Today, we Greeks feel proud when we hear the name Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s an NBA star and a household name. But not too long ago, another Greek made his mark in the NBA, winning four championships. It’s a long way for Antetokounmpo to go if he ever wants to catch up with Kurt Rambis, also known as Kyriakos Rambidis, a former NBA player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the 1980 NBA draft, Rambis was selected in the third round as the 58th overall pick by the New York Knicks, but they waived him later. He played in Greece’s Greek League for AEK Athens under the name Kyriakos Rambidis and won the Greek Cup in 1981. Since he was of Greek descent, he also obtained Greek citizenship.
The Knicks re-signed him in 1981, but he never played a game for them. His NBA career officially started when he was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1981. Rambis spent most of his fourteen NBA seasons with the Lakers, winning championships in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988, as part of their Showtime teams, and was highly popular for his tough, blue-collar style of play.
During his playing days, Rambis was a favorite among Lakers fans because of his status as an overachieving underdog and a true team player. Known for his defensive and rebounding skills, he was remembered in Los Angeles for his relentless effort and willingness to do the “dirty work” that many players shy away from. Rambis typically wore a thick mustache and his signature thick-rimmed black glasses, which led Lakers announcer Chick Hearn to nickname him “Superman” (referring to the character’s alter ego, Clark Kent). He was also called “Rambo.”
Rambis also played for the Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns, and Sacramento Kings before returning to the Lakers in 1993. He retired as a player with the Lakers in 1995. During his NBA career, Rambis scored 4,603 points (5.22 ppg), 4,961 rebounds (5.6 rpg), and 931 assists (1.1 apg).
Darrell Kurt Rambis was born on February 25, 1958, in Terre Haute, Indiana, but his family moved to Cupertino, California, where he graduated from Cupertino High School. He attended and graduated from Santa Clara University, playing basketball for the Broncos. During his senior year, he was named Player of the Year in the West Coast Conference. He was the team’s second-leading rebounder and all-time leading scorer with 1,736 points. His jersey #34 was retired on December 29, 2008.
Rambis became an NBA coach in 1994 and has served as the head coach for the Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Knicks. He also won two league championships as an assistant coach with the Lakers. In 2018, Rambis rejoined the Lakers as a senior basketball advisor.
Off the court, Rambis has appeared in several television series, including 7th Heaven as Coach Cleary, Sweet Valley High, The Commish, Married with Children, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, and Malcolm & Eddie. He is also referenced in the lyrics of several songs, including “Blao!” by rapper Hot Karl, where he raps, “I’m wearing the goggles that Kurt Rambis used to sport.”