Spanoulis was a microwave scorer on average / below average efficiency, a good playmaker, but he really needed the ball in his hands and was only a competent defender, nothing more. The reason why he is so revered in Europe is due to his legendary clutch performances year after year after year. When it was winning time, whether it was playoffs, cup finals, elimination games, he was always there to make an impossible shot, to lead his team to victory. If you put him on the floor with 3 mins to go and the game within 5 points, he would basically guarantee you a win. I thought Spanoulis was better than Rafer, but he also should have been more patient and learn as much as possible from his peers and competition during his rookie year. Didn't help that JVG was his coach, Adelman was better suited for him. IMO, he would have worked best playing in the Ginobili role in the NBA, as a sixth man off the bench that finishes games. He even played that way very successfully in Greece before going to the NBA. Also showcased his clutch ability coming off the bench to beat USA in that famous World Cup semifinal in 2006, 101-95, leading the team with 22 points. In the end, he netted us Scola so it worked out well for the Rockets. His decision to go back home paid off too, became a legend in Greece and Europe, so I think he is quite happy as well.
He shot like 31% from the field and 17% from 3. Both "microwave scorer" and "average / below average efficiency" are both real stretches. He was good in the Greek League, which is like the 8th or 9th best league in Europe. Not exactly the big time. He went back because he was happy being the big fish in a tiny pond.
I was making a description of Spanoulis as a player based off his entire career, not one year in the NBA. Also, the Greek league is among the top 5 best domestic leagues in Europe (No 3 currently) and Spanoulis captained teams that competed in the Euroleague, the highest international competition level in Europe. Won the Euroleague 3 times, 1x Euroleague MVP, 3x Euroleague Final Four MVP, was announced as the Euroleague Player of the Decade for 2010-2020, and was inducted in the Euroleague Hall of Fame immediately after his retirement. At the time of his retirement, he was the Euroleague all-time leader in assists and points scored.
Jonto, when mommies and daddies love each other very much they watch a special channel called v-span.
That ranking is based on a lot of factors like competitiveness of the league between its members, finances, prospects for the future, yada yada. It’s not a top 5 league in Europe and, more importantly, it definitely wasn’t back in 2006. Rafer and White Chocolate were both legends among the street ball and AndOne, but that didn’t mean they were NBA All Stars. Laettner dominated NCAA, won two titles, and won a gold medal with the Dream Team but he was just ok in the NBA. Spanoulis didn’t have the right skill set to thrive in the NBA and made the right move to head back to Greece after he washed out here.
Ok, happy to hear your ranking, how was the Greek league 8th/9th best league in Europe in 2006? And why is it not top 5 now, which leagues are better?
Span was a great player and a decent coach, I think his jumpers were always short in the NBA, he never adjusted to the 3 point line. Bummer.
