Stories with a Legend! (Part 8)
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 8.
PERO ANTIC (2011-2013): «What can I say about the bald-head Spanoulis? (loud laughter). He's an amazing guy. You should know that what you see on the floor is what you get in real life. He's up to speed with everything, he has created an amazing family and he's a leader off and on the courts. I lived with him for two years, we won Euroleagues, a championship and I'm really so happy that this no-hair guy was the leader of the pack. I wish him to always be healthy and smiling and all the best in whatever he chooses to do with his life from now on. If you see him on the street, don't call him Vassilis, call him 'Celavi', he's gonna turn for sure (laughing)».
STRATOS PERPEROGLOU (2012-2014): «I'm not going to be talking about Vassilis' achievements on the floor, everyone knows about them. Anyway, he's one of the best in the history of European basketball. I'm going to talk about my personal experience with Billy. We were sharing hotel rooms for a time and I remember him talking with Nikos Zisis on the phone for hours, before and after each game. The sole subject of the conversation being basketball. So, during that time, I started using ear plugs, because there was no other way for me to sleep. Sometimes, it would get into the early morning hours and they would still be on the phone. But if you take the weird fun part out of the equation, it only shows his obsession with basketball».
JAMON LUCAS GORDON (2010-2011): «I would like to congratulate him on an amazing career and thank him for everything he has taught me. We would be talking both as rivals and as team mates. He was one of a kind. The best of the best! What really amazes me is that even if you talk about him in the US, everyone has only the best to say about him. Fans adore him anywhere. He's a true icon. He was kind of harsh, working more than anyone else, but I'd like to tell him something and I'm waiting for his response… I was the one to guard him better than anyone else (laughs)».
JAMARIO MOON (2014): «When I heard that Vassilis is retiring, I was sad. It's the end of an era for those of us born in the '80s and afterwards. There only very few players now into their 37 - 38+ age group. A whole era is changing. We will miss him, the fans will miss him, we are going to be missing this guy that was giving 100% on the floor. And since I have the chance, I would like to thank him from the bottom of my heart, because during the season that we played together, he made me feel wonderful. He welcomed me with sincere warmth and made me feel at home while being thousands of miles away. I really appreciate that. I will never forget about it. I wish him success with his next endeavors and I want to ask him for a favor… That he always remains Vassilis Spanoulis».
GIORGOS GEORGAKIS (2012-2013): «Spanoulis was making himself an example simply by the way he practiced. He made us all better and forced us to give 110%. And Vassilis the human being was always there to hang out, to talk, and to exchange ideas about basketball and life in general. Full of energy and ready to joke and have fun. I will never forget how he was goofing around like a small kid after winning the Euroleague in London. He would be running the corridors and hugging everyone. I wish him he enjoys his family even more, having the satisfaction that he has made a major contribution to Greek and European basketball».
WADE BALDWIN (2019-2020): «Spanoulis is an icon for every young kid in Europe that wants to take up basketball. He's the absolute leader. He did everything to win and is living a huge legacy behind him. He will be missed by European basketball».
PATRICK YOUNG (2015-2017): «Vassilis is one of the best team mates I have ever had. A true leader. I will never forget his speech in the locker rooms following our loss in the third game of the 2017 playoffs against Efes. We were trailing the series 2-1 and got to turn it around and win 3-2. His speech after that third game in Istanbul changed a lot. He inspired us and showed us the way. We could see in his eyes how determined he was for the big upset. If anyone saw us playing the fourth and fifth game in that series, they will understand».
ERICK GREEN (2016-2017): «Vassilis was one of the best leaders I have ever played with. He taught me the European playing style, since it was one of my first seasons in Europe at the time. I always had him in my ear, advising me, helping me. I remember choosing to guard him during the very first practices we had together and instantly regretting it! That guy would be playing at 150%, shooting, passing, driving like an 18-year old and I would be really suffering when guarding him. I wish him the best. I'm certain Olympiacos will not be the same without him».
OLIVER LAFAYETTE (2014-15): «After so many titles and achievements, Spanoulis remains humble. His arrival allowed Olympiacos to excel and his legacy will last for ever».
THOMAS ZEVGARAS (2018-2019): «There are so many things I can say about Vassilis Spanoulis. Two of the most important ones have to do with his mentality as a player and how serious he is with what he's doing. I also remember the first practice and also every practice after that with the men's team of Olympiacos. Specifically on that day, practice was to start at 5p.m. and like I used to, I would be going an hour earlier to do some stretching and a pre- warm up. After changing into practice gear, I'm going to the gym and see Spanoulis lifting weights with Andreas Gatzoulis, the team's trainer. I understood right there that his achievements did not come out of the blue. This changed my attitude as well and now I'm heading to the arena much earlier for extra practice or training. I will never forget the advice he would be giving to us young players, but mainly, how 'cold blooded' he would be on the floor, how focused and how he would live every string of his being on the floor to win. I owe a huge thanks to Vassilis Spanoulis, because even before I joined the men's team, I had been looking up to him for ever. I always wanted to be like him, number 1. I wish him all the best with whatever he chooses to do in his life and that he's always healthy».
*In parenthesis, the seasons they got to be team mates.
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Part 3