The chronicle of a foretold “goodbye” happened today 29 years ago (9/29/1995). THE Nikos Galis with a modest letter he announced to the media that he was retiring from basketball at the age of 38.
About 11 months earlier, on October 18, 1994in the game of Panathinaikos against Ampelokipi o Kostas Politisthen his coach Panathinaikoudidn’t start him in the top five and didn’t put him at all until halftime. In the locker room during the break the two men, who had teamed up in the 1987 EuroBasket saga, had a falling out and Nick walked off the court determined never to play basketball again. THE Pavlos Giannakopoulos who took him home, allegedly asked him to calm down and think again, but Galis left for Thessaloniki and never returned to Panathinaikos, which terminated his contract in November 1994.
Despite attempts at reconciliation, the fate was made official at the beginning of the following season. “I wanted to stop what I loved and love so much, inside the stadium, because I believe I know how to make my decisions when I have to. This desire of mine was seen by many as weakness and a plea to some to let me continue playing basketball. I have never begged a man, I have never asked a favor from anyone. I leave the sport I loved bitterly. I apologize if I offended anyone and I don’t hold a grudge against anyone“, said Nick.
On the occasion of this bitter anniversary, Galis made one post on social media. “Today I announced the final and irreversible end of my career. As then as now, we are at the start of a racing season and I feel the need to repeat the last sentence of that announcement. I wish good luck to all the teams in the championship that is starting, making a wish: Let’s all not forget that basketball is a game and that there are winners and losers».
“I wish good luck to all the teams in the championship that is starting, making a wish: Let’s all not forget that basketball is a game and that there are winners and losers.”#NickGalis #basketball #Legacy
— Nick Galis (@NickGalis6) September 29, 2024
Source: Sport Fm
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