View source for Fragiskos Alvertis

{{short description|Greek basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Fragiskos Alvertis
| image = Alvertis1010440.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Alvertis with [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]] in 2008
| position = [[General manager (basketball)|General manager]]
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 225
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|6|11|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Athens]], Greece
| draft_year = 1996
| career_position = [[Small forward]]
| career_number = 4
| career_start = 1990
| career_end = 2009
| coach_start = 2014
| coach_end = 2014
| years1 = 1990–2009
| team1 = [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]]
| cyears1 = 2014
| cteam1 = Panathinaikos
| highlights = '''As player:'''
* [[FIBA Intercontinental Cup]] champion ([[1996 FIBA Intercontinental Cup|1996]])
* 5× [[EuroLeague]] champion ([[1996 EuroLeague Final Four|1996]], [[2000 EuroLeague Final Four|2000]], [[2002 EuroLeague Final Four|2002]], [[2007 EuroLeague Final Four|2007]], [[2009 EuroLeague Final Four|2009]])
* [[50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors]] (2008)
* 101 Greats of European Basketball (2018)
* 2× [[European Basketball Triple Crown|Triple Crown]] winner (2007, 2009)
* 11× [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] champion (1998–[[2000–01 Greek Basket League|2001]], [[2002–03 Greek Basket League|2003]]–[[2008–09 Greek Basket League|2009]])
* 8× [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] winner (1993, 1996, 2003, 2005–2009)
* [[Greek Basket League MVP|Greek League MVP]] (2003)
* [[Greek Basketball Cup MVP|Greek Cup Finals MVP]] (2003)
* [[Greek Basketball Cup MVP|Greek Cup Finals Top Scorer]] (2003)
* 12× [[HEBA Greek All Star Game|Greek League All-Star]] (1994 II, 1996 I, 1996 II, 1997, 1998, 2001–2007)
* [[HEBA Greek All Star Game|Greek League All-Star Game]] MVP (2001)
* 3× [[HEBA Greek All Star Game#3-Point Shootout Contest winners|Greek All-Star Game 3-Point Shootout Champion]] (1996 I, 1996 II, 1997)
* [[Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|Acropolis Tournament]] MVP (2000)
* No. 4 [[Panathinaikos B.C.#Retired numbers|retired by Panathinaikos]] (2009)
* [[Greek Basket League Hall of Fame]] (2022)
'''As head coach:'''
* [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] champion ([[2013–14 Greek Basket League|2014]])
'''As General Manager:'''
*[[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] champion ([[2020–21 Greek Basket League|2021]])
*[[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] winner ([[2020–21 Greek Basketball Cup|2021]])
*[[Greek Basketball Super Cup|Greek Super Cup]] winner ([[2021 Greek Basketball Super Cup|2021]])
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|GRE}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1991 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship|1991 Greece]]|[[Greece men's national under-16 basketball team|Under-16]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1992 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship|1992 Greece]]|[[Greece men's national under-20 basketball team|Under-20]]}}
}}

'''Fragiskos''' "'''Frankie'''" '''Alvertis''' (alternate spelling: Fragkiskos,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230117111811/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/fragkiskos%20alvertis/pid//_//players.html Archive.FIBA.com Fragkiskos ALVERTIS (GRE).]</ref> {{langx|el|Φραγκίσκος "Φράνκι" Αλβέρτης}}; born 11 June 1974) is a Greek former professional [[basketball]] player and [[general manager (basketball)|general manager]] of [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos Athens]]. As a player, he was the long-time [[Captain (sports)|captain]] of Panathinaikos, where he spent his whole professional career. In 1990, Alvertis joined Panathinaikos, after moving to the club from [[ANO Glyfada|Glyfada]]. Alvertis is first on the list of the EuroLeague championships won by a player, [[EuroLeague players with the most championships|with five]], since the competition went to the [[EuroLeague Final Four|Final Four]] format, beginning with the [[EuroLeague 1987-88|1987–88 season]]. The former Italian player [[Dino Meneghin]], is first overall, with seven EuroLeague championships won, when including all formats of the competition, dating back to the competition's inaugural [[EuroLeague 1958|1958 season]].

As a member of the Greens, he won eleven [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] championships, five [[EuroLeague Finals|EuroLeague Championships]], eight [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] titles, and one [[1996 FIBA Intercontinental Cup|FIBA Intercontinental Cup]] title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?clubcode=pan&pcode=APH&seasoncode=E2003|title=EuroLeague official website|date=3 October 2024 }}</ref> Alvertis is commonly referred to as one of the best pure shooters of European basketball during the 1990s decade, and the beginning of the new millennium. He won the [[HEBA Greek All-Star Game#3-Point Shootout Contest winners|Greek League Three-Point Shootout Contest]] three years in a row (1996 I, 1996 II, 1997), and he shot 41.0 percent from [[three-point field goal|three-point range]] throughout his [[EuroLeague]] career.

Alvertis played in the [[EuroLeague Final Four]] for the eight and final time in [[2007 Euroleague Final Four|2007]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?clubcode=pan&pcode=APH&seasoncode=E2003|title=EuroLeague official website, Fragiskos Alvertis' profile|date=3 October 2024 }}</ref> On February 3, 2008, Alvertis was chosen as one of the [[50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors]], over the previous half-century by the [[Euroleague Basketball|EuroLeague Basketball]] Experts Committee, in recognition of his major contribution to Panathinaikos' rise on the European continental scene.<ref name="archive.is">EuroLeague official website, Fragiskos Alvertis presentation as one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors, [https://archive.today/20120801064615/http://www.euroleague.net/history/50-years/the-archive/i/26209/1609/item]</ref>

Alvertis retired from playing professional club basketball, following the [[Greek Basket League 2008–09|2008–09]] season. At the beginning of the [[Greek Basket League 2009–10|2009–10]] season, his number 4 jersey was [[Panathinaikos B.C.#Retired numbers|retired by the club]]. It was the first Panathinaikos basketball shirt number that the club had ever retired. The retired number 4 jersey was hung up in the rafters above the playing court of the [[Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall]], along with the club's trophy banners. In 2018, he was named one of the 101 Greats of European Basketball. He was inducted into the  [[Greek Basket League Hall of Fame]] in 2022.<ref>[https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/1436169/heba-introduces-hall-of-fame-inducts-30-players-alphonso-ford-dino-radja-dejan-bodiroga-dominique-wilkins-roy-tarpley/ Greek League Hall of Fame welcomes Ford, Bodiroga, Radja, Wilkins, Tarpley.]</ref>

Alvertis was a member of the [[Greece men's national basketball team]], from 1995 to 2004. As a member of the Greece men's national team, he made it to the [[FIBA Basketball World Cup|FIBA World Championship]] semifinals in [[1998 FIBA World Championship|1998]], and twice made it to the [[EuroBasket]] semifinals, in  [[EuroBasket 1995|1995]] and [[EuroBasket 1997|1997]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/Fragkiskos%20ALVERTIS/pid/8501/_//players.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829202151/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/Fragkiskos%20ALVERTIS/pid/8501/_//players.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 29, 2012|title=FIBA official website, Fragiskos Alvertis' profile}}</ref>

==Club career==

===1990–1996===
Alvertis' eventful transfer to [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]] from [[ANO Glyfada|Glyfada]], cost Panathinaikos' men's water polo department, as it included the trade of the [[Panathinaikos Water Polo Club]]'s main star, [[Dimitris Seletopoulos]], in order to get Alvertis. A great deal had been accomplished for Panathinaikos in the trade however, as the years to come would demonstrate. Alvertis was indeed an intriguing prospect at the time, almost 10&nbsp;cm (4&nbsp;inches) taller than the conventional [[shooting guard]]. His potential was proven to be great in the [[1991 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship]], where Alvertis led the Greek team to the silver medal alongside [[Panagiotis Liadelis]].<ref>FIBA Europe official website, U16 European Championship Men 1991 - Greece's roster,[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_f43ulKJBGLcVnbH-aqLVu2.teamID_291.compID_YUjW-7-FJ,kK9s431Lyr41.season_1991.html]</ref> At the same time, Panathinaikos was going through a transition period during which the lackluster team of the late 1980s strove to become a European powerhouse. Consequently, young Alvertis had to wait until the 1993–94 season to get significant playing time on a team with high ambitions, as PAO reached the [[1994 FIBA European League Final Four|EuroLeague Final Four]]. The star of the twenty-year-old player shone right away, particularly in the Top 8 playoff series against reigning champions [[Limoges CSP|Limoges]].<ref>FIBA Europe official website, Fragiskos Alvertis' 1993-94 EuroLeague stats,[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_f43ulKJBGLcVnbH-aqLVu2.compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.season_1994.teamID_1369.playerID_8501.html]</ref> Alvertis averaged 13 points per game, forcing Head Coach [[Božidar Maljković]] to state that he already was to be counted as one of the very best players in Europe.

Panathinaikos had a status to confirm in the 1994–95 season and Alvertis helped them do so by elevating his play to an even higher level. Using his sharp shooting with a rare maturity for a player his age, he was a major contributor to his team's march towards a second consecutive [[1995 FIBA European League Final Four|EuroLeague Final Four]]. In the Top 8 playoffs against [[Kinder Bologna]] and [[Predrag Danilović]], he averaged 12.7 points and 3.3 rebounds, while holding Danilović to just 8 points and 4–15 from the field in the decisive Game 3. Although the semifinal against [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] proved to be tough, as he only shot 1-10 from the field for only 3 points, he scored a season high 29 points in the third place game against [[Limoges CSP|Limoges]]. Alvertis finished his EuroLeague season averaging 12 points per game.<ref>FIBA Europe official website, Fragiskos Alvertis' 1994-95 EuroLeague stats,[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_f43ulKJBGLcVnbH-aqLVu2.compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.season_1995.teamID_1369.playerID_8501.html]</ref>

In the 1995–96 season, Alvertis saw [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] legend [[Dominique Wilkins]] join the team and the EuroLeague title seemed closer than ever.<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_f43ulKJBGLcVnbH-aqLVu2.teamID_1369.compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.season_1996.html FIBA Europe official website, Panathinaikos' 1995-96 EuroLeague roster]</ref> He averaged 10.8 points per game in the competition, led Panathinaikos in scoring during the winning [[EuroLeague Final|Final]] against [[FC Barcelona Bàsquet|Barcelona]] with 17 points, and was selected to the [[EuroLeague All-Final Four Team]].<ref name="euroleague.net">[http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/12640/180/item EuroLeague official website, Fragiskos Alvertis' profile]</ref> In the Greek League semifinals, Panathinaikos faced a [[Panionios BC|Panionios]] team under [[Dušan Ivković]], featuring the likes of [[Žarko Paspalj]] and [[Fanis Christodoulou]]. Alvertis scored 12 points in the last eight minutes of a dramatic Game 3, leading Panathinaikos to the Finals where they fell to Olympiacos. He also won the [[1996 FIBA Intercontinental Cup]], as he averaged 19.7 points per game against [[Olimpia Basketball Club|Olimpia de Venado Tuerto]], who were the defending [[Argentine Basketball League|Argentine National League]] and [[1996 FIBA South American League|FIBA South American League]] champions at the time.

===1996–2004===
[[Image:Alvertis27.JPG|thumb|right|180px|Alvertis during a shoot-around]]

Alvertis cemented his role as one of Panathinaikos' main stars, in spite of the fact that the team experienced a dispiriting 1996–97 season. Although he increased his scoring average to 12.7 points per game, he was unable to help PAO reach the [[1997 FIBA EuroLeague Final Four|1997 EuroLeague Final Four]] as they were bested by eventual champions Olympiacos in the quarterfinal playoffs. His 35 points facing [[CB Sevilla|Caja San Fernando]] set his EuroLeague personal record.<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.season_1997.roundID_2568.gameID_1476-G-13-5.html FIBA Europe official website, Caja San Fernando - Panathinaikos box score]</ref> The Greek League outcome would add up to the season's drama, as Alvertis' 29 points against PAOK in Game 2 of the quarterfinal playoffs were not enough to prevent a 90–85 defeat.

Strengthened by the addition of another [[NBA]] legend in [[Byron Scott]] for the 1997–98 season, Panathinaikos won their first national league title since 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.paobc.gr/en/history_gr.asp |title=Panathinaikos BC official website, ''A lifetime of championships'' |access-date=2007-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509030316/http://www.paobc.gr/en/history_gr.asp |archive-date=2007-05-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the memorable semifinal playoff series, [[AEK BC|AEK]] was coming off of a [[1998 EuroLeague Final Four|1998 Euroleague Finals]] campaign, led by the likes of [[Bane Prelević]], [[Willie Anderson (basketball)|Willie Anderson]] and [[Victor Alexander]]. Alvertis averaged 16.7 points per game and led Panathinaikos in scoring. Following the win in the final series against [[PAOK BC|PAOK]] and [[Peja Stojaković]], he was voted to the All-Greek League Team, alongside teammate [[Dino Radja]]. A dynasty was born in Greek basketball, and Alvertis would soon become its captain.

After an unexpected failure to reach the EuroLeague Top 8 in the [[1998–99 FIBA EuroLeague|1998–99 season]], Alvertis won one more Greek League title. Panathinaikos beat Olympiacos in the finals, after breaking home court advantage and winning the decisive Game 5 in the [[Peace and Friendship Stadium]].
 
In the 1999–00 season, having missed an important part of the season due to an injury, Alvertis still came back on time. Performing efficient basketball, he helped Panathinaikos win their second EuroLeague championship, at the [[2000 FIBA EuroLeague Final Four|2000 Thessaloniki EuroLeague Final Four]], as well as their third straight [[1999–2000 Greek Basket League|Greek League championship]], downing [[P.A.O.K. BC|PAOK]] in the final. Together with [[Dejan Bodiroga]], he led Panathinaikos in scoring in the final playoff series, averaging 15.7 points per game.

The following season, Alvertis helped lead Panathinaikos to the [[2001 SuproLeague Final Four]], averaging 13.4 points per game. The Greens lost to [[Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]] in the final.<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_f43ulKJBGLcVnbH-aqLVu2.gameID_203-F4-A-1.compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.season_2001.roundID_2581.html FIBA Europe official website, SuproLeague 2000-01 Final stats]</ref> As for the [[2000–01 Greek Basket League|Greek League]], Olympiacos had once again a very solid team that year, featuring Dino Radja, [[David Rivers]] and [[Nikos Oikonomou]]. After the final series was tied at 2–2, Alvertis scored 23 points in Game 5, including seven straight points in the clutch, thus offering Panathinaikos one more Greek League title. His legend, especially among the green fans, was still growing.

After winning everything at the club level, Alvertis' thirst for titles did not subside nonetheless. In the 2001–02 season he led the Panathinaikos offense along with Dejan Bodiroga, [[Damir Mulaomerović]] and [[İbrahim Kutluay]], averaging 10.2 points per game;<ref>[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?clubcode=pan&pcode=APH&seasoncode=E2001 EuroLeague official website, Fragiskos Alvertis' 2001-02 page]</ref> in the [[2002 EuroLeague Final Four|2002 EuroLeague Final]] against [[Virtus Bologna|Kinder Bologna]], he scored 11 points, showing great leadership throughout the game. By lifting his third EuroLeague title, Alvertis proved that the sky was the limit concerning the number of his titles.

Owing to the renovation of the [[Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall]] for the [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens Olympic Games]], Panathinaikos had to move to the 2,500 capacity [[Sporting Sports Arena|Sporting Arena]] for the 2002–03 season. The club's budget consequently decreased by nearly half, thus hurting the team's strength. Despite that, Panathinaikos led its regular season EuroLeague group with an 11–3 record. After averaging 12.7 points per game in the first three Top 16 games, Alvertis’ season was cut short by an injury which caused him to miss the remaining three games.<ref>[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?seasoncode=E2002+++++&clubcode=pan&pcode=APH EuroLeague official website, Fragiskos Alvertis' 2002-03 page]</ref> As a result, Panathinaikos did not manage to make it to the [[2003 EuroLeague Final Four]], without its natural leader. In the [[2002–03 Greek Basket League|Greek League]], Alvertis was there to assure PAO's dominance, winning its fifth title in six seasons. He averaged 12 points per game in the finals against [[AEK B.C.|AEK]], and was voted the [[Greek Basket League MVP|Greek League MVP]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.galanissportsdata.com/basketball/MenA1/Season2002_03/a1game.asp?game=206 |title=Galanis sports data website, Statistics of the 2002-03 Greek League finals |access-date=2010-10-11 |archive-date=2012-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308093818/http://www.galanissportsdata.com/basketball/MenA1/Season2002_03/a1game.asp?game=206 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Prior to that, he had led the Greens to their first [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] since 1996, scoring 22 points in the final against [[Aris B.C.|Aris]], and being named the tournament's MVP.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.galanissportsdata.com/basketball/Cup/Men/Season2002_03/a1game.asp?game=4 |title=Galanis sports data website, Statistics of the 2002-03 Greek Cup final |access-date=2010-10-11 |archive-date=2012-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308093829/http://www.galanissportsdata.com/basketball/Cup/Men/Season2002_03/a1game.asp?game=4 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 2003–04 season presented many similarities to the previous one, as Panathinaikos remained in the Sporting Arena. Despite Alvertis averaging 11.2 points per game and providing veteran leadership in the locker room, his [[2003–04 Euroleague|EuroLeague season]] ended again on an injury in the fourth game of the Top 16 against Barcelona. Panathinaikos was not able to reach further to the [[2004 EuroLeague Final Four]].<ref>[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?seasoncode=E2003+++++&clubcode=pan&pcode=APH EuroLeague official website, Fragiskos Alvertis' 2003-04 page]</ref> Alvertis’ sixth [[2003–04 Greek Basket League|Greek League title]] came after averaging 11 points in the playoffs, including a 21 points outing against Olympiacos in the quarterfinals. The latter was the seventh and last time he led all Panathinaikos scorers in a playoff matchup versus their archrivals.

===2004–2009: A new role for a leader===
The 2004–05 season meant an adjustment for the captain of Panathinaikos. Unable to contribute to Head Coach [[Željko Obradović|Obradović's]] demanding systems as efficiently as before, he was not starting in any of the games anymore. Nevertheless, he came off the bench as a spot shooter, who gave the team valuable perimeter scoring and experience.<ref>[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?seasoncode=E2004&clubcode=pan&pcode=APH EuroLeague official website, Fragiskos Alvertis' 2004-05 page]</ref> Along with the team's new stars [[Dimitris Diamantidis]], [[Jaka Lakovič]], and [[Michael Batiste|Mike Batiste]], PAO made it to the [[2005 EuroLeague Final Four]] in Moscow, where they lost to [[Šarūnas Jasikevičius]]' and [[Anthony Parker]]'s [[Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]]. Alvertis finished the EuroLeague season with an average 8.4 points per game, the lowest since his first EuroLeague campaign in the  1993–94 season. Finally that same season, he lifted another Greek League trophy, after averaging 12 points per game against [[AEK B.C.|AEK]] in the Greek League's Finals.

During his sixteenth season with Panathinaikos, Alvertis had the same role as in the previous year. Coming off the bench, he helped his team make the EuroLeague Top 8. In their playoff series, [[Saski Baskonia|TAU Ceramica]] pulled off an upset during the decisive third game in Athens, thus preventing PAO from reaching the [[2006 EuroLeague Final Four]]. This disappointment was slightly relieved by the team's sweep against Olympiacos, in the Greek League Finals.

The 2006–07 season was a great one for Panathinaikos, as they won the [[2007 Euroleague Final Four|EuroLeague Final]] in Athens, as well as the Greek League and the Greek Cup titles.<ref name="euroleague.net"/> Alvertis’ contribution had not been significant on the court, but the captain of the Greens was ready to serve his team whenever they needed him. The 2007–08 season confirmed that, with Alvertis being the soul of the Greens in the locker room, even though his contribution on the court was again limited. PAO won both the Greek League and the Greek Cup yet another time. The 2008–09 season was his last on the team's roster, as his role was at that point had become merely symbolic.

'''2009-Today'''

“Fragi” is always a symbol for [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]]. After his retirement, Alvertis have never get out of this team. He was always there to help the team achieve all the targets. From 2009, until 2020 he has contributed in many positions: [[technical director]], [[Coach (basketball)|coach]], [[assistant coach]], [[Panathinaikos A.O.|Panathinaikos academies]] manager. In 2020, he became the co-[[General manager (basketball)|general manager]] of the Greek club [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos Athens]]. On April 12, 2022, [[Fragkiskos Alvertis]] was removed from his administrative positions and replaced with [[Argyris Pedoulakis]], after a rather unfortunate season [[EuroLeague|in EuroLeague]]. As general manager in two years, Alvertis won 3 titles: [[2020–21 Greek Basket League]], [[2020–21 Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Basketball Cup 2020-21]], [[2021 Greek Basketball Super Cup|2021-22 Greek Basketball Super Cup]] .

==National team career==
===Greek junior national team===
As one of the best European prospects at the age of 17, Alvertis was selected to the Greek junior national team. With Greece's junior national team, he won the silver medal at the [[1991 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship]]. He also played at the [[1992 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship]], in which Greece finished in fourth place. He won another silver medal with Greece's junior national team, at the [[1992 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120829202151/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/Fragkiskos%20ALVERTIS/pid/8501/_//players.html Fragkiskos ALVERTIS (GRE).]</ref>

===Greek senior national team===
===1995–1998: The first steps===
Alvertis' first appearance with the [[Greece men's national basketball team]], was in a [[exhibition game|friendly game]] against [[German national basketball team|Germany]] on 28 May 1993, when he was 18. The first major tournament in which Alvertis represented the [[Greece men's national basketball team]] was the [[EuroBasket 1995]], when he was 21. Greece made it to the tournament's semifinals and finished the competition in fourth place. Serving as [[Giorgos Sigalas]]' substitution, Alvertis did not start in any of the games, nor did he get very significant playing time. He finished the tournament averaging 4.9 points per game.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.basket-stats.info/eurobasket/1995/teams/greece.htm |title=Basket Stats website, Fragiskos Alvertis' EuroBasket 1995 statistics. |access-date=2007-05-24 |archive-date=2007-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704201912/http://basket-stats.info/eurobasket/1995/teams/greece.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The following year, Alvertis was already a permanent member of the Greek team and took part at the [[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996 Summer Olympic Games]] in Atlanta, Georgia. Even though he still was not starting the games, his contribution rose to 8.6 points per game, as Greece finished at an all-time Olympics best fifth position.<ref>Basket Stats website, Fragiskos Alvertis' Olympic Games 1996 statistics,[http://www.basket-stats.info/olympic-games/1996/teams/greece.htm]</ref> It was obvious however, that the departure of the legendary Greece men's national team player [[Panagiotis Giannakis]], and the imminent departure of another Greek legend, [[Fanis Christodoulou]], would increase Alvertis’ responsibilities.

At the [[EuroBasket 1997]], Greece once again started the tournament with very high ambitions, and a victory against title contender [[Russia national basketball team|Russia]], in the qualifying group raised their hopes even higher. Alvertis’ role on the team remained unaltered, as he remained a secondary, but significant option on offense, averaging 6.9 points per game.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.basket-stats.info/eurobasket/1997/teams/greece.htm |title=Basket Stats website, Fragiskos Alvertis' EuroBasket 1997 statistics. |access-date=2007-05-24 |archive-date=2007-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223170328/http://www.basket-stats.info/eurobasket/1997/teams/greece.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Greece eventually fell to the tournament's eventual champions, [[FR Yugoslavia national basketball team|FR Yugoslavia]], in the semifinal, losing by a score of 80–88. The Greek team finished in fourth place, losing the bronze medal game to Russia, by a score of 98–78.

===1998–2001: Leader of the national team===
Eager to confirm they were a part of the world basketball elite, Greece aimed at reaching the semifinals in the [[1998 FIBA World Championship]], in Athens. Head Coach [[Panagiotis Giannakis]] was confident that the Greek team would fulfill its mission, and he put Alvertis, alongside his Panathinaikos teammate [[Nikos Oikonomou]], in charge of the team's offense. Alvertis averaged 13.2 points and a surprisingly high 6.2 rebounds per game, being a major contributor to Greece's fourth-place finish at the tournament.<ref>Basket Stats website, Fragiskos Alvertis' World Championship 1998 statistics,[http://www.basket-stats.info/worldbasket/1998/teams/greece.htm]</ref> He most notably scored the three-pointer that sealed the fate of the quarterfinals match against [[Spanish national basketball team|Spain]], giving Greece a 65–58 advantage with 53 seconds left in the game. His leading role in the team had become indisputable, especially since the great Greek player [[Panagiotis Fasoulas]] had retired from the national team after the end of the tournament.

At the [[EuroBasket 1999]], Alvertis seemed ready to lead Greece to its first medal since 1989. After leading the team in offense, with an average of 18.1 points per game in the qualifying round, everything seemed to indicate a great upcoming [[EuroBasket]] for the Greek star.<ref>FIBA Europe official website, Fragiskos Alvertis' Participations in FIBA Europe competitions,[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_f43ulKJBGLcVnbH-aqLVu2.pageID_kt3l5CR9JjEItjz6CqjVd1.compID_,Uz02qBnJiADOq5VntEf53.season_2001.roundID_203.teamID_1369.playerID_8501.html]</ref> Nevertheless, misfortune is part of the game of basketball. A few days before the tournament, Alvertis suffered a severe injury during practice. That injury caused him to not only miss the EuroBasket tournament, but also a major part of the 1999–00 club season. Without its offensive leader, and without key players [[Nikos Oikonomou]] and [[Efthimios Rentzias]], who were also injured, Greece finished in an embarrassing sixteenth and last place at the tournament. They consequently failed to qualify for the [[Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2000 Summer Olympics]], and were doomed to two years of exclusion from every major tournament.

Greece had to wait for the [[EuroBasket 2001]] in order to make its comeback on the international scene. The team was obviously in the middle of a transition period, during which its young stars [[Theo Papaloukas]], [[Antonis Fotsis]], and [[Lazaros Papadopoulos]] were unable to build a highly competitive team right away. Alvertis, coming off a great club year with Panathinaikos, and [[Giorgos Sigalas]], had to show to the younger generation of Greek players the road to success. The first game against reigning champion [[Italy national basketball team|Italy]] proved that Alvertis was ready to fulfill his role as a leader. His buzzer-beating three pointer gave Greece a very impressive 83–82 win. The team, however, had not reached the level of a medal contender yet. The 105–82 loss against [[Russia national basketball team|Russia]] in the next game confirmed that. Consequently, in order to reach the quarterfinals, Greece's game against rising power [[Germany national basketball team|Germany]] appeared to be a difficult task. After leading the game by 22 points in the eighteenth minute of the game, the Greek team eventually collapsed against the frontcourt of [[Dirk Nowitzki]], [[Ademola Okulaja]] and [[Shawn Bradley]], and lost by a score of 80–75. Alvertis averaged 16 points in the tournament, but Greece ended up in ninth place.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.basket-stats.info/eurobasket/2001/teams/greece.htm |title=Basket Stats website, Fragiskos Alvertis' EuroBasket 2001 statistics. |access-date=2007-05-24 |archive-date=2007-05-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527130834/http://www.basket-stats.info/eurobasket/2001/teams/greece.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was his last opportunity to reach success with the national team as its leader, especially since Greece had not qualified for the [[2002 FIBA World Championship]]. The transition period to the young generation was soon going to be over.

===2001–2004: The last years===
Prior to the [[EuroBasket 2003]], Alvertis was a player whose leadership and experience with [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]] and the Greece national team were priceless. Consequently, although his role within the Greece national team had become secondary on the court, it was still a leading one off the court. He was in charge of transmitting values such as commitment, partnership, and ambition to the new generation of Greek stars. After Greece finished in fifth place at both the [[EuroBasket 2003]] and the [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2004 Summer Olympics]], the veteran star announced his retirement from the Greece men's National Team. Alvertis kept his word that he was staying retired from the national team, even though [[Panagiotis Giannakis|Head Coach Giannakis]] initially thought about including him on the Greek team that would eventually win the gold medal at the [[EuroBasket 2005]]. Alvertis had already seen that the future of the Greece national team was in good hands.

In total, Alvertis had 155 [[cap (sports)|appearances]] with the Greece men's national team. In those 155 appearances, he scored a total of 1,605 points, for a career scoring average of averaging 10.4 points per game.<ref>[http://www.basket.gr/index.php/playerview?playerid=14 ΑΛΒΕΡΤΗΣ ΦΡΑΓΚΙΣΚΟΣ/ALVERTIS FRAGISKOS {{in lang|el}}.]</ref>

==Player profile==
[[Image:Alvertis43.JPG|thumb|right|160px|Alvertis attempting a [[layup]]]]

Alvertis was regarded for most of his career as one of the best sharp shooters in Europe.<ref name="archive.is"/> While his relative lack of athleticism and average all around skills did not allow him to create his own shot on a consistent basis, his exceptional shooting prowess, with a rare combination of height and mechanics, turned him into a very hard to defend mismatch on the perimeter. As a consequence, he converted at a quite efficient rate, in numerous clutch situations over the years.

Alvertis was also an accomplished defender, that was often credited with effectively defending the opposing team's [[shooting guard]] or [[small forward]].<ref name="euroleaguebasketball.net">EuroLeague official website, Fragiskos Alvertis, the man with 25 titles, by Vladimir Stankovic [http://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/features/voices/2013-2014/vladimir-stankovic/i/127565/fragiskos-alvertis-the-man-with-25-titles]</ref> Over the last five years of his career, he mainly played at the [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]] position, due to his height and size, thus adjusting to the increased pace of the game in the new millennium.

Finally and above all, Alvertis was a charismatic team leader, both on the court, and especially off the court. He always kept his teammates focused on the team's success, and symbolized the very core of Panathinaikos' winning culture. Panathinaikos's Head Coach [[Željko Obradović]] once said, "Alvertis is the best [[captain (sports)|captain]] I ever had", paying tribute to the team leadership skills of his star.<ref name="euroleaguebasketball.net"/>

==Awards and accomplishments==
[[File:ALVERTISall S.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Alvertis' retired #4 [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]] jersey]]
[[Image:Alvertis36.jpg|thumb|right|160px|Giant portrait of "Fragi" on [[Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall]]'s roof]]

===As a player===
====[[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]]====
* 5× [[EuroLeague]] [[EuroLeague champion|Champion]]: (1996, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009)
* 11× [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] Champion: (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
* 8× [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] Winner: (1993, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
* 2× [[European Basketball Triple Crown|Triple Crown]] Winner: (2007, 2009)
* [[FIBA Intercontinental Cup]] Champion: (1996)
* [[EuroLeague All-Final Four Team]]: (1996)
* 12× [[HEBA Greek All Star Game|Greek League All-Star]]: (1994 II, 1996 I, 1996 II, 1997, 1998, 2001–2007)
* 3× consecutive [[HEBA Greek All Star Game#3-Point Shootout Contest winners|Greek All-Star Game 3 Point Shootout Contest]] Champion: (1996 I, 1996 II, 1997)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportime.gr/basket_inside.asp?article_id=40997 |title=''Sportime'' article about HEBA All Star |access-date=2007-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929104429/http://www.sportime.gr/basket_inside.asp?article_id=40997 |archive-date=2007-09-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Greek Basketball Cup MVP|Greek Cup Finals Top Scorer]]: (2003)
* [[Greek Basketball Cup MVP|Greek Cup MVP]]: (2003)
* [[Greek Basket League MVP|Greek League MVP]]: (2003)
* In his pro club career with Panathinaikos, he won a total of 25 titles.
* Selected to the EuroLeague's 50th anniversary [[50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors]]: (2008)
* No. 4 [[Panathinaikos B.C.#Retired numbers|retired by Panathinaikos]]: (2009)
* 101 Greats of European Basketball: (2018)
* [[Greek Basket League Hall of Fame]] (2022)

====National basketball team====
* [[Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|Acropolis Tournament]] [[Most valuable player|MVP]]: (2000)
* [[Eurobasket.com]] website's [[1998 FIBA World Championship]]: All-Tournament Third Team (unofficial)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurobasket.com/events/wc/wc98.asp |title=Eurobasket website about Basketball |access-date=2007-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070407021449/http://eurobasket.com/events/wc/wc98.asp |archive-date=2007-04-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===As a team manager===
* 3× [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] Champion: (2010, 2011, 2013)
* 3× [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] Winner: (2012, 2013, 2014)
* [[EuroLeague]] [[EuroLeague champion|Champion]]: (2011)

===As a head coach===
* [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] Champion: (2014)

==Career statistics==
{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

===EuroLeague===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background:#AFE6BA; width:3em;"|†
| Denotes seasons in which Alvertis won the [[EuroLeague champion|EuroLeague]]
|}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}
|-
| [[1993–94 FIBA EuroLeague|1993–94]]
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 21
| {{sort|-|—}}
| 23.0
| .432
| .446
| .636
| 2.6
| 0.5
| 0.4
| .0
| 8.0
| {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| [[1994–95 FIBA EuroLeague|1994–95]]
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 21
| {{sort|-|—}}
| 28.0
| .426
| .354
| .776
| 2.9
| 1.0
| 0.9
| .0
| 12.0
| {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba;" | [[1995–96 FIBA EuroLeague|1995–96]]†
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 21
| {{sort|-|—}}
| '''29.4'''
| .456
| .400
| .773
| 3.3
| 1.3
| 0.8
| .0
| 10.8
| {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| [[1996–97 FIBA EuroLeague|1996–97]]
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 20
| {{sort|-|—}}
| 28.5
| .447
| .391
| .884
| 3.3
| 0.6
| 0.8
| .0
| 12.7
| {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| [[1998–99 FIBA EuroLeague|1998–99]]
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 17
| {{sort|-|—}}
| 29.3
| .468
| .410
| .750
| 3.2
| '''1.4'''
| 0.9
| .0
| 11.5
| {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba;" | [[1999–00 FIBA EuroLeague|1999–00]]†
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 10
| {{sort|-|—}}
| 22.5
| '''.528'''
| .438
| '''.900'''
| 1.8
| 0.7
| 0.4
| 0.1
| 7.9
| {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| [[2000–01 FIBA SuproLeague|2000–01]] <br/> ([[FIBA SuproLeague|SuproLeague]])
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| '''24'''
| {{sort|-|—}}
| 26.5
| .446
| .415
| .800
| '''3.4'''
| 1.2
| '''1.0'''
| 0.1
| '''13.4'''
| {{sort|-|—}}
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba;" | [[2001–02 EuroLeague|2001–02]]†
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 22
| '''13'''
| 26.0
| .463
| .373
| .810
| 3.0
| 0.7
| 0.9
| '''0.2'''
| 10.2
| '''9.1'''
|-
| [[2002–03 EuroLeague|2002–03]]
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 17
| 12
| 23.7
| .462
| .436
| .833
| 1.6
| 0.4
| 0.8
| .0
| 9.9
| 6.9
|-
| [[2003–04 EuroLeague|2003–04]]
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 16
| 6
| 23.7
| .474
| .429
| .826
| 1.9
| 1.1
| 0.3
| 0.1
| 11.2
| 8.4
|-
| [[2004–05 EuroLeague|2004–05]]
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 20
| 0
| 18.6
| .457
| .478
| .756
| 1.4
| 0.7
| 0.7
| 0.2
| 8.4
| 6.5
|-
| [[2005–06 EuroLeague|2005–06]]
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 16
| 0
| 17.0
| .500
| '''.500'''
| .864
| 1.3
| 0.3
| 0.8
| 0.1
| 8.0
| 6.6
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba;" | [[2006–07 EuroLeague|2006–07]]†
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 11
| 2
| 9.2
| .323
| .304
| .818
| 0.5
| 0.5
| 0.1
| .0
| 3.3
| 0.8
|-
| [[2007–08 EuroLeague|2007–08]]
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 12
| 1
| 8.3
| .286
| .375
| .259
| 0.8
| 0.3
| 0.3
| 0.1
| 3.0
| 1.6
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba;" | [[2008–09 EuroLeague|2008–09]]†
| [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]]
| 1
| 0
| 3.8
| .000
| .000
| .000
| .0
| .0
| .0
| .0
| .0
| -2.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 249 || {{sort|-|—}} || 23.4 || .450 || .410 || .798 || 2.2 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 0.1 || 9.8 || 6.2
{{S-end}}

*During his [[sports club|club]] career, Alvertis played in a total of 15 [[EuroLeague]] seasons, including the [[2000–01 FIBA SuproLeague]] season. In his last EuroLeague season ([[2008–09 EuroLeague|2008–09]]), Alvertis played in just one game, in which he came off the bench. During that game, he registered no stats, except for two missed [[3 pointers|three-point field goal]] attempts, in four minutes of playing time.<ref>[https://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=APH&seasoncode=E2008 ALVERTIS, FRAGISKOS PANATHINAIKOS ATHENS EuroLeague 2008-09 STATISTICS.]</ref>

==References==
{{clear}}
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=APH#!careerstats Euroleague.net Profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20230117111811/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/fragkiskos%20alvertis/pid//_//players.html FIBA Profile]
* [http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2003.roundID_2236.playerID_8501.teamID_291.html FIBA Europe Profile]
* [http://esake.gr/el/action/EsakeplayerView?idplayer=00000018&mode=1&idchampionship=00000006 Greek Basket League Profile] {{in lang|el}}
* [http://www.basket.gr/index.php/playerview?playerid=14 Hellenic Basketball Federation Profile] {{in lang|el}}
* [https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/amu8hxdtqlvvuwg8/101-greats-fragiskos-alvertis#:~:text=%22101%20Greats%20of%20European%20Basketball,to%20its%20present%2Dday%20heights. 101 Greats: Fragiskos Alvertis]
* [https://www.paobc.gr/en/history/legends/fragiskos-alvertis FRAGISKOS ALVERTIS 1990 - 2009]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwrHi2qjTHM Alvertis Video Tribute]

{{Navboxes|list1=
{{Panathinaikos BC 1995-96 Euroleague champions}}
{{Panathinaikos BC 1999-00 Euroleague champions}}
{{Panathinaikos BC 2001-02 Euroleague champions}}
{{Panathinaikos BC 2006-07 Euroleague champions}}
{{Panathinaikos BC 2008-09 Euroleague champions}}
{{Panathinaikos B.C. 1996 FIBA Intercontinental Cup Champions}}
{{Panathinaikos B.C.}}
{{Greek Basketball Cup MVPs}}
{{Greek Basket League MVPs}}
{{Greek Basket League Hall of Fame}}
{{Euroleague50}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alvertis, Fragiskos}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
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