By John Rammas/irammas@eurohoops.net
And even if Antonis Fotsis and Panathinaikos parted ways, Victor Khryapa remains the captain of CSKA Moscow. There are many players who are indentified with one team in the EuroLeague and Eurohoops compiled the list of those who are still active with the most years in a team.
It’s not a small feat. One-year contracts that might never be completed, contracts that include an option for renewal from the team’s side, contracts with an NBA out, contracts that can be bought out or even exchanged, loans… In this way, no matter how much the team and the player want it, it’s become hard to stay together for very long. This, however, does not mean that there aren’t some cases that make the difference.
Antonis Fotsis, who had 12 (4+1+3+4) seasons in 4 terms at Panathinaikos, is not one of them. On the other hand, Victor Khryapa just renewed his presence on the following list.
EUROLEAGUE PLAYERS WITH THE MOST YEARS IN A TEAM
1. Juan Carlos Navarro @ Barcelona: 20 (10+10)
2. Georgios Printezis @ Olympiacos: 15 (6+2+7)
3. Felipe Reyes @ Real Madrid: 14
-. Paulius Jankunas @ Zalgiris Kaunas: 14 (6+8)
5. Victor Khryapa @ CSKA Moscow: 13 (2+11)
6. Sergio Llull @ Real Madrid: 12
-. Andrey Vorontsevich @ CSKA Moscow: 12
8. Rafa Martinez @ Valencia: 10
-. Nikita Kurbanov @ CSKA Moscow: 10 (4+3+3)
-. Arturas Milaknis @ Zalgiris Kaunas: 10 (2+4+2+2)
*Next season included.
Even though he has changed several teams in his career, even going as far as the NBA (Trail Blazers 2004-05, Bulls 2006-08), anything other than the continuation of their common course would look strange. CSKA Moscow did what they had to do, they just announced the renewal of the contract (1+1) and the 35-year-old Russian is going to start his 13th season with the Army Team, of which he’s the captain.
Victor Khryapa @ CSKA Moscow
2x EuroLeague
8x Russian Championship
1x Russian Cup
7x VTB League
He was born in Kaunas, he played basketball in Zalgiris Kaunas’ academies and reserve team, he’s the captain of Zalgiris Kaunas, but he hasn’t played only for Zalgiris Kaunas. The hiatus at the Russian Khimki (2009-10) was enough to cut in two the 33-year-old left-handed Lithuanian’s course with the team of his heart. Despite this, the hiatus didn’t last long and now he’s getting ready for his 14th season with them.
Paulius Jankunas @ Zalgiris Kaunas
11x Lithuanian Championship
6x Lithuanian Cup
4x Baltic Championship
1x Baltic Cup
Once a player for rivals Estudiantes, now the flagship of Real Madrid, with whom he has won everything. The summer of 2004 was a landmark year in the career and life of the 37-year-old Spaniard, who is going to enter his 14th season with the Merengues, where he has the honor of being the captain, too.
Felipe Reyes @ Real Madrid
1x Intercontinental Cup
1x EuroLeague
1x EuroCup
5x Spanish Championship
5x Spanish Cup
3x Spanish Supercup
The latest renewal of his contract will keep the 32-year-old Printezis in Olympiacos until 2020, when he will complete 17 years with the team. For now, he counts 14, going on to 15, in three terms (Olympia Larissa 2006-07, Unicaja 2009-11) and there is no expectation of another, not just in Olympiacos, but anywhere else, since he has expressed his desire to retire in Red-and-White, and that desire is mutual.
Georgios Printezis @ Olympiacos
1x Intercontinental Cup
2x EuroLeague
3x Greek Championship
1x Greek Cup
