By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
One competition, two players, two meters and almost twenty centimeters each, two different decades, many common characteristics.
Stojan Vrankovic instilled fear and terror in the paint during his years on the court and Walter Tavares has been something of a “cheat code” over the last six EuroLeague seasons. Eurohoops pits them against each other in a very special “Battle of the Decades”.
STOJAN VRANKOVIC
Center | 2.18 meters | January 22, 1964 | Croatia
His teammate slips and falls to the floor, the ball is lost and ends up in the hands of the opponent, ready to score and be crowned EuroLeague champion. Time is running out. Suddenly, the figure of a player gallops onto the floor, jumping over fallen bodies with ease, despite his size. One last jump, one last block. That’s it. Panathinaikos Athens became the European champion for the first time in history. And Stojan Vrankovic will forever be the man of the moment, the one who will be remembered first of all from that 1996 Final Four in Paris in which the Greens edged Barcelona 67-66. That historic play was both majestic and controversial since the ball hit the backboard before his game-winning block.
Panathinaikos was the fourth team in his career and the one with which Vrankovic achieved the most.
- 1982-89 Zadar
- 1989-90 Aris
- 1990-92 Boston Celtics
- 1992-96 Panathinaikos Athens
- 1996-97 Minnesota Timberwolves
- 1997-99 Los Angeles Clippers
- 1999-2001 Fortitudo Bologna
With the last team in his career, PAF Bologna at that time, Vrankovic played in the maiden season of the modern Euroleague (2000-01). He may not have been as fast anymore, but even at age 37 remained a point of reference near the rim.
Vrankovic wore the “Basket City” jersey for 10 games of the regular season and playoffs until they lost in the semifinals against archrival Kinder (3-0). In the second game of the playoff series against Cibona Zagreb, he set a record that he still holds to this day with 10 blocks! In fact, in that specific game, a 74-75 victory in Zagreb on February 8, 2001, Vrankovic was just a single point away from the triple-double since he also tallied 9 points and 15 rebounds!
In addition to the end of PAF Bologna’s run in the Euroleague, the elimination in the best-of-five series was also the end of Vrankovic’s short career in the modern Euroleague. He finished with averages of 6.2 points (63.9% 2FG), 6.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.9 steals, 2.6 blocks and 2.2 turnovers in 21:43 minutes per game.
WALTER TAVARES
Center | 2.20 meters | March 22, 1992 | Cape Verde
In an era where athleticism characterizes a player and old-school centers are an endangered species, Walter Tavares not only holds up at the highest level in Europe, he stands out. Obviously, his 2.20 meters help, but there’s more to that. “Edy” to friends, acquaintances, and fans, has everything required in modern basketball to secure a prominent place and Real Madrid officials will forever remember November 2017, when they managed to get his signature.
Los Blancos have been the only team in his EuroLeague career.
- 2017-present Real Madrid
Although the competition on a team of Real Madrid’s caliber is always high, Tavares has been a near-constant starter since his very first year at the club (23/29 GS in 2017-18) and rarely comes off the bench. It cannot be otherwise for a player with such an impact on both ends of the floor.
His first five years in the competition have seen Tavares finish twice as the EuroLeague Best Defender (2019, 2021) and as many times first in blocks (2019, 2021), twice on the All-EuroLeague First Team (2021, 2022), and once on the Second Team (2019). Oh yes! And he was a champion in 2018.
His performances so far this season are at a similar level to previous seasons with 11.1 points (65.5% FG, 78.5% FT), 7.5 rebounds (2nd), 1.5 assists, 0,9 steals, 2.8 blocks (1st), and 2.1 turnovers in 25:27 minutes and 18 starts in 19 games for the top team in the standings.