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Euroleague
06-27-2021, 11:08 AM
Vassilis "Billy" Spanoulis, widely considered to be the EuroLeague GOAT, retired. He was the basketball idol for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic, when they were growing up in Europe.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/vassilis-spanoulis-luka-doncic-giannis-antetokounmpo-11611903134

The NBA’s Best Young Stars Loved the Same Player. He Hated the NBA.
Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo grew up watching Vassilis Spanoulis. He played one season in the NBA. He’s also responsible for the future of the league.

https://clutchpoints.com/mavs-news-luka-doncic-bids-farewell-to-his-idol/

Mavs star Luka Doncic bids farewell to his ‘idol’

Luka Doncic wore jersey no. 7 when he was in Real Madrid to honor his favorite player growing up, Vassilis Spanoulis. With that said, it is pretty clear how much of an impact the Greek legend has on the Dallas Mavericks star.

Spanoulis recently announced his retirement from the game, and so Doncic made sure to send his parting message to the EuroLeague MVP and one of the best players in European basketball history.

https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1408814483615715328

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E41xR9QUUAUXnFy?format=jpg&name=small

It is also not the first time Luka Doncic has spoken about the Olympiacos star, as the Mavs guard admitted earlier in the 2020-21 season that Spanoulis was one of the players that had a huge influence on his game.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5Lc2OO5mYA&t=25s&ab_channel=EuropeanBasketball

Aside from the Mavs youngster, Milwaukee Bucks forward and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo also grew up idolizing Vassilis Spanoulis, even calling him the “Kobe of Europe” in a previous interview.

https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1131416/giannis-for-spanoulis-he-is-the-kobe-of-europe/

Giannis for Spanoulis: “He is the Kobe of Europe”

https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/status/1408907280557375488

EuroLeague legend Vassilis Spanoulis announced his retirement today.

Spanoulis was a big influence to NBA stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic, who wears No. 77 now to pay homage to him.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E41xQKmVUAEKT1c?format=jpg&name=small
r0drig0lac
06-27-2021, 11:18 AM
https://media.tenor.com/images/f572a8b2c33270c43cd919045b1b1ed4/tenor.gif
Euroleague
06-27-2021, 11:28 AM
Giannis Antetokoumpo getting a personally signed jersey from Vassilis Spanoulis.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKNusfJyew0

https://images.eurohoops.net/2020/11/93fa896a-spanoulis-giannis-625x375.jpg

https://images.eurohoops.net/2020/11/2f9b39f9-giannis_spanoulis-3.jpg

https://images.eurohoops.net/2020/11/4a34172f-giannis_spanoulis-2.jpg

https://images.eurohoops.net/2020/11/05eb5c30-giannis_spanoulis-1.jpg
Euroleague
06-27-2021, 11:35 AM
Vassilis Spanoulis Tribute:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnLHawa4OTU&t=2s&ab_channel=nekiliopouloss
Mr. Jabbar
06-27-2021, 11:56 AM
vawho?
HylianNightmare
06-27-2021, 12:00 PM
Does that mean your shtick is finally over?
Stanley Kobrick
06-27-2021, 12:12 PM
https://media.tenor.com/images/f572a8b2c33270c43cd919045b1b1ed4/tenor.gif
:cheers:
highwhey
06-27-2021, 12:20 PM
is he a playground basketball legend? like does he play for europe's version of and1?
BasedTom
06-27-2021, 04:03 PM
https://images2.imgbox.com/ab/b5/mwiP2LD2_o.gif
SouBeachTalents
06-27-2021, 04:14 PM
Who?
kawhileonard2
06-27-2021, 07:52 PM
Who?

This the guy Lebron lost to in FIBA winning bronze medal :roll:
dreamshake
06-27-2021, 07:55 PM
This the guy Lebron lost to in FIBA winning bronze medal :roll:

:lebronamazed:
kawhileonard2
06-27-2021, 08:49 PM
:lebronamazed:

:roll:
Euroleague
06-28-2021, 10:36 AM
This the guy Lebron lost to in FIBA winning bronze medal :roll:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyUaF1Wu47c
hiphopanonymous
06-28-2021, 10:40 AM
Never heard of him, what were his NBA stats anyone know?
ClipperRevival
06-28-2021, 12:54 PM
This the guy Lebron lost to in FIBA winning bronze medal :roll:

https://media1.tenor.com/images/1a6b48687a22ef14f40e7ab012e5a224/tenor.gif?itemid=13739141
Euroleague
07-12-2021, 06:49 PM
https://media1.tenor.com/images/1a6b48687a22ef14f40e7ab012e5a224/tenor.gif?itemid=13739141

Chris Paul: "You talking about '06?"

Journalist: "Yes, sir".

Chris Paul: "We lost."

Journalist: "I remember".

Chris Paul: "We lost."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0AqRLBj0lA
ClipperRevival
07-12-2021, 08:53 PM
This is too much. Why do all these international players keep picking on my Bran?

https://media.tenor.com/images/d8d501defae80369a665dcf79d51bbf8/tenor.gif
ZenMaster7210
07-12-2021, 09:28 PM
This the guy Lebron lost to in FIBA winning bronze medal :roll:

:oldlol::roll::hammertime:
kawhileonard2
07-12-2021, 10:28 PM
:oldlol::roll::hammertime:

:oldlol:
AnaheimLakers24
07-12-2021, 11:07 PM
this era of nba is ran by 2 dudes who got sonned by spounils :roll:

****en dogshit homo era
ClipperRevival
07-13-2021, 12:13 AM
this era of nba is ran by 2 dudes who got sonned by spounils :roll:

****en dogshit homo era

https://media1.tenor.com/images/6cc4b7649bc1480b68b4991e0c24794e/tenor.gif?itemid=4428068
kawhileonard2
07-13-2021, 05:21 PM
this era of nba is ran by 2 dudes who got sonned by spounils :roll:

****en dogshit homo era

Who was the other?
BurningHammer
07-13-2021, 10:16 PM
Spanoulis's wiki sidebar is full of accomplishments. He has to be one of GOATs, right?
kawhileonard2
07-15-2021, 10:51 PM
Spanoulis's wiki sidebar is full of accomplishments. He has to be one of GOATs, right?

:oldlol:
Spain_
07-16-2021, 08:39 AM
Dude was very clutch.
I remember so many game winners by that guy.

https://youtu.be/XqQfy-UysZs
No_Control
07-16-2021, 08:44 AM
In 2021 EB is still pitching Vagisil Spandoulis on Inside Hoops. Never change man.
Spain_
07-16-2021, 08:45 AM
I read a piece in a Greek newspaper where they talked about what happened in the NBA now that his career is over and it was very interesting.
Basically, he had been a guy that had the ball in his hands and was allowed to take shots all his life.
When he got the NBA and he didn't immediately get minutes he felt disrespected and it completely soured him on American basketball, he famously told Van Gundy that "In Europe I'm McGrady" .
He demanded a trade and they sent him to the Spurs, who wanted to keep him, but he got a really big offer back home and decided to bail on the NBA.
I think the fact that he had beaten team USA and personally outplayed NBA all stars at the world cup was a big factor in his attitude.
He felt like he should have been a starter from day one.
Spain_
07-16-2021, 09:43 AM
I read a piece in a Greek newspaper where they talked about what happened in the NBA now that his career is over and it was very interesting.
Basically, he had been a guy that had the ball in his hands and was allowed to take shots all his life.
When he got the NBA and he didn't immediately get minutes he felt disrespected and it completely soured him on American basketball, he famously told Van Gundy that "In Europe I'm McGrady" .
He demanded a trade and they sent him to the Spurs, who wanted to keep him, but he got a really big offer back home and decided to bail on the NBA.
I think the fact that he had beaten team USA and personally outplayed NBA all stars at the world cup was a big factor in his attitude.
He felt like he should have been a starter from day one.

Reminds of what happened to Petrovic the first couple of years.
He arrived at Portland with the impression that he would immediately be a starter and get touches, it rubbee the American players the wrong way and came across as entitled.
According to Valde he would phone him after every game(They were close at that point) and complain about it.
He eventually demanded a trade and got sent to NJ.
I think it's hard for some guys to accept a lesser role than they are used to.
kawhileonard2
07-21-2021, 11:29 PM
Lebron lost to this guy imagine him against Giannis.
kawhileonard2
06-22-2022, 12:46 AM
Lebron lost to this guy imagine him against Giannis.

Also lost to Curry 3x as the favorite.