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.
Theodoros Papaloukas
Team/s: Olympiacos, CSKA Moscow
Seasons in the EuroLeague: 12
Appearances: 252
Titles: 2
Retired: 2013
Theodoros Papaloukas built his own legend over the 12 years he played in the EuroLeague and made history. Of course, what stands out from his record of achievements are the two championships with CSKA in 2006 and 2008, in which he won the title of the… best sixth man, who came in from the bench and changed everything on the court. In 2006 in Prague, he was also the MVP of the Final Four, while in 2007 he was the MVP of the season, when, in the final in OAKA, he almost beat Panathinaikos… singlehandedly. He reached another four Final Fours with CSKA, he was present again in 2009 and 2010 with Olympiacos too, while he made the Final Four in 2013 with CSKA his swansong, having played for Maccabi in the previous season. In 2006 and 2007 he was a member of the All-EuroLeague First Team, in 2008 and 2009 a member of the All-EuroLeague Second Team, while he was the first player to be declared a EuroLeague Legend a few months after his retirement.