Theodoros Papaloukas - CSKA main Greek History

After the 2002 coach of CSKA basketball got a lot of money to upgrade the team, among other star was invited young and unknown Greek point guard. Theodoros Papaloukas was intended to strengthen the game from the bench, but did it so successfully that it became one of the leaders of the club and has been recognized as the best basketball player in Europe in 2006 after a few years. He is the only athlete in the history of the Euroleague, who managed nine times reach the Final Four, two-time victor of the main European club tournament.

Greek period of

Theodoros Papaloukas was born in Athens in 1977. The tall boy in Greece just could not play basketball. Not avoid it and Theo. Sport he started at age 11 in a school club "Ethnikos". The first contract with a professional club Papaloukas signed in 1995. But the next year, "ampelokipoi", whose colors defended the Athenian, flew from the highest Greek league and playmaker moved to the "Daphne".

After spending two years in the new club, Theodoros Papaloukas helped him get to the elite division, followed by a talented guy noticed large Greek team. One of them, "Panionis" and Theo invited to itself. It is in the "Panionise" Papaloukas able to really discover their talents. He spent three seasons there and soon became one of the best in the country in the position of point guard. In 2001 he was even invited to participate in the All-Star Game of the Greek championship.

"Olympiacos", one of the giants of European basketball, could not pass up a promising player and lured him to her. As part of the Piraeus team Theodoros Papaloukas won the Cup once again earned the right to participate in the All-Star Game.

Move to Moscow

Just at that time a basketball CSKA received a generous investment and the opportunity to acquire the best players in Europe. Among other things, he was invited and Theodoros Papaloukas, who already flashed photos on the covers of the Greek sports media. Dusan Ivkovic, CSKA head coach, prefers to use a substitution of Theodoros, rarely letting him from the first minute. However, he got enough playing time and very cool included in any match.

In those years, purely visual, he looked less than his competitors for a place on the court. Nikos Hatsivretas and John Robert Holden seemed to be stronger individually. However, later revealed as a potential Papaloukas excellent team player.

A little high for a point guard player, he was not the most dramatic and rapid, but had a fantastic speed of thought. In seconds, Theodoros Papaloukas took the only right decision and gave an excellent transfer partner from any of the provisions. Especially famous for its hidden, "blind" transmission. Greek pretended that he was going to throw in the ring, but in a split second decision and changed the ball prokidyval partner discouraged by rivals.

The first victory in the Euroleague

On the domestic scene CSKA had no competitors, winning almost all the matches of the Russian championship. CSKA Moscow and was considered one of the best clubs in Europe. Three seasons with Dusan Ivkovic Moscow club reached the semi-finals of the Euroleague. However, in the final game is always something lacking, and CSKA invariably inferior to the 1/2 final stage. Particularly offensive turned defeat in the 2004/2005 season, when CSKA have conceded at home arena.

The club management has decided to restart the development of the club and changed the coach Dusan Ivkovic on Ettore Mesina. Theodoros Papaloukas, CSKA for which has already become a mother, and went to strengthen the game from the bench team. However, in the final game of the first season of the Italian coach appeared and the real leadership of the Greek. CSKA finally managed to overcome the fatal line and reached the final of the Euroleague. In the main match against "Maccabi" in key situations, namely Theodoros Papaloukas was not afraid to take responsibility and led the team with him.

The leader of the army

The following season, CSKA again repeated the feat a year ago, and reached the final of the Euroleague. Again, the crucial role played by the Greek defender. In the semifinal against "Unicaja", he scored 11 points, made many rebounds and steals, handed out 4 assists, becoming the most valuable player of the match. According to the results of the season was Theodoros Papaloukas was voted best player among all Euroleague clubs.

The final match of 2006/2007 had a special significance for the Greeks, because CSKA played against a team from his hometown - Athens' Panathinaikos. " It was in the evening, Theo gave his best game in the Euroleague.

point guard scored 23 points, realizing 90% of the shots, gave 8 assists. But good luck in that game was on the side of the Greeks. With a minimum lead of 2 points, they were stronger and did not allow the army team to win a second consecutive year in the club championship of Europe.

However, led by Papaloukas Muscovites did not despair, and in the season 2007/2008 still managed to win the Euroleague for the second time.

A break in the military service and return to Moscow

At the end of the lottery in 2008, Theo decided to return home and re-tried on a T-shirt "Olympiakos". A few years playing in Greece, he won several titles, and then accepted the offer of the Israeli "Maccabi". In 2012, Ettore Mesina personally invited seasoned veteran back into the CSKA. Army club was the last Papaloukas active career.

In 2013, in the third-place match of the Euroleague Theodore spent his last match. Fans of applause accompanied the legendary basketball player, who gave part of their soul Moscow club.

Theodoros Papaloukas. Wife and personal life

Renowned basketball player never fails to journalists in dialogue, but on his personal life, he loves to talk not. We only know that he married in 2012.

In order to give more attention to the newly created family, he even made a six-month break in his career and only keep in shape in the gym.

Theodoros Papaloukas is one of the most famous European basketball players of the new millennium. In 2008, it even included among the 50 people who made the greatest contribution to the development of Euroleague.