Βy Kostas Giataganas/ info@eurohoops.net
Eurohoops picks out the Top 12 EuroLeague legends who hung up their boots during this decade, using two very basic criteria: their longevity in the competition and their individual and team titles.
From legends Dimitris Diamantidis, Theodoros Papaloukas, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Juan Carlos Navarro, to Mike Batiste, JR Holden, Nikola Vujcic and Kostas Tsartsaris, we present the best of the best who retired in the course of this decade.
Dimitris Diamantidis
Team/s: Panathinaikos
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 12
Appearances: 278
Titles: 3
Retired: 2016
The fact that his nickname was “3D” is no coincidence. A nickname that has two meanings: either Dimitris Diamantidis Defense, because of his incredible effectiveness in defense that unanimously earned him the EuroLeague Best Defender award for many years (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), or Dimitris Diamantidis Devotion, for the very simple reason that he’s inextricably linked with moments of greatness in the competition. Diamantidis is inextricably bound with the great moments Panathinaikos have had in the EuroLeague, wearing the Greens’ jersey for 12 years, the culmination being the three trophies in 2007, 2009 and 2011. He was also the MVP of the Final Four in 2007 and 2011, when he achieved something unique by winning both the MVP of the season as well as the Best Defender award, in what turned out to be his best season! “3D,” who appeared in another two Final Fours, was a member of the All-EuroLeague First Team in 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2013, while he’s also a EuroLeague Legend.