Theodoros "Thodoris" Zaras (Greek: Θεόδωρος "Θοδωρής" Ζάρας; born August 12, 1987) is a Greek professional basketball player and the vice-captain for Lavrio of the Greek Basketball League (GBL). He is a 6 ft 534 in (1.97 m) tall swingman.

Thodoris Zaras
Θόδωρος Ζάρας
No. 13 – Lavrio
PositionShooting guard / Small forward
LeagueGBL
Personal information
Born (1987-08-12) August 12, 1987 (age 37)
Thessaloniki, Greece
NationalityGreek
Listed height6 ft 5.75 in (1.97 m)
Listed weight216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2009: undrafted
Playing career2005–present
Career history
2005–2008ICBS
2008–2009AEL
2009–2010Kolossos
2010–2011Kavala
2011–2015KAOD
2015–2017Aris
2017–2019PAOK
2019–2020Iraklis
2020–2021Kolossos
2021–2022Larisa
2022–presentLavrio

During his pro career, Zaras has played in the top-tier domestic league, the Greek Basket League, as well as in both European-wide secondary leagues, the EuroCup and the FIBA Champions League.

Youth career

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Zaras played youth club basketball with AO Stavroupolis, a team in western Thessaloniki, before he started his pro career at the age of 18.

Professional career

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Some of the clubs that Zaras has played with during his pro career include: ICBS, AEL 1964,[1] Kolossos,[2] Kavala,[3] and KAOD.[4] He joined Aris Thessaloniki in the summer of 2015.[5] He officially signed with PAOK on June 27, 2017. On August 9, 2019, Zaras signed with the third Thessaloniki Greek Basket League club, Iraklis.

On August 13, 2020, Zaras agreed to return to Kolossos Rodou after ten years.[6] During the 2020-21 season, Zaras averaged a career high 11 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2 assists, playing 25 minutes per game. He ranked 4th in three-point shooting (40/83, 48.2% from beyond the arc) in the Greek Basket League and 1st amongst all the native players.

On August 4, 2021, Zaras moved to Larisa. In 30 league games, he averaged 8.5 points (shooting with 42.2% from the 3-point line), 1.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists, playing around 22 minutes per contest.

On September 16, 2022, Zaras signed with Lavrio. In 16 league games, he averaged 7.4 points, 0.9 rebounds and 1 assist in 17 minutes per contest. On July 31, 2023, he renewed his contract with the club and recorded his 15th season in the Greek Basket League. During the 2023-24 season, Zaras made 5.7 points and 1 assist in 16 minutes on average in 22 domestic league games.

On August 30, 2023, Zaras extended his contract with Lavrio for another season. Prior the 2024-25 season, Zaras counts 384 Greek Basket League appearances, 28 Greek Cup games plus 61 games in European Competitions.

References

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  1. ^ Στα «βυσσινί» Καραδολάμης, Ζάρας (in Greek)
  2. ^ ΚΟΛΟΣΣΟΣ ΡΟΔΟΥ Ανακοίνωσε Ζάρα (in Greek)
  3. ^ Στην Καβάλα θα συνεχίσει την καριέρα του ο Θοδωρής Ζάρας (in Greek)
  4. ^ Συνεχίζει στον ΚΑΟΔ ο Ζάρας (in Greek)
  5. ^ Aris adds swingman Zaras.
  6. ^ "Kolossos signed Thodoros Zaras". Sportando. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
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