By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
This is something much more than a simple…. “return” of a player to one of his previous clubs, like the ones we see very often. For Kostas Papanikolaou, it is something like a homecoming. After all, Olympiacos is the place where he incredibly evolved as a person and a baller. The team with which he conquered Europe, winning back to back Euroleagues in 2012 and 2013.
Eurohoops does a flash backward to the most memorable moments of the Greek small forward with the Reds, emphasizing on their importance for Olympiacos, but mainly, to what they meant for Kostas Papanikolaou himself. After all, they all had an enormous impact on the international player’s progress, since with each and every of the following games, “Pap” added more and more words to his own pages of brilliance in the Euroleague History book.
1. The Breakthrough
Before the 2010 – 2011 season had started, Olympiacos had decided to not renew the most expensive contract in the team, the one of American small forward Josh Childress. Apart from the financial reasons behind this decision, the club wanted to fully trust its biggest investment for the future: Kostas Papanikolaou. The 20 year old, then, Papanikolaou would be a starting small forward in the squad, his playing time would be increased and, subsequently, he would be called to undertake even more responsibilities than before. That was the plan of the club and coach Dusan Ivkovic.
Many hoped but few actually knew that it was only a matter of time until the youngster would hear the fans of his team sing his name rhythmically.
The third game of the Euroleague Regular Season against Unicaja Malaga was quite important for many reasons. First of all, it was a “must win” situation for Olympiacos that wanted to react after the defeat in Germany, against Bamberg. Second, it was a home game, so victory for the Reds was a necessity. But now, more than 5 years later, this match is remembered by basketball fans because of one single fact that overshadows all the rest: It was “Kostas Papanikolaous’ breakthrough game in Euroleague”.
Don’t look at the final score by which Olympiacos won the day and think something like “oh so he played like in a game which his team won so easily. Big deal”. Actually, it was Papanikolaou that immediately transformed what could have been a dangerous battle, into a walk through the park. His fantastic first half and his buzzer beating 3 point shot in it, gave his team a big early lead, from which Unicaja Malaga could not hope to come back, despite some certain attempts afterwards. Pap scored 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in this game. Of course, the best were yet to come…
2. The Leadership
During 2011-2012, noone expected Olympiacos to finish the season as a Euroleague champion. In fact, very few would even consider them a playoff team. To be honest, the team from Piraeus was dubbed as an “underdog” even in the Top 16. After all, participation in a Group with powerhouse CSKA Moscow (the ultra favorite to win the trophy), Anadolu Efes (with a rather expensive roster, upgraded in comparison to previous years) and Galatasaray (always dangerous) was considered to have doomed Olympiacos to an early elimination from the competition.
After two defeats in a row against CSKA Moscow, at home, and Galatasaray on overtime, in Istanbul, Olympiacos managed to win Anadolu Efes at home, rather easily in the end. But this great result would have been for naught, if it was not combined with a victory in Turkey on February the 8th of 2012. Papanikolaou was bound to outstandingly evolve his role in the team during that night.
Olympiacos started the game well, but its captain, plus the de factor leader, on and off the court, Vasssilis Spanoulis was instantly facing many problems against Tarence Kinseys’s strong defense on him. It is safe to think that the unassuming players of Efes didn’t expect that Papanikolaou would make a decisive damage to them.
“Play 1 on 1, penetrate, be aggressive” his coach said to him. And that is what the young small forward did, taking advantage of his superior physical prowess against the players that were called to guard him, moving exceptionally without the ball in order to receive the pass when needed (thus absorbing some pressure from his teammates) and smartly overpowering his personal opponents in isolation situations. In a performance packed with highlights (like the memorable chase down block on Sasa Vujasic) Papanikolaou scored 16 points and grabbed 6 rebounds to bring Olympiacos closer to the playoffs.
3. The Dominance
“Olympiacos has nothing to lose. They shouldn’t have even been here according to many people. But they are here. So they will play their game”.
Legendary coach Dan Peterson had already given a small preview of the Euroleague 2012 Final, but noone could even dream of what would take place in that game. It the battle between the major underdog Olympiacos, fighting against CSKA Moscow, the absolute favorite, for the prestigious trophy. All odds were in favor of the “Russian Bear” but the Reds, and Kostas Papanikolaou, had shown time and again during the previous months that they would gladly accept any challenge. The Greek small forward would soon play the best game of his career, by then, which coincidentally, was the most crucial one as well.
If we divide the individual responsibilities of Olympiacos‘ players in that game, then we will easily realize that Papanikolaou had the most difficult job than any of his teammates. His personal match-up was no other than Andrei Kirilenko. “AK 47” had returned to Europe, because of the lock-out in the NBA but decided to stay in CSKA in order to win the Euroleague with his team. He almost… cruised his way to the Final with the Russians, being almost unanimously voted as the Euroleague MVP and best defensive player of the season. He was probably the most dominant player that has appeared in the competition since… ages! They have met each other before, of course, but that now was the Final. Everything was different.
Although Papanikolaou’s job had the characteristics of a “mission impossible”, the young guys’ talents knew no boundaries… as his personal opponent would soon find out. Right from the start of the Final, Olympiacos‘ small forward showed that not only he was not intimidated at all by Kirilenko, but that he was immensely fearless against Kirilenko on both ends of court. Not hesitating to shoot the ball from downtown in front of him, or trying to outplay him in 1 on 1, Papanikolaou was immediately distinguished as one of the best players of his team, yet Olympiacos fell behind even up to 19 points in the third quarter.
In the Reds’ historic comeback, Papanikolaou showed the stuff he is made from, is the material which breeds, not simply good, but great players. Equally potent on his defensive and offensive duties, Olympiacos’ player was tough as granite to help his team force CSKA losing its scoring rhythm, while he kept making big shots, grabbing important boards and being extremely calm from the free throw line. Before the “SHOT” by Printezis, he screamed louder than any of his teammates in each failed free throw by Ramunas Siskauskas. Perhaps noone believed in it more than him.
Vassilis Spanoulis was rightfully the MVP of the Final Four, if we take into account his output on both the final and the semi final, but the indisputable best of Olympiacos in the game against CSKA Moscow was no other than Kostas Papanikolaou (18 points, 5/5 shots, 5 rebounds). “It is the greatest moment of my life”, the player said after his triumphant performance. That night, his star hadn’t only risen but was glowing brighter than anything in the European basketball galaxy. “Who is this kid that ate AK 47 alive?” people in the NBA started to wonder.