CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For six years, Kevin Pangos had the same daily routine. He woke up, looked at NBA box scores from the night before and asked himself a question: How do I get to the NBA?
“Every single day it’s what I thought about,” Pangos told cleveland.com. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I just wanted to play with the best players in the world. It’s what everyone wants to do -- play at the highest level.”
Like many young Canadians, Pangos played youth hockey. It was in the family’s blood. His uncle made it to the NHL. A cousin got drafted by the Washington Capitals. But Pangos didn’t have the same passion for that sport. Basketball was his love. Steve Nash his inspiration.
Despite an exceptional collegiate run at Gonzaga -- WCC Newcomer of the Year in 2012, four-time All-WCC First Team, WCC Player of the Year in 2015 -- Pangos went undrafted. He began his professional career with Spanish club Gran Canaria, thinking he would gain some needed experience, make a little bit of money, improve his game and put himself back on the NBA radar.
Only interest didn’t come.
After an uneven stint in Spain, Pangos went to Lithuania, joining Zalgiris. Named All-EuroLeague Second Team, Pangos helped guide undermanned Zalgiris to its first EuroLeague Final Four appearance in 20 years, finishing in third place. Still no firm NBA offers. So, it was on to FC Barcelona for two subpar, injury-filled years and then Zenit St. Petersburg.
Four clubs. Six years. Alone at times in a foreign country. Endless questions. Nagging doubts.
“There were moments where I was playing awful and I was in a ditch mentally and then also physically with injuries,” Pangos said. “There were also moments when I was playing great and even then, it didn’t seem like it was going to happen for me.
“Every single year I would have liked to be in the NBA. But I just tried to control what I could control and know that the spot I was in, I was there for a reason and I hadn’t quite earned it yet. There was a lot of growing I had to do on and off the floor, as a person and a player. I think that allowed me to get to the point where I am today.”
A promise kept
This past summer, following a standout season with Zenit, where he averaged 13.5 points and 6.6 assists while earning All-EuroLeague first team honors, Pangos received plenty of overseas offers. There was one from a well-respected EuroLeague powerhouse. More money. More security. More comfort. A bigger role.
But ahead of the 2020-21 season, Pangos, 28, made a promise to himself and his wife that no matter how he played, good or bad, he would give the NBA a shot -- if a team wanted him.
When the Cleveland Cavaliers expressed interest -- one of a few NBA franchises that reached out -- Pangos didn’t hesitate, turning down what one source called “significant money” to stay overseas.
“It wasn’t difficult,” Pangos said. “There are people I’ve talked to, some mentors I’ve had through Canada Basketball that didn’t take that shot at the NBA and they talk about the ‘What if?’ For me, there was no hesitation. I never want to look back at my career and say, ‘What if?’ No matter how much money or whatever team you play for overseas, I think this was the time to do it. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.”
General manager Koby Altman has been scouting Pangos for the last five years, going back to when Pangos was brought to Cleveland for a pre-draft workout in 2015. Over the years, there were numerous internal conversations about the possibility of bringing Pangos back and whether his game could translate, with members of the front office staying in touch with his agent. Cleveland also holds the draft rights to Arturas Gudaitis, one of Pangos’ teammates at Zenit, allowing the organization to easily gather intel.
When the Cavs watched Facundo Campazzo, a 30-year-old international star, make a positive impact for the Denver Nuggets last season, Altman wonder whether Pangos could do the same in Cleveland.
Determined to reshape the point guard depth chart, the Cavs began the offseason by acquiring steady veteran Ricky Rubio from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a draft-night trade. But that one move wasn’t enough. They went hunting for a third point guard.
Life-changing call
About a year ago, the Cavs considered signing Pangos. But they didn’t have any available roster spots. This time they did. Even though Pangos isn’t a proven NBA commodity, members of the front office felt he had more upside than any remaining free agent -- and was one of the top names on their list of overseas targets.
There are questions about his transition. He’s only 6-foot-2 and not overly athletic. But his shooting ability, IQ, pick-and-roll command, work ethic, attitude, maturity, toughness, professionalism and experience make him an ideal fit as a third guard.
“Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn’t. I think he’s earned the right to get a shot,” an NBA executive said. “We’ll see what he can turn into.”
As the possibility of a deal increased, Pangos got on a call with team decision-makers, including coach J.B. Bickerstaff. The Cavs asked why Pangos felt he could play in the NBA and what he brings to a team. Pangos turned the tables, asking how they saw him fitting. By the end of the conversation, there was a natural level of comfort.
The next step: finalize a deal. The two sides agreed to a partially guaranteed two-year contract for the veteran’s minimum.
His first NBA contract in hand, Pangos needed a crash course on the new league. He spent the next few weeks learning terminology, spacing, pick-and-roll coverages, defensive schemes, rule changes. He wanted to be ready, physically and mentally, for training camp.
It’s been almost two months since that conversation. Pangos is living his NBA dream.
“Been quite a journey for me the last six years, but to be here has been amazing,” Pangos said. “It’s a very family-oriented environment. Everyone cares about each other, everyone wants to win, everyone wants to do what’s in the best interest in the team. That’s how I am as well. I don’t think it’s a coincidence why both sides were interested.”
Soaking it in
Pangos admits there’s a bit of uncertainty about his role -- and how much playing time he will get, if any.
Bickerstaff is planning to use either a nine- or 10-man rotation initially. Darius Garland, one of the franchise building blocks who looks primed for improve on his bounce-back season, is the starter. With Rubio earmarked as the backup, Pangos is likely to get squeezed out. But it’s a long season -- and the Cavs used upwards of six guys at the position in 2020-21. Plus, Rubio’s on an expiring contract, so he may not be on the roster beyond the trade deadline.
At some point, Pangos will get his chance.
“Obviously you want to prove things and show that you can play at the highest level. But I think when you go in with that mindset too much you start getting outside yourself and your own abilities,” he said. “At the end of the day I just want to fit and contribute and bring value. That’s the mindset I’m going in with.
“For me, in my position, I have to see the big picture all the time. I can’t get caught up in my own world. How do I bring value? That’s what I’m talking to everyone about. That’s what I’m thinking every single day.”
Part of that value is relaying six years of knowledge gained overseas. It could be observing opponents and studying game plans, scouting reports and schemes, acting as an extension of the coaching staff. It could also be bringing positivity and helping guys fight through unavoidable adversity.
There’s certainly on-court potential as well. Bickerstaff has already seen it.
“He is crafty,” Bickerstaff said. “He has the ability to get in the paint and make shots, left-hand, right-hand floaters. He knows how to read the game, knows how to make his teammates better. He’s heady. He sees the game in advance. He makes my job easier because he can call the game on the fly. We’re talking about playing with that tempo and playing with that pace, you need lead guards who can organize quickly and on the fly. He has shown he can do that.”
Each day in practice, Pangos tries to push Cleveland’s exciting young backcourt duo of Garland and Collin Sexton. He picks them up full court, bumps them coming off screens, plays with a needed level of physicality at the point of attack. Following the first practice, Pangos beat Garland and Rubio in a 3-point shooting shooting contest. Those sessions often get heated.
“He’s a big competitor,” Garland said of Pangos. “He’s fearless with being so small. But he really gets after it on both ends on the floor. He’s got that overseas grit. He’s really tough. It’s really fun to be around him too.”
Sexton has learned the same. Around 8 p.m. on one of Pangos’ first days at Cleveland Clinic Courts, the two walked by each other. The fourth-year guard stopped and stared at Pangos before realizing who he was.
You’re the new guy, right?
Then the two hit it off. They talked about Pangos’ winding journey to the NBA, family, basketball, life and the many differences between playing internationally and in the states.
“He was just talking about all the resources that we have,” Sexton recalled. “We were sitting in the cold tub for like 20 minutes, and he was like, ‘Man I wish I had this overseas.’ It’s a blessing to have him in the building. Even though he’s older than me, it’s cool to help him out, especially knowing that it’s coming from the right place and he just wants to get better.”
Pangos admits there have been tough -- and exhausting -- days in training camp. The schedule is relentless and there’s a steep learning curve. There will be plenty of nights when he doesn’t even get on the court. Other times, he may struggle.
But none of that matters. Not the times when he loses to Garland in those post-practice battles. Not the 1-of-9 shooting night in the jittery preseason opener. Not the DNP in the second exhibition in which Bickerstaff rode his regulars. Not even the late-game turnover or missed 3-pointer at the buzzer in a rematch against Chicago on Sunday.
Because Pangos finally made it.
“There’s tons of emotions. I don’t know if I’m going to sleep the night before the first game, but it’s going to be amazing and I’m going to try to soak it all in,” he said with a smile. “Regardless of what’s going on I’m just going to appreciate the moment because I know how difficult it was to get here. Regardless of the outcome, if I play great or play bad, the sun rises the next day and you go at it again.
“I’ve made it. But this to me is just the beginning. I want to stick. I want to belong. I want to contribute. Wherever that may be. I’m just so appreciative of the opportunity because it took me so long to get here.”
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