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PF/C Kosta Koufos (CSKA Moscow)

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Kosta Koufos could have inside track on Denver Nuggets' center job
Posted: 10/17/2012
The Denver Post

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Nuggets coach George Karl says center' Kosta Koufos "is probably our most fundamentally sound big guy." (David Becker, The Associated Press)

It is political season, but pro basketball is not a democracy. George Karl will cast the only vote in the race among the three candidates vying for the starting center job with the Nuggets. The polls may flip-flop between now and opening night, Oct. 31, but on Tuesday, Coach Karl seemed to give the early advantage to Kosta Koufos.

"Kosta is probably our most fundamentally sound big guy. He knows what we want better than the other guys," Karl said.

Koufos, the 7-foot, 265-pound center from Ohio State, started 24 games for the Nuggets last season but averaged only 16.5 minutes overall, with averages of 5.5 points and 5.4 rebounds. A strained left knee hampered him during the second half of the season and into the playoffs, with Koufos playing in only three of Denver's seven first-round games against the Lakers.

The 23-year-old resolved to hit the gym harder over the summer, and the extra work is evident in his sturdy physique. Through the first three preseason games, Koufos has maintained a pedestrian scoring average of 5.7 points, but he has been the team's best rebounder at 10.7 per, including 13 rebounds in Monday night's win over Golden State.

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Read more: Kosta Koufos could have inside track on Denver Nuggets' center job - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/c...ave-inside-track-denver-nuggets#ixzz29Yuzkfnl
 
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Nuggets coach George Karl likes progress of center Kosta Koufos
Posted: 10/24/2012

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Denver Nugget' Kosta Koufos has made large strides in his development at the center position. (David Becker, The Associated Press)

The Nuggets' season tips off on Halloween. So who will be taking the tipoff?

"If I had to start off by performance in training camp, I'd say Kosta (Koufos) would get the start," coach George Karl said Tuesday after the Nuggets' practice. "But early in the season, winning games, staying consistent, (taking) responsibility, (being) a pro, all those things will come into who plays that position.

"I still think it's somewhat of a three-headed center."

In the first 25-30 games, fans could see a variety of starting lineups involving the center position, Karl said. Koufos has been the surprise of camp, embracing the principles of the big man in the Denver offense, be it setting picks or crashing the boards. And Karl likes JaVale McGee playing with reserve point guard Andre Miller. Though McGee hasn't been as steady as Koufos in camp, trying too hard to showcase his new offensive moves, Karl reiterated: "No matter what you do in training camp, the volume goes up higher when the games count. That's the NBA."

Timofey Mozgov is still in the mix at center, the third noggin on the aforementioned center position.

As for McGee, who signed a big contract this summer, Karl said: "I want JaVale to be a great defender, and I think JaVale can be a great defender before he can become a good offensive player. The game takes a long time to get confidence in being a low post playing, and I'm talking three to five years, where I think you can pick up defensive situations and principles faster, and become as big an impact for our team. Because if we defend the 3 and protect the paint, I think we'll win games."

Stats tell only part of the story, but so far in camp, McGee has averaged 7.8 points and 3.4 rebounds, Koufos has averaged 6.0 and 8.8 and Mozgov, who played in the Olympics for Russia before camp, has averaged 4.8 and 3.4.
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Read more: Nuggets coach George Karl likes progress of center Kosta Koufos - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/c...arl-likes-progress-center-kosta#ixzz2ADmeRlo8
 
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Koufos Expected to Start Over McGee
By HOOPSWORLD

JaVale McGee will enter the Nuggets? season opener as their second highest-paid player. But he will not be one of the five starters on the court when Denver plays the 76ers in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Kosta Koufos, whose salary is $3 million this season, is expected to start at center ahead of McGee, whose paychecks will total $10 million in 2012-13. Is there something wrong with this picture?

Denver coach George Karl is the first to acknowledge McGee?s ability. After practice Sunday, Karl said McGee is the team?s most talented center, period. But he also said a couple of things that can safely be classified as a lukewarm endorsement of McGee?s preseason performance.

?I?m not happy, and I?m not disappointed,? Karl said. ?With my big guys in training camp, I?ve been waiting for separation ? you know, who?s going to take the responsibility. The guy, in my opinion, who has separated is Kosta. JaVale is our most talented big and Kosta is our most fundamental big.?
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http://www.hoopsworld.com/koufos-expected-to-start-over-mcgee/
 
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Utah Jazz: Kosta Koufos grows into starting role in Denver
NBA ? Ex-Jazzman averaging nearly 7 points, 6 rebounds and 1 block per game for Nuggets.
By Bill Oram
| The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Nov 08 2012 pm

Denver ? Kosta Koufos took a long, circuitous route to NBA relevance.

The onetime Jazz first-rounder has gone from a frequent D-League designee in Utah to a bona fide starter with the Denver Nuggets, who the Jazz (2-3) face Friday at the Pepsi Center.

"He?s an extremely hard worker, and he wants it really bad," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "He worked his way into a good spot for him. I?m happy for the success he?s continued to have in this league."

The Jazz drafted Koufos 23rd overall in 2008, and subsequently sent him to Minnesota in 2010 as part of the deal that brought Al Jefferson to Utah. The following season, Koufos wound up in Denver as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade. In January, the Greek national team member signed a three-year extension with the Nuggets.

Koufos has started each of the Nuggets? (2-3) first five games ? beating out JaVale McGee ? and averages 6.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1 block per game.

He scored a season-high 14 points on Tuesday in the Nuggets? 109-97 win over Detroit.

Koufos has seemingly come a long way since his time in Utah, when he played in 84 games and averaged 4.7 and 1.5 points in two seasons.

"I think he understands the game a little more," Corbin said. "I think he?s figuring out who he is in this league on that team."
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http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/55238235-87/jazz-koufos-denver-game.html.csp
 
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Denver Nuggets' Kosta Koufos has been the key to the Melo trade
Posted: 12/10/2012
By Benjamin Hochman
The Denver Post

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Kosta Koufos has shown a willingness to battle for the ball ? as he did Nov. 6 against the Detroit Pistons at the Pepsi Center. He leads the Nuggets with a plus-4.3 rating. (John Leyba, Denver Post file)

NEW YORK ? Every time we come here to the Mecca that is Madison Square Garden, the memories come flooding back about the big trade. Yes, the franchise-transforming day the Nuggets acquired Kosta Koufos.

We kid. Sort of. How funny is it when one looks back at the pieces Denver nabbed from the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2011 Carmelo Anthony trade? Of course, Danilo Gallinari was the marquee get ? he's Denver's leading scorer, though his shooting percentage has been that of a frat guy shooting at a Pop-A-Shot after shooting a bunch of bourbon. Raymond Felton turned into Andre Miller, a coach George Karl favorite.

But Timofey Mozgov seldom plays, we wonder if Wilson Chandler (hip) will ever play and the fifth fellow was Koufos, who has been the surprise of this season.

The 7-footer starts for Denver, and while his numbers are just OK ? he entered Sunday's game averaging 6.6 points per game and 5.9 rebounds ? he leads the Nuggets in one category. Actually, two. He leads the team in syllables (Konstantine Demetrios Koufos) and in plus-minus. By a lot. Koufos entered Sunday a plus-4.3. The next highest Nugget is Miller at plus-1.7. Incredible.

"Right now we're trying to become more solid, consistent and fundamental, and he's one of our best big guys at doing that," Karl said. "He's deserved the minutes he's earned by playing as good as any of our big men all year long.

"The way he's won his minutes is his consistency. He's never spectacular. He's going to be there every day, constantly trying to improve his game. He's earned his reputation on our team as the glue guy up front. JaVale (McGee) is the spectacular guy, Kenneth (Faried) is the hustle guy. But (Koufas') per-minute rebounding, his plus-minus, there are a lot of stats that are saying he should probably be on the court even more."

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Read more: Denver Nuggets' Kosta Koufos has been the key to the Melo trade - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/c...-koufos-has-been-key-melo-trade#ixzz2EekG9V00
 
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Kosta Koufos: Koufos scores career-high 21 points vs. CLE
Kosta Koufos - F/C - DEN - Jan. 12

Kosta Koufos scored a career-high 21 points on Friday against the Cavs, hitting 10-of-17 shots with six rebounds, one steal, and one block in 34 minutes.
Koufos had cooled off heading into tonight but a matchup with the Cavs' weaker interior defense got him going again.
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http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pl...news.asp?sport=NBA&id=1501&line=196728&spln=1

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iIOX3Nrg4Q"]Kosta Koufos 16 Points Full Highlights (1/3/2012) - YouTube[/ame]
 
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Kosta Koufos: Silent Consistency
Jan 17th, 2013
by Matt WelchAnalysis

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Kosta Koufos was maybe one of the quietest first round selections in 2008, a draft that saw the likes of Derrik Rose, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Love go in the top 10.

If you were to check out his NBA Draft Profile on NBA.com, you would see at the bottom that his strengths are listed. You won?t find ?can throw down with the best of ?em? or ?puts up baskets in bunches?. But what you will find is this: ?Legit seven-footer with a feathery shooting touch from the outside. Can post up effectively underneath or face the basket and knock down mid-range shots. Skilled and plays with basketball smarts.?

Most of the time, the very last part goes unnoticed now days. ?Skilled and plays with basketball smarts.? Basketball smarts is such an underrated quality to possess in the NBA. Just look at his turnover numbers. Koufos is averaging 0.6 turnovers per game for his career. LeBron James is averaging 3.3. Yes, I know LeBron handles the ball a lot more than Koufos does and yes, I know that LeBron is a lot more wanted than the likes of Kosta Koufos. I?m just putting the stat in perspective a little bit.

Koufos only spent one year in college at Ohio State before deciding to go pro. In that single season, he averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Did I mention that he had to replace Greg Oden at center? He went on that season to be named the MVP of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) after leading Ohio State to the championship. Even though he left college early, he has since started taking online classes to finish his degree. This just proves his work ethic.

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http://nugglove.com/2013/01/17/kosta-koufos-silent-consistency/
 
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Kosta Koufos scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds vs. the Thunder, but he fouled out in just 21 minutes of action.
This was Koufos' fourth double-double of the season, as his limited minutes typically restrain him to a handful of high-percentage points, rebounds and blocks (though he hasn't blocked a shot in five games). Despite his absence, JaVale McGee (eight points, four rebounds) was nothing but a 7'0" cheerleader during the fourth quarter and overtime. Jan. 20
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http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pl...news.asp?sport=NBA&id=1501&line=197731&spln=1
 
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Even on the superstar-less Nuggets, Koufos is a complete afterthought. The 23-year-old 7-footer cuts in to finish scrambled possessions. He grabs rebound after rebound, but does so far less spectacularly than Faried. His game is built on effort without any of the classic emblems of a hustle game, making him aesthetically bland but altogether helpful. The bottom line: Koufos (8.1 points and 6.5 rebounds in 23 minutes per game) has turned into a pretty solid player for Denver, if only in a role that holds very little pressure. A team would be in a bad spot if it had to actively rely on Koufos, but he’s done some good work on the margins for one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
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SI
 
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Nuggets Journal: Center Kosta Koufos making the most of his more minutes
Posted: 01/27/2013
The Denver Post

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Denver Nuggets center Kosta Koufos. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

A funny thing is happening while just about everyone awaits the improvement that will result in more playing time for Nuggets center JaVale McGee: Kosta Koufos is the Denver post player making the biggest push toward the 30-minute mark.

"I can't deny I'm surprised," Nuggets coach George Karl said of Koufos. "I thought we were going to get a good, 20-minute basketball player. But I think he's moving into being better than that, more than that. Everybody's talking about Wilson (Chandler) being back. The guy that's causing me minutes problems is Kosta. He's got to be on the court more than I thought."

It's a surprise, no doubt, but a pleasant one to all involved. The NBA has a way of typecasting players, branding them before that player has a real chance to show what he actually can be.

Koufos was falling into that category.

A promising big man out of Ohio State, Koufos rarely received playing time with the team that drafted him in 2008 (Utah) or with the team he was traded to (Minnesota).

That has changed in Denver.

The Nuggets acquired Koufos in the Carmelo Anthony trade and liked what they saw. Last season, the Nuggets showed faith in him by signing him to a three-year contract worth $9 million.

Koufos is flourishing this season. Going into Saturday night's game against Sacramento, he was averaging career highs in points (8.1), rebounds (6.5), blocked shots (1.4) and minutes (23.3).

"I'm just playing within the system," Koufos said. "Most important, the team is winning games. We're playing well as a team right now. (I'm) very blessed and very fortunate to have that opportunity. Whatever time I'm given, I just want to play hard, but at the same time it's more of the team playing well. That's the biggest thing for me."

Karl's biggest satisfaction is that Koufos does what he's asked to do ? all the time. The icing is that he's starting to do those fundamental things ? spacing the court, playing below the defense, protecting the rim on defense ? at increasingly higher levels.

"We wanted our big guys to, not block shots, but to protect the paint," Karl said. "And he has become one of the top-five paint protectors in the NBA.

"I think he's (like Memphis center) Marc Gasol. Marc Gasol protects the paint. Kosta Koufos, not as good as Marc, but he protects the paint."

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Read more: Nuggets Journal: Center Kosta Koufos making the most of his more minutes - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/c...er-kosta-koufos-making-most-his#ixzz2JBU39dwR

big game against Cavs...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RZdYbZ2XRM"]?????? ??????-????? ???????? ??? ?BA - YouTube[/ame]
 
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Five Questions ... with Denver Nuggets center Kosta Koufos
Jodie Valade, The Plain Dealer
February 09, 2013

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A quick conversation with former Ohio State Buckeye and current Nugget Kosta Koufos before Saturday's game against the Cavaliers.

Q: You've been having a good season, do you think you've found a home with the Denver Nuggets?

A: Definitely. But I understand it is a business. Anything can happen. But at the same time, as long as I am a Denver Nugget I want to play and help the team win as many games as possible.

Q: You don't score as much for the Nuggets as you used to in college. Are you OK with that?

A: Right now my role is to get rebounds, block shots, set screens, run the floor. That's been working for me right now, and I just want to keep doing it. But I still have that in my repertoire. I can still do that, but right now that's not my role on the team.

Q: What's the biggest thing you've learned from Denver coach George Karl?

A: I've had some good coaches in the NBA, I've been very fortunate. Just say even-keel. Don't get too high, don't get too low. Just stay solid, stay focused on every game and treat every game like it's going to be your last.

Q: You also played for Jerry Sloan in Utah. What did you take away from him?

A: Man, that was a while ago. But the same concept -- he was an old school guy. Just be a hard worker at all times and stay focused even if you're not getting much playing time just in case you do get that opportunity.

Q: Growing up in Canton and attending Ohio State, what do you miss most about Ohio?

A: Family, friends. But Denver's a very beautiful spot, I'm very fortunate to be in Denver now.
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http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2013/02/five_questions_with_denver_nug.html
GlenOak graduate Kosta Koufos finding a home with Denver Nuggets
By Josh Weir
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Feb 09, 2013

CLEVELAND ?

Life is good for Kosta Koufos.

He?s the starting center for the hottest team in the NBA. His Denver Nuggets entered Saturday as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference.

But while Koufos may be in the thin air of the Mile High City much of the time, he doesn?t have his head in the clouds.

Asked if he?s found a home with the Nuggets in his fifth NBA season, the GlenOak High School alum displays realistic optimism.

?Definitely, but I understand it?s a business and anything can happen,? he said after the morning shootaround for Saturday night?s Nuggets-Cavaliers game at Quicken Loans Arena. ?... I am a Denver Nugget and I want to play as hard as possible and help the team win as many games as possible.?

It shouldn?t be surprising that Koufos, who expected about 30-40 friends and family to be in attendance Saturday night, isn?t getting carried away with his success. He?s always chosen his words carefully and considered how his actions will be received.

What is surprising, even to his head coach, is his play this season. The 7-foot, 265-pound Koufos is averaging career highs of 7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 49 games ? all starts ? for the Nuggets, who entered Saturday at 32-18 and winners of eight straight.

?I think the biggest thing right now is we?re winning games,? said Koufos, quick to deflect attention to the team. ?We?re all having fun. We all know our roles. We?re all playing well.?

No one could have predicted before the season that Koufos would be in this position. Not after the Nuggets shelled out $44 million over four years for the hyper-talented and hyper-puzzling JaVale McGee.

But Koufos, in the first year of a three-year contract extension paying him $9 million, grabbed the starting nod from head coach George Karl in the preseason. He has not let go of it.

?I think it?s just opportunity,? Koufos explains. ?I?m playing within myself and the system. I have great teammates and a great coaching staff.?

Koufos? role is simple. He rebounds. He defends the paint. He sets screens. He runs the floor hard.

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http://www.cantonrep.com/charge/x14...sta-Koufos-finding-a-home-with-Denver-Nuggets
 
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