1908 Our story begins on February 3, 1908, when George Kalafatis, along with 40 other athletes, founded the Panathinaikos Athletic Club.

Eleven years later, the basketball department was founded. It was in 1919 when the historic founder of Panathinaikos attended the “Allied Games of Paris”, asked about basketball regulations, received the necessary know-how, and returned to Greece with the necessary equipment to create Panathinaikos’ basketball division, which would later become the most successful division of the Club.

A key member of the basketball team was Apostolos Nikolaidis, one of the inspirers and emblem of the Club. Specifically, during his studies in Germany, Apostolos Nikolaidis had attended SpVgg Fürth, who wore green and white jerseys and bore the shamrock as their emblem. Inspired by this, he suggested this particular emblem for Panathinaikos.

His choice was not by chance alone, of course. The shamrock carries symbols from antiquity that are widespread in many cultures around the world. It symbolizes the balance between the spirit, the soul and the body. It also symbolizes good fortune, fertility, rebirth and eternal life.

1921 The first title of the basketball division was not long to come, as in 1921 they won their first Hellenic Championship title. The follow-up period was a rather challenging one for the basketball division, which managed however to overcome it and tap into its full potential several years later.

Despite all the problems the “greens” had to face during the Second World War, they strived to provide through sports a way out for people, as did other teams at the time.

In an effort to return to normality, sports have gained traction for Panathinaikos, resulting in another basketball title in 1946. Dozens of titles followed … After all, Panathinaikos is forever “bound” for collecting trophies and is doing exactly that which it was founded for, spreading joy to the club’s millions of followers across the world.

A key aspect in the evolution of Panathinaikos’ basketball and its establishment as one of the top European teams, was the undertaking of the club’s administration by the Giannakopoulos family in 1987! Pavlos Giannakopoulos, with his brothers Thanasis and Kostas always at his side, led the “shamrock” to countless moments of glory.

Dimitris Giannakopoulos, son of Pavlos Giannakopoulos, took over the reins in 2012, a worthy successor of the “Green Empire” who continues their unceasing work until this very day.

1995 Since the 1995-1996 season, when the club celebrated its first European Championship in Paris as well as the Greek Cup in Patras, Panathinaikos has acquired at least one trophy per season for 27 consecutive seasons, accumulating a total of 44 trophies including 7 European Championships, 21 Greek Championships, 16 Greek Cups, 1 Intercontinental Cup and 1 Super Cup!

This unique feat highlighted Panathinaikos as the only European team to ever achieve this, surpassing Real Madrid and Maccabi Tel Aviv who shared a best run of 23 seasons with at least one trophy.

Needless to wonder why Euroleague officially announced Panathinaikos as the most successful European team of the current century!

Our team has been the home of great players and personalities throughout the years, players who made and continue making history with the club. Great examples are those of Dominique Wilkins, Nikos Gkalis, Dejan Bodiroga, Franciskos Alvertis and Dimitris Diamantidis.

Each of them has connected their names to big successes and trophies for the club. One thing is for certain though, trophies will continue to accumulate. Golden pages will continue to be written, for that is the purpose for which Panathinaikos was founded.