Nikos Chougkaz and Panathinaikos Part Ways After Four Years

Nikos Chougkaz and Panathinaikos have decided to go their separate ways after four years. This decision comes as Panathinaikos is well-stocked at the power forward position with players like Dinos Mitoglou, Juancho Hernangomez, and Lefteris Mantzoukas. Mantzoukas has also been loaned to Aris to gain more playing time.

Panathinaikos had until today to activate the renewal option in the 23-year-old forward's contract, but they chose not to, allowing Chougkaz to become a free agent. Currently, Chougkaz has several offers, but he seems to prefer staying with Peristeri for the upcoming season.

 

Nikos Chougkaz's Career Overview

Panionios (2018-2019): Chougkaz began his professional career with Panionios in the Greek first division. In his debut season, he played 10 games, averaging 3.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per game.

Northwestern State University (2019-2020): He then moved to the United States to play college basketball at Northwestern State University. In his single season there, he averaged 9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists over 29 games.

AO Ionikos Nikaias (2020-2022): Returning to Greece, Chougkaz joined Ionikos Nikaias, where he had a significant impact. In the 2020-2021 season, he averaged 10.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists over 22 games. The following season, his performance slightly dipped, averaging 7.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists over 12 games.

Panathinaikos (2021-2023): Chougkaz signed with Panathinaikos during the 2021-2022 season. He played limited minutes, averaging 3.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.6 assists over 9 games in his first season. In the 2022-2023 season, he played only 8 games, averaging 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7 minutes per game.

Peristeri (2022-2024): Chougkaz was loaned to Peristeri towards the end of the 2022-2023 season, where he averaged 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds over 3 games. In the 2023-2024 season, he played 26 games, averaging 6.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 16.7 minutes per game.

Future Prospects

As a free agent, Chougkaz is evaluating his options. Despite the offers he has received, he prioritizes staying with Peristeri, aiming to continue his growth and impact in the Greek basketball league.

Olympiacos and Georgios Bogris parted ways

Olympiacos and Georgios Bogris parted ways. The 30-years-old Greek center joined Olympiacos in 2017 with a two years contract with the renewal option on the club side. In the last season Bogris played 24 games in Euroleague, averaging 1.7 points and 0.8 rebounds per game as part of the team rotation. 

AEK and Xavier Rathan-Mayes part ways

AEK and Xavier Rathan-Mayes part ways. The 24-year-old Canadian guard mutually agreed to part ways with the club and look for a contract in the NBA. Rathan-Mayes joined AEK in July and played 9 games in the Basket League averaging 9.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. He also played 8 games in the Basketball Champions League averaging 8.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. 

Panionios released Brandon Wood

Panionios released Brandon Wood. The 29-year-old American guard was released by the club after some negative comments he made about coach Fragias. Wood joined Panionios just two weeks ago and played only one game with the club scoring 5 points.

Kolossos Rodou and Tyreek Duren parted ways

Kolossos Rodou and Tyreek Duren parted ways. The 27-year-old American guard asked to leave the club for personal reasons as he will return to the US. Duren joined Kolossos in August 2018 and in 5 games for the Basket League Greece he averaged 9.8 points, 2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. In his best game Duren led Kolossos to a home win against Kymi scoring 26 points.

Kolossos and Timothy Kempton part ways

Kolossos and Timothy Kempton part ways. The 23-year-old American forward joined the club this summer and played four games for the Basket League averaging 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.25 assists in 19 minutes per game. The club singed JayVaughn Pinkston to replace Kempton.

Panionios and coach Chougaz part ways

Panionios and coach Chris Chougaz part ways. The 50-year-old Greek Egyptian coach mutually agreed to leave Panionios after two months with a 1-3 record in the Basket League Greece. The club announced that Vasilis Fragias replaced Chougaz. 

Panionios waived Jamie Skeen

Panionios waived Jamie Skeen. The 30-year-old American forward signed with Panionios a month ago but the club decided to waive him before the start of the season and replace him with Taylor Johns. 

Kymi and Kelsey Barlow part ways

Kymi and Kelsey Barlow part ways. The 27-year-old American guard joined Kymi a month ago but parted ways with the club before playing an official game.

Panathinaikos and Kenny Gabriel part ways

Panathinaikos and Kenny Gabriel part ways. The 28-year old American forward parted ways with the Greek champions after two years. Panathinaikos paid the $50.000 release clause of Gabriel's contract. Gabriel joined Panathinaikos in 2016 and renewed his contract in the previous summer. In the last season, he averaged 6.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 13 games for the domestic league and 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in 33 games for the Euroleague. Gabriel has also played in Greece with Rethymno, in Cyprus with AEL Limassol, in Israel with Maccabi Ashdod, in New Zealand with Mountain Airs, and in Turkey with Pinar Karsiyaka.

Aris and Keith Benson part ways

Aris and Keith Benson part ways. The 29-year-old American center played 9 games with Aris for Basket League Greece averaging 10.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Benson also played 9 games in the Basketball Champions League where he averaged 6.3 points and 4 rebounds per game.

PAOK and Kevin Dillard part ways

PAOK and Kevin Dillard part ways. The 27-year-old American joined PAOK in July and played four domestic games. In these four games, Dillard averaged 10 points, 2.25 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 21:52 minutes per game.

Koroivos Amaliadas and Jordan Dickerson part ways

Koroivos Amaliadas and Jordan Dickerson part ways. The 24-year-old American center joined Koroivos in October and played only four games in the Basket League Greece. In these 4 games, Dickerson averaged 2.25 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7:49 minutes per game.

Panionios and Kalafatakis part ways

Panionios and Giorgos Kalafatakis part ways. The club announced that after losing both of their first two games for the Basket League Greece the Greek coach and his assistants are released.

Olympiacos released Vasilis Mouratos

Olympiacos released Vasilis Mouratos. The 19 years old Greek guard penned a 5 years contract with Olympiacos in 2014, and played on loan to Psyhiko in the last season. Mouratos is a member of the Greece U20 National Team.

Aris and Jekins part ways

Aris and Michael Jekins part ways. The 30 years old American joined Aris in July and played 19 games in Basket League Greece 2016-2017. Jenkins averaged 9.95 points, 2.89 rebounds, and 2.16 assists in 23 minutes per game. His best game in Greece was against Promitheas, when he scored 29 points. The two sides agreed on a mutual termination of his contract, since the team delayed some payments.

Doxa Lefkadas and Charis Markopoulos part ways

Doxa Lefkadas and Haris Markopoulos part ways as the club officially announced. Markopoulos started his career as a head coach with Korivos Amaliadas, and after keeping the team two straight years in the Basket League he moved to the newly promoted Doxa Lefkadas. Doxa is currently at the bottom of the league table with only 3 wins after 18 games. The former head coach of Doxa, and assistant coach of Markopoulos, Fotis Takianos will manage the team until the end of the season.

AEK and Jawad Williams part ways

AEK and Jawad Williams part ways. The 34 years old American forward signed with AEK in the previous summer, and played 16 games with AEK for Basket League Greece, averaging 8.94 points and 3 rebounds per game. At his best game Williams scored 19 points against Korivos Amaliadas for the ninth day. Williams continues his career in Italy with Reggio Emilia.

Cavell Johnson and Promitheas part ways

Cavell Johnson and Promitheas part ways. The 31 years old American agreed terms with the newly promoted team in August, and played eight games for the Basket League Greece. Johnson got a leg injury at the game against Trikala, but besides that he informed the club that he wants to return to the USA due to family problems. Johnson averages 6.63 points, 4.13 rebounds, and 1.38 blocks per game. His best performance was against Apollon Patras, with 19 points and 3 blocks.

AEK and Yannick Franke part ways

AEK and Yannick Franke part ways. The 20 years old Dutch player agreed terms with Promitheas, but the two sides didn't make it official, so he penned a three years contract with AEK. Franke and AEK parted ways one and a half months later, since the young Dutch didn't play any official game with the club.