The greatest period in Theodoros Papaloukas' career (44) was at CSKA Moscow, where he played six seasons, won two Euroleague titles, and was the sixth best player on the continent. Tonight, the Greek team will meet Maccabi Tel Aviv at Menora Mivtachim Hall, where he also played one of the great centers of the past in Europe one season before the last of his career (2011/12, with coach David Blatt).
As soon as he retired he was officially declared a "Euroleague legend".
He joined the team of the first decade of the 2000s in the Euroleague.
He reached the Final Four six times with CSKA, and as mentioned, won twice. He was European champion with the Greek team in 2005 and world runner-up in 2006. He was a 2.00m coordinator, not fast, but very smart and a leader on the field.
Papaloukas retired at the age of 36, and today he runs two academies in Athens which he co-founded with another legend, Dimitris Diamantidis, the symbol of Panathinaikos.
Diamantidis moved to manage Pau and has since left.
Papaloukas is also involved in two technology projects, "and mostly devotes a lot of time to the family," he says.
A matter of chemistry
This season's Olympiacos looks completely different from the failed one of recent years.
Maccabi, which was defeated in the first round in Athens, still remembers the crushing first quarter that ended at 8:35.
The reasons for the comeback according to Papaloukas are very simple.
Dorsey.
Feeling comfortable, Photo: EPA
"The composition is right and balanced of players who are very suitable for the coach's method," he says in an interview with Israel Today, "sometimes you have the best players, but they do not connect with each other. Sometimes they do not connect with the coach. There is also the season in Olympiacos. It also helps that they returned to play in two frames this season (in the previous two years the club only played in the Euroleague). It is best to play twice a week. Olympiacos can go all the way this season, ie to the Final Four "They are related to basketball that will have an impact and things will change. In terms of basketball, at the moment, it is one of the best in the Euroleague."
What do you think of Tyler Dorsey, who played for Maccabi Tel Aviv?
"He is a great assistant to Olympiacos this season. He plays well. He seems to have found his place and the right situation, in which he feels more comfortable than he felt at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Dorsey is a player who on a good day is very difficult to maintain, because he does everything on offense. "
How do you assess what is happening to Maccabi this season?
"I know that Maccabi was injured in preparation for the season because of the Corona. I saw them at the beginning of the season and I actually liked what I saw. Lately I have seen Maccabi less, so it would not be fair to give an opinion on why they got into a bad period. "I just know that quite a few games they lost in were close."
And the sequel?
"In the situation they are in, it will be difficult for them to reach the playoffs. In general, I just say that Maccabi is a club that must always be at the top."
"Proud I played in this club"
The former Greek coordinator previously played for the team under Yannis Sapropoulos when he was the assistant national coach.
Yannis comes into the game after eight straight losses but is backed by management.
Sapropolus.
It all depends on the results, Photo: Alan Shiver
"The most important thing is to support the coach," says Papaloukas. "And that he is very good in Israel. Yannis is an excellent coach and an excellent man. A very honest man, but everything in this profession depends on the results."
As mentioned, at the end of his career the Greek quarterback came to the season in Tel Aviv, where he played relatively little, but he remembers this period only well.
I'm proud to have played in this club and have since had a lot of friends that I'm been in touch with to this day.
I had a good time at Maccabi, I had a good time in Israel, I have good memories and I am happy about this season.
I have taken with me many good things since.
I enjoyed coming to Tel Aviv as an opposing player, and even more I enjoyed being there.
In general, always when I look back I take the good things with me, and put the bad ones aside. "
Papaloukas in Olympiacos uniform, Photo: AP
What is your assessment ahead of tonight's game?
"The truth is that it is a game that is difficult to know what will be in it. Maccabi came after a long period of not playing. Olympiacos was suspended due to the corona and did not return well in the loss to Fenerbahce. It is very difficult to play with Elijah. "A very important game for both teams - each for its own reasons."
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