” arena. The passionate local fanbase creates an intense atmosphere that often proves decisive. Last season, Karditsa finished fifth, and with the added challenge of competing in the Basketball Champions League this year, the club’s progress will be closely watched. The roster combines seasoned veterans and skilled players, making them a team that opponents cannot afford to underestimate.

Coaching Stability and Vision

Head coach Nikos Papanikolopoulos took charge in January 2023 and has since been instrumental in elevating the team’s performance. His leadership has been a key factor in Karditsa’s qualification for European competition. In May, he extended his contract through the summer of 2026, signaling a long-term commitment to the club’s growth and success.