By Antigoni Zachari, quotes: Stefanos Tatsios / info@eurohoops.net
Top Greek prospect Nikos Rogkavopoulos landed in Promitheas Patras this season to explore uncharted territory as a 7DAYS EuroCup rookie who was already given a major role in the team. Don’t let his rookie status fool you, though; there’s more to Rogkavopoulos than your typical 20-year-old upstart.
After making his pro debut in the Greek second division with Doukas in 2016, Rogkavopoulos gained attention from Europe’s top club for youth prospects: Real Madrid (see Luka Doncic, Usman Garuba). At 16, he was offered an amateur contract to join the ranks of Real, but he rejected it because he was looking for a more active role.
Eventually, he decided to join AEK Athens for his first major league experience. Although his contribution in his first campaign with the team was small, he managed to find a way out to Istanbul Basket (Belediyespor) the following year before returning home for AEK again in the 2020-21 season. There was still something missing though…
Now, the Greek international is moving on to the next level in Patras under the guidance of new Promitheas head coach Luis Casimiro. And so far this season, Rogkavopoulos has been making the most of the opportunity he had been waiting for.
“I definitely think it was the best choice,” Rogkavopoulos told Eurohoops. “From the beginning, Promitheas showed me confidence and faith. I will give my 101% to justify the choice of my coach and the people of the team. I am having a great time and I am very optimistic.”
Rogkavopoulos, a 2.02-meter forward, is considered by many to be among the top-notch prospects of Greek basketball and has already shown he can be a key part of Casimiro’s rotation in the long run.
Despite being a EuroCup rookie, Rogkavopoulos is posting averages of 17 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 29 minutes on the court through two games. Promitheas travels to France to face Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in Round 3 on Tuesday, with hopes to bounce back in Group B with its first victory of the regular season.
“So far we have played with two very good teams. The level is very high, there are very good players and every mistake you make is punished,” he says. “I think the EuroCup is a little better so far as a competition. We all want the Greek teams to win in Europe, regardless of where they play.”
The Greek international switched sides from AEK Athens to Promitheas this summer with a strong motivation to work towards his goals. Above everything else, in Patras, Rogkavopoulos has found exactly what a prospect needs: trust, opportunities, and significant playing time.
“It was Coach Casimiro’s approach that showed me that he believes in me – and he does exactly that,” Rogkavopoulos says. “My personal goal is to help my team. In the long run, I want to become a better player and evolve every day as a person.”
Promitheas has always been a gateway in Greek basketball for future prospects and hidden gems. Last year’s revelation, Lefteris Mantzoukas, joined forces with Panathinaikos this season. Leonidas Kaselakis did the same a year earlier. Jerian Grant went from Patras last season to AX Armani Exchange Milan, while the likes of Octavius Ellis and Rion Brown, among others, took their paths to the EuroLeague through Promitheas.
On top of that, the arrival of Casimiro took the Greek club to the next level. His focus on player development keeps on giving, and in Rogkavopoulos’s case, that’s the ideal scenario for his future. The foundations are there; he’s a forward with great shooting numbers and an ability to adapt and provide for his team. What is missing now is experience, which he can absorb through his collaboration with Casimiro.
Photo: EuroCup