The Greens open their tour against KK Partizan at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena on Thursday 18 September before heading to Sydney to face NBL teams at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday 21 September. It is the first time the tournament has been staged outside Greece, the result of more than a year of planning.
This Tuesday morning, the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) welcomed Panathinaikos president Vassilis Parthenopoulos, together with guard Jerian Grant and forward Nikos Rogkavopoulos, at the Greek Centre. GCM president Bill Papastergiadis, flanked by board member Chris Sikavitsas and staff, outlined the organisation’s work to the team president, Parthenopoulos and Despoina Giannakopoulou, who represented the Giannakopoulos family, the owners of the club and Greek Consul General Dimitra Georgantzoglou along with a host of media.
Grant, who joined Panathinaikos in 2023, was key to the club’s EuroLeague and Greek League triumphs in 2024 and the 2025 Greek Cup, and has extended his contract through 2027. Rogkavopoulos, 2.03m and just 24 years old, began his career with Doukas and AEK Athens before stints with Promitheas Patras, Denizli Basket in Turkey, and Spain’s Baskonia. He returned to Greece last season to join Panathinaikos.
The two players were welcomed at Stalactites on Lonsdale Street, Melbourne’s iconic Greek grill. Owner Nicole Konstandakopoulos was beaming as she hosted the stars, surrounded by a gaggle of media excited to capture the moment.
Grant and Rogkavopoulos were given the major challenge to make gyros, for the cameras.
Neos Kosmos asked Rogkavopoulos if he might consider a career shift should his stats ever drop, the forward laughed and said, “You have to prepare for all eventualities”.
The players were also asked to reflect on Greece’s bronze medal at EuroBasket—the first medal for the national team since 2009.
“We haven’t done this in 16 years – it was amazing,” Rogkavopoulos said.
“We’re super proud for the team and look forward to seeing what is next.”
“It was nice,” added the former NBA player, Grant, who now lives in Greece. Asked if he had learned any Greek other than swearwords, the American said, “I’m really trying to.”
The team has has been in Australia for three days and will remain for another week. Asked whether they planned to celebrate after the games, Grant said, “We will definitely try.”
Back at the Greek Centre, Grant and Rogkavopoulos were presented with authentic First Nations artefacts.
Papastergiadis said the visit highlighted how “sport unites us all.”
“Everyone associated with this club has been extraordinarily supportive of our community and have gone out of their way to engage with us,” he said.
Papastergiadis said he was struck by the players’ humility.
“Kendrick Nunn, a huge name in global basketball and a former NBA player, took time to chat with all of us about his upbringing and journey in basketball. He even picked up the phone to chat with my son who happened to be a huge fan of his. Nothing was too much for this Greek team in making all of us feel connected.”
