Too many time we here at Cluchfans have gotten excited over the potential of players just to have them fizzle out. Langhi, Griffin, Terrence Morris, Boki, and Roddrick Rhodes etc. To date, only Mobley, Yao, and Francis have lived up to our potential expectations during the rebuilding since the championship years. Thomas and Harrington were average at best. I hope that either Spanoulis and/or Badiene pan out. But let's keep in mind that Spanoulis did get mentioned in MVP talks in Europe. And in order to be included in MVP talks, a player must be assertive and almost dominant. I haven't seen him play, if I saw him in the street I could not recognize him. but the fact is simple, there is potential there!!!
There is an ESPN local article on espn.com. You have to have Insider to read it. I don't know if it is anything new or not.
Here's an article on VSpan dated 6/27/05 so I guess it hasn't been posted?? Edit--Oops, screwed up. http://www.euroleague.net/ulebcup/noticia.jsp?temporada=E04&jornada=13&id=670 They grew playing classic brotherly one-on-one battles in the playgrounds of Larissa, Greece. Together, they faced the early death of their father, a tragedy that cost both of them, but also made them stronger for overcoming their loss. All along, Vassilis and Dimitris Spanoulis lived with the same dream: to play professional basketball at the highest level possible. On Tuesday, both will take their friendly rivalry one competitive step higher as they face each other in the ULEB Cup quarterfinals, Vassilis playing for Maroussi and Dimitris for Makedonikos. Younger brother Vassilis is currently the second leading scorer in the ULEB Cup for Maroussi, with 14.1 points per game, while big brother Dimitris has been a big help off the bench with 6 points on average for Makedonikos. "Both of us are professional and definitely we want to help our teams continue in this competition," Dimitris says. "There is a great opportunity ahead of us and we will give our best to make it happen, even if it's necessary to upset your own brother." Vassilis and Dimitris never played together in the senior men's team of Larissa, Gymnastikos, a steady member of the second division in Greece. The only time they were on the same squad was eight years ago, playing for a small team in Larissa, Keravnos. Vassilis remembers getting his hands on the keys to city's largest gym to practice with his brother for hours and hours. "Both of us were starters," recalls Vassilis. "Same size, 1.92 meters, same position, point or shooting guard depending on the games, but mostly the same desire. We hated losing a game and both of us were great fighters." All the private competition paid off first for Vassilis, 23, who made the jump to Maroussi in Athens when still a teeneager. When the younger Spanoulis left his city to join Maroussi in Athens, back in the summer of 2001, Dimitris started his pro career on Larissa's second division team, staying there until the end of 2003-04 season, when he moved to Makedonikos at age 26. "Even if I made the great step of moving to the first division three years before my brother, I can definitely say that Dimitris, who is now starting for Makedonikos in his first season, is very happy and proud of me," Vassilis said. "When he still played for Larissa, he used to come and visit me in Athens during the Christmas and Easter vacations. Now, as we play in different cities, we call each other and talk about basketball and analyze what exactly we need to improve. I would say a bit of everything, since improvement never stops." The culmination of all their practice together came last summer, when Vassilis Spanoulis represented his country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens as a member of the Greek men's basketball team. Earlier in the summer, Vassilis was selected in the second round of the 2004 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks, who later moved his rights to the Houston Rockets. Vassilis found out he was drafted when the phone rang during yet another individual morning practice in Larissa. "For me, like for many many basketball players, the NBA is a dream, but the fact is that many players have been drafted by NBA teams, but never played," he said. "In my mind, the most important thing is to give it a try." Dimitri hopes that his brother gets that opportunity and wishes him the best when it comes. "I find Vassilis's desire to go there as something positive and I am sure he will be all right," older brother Dimitris says. "Having playing time is a big deal, so that's what I want for my brother, to go there and have a role in a team. It would be great for his career." Meanwhile, both players are concentrated on the mattter at hand, the ULEB Cup quarterfinals battle the can put either team - and either brother - a step closer to continental glory. "I am sure that Makedonikos will fight us with all its strength," Vassilis says, "but Maroussi has great quality as a team and our goal is to go as far as we can in the ULEB Cup, including the final. We know our mission is very tough and we have to overcome any obstacle." Kostas Sotiriou, Athens
Oops, just realized that was an old article. The website has the current date no matter how old the article is. Sorry.
Is anyone concerned about his assist to turnover ratio? I mean its almost 1:1 which is horrible for a PG.
he was mentioned as a possible mvp candidate for the ULEB cup right? i don't think that's that good since the ULEB cup is for all the teams that didnt make the euroleague. i heard they don't give out assists as readily over there. apparently he racks up a ton of fouls according to http://www.galanissportsdata.com/basketball/mena1/season2004_05/a1teamrs.asp?t=02
