June 20, 2013
Star Turn, Q & A: Theodoros Papaloukas, Olympiacos
Theo Papaloukas - Olympiacos
Olympiacos
A 21st-century basketball original, Theo Papaloukas will be making a record-tying eighth consecutive Final Four appearance in Paris to end a decade in which he became one of the game's great playmakers and arguably its best sixth men ever. Papaloukas has filled his remarkable story with trophies, medals, honors, records and awards. Pending for him in Paris, however, is a new goal: to win a Euroleague title with Olympiacos. Papaloukas was a teenager when he started playing in the top Greek League for Panionios. He first joined Olympiacos in 2001 before heading to CSKA Moscow, where he started his streak of Final Fours. Papaloukas claimed two Euroleague crowns with CSKA before he returned home to Greece last season to lead the Reds back to glory. They came close, ending the club's decade-long Final Four drought, but also fell a shot short of reaching the 2009 title game in Berlin. The plan in Paris is to rise higher. His size, court-vision, handle and game smarts have made Papaloukas an unprecedented game-changer off the bench all decade. Now, his work helping new and younger teammates have put his fingerprints on everything the Reds accomplish. About all that's left on his to-do list is to bring a Euroleague title home to Piraeus!

Hello, Theo. This is your record eighth straight Final Four, a record you share with J.R. Holden, your former teammate. What do you think about what you two have done?

"I was discussing this recently with J.R. and I am happy to share this with him, because we are friends from our time in CSKA. It is really good to have this record. For me, after all these years, it's like a habit. I am happy to go for the second year in a row with Olympiacos. And this year, we hope to achieve more and win the cup."

What are your favorite Final Four memories?

"Every trip is special: the first, the second and each one after. But right now, I'd have to say the greatest memories are the ones from Prague, when we won it the first time. That was the most exciting until now, but I hope that Paris is going to be more exciting."

Olympiacos brings back eight players from last season's Final Four team. How will that shared experience help you in Paris?

"You need the experience, yes, but even when you have it, you have to win the right way. Only experience is not good enough. We will have hard games. Experience alone won't win them. We have to be serious and respect our opponents."

If Olympiacos survives the semifinal, would you like or not like to play CSKA in the final?

"Because it would mean that I have made it to the final, of course I would love to play CSKA."

You have won Euroleague titles, but Olympiacos has not since 1997. What would it mean for you to win the Euroleague with this club and these fans?

"Olympiacos is a team from my country, and it's important to win with a team from your country. There is no feeling better than to take the trophy in your hands and share it with your teammates. I went to the Final Four six times with CSKA to live that feeling twice. I need to do it with Olympiacos once."
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Euroleague.net
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FINAL FOUR TEAMS

FINAL FOUR SCHEDULE
SEMIFINALS - FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2010
3RD PLACE - SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2010
FINAL - SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2010

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