101 Greats of European Basketball

Vladimir Stankovic
dealing with Diamantidis, but when the team needed
points, his left hand was also a reliable source. His height
(1.96 meters) allowed him to play at point or shooting
guard, even small forward if the situation required. At
100 kilos, he had a strong body that could take contact.
However, his best weapons were his fast hands and
his court vision. He collected many steals and he was
a sure thing when dribbling the ball. Two seasons after
his retirement, he is still the EuroLeague’s historic steals
leader with 434 (1.56 per game). His total performance
index rating (PIR) of 3,806 stands behind only Juan Carlos
Navarro, who had 3,890, although played a lot fewer
games. His total assists, 1,255, follows only Spanoulis,
who has 1,275 – and counting. Diamantidis was the first
player to reach 1,000 assists in the EuroLeague, which
happened against Fenerbahce – with Obradovic now on
the opposing bench – on October 14, 2014, in front of his
home fans in Athens.
However, Diamantidis always had a talent that was
invisible to the stats sheets but crucial for Panathinaikos:
his leadership. During his 12 years at Panathinaikos, 11
of them with Obradovic on the bench, Diamantidis was
always the extension of the coach’s hand on the court,
the player who would always have the ball in money
time. He had the freedom to choose whether to pass,
shoot or penetrate. It’s not easy to count all his titles and
accolades with the Greens and the national team, but I
will try listing, let’s say, the most important ones:
With Panathinaikos:
• 3 EuroLeague titles: 2007, 2009 and 2011
• 9 Greek League titles
• 10 Greek Cup titles
• Six-time best EuroLeague defender
• EuroLeague MVP in 2011
• EuroLeague Final Four MVP in 2007 and 2011
• All-EuroLeague First Team: 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013
• EuroLeague assists leader: 2011 and 2014
• Six-time Greek League MVP
• Two-time Greek Cup final MVP
With the Greek national team:
• EuroBasket champion in 2005 in Belgrade
• Member of the all-tournament team in 2005
• 2005 EuroBasket assists lead (5.0 per game)
• Silver medal, 2006 World Cup in Japan
I remember each of his EuroLeague titles for
something. In Athens in 2007, the final between Panathinaikos
and CSKA Moscow (93-91) was one of the
best games I can remember. Diamantidis, after being
discreet in the semis against Baskonia (67-53), shined
in the title game with 15 points. In Berlin 2009, his mate
Spanoulis was the MVP, but Diamantidis played more
minutes and only needed 5 shots for his 10 points (1
of 2 twos, 2 of 3 threes and 2 of 2 free throws), plus he
had the highest PIR in his team. In 2011 in Barcelona, he
dished 9 assists each in the semis against Montepaschi
Siena (79-77) and in the final against Maccabi (78-70).
He also added 16 points in the final. He had the huge
quality of playing for the team at all times, but also taking
over and scoring if that what was needed most.
His personal records in the EuroLeague are 43
minutes against CSKA in 2005, a PIR of 34 against
Maccabi in 2012 (in a one-point victory in Game 5 of the
playoffs), 26 points against FC Barcelona in 2011 (also
in the playoffs), and 11 assists against Milan in 2014.
His points average in 278 EuroLeague games is 9.0, but
even if numbers can tell a great deal about basketball,
with Diamantidis I think that personal opinions are way
better. The eyes could see what the stats missed because
his real influence was many times not reflected
on a scoresheet. One could even say that stats were
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