Really big shoes
UC Irvine center Dimakopoulos has only been in the United States for about four years but you could say he already has a subtle command of humor in English.
When asked what it’s like replacing 7-foot-6 Mamadou N’diaye, Dimakopoulos said:
“It’s hard. Those are some big shoes to fill,” Dimakopoulos said. “Size 19, actually.”
Dimakopoulos spent three seasons playing with N’diaye in practices, which no doubt helped his game.
“He’s such a big factor, you cannot overlook that,” Dimakopoulos said. “It’s not something you can get prepared. He’s so unique. Even if you know he’s coming, he’s something.”
Off the court, Dimakopoulos has found himself growing, too. He decided to pursue a U.S. education — attending prep school in Los Angeles as a high school senior, then choosing UC Irvine — because his father suffered a career-ending injury as a professional player in Greece.
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“My family wanted me to have a degree, just in case,” Dimakopoulos said. “He told me it’s always nice to have a degree. You never know.”
