John Korfas


John Anthony Korfas is a retired Greek-American professional basketball player and a professional basketball coach. A EuroLeague All-Final Four Team member in 1993, he won all three FIBA Europe continental trophies at the club level: the EuroLeague in 1996, the Saporta Cup in 1991, as well as the Korać Cup in 1994. As a player, his nickname was Tintin. He became well known in Europe, due to his very unusual one-handed jump shot.

High school

Korfas began his basketball career as a key member of the Santa Barbara, California, San Marcos High School basketball team, which had a perfect 26–0 season, when they were known as the Runnin' Royals. They advanced to the CIF finals, and were defeated by Long Beach Poly, by a score of 65–63.

College career

Korfas played college basketball at Pepperdine University, with the Pepperdine Waves, from 1982 to 1986.

Professional career

Korfas played for the Greek League club PAOK, with whom he won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1991, the Greek League championship in 1992, Korać Cup in 1994, and the Greek Cup in 1995. With PAOK, Korfas was also a Cup Winners' Cup finalist in 1992, and a Greek Cup finalist in 1989, 1990, and 1991. He also took the third place with PAOK at the 1993 EuroLeague Final Four in Athens, being selected to the EuroLeague All-Final Four Team in the process.
After leaving PAOK in 1995, Korfas played for PAO, winning the EuroLeague championship and Greek Cup with the team in 1996, in addition to the FIBA Club World Cup the same year. In 1998, he moved to Maroussi, and took third place with the club at the Greek Cup final four of 2000.

National team career

Korfas was part of the senior men's Greek national basketball team during the EuroBasket 1989. He did not however take part in any of the tournament games.

Coaching career

After he retired from playing pro basketball, Korfas worked as a basketball coach. He was the head coach of the Greek clubs Papagou, PAOK, Apollon Kalamarias, and HAN Thessaloniki.

Personal life

Korfas was born in Akron, Ohio to a Greek father and an American mother. His son Stefan, is also a professional basketball player.