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John Poulakidas

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John Poulakidas
Poulakidas with Yale in 2025
No. 1 – Dallas Mavericks
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2003-04-04) April 4, 2003 (age 23)
Naperville, Illinois, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolNeuqua Valley
(Naperville, Illinois)
CollegeYale (2021–2025)
NBA draft2025: undrafted
Playing career2025–present
Career history
2025–2026San Diego Clippers
2026–presentDallas Mavericks
2026–present→Texas Legends
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

John Michael Poulakidas (born April 4, 2003) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Yale Bulldogs.

High school career

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Poulakidas attended Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois.[1] As a junior, he averaged 17.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.[2] He committed to play college basketball at Yale University over offers from Minnesota, Wake Forest, and Rutgers.[3][4]

College career

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After playing sparingly as a freshman, Poulakidas started every game as a sophomore and junior.[5] As a junior in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Auburn, he scored 28 points, making six three-pointers and helping lead Yale to a 78–76 upset victory.[6][7][8] Poulakidas returned for his senior season, emerging as the team's leading scorer by averaging 19.4 points per game.[9]

Professional career

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Poulakidas was not selected in the 2025 NBA draft. He signed an NBA Summer League contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.[10]

On March 3, 2026, Poulakidas signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks.[11] Immediately after his signing, that same day, he made his NBA debut, playing 14 minutes and 28 seconds of game time action in a 90–117 loss against the Charlotte Hornets; he grabbed five rebounds and dished out two assists.[12] On April 12, Poulakidas put up a career-high 28 points in a 149–128 win over the Chicago Bulls.[13][14]

On July 3, 2026, it was announced that Poulakidas would be participating with the Mavericks in the 2026 NBA Summer League.[15]

Personal life

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Poulakidas's parents are both Greek. "My father's parents are from Greece, my grandfather was born in Sparta, and grandmother is from the island of Chios. On my mom's side, both parents are from the Peloponnese, from a village called Rizes. All my grandparents are Greek, all my family and ancestry are Greek. I speak a little Greek, but I haven't learned it very well," he revealed in an interview with ERT3.[16]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2025–26 Dallas 13019.5.429.403.8572.3.8.5.38.8
Career 13019.5.429.403.8572.3.8.5.38.8

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Yale 2005.1.378.3161.000.5.1.1.11.9
2022–23 Yale 303029.2.416.401.8103.21.4.6.412.0
2023–24 Yale 333330.9.447.405.7662.31.9.5.413.4
2024–25 Yale 272731.6.451.408.8973.31.3.6.119.4

References

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  1. ↑ "Lockdown defense, John Poulakidas' shooting touch lead Neuqua Valley past Lockport". Chicago Sun-Times. March 5, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  2. ↑ Rudnik, Jakub (September 20, 2020). "Neuqua Valley's John Poulakidas Chooses Yale over Power 5". Illinois High School Basketball. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  3. ↑ LeGrand, Ben. "John Poulakidas announces long-awaited commitment for basketball". The Echo. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Neuqua Valley's John Poulakidas makes a wise choice for basketball, committing to 'forty not four' in Ivy League power Yale". Chicago Tribune. September 22, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  5. ↑ Blouin, Drew (July 6, 2024). "Fitting in: Neuqua Valley graduate John Poulakidas hangs with elite college wings at Jayson Tatum camp". Daily Herald. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  6. ↑ Aldam, Will. "Who is John Poulakidas? A look at Yale's NCAA first round hero". Connecticut Post. Archived from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ Botte, Peter (March 23, 2024). "Who is John Poulakidas? Yale folk hero led upset win over Auburn". Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  8. ↑ Kennedy, Joe (November 19, 2024). "Naperville's John Poulakidas rises to the national spotlight with Yale Basketball". NCTV17. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Dom Amore: John Poulakidas keeps taking his best shots and Yale men's basketball is surging again". Hartford Courant. February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  10. ↑ Cornwell, Justin (June 27, 2025). "Neuqua Valley alum John Poulakidas signs NBA summer league contract with the Los Angeles Clippers". nctv17.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  11. ↑ "The Dallas Mavericks Sign John Poulakidas To A Two-Way Contract". gleague.nba.com. March 3, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Poulakidas makes NBA debut for Dallas Mavericks, playing 14 minutes". Yale Daily News. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  13. ↑ Pereira, Richard (April 12, 2026). "Mavericks' Ryan Nembhard passes Jason Kidd for all-time franchise rookie record". ClutchPoints. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Poulakidas, Garza, Capela excel as the NBA Regular Season concludes". Eurohoops. April 13, 2026. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  15. ↑ Curtis, Mike (July 3, 2026). "Mavericks reveal Summer League roster featuring Morez Johnson, Ryan Nembhard Jr., Sergio de Larrea". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Mavericks' John Poulakidas: The Greek-American who drove the NCAA "crazy" may get a Greek passport". newgreektv.com. May 28, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
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