Athens (AFP)

It is a monument that Villeurbanne players face on Tuesday in the Euroleague: Vassilis Spanoulis, the Greek back of Olympiakos, is the best scorer and best passer in the history of the competition-queen of European basketball.

"Spanoulis is a legend, he is in Europe what Kobe (Bryant) was for the NBA. He has been the best for many years," admires Giannis Antetokounmpo, MVP (best player) of the last two seasons in the NBA.

Antetokounmpo, now a star player for the Milwaukee Bucks and the toughest league on the planet, knows Spanoulis well, having worked with him at Olympiakos before flying to the United States.

"We talk about lots of things together. It's always good to talk with Giannis, because he loves basketball," Spanoulis told AFP who, before facing Asvel, scored 4,375 points and distilled 1,564 assists decisive in Euroleague.

The secret of its success?

“A lot of hard work, discipline, self-awareness, respect and sacrifice,” he says.

During his ten seasons at Olympiakos, Spanoulis offered the Piraeus club, which he joined in 2010, two European crowns (2012, 2013), in addition to his coronation in 2009 with the "Pana" (Panathinaikos Athens) , and four Greek league titles.

"I never dreamed of doing anything other than basketball. I fell in love with the sport from the first minute," explains the 1.93m full-back who touched his first orange ball in elementary school "when all the other boys were playing soccer".

- "Kill Bill" -

“As a child, I played other sports like soccer, swimming and even karate, but basketball is what I liked the most,” he recalls.

Called "Kill Bill" by Olympiakos supporters, Spanoulis began his professional career at the age of 17 at Gymnastikos in his hometown of Larissa, in northern Greece.

"What mattered most to me was my love for basketball and for my family. Because my family believed in me and allowed me to do what I loved most: play basketball," admits the vice-world champion 2006 and European champion 2005 with Greece.

His talent then led him to Maroussi (2001-05), then to Panathinaikos (2005-06 and 2007-10), before his only - and resounding - failure: a very short stay in the NBA with the Houston Rockets , in 2006-07, and finally to Olympiakos.

"I can't say what was the most remarkable moment in my career. (But) my time in the NBA was not the best experience, (although) I worked more than ever there," summarizes Spanoulis.

- Failure in the NBA -

The Greek, who arrived at 24 in Houston, has only played 31 games in the Rockets jersey for starving averages of 8.8 minutes and 2.7 points per game, because he did not enter the system. game of the Texas franchise coach Jeff Van Gundy, who quickly let him go back to Panathinaikos in 2007.

Today is Spanoulis thinking about retirement?

"Of course, I thought about it. I'm 38 and I'm about to turn 39, it will probably be soon. What I will do, I don't know yet. I would like to continue doing something. thing related to basketball ".

Even if all is not perfect in his life as a basketball player.

"There are a lot of disappointments and failures sometimes, but I always try to find a way to get over it."

And if he decides to stop playing, he will find his biggest fans at home, his wife Olympia Chosponidou, Miss Greece 2006, and his six children.

© 2021 AFP