Kosta Koufos

One collector is trying to find a single signature from every man who ever played for the Jazz — all 370 of them, from the 1974 New Orleans team to today. For many of them, this page is the only one on the internet. Here is Kosta Koufos: what he did on the floor, a few things most people never knew, and every card that carries his name. If you own something he signed — or you know who might — there is a note at the foot of this page.

Greek immigrants Katerina and Alex Koufos raised him in Canton, Ohio, and their son was NIT Most Valuable Player in his lone Ohio State season before the Jazz drafted him 23rd in 2008. He spent two developmental years in Utah, then built a long career as a workmanlike center in Denver, Memphis and Sacramento, later adding EuroLeague stops with CSKA Moscow and Olympiacos.

His father, a pediatric doctor, died when Kosta was nine. Holding dual citizenship, he chose Greece's national team, winning bronze at EuroBasket 2009 and MVP honors at the 2007 European under-18 championship, where he led the field in points, rebounds and blocks.

HOW HE CAME & WENTUtah drafted him 23rd overall in 2008 but rarely used him. In July 2010 he and two first-round picks went to Minnesota for Al Jefferson, the replacement for Carlos Boozer. Kevin O'Connor said the Jazz simply had too many big men.

Full name

Konstantine Demetrios Koufos

Utah Jazz tenure

2008–10

Position

Center

Born

1989, Canton, Ohio

Height

7′0″ (213 cm)

Weight

245 lb (111 kg)

College

Ohio State

Drafted

2008, 1st round (No. 23), Utah