Pantazopoulos: “Spanoulis will also leave his mark as a coach in the Euroleague”

The former president of Peristeri, George Pantazopoulos, spoke to EEC WebRadio about the coach and the person Vasilis Spanouliswith whom he collaborated for two years in the “Princes of the West Bank”, stressing among other things that the Greek coach will have a great career at Euroleague level as well.

In detail what he said:



On whether he expected Spanoulis to return to the Euroleague as a coach: “That’s the only sure thing that will happen. Vasilis had it in his mind, he just wanted to start from the lowest level, as he did as a player. It was in his mind that he would be there at some point. Although he is an inexperienced coach, for me he is very experienced, because he has prepared himself for this step. From before he came to Peristeri, I think his mind was there and how he will take this step. We want some time to see him in a new team with a lot of personalities, but all this is good for Vassilis and for the team.”

For Vassilis Spanoulis: “Vassilis lives for basketball, he understands it very well, so it was expected that this step would be taken, and indeed at the high level of Monaco. He is a man who only talks about basketball, he is updated daily, he is open-minded, debatable. He feels what needs to be done, he has the instinct, he understands many things both the good and the bad. In general, he is a coach who is ready for the big step. He wants patience on his part, to have patience on his part, because every step is special”.

About what Vassilis Spanoulis gave to Peristeri: “What Vassilis gave is that with a lot of work you can really achieve what you dream of. The consistency with which he did what he did and how it generally works. Certainly his job and how he manages the players, how he can push the players beyond their limits. His mind all day was on how to improve each player’s imperfections, how the team would find their chemistry and play their best. He has in mind the way to take the “I” out of the players, to make them a team and for them to have better results. From what I saw and from his speech in Monaco, this stands for, “let’s all succeed together and then everyone will get what they deserve””.

On whether he can even inspire players like Mike James: “I’m sure. Because he has walked the same path himself, he has a way of speaking to the player’s mental and inner world and making him understand that he is doing it for his own good. It convinces the player that what they are discussing is not about them, but about the player. It will take some time. Normally, all this takes place during the summer, the preparation and the friendlies, but now, in the “hunting” of the result, of each match, they need some time. The most difficult part that Vassilis has to manage is this, all the rest we will see very quickly produce results. I think he is a coach who will leave his mark in the Euroleague. He wants to be the best in everything he does, it just takes some time to see him develop.”



On whether Spanoulis the coach can surpass Spanoulis the player: “He’s already passed him. I didn’t believe it, but I saw it in the first training session in Peristeri. I was very impressed with the way he spoke, the way he treated the team coming in. It was amazing how a player of Vassilis’ caliber can start coaching and immediately impart the mentality he wants to his players. This is over, Vassilis “cleaned it up” in the time since his career ended. When he talks to the player, the player understands that he is talking about him and not himself. Francisco showed him things, he had sent him a DVD of 50-60 pick-and-rolls of his, the decisions, for him to see. The point was how Francisco would improve, so Francisco improved and says what he says about Basil. He is a regular coach.”