By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Vassilis Spanoulis made history as he moved up to first place on the list of most assists in the history of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, surpassing the great Dimitris Diamantidis. What could be better than to have “3D” and Theodoros Papaloukas – another great Greek player and master of the assist – comment on this achievement? The two EuroLeague Legends and directors of the Eurohoops Academy talk about their friend, teammate, but also… rival!
How do they feel about Spanoulis now being the top assist man in the modern era of the EuroLeague, apart from second-best scorer, behind only Juan Carlos Navarro?
When do they predict he will retire and what is it that makes him so hungry at 36 years of age, after so many successes and distinctions on a team and individual level?
Will he manage to surpass Navarro at some point and become the top scorer in the modern history of the EuroLeague?
Out of Spanoulis, Diamantidis and Papaloukas, who would have the highest average in assists if the three of them played in the same club for years?
How much do they like being in contact with children, their new role and new life in the Eurohoops Academy, and how eager are they for the Easter Camp that’s coming at the Eurohoops Dome?
Enjoy the responses from two giants of Greek basketball, who have retired and whose names have been immortalized in basketball history, as will happen for Spanoulis at some point, too.
How do you feel about Spanoulis now being at the top of the list of most assists in the EuroLeague?
Papaloukas: “Congratulations to Vassilis! His value is timeless, he has proven that. Although many thought he has grown older, he’s still going strong. This makes his achievement even greater. He’s constantly improving his game and making us very happy.”
Diamantidis: “Big congratulations to Vassilis. He deserved it! It was just a matter of time. It’s good for Greek basketball because a Greek player is once again at the top of the assists list.”
Can you predict when he will retire?
P.: “Vassilis has another good 4-5 years of basketball in him! He knows how to keep himself motivated and set goals for himself that keep him alert. He knows how to handle his good and bad periods and to remain at a top level.”
D.: “He’s a man who lives and breathes basketball. He works very hard on the court. He has a lot of years of experience and he knows when to be in form. He knows better than anyone what he has to do. Honestly, with Vassilis, I cannot predict when he will stop playing!”
If you played in the same club for years, who would have the highest average in assists out of the three of you?
P.: “I would definitely get the least playing time!”
D.: “The only concrete example of that was our coexistence in the Greek national team. Each of us has certain parts of the game that he is very good at.”
You’ve both played against him in big games. When you played defense against him, did you prefer to “give” him the choice of scoring or creating?
P.: “It depends on the season, the team, the team’s plan. Spanoulis has something that makes it difficult for the opponent, and that is that he constantly improves. He always had the pass, it’s just that in recent years he has developed it much more.”
D.: “As an opponent, Vassilis was always the main player we had to mark. It depends on what the whole team would choose to do. We tried to minimize both his scoring and his passing. Because he’s a player who knows how to maneuver and read situations, it’s difficult to contain him. You can do it only up to a point.”
Do you believe that at some point he will be able to surpass Navarro – who is also still playing – in terms of points?
P.: “Whether or not he surpasses Navarro will not change anything for us. For us, his value will remain the same and it will be priceless. The biggest question concerning Vassilis, I believe, is when he will stop! Spanoulis is the one who decides how much he needs to pass or score for his team to reach wins and titles.”
D.: “I believe that what interests him the most, beyond personal distinctions, is for his team to win. He wants to be a title contender and his points and assists are a part of his effort to achieve his goal.”
With the EuroLeague’s new format and the extra games, it’s easier for the new players who are coming along and the younger generations to achieve records faster. Is that something that you have in mind?
P.: “The past is the past. We can’t be living with the thought that someone might break our record. The sport evolves, life goes on and I believe it helps you to get on with your life when someone surpasses you. Our everyday life now that we’ve stopped playing has new interests! It’s no good to have records that remain unchanged for many years and are not surpassed. To us, the value of a great player doesn’t change proportionately according to whether he’s first, second or fifth on a list.”
D.: “We don’t even think about that! The format has changed and it’s different. OK, so someone will come along and outdo you. Honestly, I don’t even think about that. That’s just sports.”
How is it for you in your new life and your new role as directors of the Eurohoops Academy?
P.: “We really like it. The Academy is 100% full and we have a waiting list. For next season, we’re trying to create some extra places with the same quality and criteria. Now we have the Easter Camp ahead of us and we can’t wait to spend time with the kids. If they told us 6-7 months ago that we would have made this kind of progress, we would have been very pleased.”
D.: “Through this process we’re having a great time, we’re also learning things from the children and we’re improving. It’s a great job.”