This is Thessaloniki: welcome, BC Iraklis!

BC Iraklis is the first club from Greece to play in the European North Basketball league.

Greece needs no special introduction as its history and basketball heritage is enormous.

Proud Hellas won the EuroBasket 1987 and EuroBasket 2005.

Greek clubs are rocking in the Euroleague.

Panathinaikos has seven Euroleague titles and Olympiacos has three Euroleague titles, while both teams advanced to the 2024 and 2025 Final Fours.

Iraklis B.C. is considered as one of the most historical teams in Greece.

The basketball club was founded in 1921 as a department of the multi-sport club G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki.

Iraklis B.C. won the Greek Basketball championship in 1928 and 1935.

Thessaloniki team also reached the Greek Cup final in 1981, 1994 and 1996.

Iraklis went to the semifinals of the 1995 European Cup Winners Cup, posting a 14-3 record.

The Greek team defeated competitors from Hungary and Slovenia in qualifying rounds, and then finished a group stage with nine wins in ten games.

Iraklis lost the best-of-three semifinals against Baskonia Vitoria, then Taugres Vitoria, 1-2.

Two years later, Iraklis advanced to the semifinals of the 1997 European Cup Winners Cup.

Thessaloniki team won best-of-two Round of 32 series against Basket Brno, then Stavex Brno, 154-147.

They eliminated Manresa in the Top 16 round, 140-132, and Hapoel Jerusalem in the quarterfinals, 133-126, before suffering a 138-152 defeat against Verona.

According to open source data, Iraklis posted a 91-77 record in various FIBA competitions from 1976 until 2005.

In 2006, Iraklis was relegated to the Greek A2 Basket league, and then promoted to the A1 league in 2010 and 2019.

In the 2020-2021 season, Thessaloniki team returned to European competitions, taking part in the qualifying round of the Basketball Champions league and then FIBA Europe Cup.

Iraklis won the Group A with a 3-0 record, and advanced to the Top 16.

The Greeks defeated Anwil Wloclawek in the Round of 16, and dropped the quarterfinals against the next champion, Ironi Nes Ziona, 80-105.

In total, Iraklis has a 95-79 record in FIBA competitions.

Some of the greatest players in Greek, European and worldwide basketball have played for Iraklis B.C.. including Lefteris Kakiousis, Dimitris Papadopoulos, David Ancrum, Jure Zdovc, Walter Berry, James Donaldson, Roy Tarpley, Xavier McDaniel, Lazaros Papadopoulos, Dimitris Diamantidis, Nikos Chatzivrettas, Sofoklis Schortsanitis and Vasily Karasev.

Point guard Lefteris Kakiousis led Iraklis from 1987 until 1997, and then coached the team twice, 2002-2005 and 2009-2010.

Kakiousis was also an assistant coach to Panagiotis Giannakis, winning the EuroBasket 2005 and earning a silver medal at the 2006 World Cup in Japan.

Forward Dimitris Papadopoulos represented Iraklis for most of his career, 1985-1994 and 1996-1997.

He won a silver medal at the EuroBasket 1989.

Dimitris Diamantidis started his storied career at Iraklis (1999-2004), and later became a three time Euroleague champion in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

He was named the Euroleague Best Defender six times (2005-2009, 2011).

Sofoklis Schortsanitis or Baby Shaq played alongside Diamantidis from 2000 until 2003, starting at the age of 15.

Krasnodar, Russia born center Lazaros Papadopoulos played for Iraklis from 1996-2001 and 2003-2004.

Together with Kakiousis, Diamantidis and Nikos Chatzivrettas he won the EuroBasket 2005 and reached the 2006 World Cup final.

Shooting guard and small forward Nikos Chatzivrettas played for Iraklis from 1997 until 2002.

The club`s colors are blue and white, inspired by the Greek flag.

Iraklis B.C. plays his home matches at Ivanofeio Sports Arena, which is located in the city centre of Thessaloniki.

Capacity – 2 550 spectators.

Thessaloniki “Makedonia” Airport (SKG) is the second biggest airport in Greece.

Club`s website iraklis-bc.gr