[European BasketballerParticipant]

I want someone to prove this bullshit claim that people here keep making. This totaly BULLSHIT LIE that Spanoulis “isn’t athletic enough to play in the NBA”, “isn’t fast or quick enough to play in the NBA”, etc.

You cannot just say BIASED NONOBJECTIVE UNTRUE FALSE OPINIONS LIKE THIS AND PASS IT OFF AS FACT AND THEN CALL SOMEONE DISAGREEING WITH IT CRAZY OR WHATEVER ELSE.

You have to actually be able to prove this crap when you say it.

Because you are saying that a player that played multiple times against Team USA and blew past every US defender over and over again and again, that this player is too slow and not athletic enough for the NBA…….

You are saying something that is FALSE, that is a LIE, that is totally freaking absurd, and passing it off as a fact.

So seriously, rather than all the trolling and all the endless bullshit that I see here, why don’t one of you that say this kind of false crap stand up and actually try to prove your false assertions for once?

Just saying something does not make it true. Just saying a lie over and over does not make the lie become truth.

So I challenge you, actually prove how Spanoulis is too slow and non athletic to play in the NBA. Stop your trolling lying bullshit and actually prove this crap you claim here.

Please do so. Prove how a guy can just blow past every single defender Team USA throws at him, in multiple games, yet “is too slow for the NBA”.

Just go ahead and PROVE THAT SHIT and I will be gone from this forum.

[European BasketballerParticipant]

I think you need to prove these lies you keep saying here.

“Spanoulis can’t play in NBA because he’s too slow and not athletic enough”…….

ENOUGH WITH THIS BULLSHIT

Either prove these false claims or stop saying them. Simple as that.

[JoeWolf1]

Aren’t there any women in Greece? I think you need to blow off some steam.

[alingeParticipant]

Fact: Vassilis Spanoulis “Isn’t Athletic Enough To Play In The NBA”
Proof: I said so
Result: Euroballer please disappear

[JoeWolf1]

You give me analysis of Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant and tell me why they can’t hang with Vassilis Spanoulis or that they are his equals.

I would love to hear your analysis of Ben McLemore, Shabazz, Nerlens Noel or Marcus Smart.

I don’t have to prove shit to you. You haven’t even proven you understand anything regard the league in which your players “could” play nor the competition they are up against in the draft.

[druneave3Participant]

He is Greek and not from Nigeria, right? So…… not athletic, and will never make it in the NBA.

Maybe Adam Silver can change the NBA’s racist ways when he takes over, and finally let Greece become the basketball powerhouse that it can truly be!

[HaleParticipant]

You are in no position to demand anything. I want you to prove how he is the best point guard in the world.

[mcbaileyParticipant]

Pretty much this.^

I saw him play when he was with the Rockets (I idolized Tracy McGrady), and the only time he did well was in garbage time (the closing minutes of a lopsided defeat). He got to the rim a few times, hit a few free throws, and even got an assist off of a horribly missed layup. Lucky AND sort of decent. He played well against the worst team the US has ever produced, so there’s that, I guess.

He’s not a terrible player, but he wouldn’t make it in the NBA, and I can say that definitively because he didn’t make it in the NBA. I don’t know how much clearer I can make that.

[SiggyParticipant]

He is athletic enough hand he is good enough to play in the NBA. He had his chance and it didn’t work out. Now the ship has passed. He’s moved on and so should you.

[raybeasParticipant]

that he WAS athletic enough to play in the NBA.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/spanova01.html

11.3 points, 3.7 ast, 2.9 reb, 0.9 stl, 3.8 to, 4.4 pf per 36 min. 32% FG, 17% 3pt, 81% FT.

Wonder when he will get the call from the Hall of Fame.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

If we just admit he should be in the NBA? Like most forum members have seemed to, beyond a few others so annoyed by your lack of accountability in your claims. He came to the league. Do not think Jeff Van Gundy or David Stern or whoever was a racist, $hit just didn’t work out. Does not matter where you are from, if you are in a bad situation, things can get offset.

What I think people dislike about your constant angry, Greekcentric posts are as follows:

• You, I believe, guaranteed the USA would lose the 2010 World Championships. They didn’t.
• You once stated that Nikola Pekovic was the best center in the NBA. He is good. He is not even close to that.
• Your constant criticism of every player without Greek blood, yet never break down ANY weaknesses of Greek players. Every player has strengths and weaknesses. Leaving them out makes you lose credibility as someone scouting prospects.
• Your hate of Ricky Rubio was out of control. The guy has his issues, but he obviously is not a bad player. Deal with it.
• You once calledVasileios Kavvadas "the next Arvydas Sabonis". Really now.
• Never make draft lists or tend to give good reasons why whatever Greek player you are pushing is better than everyone else in the draft. Even if you are not claiming that they are and just deserve to be drafted, make a list. Pretend to know anything about prospects in the actual draft who are not in the Greek system or of Greek origin.
• Being called "European Baller" is a total misnomer, which makes you look like a psychotic xenophobe.
• Whenever someone asks you a question or tries to debate with you, name calling and the standard "well, you wouldn’t understand" are your go-to moves. How can anyone sympathize with your opinion with that method of coping?
• Your like a wrestling heel who takes the low road as opposed to trying to educate or be the bigger person. If everyone is as ignorant as you say they are, why not try to teach them something? Why not try to maybe comment on how good ALL of the players at the NBA or Euroleague level are. Calling people NBA only fans and idiots has not been working, as well as bashing said top players who I think most basketball players/personnel can agree, are pretty damn good.
• The hypocrisy of your Euroleague only knowledge calling out "NBA only" people is ludicrous
• You seem to despise the NBA. WHY DO YOU EVEN WANT THESE GUYS PLAYING IN IT!? You constantly claim Euroleague is a higher level of play, so it can’t be that. Seems like you are just provoking people into emotional responses. Or, trolling.
• The first player getting first round buzz in a draft in 2013-2014 that you have mentioned, Ioannis Adetokunbo, has passport issues and might not even be considered Greek or play for the National Team. Than you claim racism because of his skin color is the reason he is so highly touted. Well, that is a great way to get people to complete stop giving a $hit bout what you have to say regarding him or his Greek roots.
• We get it, Europe has some fantastic players who could definitely be helping NBA teams. NBA teams/scouts have f#cked up quite a few times, from the days of Nikos Galis well on. So, the Euroleague teams never mess up? Your Greek league teams have never made questionable decisions? Europe does not have a draft, so I guess this concept is foreign to you. Just know, it is not an exact science. Their are a lot of issues involved, some of them even HUMAN. Some European players have had a hard time getting accustomed to the NBA. Vice versa is also true with Americans coming to the Euroleague. Could it be that Vas Spanoulis disliked the NBA? Well, seems like it is at least a possiblity.

Well, doubt you will read this, just wanted to reiterate what myself and numerous other posters have told you time and time again. As much as I would like to ignore you, it has always intrigued me to see a possible list of your top players overseas or where you feel these players would fit in the NBA hierarchy. If you could give an answer to that for the draft as well, would be incredible.

You tend to make people want to cheer against the players you mention due to your completely obnoxious behavior. Have no idea why you would want that, and I will say I would be glad if the best players from Europe, Greek or otherwise, came over and developed strong NBA roles. In the mean time, you are doing a terrible job of representing these players you are so passionate about and Greek basketball in general. Your inability to stop this commentary makes people call you a liar and a troll, seeing that you either embellish, tend to leave things out with no concrete evidence and take 0 accountability for what you say unless you are (rarely) right. So, yup.

[frogmanParticipant]

He can play in the NBA and has played in the NBA so this makes no real sense. I’m pretty convinced you just start topics to get a rile out of people these days.

[mcbaileyParticipant]

Oh, I have no doubt that it’s exactly that. Normal people don’t incessantly use caps and repeat themselves with synonyms (“biased nonobjective untrue false” is just about my favorite thing ever). Still, they’re fun to respond to.

[aamir543Participant]

To me he should’ve been a quality player in the league, from what I’ve read a bunch of qualified coaches and executives have had high praise for him in the past, and it has to count for something that Pop sent Parker all the way out for Greece to recruit Spanolis, but by then he’d signed a deal with a Euro team.

[TheArtistPaysthePriceParticipant]

Look, I think you get bashed to much but you beg and plead for people to hate you. Besides you could at least post some link of him blowing past these Team USA guys. What about a highlight tape of all his best NBA plays or something. Visual evidence supported by numbers trump anecdotal evidence at every turn. Their is actually a way to judge whether he is quick enough, like 15 NBA teams monitor player positioning on the court at like 25 times per second and can literally quantify on-court quickness and speed. You should implore some of these Greek and Euroleague teams to employ this technology. This is the only way we can actually measure whether certain players can change direction, accelerate or decelerate at speeds comparable to their actual NBA counterparts. When I saw the post I originally thought you had some evidence like this to present which would have been phenomenal.

[JoeWolf1]

His last 2 appearances against U.S. competition…

2008 Olympics 14 points off 4-13 shooting

2010 FIBA 7 points 7 TO’s

On the grand scale of things, is he better than Jason Collins “yes” is he too quick for the NBA “no”

[European BasketballerParticipant]

So not a single person that says he can’t play in NBA can provide a reason why. Right……..bunch of trolls. Not the guys that said he can, they are normal guys.

The rest of you just prove what trolls you are. Stop calling me a troll, when you guys are the real trolls. That is all.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Makes you an absolute, insane level, hypocritical mega troll. You are a waste of a keyboard and are a shame to the players you try to represent. Oh, but thanks for calling some of us "normal people". These same normal people would love it if you either provided some actual intelligent content without sounding like you are wearing a white hood with eye holes while typing it out. If Spanoulis wanted to be in the NBA, he would have stuck it out. He doesn’t. Start a site dedicated to it, if possible away from people here who have no interest in your infinite loop of Greek players and fifth grade insults. 

[mcbaileyParticipant]

Because if he could, he’d still be there. If it’s not because he’s an overrated scorer (his percentages were abysmal during his Rockets stint), it’s because he’s a diva.

[pohani komaracParticipant]

Spanoulis could play in NBA with proper chance. But no, he is not best PG in world. He is very onesided in ofense, PG that lives from pick. Imo, they would also need hide his defense, just like his team Olympiaos does. IN NBA it would go to another level, because when 1 team se missmatch they would consistatly atack him. In NBA game he would not be able to guard atheltic and fast PG so it would be much harder for him to hide him self on defensive end so basicly where he plays he would need produce more on ofense then he gives on defense. But on ofense he can play in NBA. Would be great fit for D’Antoni Suns basketball. He is great pick point guard. Only usful way to defend his pick game is force him to go left what smart teams always try to do becuse when going left he usualy finish with jump shoot and does not pass with left hand, using bouth hands in pass when changing side. Still in NBA just like with Rubio teams don’t prepare that good

On other hand he would not be good in Memphis because he needs to have ball in his hands and run pick consistantly

[hoopscopParticipant]

@ pohani komarac

You are absolutely not right regarding the question of pregame preparation. Obradovic, Vujosevic, Messina where absolutely shocked about the sophistication of information NBa teams use to prepare for games. One trick ponies like vassoulis get very fast exposed and vassoulis would hardly be a roatation player today. Look all his advanced stats (and conversion to NBA level) from europe scream fringe NBA player.

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

… because… he’s greek …?

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

Who???

[clickthumbsdowntonegmeParticipant]

-1111 i envy this guy!

[Ghost01Participant]

Here’s the thing, bro. If he could play in the NBA, and he was so great, then he would be playing in the NBA. Its that simple. There are 30 teams that have international scouts and such, and none of them are saying to themselves right now, “Damn, if we had Spanoulis, we’d be in such better shape”. I’m not saying he couldn’t play in the NBA, no one is. Like most good European players, he is probably choosing a life as a solid basketball player in his homeland than a bench warmer in the NBA. Just get over it.

[European BasketballerParticipant]

Spanoulis is better than 95%+ of NBA players. You don’t know the hell you are talking about. Get over it and get over yourself, and stop trolling.

[mcbaileyParticipant]

Yeah, now I know you’re just a troll.

To say he’s better 95% of NBA players is so absurd that it makes my head hurt.

[European BasketballerParticipant]

Only players in NBA that MIGHT be better than Spanoulis are LeBron and Durant. THAT IS IT. And I say MIGHT be better.

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

European baller im really starting to think that u were dropped on ur head

[European BasketballerParticipant]

pohani is lying that Spanoulis cannot play defense. What do you mean “Olympics hides him”……….?

You have never even seen an Olympiacos game man. Spanoulis is THE best defender at point guard in Euroleague. What do you mean “not quick enough to guard NBA point guards”? There is not a single point guard in Euroleague that he can’t stay in front of. And guys like McCalebb are as fast or faster than any player in NBA.

I am sorry, but some of you guys are just liars.

Spanoulis played 30 minutes for coaches like Giannakis, Obradovic and Ivkovic and you are saying he cannot defend anyone? Please…………just stop.

[pohani komaracParticipant]

I watched alot Olympiacos games

first you don’t even know what term “hide on defense” means in basketball

2nd. It’s my opinion. If you have problem with it go see doctor

[European BasketballerParticipant]

It’s not an “opinion”, it’s a straight out LIE. How the hell do you explain for example that Spanoulis was voted best defender in Europe last year at the Russian federation awards? Only Russian League coaches and experts (like famous retired Russian players) can vote for that.

Do you think someone who “hides on defense” can be voted best defender in Europe by some coaches and top former players?

What the hell is your deal? Maybe I should start bashing endlessly on Croatian players here just to treat you the same. Only unlike you I don’t do stuff like that. I respect the players and do not bad mouth them for no reason.

I mean I could just say, “Kukoc was really a crap player because he sucked on defense”. It would be closer to truth than what you say about Spanoulis, considering Spanoulis is miles better at defense than Kukoc ever was.

It’s really odd. Why are you trying to imitate these racist xenophobic NBA only fans?

All this “athletic this”, “too slow for NBA”, “not athletic enough for NBA” bullshit is doubly absurd coming from someone like you that actually watches both NBA and Euroleague.

These other guys are just ignorant arrogant pricks. They don’t watch European basket so they don’t know what the hell they are talking about. They are just huge a-holes and like to talk endless shit out of their ludicrous patriotic zealotry.

But you……what is your excuse? You watch both say NBA and Euroleague, so there is NO excuse for your BS. Because you KNOW it’s NOT true, and yet you keep saying it. In your case it isn’t ignorance, it’s just plain lying.

[pohani komaracParticipant]

he was voted because fans vote…it’s idiotic euroleague decision to hand awards include fans votes

Main Oly perimeter defenders are Law, Sloukas, Papanikolau. Those guys usually take best ofensive players

2nd I don’t bash Spanoulis. Nither i said he is not good player.

You need check doctor, you are blinded with love to Spanouls…It’s sick

[European BasketballerParticipant]

Russian federation defender of year for Europe is not a fan vote. It’s voted on by Russian league coaches, coach of Russian national team, head of the basketball federation, and national team and some former top Russian players (“experts”).

It’s not voted by fans and it’s not a Euroleague award. Euroleague gave the award to Kirilenko. Which is ironic that the Russian federation picked Spanoulis.

[pohani komaracParticipant]

wtf is russian federation defender of year for europe award????

[European BasketballerParticipant]

Russian basketball federation gives out awards for European player of year, defender of year, coach of year, etc……….in other words they do an awards thing like FIBA does.

Remember this was always the main and biggest power of European basketball in Soviet days from many decades, so it is natural that they had a tradition in stuff like that. Just in recent times no one pays attention to them now.

Of course their awards came before FIBA.

[Krypt14Participant]

Are the FIBA awards plagued by racism like the NBA? Maybe Spanoulis can get a big contract with CSKA because the Russian’s don’t have an anti Greek bias?

[European BasketballerParticipant]

Spanoulis was voted 7th best European player in the world in 2006 by FIBA.

He was voted 4th best European player in the world in 2009 by FIBA.

He was voted 3rd best European player in the world in 2012 by FIBA.

All of these times he was voted ahead of Tony Parker for example……..

So no, FIBA isn’t racist like the NBA is.

[Author]

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