Michalis Lountzis

Michalis Lountzis (alternate spelling: Michail) (Greek: Μιχάλης Λούντζης; born 4 August 1998) is a Greek professional basketball player for Panionios of the Greek Basketball League. He is a 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) tall^[1] combo guard.

Early career

Lountzis started playing basketball in Zakynthos, where he is from. Lountzis was invited to the Next Generation Practices at the 2014 Adidas Eurocamp, in Treviso, Italy,^[2] and, earlier that year, to the Jordan Brand Classic International Tour. Lountzis played with Kronos Agiou Dimitriou in Greece's amateur level fourth division, in the 2013–14 season.

Professional career

On 23 June 2014, Lountzis signed a five-year deal with Panathinaikos of Greece's top-tier level Greek Basket League.^[3][4] Lountzis made his professional debut at age 16, with Panathinaikos, on January 12, 2015, in a Greek Basket League victory over Panelefsiniakos.^[5]

He became the youngest player ever to play in the Greek Cup Final,^[6] when he played with Panathinaikos in their victory against Apollon Patras, in the 2015 Greek Cup Final, on April 5, 2015. He made his debut in the European-wide top-tier level EuroLeague, at the age of 16, on April 14, 2015, in a playoff game against CSKA Moscow.^[7]

On August 21, 2017, Lountzis was loaned to Trikala for the 2017–18 season.^[8] On July 27, 2018, Lountzis was loaned once more, this time to Lavrio for the 2018–19 season. On July 2, 2019, Lountzis was released from his contract with Panathinaikos after five years.

On August 5, 2019, Lountzis agreed to a new two-year (1+1) contract with Lavrio. He averaged 5.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.25 assists per game. On July 24, 2020, Lountzis moved to Promitheas.^[9]

On July 6, 2021, Lountzis signed a three-year deal with Olympiacos, where he spent three seasons mostly as an auxiliary player.^[10]

On July 29, 2024, Lountzis parted ways with Olympiacos and returned to Promitheas.

On June 25, 2025, Lountzis joined Panionios of the Greek Basketball League and the EuroCup.^[11] In November 2025, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear and would need surgery. He was going to be sidelined for at least six months. He previously suffered a torn cruciate ligament in 2019.^[12]

National team career

Greek junior national team

Lountzis was the captain^[4] of the junior Greek Under-16 national team^[13] at the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. He also played with Greece's junior national teams at the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, where he won a gold medal, and at the 2nd division 2016 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship Division B, where he won a bronze medal.^[14] He also played at the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, where he won a gold medal.

Greek senior national team

Lountzis first became a member of the senior Greek national basketball team in 2018. He played with Greece at the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualification, and at the EuroBasket 2022.

Career statistics

EuroLeague

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Panathinaikos | 2 || 0 || 7.5 || .333 || .000 || — || 1.0 || 2.0 || — || — || 1.0 || 2.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16 | 2 || 0 || 5.0 || 1.000 || — || — || 2.5 || 1.5 || .5 || — || 1.0 || 4.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Olympiacos | 14 || 0 || 3.8 || .167 || .167 || .000 || .4 || .2 || .1 || — || 0.4 || -0.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 | 20 || 0 || 6.7 || .429 || .357 || .667 || 1.3 || .5 || .6 || .1 || 1.7 || 2.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 | 14 || 1 || 8.3 || .241 || .118 || .625 || 0.6 || .4 || .3 || .1 || 1.5 || 0.2 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 52 || 1 || 6.3 || .315 || .211 || .563 || .9 || .5 || .3 || .1 || 1.2 || 1.0

EuroCup

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 | style="text-align:left;"| Promitheas Patras | 10 || 5 || 17.1 || .464 || .346 || .667 || 3.1 || 1.6 || .6 || .1 || 6.7 || 7.5 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 10 || 5 || 17.1 || .464 || .346 || .667 || 3.1 || 1.6 || .6 || .1 || 6.7 || 7.5

Domestic leagues

References

1. ^ ΛΟΥΝΤΖΗΣ Μιχάλης | ΥΨΟΣ 1,98 (in Greek).
2. ^ Givony, Jonathan (8 June 2014). "2014 adidas EuroCamp: Day Two". DraftExpress.com. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
3. ^ "Panathinaikos signs Michalis Lountzis to a five-year deal". Sportando.com. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
4. ^ "el:Ανακοινώθηκε ο Λούντζης από τον Παναθηναϊκό" (in Greek). sport24.gr. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
5. ^ "Panathinaikos 91, Panelefsiniakos 54" (in Greek). paobc.gr. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
6. ^ Η ενδιαφέρουσα ζωή του Μιχάλη Λούντζη (in Greek).
7. ^ 2014-15 Playoffs CSKA MOSCOW 93 PANATHINAIKOS ATHENS 66
8. ^ Michalis Lountzis moves on loan to Trikala
9. ^ Maggi, Alessandro (July 24, 2020). "Michalis Lountzis is a newcomer of Promitheas". Sportando. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
10. ^ Carchia, Emiliano (July 6, 2021). "Olympiacos signs Michalis Lountzis to three-year deal". Sportando. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
11. ^ nikos (2025-06-25). "Michalis Lountzis joins Panionios BC". Panionios. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
12. ^ "Panionios’ Michalis Lountzis suffers an anterior cruciate ligament tear". Eurohoops. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
13. ^ "Παναθηναϊκός: Mπαίνουν σε θέση μάχης!" (in Greek). onsports.gr. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
14. ^ Michail LOUNTZIS (GRE) participated in 4 FIBA / FIBA Zones events.