Olympiacos' players, Bartzokas pay tribute to Printezis: 'He's the living history of our team' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Olympiacos BC Credit Olympiacos BC

Georgios Printezis reached the end of the road in his playing career. The emblematic forward of Olympiacos Piraeus made his last appearance in the red-and-white jersey in a triumphant 93-74 blowout over Panathinaikos OPAP Athens in Game 3 of the Greek League finals.

2-pointers this season

58%19,4Points made:19,4Accuracy:58,1%Place in standings:9Record max:26Record min:11Most made 2FGs:Aleksandr VezenkovTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

The 37-year-old veteran waited for the perfect moment, the championship ceremony, to announce his retirement from professional basketball. However, the rumors about his imminent retirement had started at the beginning of the season.

"It's very nice when a big part of your life ends like this, in a team that I have many memories of," Printezis told national Greek television ERT.

"I thank the fans from the bottom of my heart."

Credit Olympiacos BC

"It wasn't a difficult decision," he said about his retirement. "If there is one thing that describes me is that I have self-awareness. Maybe I could play a little bit more, but I've really given everything I had. That's what I did, and now I'm done," an emotional Printezis pointed out.

"There are three people who have supported me throughout my entire life. If I start saying names that I dedicate this title to, I may forget and wrong someone. All moments are beautiful. We've been through magical moments, I'm glad I've been here all my life.

(Kostas) Papanikolaou and Sasha (Vezenkov) are guys I love. I am happy to retire. The team has a future. I have experienced some great moments with all the guys on the team. So, I don't need to give them any advice," Printezis concluded.

Last May, before the start of the semi-final series featuring Olympiacos and Promitheas Patras, Giorgos Bartzokas described Printezis as the best captain he has ever had in all the teams he has worked for.

On Friday night, after winning his first-ever championship title, the coach of Olympiacos pointed out that Printezis is the Reds' living history.

Giannoulis Larentzakis

MIN:10.79PTS:3.97 (43.42%)REB:1.31As:1.06ST:0.31BL:0.03TO:0.94GM:36ProfileEuroLeague2021/2022

"It was a vindication for our team," Bartzokas told ERT.

"We had a huge improvement from last year, we became a very difficult team to play against. I think the team's cohesiveness is the most important element. The fact that they cared about each other," he went on to say.

The 55-year-old tactician had some words of love for his retired captain. Besides, they're both die-hard Olympiacos fans, although Bartzokas never reached the heights as a player that Printezis came to enjoy.

"Printezis is the living history of Olympiacos basketball team, he is the most beloved person in the ranks of our fans. I feel gratitude as an Olympiacos fan for what he offered to the team," Bartzokas said.

Credit Olympiacos BC

"Let his life from now on be as full, joyful, and intense as it had been these 20 years at Olympiacos. If I can dedicate the Greek Cup and the Championship title to anyone, it would be Giorgos Printezis. What I said about him comes from my heart," he stressed.

Sasha Vezenkov, a member of the All-EuroLeague First Team, called Printezis "a legend."

"First and foremost, he's an amazing person. We will miss him, we will be seeing him, but he will be enjoying his life now," the Bulgarian forward commented.

Forward Kostas Papanikolaou praised Giorgos Printezis, both as a player and as a person.

"I am very happy that I met Giorgos as a person. When it comes to what he did on the court, words cannot describe it. The season could not have evolved in an ideal way. We went to the Final Four that wasn't our primary goal."

Guard Giannoulis Larentzakis spoke about Olympiacos's success this year, capturing both domestic titles, and stressed that the only downside was Printezis' retirement.

"The only black spot of the year is that Giorgos quit. It will definitely affect me. I wish him all the best. I know he doesn't like being talked about, but it's the least we can do for what he has offered to basketball," the Greek guard told ERT.

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