By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The former Greek international and 2014 EuroLeague champion, Sofoklis Schortsanitis, spoke to BasketballSphere on a range of subjects. As a former player for Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, he shared his thoughts on the Greek powerhouses’ chances in the race for the European title.
“Olympiacos is always looking ahead, aiming for the title. Panathinaikos also has a strong team with a clear goal. I can’t say for sure if either team will win the EuroLeague—it will be tough, but it’s certainly a challenge for them.”
Schortsanitis believes the key for Panathinaikos will be how they cope with Mathias Lessort’s absence.
“As for Panathinaikos, we’ll see how much Mathias Lessort’s injury affects them. He played a crucial role, and finding a suitable replacement won’t be easy.”
He also commended Vassilis Spanoulis for his work with Monaco and their key player, Mike James.
“Monaco has been a very good team for a while. I expect them to improve even more under Spanoulis. We’ve seen Mike James, in the first 10 games, play more as a facilitator than a scorer. It seems James is now more committed.”
Having won the 2006 FIBA World Cup silver and the 2009 FIBA EuroBasket bronze with Greece, Schortsanitis mentioned that Kostas Sloukas‘ absence affected Greece’s chances during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“The Greek national team always feels the impact when a key player is missing. This summer, Kostas Sloukas was absent. I understand his reasons, and I hope he returns to play for the national team when the time is right.”
These days, another player with African roots is making Greece proud—Milwaukee Bucks star and two-time NBA MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I don’t think he followed my path—he’s carved his own. He’s a fantastic player and a role model on and off the court. I hope he continues on this trajectory. As for the NBA title, it will be difficult for the Milwaukee Bucks, but I know Giannis isn’t afraid of challenges—he has already overcome so many in his career.”
Once one of the most dominant centers in European basketball, Schortsanitis was known for controlling the paint, but he admits that the role of big men has evolved, with three-point shooting now part of their skill set.
“I’m not a fan of centers shooting threes. I believe a center’s job is to operate in the paint—doing the dirty work like grabbing rebounds, boxing out, pushing opponents, and defending the rim. But modern basketball has evolved, and centers are shooting threes now. If they want to shoot, let them. Even though the game has changed, for me, centers will always belong in the paint. However, if your coach tells you to shoot threes, you’ll do it. Honestly, I don’t believe today’s players put in the same amount of work that we did back in my time.”
While three-pointers have become a key weapon for most teams, NBA players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic are dominating, even though they are not necessarily known for their three-point shooting skills.
“If kids today want to shoot threes, let them. All three of these players are incredible, and I hope their style of play inspires the next generation,” Schortsanitis concluded.