Kosta Koufos "I am ready for Gasol"

Kosta Koufos is currently practicing with the Senior Greek National team in preparation for Euro Basket 2009, a inter-continent tournament to determine the very best national team in all of Europe. One of the things that jumps out at you in these initial practice sessions is that Kosta is noticeably bigger in the form of added muscle. Koufos obviously put in some hard work during his rookie season with the Jazz; not playing in the Orlando Summer league while nursing a slight hand injury gave him even more time to train. But Kosta has apparently acquired a bit of swag and more confidence as well in this off season.

He has already made some interesting statements to the Greek media. When asked to compare Greek guard Vassilis Spanoulis to Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams, Kosta said they are on the same level. (Spanoulis played one year with the Rockets in limited minutes before flaming out and heading back to Europe) Well I guess that is not too much of a suprise, I mean he will naturally want to please the Greek audience right? Yet, on the 1st of August when asked about a potential meeting with Spain, Koufos said, "I am ready for Gasol". (http://www.sport.gr/default.asp?pid=4&aid=44102 -Greek). Maybe it is just me, but it does not seem like the brightest thing to do in pinpointing a matchup with one of the best players in the world when you have barely played in enough games to constitute half of an NBA season last year. If anything, a comment like that certainly hypes the upcoming tourmanent, and gets his Greek fans, many of whom have been patiently waiting for his return to Fiba play, very excited.

For those who do not know, Spain and Greece have consistently been the top Europoean teams in recent times. Spain defeated Greece in the finals of the 2006 World Championships in Japan. The following year, the two teams engaged in a heated and controversial game in the semi-finals of EuroBasket 2007. Spain emerged as victors one again, however this time the officiating was subject to heated criticism by fans of Greece and the Greek media, they also charged Spain with excessive flopping (lol go figure). Here is a brief video of that game.



The next matchup between Spain & Greece is highly anticipated, and Kosta Koufos will be right in the center of things.

(B3 will have coverage of Koufous and Greece all throughout the EuroBasket competition)