Margaritis: “I’m in a situation where I stop, I don’t stop basketball – I think about it too much”

Having already turned 41 years old, Mr Vangelis Margaritis continues to compete at the highest level of basketball in our country, wearing the PAOK jersey for over 11 years, from 2012 to 2021, and from 2022 to the present day, in his second term at Palataki.

The leader of the “black and white” spoke to OEM camera, both about his career and progress in the team, as well as about whether he will continue to compete after the end of this season, with him stating that he has been debating about the future for a long time.

The statements of Vangelis Margaritis in detail:



On his career at PAOK and on the fact that he established himself after the age of 29 in the big division: “It is a great honor to wear the PAOK shirt. The team gave me time and trust and I bonded with them. I was late to play basketball in general. I played basketball for the first time when I was 16 and in two years I was in A1. I didn’t have the foundations to cope with A1 and I realized that in the following years. I wasn’t ready and struggled. At the age of 29, when I came to PAOK to play again in A1, there was in my mind whether I can play here. Coach Markopoulos helped me a lot. It is no coincidence that I played at the age of 29 in A1”.

For the support of the world and Giannakis: “The people have supported me and been by my side since the first day. I’m thankful. When I heard my name called from the stands it was fantastic. The feelings are indescribable, I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Giannakis has supported us more than anyone. It gives me strength personally.”

On what he sees himself in two years from PAOK’s 100th anniversary: “I’m in a situation where I stop, I don’t stop basketball. I think about it a lot, it’s hard to answer what I’ll be doing in two years. I really want to keep playing…? In two years I want my son to see me and be happy.”

For the PAOK administration: “The administrative team with Mr. Hatzopoulos has made great strides. I hope that the time will come when the team will have no debt, I wish and hope that the team only thinks about the coming year. I hope this team succeeds and that this is what the president wants. It’s PAOK to the bone and I hope it turns out the way he dreams of it.”