Nikos Galis, commonly known as Nick Galis, is a retired Greek-American professional basketball player, widely regarded as one of Europe's greatest scorers and players of all time. Born on July 23, 1957, in Union City, New Jersey, Galis played college basketball at Seton Hall University from 1975 to 1979.

After not finding a place in the NBA, despite being selected by the Boston Celtics in the 4th round of the 1979 NBA Draft, Galis moved to Greece. He acquired Greek nationality due to his parentage and began his professional career with Aris Thessaloniki in 1979. Galis' impact was immediate, and he became the cornerstone of the team, leading Aris to eight Greek League championships and six Greek Cups. He was the Greek League's top scorer for 12 consecutive seasons, from 1981 to 1992, and he led the league in scoring with an average often exceeding 30 points per game.

Galis is best known for his scoring ability, particularly his adeptness at driving to the basket and scoring in traffic against much taller opponents. His scoring prowess was not limited to club play; he also had a storied career with the Greek national team. Galis led the Greek national team to the gold medal in the 1987 EuroBasket, defeating the Soviet Union in the final, and he was named the tournament's MVP. He also helped Greece to a silver medal in the 1989 EuroBasket and competed in the 1990 FIBA World Championship.

In 1991, Galis transferred to Panathinaikos and won another Greek Cup in 1993. He retired from professional basketball in 1994 due to injuries. Over his career, Galis scored a total of 12,864 points in the Greek League, making him the league's all-time leading scorer.

Galis' influence on Greek basketball is profound. He is credited with popularizing the sport in Greece and has been an inspiration for many Greek basketball players. His legacy is celebrated with numerous accolades, including being named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991 and being inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007.

In 2017, Galis was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, a testament to his impact on the game at an international level. His number 6 jersey has been retired by both Aris Thessaloniki and the Greek national team in honor of his contributions to the sport.

Throughout his career, Galis was known for his exceptional work ethic, competitive spirit, and scoring ability. His basketball career remains a significant part of European basketball history, and he is celebrated as a legend in Greek sports.

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