Spanoulis names best EuroLeague dynasty ever, rejects comparison with Saras / News - Basketnews.com

Vassilis Spanoulis chooses Olympiacos over Maccabi and Anadolu Efes because the Reds won two consecutive EuroLeague titles with the lowest budget and without big names.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Legendary player and currentPeristeri B.C. head coachVassilis Spanoulis sat down with Arale Weisberg of Walla Sport to discuss his current path, coaching style, and the best dynasty EuroLeague has ever had.

Olympiacos Piraeus / Schedule

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne Olympiacos Piraeus77-75 Olympiacos Piraeus Crvena Zvezda mts BelgradeThu19:00

Spanoulis, also known as 'Kill Bill', is probably the most clutch player in the EuroLeague history, who always took the last shot if there was an opportunity to finish the game at the buzzer.

However, being a coach, his fate does not depend only on him but his players. Is that frustrating?

"I was able to run away from what was in the past, close that door and make the separation. I need to choose the right players, and give them the tools to score the decisive shots," he said.

Spanoulis then referred to his coaching style. As stated by the EuroLeague legend, he is not going to be a details freak like Sarunas Jasikevicius or the one who gives a lot of freedom to his players like Ergin Ataman.

"Neither this nor that," he said when asked about the aforementioned head coaches. "I don't have one approach or one method. It depends on the group I have, and it can change from year to year. There are only three things I don't compromise on: work ethic, discipline, and respect."

How would Spanoulis the coach get along with Spanoulis the player?

"I'm sure we would get along quite well. As a coach, I would just sit on the bench, watch him play, and let him do what he wants," Spanoulis responded to the question.

As a player, the 40-year-old belonged to Olympiacos Piraeus, where he won two consecutive EuroLeague titles in 2012 and 2013.

Today we live in the back-to-back EuroLeague champions' Anadolu Efes era. Without these two squads, only Maccabi Tel Aviv won two EuroLeague trophies in a row in 2004 and 2005.

3-pointers this season

39%10,1Points made:10,1Accuracy:38,7%Place in standings:7Record max:18Record min:6Most made 3FGs:Aleksandr VezenkovTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Which is the greatest dynasty of the trio, according to Spanoulis?

"Everyone will give you a different answer, and of course, I'm not objective, but Olympiacos. Why? Because we did it with the lowest budget and without big names. No one knew some of the players we had.

Meanwhile, Maccabi had Saras, Anthony Parker, Nikola Vujcic, Maceo Baston, Derrick Sharp, and Tal Burstein. Anadolu Efes today have Vasilije Micic and Shane Larkin. I do not underestimate that, because it is not easy to manage such a group of stars. But we were like David and Goliath," Spanoulis claimed.

Last but not least, the former Greek guard touched on his move from Panathinaikos to Olympiacos and how he managed to play under pressure (curses, insults, objects throws) and even score game-winning baskets.

"That's fine," he said of the outbursts of the PAO fans. "That's how it is in Greece. I understand and respect that. Everyone loves their team, and I knew I was strong enough and believed in myself to deal with these things," Spanoulis concluded.

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