Stories with a Legend! (Part 3)
Eleven years, 103 team mates. The huge Vassilis Spanoulis is "presented" on olympiacosbc.gr through the eyes of all his Olympiacos' team mates.
Untold stories, good luck rituals, character elements and many moments that stayed with them from the career of the insurmountable gentleman with number 7 on his back… part 3.
VANGELIS MANTZARIS (2011-2019): «I will never forget the look in Vassilis' eyes in 2012, one day before the Istanbul final. We were together with Sloukas and Papanikolaou and goofing around, when Vassilis approached us and told us: "Tomorrow may be the first and last time you are going to have a chance to play a Euroleague final, or a Final Four. You should put your souls into it, so that you don't have the slightest remorse there after that you didn't give all that you had". I remember that time as if it was now. The way he spoke talked directly into our hearts. That was only a small example of the kind of leader Vassilis has been. I wish him the best».
LIVIO JEAN-CHARLES (2020-): «It's redundant to say that he had enamored me with all he had done all these years. But when I signed with Olympiavcos, he blew my mind from day one. I remember it was mid-summer, July, when I had to go to Greece to take a physical. I went to hospital for the physical with people from the club and then we went to the gym. And I saw that the only player working there was him. It was unbelievable! The gym was rather hot, he has six kids and he still was there like some 16-year old kid who had just joined the team. We spoke for a few minutes and when I asked the people from the team about it, they told me that this has been the case for ever. In their eyes, this was completely normal. Absolutely stunning. He had such great love for the game».
JAMEL MCLEAN (2017-2018): «He's the leader that didn't need to talk much to gain the respect of his team mates, but also of those that were involved with the league. I came to the team towards the end of his great career. But still, I got to learn so much from him about what it takes to be a professional, on and off courts. His absolute devotion in every game and the leadership he showed are never to be forgotten! 'Never too high, never too low' are words that I'm never going to forget. Off the court, I could have never asked for a better team mate to talk with, regardless of the subject. I wish him the best in his new life. Again, congratulations on his career that deserves the highest of acknowledgment».
IOANNIS PAPAPETROU (2013-2018): «There are just so many things to say about Vassilis. What I'm never forgetting, is my first day with Olympiacos. I was taking some extra shots following a practice, until at some point, Mr. Papagiannopoulos who was the team physician at the time, comes to me and says: 'Kid, just wrap it up and go, because Spanoulis is at the other basket shooting and he's never leaving if you don't". I didn't believe him; I thought he was just pranking me. After forty minutes, I went to take a shower and after about one hour Vassilis came to the locker rooms. I asked him if he was going to stay too had I stayed for one more hour and he replied: "If you stayed for one more hour, then I would have stayed for 75 minutes, because no one is going to put in more work than I do'. That was Vassilis Spanoulis the player».
MINDAUGAS KUZMINSKAS (2019-2020): «I believe that everyone knows and has witnessed his feats on the floor. For me though, what blew me was his approach outside of the game. His focus on the goal, his devotion, how much he pushed himself and those around him to become better. Even the coaches, the members of the technical staff, everyone. We had talked on the phone before I signed with Olympiacos and I remember I had been kind of nervous. After the first couple of minutes, he made me feel at ease and showed me how great he was off the courts as well».
KOSTAS KOUFOS (2020-2021): «It has been honor to have played with him and I'm 100% certain he's getting to the Hall of Fame soon. I played with him for the National team also and I'm sure history will write him down as one of the best to have ever played the game. His dedication is incomparable and I'm convinced that what made him so special».
ANDREAS CHRISTODOULOU (2013-2015): «I remember that I had stayed for some extra shooting after a practice, with one of the assistants, Vangelis Koutsokeras. I was doing my routine and at some point, Vassilis, who was going through his at the other basket, made a break to drink some water and asks me: "how many shots did you take?" I told him ten in each position. He looked at me kind of baffled and told me: "There's no point in doing that. You only count the ones you make, the perfect shots. That's the only way to get better". His words are still with me today».
JANIS TIMMA (2018-2019): «Vassilis has simple but at the same time, very strict rules. I don't know anyone else like him, knowing everything about basketball and any other league. His daily routine is something I had never seen in my life and I believe I'll never see again. His preparation is the same; regardless we are talking about a game or a practice. I think that that's what made him into what he is today, with all these titles he has won. I learned a lot from all of that. He's a very good team mate, always willing to help you. He always does what's best».
VASSILIS CHARALAMPOPOULOS (2019-): «I'll start with having been lucky to have had the chance to be Vassilis' team mate. I have gained a lot of insight from him. He was always willing to help me and that says a lot about his character. What made a huge impression on me is that he would be getting ready for games with the same exact routine. I wish him all the best with whatever he chooses to do from now on, although deep inside, I'm 100% sure he's going to continue being within the basketball realm».
OCTAVIUS ELLIS (2019-2021): «Spanoulis was a great player and an even greater human being. He was a true leader and never shied away from a tough spot, some hard practice, or a game. I'm sure fans are going to miss him».
*In parenthesis, the season they had been team mates with Olympiacos.