Bartzokas, Printezis, Pap and Sloukas talk about Kill Bill!

Together through thick and thin… Giorgos Bartzokas, Giorgos Printezis, Kostas Papanikolaou and Kostas Sloukas talk to Olympiacosbc.gr not only about Vassilis Spanoulis the player, the one that has forged his name with burning letters in the history of European basketball, but also about their friend who had always been there to advise, inspire and make them better…

Giorgos Bartzokas

"There are intense feelings that cannot be contained in words because they become lesser. Vassilis Spanoulis is the most important player in the contemporary history of Olympiacos, but also, a huge personality in the realm of European and Global basketball.

His basketball course has branded a whole era. His legend and interaction with the sport and all those involved with it, will never cease to exist just because he has decided to retire. He has won everything there is to win, and above all else, he has won the respect and acknowledgement of the whole wide sporting community, which is only apparent from the reactions following his decision.

I had been lucky enough to live and work with him in three different times in his career. During the first steps of his rising with Maroussi, during his peak when he had been the undisputed leader of the great successes and during this last phase when the inevitable came and he had to face the all winning factor that is time. It's admirable that in all three he exhibited the same flame and passion for the game. Because in life, without passion and dedication, it's impossible to reach as high as he went. Whatever he won, he conquered, nothing was given to him and that's his legacy to the younger generation, no matter what their chosen path in life is.

Vassilis is not a "lucky person", simply because nothing was given to him. He always got to choose the tough path, the one with the most challenges.

However, above titles and personal accolades, his greatest achievement remains his amazing family. His wife and kids, they know better than all of us, that Vassilis is a 'gift' in the way he loves and inspires. On behalf of the whole of the coaching staff, we wish him to always be healthy, get some rest and when he feels ready to come back to basketball, in any capacity he chooses, because as we all know, is his breathing oxygen". 

Giorgos Printezis

"I don't need to speak about Vassilis Spanoulis' value as an athlete and a person. His presence on the courts and his course in life 'speak' for themselves.

We have lived through so many moments with Billy, intense, small, good, bad, injuries… It's certainly too hard for me to pick only one. We had been constantly together, practicing, traveling… We also knew each other before he joined Olympiacos, being team mates for the National team.

Nevertheless, I would like to talk about a very unique moment... I remember the summer of 2011, when the Presidents had announced that they were stepping down, but were persuaded to think it over and finally decided to stay. However, there was a lot of uncertainty around. Vassilis had remained with the team, as had I; however, given the roster that was being built, the expectations were not set very high. At the moment I'm talking about, we were traveling together. Coming back from a vacation. Vassilis had boarded a ship from Patmos to Piraeus and I had done the same, sailing from Syros to Piraeus. During the trip, he tells me: "Man, we are going to do very well this year. We're going to have a team of fighters! We're going to be twelve underdogs fighting for every inch of the floor". I was looking at him and thinking: "How much pride this man has inside him! After so many years around huge names and great players on the roster, after such big budgets spent, that led the team to the spring, but still left it 'thirsty', how can he believe that with Sloukas, Papanikolaou and myself, that had just returned from Malaga, we are going to be ok?! But I was seeing that he had faith. He was really optimistic. "Man, we are going to be fine. We' re going to be rabid dogs, yeah, that's what we are going to be!', he told me. And that's what happened! That season, we won both the Euroleague and the Championship!

It's one of the thousands of moments that have been ingrained in my brain, because, just like I said before, we have been through a lot together!"

Kostas Papanikolaou

"Talking about his career is redundant. There are not much more to say, his course says it all. He's one of the greatest! It's a great honor for all of us who have played along side him. We weren't only team mates, there was a special bond among us and I think that what brought success to the team as well.

It's definitely a strange feeling when the new season starts without Vassilis. It's going to be very different for all of us and especially for us who had been his team mates for all those years. However, I believe that he's leaving fulfilled, after a huge career, with enormous success, beautiful moments but also sad moments and losses. They are also part of being an athlete. You always remember both the good and the bad moments.

On a personal level, Vassilis really helped me a lot. He was one of the people - which is also true for Giorgos Printezis - that I would talk to when I would be facing adversity in my career. In 2016, while in Denver and about to return to Greece, we had talked on the phone and had told me that it would be very helpful for me if I returned to Olympiacos. He told me it would be a two way street and I would be helping the team, as much as the team would be helping me. He specifically told me: "I'm talking to you as if talking to my brother and not as a team mate, former or future one to convince you to come to us. I think this is the best choice for you. The choice is all yours of course, but I'm talking to you just like I would be talking to my brother or my kid down the road'. And what he told me was the truth. That season, we won the Championship. All in all, we have talked countless times during all these years and I have countless moments to remember and treasure for ever".

Kostas Sloukas

"First of all, I was shocked from his retirement. It's sad, because we are not going to be seeing such a leader and personality on the court again.

He has given so much to Olympiacos and to Greek and European basketball. I have gotten so much from him! I had been his room mate for years, especially during the beginning of my career. What had struck me the most was how focused he always had been, his work ethic and of course, his personal touches to the game. He either had a good or a bad game; at the end of it he would always add a personal touch. He either started out well, or not, he was never afraid to make the tough decisions at the end and bring the tough missions home.

He will be definitely missed in courts everywhere, because he's larger than life!

I hope he now gets to enjoy life differently».