THE Vassilis Mouratos was a guest on its fifth episode “Man to Man Powered by Stoiximan” and talked about everyone and everything.
The 27-year-old guard remembered the years he spent at Olympiakos, referred to his basketball standards, revealed his favorite teammates and his plan for after his retirement, stressing that he would like to become a coach.
What he said in detail:
For the good start of Lavrio: “Let’s not laugh. Everyone had us as early favorites to go down when the year started. I think we have a good momentum, we play very good basketball. And although the number of four wins we have seems high, I could say that we deserved another win or two based on the picture we had on the pitch».
On what has kept him in Lavrio for so many years: “I think the love I get from the people in the team translates into trust. This makes me perform at my best. It makes me happy to go to training. I am in a phase of my life where it is important to be well mentally and spiritually and to enjoy what I do. For this Lavrio is the ideal choice for me».
For the inclusion of psychologists in Lavrio’s workforce: “I think this is a pretty cool and interesting project. To tell the truth, when it started it was a little unknown to me, because the meetings we do are group meetings. It has helped us a lot to learn aspects of each other, to escape from everyday life and pressure and many times to resolve our differences».
On whether he’s happy with the turn of his career: “I think so, because wherever I go is my choice. My main concern is to go where they want me, where they love me and where I feel important. So when I don’t feel that feeling, I make sure to leave».
On whether he would change anything if he could turn back time: “Certainly several of the choices I made turned out to be wrong. Nevertheless, because at the time I was taking it the circumstances were such that led me to take it, I think not.
I consider myself lucky in my career because I found myself playing in the EuroLeague with Olympiakos, one of the biggest clubs in Europe, (coming from) Agioi Anargyros. I don’t think anything like this has ever happened before».
On how he managed his transfer to Olympiakos: “Because I was very young (17 years old) I did not realize the magnitude of this movement. There was only excitement and adrenaline inside me. Now I’m beginning to understand how nice and difficult it was, how much of a lifetime opportunity it was. It was definitely one of the best experiences of my life and I wish I could be at that level again».
For his idols: “It is very well known that Vassilis Spanoulis was my role model. And in my first year I was also a teammate with Kostas Sloukas. They are the two players I grew up with. I was trying to do what they do. I admired them very much and still do. They were and continue to be my basketball role models».
On whether new talent is being burned by SMEs and social media or if it is part of the job they have to learn to manage: “It is part of everyday life. That’s a given. On the other hand, not all people and characters are the same, to be able to manage failure, hype, expectations.
For me, the expectations created by the world and social media are the biggest difficulty and the biggest obstacle that a young athlete can face. Because they are very easily created and very easily destroy images now with the cannibalism that exists in Greece. So in general I would like to say let’s leave the kids alone and any young athletes coming from here on out, because I think social media only does harm».
On which players from the GBL he would see in the EuroLeague in the future: “I really like Prometheus Walker. I will also mention Avdala from Peristeri since he is intertwined with the great hype surrounding his name. I will also say one of us. I’ll say Sherman».
On how he sees himself in 10 years: “I wish I could create a very beautiful family with my partner, who we have been together for many years. I hope all went well with basketball. I would like to become a coach after basketball. I think I would be good. And I would like to spend a lot of time on my islands, Kimolos and Naxos».
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
