By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Are you Greek? Passing a lot? Then you make history! Vassilis Spanoulis surpassed Pablo Prigioni and became the third all time assists player in Euroleague ‘s modern history, completing a trio of Greek legends.
Who are the other two in the top of the all time list? Dimitris Diamantidis (1.090) , another legend of European basketball who is still in action and Theodoros Papaloukas (977), who has retired, completes the triplet of all time best creators. In third position, there’s Olympiacos’ captain, Vassilis Spanoulis (801). All of them are legends and all of them are Greeks.
This is a rare historical conjuncture. The three kings of assist are from the same country. It’s impossible for Eurohoops not to exploit this kind of opportunity. We asked them the same six questions. Everybody answered with pleasure and joy.
Enjoy the answers of Greek Kings of assists, exclusively on Eurohoops, in a unique story, adapted to the demands of a big occasion
1. How do you feel, knowing that the greatest passers in Euroleague’s history are Greeks?
Diamantidis: “It’s definitely something special. It’s something rare three players from the same country to be the top three in such an important category of the game in Euroleague. We have to be glad and that makes us proud. The top of this category belongs to Greeks. It shows something to basketball experts and fans abroad, for Greeks to be on the top 3 positions. ”
Papaloukas:”It’ s a great honor for Greek basketball, that three greatest passers in Euroleague ‘s history are Greek. I am grateful for being on top on this category, with two amazing players, like everyone else”.
Spanoulis: “It’ s a great honor for our country to have the best players in such an important category, in Euroleague’s modern history. That thing proved that the basketball IQ of Greek players is very high. The Greeks play as a team. This was the secret of our achievements during last 15 years. Thought and act must be very close on the top level”.
2. Which element pushes a player in such great number of assists all these years. The perception of the game, a high basketball IQ or the conscious choice of a pass, a decision made with the ball on your possession.
D: “I think it’s a combination of the two features you mentioned. You have to see the best pass every time, to have the ability to think it very well and at the same time you have to be ready to pass the right moment. It’s a very important factor to make your decisions quickly. Both of these conditions are necessary. You have to be sure about your choice”.
P: “A great pass is always a combination of how you read a game and basketball IQ. First of all you have to help your team, creating all the time good scoring chances, with only a pass”.
S: “It’ s a combination of how you read the game and basketball IQ. It’s a gift. A good pass probably becomes a basket or a chance for another good pass. This kind of pass is an assist to me. Speed is a key factor”.
3. If you have to choose a style of pass, as the “trademark pass” of Diamantidis, Papaloukas and Spanoulis which would be? Each of you can talk about the other two!
D: “I can’ t distinguish only a style of pass in which Papaloukas was the best. If I did that, probably I will diminish him. Thodoris has the gift to read the game and opponent’ s defenses quickly. He knew when was the right time to pass. He knew to give the ball to the right person, the right time. Spanoulis was great in a special kind of pass. His bounce passes especially after a pick and roll are magnificent. You may think that these passes are not always a good idea, but you are wrong. He is able to do that”.
P: “Diamantidis’ most characteristic pass is this kind of passes which creates the change for a shot without pressure on the weak side. Probably a three point shot. Vassilis’ bounce passes after the pick and roll are something unbelievable. Very quick passes”!
S: “Dimitris and Thodoris had different kinds of assists. They are unpredictable players. Dimitris skip pass is the number one. He is very good in this kind of pass, with great speed usually after a pick and roll. Thodoris, because of his height and his brilliance, had the ability to find an open player. Coaches teach not to pass when you are on the air, but Papaloukas was the exception to the rule. It was his advantage”.
4. You have dealt countless assists. Tell us one that is unforgettable to you. The assist you will never forget and comes first to your mind.
D: “I don’ t know what can I say. I don’t remember a specific pass of mine, which resulted to a crucial basket. Zisis’ assist before my three point shot during Eurobasket’ s 2005 semifinal against France was that kind of pass. It was a tremendous moment for us. That was a pass I won’ t forget in my life, but it wasn’ t mine. Nikos made it… (laughs)”
P: “A pass of mine which comes to my mind… It’s the pass to Schortsianitis, during the World Championships’ semifinal in Japan, against USA. A pass which Sofoklis exploited and made the dunk”.
S: “This is very easy question. The assist to Printezis, at the end of Euroleague’s 2012 final versus CSKA. Perhaps this is the quickest answer probably a player could give. I didn’t need much time to think”.
5. Many people say that the tall guys should give a part of their salary to the players that offer them easy baskets. That means you as a matter of fact. Do you agree?
D: “I’ve heard it too, but I disagree. Have you ever thought it in reverse? We give them the ball, but if they didn’ t know how to move, if they don’t score? We wouldn’t have a big number of assists. The most important thing in the sport is to score baskets. The big guys are very good in this. Don’t underestimate that”.
P: “Big guys’ role is crucial. Without them, we wouldn’ t have a great number of assists in our careers. We were lucky, having very smart big guys in our teams. Players who had the ability to understand the way we pass. We were lucky and they were lucky too”.
S: “It’ s a combination and cooperation of guards and centers, inside and outside the court. The players must have a common point. I was lucky to cooperate with very smart big guys. Timing is very important. We want the big guys to read the game quickly and take the best position inside opponents’ defense”.
6. Your generation was influenced by the “basketball heroes” of Eurobasket 1987. Do you believe that the next generations will be your basketball “heirs”? Will Greece have new kings of assists, continuing your strong tradition?
D: “Honestly it’s a difficult question. We love basket because of the older players and their achievements. Every child in its first steps, has some archetypes. It’s a bless. I wish for Greek basketball to have other great players in the future. In all categories. If some kids become super players because of us, I will be very happy”.
P: “It will be very important and honoring, if we created a big influence to younger generations, just like the Greek Eurobasket winning team of 1987 did for us. I’m sure that during next years, lots of great players will make their appearance. Greek basketball has proved that has its own basketball school”.
S:”We were influenced by the generation of ’87. We loved basketball after that success. I hope the next generations would love basket as much as we did, also because of their love for us. That will be the biggest trophy for me more than the successes we had with Dimitris and Thodoris. That will be the biggest legacy. That will make us proud”.