PF/C Kosta Koufos (CSKA Moscow)

[Buckskin86]

Jazz notes: Koufos flourishing with Flash
Jazz ? Center finally getting playing time after year on bench.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 03/18/2010

Orem ? From Feb. 18 of last season until he was reassigned to the NBA Development League's Utah Flash last week, Kosta Koufos had played a total of 86 minutes in 25 games with the Jazz.

That doesn't take into account the summer league in which Koufos wasn't able to take part after dislocating a finger. He saw some time with the Greek national team, but otherwise Koufos went almost a year of his basketball life without playing.

He's getting the opportunity now with the Flash and has produced the past three games, averaging 20.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in 34.3 minutes while hitting 28 of 46 shots (60.9 percent).

"I feel like I've gotten a lot better since last year,"

Jazz notes: Koufos flourishing with Flash - Salt Lake Tribune

 

[Buckskin86]

KOUFOS RETURNS: With Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur having health issues of late, the Jazz on Monday recalled center Kosta Koufos from the NBA Development League's Utah Flash.

Koufos has appeared in five games for the Flash this season during two different stints, averaging 19.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

During his latest assignment, which began on March 8, he averaged 20.2 points and 10.5 rebounds over four games.

His first stint with the Flash ran from January 25-28

Jazz wake up / Solid efford in second half pays off | Standard-Examiner – Ogden, Layton, Brigham, Weber, Davis, Top of Utah News

 

[Buckskin86]

Utah Jazz: Seldom-used Fesenko, Koufos expected to help out
By Tim Buckley
Deseret News
Published: Sunday, April 18, 2010

DENVER ? With Mehmet Okur's Achilles tendon ruptured, two unlikely suspects are left to help pick up the pieces.

On Saturday night, the two were helping take Okur ? the Jazz's starting center ? off the court of the Pepsi Center here in Denver and to the Jazz locker room with one of basketball's cruelest injuries.

Monday night, sporadically used backup center Kyrylo Fesenko and seldom-used No. 3 power forward Kosta Koufos will be expected to contribute on the floor for Utah in Game 2 of the Jazz's first-round NBA playoff series with the Nuggets.

"We're gonna have to have guys step up and play well for us to be successful," point guard Deron Williams said.

"They're on this team for a reason, they're in the NBA for a reason," Williams added with reference to Koufos, who is in second NBA season, and Fesenko, who is in his third. "You know, they can play basketball. It's just a matter of them having the confidence to go out here and do it."

Utah Jazz: Seldom-used Fesenko, Koufos expected to help out | Deseret News

Young centers will try to fill Okur's void
Playoffs ? Either Fesenko or Koufos will get starting role.
By Ross Siler
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 04/19/2010

Fesenko and Koufos saw 580 combined minutes of action this season. The Jazz started Paul Millsap in the second half Saturday after Okur went down, but Sloan said he preferred to keep Millsap in a reserve role.

"I don't have anybody that's got any experience coming off the bench or have any ability to do that, so I'd probably go with a younger guy," Sloan said, adding, "I've got to buy some minutes somewhere."

Sloan said he would decide between Fesenko or Koufos this morning. Fesenko has more experience than Koufos after three years with the Jazz, but Koufos had leapfrogged Fesenko in the rotation late in the season.

http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_14910569

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn1_f1oHOSA]YouTube - Kosta Koufos boom bitches![/ame]

 

[BigJim]

YouTube - Kosta Koufos boom bitches!

Hahaha I was watching the clip trying to figure out why the hell it was called "boom bitches!". Funny shit

 

[Buckskin86]

Jazz: Sloan says he's sticking with Fesenko
By Ross Siler
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 05/01/2010

Los Angeles ? With limited options of his own and the Lakers starting two 7-footers in Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol , Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said Saturday he would stick with Kyrylo Fesenko even after Fesenko's nightmare Game 6 against Denver.

Fesenko finished scoreless Friday with four turnovers in 10 minutes and badly airballed a free throw in the first quarter. Sloan opted to play Kosta Koufos ahead of Fesenko to close the third quarter and open the fourth quarter.

Jazz: Sloan says he's sticking with Fesenko - Salt Lake Tribune

 

[Buckskin86]

Koufos to pass on world championships
By Lorem Ipsum
The Salt Lake Tribune

Jazz center Kosta Koufos will not play this summer with the Greek national team in preparations and games for the FIBA world championships in Turkey, according to the Cleveland-based agency Mark Termini and Associates, Inc.

?After consultation with the Greek Basketball Federation, including assistant coach Giannis Sfairopoulos and federation counsel George Koniaris, we have mutually agreed that Kosta will respectfully decline his invitation for this summer and focus solely on his commitment to the Utah Jazz summer-league team and his preparation for next season,? Koufos? agency said.

?Kosta has undertaken an almost continuous domestic and international basketball playing schedule over the past 36 months, and the decision to forego international play this summer will allow him to better continue his improvement as an NBA player.

Kosta, his family, the Greek Basketball Federation, and his MTA agency look forward to his very important participation with the Greek national team in future years.?

Koufos has been training in his hometown of Canton, Ohio, since the end of the Jazz?s season.

He will report to Orlando, Fla., for summer league Tuesday.

Koufos to pass on world championships | The Salt Lake Tribune

 

[Buckskin86]

Kosta Koufos looked methodical, predictable and pretty much in slow motion for his 4 points in 23 minutes. He did have a game high 7 rebounds.

Orlando Summer League: Day 1 | NBADraft.net

 

[Buckskin86]

Jazz: Make or break time for Koufos
By Tony Jones
The Salt Lake Tribune

Orlando, Fla. ? To say that Jazz center Kosta Koufos is entering the most important 12 months of his basketball life may be a gigantic understatement.

Koufos, a former first-round pick, has shown little statistical production during his first two seasons with the organization. For the first time in his career, due to Mehmet Okur?s Achilles injury, there may be rotation minutes available, if only he proves worthy to seize them.

Koufos is under contract for next year, but the front office must make a decision on whether to pick up his option for the 2011-2012 season by Oct. 31.

Time to start earning his keep.

?There are a lot of factors that will play into our decision on Kosta,? said Walt Perrin, Utah?s vice president of player personnel. ?A lot is going to depend on whether or not we see improvement in his game.?

Koufos recognizes all of this. He knows his career is coming to a crossroads. That?s a major reason he?s chosen to stay in Utah this summer after the AirTran Airways Pro Summer League concludes, rather than play internationally for Greece in the upcoming World Championships. Staying close, he thinks, will allow him to stay focused, stay in the gym and work on some of the weaknesses in his skill set.

?It will be a good time to make some things better,? Koufos said. ?Obviously, this is a huge year for me coming up. That?s why I need for this to be a big summer. I need to make strides in my game, and I?m confident that will happen.?

If Tuesday afternoon?s 78-73 win over the Orlando Magic serves as any indication, Koufos is on the right track. Koufos, playing 20 minutes, had maybe his most efficient game as a pro. He scored 13 points.

More importantly, he had 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, sprinkled in with a pair of assists.

He was a presence in the paint. He finished dunks, went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line and dominated his matchup with Daniel Orton, Orlando?s first-round pick out of Kentucky.

This comes 24 hours after Koufos scored four points and looked downright timid in Utah?s opener against the Charlotte Bobcats. So, for Koufos, the last three days of the week will answer the question of which performance will become the norm.

?He got a lot better from the first day,? Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin said. ?He was a presence inside, and that?s what we want from him. We want him to get to the point where he has a big year.?

Jazz: Make or break time for Koufos | The Salt Lake Tribune

 

[Buckskin86]

Kosta Koufos with another solid performance
Updated on Jul 7, 2010

At this point, the seven-footer's been the best player for Utah in the summer league.

The Jazz lost to the Pacers 83-74, in a game they trailed from start to finish. But Koufos was a huge bright spot in the Orlando Summer League, which is huge because, ahem, the Jazz are going to need a big man for obvious reasons.

Against the Pacers, Koufos had 19 points and seven rebounds. He blocked a shot, and would've scored over 20 if he could've made more than 5-10 free throws. It's the second consecutive very good performance Koufos has had, which is encouraging for the Utah front office to say the least.

Koufos was able to rebound. He was able to score with his back to the basket. He was able to rebound offensively and he was able to clog the middle. It's obvious that he's worked very hard on his body, and he seems to be gaining confidence with each trip up the floor.

Kosta Koufos with another solid performance | Utah Jazz Notes | The Salt Lake Tribune

 

[Buckskin86]

"He's had a good camp," said Jazz assistant coach Scott Layden, who handled both the head coaching and not talking about Boozer duties Wednesday. "This is what this camp is all about. You get the rookies acclimated and the young veterans a chance to establish themselves more.

"For Kosta, it's about rebounds per minute," Layden said. "If a big guy is getting a rebound every two and a half minutes, he's leading the league."

Koufos was on the floor a team-high 29 minutes for a Utah team that scored just 14 in the first quarter and was down by as many as 24. After three games, he has team with 12 points and 8.3 rebounds.

"I feel a lot stronger and a lot more confident," Koufos said. "For me, it's all about getting better in the system."

In wake of Boozer fallout, Koufos shines at Summer League | Standard-Examiner – Ogden, Layton, Brigham, Weber, Davis, Top of Utah News

 

[Buckskin86]

Jazz Acquires Center/Forward Al Jefferson from Minnesota
Kosta Koufos and two draft picks sent to Timberwolves

SALT LAKE CITY (July 13, 2010) ? The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has acquired center/forward Al Jefferson from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for center Kosta Koufos, the Memphis Grizzlies? protected 2011 first-round pick (obtained by the Jazz in a previous trade) and an additional future protected first-round pick.

JAZZ: Jazz Acquires Center/Forward Al Jefferson from Minnesota

 

[Buckskin86]

Koufos will get new start
By Ross Siler
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated Jul 14, 2010

Only two years after arriving as the Jazz?s newest first-round draft pick, Kosta Koufos will look for a fresh start in his NBA career at just 21 years old.

Along with two future first-round draft picks, the Jazz sent Koufos to Minnesota as part of Tuesday?s Al Jefferson trade. Koufos was set to make $1.3 million this season and his departure is expected to give the Jazz a measure of luxury-tax relief.

Koufos averaged 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds with the Jazz but regressed in his second season (appearing in just 36 games) and struggled with confidence. He was the Jazz?s leading scorer and rebounder at last week?s Orlando, Fla., summer league.

?It?s a situation where we felt we had too many at that position now,? Jazz general manager Kevin O?Connor said. ?Hopefully, it?s a good opportunity for him wherever he winds up.?

Koufos came to the Jazz so young, after just one season at Ohio State, that he would be entering his senior year had he stayed in college. The Timberwolves reportedly will look to trade Koufos to another team.

Koufos will get new start | The Salt Lake Tribune

 

[Buckskin86]

Koufos may be on move ? againBy Jody Genessy
Deseret News

Published: Sunday, July 18, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY ? While being interviewed on Dan Patrick's national radio show last week, Kevin Love was asked if he could name his Minnesota Timberwolves' teammates.

He didn't mention Al Jefferson, of course. The big man is now with Utah.

Love didn't name another big man with Utah ties who's on the T-Wolves roster, either.

Then again, there might be a reason why the up-and-coming star omitted listing Kosta Koufos' name.

As Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor implied last week after Koufos was traded from Utah in the Jefferson deal, there's no telling how long the 7-foot center will be with Minnesota.

Koufos could, in fact, be heading home.

According to a report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cavaliers are interested in two players on Minnesota's roster: guard Ramon Sessions and Koufos, a Canton, Ohio, native who played his freshman season at Ohio State.

The Plain Dealer claimed both players are "on the block," and mentioned that the Cavs would be in the market for picking up a big man because Sasha Kaun is likely to continue playing in Russia for now.

Koufos may be on move — again | Deseret News

Two Wolves currently on the block, though, interest the Cavs. One is guard Ramon Sessions, made available when Minnesota signed Luke Ridnour last week. The other is young center and Canton native Kosta Koufos. The 7-footer who played at Ohio State was sent to Minnesota from Utah in the trade for Jefferson and the Wolves want to move him now. The Cavs are in the market for at least one developmental big man now that it seems clear Sasha Kaun will remain in Russia for another year.

http://www.google.com/search?q=kost...t&sa=X&ei=ATBETMLgA4G8lQfH-JDgDg&ved=0CBIQpwU

 

[Buckskin86]

Todd Porter: Koufos learning about NBA life quickly
By Todd Porter
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Jul 21, 2010

AP file
GlenOak High School graduate Kosta Koufos, going for a dunk during a 2009 preseason game, is learning the life of an NBA player. Koufos was traded last week from the Utah Jazz to the Minnesota Timberwolves ? and that may not be his last move.

NBA summer basketball isn?t where stars are made. Few fans squeeze it in around vacation and fishing, and fewer notice who does what.

But it is where reputations start to be formed.

To that end, Kosta Koufos went to Orlando and had the best summer season of his career.

Last week, he returned home to Canton. He was going about his normal routine, which includes working out and playing hoops, when his cell phone rang.

The big 7-foot-1 center was about to stare the business end of the NBA in the eye.

Koufos had been traded from Utah to Minnesota. The Jazz spent a first-round pick on the one-and-done former Ohio State big man. Head Coach Jerry Sloan isn?t keen on playing rookies, and less so on 19-year-olds, and Koufos? playing time was limited.

?I understand it?s a business, and I feel confident wherever I end up,? Koufos said. ?I feel like I?ll be very successful in this league as long as I stay focused and continue to work. This is a one-day-at-a-time league.?

Todd Porter: Koufos learning about NBA life quickly - Canton, OH - CantonRep.com