Kevin Pangos: The Gonzaga Legacy Lives On

The night of November 13, 2011, will forever be etched in the memories of Gonzaga fans. It was the night Kevin Pangos, a young Canadian guard, announced his arrival on the college basketball scene with a breathtaking 33-point performance against Washington State Cougars.

“[The Cougars are] playing a zone,” assistant coach Tommy Lloyd told Pangos before the game. “So we’re going to start you and we’re going to start you to shoot the ball.” Pangos couldn’t have followed his coach’s orders any closer. After missing his first outside shot, he lit up the Cougars for 33 points on nine made 3-pointers, tying Dan Dickau’s program record. He went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line and dished out six assists in a thrilling 89-81 victory in front of a sold-out Kennel crowd.

“Pregame, I didn’t eat. I was really nervous,” Pangos recalled. “But I went into the game and I just listened [to Lloyd]. I think I shot like six 3s in the first three minutes. It was just bang, bang, bang.”

The 3-point barrage against WSU catapulted Pangos to star-level status on campus and set the stage for what would be a decorated career in Spokane. Pangos was an All-WCC selection all four years at Gonzaga, highlighted by his senior season in 2014-15 when he averaged 11.6 points, 4.8 assists and shot 43.1% from downtown to win the West Coast Conference Player of the Year award.

Gonzaga’s Golden Era

Pangos helped set the foundation for a decade-long run of unparalleled success out of the Bulldogs, though he certainly couldn’t have seen it coming all those years ago. Gonzaga’s consistent performances have led them to become a powerhouse in college basketball, with nine straight Sweet 16 appearances and two national championship runs.

“Since then they’ve exceeded that [expectation],” Pangos said. “They’ve been to the national championship twice, they’ve ranked No. 1 consistently. It’s been amazing to see.”

The Next Chapter

After Gonzaga, Pangos took his talents to the professional circuit, playing in top leagues in Spain, Lithuania, and Russia, as well as international competitions with the Canadian senior national team. After a stellar season with Zenit Saint Petersburg in the 2020-21 season, he decided it was time to give the NBA a shot before it was too late.

“I just always wanted to compete at the highest level,” Pangos said. “I knew going into that season, I’m going to give [the NBA] a shot. I wanna look back at not regret not giving it a go, so I turned down all my offers overseas.”

Pangos signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers in September 2021 and played spot minutes for much of the season before being released in February. Though his time in the association was brief, he can say he gave it his best effort. Now Pangos is coming off his second season back in Europe’s top leagues, playing with Spanish club Valencia Basket.

Coming Home

Despite his global basketball journey, Pangos still has a soft spot for Gonzaga and the city of Spokane.

“I miss it here,” Pangos said of Gonzaga and Spokane. “It’s a family and people use that word for a reason. You jump in and people care about you as a person and a player. After that, you just build a tight-knit [relationship] cause they’re all people who feel the same way.”

Pangos’ love for Gonzaga is a testament to the program’s ability to foster a sense of community and camaraderie among its players, coaches, and fans. As he continues to thrive in the professional ranks, his legacy will forever be etched in the hearts of Gonzaga Nation.