One of the signature superstars of the 21st century, three-time champion and All-Decade playmaker Vassilis "Billy" Spanoulis, announced on Saturday afternoon that he is retiring from the sport and the club, Olympiacos Piraeus, that he raised to new heights in a 21-year professional career highlighted by lifting the continental trophy in 2012 and 2013. Spanoulis, who will turn 39 in August, is the only player in the 33-year history of the Final Four to win the Euro League title three times and be voted Final Four MVP each time.
"Basketball gave me a unique journey full of intense moments and great emotions. It gave me everything and I gave it everything," Spanoulis said in announcing his decision on Instagram. "Olympiacos proved to be my destiny and my most beautiful port. I leave proud of what was greatly accomplished, but also of what was lost after a hard battle. Above all, I leave full, because I played longer than I dreamed.
"From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who has been by my side all these years: the presidents, the coaches, the teammates, the co-workers and the opponents. But above all I want to thank all the fans for their love. It was this love that gave me the strength to try harder every day and this love will be my guide forever.
Spanoulis leaves a huge list of accomplishments in his exit from the EuroLeague stage, including his status as the competition's career leader in six statistical categories. He is the all-time EuroLeague scoring leader with 4,445 points, with an average of 12.4 points over 15 seasons. He is also ranked first all-time in performance index rating (4,182), assists (1,607), field goals made (1,403), free throws made (1,131) and fouls drawn (1,583).
Spanoulis currently sits second, as well, in games played (358) and three-pointers made (518); sixth in steals (273); and ninth in two-pointers made (885).
Spanoulis leaves a huge list of accomplishments in his exit from the EuroLeague stage, including his status as the competition's career leader in six statistical categories. He is the all-time EuroLeague scoring leader with 4,445 points, with an average of 12.4 points over 15 seasons. He is also ranked first all-time in performance index rating (4,182), assists (1,607), field goals made (1,403), free throws made (1,131) and fouls drawn (1,583).
Spanoulis currently sits second, as well, in games played (358) and three-pointers made (518); sixth in steals (273); and ninth in two-pointers made (885).
Spanoulis is the all-time leader in points, field goals made and free throws made, no EuroLeague player in the last two decades put the ball through the basket more than Spanoulis.