By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
CSKA Moscow decided to honor the retired Greek point guard Theodoros Papaloukas for all his achievements during his years in Russia. The tribute to Theo will be made this week during the game of coach Messina’s team against Barcelona.
Papaloukas is the most decorated non Russian player in the history of the club he was the leader of the “Army team” in its two recent Euroleague winning runs in 2006 and 2008. He started his career in Ethinikos Ellinoroson, continued in Abelokipoi, Dafni, Panionios, Olympiacos, CSKA, Olympiacos again, Maccabi Tel Aviv and then he returned to CSKA for one last run.
His best years of his career are synonymous with the Russian powerhouse, when he was saluted as one of the best players in European basketball’s history, especially in the modern era of Euroleague. He played for six straight years for CSKA Moscow (2002-2008) and he returned there in the second half of last season. He won 13 titles (2 Euroleagues, 7 Russian league champions, 3 Russian cups and last season’s VTB league). During his years in Russia he also won many individual awards, being voted among other things the best foreign player in every pro league sport of the country.
He was the Euroleague’s MVP in 2007, voted as the best European player the same year, he was numerous times an all Euroleague team member and he was also the Final Four’s MVP in 2006. He appeared in 9 Final Fours, 7 as a member of CSKA and 2 as a player of Olympiacos.