By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Thanasis Skourtopoulos, a towering figure in Greek basketball for over four decades, passed away at the age of 60.
Reportedly succumbing to a heart attack, his death marks the end of a prolific career that bridged the gap between the golden era of Greek club basketball and the modern international stage.
The terrible news was revealed on Thursday.
Το ελληνικό μπάσκετ θρηνεί την απώλεια του Θανάση Σκουρτόπουλουhttps://t.co/ldx9CD2cLl pic.twitter.com/oKq2dmotLm
— HellenicBF (@HellenicBF) February 5, 2026
Skourtopoulos was a former professional basketball player, but excelled as a coach with a lengthy career starting in 1996. His link to the sport included spells as the selector of the senior national teams of Greece and Qatar.
Skourtopoulos was in charge of the Greek national team between 2017 and 2021, following three years as an assisstant. He replaced Kostas Missas and was succeeded by Dimitris Itoudis. In the FIBA World Cup 2019, his coaching efforts went into ranking 11th in the final standings, with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster. His return to the FIBA stage with Qatar in August 2023 was brief, with Hakan Demir taking over in November 2024.
AEK was a huge part of his playing days, with his stint lasting from 1982 to 1991. Reuniting with the Queen, he served as an assistant under Dusan Ivkovic and Dragan Sakota from 2000 to 2005, becoming a part of historic team success. Further building his reputation as an excellent tactician, his career expanded to head-coaching jobs across several more Greek clubs, including Peristeri, Panionios, Iraklis, and Panellinios, and he also worked in Cyprus, Poland, and Mongolia.