WE ARE OLYMPIACOS - vol. 4 English Version

ISSUE 4 - DECEMBER 2018

The official magazine of Olympiacos B.C.

ΚOSTAS PAPANIKOLAOU

FAMILY AFFAIR

THE... OTHER MILUTINOV

A NIGHT OF RECORDS...

A LEGENDARY WEDDING

THE TAILOR OF OLYMPIACOS...

EDITORIAL

We are already here with the fourth issue of the “We Are Olympiacos” magazine and you can find a lot of interesting articles to delve in. Our goal has always been to bring you closer to the team and offer you unique material through our magazine pages that can help you better understand the everyday life of the team, the philosophy and the principles running it.

That’s the reason the interviews hosted here mainly focus on revealing the humane side of our athletes. Kostas Papanikolaou makes a throwback to his career and life for the first time ever and does not comment on plays, wins, losses or practices. He talks about Kostas and how he got where he is right now.

We chose that he got photographed next to the Piraeus lion, because undoubtedly the way he plays and cheers for his team resembles the passion and the strength of a lion. We walked the Piraeus streets with him by the sea wishing to watch him interact with people and attest to his humility. We spoke about other things also, because there are important moments in the life of an athlete that we need to bring into focus and Kostas has offered a lot with his participation of the ONE TEAM program.

‘Pap’s’ interview is definitely our ace card, but it’s not the only article to look for among the pages of our fourth issue. Zack LeDay wrote history against Buducnost and taking point from his tremendous performance, we get to remember huge individual ‘red’ nights. And there is more… Backstage from the SEF … wedding, from the new tailored suits try on, from the Bwin advertising video and of course, our standard columns.

Wish everyone a good ‘red’ reading.

Christos G. Bafes ΤITLES

ADMINISTRATION

EuroLeague 1997, 2012, 2013

Owners Panagiotis & Giorgos Αngelopoulos

Intercontinental Cup 2013 OLYMPIACOS B.C. S.A. Address: Peace and Friendship Stadium Ethnarchou Makariou 1 Ave. Νeo Faliro - Piraeus 185 47 Τel.: 210 45 27 600 Fax: 210 45 27 601 Email: info@olympiacosbc.gr Website: www.olympiacosbc.gr

Greek Champion 1949, 1960, 1976, 1978, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2012, 2015, 2016 Greek Cup Winner 1976, 1977, 1978, 1989, 1994, 1997, 2002, 2010, 2011

Board Members Georgios Skindilias Christos Stavropoulos Dimitris Prassos General Director Christos Stavropoulos Financial Director Nearchos Riganas

We Are Olympiacos (Official Magazine) Published by Press Office of OLYMPIACOS B.C. Editor in Chief Christos Bafes Editors Jenny Gravia, Antonis Katsikis Designer Andreas Saisanas Photographic agency Eurokinissi

Marketing & Commercial Development Director Nikos Lepeniotis

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CONTEXT

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INTERVIEW: KOSTAS PAPANIKOLAOU The Olympiacos … lion in a huge autobiographical interview.

LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ROLL Τhe backstage from the bwin and Olympiacos advertising video.

COLUMNS

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NUMBERS & SOCIAL 4 OLYMPIACOSBC.GR

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WHAT’S TRENDING

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TODAY IN...

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WHEN I WAS TEN

ISSUE 4 / DECEMBER 2018

12 THE TAILOR OF OLYMPIACOS The ‘reds’ try on their new suits.

34 A LEGENDARY WEDDING AT THE SEF The couple chose Olympiacos’ ‘home’ for their wedding photoshoot.

51 INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM Νigel Williams-Goss reveals his locker room routine.

54 THE NIGHT OF THE RECORD Zach LeDay writes history against Buducnost.

68 ONE1TEAM The ‘larger than life’ eye-wear for Papanikolaou and Bogris.

74 THE OTHER ...

NIKOLA MILUTINOV Get to know the Serbian center through 30 personal questions.

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PHOTOGRAPHERS’ CHOICE The Legendary video of BWIN! BWIN chose one of the SEF’s auxiliary gyms and not the main court to shoot its advertising video and along with the dozens of lights and smoke machines that were used, some magical images were created.

Here is the Olympiacos of the 2018-19 in full deployment and in a photo instant completely different to the usual ones.

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NUMBERS & SOCIAL THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLLABORATION WITH EZA Olympiacos and the Greek Brewery of Atalanti chose a unique way to present the renewal of their cooperation. A few hours after the end of the winning game against Panionios, the whole team and the technical staff attended a special party thrown at a central Piraeus café.

“I always thought that the trademark of a successful program is shaped by the people involved with it. We as a team and Olympiacos as an organization are very proud and honored for the collaboration with εζα beer and for having the opportunity to promote its quality.

We hope that we offer the same quality both in attitude and results”, coach Blatt commented in the framework of the presentation and before having the chance to spend a few relaxing moments with the ones closest to him.

A BIG THANK YOU...

Olympiacos beat Bayern in Munich with an excellent performance but the ones who had won the battle in the stands from the start were the 500 tem fans that made the “Audi Dome” resembling the SEF at its best. A big thank you from all of us to the Olympiacos’ fans for always being by our side.

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MOST POPULAR YOUTUBE VIDEO Coach Blatt’s speech in the Olympiacos’ locker room following the victory against Baskonia in Vitoria.

59.968 views

RECORDS SET AND THE ONES THAT ARE COMING… He became the top score of the Basket League in last season’s game against Panionios, while in this season’s one against the Nea Smyrni team, Vassilis Spanoulis played his 486th game in the league and surpassed Giorgos Sigalas in the 7th spot of said ranking, while he will soon be making the top five places, preceded by Giorgos Kalaitzis with 490 games and Panagiotis Giannakis with 493. At the same time, with the two threes he made, now ranks third with 618 threes made, leaving Nikos Chatzis behind (616).

Olympiacos’ captain also ranks third in the Euroleague for most threes made with 427, surpassing Bazile (421) and he’s always after the top spot in the competition’s scorer’s list, now in need of 305 points to get ahead of Juan Carlos Navarro.

RED TWEETS

BETTER TO TALK… “It’s crazy. That’s what I’ve been asked all my life. I try to do the best I can. I can play, either the ‘4’ or the ‘5’ position.

I’m a power forward that can also play as a center. I’m a player that can play two positions. I work on both.

I practice both in and out of the post. I’m a fighter; I want to do the best I can to help my team win games”. A comment by Zach LeDay after beating Bayern Munich.

MOST POPULAR TWEET 76.608 IMPRESSIONS 7.021 ΑΛΛΗΛΕΠΙΔΡAΣΕΙΣ SEND US YOUR ‘RED’ PHOTOS The effort to become better and even more attractive to all of you that have embraced us from our very first issue will be a constant one. New ideas, exclusive photo shoots and original content is what we aspire to have presented in our magazine’s pages. But we also want your participation, because Olympiacos is his people. You can submit your ‘red’ photos at diagonismoi@olympiacosbc.gr and we will be creating a special photo album in the following issues.

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REDWHITE SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook.com/olympiacosbc 404.264 Likes

Twitter.com/olympiacosbc 77.200 FOLLOWERS 26.080 ΤWEETS

Instagram.com/olympiacosbc 144.947 FOLLOWERS 3.260 POSTS

YouTube.com/olympiacosbc 85.301 SUBSCRIBERS 35.141.130 VIEWS 2.206 VIDEΟ

Stanza.co/@olympiacosbc 22.271 SUBSCRIBERS

MOST POPULAR FACEBOOK POST The Bwin ad for Olympiacos.

263.287 Impressions 4.830 Comments and interactions

LIFE LESSONS...

After the game against Bayern, it was Kostas who asked to meet with Vassilis Spanoulis since the captain is a source of inspiration for him, but now Kostas gets to inspire all of us.

A few days later, the captain harried to meet Antonis who battles his own fight and is going to win it, while after the game against Real Madrid at the SEF, Konstantinos, who had visited our team’s practices at the beginning of the season, surprised us all and came to the gym to be close to our team. Three life lessons for all of us…

MOST POPULAR INSTAGRAM POST The photo with the final result of the game against Real Madrid for the 9th Euroleague round.

141.604 Impressions - 20.102 Likes - 217 Comments

AGRAVANIS IS BACK A year after he got injured, Dimitris Agravanis returned as strong as ever. The Greek international forward played for the first time with the ‘reds’ jersey in the game against Panionios on November 28. A few minutes before the end, David Blatt summoned him on the floor as a substitution and he received a warm applause by everyone in the arena, while a few minutes later he got to score his first basket with everyone and especially his team mates, who had first hand experience of his effort to come back, cheering wildly for him.

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RED MOMENTS

09.2018

The Olympiacos players are used to signing autographs and being photographed and young and older fans. Nevertheless, when you are in a foreign country and a kid is waiting for you to sign the jersey he has bought with your name on it, then the moment is special. The friendly game against Unicaja Malaga will always stay with the young Spaniard since he got Vassilis Spanoulis to sign him an autograph.

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Euroleague’s Media Day did not only have obligations for the ‘reds’ but also some playing. The captains had their own scrimmage and got to remember the days they were still kids.

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In the Bwin ad, the ‘reds’ got to unfold their acting talents together with their PlayStation basketball skills in the properly equipped area that the Olympiacos’ sponsor had prepared to facilitate some resting time for the protagonists…

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Nigel Williams-Goss and Silas Melson had been team mates at Gonzaga so for them to meet as opponents in the Greek League is definitely a special event. That’s why the two friends had a joint press conference after the end of the game.

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The game against Bayern Munich had just been finished, but the win of the ‘reds’ was not the main focus point. Kostas asked to meet captain Vassilis Spanoulis and everything else became less important.

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09.2018

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11.2018

Giorgos Bogris was called to serve in the Greek Army.

The international center got sworn in while in Thivai in the morning and then immediately left for the SEF to make the practice before the game against Buducnost and his team mates had the chance to get commemorative photos!

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10.2018

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12.2018

David Blatt played against his son Tamir for the first time in the friendly game between Olympiacos and Hapoel Jerusalem in Iraklio on September 21, 2018. A day before, the Olympiacos’ coach had a talk with his son and Oded Katash during practice.

The 12th round of the Euroleague is dedicated to ONE TEAM and the preparation of the teams for the said game have began. There are not going to be names on the backs of the team jerseys and the coaches will all have same coaching boards.

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GIORGOS PAPADOGAMVROS THE OLYMPIACOS’ TAILOR

O

lympiacos has associated his brand name with NIKE on the courts, since the Club’s cooperation with the premium sporting attire company is now in its 25th season.

The Olympiacos coaches however don’t only wear sporting apparel, since during the games of both the Betshop Basket League and the Euroleague they need to be properly and stylishly dressed when sitting in the bench. That’s also a sign of respect for the game.

This season, is the eighth one for the Olympiacos staff to get dressed by the hand and guidance of the top Greek tailor and designer, Giorgos Papadogamvros.

A little before the season started, David Blatt and his associates showed their trust in the stylistic choices of Giorgos Papadogamvros who, in view of the new season, chose a dark blue jacket with grey pants and burgundy tie for the Olympiacos Greek League games, and a light checkered suit with a red tie for the Euroleague games.

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If there is one institution that Kostas Papanikolaou holds as sacred, it’s the one of family. Not only in a narrow sense - although he owes his parent who he is today as he confesses - but also in its expanded version that includes his “second family” - again according to his statements - Olympiacos.

So, what would make more sense, than for him to choose WeAreOlympiacos for this autobiographical interview that sheds light even to the darkest moments of his career.

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FAMILY AFFAIR

Interview

Kostas Papanikolaou goes back in time and talks about everyone and everything that have happened in his career and in his life.

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«IN MY FAMILY, WE ALL ‘DIE’ FOR ONE ANOTHER» “I was born in Trikala, however, at some point, my father who was a traffic police offer got transferred and we moved to Grevena. That’s where I grew up and it’s a city where I really feel at home. I spent fifteen years of my life there; it’s not a little time! That’s where I got to meet my best friend, Giorgos. Despite the distance, since he now lives in Thessaloniki, we are still best friends! We talk on the phone every day and we meet whenever we get a chance. I’m very lucky to have someone like him to be my friend!”.

“Pap” is one of the greatest pranksters among the ‘reds’, however, that’s not how he had been as a boy… “You couldn’t call me a quiet kid, but I wouldn’t tease people.

I was a little timid in regard to third parties, but I was a real caseload for my family. I remember my mom used to tell me that I wouldn’t go to sleep and I would be crying all the time. But the biggest problem was something else… With my brother, Nikos, with whom we are only a year apart age wise, well we would wreck havoc! We would be causing a lot of problems to our parents with our behavior. Whenever we would be together, there would always be something… Some damage, something mischievous, physically fighting 16 OLYMPIACOSBC.GR

wasn’t also out of the equation!”.

Taking point from the flash back to his childhood, he reveals that Mr. Thanassis and Ms. Katerina had set the foundations for this very close knit family… “In general, my memories from my childhood years are really very pleasant. Thank God we have had many beautiful moments; despite we were experiencing difficulties financially wise. Of course, we wouldn’t know what was going on, but we would be feeling it was we would be growing up. Anyway, our parents never hid anything from us. We weren’t living in a cozy little cloud. We were a family very well aware of what the circumstances were and what was going on. And I think that this helped us understand a great many things and helped us bond that much. Even now, we all can “die” for one another.

There is no chance that a day passes when I don’t get to talk with my brother. We get to do almost everything together. The funny thing is that we wouldn’t hang out together with Nikos when we were growing up. He would be the older brother that would be telling me: “you are young, hang out with your own friend”. But we would be competing one another then and we were also jealous of one another. We would fight and unfortunately, I would be the one to get smacked. But as the years were going by and especially from 2012 and here after, we became very close. Since that year’s summer, we have always been together…”.

tournaments, Mr. Akoumianakis would always see to send me or let me know so that I would participate.

Also, it was many times that he got to talk to basketball people about me. But also in Grevena, everybody was helpful. I have to acknowledge that Proteas never stood in my way, like some other small peripheral teams do when they think that they have someone talented in their ranks and try to gain something out of them. On the contrary, everyone ‘pushed’ me to leave”.

«THEY NEVER STOOD IN THE WAY OF OUR DREAMS»

BASKETBALL… FOR THE COMPANY! Sports had always been a part of my life, but not basketball though, with which he practically got involved for the company! “We would always be playing at the neighborhood rims, just like we would be playing football and volleyball, with which both I and my brother got involved more intensely. There were people telling me that in view of my height, I should take up basketball more seriously, but there was however no such academy or club in Grevena.

When I was 13 or 14, Proteas Grevenon began building a junior team that would be playing games and all my friends got to join. So, since I wanted to be with my friends, I also signed up… Of course the sport was of my liking anyway. So there was a time that I would be practicing basketball, volleyball as well as track and field, but at some point, I had to make a choice”.

So, he chose the orange ball and he wasn’t wrong…

However, for him to make it here, there had been people that had believed in him, before he got to believe in himself… “I was lucky because I had people that cared for me both with Proteas Grevenon as well as with the Association of Western Macedonia, when the President was the late Nikos Akoumianakis. They helped me get exposure. Wherever there were camps or kids’

His family did not leave him alone, even when he had to move to Thessaloniki. «My father got an early retirement and got to lose a portion of his pension, so that we could all move together and I wouldn’t be alone. It was a big decision. The offer from Aris had come and this is where I need to mention one more smart decision my parents made at the time. Aris asked us if we wanted to get some money for my transfer or something else. Then, my parents, although we weren’t really well money wise, did not ask for money, which would have been the easiest thing to ask for, but rather for an apartment where we could be staying as a family with the rent covered by the team and a private school for me. My parents never wanted to take away anything either from me or by brother; they never wanted to get in the way of our dreams».

Mr. Thanassis was always there, except from practice time. “He wasn’t intrusive. He never came to practices.

Going to Thessaloniki and to Aris, I remember it was very usual for the parents to watch practices. My dad never came in the gym; he would be always sitting at the cafeteria. He never also told me ‘why you did this’ or ‘you could have done this better’ after a game… My parents treated that part of my life so properly. As for my mom, she started coming to my games when we went to live in Thessaloniki. When we were living in Grevena, she could never make it since she had to be at work. But we were very close and still are in terms of so many other things. We talk a lot… Both I and Nikos talk to her a lot. We feel very close to her. There isn’t a huge age gap as well, only 20 years. And that’s the biggest thing my parents have succeeded… We feel they are our friends. There was no authoritative behavior. I can easily sit with them on the balcony one night, drink beers and chat”.

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THE VIDEO THAT CLICKED The new environment was close to have him deviate from his goals. “I was very intimidated at first. I had left Grevena, where everyone knew everybody else, and I had moved to a big city. I was overwhelmed. I began practicing; I made new friends both with the team and my new school… But I was so into the hype of the new city and my new life that I wasn’t realizing I wasn’t doing the things that I was supposed to. Until some time around Christmas, when we participated a tournament and I happened to see the game on video. It was the first time I got to watch myself play and I felt really bad about it. I was wondering… Is this really how I play? I was pathetic.

That was the first click in my brain that urged me to work more and get more serious about the situation”.

Being recognizable came before he even joined Aris men’s team, through the junior National selections.

“I hadn’t made the cut for the cadet team. But I was selected for the junior one next year. Then I went to Spain, it was 2007, and we got to win the silver medal there. Coming back I played one more year with Aris’ junior team, but during the season I began to participate some of the men’s team practices to help out. We won the Greek Junior Championship that year. In the summer of 2008, I played for the U18 European Championship and we won the gold medal. That was the first time I was called to participate the pre-season camp of the men’s team of Aris. I also got to play a few minutes that season”.

There had been already talks about him, which nevertheless, did not put extra pressure on him. “It’s true that a lot of people got

to talk about us and we didn’t realize that until the tournament was over. I’m talking about 2008. We got that later on. When we got back with our teams and when we were walking the streets. For me, this did not add pressure or made me nervous. I didn’t think I had something to prove. When I started participating Aris’ men’s team, I was team mates with Tsaldaris and Barlos, who now coach Olympiacos’ academies. I was around Iliadis, Panteliadis, Argyropoulos, Barlos, Agadakos and others. I used to watch them the previous season from the stands, so just practicing with them filled me with awe. I wasn’t thinking “I have a medal with the National team…” I knew they had done so much more than me, that there was nothing but respect from me for them”.

On October 11, 2008, he made his debut in the first category during the Aris - Panellinios game. He was on the floor for 11’’. However, another date is engraved in his mind… November 8, 2008 … “The game I remember amongst my first ones was one against Olympia Larissa, not only because I had gotten quite a few minutes, but also because Mr. Mazzon had started me, due to many injured players that were missing”.

Records show that he hadn’t gotten to score in that game (0/2 threes in 25 minutes), but he had stolen three balls and had one assist.

THE CRAZIEST SUMMER OF HIS LIFE! He was voted the best U22 player of that season for the Greek League and all that followed surpassed even his wildest dreams! «In the summer of 2009, we won the silver medal with the U19 selection. It was a great success. I think it’s very important to have played and being distinguished in a world championship. After five days, we came back to Greece and went to European Championship tournament that was held in Rhodes. We were seven kids born in 1990 and five born in 1989 with that team. We won gold, also a huge success for Greece and after that, well it was my first training camp with the Men’s team! I felt really overwhelmed. The guys did not haze me a lot, maybe because I was very young.

There had been teasing, but not hazing. I remember that Giannis (Bourousis) was the first one to take me under his wing. I had come from Thessaloniki and did not know anyone! I would be seeing Spanoulis, Zisis, Vassilopoulos, Printezis, Schortsanitis next to me and my legs were becoming jelly! I did not make the final cut; however, it did not upset me because even being there was so huge. The truth is, I had never really believed I would be making the cut. I was happy to go, I tried, but I knew that it would have been pure luck for me to make the cut instead of someone out of these guys».

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A CAREER DECISION That summer’s … madness wasn’t over though, since he then became a prize target for the ‘eternal’ rivals (i.e Olympiacos and Panathinaikos). “I joined Olympiacos that summer. The truth is that I was confused at first, because I didn’t know which one was the right choice. I had never faced such a dilemma before. Then things began to get serious. It felt I had to make the right decision, because from that point on I could be starting a career. Choosing Aris to Olympia wasn’t that important, because I was playing for the junior teams and that was it. But, at the age of 19 or 20 I had to make a decision that would have a huge impact on my future. So, all of that had really stressed me out.

I chose Olympiacos because I thought it was a better fit for me. This was because one other player, that I used to look up to when I was growing up, Panagiotis Vassilopoulos, had played a superb finals series against Diamantidis the previous season, guarding him all over the floor, he had made a tremendous series overall.

He was quite young at the time and I felt a connection.

They had acquired Sloukas, Giannopoulos and that meant a lot”.

THE TRAFFIC TICKET DID NOT STOP HIM! He went to Piraeus without the family. “At the same time I decided to sign with Olympiacos, I also made one more huge decision. I talked to my parents and told them thanks for everything, but it was time I learned how to take care of myself! Be myself, without that meaning that they wouldn’t be visiting as often as possible”.

However, maybe, the drive to Karpenisi would have been easier if Mr. Thanassis was to be driving instead of the current Sports Director of the Club, Christos Bafes!

“I remember that the pre-season had started and I met with Bafes somewhere at Theseus street to head out to Karpenisi. I had been asleep for most of the drive, but I woke up at some point and I realized we had been pulled over by the traffic police. He must have been speeding a little

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bit… He tried very hard to avoid getting a ticket… he was like “look, I have the kid here, I’m taking him to the team”, but the officers weren’t moved. We got the ticket…”

However, meeting the members of his new team was an even more awkward moment than getting the ticket.

“We arrive when the team is at the restaurant having lunch. I’m coming in, totally intimidated, sit down and not utter and single word. I wasn’t familiar with anyone at the time except for Sloukas. I went to sit next to him and I was completely mum. We began practicing, I got to know the guys. I really came close to Sloukas, although I had a deep appreciation for everyone. For instance, Childress was on the team at the time, a player we shared the same position with and I would be watching him play very hard, really, really hard and it was admirable because he had played in the NBA”.

His first season wasn’t just about learning. It was an exciting one… “I might not be on the rotation, but I was very lucky! We had travelled to the States for some friendly games. It was the first time I got to see Lebron James up close. I was in shock. Mr. Giannakis had me start guarding him. Thank God, it was the pre-season and he was not on full speed, he probably didn’t even sweat much. I was the 13th player practically that year, but I was traveling with the team everywhere. Some guys may not really like that, but I did enjoy it because I got to see different cities, I was with the team and I was thinking that maybe that was the game I was going to play… Although I never did! It was though a great year though. We had won the Greek Cup after many years and we had made the Euroleague final!”.

«I DON’T KNOW ANY PAPANIKOLAOU…» He got to win a role on the team and all the more a substantial one after Dusan Ivkovic came to the team, the coach that had told him: “If I ever see you pull your hair after a missed shot I’m going to kill you!” “I’m still the same way”, he admits and goes on talking about the added nervousness the coach’s presence was causing him… “I was nervous around coach Giannakis as well, because I was feeling awe about all that he had succeeded both as a player and a coach. The same applied for coach Ivkovic, who had already been a really great coach. I was a starter with him and I got to play.

Up to the previous season, I was only thinking I could do it. It was a very strange transition. At the time Mr. Ivkovic got to sign with Olympiacos, I had been with the National team and someone asked him about me. “I don’t know any Papanikolaou. We’ll see. I haven’t seen him play” had been his response. Of course that was only normal, I just got even more nervous after that. I tried to be really focused during pre-season and I was trying to get everything right, however, I had never expected that I would be playing so soon, and all the more as a starter. The coach got to help me a lot in terms of facilitating my transition to the next level.

I can say he was one of the people that played a decisive role for me to be where I am today”.

brain’s hard drive. “This picture is instilled in my brain.

It may be the most intense emotional moment I have had. I never compare successes. I don’t like doing that, because when you succeed something with the National team, it has a different weight than what you might achieve with your team. But what I got to experience emotionally wise at that moment, is something I have never felt before, at least in terms of sports. And that’s the reason that following the foul, the free throws by Siskauskas, the rebound, Vassilis carrying the ball, Giorgos finishing the play, I have all of that clear in my head up dissected in all its detail.

What I never got to see was what happened afterwards, Hines touching the ball, the game is over and I don’t remember what I’m doing. I’ve seen it on video…

I was a little besides myself, I don’t even remember it

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FAIRY TALE… The 2010-11 season wasn’t deemed to be successful.

But the one to follow was a historical one! “2012 was a real fairy tale. A great change took place that summer.

Many players that were big names and had been with the team for years got to leave and the team chose to continue with young players, Vassilis (Spanoulis) and Giorgos (Printezis) as the main pillars and some foreign players. All of that made for an exceptional mixture. The truth is that the season seemed like a fairy tale, the way it started and got to end…”.

After winning the first European Championship in 1997, Olympiacos, against all odds, succeeded to come back from trailing 19 points with CSKA and win the European crown! Kostas Papanikolaou had been one of the protagonists of that come back. “I was in the bench when we were trailing by 19. We got a time out and I got in.

That team had something special.

We never believed that it was over until it actually was.

And this was the attitude despite winning or losing at the moment. I’m not saying that we believed the final was going to turn around, but we were used to play the game until the last second, regardless of the score.

I remember that we were enjoying every minute on the floor. And I believe that was the reason the game finally turned. Apart from the big shots, from the big plays, the defense, anything that might had happened… I think that this determination to play the game up to the last minute and enjoy it, was the cornerstone to winning the trophy”.

Many people go to YouTube to relieve the final historical seconds with Printezis’ signature ‘petachtari’ shot. “Pap” however has everything engraved in his

all, there’s nothing in my brain, a void. It was such an intense moment and I was supercharged emotionally that I couldn’t really control myself. I believe that the guys also could not understand what was happening right there and then. We couldn’t understand what we had achieved until we got back to Greece. To be sincere, it took us many years to realize how huge a success that had been and how insane what happened that night was”.

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BACK2BACK CHAMPION Following the unbelievable triumph of 2012, this team, now under the guidance of Giorgos Bartzokas, did one more unbelievable feat! Won a back2back Euroleague.

“The 2012-13 season began with coach Bartzokas in the bench. No one was thinking that we were going to win the Euroleague once again. The success of the previous season was so huge that we thought that all was great with our lives. We were still ‘drunk’ from the Istanbul success and maybe we couldn’t see ahead. At that time we lost two games, to Efes and Zalgiris at the SEF with a +20 difference and that brought us back to reality. From that point on we embarked on yet another crazy course.

What’s distinctive is that we were also lucky during both these seasons. It’s also worth noting that we were very relaxed going to the Final Four. As if our jobs were done and we were already more than successful! This was the case in both 2012 and 2013, as well as in 2017.

We were generally relaxed. Everyone was expecting us to disqualify in 2012 when still at the TOP-16, and we got to win the Euroleague, which meant that team had not just broken through the ceiling, but had done practically everything! Next season as well, in 2013, we would be thinking that we got the European title a year ago, we are now at the Final Four, and so we proved that it wasn’t a random incident, so we have nothing

more to prove to anyone. That’s exactly what helped us win back2back. Being that relaxed. CSKA was a very good team, however, we played an excellent semi-final.

And in the final against Real, when we were trailing by 17 at half-time, once again with guys that came in from the bench, I remember Katsivelis had changed the tempo, Law and Hines had played a tremendous Final Four, Billy had done some amazing stuff against Real Madrid in the second half… Someone would always step up at the right time”.

The joy was the same. But not the intensity of it…

“What we were talking with the guys was the joy was immense for sure. However, the intensity of emotions we had experienced the year before wasn’t comparable to 2013. That was probably because the trophy in 2012 was the first one after so many years and it was so unexpected and we had felt it really intensely. What was also very beautiful and has stayed with us, is how the fans welcomed the team both in 2012 and in 2013. People of all ages were at the airport and the gym that were ecstatic with what the team had achieved. It’s really important to have helped them feel so joyful. It’s a magical feeling you can’t describe. You have to experience it to understand it”.

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ΝΒΑ THROUGH BARCELONA After two historical triumphs, Papanikolaou and Olympiacos followed different paths. ”Things were that way that I did not get to continue with Olympiacos in the summer of 2013. I signed with Barcelona and it was the first time I would be playing outside of Greece.

All of that is really stressful, because you don’t know what to expect, how it is going to be. I had been with Olympiacos for four years, I knew everyone, from the people who worked at the SEF, with the team, the security people. I was very familiar with all of that and I suddenly got to be in a new environment. Despite that, it was a very good year. We went to the Final Four and finished winning the Spanish League. I have very good memories. I was friends with all the guys, Huertas, Abrines, Tomic, even Navarro, who is a more private person and a family man. I had a very good relationship with everyone. It was a really good season and I truly enjoyed it”.

Before he got to adjust to Barcelona, he found himself going after his big dream with the Rockets jersey (who had acquired his rights through a trade). “The NBA

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came a little bit out of the blue. There had been talks with the Rockets from the beginning of the summer.

They wanted to give me the minimum contract, but I was really well in Barcelona and wasn’t willing to leave just yet. I wanted to stay for another season. So the talks did not come through. But they came back in the middle of the summer with a very good offer. They told me it would be good for me to go at that particular moment in time and I convinced myself that was the case because it was something I wanted to experience.

I wanted to be able to say “I’ve experienced that! I know how this is!” I never wanted to go there and be the best.

I wanted to go, test myself and live the experience.

The truth is I was afraid I might be missing out on the opportunity when we started talking again. Things are kind of different there, usually, when you get the call you need to go because you don’t know if you ever going to get the chance again. So I decided to give it a shot”.

His beginning in the magical world of the NBA had been an ideal one. “It’s a totally different situation from what we know in Greece, and generally in Europe.

It’s a totally different way of handling situations both inside and outside of the court.

It’s a unique experience!

I would totally do it again if I could go back in time. I lived through it the best I could.

Everything was perfect in the first half of the season. I was playing, I was a starter, but then I got injured, the team changed direction, they acquired more experienced players and I was left off the team. Nevertheless, I had an amazing season in Houston.

We made the western conference finals, I got to watch the All Star Game, I had a life time experience for a basketball player.

You feel awe just getting on the floor.

I played against Kobe Bryant in his last season!

I got to guard him and he got to guard me! I played against Lebron, Leonard, I practiced with Harden… Now I watch the NBA and I tell myself… You know what? I experienced that live! To me, that’s something special».

are the wrong ones, I can be able to say that I had done what I wanted. So, it was the first time that I was being told about the choices available to move forward and I wouldn’t know what to do. I was asking for help. I was questioning everything. I was afraid. I was wondering if I ever was going to get back on track and play at a high level again. Can I play again? Am I capable? Do I worth it? All these questions get in your head and mess with you”.

Despite all of that, he refused a way out to Europe.

“Denver came along. And it was my choice to return to the NBA. There had been some offers from European teams, but I was adamant for some reason to go back to the States before I returned to Europe. Although psychologically fine, I wasn’t in a good shape game wise. I hadn’t played since February and it was now November. I tried, worked very hard, but for better or worse, it just wouldn’t work for me. When it was over I did not go through the same emotional turmoil. I was feeling good, I had begun finding myself and I wasn’t questioning me. I knew it just a matter of time… I had offers from the NBA for ten day contracts, but it wasn’t something I was willing to do. I said enough. I want to go back now. I felt it was a good timing for me to come back. I thought, I’m good, I gave it a try, it didn’t work out, I didn’t succeed (?), I wasn’t up to it (?), I don’t know and I don’t care, neither do I care what people would think. I lived this, I tried and now it was time to go back».

THE BATTLE WITH HIMSELF...

The second half of his sting with the Rockets was quite troublesome, and the process he went through when they decided not to renew his contract had a tough psychological toll on him. “It was a very tough period.

After the Rockets I joined the National team. I didn’t play much, I wasn’t in a good shape, I hadn’t played for half a season. The thing was that I hadn’t had a team after the National team. It was November until I went to Denver. I was in Thessaloniki for three months working by myself. I began questioning myself. Up to that point I had been blessed and my career had always an uptick.

So, it shook me to be in such a position for the first time. But I got a lot of help from my coaches. Dimitris Kyriakou and Giorgos Vitkas, the trainer I was working with, just like my closest people, my brother, my best friend Giorgos, my parents, my agent, every one…. I was experiencing a very volatile situation though. I didn’t know what the right decision would be. Up to that time, I would be always gathering the facts and the final choice would be mine. That’s how I operate in my life. I want to be making my own choices, so even if they

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RETURN TO THE FUTURE… Just like in 2009, in 2016 he was again the target of both the ‘eternal’ rivals. But this time around, the decision was even easier. “Apart from really wanting to come back, I was certain that I would be finding the support system and the patience I was in need of, I would be given the time adjust and bring all that I can on the floor again. The fans knew what I had offered to the team and they wouldn’t be jumping into hasty conclusions about me. The same went for the members of the team. Most of them knew me from the four years I had spent here, coach Sfairopoulos knew me from the National team. Everyone knew exactly what I was able of doing when I would be feeling right. So, all of that would be helping me to come back into rhythm much sooner. Of course, it was also important that I was going to be together with team mates that I had achieved many things with and this would instantly make me feel familiar. It was kind of strange to be coming back after three years. Familiarly weird though…

And at the same time it felt so good returning to such a familiar environment”.

IT TAKES TIME Returning to Piraeus he got to celebrate one more Greek Championship (2016), however, there hasn’t been any other title after that… “There are going to be some successful season, there are going to be failed ones.

Everybody wants to win. No one wants to be failing. A success makes us as happy as it makes the fans. Unfortunately, things don’t always come the way we want them to”, he commented and talked about this season’s restart… “There is a new situation, a new philosophy, a new start.

New things always bring on confidence at first, good vibes, good mood. But like all new things, it takes time for something good to happen. The team is a new one, the philosophy is a new one and we all need to adjust, both the veterans and the new players. For instance, when you 26 OLYMPIACOSBC.GR

have a coach like coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos and you have been working with him for 3.5 years with a certain philosophy in terms of the game and suddenly a new coach takes over with a different philosophy and approach, then the team core cannot really help with anything… From that point on, we all begin from ground zero and we all need to reach to a certain point together. This is only normal and it takes time. Of course it takes a lot of work and you need to want to do the work to have room to improve. That’s something that everyone needs to understand, the players before anyone else but also every last one of the fans. The fans need to be patient. They are going to witness times when the team is not going to be playing well or that will be losing games that fans weren’t expecting to see lost. The truth is that our fans have shown to realize all of that from the beginning of the season and they have been supporting us. The team just can’t be ranking in the top four each year and have home court advantage. The fact that this was the case in the two previous seasons with the new format of the Euroleague, does not guarantee that it can happen every season. The competition is becoming stronger each season, other teams become stronger, they have big budgets, they sign high level players… The quality of the sport is on the rise… The important thing for me is to be able to consistently be among the top 8 teams and fight your chances to go to the final four.

The final four is not a given for anyone, not for Olympiacos either.

We see teams that have bigger budgets than ours and they haven’t succeeded to advance till the final stage of the competition. The fact that this team has succeeded to qualify for four final fours in the last six years that it has advanced to the final in each one of them and has won two European titles is an enormous achievement. This is neither simple nor normal. The effort put in by everyone is huge. It’s not that we don’t dream or aim high…

However, dreaming is different to demanding. Who is that player not to be dreaming about going to the final four and winning it?”.

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ΟLYMPIACOS IS MY FAMILY He doesn’t like to talk big and make promises… He bets though on the camaraderie that has been formed.

“There is very good chemistry, not only on the floor, but also in the locker rooms. The atmosphere is very good and there is no one that keeps their distance. Everyone has bonded with everybody else, we make fun, we really have a fun time after the games”. Having spent the greatest part of his career in Piraeus, he was asked to answer as to what Olympiacos means to him… “I feel at home here… I feel Olympiacos to be my family…

I have spent most of my years here… We have walked together, we have celebrated success, we have lived through disappointment… It feels really nice to be part of this family”.

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Θ Τ ΕΕ Θ Α Α Μ Α Σ Σ Β Ρ Ε Ι Τ ΕρμούύύύύύΑθήνα ΕρμούύύύύύΑθήνα

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A SMILE IS ENOUGH Olympiacos is not his only team… For three seasons now he is a ONE TEAM member. The talk is about the Euroleague Social Responsibility Program, which the ‘reds’ participate since its inception. “I’m very lucky to be in this program. I will confess that at first, when I was told that I would be participating I was a little hesitant and maybe resentful at first, just like anytime you are told to do something. However, I can say with absolute certainty that it is among the best things I have done!

I can’t really describe it… The moments you get to experience, the smiles you receive, how you feel when you interact with these kids. The magic in all of that is that the love you receive is so pure and real that fills your very core. It makes you feel great with yourself and with what you have to offer. What I’m about to say has not to do just with the ONE TEAM kids or just with kids that experience health problems.

I think it’s really important to bring the kids joy, kids that probably ask for very little, like getting photographed with you. I have never denied them.

I feel it’s my obligation to oblige them, because at that moment you may inspire them to do something positive. Maybe your smile can make a kid feel good”.

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ON A PERSONAL NOTE...

How do you spend your free time?

“I really love hanging at home. In my couch, with my girlfriend or with my pals. Playing on the Play station or watching some movie. If I’m not at home, I like going to the theatre. Me and my girlfriend have made a habit out of it and we go once a month …”.

Whom did you want to succeed for when you were starting out?

“For my family. Not only because I wanted to make them proud but because it was a way out for all of us”.

How do you feel for making it?

“I have said that many times… What happens to most of the athletes is a blessing. You have succeeded into turning you hobby into a profession and you get paid really well for it. However, it’s not as if we provide some exceptional service. We are simply athletes, we are nothing more. We are not heroes. To me, the heroes are the fathers and mothers who have two kids and have to pay the rent and get by with 1000 euro per month. Yes, we are blessed, but we are not better than anyone else nor something special”.

How different is today’s Kostas to your childhood’s one?

“They are different… I’m not the same carefree child.

If I were the old times Kostas, I would be going out and wouldn’t care what anyone would think… I would be going out to have a drink or dinner with my friends and I wouldn’t care about the gossip. At this moment in my life, if I go out, I’m very self conscious, because I think I have an obligation to behave as a possible role model to a young kid. Also, I have to watch out because there are negative people that wait for your slightest slip up.

So, it becomes second nature to not being who you want to be 100%. You have to be a little more cautious, more timid. You are going to enjoy yourself, have fun, but you will always be cautious”.

Why do you have such intense reactions when on the floor? Have you regretted anything?

“I’m very spontaneous. I’m not a phony, I express how I feel. I realize that to many people this may seem bad and wrong. There are many reactions I have regretted; however, whatever happens on the floor is only an instant reaction. Many people have misjudged from how I react or from something I have said due to the intensity of the moment. If someone meets me off court, they get to really understand that I’m a totally different person. I have happened to meet kids that tell me that they had a totally different perception of me from seeing me playing before getting to know me in real life. I cannot explain why this is happening… I’m very passionate and I’m spontaneous. I can’t repress my feelings and I can’t be a fake”.

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Have you ever felt that you went “overboard” due to fame and success?

“There had been a time I felt I was losing it a little bit.

But thank God, I figured that out myself and I want to believe that I fixed that. Following the success with the National team I caught myself being a little arrogant”.

What’s your biggest basketball dream?

“An Olympic Games medal”.

What’s your biggest life dream?

“I think there is no greater blessing than a happy family”.

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A legendary wedding at the SEF The temple of the Olympiacos basketball team now also hosts weddings! Achilleas and Georgia Tsipoliti got married a few weeks ago and wanted to get their photos taken at the Peace and Friendship Stadium.

They both never miss our team’s games and they wanted to add ‘red’ color to their magical moment.

They were lucky enough that the advertising video of Olympiacos and BWIN was scheduled for the same day, so their wedding album will be including photos with many of their favorite players.

We wish Georgia and Achilleas happiness, to always be close to our team and bring a lot more junior Olympiacos’ fans to the world.

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«Lights, camera, go…»

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Τhe backstage from the ΒWIN and Olympiacos advertising video What can Vassilis Spanoulis and Tom Cruse have in common? Giorgos Printezis and Kurt Russell? David Blatt and Robert De Niro? They have been colleagues even for only a few hours and we certainly don’t imply that the Hollywood starts have decided to turn to basketball.

The ‘reds’ spent two days in front of the cameras for the needs of the advertising video with BWIN and had to listen to the guiding lines of the director and not of their coach. The went to the open courts of the SEF, to barber shops in Piraeus, to auto mechanic shops, at the port, among smoke, in front of hundreds of lights as well as where they spend most of their days and is their second home by now.

The locker rooms and the court of the Peace and

Friendship Stadium that underwent a lot of intervention during these two days. Τα αποδυτήρια και το παρκέ του Σταδίου Ειρήνης και Φιλίας τα οποία δέχθηκαν πολλές παρεμβάσεις σ’ αυτές τις δυο μέρες.

You have already admired the result both on TV (the short edition) and the internet (long edition). For this time wise short ad, more than 48 hours of back to back shoots were needed and David Blatt and his players patiently went through every difficult aspect of this process so that this video that touched both the fans and the … enemies of Olympiacos could become a reality.

The We Are Olympiacos was present during the whole time of the shooting and presents you with unique clicks from them as well as from the breaks when everyone had lots of fun.

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WHAT’S TRENDING? Let’s get to know the Olympiacos’ players off court. What they like to eat, what kind of music they listen, where do they hang out…

JANIS TIMMA WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT FAVORITE TV SHOW? «Suits, Black List, Narcos».

WHAT DO YOU LOVE TO WEAR? «I dress in different styles, but I’m mostly interested in wearing comfortable clothes».

IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE, WHAT KIND OF SHOES WOULD YOU BE WEARING? WHICH ONES MAKE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE? «Givenchy, Gucci, Christian Louboutin».

NETFLIX or AMAZON; «Νetflix».

WHICH IS THE LATEST MOVIE YOU SAW AND LIKED? «Equalizer 2».

WHAT DO YOU USUALLY WEAR THEM WITH? «Nothing special, depends on the mood».

ANY ACCESSORIES YOU LIKE TO WEAR? «My favorite watch and a bracelet».

WHICH ONE OF YOUR TEAM MATES DRESSES THE BEST? DO YOU FOLLOW FASHION TRENDS? WHAT DO YOU LIKE FROM WHAT’S IN FASHION AT THE MOMENT? «Yes, as much as I can, I’m not really into it that much, but I want to be fashionable at certain moments».

«No one (laughing)».

WHICH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS DO YOU USE? «Instagram and Twitter».

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WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO MOST OF YOUR TEAM MATES LISTEN TO?

FIFA or PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER;

«Mainly Greek music since most of them are Greeks».

«PRO».

WHERE DO YOU USUALLY HANG OUT? «At the cinema. I love movies».

WHO’S THE BEST AT FIFA/ PES AND WHO’S THEWORST? «I would say Dimitris Agravanis».

WHERE DO YOU USUALLY HANG OUT AS A TEAM?

WHO PLAYS THE MOST VIDEO GAMES ON THE TEAM?

«We mainly go to restaurants».

«Agravanis and Mantzaris».

WHICH ONE OF YOUR TEAM MATES HAS THE BEST DANCING MOVES?

WHICH EXPRESSION DO YOU USE ALL THE TIME?

«Bogris».

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE VIDEO GAME? «I used to play a lot, but I don’t have the time anymore. I used to play Pro Evolution and ΝΒΑ2Κ».

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«Be positive».

WHO USES THE SAME EXPRESSIONS ALL THE TIME? «Printezis».

WHAT KIND OF FOOD YOU EAT NOW, WHICH YOU WOULDN’T EVEN TOUCH A FEW YEARS BACK? «Mushrooms. I never thought I would ever get to even try them. But now, I gladly eat them».

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR HAIR AT THE TIME? «Yes, finally!».

DO YOU GET ADVICE FROM ANYONE ON YOUR HAIR? «No, not by anyone».

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Olympiacos B.C. World Mastercard

Οι πιο δυνατές εµπειρίες µε την οµάδα σου. Μόνο µε την πιστωτική κάρτα Olympiacos B.C. World Mastercard. Χρησιµοποίησέ τη σε κάθε σου αγορά, συγκέντρωσε πόντους και εξαργύρωσέ τους µε πλούσια δώρα και µοναδικές εµπειρίες, όπως: Ταξίδι στο εξωτερικό µε την οµάδα, για 2 άτοµα · Παρακολούθηση του αγώνα από θέση Court Seat · Κάρτα διαρκείας για όλη τη χρονιά · Υπογεγραµµένη εµφάνιση · αγαπηµένου σου παίκτη. της οµάδας και µπάλα µε την υπογραφή του

Το προϊόν παρέχεται υπό τις ισχύουσες περιοριστικές διατάξεις στην κίνηση κεφαλαίων. Πληροφορίες στο 50 OLYMPIACOSBC.GR

In the sanctuary of the ‘reds’ locker rooms...

From Drake to Bogrinio and from the room with the twelve chairs to the packed with history Olympiacos locker rooms! Nigel Williams - Goss ‘shares’ through “WeAreOlympiacos” stories from the most private area a team can claim to have and gives important data on the ‘reds’ sanctuary!

Who sits next to you?

“Axel Toupane on one side and Alexei Pokusevski on the other“.

Who is the most quiet person and the loudest one in the locker rooms before the game?

“I would say that the quietest one is Vassilis Spanoulis and the ‘loudest’ one would be Zach LeDay“.

Do you follow a routine in the locker rooms before the games?

“I wouldn’t say that… I simply listen to music on my phone and try to focus on my goal“.

How do you feel in the locker room before a game?

“I like it, it feels good. It’s quieter than in the arena and you can focus“.

Which was the most inspiring talk you remember anyone giving in the locker rooms?

“Coach Blatt gives inspiring talks for sure…

Apart from him, the one that has ‘touched’ me the most up to now was a talk by my college coach, Mark Few. We were getting ready to play the Final Four and the told us: “This what you had been dreaming about. We have worked hard. You have no reason to be nervous. Get on the court and play your game”. These were words that touched me...”.

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Who chooses the music before the games? Do you like it? Do you all listen to the same music or everyone picks for themselves?

“Bogrinio usually picks the music, especially in the locker rooms. And yes, he has a good taste. He usually plays rap and hip hop music and sometimes Kanye West, Drake or something of the kind“.

Has anyone famous visited your locker rooms lately?

“Not here. However, when I was in High School, Drake had come to our locker rooms and I had the chance to meet him! He performed after the game, and all the athletes had the chance to get on stage with him. It was really cool!“.

When was the last time you visited the opponent’s locker room?

“I can’t remember anything like that. Now that I’m thinking about it, I have never visited the opposing team’s locker room!”.

How much time do you spend in the locker room after a game and what it is you do? ”I stay for a total of 20 minutes there before the game, because in the mean time I go out in the arena and shoot. I usually have my head phones on listening to my favorite music, I think about the game and sometimes I get a little bit nervous…“.

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Who’s the one that exits the locker room last before a game?

“Mantzaris”.

Apart from the Olympiacos’ locker rooms, do you have good memories from other ones as well?

“I have great memories from the locker rooms of all the teams I have been with. The locker room is a place where many friendships are forged; you get to be funny with your team mates...“.

Do you remember your first locker room? How was it like?

“It was in High School. It wasn’t anything special as a place; actually it wasn’t even a real locker room! It was a room with only twelve chairs in it. But the feeling was amazing, because we that got to get in there were doing something special“.

Which are the most unusual locker rooms you have ever been into?

“Definitely my first ones. Because, like I said before, they weren’t even real locker rooms!”.

Which locker room celebrations you remember most vividly?

“What comes first in my mind is when we won the Serbian Cup last season with Partizan.

We all went into the locker room, there was champagne, we were singing… It was really beautiful!”.

What is it you like with the Olympiacos’ locker room?

“That you get to feel the team’s history when you are in them! There are photos from the great achievements everywhere that constantly remind you of its past, as well as to where it aims for the future“.

Who is the one to talk first in the locker room following a defeat?

“It’s usually coach Blatt. We are all quiet after a loss and expect to listen to what our coach has to say“.

How had you pictured them before joining the team and how does it compare to reality?

“Truth is I had tried to picture them… It’s funny, because I had been teammates in college with Kyle Wiljer who was here last season and he told a lot of things, especially in regard to the personalities I was going to meet… So, I had a general idea of how it would be like. The atmosphere is really good and I sincerely enjoy what’s been happening to me“.

Describe the atmosphere in the Olympiacos’ locker room in three words...

“I can do it with two: Very private!”.

Have you ever lost your temper in the locker room?

“Yes! I can’t remember when exactly this was, but there have definitely been moments in my career when I was mad at myself or at my team mates!“.

Apart from the players, are there any other particular characters in the locker room?

“No”.

Who makes the most pranks in the locker room?

“For sure Giorgos Printezis!

He’s making jokes all the time and he’s funny”.

Who is the quietest one?

“Thomas Zevgaras! He doesn’t talk. Ever!”.

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42 30/11/2018 Οlympiacos-Buducnost The night that… speedometers broke down

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hat a night … It is only certain only a few will be remembering some years into the future that Olympiacos had beaten Buducnost 92-70 for the 10th round of the 2018-19 Euroleague, but when listening to Zach LeDay’s name, this particular game will be returning to everyone’s minds because the American forward… demolished the competition’s ranking system.

Zach stopped at 42, leaving Arvydas Macijauskas and Andrija Zizic behind, as well as Marquee Perry who were leading this specific statistical category.

Taking point from LeDay’s record, “WeAreOlympiacos” takes a dive into history and into the best individual nights of the Olympiacos players with the Euroleague and tries to explain in the simplest way possible how the final number of said stats is assessed.

How is ranking measured?

The player gets a point • for every point scored • for every rebound grabbed • for every assist he makes • for every steal • for every block • for every foul won Α point is deducted • for every shot missed • for every turnover • for every block received • for every foul made Τhe sum of positive points minus the negative ones gives the final result.

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However, numbers don’t always tell the truth. They come close but not always.

And they can’t show things that a player can do on the floor but are measurable with a numerical. Good and aggressive defense that breaks the opponent’s rhythm, how a big player plays in the post and intimidates the opposing attacker messing with their way of shooting, the tempo given to the team by a play-maker are some of the factors that cannot be indicated with numbers.

1. ΖACH LEDAY - 42 (30/11/2018)

The American center made a performance for the records against Buducnost (92-70) not only because it’s the best one in term of numbers with any Olympiacos player in the Euroleague, but also because he succeeded in only 21:16’’ what no other basketball player has done, that is to gather more than 40 points in the ranking system in less than 26’.

Zach LeDay had 28 points, with 8/9 free throws, 2/3 threes, 8 rebounds (6-2), 1 assist, 2 steals, 8 fouls won and no turnovers, while he received two blocks in the 21:16’’ he was on the floor, gathering 42 ranking points.

2.ARVYDAS MACIJAUSKAS - 41 (21/11/2007)

Olympiacos has started the 2007-08 season with no … breaks in the attack and it’s not a coincidence that two of the three top offensive nights in the team’s European history happened during that season and all the more in just one month. On November 21, the ‘reds’ had beaten Prokom Trefl 109-65 and on December 19, 2007 they had bested Olimpija Ljubljana 113-80.

In the game against the Polish team, Arvydas Macijauskas had 27 points (6/7 2pm., 2/4 3pm., 9/9 ft), 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 block and 8 fouls won in 25:31’’, gathering 41 ranking points and was holding the same record with Zizic and Perry until LeDay came…

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3. ANDRIJA ZIZIC - 41 (05/01/2006)

Proof enough that impressive numbers don’t always mean success is the Andrija Zizic’ performance against Maccabi in Tel Aviv. Olympiacos made his presence felt during the 2005-06 season after a couple of tough years and came very close to making the final four but lost to the Israelis in the final four.

A few months before the play-off games, Olympiacos had shown Maccabi his … teeth with Andrija Zizic leading the effort, but had finally lost 101-95. The Croatian center, had 23 points with 3/5 2pm. and 17/17 free throws in 30:15’’. He had also grabbed 9 rebounds and given one assist and had won 10 fouls without committing any himself.

4. MARQUE PERRY - 41 (06/01/2005)

What is that Olympiacos has to remember from the tough two years between 2003 and 2005?

Some good games that had warmed the hearts of the ‘reds’ for a while. One such game had been against Cibona when Olympiacos got to win 89-83 at the OT. The win came thanks to an amazing game by Marquee Perry. The American guard, in 43:45’’ playing time, had 36 points (8/11 2pm., 5/9 3pm., 5/6 free throws), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 2 turnovers.

With 8 fouls won and 3 committed, he had a ranking of 41.

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5. VASSILIS SPANOULIS - 39 (03/01/2014)

Olympiacos began the 2013-14 season having taken the whole of Europe by surprise after winning two back2back Euroleague titles and had all the spotlights trained on him. The ‘reds’ made an impressive start in the season until 23/12 when they lost to Panathinaikos for the Greek Cup, when they had amassed a 21-0 record terrifying every opponent.

Following the 10-0 in the Euroleague’s Regular season, the Bartzokas’ players made an impressive start to the TOP-16, winning Fenerbahce 95-82 in the first game, with Vassilis Spanoulis giving a spectacular performance.

In 34:01’’, the Olympiacos’ captain scored 28 points (5/7 2pm., 4/8 3pm., 6/7 ftm.), 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 turnovers and 9 fouls won, having committed one and having received a block that totaled for 39 ranking points.

That season, despite the impressive beginning, did not conclude with a third final four in a row, due to the injury the captain suffered in that particular game.

Vassilis Spanoulis had continued playing up until the road game against Panathinaikos where he gave up.

The ‘reds’ suffered four back2back losses that cost them the home court advantage in the playoffs against Real Madrid and although taking the series to a fifth game, they weren’t able to pull through at the end.

The ‘reds’ had won in Verona 94-92 with Nikos Economou scoring 33 points in 30:19’’ (4/6 2pm., 4/8 3pm., 13/14 ftm.), and also having 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 turnovers. Eight fouls won and 3 committed awarded him a ranking of 39 points and he got to celebrate both the victory and his own magical night at the end of the game.

7. ΙΝAKI DE MIGUEL - 39 (30/10/2002)

That season was very strange and had huge and impressive wins, but also unexpected defeats like the one to Partizan in Korydallos (78-80) at the beginning of the season and despite the great performance put up by Inaki de Miguel.

The Spanish center, in his best game with the Olympiacos jersey, had 23 points with 6/6 2pm., 11/12 ftm., 11 rebounds and 10 fouls won, while he made 4 fouls in 25’ and had a ranking of 39.

6. NIKOS ECONOMOU - 39 (31/01/2001) A huge game for Olympiacos and Verona, but also a night that Nikos Economou will remembering for ever since he got to do some amazing stuff against the Italians.

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8. ΤYUS EDNEY 38 (01/02/2006)

Four weeks following the superb performance of Andrija Zizid in Tel Aviv, Jonas Kazlauskas witnessed his team beating Cibona 99-70 thanks to the amazing performance of yet another one of his players.

Tyus Edney had 24 points (3/8 2pm., 2/4 3pm., 12/12 ftm.), in 35:45’’, along with 7 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal, 8 fouls won, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls against and 1 block received.

9. PANAGIOTIS LIADELIS - 38 (15.01/2004)

The 2003-04 season had started under the worse possible omens for the ‘reds’ since it was the first time ever they had started the Euroleague with five back to back defeats.

Things were very tough for Olympiacos, who was in danger of elimination from the next round from the very beginning of the competition.

Olympiacos got to win 7 out of the next 9 games and finally got the ticket to advance, but out of these seven wins, the hugest one was the one against Valencia.

Olympiacos had beaten the Spanish team 78-90 thanks to the amazing game Panagiotis Liadelis had played, who was practically unstoppable.

The Greek guard played 34:15’’ and scored 33 points (6/6 2pm., 3/3 3pm., 12/13 ftm.), having also 2 assists, 2 turnovers and 1 steal, winning 9 fouls, committing 4 and scoring a 38 ranking.

10. GIORGOS PRINTEZIS - 37 (05/02/2016)

Giorgos Printezis closes the summation of the ten top individual ‘red’ Euroleague nights with his huge performance against Khimki for the Euroleague TOP-16 at home, that ended with Olympiacos winning 89-77.

“Print” used a total of 27:29’’ to score 30 points (9/13 2pm., 3/5 3pm., 3/3 ftm.), get 9 rebounds, pass one assist, make one turnover and win 6 fouls, while he had received one block and made one foul. His ranking was 37.

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LEGENDARY 22/11/2009

PAOK 78 - OLYMPIACOS 87 The Olympiacos’ playmakers probably get inspired against PAOK in Thessaloniki since the ‘reds’ record for most assists in a game has been set against PAOK twice. In 2009, it was Milos Teodosic who passed 13 assists in Pilea, as done eight years before, on October 20, 2001 by Thodoris Papaloukas.

19/12/2007

14/12/2013

OLYMPIACOS 84 - ΤRIKALA 45 When you play a game against an opponent whose dynamic is at a much lower level, then you look for stats that can give a different optic into the game. Such a night was in the game against Trikal, when the ‘reds’ under Bartzokas’ won by 39 points, but what made that game really special were their 42 defensive rebounds (9 by Giorgos Printezis) who is their top performance in this area in the Greek League.

21/11/1994

OLYMPIACOS 113 - OLIMPIJA LJUBLJANA 80 The season of 100 point scoring. The Olympiacos players went above 100 points three times during said season and the game against the Slovenians will remain in history because it set the record for their best offensive performance in a European game.

To make the record, Vasileiadis and Printezis scored 21 points each and Macijauskas another 18.

11/1/1997

PERISTERΙ 72 - OLYMPIACOS 70 The ‘spider’ of Greek basketball, together with the late Roy Tarpley and Dragan Tarlac are the main figures of the most ‘red’ records in terms of rebounding. Against Peristeri, 22 years ago, Panagiotis Fassoulas grabbed 12 offensive boards but despite his impressive performance, Olympiacos who got to win everything that season, lost to the team of the western suburbs.

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OLYMPIACOS 116 - SPORTING 55 A few months before, on February 13, 2018, Olympiacos came close to breaking a “haunted” record. The ‘reds’ grabbed 54 rebounds against Trikala, but this is not their best performance, since twice they got to grab 56 rebounds, against Sporting in 21/11/1994 and against Apollon Patras on 5/2/1994.

12/1/1974

ΑPOLLON KALAMARIAS 42 - OLYMPIACOS 128 Only a few remember this game and it is certain that the players of Apollon Kalamarias would have liked to immediately forget about it. Giatzoglou and his team mates were scoring from angle possible and got the widest victory of their history against the Thessaloniki team, with a difference of 86 points, while the 128 points they got to score are their second best performance behind the 129 points scored against Ampelokepe in 1994.

CALENDAR 13/1/1994

5/1/2006

OLYMPIACOS 92 - BAYERN LEVERKUZEN 70

MACCABI TEL AVIV 101 - OLYMPIACOS 95

Roy Tarpley was the kind of player that when in the mood, was able to score and grab rebounds in any way imaginable. His records will be very difficult to break. He had grabbed 23 rebounds against Bayern Leverkuzen, while he had also grabbed another 20 against the same team on the road and during the same season, plus another 20 against Benetton Treviso at the SEF. In the game with the 23 rebounds, 12 were offensive ones, which is the best individual performance by a ‘red’ in a European game.

Olympiacos played the Back2Back European Champion Maccabi Tel Aviv both in the regular season and the play-offs of the 005-06 season. The ‘reds’ had won twice and lost three times in Israel, all three times in very close games. In the Tel Aviv game for the regular season, the ‘reds’ under Jonas Kazlauskas had lost 101-95 with Andrija Zizic playing an incredible game with 23 points (17/17 free throws). This was also the team’s best performance in its Euroleague history.

20/1/1996

OLYMPIACOS 72 - IRAKLIS 38 When you hear number 38, most the Olympiacos’ fans get to think about the 73-38 score against Panathinaikos on 19/5/1996 which is the best defensive performance of the ‘reds’ which they have succeeded twice within a few months. On 20/1/1996, Olympiacos bested Iraklis receiving only 38 points, while scoring 72.

22/1/1994

GS LARISSA 60 - OLYMPIACOS 69 Panagiotis Fassoulas is a category of his own, since he holds all the records in the history of Olympiacos in terms of blocks. “Pane” set an incredible record with 8 blocks against the Larissa team, but he has also stopped the ball 7 times in the seven more Greek League games!

28/1/1996

25/1/2007

DINAMO MOSCOW 84 - ΟLYMPIACOS 69 Olympiacos’ steals record was set against the Dusan Ivkovic’ Dinamo Moscow, but lost the game without resistance because although the ‘reds’ got to steal the ball 24 times, they also had 25 turnovers that practically gave the Russians the victory. Henry Domercant was the player with the most steals (five).

APOLLON PATRAS 84 - OLYMPIACOS 89 A game of free throws was the one against Apollon 23 years ago.

The hosts had executed 38 free throws and the ‘reds’ a total of 56.

The players of Giannis Ioannidis made 43 which is the team’s best performance in the Greek League. Out of those 43, David Rivers had made 13, Dimitris Papanikolaou 10 and Panagiotis Fassoulas 8.

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1 WHAT SEASON IT IS? (5 points) 1. Οlympiacos came close to qualifying for the Final Four.

2. The head coach changes mid-season.

3. The first season of Milos Teodosic with Olympiacos.

2 TO WHOM IT BELONGS? (10 points)

Which Olympiacos’ player has this tattoo?

4

FACESWAP (10 points)

Name two players that hide behind this face.

3

THE HISTORIAN (2 points for every correct answer)

1. For which Greek teams apart from Olympiacos had Roy Tarpley played for?

2. Born in Chicago. (Right or wrong) 3. Drafted at number 7 in 1986. (Right or wrong) 4. Apart from playing for the Mavs he also played for the Knicks. (Right or wrong) 5. Born on 28/11/1964. (Right or wrong)

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5 SNEAKERS CORNER (10 πόντοι)

Whose sneakers are those?

6

FIND THE DIFFERENCES (2 points for each one)

The right photo has five differences compared to the left one.

Can you find them?

7

8

FAMOUS ‘REDS’ FANS (10 points) 1. Has been one of the greatest Greek singers.

2. Was a very close friend of Dusan Ivkovic.

3. He had said: «There are two teams in Greece, Olympiacos and everybody else».

9

WHO PASSED THE ASSIST? (5 points for every correct answer) 1. During the Istanbul semi-final against Barcelona to Dorsey who sealed the victory for Olympiacos.

2. During the Istanbul semi-final against CSKA, for Khem Birch to dunk.

THE OLYMPIACOS’ ARCHIVE (3 points for each correct answer)

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1. Who was the head coach of Olympiacos in the 1978-79 season, when the team made the TOP-6 of the European Champions Winners’ Cup? 2. How many Turkish basketball players have worn the Olympiacos jersey?

3. Which team did Olympiacos get Nikola Milutinov from?

4. Which was the previous team Dusan Ivkovic had coached before joining Olympiacos in the summer of 1996?

5. For which other Greek team has Kostas Papanikolaou played for?

WHO AM I? (10 points) 1. He played for the last time in the SEF in farewell game for Dusan Ivkovic.

2. He used to be playing in the post.

3. He wore number 6 when playing for Olympiacos.

4. He was a member of the team that won the Back2Back Euroleague.

5. Although a tall player, he had very good percentages when shooting from the three point arc.

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ANSWERS 1. 2007-08 2. Giorgos Printezis 3. Nigel Williams-Goss, Zach LeDay 4. Aris, Iraklis, Esperos - Wrong, born in New York - Right - Wrong, played only with the Mavericks in the NBA - Right 5. Vassilis Spanoulis 6. The Turkish Airlines logo is missing from the scoreboard - Number 4 is missing from Hines’s jersey - The word Moscow is missing from Shved’s jersey – The Euroleague logo is missing from the ref’s jersey - The tattoo is missing from Giorgos Printezis’ arm 7. Dimitris Mitropanos 8. Vassilis Spanoulis on both cases 9. Kostas Mourouzis - One, Emre Ekim - Partizan - Panionios - Aris 10. Pero Antic

WHEN I WAS 10 VASSILIS SPANOULIS

I used to live…

«In Larissa».

My favorite player was…

«Michael Jordan».

I lived with my…

«Family».

The pets we had…

«Had not pets».

My school was…

«Larissa’s 15th elementary school».

My best friend at the time was…

«Was and is Elias Georgakopoulos, he’s also the godfather of my first born son, Thanassis».

People used to call me…

«Billy».

I was playing basketball with…

«GS Larissa».

My favorite TV show was…

«Sports’ Sunday».

I used to eat for breakfast…

«Bread with honey spread».

I was rooting for…

«I was not a fan of any particular team».

I was vacationing at…

«In Velika, Larissa».

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In my wallet, I kept…

«I had not wallet then».

I used to go to bed…

I would expect dinner to be…

«Spaghetti Bolognese».

«At 23:00h».

What I loved doing was…

«Playing basketball and football in open playgrounds».

Τhe ‘dumbest’ thing I would be doing…

«I would be doing a lot of dumb stuff when I was a kid, we would be going to arcades or billiard places and we would be leaving without paying».

I would be ‘copying”…

«I wasn’t copying anyone; I was watching Galis and Jordan all the time».

Apart from sports, I used to love to…

«Walking around with my friends».

If I had 100 euro, I would spend them on…

«Buying shoes».

Οlympiacos used to mean to me…

«Zarko Paspalj, he was the one to revive Olympiacos at the time...».

Other sports that I liked were…

My favorite place on earth was…

«Football».

«Larissa».

My worst habit was…

«Not to eat certain foods».

My favorite game was…

“Playing pool».

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PAPANIKOLAOU’S AND BOGRIS’ STYLE… ROCKS!

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Since 2012, when the Euroleague initiated the ONE TEAM Social Responsibility Program, Olympiacos has been a constant supporter. Of course, as years went by, the program athletes have become a part of the ‘reds’ organization, and the whole project has evolved even affecting the style of the Olympiacos’ representatives, Kostas Papanikolaou and Giorgos Bogris!!

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In their first practice of the season, the ‘veteran’ Kostas Papanikolaou (who participates the program for the third year in a row) and the ‘rookie’ Giorgos Bogris, put on trendy eye wear which on one hand offered a different dynamics to their sports look, but were nevertheless inhibiting their vision! The result was for their shots to not just be off target, but actually ending on the stands, making not only their team mates from the Special Needs Center “the Horizons” laugh their hearts out but also everyone who had the chance to watch the practice.

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The game with the unique eyes glasses wasn’t the only one prepared by the coaching duo (Penny Jovanovic and Nikos Kampouris) of the ONE TEAM program. The … menu included many targeted exercises with different combinations through which our athletes could develop co-operation and team spirit.

After the end of the practice session, a group of kids accompanied by their coaches and Papanikolaou and Bogris went to the main hall of the SEF for the shooting of their own video clip (soon on your screens). There they met with one more ‘red’, the Latvian forward Janis Timma, who did not miss on participating and dribble with them in the tempo set by ONE TEAM! Just like with practices, smiles were abundant during the shooting, while everyone confessed to looking forward to their next meeting!!!

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the other...

NIKOLA MILUTINOV

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He sees the world from 2.13m high, but he’s really frightened of heights! He loves ‘bouzoukia’ (i.e. Greek popular music entertainment) and despite being a Serb, the song he would be looping for the rest of his life would be “Maria n yellow” (i.e. Greek song ‘Maria me ta kitrina’)!

The word on Nikola Milutinov, who got to ‘unfold’ his other self through a 30 question probe!

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1

Were you a cartoon, which one would you be and why?

“I’d like to be Bugs Bunny to star in movie with Michael Jordan!”.

2

Were you an animal, what would you be?

“A wolf! I like wolfs!”.

3

What would be if not a basketball player?

“I would probably design software because that’s what my brother and father are doing“.

4

Greek or foreign music?

“Bouzoukia!”.

5

City or village guy?

“I like both, but I was born in a city, all my friends live in a city, so I’m choosing that”.

6

A bike or a car and what brand?

“Definitely a car. I don’t care about the brand, I’m not particular about anyone. However, I prefer cars because they are safer. I don’t like bikes”.

7

Sea or mountain?

“The sea, for sure...”.

8

Do you believe in ghosts?

“Yes, I do, but only after watching a horror movie”.

9

Are you a mama’s boy?

“No... I don’t think so that is...”.

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10

If you could change something about you, what would that be and why?

“I wouldn’t change anything! I’m happy with myself!”.

11

If you could turn back time, would you be changing anything with your life?

“I don’t think I would be changing anything…

Everything happens for a reason. As for my choices, I haven’t regretted anyone. At least, not until now”.

12

Triple, dunk, block or an assist? “Αn assist”.

18

Do you care what other people think?

“I’m mostly interested in the opinion of those who are close to me. As for the others, I would like that they talk nice of me, but even if they don’t, I really don’t care that much”.

19

When people talk about you, what would you like them to say?

“I’d like to be described as a humble and kind person”.

20

13

Do you get uncomfortable when stopped at the street and people want to talk to you? Have you ever felt that way?

“No, on the contrary…. Anyway, they are usually very kind with me”.

14

How do you picture yourself in ten years from now?

“I hope I’ll be still playing basketball!”.

Bouzoukia, clubbing or a movie at home?

“I like them all!”.

Tell us your craziest basketball dream.

“When I was young, I would be watching a lot of NBA, mostly the Sacramento Kings and Divac. So, my dream is to one day play the NBA finals”.

15

Your craziest dream ever.

“When I retire from action, I would like to travel around the world”.

16

Blonds, brunettes, auburn or red heads?

“I can’t choose any one of those. I like them all!”.

17 If you could choose only one song to be playing each time you enter your room for the rest of your life, which one would that be?

“Maria me ta kitrina (Maria in yellow)...”.

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22

Do you believe in aliens?

“I do!”.

23

Do you believe in signs of the zodiac?

“No”.

24

Were you a painter, what color would you use as your life’s ‘canvas’?

“Blue! It’s my favorite color”.

25

What do you love and what do you hate about your job?

“I love to win and I hate to lose”.

26

Tell us the weirdest experience you have had with a fan.

“Nothing weird has ever happened...”.

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If you could choose between flying and being invisible, which one would you choose?

“Flying… So that I could travel anywhere I want to whenever I want to”.

28

When you are dealing with a problem, do you ask for help or you choose to deal with it yourself?

“It depends on the problem. If it’s something very hard or serious, then I will be asking for help”.

29

What are you afraid of?

“Heights!”.

30

What do you think the meaning of life is?

“To have a family. Have kids and raise them to become good people”.

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Red Drops Part 1 David Blatt’s team offers a great show in every home game.

The fans that come through the doors of the Peace and Friendship Stadium, don’t only enjoy Vassilis Spanoulis and company, but also enjoy a great show in the time outs and game breaks. Who takes care of that? But the Red Drops of course.

For many years now, one of the best cheerleading teams in Europe, have been entertaining the ‘reds’ fans and add a special flare to the Piraeus arena. WeAreOlympiacos has photographed the beautiful girls and is presenting them in this issue and the next three to follow. The first quartet in the current issue is assembled by Theoni Martzokli, Irene Laggoura, Iliana Delagrammatika and Maria-Chryssa Vastaroucha.

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T heone Îœartzakli 82 OLYMPIACOSBC.GR

Life motto: Smile and if something goes wrong… make a crooked smile.

Height: 1,70.

Hobby: Ice skating.

Star sign: Sagittarius.

Place of birth: Μytilini.

Mountain or sea: Sea. Favorite food: Veggie burgers.

Car or bike: Bike.

Favorite song: Hide and seek.

Favorite music genre: Pop. High heels or flats: High heels.

Favorite movie: Black Panther.

Favorite color: Purple.

Favorite Player: Giorgos Printezis.

Social media accounts: Facebook: Voulg Theoni.

Instagram: Theoni_voulg.

Date of birth: 19/12.

Dancing is for you: The silent words of the soul.

Favorite animal: Dog. Which part would you like to play in which movie and why?

Wonder Woman. Because she’s fierce with supernatural powers.

Favorite book?

A God on a Harley.

Describe yourself with one word.

Patient.

What do you like about yourself?

Being understanding.

What would like to change?

I would like to be able and deal with certain situations with less emotion.

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Iliana Delagrammatika

Life motto: If anyone can have it, I don’t want it.

Height: 1,65.

Hobby: Dancing, exercising, reading.

Star sign: Capricorn.

Place of birth: Athens.

Mountain or sea: Sea. Favorite food: Carbonara.

Car or bike: Car. Favorite song: Himonanthos.

Favorite music genre: Ballads - Rock.

High heels or flats: High heels.

Favorite movie: Pride and prejudice.

Favorite color: Black - red.

Favorite Player: Vassilis Spanoulis - Kostas Sloukas.

Social media accounts: Facebook: Iliana Delagrammatika.

Instagram: Iliana Delagrammatika.

Date of birth: 09/01.

Dancing is for you: A means of expression.

Favorite animal: Dog. Which part would you like to play in which movie and why?

Wonder Woman. Because she’s fierce, smart, beautiful, honest, saves lives and has superpowers.

Favorite book?

The Host.

Describe yourself with one word.

Prankster.

What do you like about yourself?

Being honest.

What would like to change?

My excess ego.

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Irene L aggoura 86 OLYMPIACOSBC.GR

Life motto: If you can dream it, you can do it‌ You become what you believe!

Height: 1,65.

Hobby: Painting.

Star sign: Sagittarius.

Place of birth: Piraeus.

Mountain or sea: Sea. Favorite food: Pasta.

Car or bike: Car. Favorite song: Na m’ agapas (Love me).

Favorite music genre: Rock.

High heels or flats: Sneakers.

Favorite movie: Dragonfly.

Favorite color: Blue-green.

Favorite Player: Vassilis Spanoulis - Kostas Sloukas.

Social media accounts: Facebook: Eirhnh Laggoura.

Instagram: Eirhnh Laggoura.

Date of birth: 09/12.

Dancing is for you: Way of life.

Favorite animal: Cat. Which part would you like to play in which movie and why?

Cat woman.

Favorite book?

Crime and Punishment.

Describe yourself with one word.

Assertive.

What do you like about yourself?

Being persistent.

What would like to change?

My mood swings.

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Μαria-C hryssa Vastaroucha

Life motto: Seize the day’s best.

Height: 1,65.

Hobby: Dancing.

Star sign: Aquarius.

Place of birth: Athens.

Mountain or sea: Sea. Favorite food: Pastitsio (i.e. Greek lasagna with béchamel).

Car or bike: Car. Favorite song: Astra mi me malonete (Stars don’t scold me).

Favorite music genre: Ballads.

High heels or flats: Flats.

Favorite movie: Little England.

Favorite color: Red. Favorite Player: Vassilis Spanoulis.

Social media accounts: Instagram: Mchv.

Date of birth: 16/02.

Dancing is for you: Life.

Favorite animal: Dog. Which part would you like to play in which movie and why?

I wouldn’t want any part.

Favorite book?

A child counts the stars.

Describe yourself with one word.

Sensitive.

What do you like about yourself?

Being persistent.

What would like to change?

Be able to say ‘no’ without feeling guilty.

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FANS CORNER

T

he We Are Olympiacos magazine was created for all of you who love our Olympiacos without limits. That’s why we want you as partners in this endeavor. From this issue, two pages of our magazine are going to be dedicated to your “red” moments.

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Andreas Fadakis Τhe Euroleague Βack to Βack through his personal photo clicks!

Αlekos Afentoulis From the distant 1972… until today… one team, one Jersey, one story, one love…

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Βill The second baptism of Giorgos

6 Philip Fanos Somewhere in Stockholm!

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Use your imagination, your best smile and simply get photographed for our Olympiacos.

You can send your “red” photos at diagonismoi@ olympiacosbc.gr and in the following issues we’ll be creating a special photographic album.

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Irene Anamaterou Μadrid 2018, winners once again

5 Konstantinos Mosxatos On the court at the SEF.

7 Stamatis Koskinas A photo with the basketball scarf from the Great Wall in China, one of the most ancient parts, covered by forest!

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Giannis Koleris With coach Blatt.

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Konstantinos Pitsas An artistic view of the packed SEF .

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Αlexis Con Alexis with ‘Thryleon’.

Νikos Simos The sea of Piraeus and the homes of our Olympiacos.

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Panagiotis Vrakas Having the banners as a background in the SEF’s sky.

Αlekos Afentoulis ΤThree historical jerseys from the unique collection of Alekos Afentoulis.

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Panagiotis Vrakas How beautiful the SEF is when packed.

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OFFICIAL PARTNERS | SEASON 2018-2019

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