Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul's star point guard, Greek basketballer Nick Calathes, has etched his name in EuroLeague history by claiming the title of all-time steals leader, surpassing the legendary Dimitris Diamantidis with a staggering 435 steals to his name.
Calathes achieved this milestone in a riveting matchup against Real Madrid, where he snatched a crucial steal to break the long-standing record previously held by Diamantidis, who retired with 434 steals in his illustrious EuroLeague career.
The decisive steal came in the second half of the game against Real Madrid, propelling Calathes to the pinnacle of EuroLeague defensive excellence.
The updated list of all-time leaders in EuroLeague steals now stands as follows:
1. Nick Calathes (436 steals)
2. Dimitris Diamantidis (434)
3. Rudy Fernandez (364)
4. Theodoros Papaloukas (335)
5. Jan Vesely (330)
Both Calathes and Diamantidis have deep ties to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, although Calathes has also plied his trade with other EuroLeague teams such as FC Barcelona and Fenerbahce.
Reflecting on his remarkable achievement, Calathes shared his thoughts in an interview with BasketNews prior to breaking the record, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to play alongside talented teammates and acknowledging the significance of being mentioned alongside Diamantidis.
In the current 2023-24 season, Calathes has maintained his defensive prowess, averaging 6.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1 steal per game, solidifying his status as a defensive stalwart in the league. With 28 steals in the ongoing season, he ranks 27th in steals per game.
(Source: Basket News)
