When the decade started, he was 23 years old and practically unknown - even in his native Greece. Six springs later as he turns 29, Theodoros Papaloukas of CSKA Moscow is the king of European basketball.
2006 Final Four MVP: Theodoros Papaloukas, CSKA Moscow
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Papaloukas was voted Final Four MVP on Sunday night after CSKA Moscow ended its 35-year long EuroLeague championship drought edging the defending champs Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 73-69 in front of almost 17,000 fans at the state-of-the-art Sazka Arena in Prague, the Czech Republic.
In a thrilling Final Four in which Papaloukas was a virtuoso off the bench, CSKA rolled to the Euroleague title for the first time in 35 years, since 1971. Papaloukas first shined on both ends of the floor in an 84-75 semifinal win over Winterthur FC Barcelona. He had 19 points, making 7-of-9 two-point shots along with 4 steals, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Papaloukas followed it up with team-high 18 points, making 3-of-4 two-pointers and 2-of-4 three-pointers, while dishing 7 assists with 3 rebounds and 2 steals.
What makes Papaloukas unique is that he almost never starts a game. Rather, his comes off the bench full of confidence, authority and solutions in a role that few, if any, elite basketball players in the world have mastered so well. The Final Four MVP award and a place on the All-Euroleague First Team is unprecedented honors for a player coming off the bench player, which CSKA guard did in each of his 24 appearances this season. Papaloukas also becomes the first Greek player to win Final Four MVP award.
"We played with our heart and our soul tonight", said Papaloukas. "I had lost three Final Fours before this, but I won't remember them. We did it and we deserved it. We placed with head and heart. With heart and soul and we are the champions."