Vassilis Spanoulis: Difference between revisions

Vasileios Spanoulis
Houston Rockets
Position	Point guard
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	August 7, 1982 (age 41); Larissa, Greece
Nationality	Greece
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
NBA draft	2004: 2nd round, 50th overall
	Selected by the Dallas Mavericks
Playing career	1999–present
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

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Revision as of 06:56, 1 July 2007

Vasileios Spanoulis (Greek: Βασίλης Σπανούλης) (born August 7, 1982 in Larissa) is a Greek professional basketball player who currently plays point guard for the Houston Rockets of the NBA. Spanoulis was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2nd round (50th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft.

Amateur Career 1994-1999

Spanoulis, a 6'4"/1.93m play maker guard began his basketball career with the Keravnos Larissa youth teams in Greece. He was a member of the bronze medal team at the 2000 European Junior Championship, and won a gold medal at the 2002 European Under-20 Championship. During the 2002 European Under-20 gold championship game he sank two clutch free throws with just 13 seconds remaining in the game to clinch a win over Spain in the gold-medal game.

Pro Career 1999-Current

His professional debut was with Gymnastikos S. Larissas in the A2 League during the 1999-00 season. Two years later he signed with Maroussi Athens and played there until 2005.

2005-2006 Season

In 2005 he signed with Panathinaikos Athens and won the A1 League championship and cup. He played in the 2005 Greek All Star Game, and was also selected to the 2005-06 All-Euroleague 2nd Team [1].

It was a very unusual accomplishment for a guard to make the All-Euroleague team in his rookie Euroleague season. Spanoulis also finished 10th in the MVP voting for the Euroleague, a great accomplishment for a rookie. This combined with his having already been acquired by the Houston Rockets led to him being called, "The Rocket Man" by his Panathinaikos teammates. He was also dubbed, "The Chosen One" by Panathinaikos head basketball coach Željko Obradović.

Obradović claimed that Spanoulis had the best rookie season of any guard in the history of the Euroleague. This is likely true as in his rookie season Spanoulis was the team's leading scorer even though he often came off of the bench and didn't play major minutes on a stacked team at the guard spots. His team won the Greek championship and Greek cup, and made the quarter finals of the Euroleague championship, with Spanoulis often leading the team in scoring throughout game competition. Spanoulis was also voted as the 7th best professional basketball player internationally for the year [2] FIBA. The list included NBA players, among them 2006-2007 National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award Dirk Nowitzki, who finished 3rd on the list of FIBA's best international players for the year 2005-2006 and Tony Parker the 2007 Basketball Association Finals Most Valuable Player Award winner, who finished 8th. NBA players Pau Gasol and Boris Diaw finished 2nd and 6th respectively. Spanoulis' first Euroleague season was statistically better than Manu Ginobili's last Euroleague season.

Spanoulis averaged 15.5 points and 3.1 assists in 23 games of Euroleague play with Panathinaikos AO Athens for the season. He also shot 61.8% from the field and 36.8% from 3-point range [3]. In Europe assists are counted differently than they are in the NBA and it is widely accepted that assist totals from Europe can be doubled for an NBA statistical comparison. Therefore his assist average would be the equivalent of 6.2 assist per game using NBA score keeping methods.

The European 3 point line is about 20 feet 6 inches from the basket, while the NBA 3 point line is about 23 feet 9 inches from the basket. The NCAA college line is about 19 feet 9 inches from the basket. This means that statistically Spanoulis' 3 point shooting percentage of 36.8% in the Euroleague would translate roughly to about 38.2% in the NCAA and to about 31.8% in the NBA (both figures without adjusting for the differences in the levels of competition). Meaning Spanoulis is not an efficient 3 point shooter by NBA standards, but is by European or college standards.

International Career

Spanoulis was a member of the Greece national basketball team during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He was a part of the Gold Medal team Panathinaikos at the Eurobasket 2005, the European Championship. Spanoulis helped to lead the Greek national team to the Silver Medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship World basketball championship.

NBA Career 2006-Current

In July 2006, Spanoulis signed a three-year deal (2 years guaranteed) with the Houston Rockets who bought out his contract from Panathinaikos. The contract was worth $5,832,000[4], in addition to his $400,000 buyout. The Rockets had acquired the rights to Spanoulis on draft night 2004, when Houston swapped draft pick #55 Luis Flores and cash considerations of $300,000 for #50 (Spanoulis).

2006-2007 NBA Season

Spanoulis' NBA rookie season was not very impressive. He had limited playing time in his rookie season with Houston averaging 8.7 minutes per game, scoring 2.7 points per game on 31.9% field goal shooting, in 31 games played off the bench.

During Spanoulis' first NBA season there was a dispute between him and the team's head coach Jeff Van Gundy over playing time. Much of this stemmed from the team's General Manager Carroll Dawson having promised Spanoulis about 20 minutes of playing time each game off the bench, playing at both of the guard spots. There was an issue between the team's management, Spanoulis, and the coach as well over the contract that Spanoulis had signed. In order to sign with the Rockets and fulfill his dreams of playing in the NBA, Spanoulis took a considerably smaller contract than the one that was being offered to him by his Greek team Panathinaikos. He still had one year under his contract with Panathinaikos, but his buyout was small and could be paid by the Rockets. Panathinkaikos countered the Rockets contract offer of $5,832,000 US dollars (equivalent to 4,665,600 Euros at the time) over 3 years with an offer of 13,200,000 Euros over 5 years, a contract that at the time (July 18th, 2006) was worth the equivalent of $16,500,000.

This meant that Spanoulis essentially agreed to play for Houston at a price of $1,944,000 per season for 3 years, passing up on Panathinkaikos' offer of $3,300,000 per season over 5 years, just for a chance of playing in the NBA. Since Spanoulis gave up a total of $10,668,000 in order to play for the Rockets and was promised playing time in return as one of the contract negotiations, it led to a falling out between Spanoulis and the team's coach Van Gundy, after Van Gundy benched Spanoulis, citing that rookie players are dangerous for coaches that are in contract years and that Spanoulis was too foul prone and lacking in outside shooting touch to be a good fit in Van Gundy's offensive system. Van Gundy was in fact in a contract year, as he had just an option year left on his coaching contract with Houston.

NBA Scouting Report From San Antonio Spurs October 2006

While most competition in European basketball is considered to be either at the NCAA division one College basketball level or lower, competition in the Spanish league Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto, Italian league Serie A (basketball), and Greek league A1_Ethniki is considered to be one step above the college level, even one step above the NBDL level. The Greek league is more recently considered the top competitive level of European basketball. Spanoulis' success at that level, combined with his success in the 2006 World Basketball Championship and the 2004 Olympics, which are considered to be near to NBA level competition, shows that he has legitimate NBA talent.

This was highlighted by Spanoulis leading the Greek National team to a victory over the United States National team team during the 2006 World championship final four round. Spanoulis scored 22 points in that game and regularly abused NBA point guards Chris Paul, Kirk Hinrich, and Dwyane Wade on both ends of the floor, offensively one on one, as well as in the pick-and-roll, and also on the defensive end in one on one assignments.

Spanoulis is a lightning-quick play-maker guard that can play either position in the back court due to his size at 6-4 3/4 in shoes (1.95m) and 203 pounds (92kg). Generally considered to have been a more talented prospect coming out of the European level to the NBA than Manu Ginobili was. Can get into the lane and penetrate at will. Incredibly dept at running the pick-and-roll offense. Will pick up fouls at an amazing rate, even better than Dwyane Wade will. Excellent finisher around the basket and excellent free throw shooter. Tremendous open court and half court abilities on offense. Can create open layups/dunks and open 3 point shots for teammates at will. Breaks down the opposing defense whenever he wants to.

Outstanding one on one defender at either guard spot. Can swipe it from any guard when he wants to. Even though his wingspan is only 6-5 (1.96m) he more than holds his own in the post on defense against bigger and stronger guards. A lock down defender against point guards even on the NBA level. Not a great team defender at the NBA level yet, but has all of the tools to be one and should learn this under Jeff Van Gundy's tutelage in Houston as he has amazing lateral quickness with his feet, great hand speed, and a good solid NBA body, as well as a high basketball IQ on the defensive end of the floor.

Not a good shooter from NBA 3 point range, but has an excellent jump shot from 18-21 feet and has the ability to shoot 37% to 41% from that range. Needs to add about 5 feet of range to his jump shot in order to succeed on a team that features both Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Unbelievable court vision and passing ability. A highlight reel assist waiting to happen. Very reminiscent of Steve Nash in his passing and play-making abilities. Like Nash, basketball IQ is off the charts with the rare ability to connect on passes that no other players besides them would even dare to attempt. Should take some time for his teammates to learn to play with him because of this. A drawback of this is that he will always have a high number of turnovers.

Very turnover prone much like Manu Ginobili. Tends to play out of control and helter skelter in a fashion similar to Ginobili at times and like Ginobili also has this defect in his game. However, also extremely competitive and willful in game situations much like Ginobili. Also excels in big-game moments and in the highest levels of competition like Ginobili. Also similar penetration and finishing ability to Tony Parker, although not as good of a ball-handler as Parker. Superior point guard instincts and court vision to Parker. Like Parker not much NBA 3 point range, but is a better shooter than Parker is from 15-21 feet.

Not a great athlete by NBA standards, but a solid one. More than athletic enough to lock down defensively on the perimeter and get into the lane and finish or dish off at the NBA level. Incredible first step, even Leandro Barbosa like. Won't dunk on anyone but will finish in the paint like Parker. Very intriguing point guard prospect with a huge upside.

Trivia

Because of his long name, fans have dubbed him V-Span and Kill Bill.
The correct pronunciation of his name is Va-SILL-is spa-NOO-lis.
He is the first Greek player to play for the Houston Rockets.
The premature death of his father (in 1996 or 1997??), pressured his brother Dimitris, who is 3 years older than him, to take up the role of protector. For this reason the two brothers share a special bond with each other, although they both agree that their biggest weakness is their mother who has never stood in the way of their choices in life.
His brother Dimitrios is also a basketball player and has a tattoo of his father's likeness on his arm. He is also responsible for bringing the basketball "bug" into the Spanoulis family.
Vassilis speaks Greek, English and Italian.
His hobbies are watching television, listening to music, playing pool and social relations.
Best friends with Nikos Zisis (fellow national Greek team player, formerly with AEK BC Athens and now plays with Benetton Treviso) and Rodrick Blackney, with whom he played at Maroussi BC.
Dubbed "The Greek Steve Nash" in many FIBA basketball circles.

Player profile

“He’s a very versatile ball handler,” Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said. “He’s a good finisher and a very good prospect. He wants to be a great player. Everybody is going to like this young man because he is a very hard-nosed player. We have watched his progress very closely,” Dawson said. “It’s a big adjustment to come to the NBA from Europe, but he is a hard worker.”[5]

Career stats

Gymnastikos S. Larisas [[6]] (Greece A2 Ethniki): 1994-1998-1999-2001.
Keraunvos Larissa [[7]] (GRE-B (4th division)): 1998-1999
Maroussi Athens (Greece A1 Ethniki): 2001-2005.
Panathinaikos (Greece A1 Ethniki): 2005-2006.
Houston Rockets (NBA): 2006-2007.

**Statistics**
Season	Team	Games	Points Totals	Points Per Game
1994-1995	Gs Larisa	N/A	N/A	N/A
1995-1996	Gs Larisa	N/A	N/A	N/A
1996-1997	GS Larisa	N/A	N/A	N/A
1997-1998	Gs Larisa	N/A	N/A	N/A
1998-99	Keraunvos Larisa	10	11	1.1
1999-00	Gs Larisa	13	90	6.9
2000-01	Gs Larisa	26	213	8.2
2001-02	Maroussi BC	12	59	4.9
2002-03	Maroussi BC	29	299	10.3
2003-04	Maroussi BC	33	367	11.2
2004-05	Maroussi BC	35	558	15.9
2005-06	Panathinaikos BC	34	368	10.8
2006-07	Houston Rockets	31	85	2.7

Achievements

Won a bronze medal at the 2000 European Junior Championship
Won a gold medal at the 2002 European Under-20 Championship
Enducted to the 2005-06 All-Euroleague 2nd Team
Played in the 2005 Greek All Star Game
Won a gold medal at the 2005 European Championship
Won the 2005-06 double with Panathinaikos Athens
Won a silver medal at the 2006 World Championship

External links

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 == Amateur Career 1994-1999 ==
-Spanoulis, a 6'4"/1.93m play maker guard began his basketball career with the Keravnos Larissa youth teams in Greece. He was a member of the bronze medal team at the 2000 European Junior Championship, and won a gold medal at the 2002 European Under-20 Championship.
+Spanoulis, a 6'4"/1.93m play maker guard began his basketball career with the Keravnos Larissa youth teams in Greece. He was a member of the bronze medal team at the 2000 European Junior Championship, and won a gold medal at the 2002 European Under-20 Championship.  During the 2002 European Under-20 gold championship game he sank two clutch free throws with just 13 seconds remaining in the game to clinch a win over Spain in the gold-medal game.
 == Pro Career 1999-Current ==