By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The men who built Panathinaikos Athens into the most successful EuroLeague club this century and the team captain who is carrying on their tradition, Nick Calathes, are together at the heart of Guardian of a Legacy, the latest entry in the Euroleague Insider Documentary Series.
Pavlos and Thanasis Giannakopoulos, who regrettably passed away within the last year, wrote a story of excellence as they guided Panathinaikos to six continental titles, five of them this century. Calathes returned to his grandfather’s homeland to win a EuroLeague title with Panathinaikos and learn from the Giannakopoulos brothers about the family values that led to greatness.
“My grandfather was a big part of my basketball success and my career, especially growing up, because he was pushing me a lot and also he was my biggest fan,” Calathes recalls. “It’s pretty funny how it turned out, for him to come to the States and me now living in Greece.
“The Giannakopoulos family took me in like I was one of their own. They brought me here. Anything I ever needed, they gave me. Pavlos Giannakopoulos was everything to Panathinaikos. The family is what made Panathinaikos who they are today.”
Check out the unique documentary set up by EuroLeague for more: