By Michalis Gioulenoglou/ info@eurohoops.net
Giorgos Papagiannis is seeking a deep run in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague alongside the new head coach of AS Monaco, Vassilis Spanoulis.
Before confirming the EuroLeague championship as the goal for La Roca Team during an interview with Eurohoops, the 27-year-old Greek big opened up about missing the excitement surrounding the rivalry between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos
“For sure,” he confessed, “The energy throughout the week, not only during the game. I was blessed to play last year in the Turkish derby and this year in the French derby. So, I have experienced all the local derbies.”
Big Papa is displaying his talents outside Greece for the second straight year, from Fenerbahce Beko to Monaco.
“I am happy,” he said, “It’s more calm abroad. Based on the different languages, you can’t follow everything. You can focus on the court and remove the rest.”
With Spanoulis recently replacing Sasa Obradovic at the helm of Monaco, Papagiannis got the opportunity to extend the collaboration from a successful offseason with the senior national team of Greece to the club level via the EuroLeague and France’s Betclic Elite.
“He has a winning mentality that the team needs. He knows what he wants from us and how to convey his mentality. I am happy to work with him once more. I believe he can get the best out of us,” mentioned the towering center.
Coming off the bench in all of his 14 appearances in the 2024-25 edition of the EuroLeague, Papagiannis tallied 7.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 0.5 steals, and 0.4 assists per contest. Monaco is part of a three-way tie in third place, behind a 9-5 record.
“Panathinaikos is on top as the champion. Every team is looking to knock the champion off the throne,” he described the current situation focusing on the Greens, “Becoming a favorite to win the EuroLeague, winning streaks or team displays on moving the ball or in defense are required. Certainly, Olympiacos has a good momentum, but Panathinaikos is the defending champion. Last year they had up-and-downs but eventually, all fell into place and they lifted the trophy. Every team wants to beat its opponent.”
“Despite being for only a few years at the top level, the team wants to return to the Final Four and win,” he added on the aspirations of Monaco to conquer Europe’s premier club continental competition.
Up next for the team guided by Spanoulis is a meeting with Fener in Ulker Sports Arena on Thursday evening.