Stories with a Legend! (Part 6)
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 6
NIKOLA MILUTINOV (2015-2020): «I caught myself not to be ready to say goodbye to Spanoulis. For me, the Euroleague is Spanoulis. Whatever statistical category one looks at, they will see him there. And in most of them, they will see him at top place. In my first season with the team, I played a huge finals' series in 2016 against Panathinaikos. We were trailing 0-1, since Panathinaikos won the first game with a break. When we went to practice next day, there was a flaming look in his eyes. He was sure of turning the situation around and saying so all the time. What he kept saying was that he wanted the ball in his hands. He wanted the responsibility. And what followed was beyond any imagination. In the second game, with his three-pointer we tied the series 1-1. In the third game, we were once again trailing up until third quarter and he practically won the game for us on his own in the fourth. And after that, the absolute finale. That series could be a summary of his career. As for the relationship we have built, we are keeping it for ever, because he's a great person. I wish him the best».
KOSTAS SLOUKAS (2011-2015/2020-2021): «We had been room mates with Vassilis for many years in the hotels we were staying prior to games. Those who have had the opportunity will understand what I'm talking about. Endless hours of conversations about basketball, have made me better. He has a wholesome perception about basketball and basketball is his life. He may be talking about basketball the whole day. We are going to miss him. I wish him all the best for what comes next in his life».
KIM TILLIE (2017-2018): «Vassilis is one of the best players to have played for the Euroleague. It has been an honor to have played with him. I learned a lot from him, I learned how to be even more competitive. A true warrior like anyone I have seen ever again. He would be putting in more work than anyone else and this had a real impact on me. Also, he was humble and I had been impressed by the way he had welcomed me on the team. Vassilis had been one of the main reasons I had signed with Olympiacos at the time. I had wanted to play next him and I never regretted my decision».
JANIS STRELNIEKS (2017-2019): «Vassilis was one of a kind. We would call him "Kill-Bill" and there was a reason for it. There aren't many players that can do what he was doing when the ball was 'burning hot'. You can't teach that. You either have it or you don't. Vassilis had it. He's one of the best in the history of European basketball. I had the chance to be his team mate with Olympiacos for two years and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to meet him as a person too. He's a great player, person and friend. I wish him the best».
HASSAN MARTIN (2020-2021): «I only played with him for a year, but he was definitely one of the best team mates I have ever had. Playing with him on the floor was like having the coach next to you. As a center, I could never have a better leader on the floor than him. He would be always giving me the best advice, making my mind better. I'm thinking different about basketball after co-existing with him. But I will tell you something more though… He made me a better father. His advices were amazing. I will never forget how he would be getting ready before each game, each practice. With the exact same routine. Even when we were eating together as a team, he had the exact same ritual, before and after. It was quite interesting to watch all that, since he would stick to his routine with religious zeal. I'm proud to have been in the same locker room with this legend and I'm glad to be able to call him 'brother' and to be able to call him at any time for a piece of advice. He was the best and I thank him».
NIGEL WILLIAMS-GOSS (2018-2019): «I want to congratulate him on a huge career. When I left Olympiacos I had become a better player thanks to our co-existence. He was the best of the best and he will definitely be missed. Kill Bill for ever!!!».
KOSTAS PAPANIKOLAOU (2011-2013/2016-2021): «Vassilis has helped me a lot. He was one of the people, together with Giorgos (Printezis), that whenever I was in cross roads in terms of my career, I would be talking to them. We have lived so much with Vassilis! I'm thinking many times that I would be seeing Vassilis all these years more than I would be seeing my family. There are many stories I can tell you, but I don't want to single out any one. I remember them all. I believe it's going to be weird the first time we are getting on the floor knowing that he's not going to be there. I wish him the best from the bottom of my heart».
VASSILIS KAVVADAS (2013-2015): «What impressed me the most was how serious and disciplined he has been. He was a hard worker and would not allow anyone around him to be subpar. He personified the true essence of being a team captain. I remember us shouting in the locker rooms, making fun, talking and whenever he would be coming in, we were toning down immediately. He had countless rituals and one of them was that one of his shoes was in front of the other. Following the initial warm up of a game, we went into the locker rooms for the coach to talk to us and because I wasn't looking when I came in, I accidentally kicked his shoes and send them all over the place. I got really nervous and thought 'who will save me now'. I'm going outside; I tell him and explain that it was by accident. Because I thought that if had a bad game later on, I would be toast. He looked at me, smiled and patted me on the back. Thankfully, we won the game and he played well».
DWIGHT BUYCKS (2019-2020): «A huge leader. A fantastic player, a great team-mate. He was everywhere and always competitive. I wish we had co-existed on the floor. However, I realized from the very short time I got to be with Olympiacos, that he was enormous for the organization».
AUGUSTINE RUBIT (2019-2020): «When I hear his name, the following words come to mind: Leader, legend, winner, Mr. Clutch. In my eyes, he's the best player of all time in Europe. I'm from Houston and I knew who Vassilis Spanoulis was. He came to play for the Rockets and then I had the honor of playing with him for Olympiacos. Even at the end of his career, his quality was unique. A simple google search can show younger generations, that are only starting out, that this guy was basketball. I bow before him».
*In parenthesis, the season they were team mates with Olympiacos.
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Part 3