View source for Vassilis Spanoulis

{{Short description|Greek basketball player and coach (born 1982)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Vassilis Spanoulis
| image = Vasileios Spanoulis AS Monaco Basket EuroLeague 20241212 (3) (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Spanoulis at an [[AS Monaco Basket|AS Monaco]] post game [[press conference]] in [[2024–25 EuroLeague|2024]]
| position = [[Coach (basketball)|Head coach]]
| league = [[LNB Élite]]<br />[[EuroLeague]]
| team = AS Monaco
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 212
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|8|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Larissa]], Greece
| draft_year = 2004
| draft_round = 2
| draft_pick = 50
| draft_team = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| career_number = 7, 10, 11, 6, 14, 4
| career_position = [[Point guard]] / [[shooting guard]]
| career_start = 1999
| career_end = 2021
| coach_start = 2021<ref>[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/spanoulis-returns-to-basketball-courts-as-adidas-next-generation-tournament-head-coach/ Spanoulis returns to basketball courts as Adidas Next Generation Tournament head coach.]</ref>
| coach_end = 
| years1 = 1999–2001
| team1 = [[Gymnastikos S. Larissas BC|Gymnastikos S. Larissas]]
| years2 = 2001–2005
| team2 = [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi Athens]]
| years3 = 2005–2006
| team3 = [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]]
| years4 = {{nbay|2006|full=y}}
| team4 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| years5 = 2007–2010
| team5 = Panathinaikos
| years6 = 2010–2021
| team6 = [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]]
| cyears1 = 2021–2022
| cteam1 = EuroLeague under-18 Next Generation Select team
| cyears2 = 2022–2024
| cteam2 = [[Peristeri B.C.|Peristeri Athens]]
| cyears3 = 2024–present
| cteam3 = [[AS Monaco Basket|AS Monaco]]
| highlights = '''As a player:'''
* [[FIBA Intercontinental Cup]] champion ([[2013 FIBA Intercontinental Cup|2013]])
* [[FIBA Intercontinental Cup MVP]] (2013)
* [[Giuseppe Sciacca International Awards Sports Prize|International Sports Prize's World Athlete of the Year]] (2013)
* [[European Basketball Triple Crown|European Triple Crown]] winner (2009)
* 101 Greats of European Basketball (2018)
* 3× [[EuroLeague]] champion ([[2009 EuroLeague Final Four|2009]], [[2012 EuroLeague Final Four|2012]], [[2013 EuroLeague Final Four|2013]])
* [[EuroLeague MVP]] ([[Euroleague 2012-13|2013]])
* 3× [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP]] (2009, 2012, 2013)
* 3× [[All-EuroLeague Team|All-Euroleague First Team]] ([[Euroleague 2011-12|2012]], [[2012-13 Euroleague|2013]], [[2014–15 EuroLeague|2015]])
* 5× [[All-EuroLeague Team|All-Euroleague Second Team]] ([[Euroleague 2005-06|2006]], [[Euroleague 2008-09|2009]], [[Euroleague 2010-11|2011]], [[2013-14 Euroleague|2014]], [[2017–18 EuroLeague|2018]])
* Most Clutch Player in EuroLeague History (2017)
* [[EuroLeague]]'s [[captain (sports)|Best Captain]] (2018)
* [[EuroLeague 2010–2020 Player of the Decade]] (2020)<ref name="translate.google.com">{{Cite web |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=el&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sport24.gr%2FBasket%2FEuroleague%2Feb-news%2Feb_olympiacos%2Fspanoulhs-eixe-diplasies-pshfoys-apo-ton-deutero-gia-thn-omada-ths-10etias-ths-euroleague.5709192.html&prev=search&pto=aue |title=Spanoulis: He had twice as many votes as the second for the 10-year-old team of the EuroLeague! |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001213011/https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=el&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sport24.gr%2FBasket%2FEuroleague%2Feb-news%2Feb_olympiacos%2Fspanoulhs-eixe-diplasies-pshfoys-apo-ton-deutero-gia-thn-omada-ths-10etias-ths-euroleague.5709192.html&prev=search&pto=aue |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[EuroLeague 2010–2020 All-Decade Team]] (2020)
* [[EuroLeague Hall of Fame]] (2022)
* [[EuroCup Basketball|EuroCup]] Rookie of the Year ([[2004–05 EuroCup Basketball|2005]])
* [[EuroCup Basketball|EuroCup]] Sixth Man of the Year ([[2004–05 EuroCup Basketball|2005]])
* [[Balkan Athlete of the Year]] (2009)
* 7× [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] champion ([[Greek Basket League 2005-06|2006]], [[Greek Basket League 2007-08|2008]]–[[Greek Basket League 2009-10|2010]], [[Greek Basket League 2011-12|2012]], [[Greek Basket League 2014-15|2015]], [[Greek Basket League 2015-16|2016]])
* 4× [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] winner (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011)
* 5× [[Greek Basket League MVP|Greek League MVP]] (2005, 2006, [[Greek Basket League 2008-09|2009]], 2012, 2016)
* 4× [[Greek Basket League Finals MVP|Greek League Finals MVP]] (2006, 2008, 2015, 2016)
* 10× [[Greek Basket League Pentad|All-Greek League Team]] (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, [[Greek Basket League 2010-11|2011]]–2013, 2015–[[Greek Basket League 2016-17|2017]], [[2017–18 Greek Basket League|2018]], [[2018–19 Greek Basket League|2019]])
* 4× [[Greek Basket League Assists Leader|Greek League assists leader]] ([[2007–08 Greek Basket League|2008]], [[2011–12 Greek Basket League|2012]], [[2012–13 Greek Basket League|2013]], [[2014–15 Greek Basket League|2015]])
* 10× [[HEBA Greek All Star Game|Greek All-Star]] (2005, 2006, 2008–2011, 2013, [[Greek Basket League 2013-14|2014]], [[Greek Basket League 2017-18|2018]], [[Greek Basket League 2018-19|2019]])
* [[Greek Basket League Best Young Player|Greek League Best Young Player]] ([[2002–03 Greek Basket League|2003]])
* [[Greek Basket League Most Improved Player|Greek League Most Improved Player]] ([[2003–04 Greek Basket League|2004]])
* 2× [[Greek Basket League Most Popular Player|Greek League Most Popular Player]] (2015, 2017)
* [[Greek Basket League Hall of Fame|Greek League Hall of Fame]] (2022)
* No. 7 [[Olympiacos B.C.#Retired numbers|retired by Olympiacos]] (2023)
* The Greatest of All Time Athlete in the history of multi-sport club [[Olympiacos CFP|Olympiacos Piraeus]] (2025)
* [[FIBA EuroStar]] (2007)
* [[FIBA EuroBasket 2000–2020 Dream Team]] (2020)
* [[FIBA Summer Olympics 1992–2020 Dream Team]] (2020)
* 8× [[Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|Acropolis Tournament]] champion ([[2005 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2005]]–[[2010 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2010]], [[2013 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2013]], [[2015 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2015]])
* 2× [[Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|Acropolis Tournament]] MVP ([[2007 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2007]], [[2009 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2009]])
* [[:el:Πρωτάθλημα Ελλάδας καλαθοσφαίρισης εφήβων|Panhellenic Youth Championship]] champion (1999)
* [[:el:Πρωτάθλημα Ελλάδας καλαθοσφαίρισης εφήβων|Panhellenic Youth Championship]] [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]] (1999)
'''[[Greek Basket League career stats leaders|Professional Greek League career stats leaders]]'''
* [[Greek Basket League all-time leading scorer|Greek League all-time leading scorer]]
* [[Greek Basket League career assists leader|Greek League all-time leader in assists]]
'''As a head coach:'''
* [[FIBA Champions League Coach of the Year]] ([[2023–24 Basketball Champions League|2024]])
| stats_league = 
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 13,533
| stat2label = 
| stat2value = 
| stat3label = 
| stat3value = 
| medal_templates = {{MedalCount|total=yes
|[[FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament|FIBA World OQT]]|1|0|0
|[[FIBA Basketball World Cup|FIBA World Cup]]|0|1|0
|[[FIBA Stanković World Cup]]|1|0|0
|[[FIBA EuroBasket]]|1|0|1
|[[Basketball at the Mediterranean Games|Mediterranean Games]]|0|1|0
|[[FIBA U-20 EuroBasket]]|1|0|0
|[[Albert Schweitzer U-18 World Tournament|DBB U-18 World Tournament]]|0|1|0
|[[FIBA U-18 EuroBasket]]|0|0|1
}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|GRE}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA World OQT]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men|2008 Greece]] | }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Basketball World Cup|FIBA World Cup]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2006 FIBA World Championship|2006 Japan]] | }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Stanković World Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2006 FIBA Stanković World Cup|2006 China]] | }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA EuroBasket]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[EuroBasket 2005|2005 Serbia & Montenegro]] | }}
{{MedalBronze|[[EuroBasket 2009|2009 Poland]] | }} 
{{MedalCompetition|[[Basketball at the Mediterranean Games|Mediterranean Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Basketball at the 2001 Mediterranean Games|2001 Tunisia]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA U-20 EuroBasket]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2002 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship|2002 Lithuania]]|[[Greece men's national under-20 basketball team|U-20 Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Albert Schweitzer U-18 World Tournament|DBB U-18 World Tournament]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[Albert Schweitzer Tournament|2000 Mannheim]] | [[Greece men's national under-18 basketball team|Under-18]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA U-18 EuroBasket]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2000 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship|2000 Croatia]]|[[Greece men's national under-18 basketball team|U-18 Team]]}}
}}
'''Vassilis Spanoulis''' ({{langx|el|Βασίλης Σπανούλης}}), also commonly known as '''Bill Spanoulis''' ({{langx|el|Μπίλλ Σπανούλης}}), or '''Billy Spanoulis''' ({{langx|el|Μπίλλυ Σπανούλης}};<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/basketball/article/584398/raznatovic-talks-about-everything |title=Raznatovic talks about everything! |access-date=22 November 2019 |archive-date=24 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324021624/http://www.gazzetta.gr/basketball/article/584398/raznatovic-talks-about-everything |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.talkbasket.net/27579-bobby-brown-inks-olympiacos |title=Bobby Brown inks with Olympiacos. |date=22 February 2018 |access-date=22 November 2019 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411083714/https://www.talkbasket.net/27579-bobby-brown-inks-olympiacos |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2007/01/career-advice-for-billy-and-a-heros-tribute-for-dikembe/amp/ |title=Career advice for Billy, and a hero's tribute for Dikembe. |date=24 January 2007 |access-date=22 November 2019 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411083712/https://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2007/01/career-advice-for-billy-and-a-heros-tribute-for-dikembe/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/article/Rockets-crush-Spurs-93-72-1515491.php |title=Rockets crush Spurs 93-72. |access-date=22 November 2019 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411083709/https://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/article/Rockets-crush-Spurs-93-72-1515491.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/news/i/96tqrdtmdwjofcae/blatt-hailed-spanoulis-after-first-euroleague-win-together Blatt hailed Spanoulis after first EuroLeague win together.]</ref> born 7 August 1982) is a Greek former professional [[basketball]] player and [[basketball coach|coach]], who is currently the [[head coach]] for [[AS Monaco Basket|AS Monaco]] of the French [[LNB Élite]] and the [[EuroLeague]], as well as the head coach of the senior men's [[Greece men's national basketball team|Greek national team]]. In the sport of basketball, his signature move is a cut originating from under the rim where the player moves up the floor to receive a handoff from another player, which is commonly known as "Spanoulis Action",<ref>[https://basketnews.com/news-189657-draymond-green-reveals-nuggets-secret-weapon-the-spanoulis-action.html Draymond Green reveals Nuggets' secret weapon: The Spanoulis action.]</ref><ref>[https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1504902/draymond-green-talks-spanoulis-action-nba/ Draymond Green salutes Nuggets using “Spanoulis action”.]</ref> "The Spanoulis System", or simply "Spanoulis".<ref>[https://medium.com/thebasketballactiondictionary/spanoulis-40dc491696e9 “Spanoulis”.]</ref> During his pro playing career, at a height of {{convert|6|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}} tall, and a weight of {{convert|212|lb|kg|abbr=on}},<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://m.basketnews.com/players/3789-vassilis-spanoulis/statistics/seasons/2020.html#2 |title=Vassilis Spanoulis Position: SG, PG Height: 193 cm Weight: 96 kg. |access-date=7 March 2023 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307142844/https://m.basketnews.com/players/3789-vassilis-spanoulis/statistics/seasons/2020.html#2 |url-status=live }}</ref> Spanoulis played as a [[point guard]]-[[shooting guard]], and was nicknamed Kill Bill, V-Span, Greek Thunder, and MVP ("Most Vassilis Player").<ref name="Nicknames Kill Bill V-Span">{{cite web |url=http://www.interbasket.net/players/spanoulis.htm |title=Nicknames "Kill Bill" "V-Span" |publisher=Interbasket.net |date=1982-07-08 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190423/http://www.interbasket.net/players/spanoulis.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OBwzWbuMZ8 |title=MVP: Most Vassilis Player. |website=[[YouTube]] |date=30 May 2012 |access-date=2 December 2016 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817235310/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OBwzWbuMZ8 |url-status=live }}</ref> Spanoulis was named the [[Balkan Athlete of the Year]] in 2009,<ref name="in.reuters.com">{{Cite web |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-44947520091223 |title=Reuters.com Spanoulis named Balkan athlete of the year. |access-date=19 October 2010 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212949/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-44947520091223 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympiacosbc.gr/en/news/news/1165-the-2013-world-sporting-award-giuseppe-sciaccavatican-goes-to-vassilis-spanoulis.html |title=The 2013 World Sporting Award Giuseppe Sciacca(Vatican) goes to Vassilis Spanoulis!|date=October 12, 2012 |publisher=olympiacosbc.gr|author=olympiacosbc.gr |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> the [[Eurobasket News All-Europe Player of the Year|Eurobasket Player of the Year]] in 2012 and 2013,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/European-Awards/basketball_2012.aspx |title=Eurobasket.com European Awards 2012 – Men Basketball. |access-date=27 April 2013 |archive-date=3 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103082323/http://www.eurobasket.com/European-Awards/basketball_2012.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Giuseppe Sciacca International Awards Sports Prize|International Sports Prize's World Athlete of the Year]] in 2013, and the [[EuroLeague MVP]] the same year. He earned a record [[All-EuroLeague Team#Players with multiple All-EuroLeague Team selections|eight All-EuroLeague Team]] selections and was voted the [[EuroLeague 2010–2020 Player of the Decade|EuroLeague's 2010–2020 Player of the Decade]].<ref name="translate.google.com"/> Spanoulis retired as the EuroLeague's all-time career leader in [[assist (basketball)|assists]] and total [[point (basketball)|points]] scored.<ref name="euroleague.net">{{Cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8qbb3a9iw6ykxips/2017-18-all-euroleague-second-team-presented-by-7days |title=Euroleague.net, 2017-18 All-EuroLeague Second Team presented by 7DAYS. |access-date=15 May 2018 |archive-date=16 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516105226/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8qbb3a9iw6ykxips/2017-18-all-euroleague-second-team-presented-by-7days |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2025, Spanoulis was voted The Greatest of All Time (GOAT) Athlete in the 100-year history of [[Olympiacos CFP|Olympiacos Piraeus CFP]],<ref>[https://www.sport24.gr/basket/100-xronia-olimpiakos-o-vasilis-spanoulis-einai-o-megaliteros-athlitis-stin-istoria-tou-sillogou/ 100 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΘΡΥΛΟΣ 100 χρόνια Ολυμπιακός: Ο Βασίλης Σπανούλης είναι ο μεγαλύτερος αθλητής στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://basketworld.net/spanoylis-o-apolytos-thrylos-toy-olympiakoy-aytoi-einai-oi-10-koryfaioi-athlites-stin-istoria-toy-syllogoy/ Σπανούλης: Ο απόλυτος Θρύλος του Ολυμπιακού – Αυτοί είναι οι 10 κορυφαίοι αθλητές στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://www.sport24.gr/football/100-xronia-olimpiakos-aftoi-einai-oi-10-megaliteroi-athlites-stin-istoria-tou-sillogou/ 100 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΘΡΥΛΟΣ 100 χρόνια Ολυμπιακός: Αυτοί είναι οι 10 μεγαλύτεροι αθλητές στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://iliakanea.gr/100-chronia-olybiakos-aftoi-einai-oi-10-megalyteroi-athlites-stin-istoria-tou-syllogou/ 100 χρόνια Ολυμπιακός: Αυτοί είναι οι 10 μεγαλύτεροι αθλητές στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhFaEI4C7vo Βασίλης Σπανούλης, ο μεγαλύτερος αθλητής στην ιστορία του Ολυμπιακού: 1ος στην ψηφοφορία του SPORT24 {{in lang|el}}.]</ref> which is the [[multi-sport club]] with the most championships won in sports history, with over 300 awards.<ref>[https://www.tovima.com/sports/olympiacos-europes-most-successful-multi-sport-club-315th-title-months-before-centennial/ Olympiacos: Europe’s Most Successful Multi-Sport Club; 315th Title Months Before Centennial.]</ref><ref>[https://en.famagusta.news/entertainment/athlitika/protos-stin-evropi-o-olybiakos-eftase-tous-310-titlous-perase-kai-tin-bartselona-pic Olympiacos is first in Europe! He reached 310 titles, he also passed Barcelona (pic).]</ref>

During his professional [[sports club|club]] playing career, on the international level, Spanoulis was a [[FIBA World Club Cup|FIBA World Club Championship]] champion, a [[European Basketball Triple Crown|European Triple Crown]] winner, a three-time [[EuroLeague]] champion and five-time [[EuroLeague Finals|EuroLeague finalist]], and a [[FIBA Europe League]] finalist. While on the national domestic level, Spanoulis was a seven-time [[Greek Basket League]] champion, thirteen-time Greek Basket League finalist, and a four-time [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] winner and nine-time Greek Cup finalist. He spent most of his playing career in the Greek Basket League, winning four Greek League titles as a member of [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos Athens]], and three Greek League titles as a member of [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]]. With those same two Greek clubs, he also won three EuroLeague titles, one with the former club ([[2009 EuroLeague Final Four|2009]]), and two consecutively ([[2012 EuroLeague Final Four|2012]] and [[2013 EuroLeague Final Four|2013]]) with the latter. In total, in four seasons with Panathinaikos, Spanoulis won eight club championship titles, and in eleven seasons with Olympiacos, he won seven club championship titles.

In international competitions of the [[national sports team|national team]], Spanoulis played an instrumental role in the gold medal win of the senior men's [[Greece men's national basketball team|Greek national team]], at the [[2005 FIBA EuroBasket]]. He was also one of the main stars of Greece's [[2006 FIBA World Cup]] silver medal team, as he led Greece with 22 points scored in their memorable victory over [[United States men's national basketball team|Team USA]], by a score of 101–95, in the tournament's semifinals. It was however, Greece's bronze medal win at the [[2009 FIBA EuroBasket]], that emphasized Spanoulis' leadership within an injury-plagued Greek national team, and consequently earned him a [[FIBA EuroBasket All-Tournament Team|EuroBasket All-Star Five]] honor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/q/spanoulis/pid//_//players.html |title=FIBA.com profile |publisher=Archive.fiba.com |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=16 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116182924/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/q/spanoulis/pid//_//players.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2020, Spanoulis was named to the [[FIBA Summer Olympics 1992–2020 Dream Team]], which consisted of the 25 best players in [[FIBA Summer Olympics]] history, since the inclusion of NBA players, in [[Men's Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992]],<ref name="fosonline.gr">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fosonline.gr/basket/article/93212/megali-timi-gia-spanoyli-dipla-stoys-tzorntan-kai-mpraiant-pic |title=Mεγάλη τιμή για Σπανούλη: Δίπλα στους Τζόρνταν και Μπράιαντ (pic) . |date=5 May 2020 |access-date=7 April 2021 |language=el |archive-date=31 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331122927/https://www.fosonline.gr/basket/article/93212/megali-timi-gia-spanoyli-dipla-stoys-tzorntan-kai-mpraiant-pic |url-status=live }}</ref> and to the [[FIBA EuroBasket 2000–2020 Dream Team]], which consisted of the five best players of the [[FIBA EuroBasket]], since the year 2000.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/ElladaBasket/diamantidhs-kai-spanoulhs-pshfisthkan-sthn-koryfaia-pentada-ths-20etias-twn-eurobasket.5740930.html |title=Διαμαντίδης και Σπανούλης στην κορυφαία πεντάδα της 20ετιας των EuroBasket . |access-date=7 April 2021 |language=el |archive-date=23 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923032645/https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/ElladaBasket/diamantidhs-kai-spanoulhs-pshfisthkan-sthn-koryfaia-pentada-ths-20etias-twn-eurobasket.5740930.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spanoulis, whose clutch end-of-game play earned him the nickname "Kill Bill",<ref>[https://letsquiz.com/quiz/vassilis-spanoulis/what-is-vassilis-spanoulis-nickname Vassilis Spanoulis is nicknamed "Kill Bill".]</ref> is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players in Europe. In 2017, the European basketball expert and historian, Vladimir Stanković, and the EuroLeague's expert basketball panel, named Spanoulis "The Most Clutch Player in EuroLeague History".<ref name="Vladimir Stankovic p 10">{{Cite web |url=https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/7p9t6o7s5q9qbmtv/vladimir-stankovic-s-list-top-10-clutch-players |title=Vladimir Stankovic's list: Top 10 clutch players. |access-date=19 January 2020 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025552/https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/7p9t6o7s5q9qbmtv/vladimir-stankovic-s-list-top-10-clutch-players |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, he was named to the 101 Greats of European Basketball selection. Along with the Spanish player [[Juan Carlos Navarro (basketball)|Juan Carlos Navarro]], Spanoulis was one of just two players, that were still active players at the time, that were specially selected for the honor. In 2020, Spanoulis was named the "Best EuroLeague Player of The 2010s Decade" by the readers of the website Eurohoops.net.<ref name="eurohoops.net">{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/995137/the-best-of-the-decade-according-to-eurohoops-readers/2/ |title=The best of the decade according to Eurohoops readers BEST EUROLEAGUE PLAYER – VASSILIS SPANOULIS. |date=2 January 2020 |access-date=2 January 2020 |archive-date=2 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102185726/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/995137/the-best-of-the-decade-according-to-eurohoops-readers/2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> HoopsHype.com named Spanoulis one of the 75 Greatest International Players Ever in 2021.<ref name="hoopshype.com">{{Cite web |url=https://hoopshype.com/lists/75-greatest-international-players-ever-the-hoopshype-list/ |title=75 greatest international players ever: The HoopsHype list. |date=6 December 2021 |access-date=11 January 2023 |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111170938/https://hoopshype.com/lists/75-greatest-international-players-ever-the-hoopshype-list/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, Spanoulis was named a [[EuroLeague Legend]], which is the EuroLeague's Hall of Fame award.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tribute-to-vassilis-spanoulis-newest-euroleague-basketball-legend/ |title=Tribute to Vassilis Spanoulis, newest Euroleague Basketball Legend. |date=20 April 2022 |access-date=11 January 2023 |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111200816/https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tribute-to-vassilis-spanoulis-newest-euroleague-basketball-legend/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1335787/vassilis-spanoulis-formally-named-euroleague-legend/ |title=Vassilis Spanoulis formally named EuroLeague legend. |date=20 April 2022 |access-date=11 January 2023 |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111200816/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1335787/vassilis-spanoulis-formally-named-euroleague-legend/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://basketnews.com/news-170448-vassilis-spanoulis-to-be-honored-as-the-newest-euroleague-legend.html |title=Vassilis Spanoulis to be honored as the newest EuroLeague Legend. |access-date=11 January 2023 |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111200818/https://basketnews.com/news-170448-vassilis-spanoulis-to-be-honored-as-the-newest-euroleague-legend.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Spanoulis was also inducted into the [[Greek Basket League Hall of Fame]], in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/1436169/heba-introduces-hall-of-fame-inducts-30-players-alphonso-ford-dino-radja-dejan-bodiroga-dominique-wilkins-roy-tarpley/ |title=Greek League Hall of Fame welcomes Ford, Bodiroga, Radja, Wilkins, Tarpley. |date=18 December 2022 |access-date=11 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104180842/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/1436169/heba-introduces-hall-of-fame-inducts-30-players-alphonso-ford-dino-radja-dejan-bodiroga-dominique-wilkins-roy-tarpley/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Spanoulis' [[Olympiacos B.C.#Retired numbers|number 7 jersey was retired]] by the Greek [[EuroLeague]] club [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]], on 17 September 2023.<ref name="BasketNews.com">{{cite news|url=https://basketnews.com/news-194796-vassilis-spanoulis-jersey-gets-retired-by-olympiacos.html|title=Vassilis Spanoulis jersey gets retired by Olympiacos|access-date=January 10, 2024|date=September 17, 2023|agency=BasketNews.com|publisher=BasketNews.com}}</ref><ref name="Johnny Askounis">{{cite news|url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1554696/olympiacos-retires-no-7-jersey-of-vassilis-spanoulis/|title=Vassilis Spanoulis celebrated in jersey retirement ceremony|access-date=January 10, 2024|date=September 17, 2023|agency=EuroHoops.net|publisher=EuroHoops.net|author=Johnny Askounis}}</ref> In October 2023, Spanoulis was voted the [[EuroLeague]]'s "GOAT" ("Greatest of All Time") player, in a BasketNews.com poll of [[EuroLeague]] players. Spanoulis received 40% of the vote total, while the second-placed vote-getter, [[Nando de Colo]], received a total of 14% of the vote.<ref name="Donatas Urbonas">{{cite news|url=https://basketnews.com/news-196041-basketnews-players-survey-euroleague-goat-new-rule-and-best-offseason-signing.html|title=BasketNews Players Survey: EuroLeague GOAT, new rule, and best offseason signing|access-date=January 10, 2024|date=October 20, 2023|agency=BasketNews.com|publisher=BasketNews.com|author=Donatas Urbonas}}</ref>

==Early life and youth career==
Spanoulis was born in [[Larissa]], Greece, on 7 August 1982.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/spanova01.html|title=Vassilis Spanoulis|access-date=January 10, 2024|date=January 10, 2024|agency=Basketball-Reference.com|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com|author=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/7481/vassilis-spanoulis|title=VASSILIS SPANOULIS|access-date=January 10, 2024|date=January 10, 2024|agency=ProBallers.com|publisher=ProBallers.com|author=}}</ref> His father Thanasis Spanoulis, was the owner of a [[drug store]], and his mother Georgia Spanouli, was a [[bank clerk]]. Spanoulis was the couple's second and last child, being born three years after his older brother [[Dimitris Spanoulis|Dimitris]].

At the age of 7, Spanoulis began training in the sports of [[judo]], [[association football|football]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]], and [[basketball]]. As a youth, Spanoulis idolized the basketball players [[Michael Jordan]] and [[Nikos Galis]].<ref name="sport24.gr">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/longreads/o-nikos-gkalis-gia-ton-spanoyli-sto-sport-24-i-prosarmogi-stin-pragmatikotita-tha-einai-poly-zoriki.9200065.html |title=Ο Νίκος Γκάλης για τον Σπανούλη στο SPORT 24: "Η προσαρμογή στην πραγματικότητα θα είναι πολύ ζόρικη" . |access-date=26 April 2021 |language=el |archive-date=1 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501032915/https://www.sport24.gr/longreads/o-nikos-gkalis-gia-ton-spanoyli-sto-sport-24-i-prosarmogi-stin-pragmatikotita-tha-einai-poly-zoriki.9200065.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1994, at the age of 12, Spanoulis joined the [[youth team|youth basketball program]] of the [[sports club|multi-sports]] club [[Gymnastikos S. Larissas]]. Spanoulis' father Thanasis, died of [[cancer]], on 4 November 1997, when Spanoulis was 15 years old.

In 1999, at the age of 16, Spanoulis won the 1998–99 season's national under-18 club championship of Greece. He led Keravnos Larissa, the youth basketball subsidiary of Gymnastikos S. Larissas, to the title of the [[:el:Πρωτάθλημα Ελλάδας καλαθοσφαίρισης εφήβων|Panhellenic Youth Championship]]. He was the championship's leading scorer and [[Most Valuable Player]]. In the competition's semifinals, he scored 40 points against the youth team of [[Aris BC|Aris Thessaloniki]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://basketworld.net/agnwstes-ptyxes-apo-ti-zwi-tou-vasili-spanoyli/ |title=Άγνωστες πτυχές από τη ζωή και την καριέρα του Βασίλη Σπανούλη . |access-date=26 April 2021 |language=el |archive-date=26 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426150952/https://basketworld.net/agnwstes-ptyxes-apo-ti-zwi-tou-vasili-spanoyli/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the competition's final, he led his team to a 64–61 victory over the youth team of [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]]. He hit the game-winning [[3-point shot]], to win the title, at the [[buzzer beater|buzzer]].

In 2000, at the age of 17, Spanoulis won the silver medal at the [[DBB Albert Schweitzer Under-18 World Tournament]] and the bronze medal at the [[2000 FIBA Under-18 EuroBasket]]. In 2002, at the age of 19, Spanoulis won the gold medal at the [[2002 FIBA Under-20 EuroBasket]], in which he made the game-winning [[free-throw]]s.

==Professional career==
Spanoulis first played pro [[sports club|club]] basketball with [[Gymnastikos S. Larissas B.C.|Gymnastikos S. Larissas]] and enjoyed a highly successful career start. His skill set earned him a transfer to [[Athens]] and [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi]], where he won the [[Greek Basket League Best Young Player|Greek Basket League's Best Young Player]] award for the [[2002–03 Greek Basket League|2002–03 season]]. Following an impressive [[2004–05 Greek Basket League|2004–05 season]], during which he was the [[Greek Basket League Top Scorer]], and helped lead Maroussi to the [[Greek Basket League]]'s finals and the [[ULEB Cup 2004-05|2005 EuroCup quarterfinals]], he moved to [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]], where he became one of European basketball's major stars.<ref name=Euroleague>{{cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/final-four/berlin-2009/main-page/i/49297/2772/item |title=Euroleague official website, Final Four MVP: Vassilis Spanoulis, Panathinaikos. |publisher=Euroleague.net |date=2009-05-03 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=4 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704021844/http://www.euroleague.net/final-four/berlin-2009/main-page/i/49297/2772/item |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[Euroleague 2005-06|2005–06 EuroLeague season]], Spanoulis made his debut in the [[EuroLeague]] in impressive fashion, earning his first [[All-EuroLeague Team]] selection, as a rookie in the competition. After a stint in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] with the [[Houston Rockets]], during the [[2006-07 NBA season|2006–07 season]], he returned to Panathinaikos and helped lead them to a [[EuroLeague]] title in [[2009 EuroLeague Final Four|2009]], being voted the [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP]] in the process.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=JUO&clubcode=OLY |title=profile |publisher=Euroleague.net |date=1982-08-07 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=9 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509070026/http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=JUO&clubcode=OLY |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spanoulis' transfer from Panathinaikos to [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]], in the summer of 2010, marked a new step in his career, given Olympiacos' [[Derby of the eternal enemies (basketball)|feisty rivalry]] with Panathinaikos. Spanoulis' move from Panathinaikos to Olympiacos, is generally considered to be the biggest transfer in the history of Greek sports. It also led to perhaps the greatest individual rivalry in the history of Greek sports, between Spanoulis and Panathinaikos player [[Dimitris Diamantidis]]. Within a young and rebuilding Olympiacos team, which eventually became well known by its nickname, "The Comeback Kids", Spanoulis not only led the club to an improbable EuroLeague title run in [[2012 EuroLeague Final Four|2012]], but he also went on to lead the team to a historical back-to-back EuroLeague championship repeat in [[2013 EuroLeague Final Four|2013]]. In the process, he gained another two EuroLeague Final Four MVP awards, thus joining [[Toni Kukoč]], as the only two players in the history of European basketball to achieve that distinction [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP#Multiple honors|on three occasions]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113736/180/spanoulis-named-bwin-mvp-of-2013-final-four |title=Euroleague.net Spanoulis named bwin MVP of 2013 Final Four. |access-date=16 May 2013 |archive-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618000856/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113736/180/spanoulis-named-bwin-mvp-of-2013-final-four |url-status=live }}</ref> Under his leadership, Olympiacos reached another two [[EuroLeague Finals]], in [[2015 EuroLeague Final Four|2015]] and [[2017 EuroLeague Final Four|2017]].

===Gymnastikos S. Larissas===
Spanoulis joined the [[youth system]] of the Greek sports club [[Gymnastikos S. Larissas B.C.|Gymnastikos]], and its subsidiary youth club Keravnos, in [[Larissa, Greece|Larissa]], in 1994. He played with Keravnos, in the Greek junior club levels, from 1994 to 1999. After that, he played two seasons of professional club basketball with the senior men's club of Gymnastikos, from 1999 to 2001.

====1999–00 season====
Spanoulis made his [[professional sports|professional]] club debut in the year 1999, at the age of 17, with the senior club of [[Gymnastikos S. Larissas B.C.|Gymnastikos S. Larissas]], in the 1999–00 season. He played that season in the [[Greek basketball league system|2nd-tier]] level [[Greek A2 Basket League|Greek 2nd Division]], with Gymnastikos.<ref name=nbabio>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/vassilis_spanoulis/bio.html |title=Vassilis Spanoulis bio page |work=NBA.com |access-date=2012-04-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119101801/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/vassilis_spanoulis/bio.html |archive-date=2012-01-19 }}</ref> In 13 Greek 2nd Division games played, he scored a total of 90 points, for a scoring average of 6.9 points per game.<ref>[https://www.sportsdata.gr/basketball/mena2/Season1999_00/a2teamrs.asp?t=08 Championship 1999-2000 Division A2.]</ref>

====2000–01 season====
In the 2000–01 season, Spanoulis again played in the [[Greek basketball league system|2nd-tier]] level [[Greek A2 Basket League|Greek 2nd Division]], with [[Gymnastikos S. Larissas B.C.|Gymnastikos S. Larissas]].<ref name=nbabio/> In 26 Greek 2nd Division games played, he scored a total of 213 points, for a scoring average of 8.2 points per game.<ref>[https://www.sportsdata.gr/basketball/mena2/Season2000_01/a2teamrs.asp?t=09 Championship 2000-01 Division A2.]</ref>

===Maroussi Athens===
After playing two seasons with [[Gymnastikos S. Larissas B.C.|Gymnastikos S. Larissas]], in the [[Greek A2 Basket League|Greek 2nd Division]], Spanoulis signed a four-year contract with [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi Athens]] of [[Greek basketball league system|the top-tier]] level [[Greek Basket League]], the [[European professional club basketball system|European-wide 3rd-tier]] level [[FIBA Korać Cup]], and later, the European-wide 2nd-tier level [[EuroCup Basketball|EuroCup]]. Maroussi paid Gymnastikos S.Larissas a contract buyout in the amount of 50 million [[modern drachma|Greek drachma]]s, in order to secure his player rights. When Spanoulis first joined Maroussi, the team's head coach at the time, [[Nikos Linardos]], had the then 19-year-old Spanoulis play [[one-on-one (basketball)|one-on-one]] against the well-known veteran [[EuroLeague]] player [[Michael Koch (basketball)|Michael Koch]]. After their one-on-one match, Koch reportedly said to Linardos, "Coach, this kid is a star. He will be a great basketball player."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sport24.gr/sthles/spanoyli-pes-aleyri-to-maroysi-se-gyreyei.10210990.html|title=Σπανούλη, πες αλεύρι, το Μαρούσι σε γυρεύει|access-date=January 10, 2024|date=November 4, 2023|agency=Sport24.gr|publisher=Sport24.gr|author=Vassilis Skountis}}</ref>

====2001–02 season====
During the 2001–02 season, Spanoulis helped to lead [[Maroussi BC|Maroussi]] to the [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] Final. This was the first time the team had ever made it to the Greek Cup title game. Maroussi also competed in the [[European professional club basketball system|European-wide 3rd-tier]] level [[FIBA Korać Cup]]'s [[2001–02 FIBA Korać Cup|2001–02 season]].

====2002–03 season====
Spanoulis was voted the [[Greek Basket League]]'s [[Greek Basket League Best Young Player|Best Young Player]], of the [[2002–03 Greek Basket League|2002–03 season]]. He also played with [[Maroussi BC|Maroussi Athens]] in the European-wide 3rd-tier level [[FIBA EuroCup Challenge|FIBA Europe Champions Cup]]'s [[2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup|2002–03 season]].

====2003–04 season====
In the [[2003–04 Greek Basket League|2003–04 season]], Spanoulis helped to lead [[Maroussi BC|Maroussi]] to the [[Greek Basket League]] Finals. He also helped lead Maroussi to the [[2003–04 FIBA Europe League|2003–04 season]]'s [[FIBA Europe League]] Final.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/14979/180/item |title=Panathinaikos brings back Spanoulis – On-Court – Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL |publisher=Euroleague.net |date=2007-08-19 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=17 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517194533/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/14979/180/item |url-status=live }}</ref> In the FIBA Europe League, Spanoulis averaged 10.8 points per game, and 6.4 assists per game, off the bench for Maroussi. He also shot 40% from [[three-point field goal|three-point]] range. He was also named the [[Greek Basket League Most Improved Player|Greek League Most Improved Player]] that same season.

Spanoulis was then [[NBA draft|drafted]] in the 2nd round of the [[2004 NBA draft]], by the [[Dallas Mavericks]], following this sudden emergence. He also made it onto the [[Greece men's national basketball team]], at the [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games]].

====2004–05 season====
In the [[2004–05 Greek Basket League|Greek Basket League 2004–05 season]], his last season with [[Maroussi BC|Maroussi]], Spanoulis averaged 15.9 points per game, and shot 37.8% from 3-point range, in 35 games played in the [[Greek Basket League]] competition. He was the [[Greek Basket League Top Scorer]] for the season. He then averaged 15.2 points per game, and shot 40.0% from 3-point range, in 12 games of play, in the [[European professional club basketball system|European-wide 2nd-tier]] level [[EuroCup Basketball|EuroCup]]'s [[2004–05 ULEB Cup|2004–05 season]]. For the year in total, Spanoulis averaged 15.7 points per game, and shot 38.3% from 3-point range, in 47 games played with Maroussi. He played in the 2005 [[HEBA Greek All Star Game|Greek League All-Star Game]] and was named to the Greek Basket League's [[Greek Basket League Pentad|Best Five Team]].

This was a breakthrough year for Vassilis, as he had averaged 11.1 points per game the previous season. He was one of the most improved players in Europe for the year. He helped to lead Maroussi to the 2nd place of the [[Greek Basket League]], for the regular season. At the end of the year, Spanoulis was voted the European 6th Man of the Year, and Rookie of the Year in the [[EuroCup Basketball|EuroCup]].<ref>[http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq,v3.playerID_35533.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.teamID_291.html Eurobasket2007.org player profile info.]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726232508/http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq%2Cv3.playerID_35533.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.teamID_291.html |date=July 26, 2011 }}</ref>

===Panathinaikos Athens===
====2005–06 season====
Following his outstanding season in 2004–05 with [[Maroussi BC|Maroussi]], Spanoulis signed a 3-year contract worth [[Euro|€]]1.6 million [[net income]], with [[EuroLeague]] powerhouse [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos Athens]]. Spanoulis and his agent, [[Miško Ražnatović]],<ref name=wontreturntorockets>[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4943775.html Spanoulis says he won't return to Rockets] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629094723/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4943775.html |date=29 June 2011 }} Chron.com – Houston Chronicle.</ref> set the contract terms so that Spanoulis would have a buyout clause after just one year and set the buyout amount at [[United States dollar|US $]]400,000. This was Spanoulis' first season playing at [[European professional club basketball system|the highest European-wide professional club level]].

With Panathinaikos, in the [[Greek Basket League 2005–06|Greek Basket League 2005–06 season]], he won both the [[Greek Basket League]] championship and the [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]]. His team went 24–2 during the [[Greek Basket League 2005–06|Greek Basket League regular season]], and 8–0 during the Greek League playoffs, for an overall record of 32–2 in the national domestic league championship, and went undefeated in the Greek Cup, at 5–0, for an overall record of 37–2 in Greek competitions. He played in the 2006 [[HEBA Greek All Star Game|Greek League All-Star Game]] and was named to the [[Greek Basket League Pentad|Greek Basket League's Best Five Team]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clubs.phantis.com/sports/index.php?act=ST&f=109&t=8958 |title=Phantis Sports Club Forums -> 2005–2006 awards |publisher=Clubs.phantis.com |date=2006-06-15 |access-date=2012-04-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213154136/http://clubs.phantis.com/sports/index.php?act=ST&f=109&t=8958 |archive-date=2012-02-13 }}</ref>

Spanoulis was also selected to the [[2005-06 Euroleague|EuroLeague 2005–06 season]]'s [[All-EuroLeague]] Second Team.<ref name=nbabio/><ref>[http://www.eurobasket.com/events/eluleb/05-06/eurol.asp EUROBASKET – Euroleague Men 2005–2006 Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings, Pro Basketball.<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517064538/http://www.eurobasket.com/events/eluleb/05-06/eurol.asp |date=May 17, 2007 }}</ref>

In 28.8 minutes per game of play, during the [[2005-06 Euroleague|2005–06 EuroLeague]] competition, Spanoulis averaged 14.6 points, 3.1 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals, in 23 games of EuroLeague play, with Panathinaikos Athens for the season. He also shot 61.8% in 2-point shooting, and 36.8% from 3-point range; 53.4% overall.

He was the team's leading scorer, even though he often came off the bench. He won the [[EuroLeague MVP of the Round]] award twice during the season. In 2005–06, his team finished the EuroLeague with a record of 16–7. Spanoulis was also voted as the 7th best worldwide European player of the year (including [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] players) in 2006, by [[FIBA Europe]], in their [[FIBA Europe Player of the Year]] award voting.<ref name=nbabio/><ref name=mysportsbook>{{cite web |url=http://www.mysportsbook.com/betting_sports/Houston_Rockets/39.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050428091612/http://www.mysportsbook.com/betting_sports/Houston_Rockets/39.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2005-04-28 |title=Houston Rockets Sports Betting News MYSPORTSBOOK |publisher=Mysportsbook.com |access-date=2012-04-24 }}</ref><ref name="findarticles.com">{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20060721/ai_n16670940 | work=Deseret News (Salt Lake City) | title=New owners insist Sonics will stay in Seattle | date=July 21, 2006}}</ref><ref>[http://217.13.116.51/plantillas/jugador.jsp?id=JUO&temporada=E05 Spanoulis, Vasilis.<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029021533/http://217.13.116.51/plantillas/jugador.jsp?id=JUO&temporada=E05 |date=October 29, 2007 }}</ref><ref name=euroleague_awards>[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/awards/awards-2005-2006 EUROLEAGUE AWARDS 2005–2006.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824044135/http://www.euroleague.net/competition/awards/awards-2005-2006 |date=24 August 2007 }}, ''euroleague.net''</ref><ref name=fibaeurope>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_rdCa0AljHPAjbl9YuZSHL2.coid_kl-Qub2wHLUH0UwthgNad1.articleMode_on.html Papaloukas Wins Close Vote to Become FIBA Europe Player of the Year.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105022823/http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_rdCa0AljHPAjbl9YuZSHL2.coid_kl-Qub2wHLUH0UwthgNad1.articleMode_on.html |date=5 November 2013 }}, ''Fibaeurope.com''</ref>

Many fans began calling him, "Euro [[Kobe Bryant|Kobe]]".<ref>[http://sports.sina.com.cn/s/2006-08-10/0700942962s.shtml 火箭新控卫斯潘诺里斯：我是菜鸟 姚明是超级巨星] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104121414/http://sports.sina.com.cn/s/2006-08-10/0700942962s.shtml |date=4 November 2013 }} {{in lang|zh}}</ref>

===Houston Rockets===
On 19 July 2006<ref name=nbabio/> Spanoulis opted out of the final two years of his contract with Panathinaikos Athens and signed a three-year deal (2 years guaranteed) with the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]'s [[Houston Rockets]], who paid for his contract buyout from Panathinaikos. The contract was worth $5.832 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm |title=NBA Salaries – Houston Rockets |publisher=HoopsHype |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=15 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315075730/http://hoopshype.com/salaries/houston.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> His buyout from Panathinaikos was $400,000.

The contract amount was for an average of $1.944 million per season. The Rockets had acquired the rights to Spanoulis on draft night (24 June 2004), when Houston swapped draft pick #55 [[Luis Flores (basketball)|Luis Flores]], and cash considerations of $300,000 with the [[Dallas Mavericks]], for Spanoulis (pick #50).<ref name=nbabio/><ref name=signrockets>[https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2524851 Guard Vassilis Spanoulis signs with Rockets], July 20, 2006</ref>

"He's a very versatile ball handler," Rockets [then] [[general manager (basketball)|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."<ref>{{cite web |last=Pierce |first=Damien |url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Rockets_sign_Greek_guard-185070-822.html |title=ROCKETS: Rockets sign Greek guard |work=Nba.com |date=2011-03-03 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=19 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219180823/http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Rockets_sign_Greek_guard-185070-822.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/pageID_Nph2,z3tIjsbJW1e8oPZZ3.nfID_291.startAt_84.coid_PyDDHBi3JtwWiVTn5xlm82.articleMode_on.html Greece: Spanoulis Set For Take Off With Rockets.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105022820/http://www.fibaeurope.com/pageID_Nph2,z3tIjsbJW1e8oPZZ3.nfID_291.startAt_84.coid_PyDDHBi3JtwWiVTn5xlm82.articleMode_on.html |date=5 November 2013 }}, ''Fiba.com''</ref>

Rockets [then] Director of Player Personnel, [[Dennis Lindsey]], stated the following about Spanoulis before signing him to the team. "We're very, very happy with his progress," said Lindsey. "He changed clubs this year from [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi]] to the bigger club this year, [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]]. For those not familiar with European basketball, they are like the [[New York Yankees]] of [[Greek Basket League|Greece]] and one of the two or three better organizations in [[EuroLeague|Europe]]. They are an NBA-level club. From our standpoint, we really like what Vassilis has done. He is their leading scorer. They are 9–1 in the [[EuroLeague]] and they have already qualified for the top sixteen."<ref name=lindsey_praises>{{cite web |url=http://clutchfans.net/news/1262/rockets_lindsey_praises_spanoulis/ |title=Rockets' Lindsey praises Spanoulis |publisher=Clutchfans.net |date=2006-01-19 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723043734/http://clutchfans.net/news/1262/rockets_lindsey_praises_spanoulis/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lindsey praised Spanoulis' offensive ability. "He's got a couple of characteristics that we like," added Lindsey. "He can really drive and get the ball in the paint, and he's relentless with it. He kind of plays basketball like a fullback a little bit, where he just kind of breaks through the line and there's contact on a lot of plays."<ref name=lindsey_praises/>

"The [[Les Alexander|owner]] and [[Jeff Van Gundy|Jeff]] and Carroll really like what they've seen so far and we've made a couple of trips over and hopefully in the near future we can have him as a Rocket because we think he can help us."<ref name=lindsey_praises/>

====2006–07 NBA season====
[[File:Vasileios Spanoulis in Houston.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Spanoulis in 2006, during the [[2006–07 Houston Rockets season|2006–07 season]], with the [[NBA]]'s [[Houston Rockets]].]]

Spanoulis saw limited playing time with the [[Houston Rockets]] during his rookie [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] year in [[2006-07 NBA season|2006–07]], averaging 2.7 points and 0.9 assists in 8.8 minutes per game, on 31.9% field goal shooting (17.2% from behind the 3-point line), in 31 games played off the bench.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/vassilis_spanoulis/career_stats.html |title=Spanoulis' NBA career stats |work=Nba.com |access-date=2012-04-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119075340/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/vassilis_spanoulis/career_stats.html |archive-date=2012-01-19 }}</ref>

During Spanoulis' first NBA season, there was a dispute between him and Rockets [[head coach]], [[Jeff Van Gundy]], over playing time. There was an issue between the team's management, Spanoulis, and the coach as well, over the contract that Spanoulis had signed. 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 B.C.|Panathinaikos Athens]]. He still had two years under his contract with Panathinaikos, but his buyout was small and could be paid by the Rockets.

Spanoulis agreed to play for Houston for $1.944 million [[gross income]] per season, for 3 years, passing up on his former team Panathinaikos's much larger offer of [[Euro sign|€]]1.6 million [[net income]] per season, over 3 years, just for a chance of playing in the NBA. Spanoulis made the Rockets' rotation,<ref>{{cite web |author=JONATHAN FEIGEN, Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4353239.html |title=Spanoulis getting chance in Rockets' rotation |publisher=Chron.com |date=2006-11-22 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=1 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201215545/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4353239.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but there was a falling out between him and Rockets coach Van Gundy, after Van Gundy benched Spanoulis, after the coach claimed that he had played poorly, citing that rookie players are dangerous for coaches that are in contract years, and that Spanoulis was too turnover prone and lacking in outside shooting touch to be a good fit in Van Gundy's offensive system design. Said Van Gundy about the situation: "(Spanoulis) says, 'I was [[Tracy McGrady|[Tracy] McGrady]] back home.' Great. McGrady is McGrady here,"..."I feel badly for him. He feels he was misled. Frankly, he's been his own worst enemy in many ways. Some of it is excuses. His turnovers have been high; his fouls have been high; his shooting percentage has been low. I would rather anybody start out with self-evaluation—what can I do better?—versus lash out and blame. Because I'm not playing him now doesn't mean he won't play in the future, or we don't feel he could be a good player. I think he's allowed his disappointment to go to discouragement, which has, at times, stunted his improvement. We'll see. We'll see."<ref>{{cite web |author=FRAN BLINEBURY, Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4490534.html |title=Spanoulis struggles with lack of playing time |publisher=Chron.com |date=2007-01-23 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=12 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512152223/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4490534.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spanoulis was traded by the Rockets to the [[San Antonio Spurs]], on 12 July 2007, along with a 2009 second-round draft pick, in exchange for [[center (basketball)|center]] [[Jackie Butler]], and the rights to [[Argentina|Argentinian]] [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]] [[Luis Scola]].<ref name=spanoulis_070712>[http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/spanoulis_070712.html Spurs Acquire Vassilis Spanoulis.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418165510/http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/spanoulis_070712.html |date=18 April 2008 }}, ''NBA.com'' – July 12, 2007</ref><ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/wires/07/12/2030.ap.bkn.spurs.rockets.trade.0170/ Spurs acquire Spanoulis in trade with Rockets.]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, July 12, 2007</ref> On 19 August 2007, the Spurs released Spanoulis, giving him the chance to return to Greece to play for Panathinaikos as he had requested. This was officially announced on 23 August 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/spanoulis_070823.html |title=SPURS: Spurs Release Spanoulis |work=Nba.com |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=27 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827035906/http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/spanoulis_070823.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Reportedly due to "family reasons," Spanoulis decided that he would not remain in the NBA, with his agent going as far as comparing the Rockets' reluctance to break his contract to slavery.<ref>[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4944139.html Spanoulis insists his Rockets days over.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908171044/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4944139.html |date=8 September 2007 }}, July 5, 2007</ref> Spanoulis, instead opted to return to [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]], to once again play in the [[Greek Basket League]] and the [[EuroLeague]].<ref name=wontreturntorockets/>

In June 2013, Spanoulis claimed that Van Gundy told him on the first day he arrived at Houston that since he was a rookie, and unfamiliar to Van Gundy, he would be benched for the season. Spanoulis also claimed that the Rockets' next head coach, [[Rick Adelman]], wanted to keep him and that both [[Tony Parker]] and [[Gregg Popovich]] of the San Antonio Spurs were interested in having him on their team.<ref>[http://www.eurohoops.net/2013/06/one-on-one/26907 Eurohoops.net "Coach Van Gundy didn't know me".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609032833/http://www.eurohoops.net/2013/06/one-on-one/26907 |date=2013-06-09 }}</ref>

In November 2015, the [[general manager (basketball)|General Manager]] of the San Antonio Spurs, [[R.C. Buford]], confirmed to the Greek press that the Spurs made the trade for Spanoulis to keep him and have him play on their team. Buford also confirmed that it was Spanoulis' choice to not play with the Spurs and to return to play in Greece.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/Basket/OmadesBasket/A1Olympiakos/mpioufornt-parakoloythoume-toys-printezh-kai-miloytinof.3790719.html |title=Μπιούφορντ: "Παρακολουθούμε τους Πρίντεζη και Μιλουτίνοφ" . |access-date=30 November 2015 |language=el |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208055007/http://www.sport24.gr/Basket/OmadesBasket/A1Olympiakos/mpioufornt-parakoloythoume-toys-printezh-kai-miloytinof.3790719.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCuOksr0N-U |title=San Antonio Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford On Vassilis Spanoulis. |website=[[YouTube]] |date=2 January 2016 |access-date=27 August 2016 |archive-date=30 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830181500/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCuOksr0N-U&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Back to Panathinaikos Athens===
====2007–08 season====
On 19 August 2007, Spanoulis was released by the [[San Antonio Spurs]], after deciding he wanted to play in Greece during the 2007–08 season. This was because his mother was in poor health at that time, and that Spanoulis wanted to be near her.<ref name=insports>[http://www.insports.gr/index.php?s=2&c=1&p=113&cat=7&arthro=11742&nav=%CE%9C%CE%A0%CE%91%CE%A3%CE%9A%CE%95%CE%A4:%20V-Span...%CE%B7%20%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%86%CE%AE ΜΠΑΣΚΕΤ: V-Span...η επιστροφή.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213133804/http://www.insports.gr/index.php?s=2&c=1&p=113&cat=7&arthro=11742&nav=%CE%9C%CE%A0%CE%91%CE%A3%CE%9A%CE%95%CE%A4:%20V-Span...%CE%B7%20%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%86%CE%AE |date=13 February 2012 }} {{in lang|el}}</ref> Spanoulis signed a 3-year contract with [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interbasket.net/news/52/2007/08/30/spanoulis-returns-to-panathinaikos/ |title=Spanoulis returns to Panathinaikos |publisher=Interbasket.net |date=2009-05-29 |access-date=2012-04-24}}</ref> the then defending [[EuroLeague]] champions. Spanoulis was signed to the team to play at both the [[point guard]] and [[shooting guard]] positions, along with fellow [[Greece men's national basketball team|Greek national team]] star, [[Dimitris Diamantidis]]. Former [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player and [[Lithuanian men's national basketball team|Lithuanian national team]] star, [[Šarūnas Jasikevičius]], would also later sign with Panathinaikos. Spanoulis, Diamantidis, and Jasikevičius would go on to form the team's legendary Three [[playmaker (basketball)|Playmaker]]s Offensive System, as utilized by the team's then-head coach, [[Željko Obradović]].

The contract Spanoulis signed was for 3-years, at [[Euro sign|€]]5.5 million [[net income]] salary,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9441122?source=rss |title=Spanoulis Panathinaikos sign a lucrative contract |publisher=Contracostatimes.com |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=11 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211122314/http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9441122?source=rss |url-status=live }}</ref> plus a $1,166,400 contract buyout from his NBA [[San Antonio Spurs]] contract (Panathinaikos paid the buyout, so it did not count against the Spurs' [[NBA Salary Cap|salary cap]]). Spanoulis' agent set up the contract so that Spanoulis could opt out of it after one year. Spanoulis originally stated that, after the first year of his contract, he might opt out of it and return to [[San Antonio Spurs|San Antonio]] to play in the NBA again.<ref name=insports/>

During the 2007–08 season, Spanoulis led his team, [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]], in both points scored (661) and assists (215), over 36 games played in the [[2007–08 Greek Basket League|Greek Basket League 2007–08 season]], and 20 games played in the [[2007–08 Euroleague|EuroLeague 2007–08 season]]. He averaged 11.8 points per game and 3.8 assists per game for the season, in 56 games total. Spanoulis was the [[Greek Basket League stats leaders|Greek Basket League assists leader]]. He was voted as a starter to the [[HEBA Greek All Star Game|Greek League All-Star Game]], and to the [[Greek Basket League Pentad|Greek Basket League's Best Five Team]].

Spanoulis helped Panathinaikos win the Greek basketball double, as the club won both the [[Greek Basket League]] championship and the [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] title in 2008. In the Greek Cup Final, against Panathinaikos' arch-rival [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]], Spanoulis helped to lead his team to the championship cup victory, by scoring 20 points and dishing out 7 assists.

====2008–09 season====
In 2009, Spanoulis led Panathinaikos to the coveted [[European Basketball Triple Crown|European Triple Crown]] title, as they won the [[2009 EuroLeague Final Four|EuroLeague 2008–09 season]]'s championship, the [[Greek Basket League 2008–09|Greek League 2008–09 season]]'s championship, and the 2009 [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] title, all in the same [[sports club|club]] season. Panathinaikos Athens' 2008–09 season team is often considered to be the best [[EuroLeague]] team of all time, by European basketball media and analysts. During the 2008–09 club season, Spanoulis was named to the [[All-EuroLeague Team]], and he was also named the [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/final-four/berlin-2009/main-page/i/49297/2772/final-four-mvp-vassilis-spanoulis-panathinaikos |title=Euroleague.net Final Four MVP: Vassilis Spanoulis, Panathinaikos. |access-date=2 October 2013 |archive-date=4 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104015131/http://www.euroleague.net/final-four/berlin-2009/main-page/i/49297/2772/final-four-mvp-vassilis-spanoulis-panathinaikos |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to that, he was named to the [[Greek Basket League Best Five]], and he was also named the 2009 [[Greek Basket League MVP|Greek League MVP]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/html/ent/108/ent.300108.asp |title=Sport24.gr – Οι παλιοί MVP . |access-date=2 October 2013 |language=el |archive-date=29 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629071251/http://www.sport24.gr/html/ent/108/ent.300108.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the 2008–09 club season, Spanoulis finished the year of 2009, by leading the senior [[Greek national basketball team|Greek national team]] to the bronze medal at the [[2009 EuroBasket]], where he was also named to the [[EuroBasket All-Tournament Team]]. Due to all his accomplishments and achievements, Spanoulis won the highly prestigious and coveted [[BTA Balkan Athlete of the Year]],<ref name="in.reuters.com"/> which is an award that is given to the calendar year's best athlete that has citizenship in one of the twelve nations of the [[Balkans]] region. Spanoulis is the only basketball player to ever win the award.

====2009–10 season====
Spanoulis won the [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]]'s [[Greek Basket League 2009–10|2009–10 season]] championship, with [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]].

===Olympiacos Piraeus===
====2010–11 season====
In July 2010, after much speculation concerning his free agency and his next contract, Spanoulis signed a three-year contract with the [[Greek Basket League]] club [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos Piraeus]], worth {{Euro|13.2 million}} [[gross income]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnos.gr/ethnosport/article.asp?catid=8377&subid=2&pubid=31752656|script-title=el:Υψηλές αποδοχές|publisher=Ethnos.gr|access-date=2012-04-24|language=el|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313011752/http://www.ethnos.gr/ethnosport/article.asp?catid=8377&subid=2&pubid=31752656|archive-date=2012-03-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> or {{Euro|7.2 million}} [[net income]] (€2.4 million net income per season), plus team performance bonuses. In his first year with Olympiacos, Spanoulis won the [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]], was named to the [[EuroLeague]]'s [[All-EuroLeague|All Second Team]], and was the [[Greek Basket League stats leaders|Greek Basket League assists leader]].

====2011–12 season====
In 2012, Spanoulis won both the [[2012 EuroLeague Final Four|2012 EuroLeague]] and [[Greek Basket League]] championships. He was also named to the [[All-EuroLeague]] First Team, and won the [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP]], for the second time in his career. He became the fourth player to win the award multiple times. Spanoulis' [[assist (basketball)|assist]], on [[Georgios Printezis]]' game-winning shot against the Russian [[VTB United League]] club [[PBC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]], at the end of the [[2012 EuroLeague Final Four|2012 EuroLeague Final]],<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTNpw6-PSlw Fans Choice Play of the Decade Interview: Georgios Printezis & Vassilis Spanoulis.]</ref> is widely considered to be the greatest of all-time highlight in the history of the EuroLeague.

Furthermore, Spanoulis once again led the Greek League in assists. He was also named the [[Greek Basket League MVP]], and the [[Greek Basket League Finals MVP]]. Finally, Spanoulis was named the [[Eurobasket News All-Europe Player of the Year]] in 2012. Spanoulis and Printezis, whose duo were nicknamed, "Greek Thunder (Spanoulis) and Greek Lightning (Printezis)", would go on to form one of the greatest player duos in the history of the EuroLeague.

====2012–13 season====
[[File:Vassilis SpanoulisOly (cropped) (cropped).JPG|thumb|right|180px|Spanoulis, while playing for [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos]] in [[2012–13 EuroLeague|2013]].]]
Spanoulis was named the [[EuroLeague MVP]] in 2013.<ref name="euroleague.net"/> He was also the [[EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer]], and was named the [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP]], after leading Olympiacos to the [[2013 EuroLeague Final Four|2013 EuroLeague championship]] title, which completed [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]]' back-to-back [[EuroLeague]] championship run ([[2012 EuroLeague Final Four|2012]] and [[2013 EuroLeague Final Four|2013]]). He became just the second player to win both the EuroLeague MVP and the EuroLeague Final Four MVP in the same season, along with [[Dimitris Diamantidis]]; and he also became just the second player to win the EuroLeague Final Four MVP award 3 times, along with [[Toni Kukoč]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/final-four/london-2013/main-page/i/113633/7980/spanoulis-named-bwin-mvp-of-2013-final-four |title=Euroleague.net Spanoulis named bwin MVP of 2013 Final Four. |access-date=2 October 2013 |archive-date=6 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606223308/http://www.euroleague.net/final-four/london-2013/main-page/i/113633/7980/spanoulis-named-bwin-mvp-of-2013-final-four |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spanoulis also won the [[Giuseppe Sciacca International Awards Sports Prize|International Sports Prize's World Athlete of the Year]] award in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_jrPtNlvaI5MvPNfUvf9Zv0.articleMode_on.html |title=SPANOULIS TO BE HONOURED IN THE VATICAN. |access-date=17 October 2014 |archive-date=21 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021090022/http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_jrPtNlvaI5MvPNfUvf9Zv0.articleMode_on.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/124796/180/spanoulis-honored-with-prestigious-giuseppe-sciacca-award |title=Spanoulis honored with prestigious Giuseppe Sciacca Award. |access-date=17 October 2014 |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221105700/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/124796/180/spanoulis-honored-with-prestigious-giuseppe-sciacca-award |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also named the [[Eurobasket News All-Europe Player of the Year]], for the second time, in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/European-Awards/basketball_2013.aspx |title=Eurobasket.com European Awards 2013 – Men Basketball. |access-date=2 January 2014 |archive-date=2 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193518/http://www.eurobasket.com/European-Awards/basketball_2013.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2013–14 season====
Spanoulis signed a 3-year contract extension, worth {{Euro|6 million}} net income (€2 million net income per season),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.euronews.com/2013/07/08/spanoulis-signs-contract-extension-with-euroleague-champions/ |title=Spanoulis signs contract extension with Euroleague champions. |access-date=5 July 2016 |archive-date=21 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221095946/http://www.euronews.com/2013/07/08/spanoulis-signs-contract-extension-with-euroleague-champions |url-status=live }}</ref> plus team performance bonuses, with Olympiacos in July 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/euroleaguenews/transactions/2013-14-signings/i/114745/8177/olympiacos-spanoulis-will-seek-three-peat |title=Euroleague.net OLYMPIACOS, Spanoulis will seek three-peat. |access-date=2 October 2013 |archive-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921172001/http://www.euroleague.net/euroleaguenews/transactions/2013-14-signings/i/114745/8177/olympiacos-spanoulis-will-seek-three-peat |url-status=live }}</ref> With Olympiacos, he won the [[2013 FIBA Intercontinental Cup|2013 edition]] of the [[FIBA Intercontinental Cup]], being named [[FIBA Intercontinental Cup MVP|the MVP of the tournament]].<ref name="FIBA.basketball">{{cite news|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/intercontinentalcup/2022/news/greek-legend-spanoulis-to-hand-mvp-award-in-cairo|title=Greek legend Spanoulis to hand MVP award in Cairo|access-date=January 10, 2024|date=December 12, 2022|agency=FIBA.basketball|publisher=FIBA.basketball|author=FIBA.basketball}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com.br/noticias/123611-o-heroi-e-o-vilao-de-olympiacos-86-x-69-pinheiros-pelo-mundial-de-clubes |title=FoxSports.com O Herói e o Vilão de Olympiacos 86 x 69 Pinheiros, pelo Mundial de Clubes . |access-date=9 October 2013 |language=pt |archive-date=16 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116182923/http://www.foxsports.com.br/noticias/123611-o-heroi-e-o-vilao-de-olympiacos-86-x-69-pinheiros-pelo-mundial-de-clubes |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gazetaesportiva.net/noticia/2013/10/basquete/olympiacos-bate-pinheiros-e-vence-copa-intercontinental.html |title=Gazetaesportiva.net Olympiacos bate Pinheiros e vence Copa Intercontinental . |access-date=9 October 2013 |language=pt |archive-date=2 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193553/http://www.gazetaesportiva.net/noticia/2013/10/basquete/olympiacos-bate-pinheiros-e-vence-copa-intercontinental.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2014, he was named to the [[All-EuroLeague Team]], for the sixth time in his career.<ref>{{cite web|title=2013-14 All-Euroleague First and Second Teams announced|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/136869|work=Euroleague.net|access-date=9 May 2014|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204414/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/136869|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2014–15 season====
In May 2015, Spanoulis was chosen to the [[All-EuroLeague Team|All-EuroLeague First Team]], for his performance during the season, his seventh All-EuroLeague Team honour.<ref>{{cite news|title=All-Euroleague First and Second Teams announced|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/5xtj7vjfuokfw7g8|access-date=8 May 2015|work=euroleague.net|archive-date=10 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410140126/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/5xtj7vjfuokfw7g8|url-status=live}}</ref> He led Olympiacos to the [[2015 EuroLeague Final Four|2015 EuroLeague Final]], and he also won the [[2014–15 Greek Basket League|2014–15 season]]'s Greek League championship with Olympiacos and was voted the [[Greek Basket League Finals MVP|MVP of the league's finals]].

====2015–16 season====
Spanoulis won the [[2015-16 Greek Basket League|2015–16 season]]'s Greek League championship. In game 2 of the 2015–16 Greek League Finals, against Olympiacos' arch-rivals, [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]], Spanoulis hit a game-winning [[buzzer beater|buzzer-beating]] 3-pointer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7LyKValggY |title=Vassilis Spanoulis 3 Point Buzzer Beating Game Winner 2016 GBL Finals. |website=[[YouTube]] |date=22 May 2016 |access-date=5 July 2016 |archive-date=16 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616130440/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7LyKValggY |url-status=live }}</ref> In game 3 of the Greek League Finals, he scored 11 points in the last 3 minutes and 1 second of the 4th quarter, to seal the victory for his team.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCSJ5DPxDgY |title=Vassilis "Big Shot" Spanoulis Clutch Time: 2016 GBL Finals Game 3 (11 PTS In Last 3:01). |website=[[YouTube]] |date=26 May 2016 |access-date=5 July 2016 |archive-date=18 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918222713/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCSJ5DPxDgY&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> In game 4 of the Greek League Finals, held at [[Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall]], Olympiacos won in the game's second [[Overtime (sports)|overtime]] period, after Spanoulis hit another game-winning 3-point field goal, with 1.9 seconds remaining in the game.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cR3luFb2A4 |title=Vassilis Spanoulis 2016 GBL Finals Game 4 Winner Over Dimitris Diamantidis. |website=[[YouTube]] |date=5 July 2016 |access-date=5 July 2016 |archive-date=31 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831225354/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cR3luFb2A4&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Spanoulis' game four game-winning shot, which is often referred to simply as "The Shot",<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRdgSu7hfk0 Vassilis Spanoulis "The Shot".]</ref> is widely considered to be the most famous game-winning shot in the history of European basketball.

Spanoulis was subsequently named the 2016 [[Greek Basket League MVP|Greek League MVP]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurohoops.net/featured/274890/vassilis-spanoulis-named-greek-league-mvp |title=Vassilis Spanoulis named Greek League MVP. |date=5 July 2016 |access-date=5 July 2016 |archive-date=8 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708013123/http://www.eurohoops.net/featured/274890/vassilis-spanoulis-named-greek-league-mvp |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.esake.gr/el/3B733F7B |title=Ο Β. Σπανούλης TAGHeuer MVP της Basket League ΣΚΡΑΤΣ . |access-date=15 July 2016 |language=el |archive-date=6 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706223029/http://www.esake.gr/el/3B733F7B |url-status=live }}</ref> and the 2016 [[Greek Basket League Finals MVP|Greek League Finals MVP]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurohoops.net/featured/262345/vassilis-spanoulis-named-mvp-of-the-greek-finals |title=Vassilis Spanoulis named MVP of the Greek Finals. |date=14 June 2016 |access-date=5 July 2016 |archive-date=19 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719092827/http://www.eurohoops.net/featured/262345/vassilis-spanoulis-named-mvp-of-the-greek-finals |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.esake.gr/el/DFDA3270 |title=TAGHeuer MVP των τελικών ο Σπανούλης . |access-date=15 July 2016 |language=el |archive-date=7 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807100750/http://www.esake.gr/el/DFDA3270 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2016–17 season====
In June 2016, Spanoulis signed a new 2-year contract extension with Olympiacos, lasting through the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/6y9lwnb8byiydmk4 |title=Spanoulis, Olympiacos together through 2018. |access-date=5 July 2016 |archive-date=15 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615161520/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/6y9lwnb8byiydmk4 |url-status=live }}</ref> The contract was worth {{Euro|3 million}} net income (€1.5 million net income per season).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/2016/6/13/spanoulis-is-here-to-stay |title=SPANOULIS IS HERE TO STAY. |date=13 June 2016 |access-date=5 July 2016 |archive-date=25 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725072737/http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/2016/6/13/spanoulis-is-here-to-stay |url-status=live }}</ref> During that [[2016–17 EuroLeague|season's EuroLeague competition]], Euroleague.net named Spanoulis the "Most Clutch Player in EuroLeague History".<ref name="Vladimir Stankovic p 10"/> That same season, Spanoulis eventually led Olympiacos to the [[2017 EuroLeague Final Four|2017 EuroLeague Final]].

====2017–18 season====
During the 2017–18 season, Spanoulis became the [[EuroLeague]]'s all-time [[EuroLeague all-time leader in assists|career leader in assists]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8msxcwtnkgbfyat4/spanoulis-becomes-euroleague-assists-king |title=Spanoulis becomes EuroLeague assists king. |access-date=17 April 2018 |archive-date=4 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404085855/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8msxcwtnkgbfyat4/spanoulis-becomes-euroleague-assists-king |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/645852/spanoulis-top-euroleague-time-list-assists-2/ |title=Spanoulis at the top of the EuroLeague All-Time list of assists. |date=30 March 2018 |access-date=17 April 2018 |archive-date=17 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417192149/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/645852/spanoulis-top-euroleague-time-list-assists-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Greek Basket League|Greek Professional Basket League]]'s all-time [[Professional Greek Basket League all-time leading scorer|career leader in points scored]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/654786/spanoulis-becomes-top-scorer-in-greek-league-history-as-olympiacos-beats-panionios/ |title=Spanoulis becomes top scorer in Greek League history as Olympiacos beats Panionios. |date=13 April 2018 |access-date=17 April 2018 |archive-date=17 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417192434/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/654786/spanoulis-becomes-top-scorer-in-greek-league-history-as-olympiacos-beats-panionios/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://esake.gr/el/7E91890A |title=Ο Σπανούλης 1ος σκόρερ της Stoiximan.gr Basket League (pics, infographics) . |access-date=17 April 2018 |language=el |archive-date=17 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417192306/http://esake.gr/el/7E91890A |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also the 2018 [[Greek Basketball Cup Finals Top Scorer|Greek Cup Finals Top Scorer]]. In May 2018, he was named to the [[All-EuroLeague Team|All-EuroLeague Second Team]] of the [[2017–18 EuroLeague|2017–18 season]], the eighth All-EuroLeague Team selection of his career, which set a record for the most All-EuroLeague Team selections of all time.<ref name="all-euroleague">{{cite news|title=2017-18 All-EuroLeague Second Team presented by 7DAYS|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8qbb3a9iw6ykxips/2017-18-all-euroleague-second-team-presented-by-7days|access-date=19 May 2018|work=euroleague.net|date=10 May 2018|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516105226/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8qbb3a9iw6ykxips/2017-18-all-euroleague-second-team-presented-by-7days|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2018–19 season====
Before the start of the 2018–19 season, Spanoulis signed a one-year contract extension with [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos]], on 2 July 2018,<ref>{{cite news|author=Euroleague.net|date=2 July 2018|title=Olympiacos, Spanoulis sign on for ninth season together|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8uhy7csue4dy3rr4/olympiacos-spanoulis-sign-on-for-ninth-season-together|work=EuroLeague|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704175111/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8uhy7csue4dy3rr4/olympiacos-spanoulis-sign-on-for-ninth-season-together|url-status=live}}</ref> at a salary of €1.2 million [[net income]]. He was named the [[EuroLeague MVP of the Round#2018–19|MVP of Round 14]] of the [[2018–19 EuroLeague|2018–19 EuroLeague season]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/9cer5knhtqrkcvpv/round-14-mvp-vassilis-spanoulis-olympiacos-piraeus |title=Round 14 MVP: Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos Piraeus. |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225130208/http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/9cer5knhtqrkcvpv/round-14-mvp-vassilis-spanoulis-olympiacos-piraeus |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[Greek Basket League 2018–19 season]], Spanoulis became the [[Professional Greek Basket League career assists leader|Professional Greek League's all-time career assists leader]]. He passed the previous record holder, [[Dimitris Diamantidis]], in a Greek League game against [[AEK Athens BC|AEK Athens]], in January 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/806034/vassilis-spanoulis-becomes-all-time-assist-leader-in-greek-league/ |title=Vassilis Spanoulis becomes All-Time Assist Leader in Greek League. |date=6 January 2019 |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111175501/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/806034/vassilis-spanoulis-becomes-all-time-assist-leader-in-greek-league/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.talkbasket.net/34882-vassilis-spanoulis-became-the-all-time-assist-leader-in-the-greek-league |title=Vassilis Spanoulis became the All-Time Assist Leader in the Greek League. |date=7 January 2019 |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111121951/https://www.talkbasket.net/34882-vassilis-spanoulis-became-the-all-time-assist-leader-in-the-greek-league |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/spanoulis-becomes-basket-leagues-all-time-assist-leader |title=SPANOULIS BECOMES BASKET LEAGUE'S ALL-TIME ASSIST LEADER. |date=7 January 2019 |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111121519/http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/spanoulis-becomes-basket-leagues-all-time-assist-leader |url-status=live }}</ref> On 14 March 2019, Spanoulis suffered a season-ending peroneal tendon rupture on his right ankle, in a [[EuroLeague]] game against the Italian club [[Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano|Olimpia Milano]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://admin.euroleague.net/news/i/9k9sg8imhqgwi6li/olympiacos-loses-spanoulis-for-rest-of-season |title=Olympiacos loses Spanoulis for rest of season. |access-date=12 December 2019 |archive-date=12 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212200613/https://admin.euroleague.net/news/i/9k9sg8imhqgwi6li/olympiacos-loses-spanoulis-for-rest-of-season |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/853163/vassilis-spanoulis-done-for-the-season/ |title=Vassilis Spanoulis done for the season. |date=29 March 2019 |access-date=5 December 2019 |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205181035/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/853163/vassilis-spanoulis-done-for-the-season/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2019–20 season====
After undergoing a [[2018–19 EuroLeague|2018–19 season]]-ending right ankle surgery, for a peroneal tendon rupture, on 1 April 2019,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/854231/vassilis-spanoulis-undergoes-surgery/ |title=Vassilis Spanoulis undergoes surgery. |date=April 2019 |access-date=5 December 2019 |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205181102/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/854231/vassilis-spanoulis-undergoes-surgery/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Spanoulis began individual workouts again on 5 July 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/903321/vassilis-spanoulis-back-in-training/ |title=Vassilis Spanoulis back in training. |date=5 July 2019 |access-date=5 December 2019 |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205181129/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/903321/vassilis-spanoulis-back-in-training/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After his return to individual training, Spanoulis signed a one-year contract extension with [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/9sya85f4xlqj8adb/reds-spanoulis-commit-to-10th-season-together |title=Reds, Spanoulis commit to 10th season together. |access-date=5 December 2019 |archive-date=17 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717110158/https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/9sya85f4xlqj8adb/reds-spanoulis-commit-to-10th-season-together |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/908178/vassilis-spanoulis-re-signs-with-olympiacos/ |title=Vassilis Spanoulis re-signs with Olympiacos. |date=16 July 2019 |access-date=5 December 2019 |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205181101/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/908178/vassilis-spanoulis-re-signs-with-olympiacos/ |url-status=live }}</ref> at a salary of €600,000 [[net income]]. On 29 November 2019, Spanoulis passed [[Juan Carlos Navarro (basketball)|Juan Carlos Navarro]], to become the EuroLeague's [[EuroLeague all-time leader in Performance Index Rating|all-time career leader]] in [[Performance Index Rating|Performance Index Rating (PIR)]]. He accomplished the milestone in a [[2019–20 EuroLeague|EuroLeague 2019–20 season]] game versus the Italian club [[Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano|Olimpia Milano]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/a7wj7qt9scetjy6q/spanoulis-passes-navarro-as-all-time-pir-leader |title=Spanoulis passes Navarro as all-time PIR leader. |access-date=5 December 2019 |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205170925/https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/a7wj7qt9scetjy6q/spanoulis-passes-navarro-as-all-time-pir-leader |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/976229/olympiacos-suffocates-milano-in-spanoulis-historic-night/ |title=Olympiacos "suffocates" Milano in Spanoulis' historic night. |date=29 November 2019 |access-date=5 December 2019 |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205185504/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/976229/olympiacos-suffocates-milano-in-spanoulis-historic-night/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.talkbasket.net/59698-olympiacos-captain-vassilis-spanoulis-passes-juan-carlos-navarro-as-all-time-pir-leader |title=Olympiacos captain Vassilis Spanoulis passes Juan Carlos Navarro as all-time PIR leader. |date=30 November 2019 |access-date=5 December 2019 |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205230046/https://www.talkbasket.net/59698-olympiacos-captain-vassilis-spanoulis-passes-juan-carlos-navarro-as-all-time-pir-leader |url-status=live }}</ref> On 2 January 2020, Spanoulis also passed Navarro as the [[EuroLeague all-time leading scorer|EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer]] since the [[2000–01 EuroLeague|2000–01 season]], in Olympiacos' loss against [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (basketball)|Fenerbahçe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/aao34fl8bfimm4fq/spanoulis-is-the-new-euroleague-scoring-king|publisher=EuroLeague|date=2 January 2019|title=Spanoulis is the new EuroLeague scoring king!|access-date=3 January 2020|archive-date=3 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103123301/https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/aao34fl8bfimm4fq/spanoulis-is-the-new-euroleague-scoring-king|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/995641/vassilis-spanoulis-becomes-the-all-time-euroleague-scorer/ |title=Vassilis Spanoulis becomes EuroLeague's all-time top scorer. |date=2 January 2020 |access-date=19 January 2020 |archive-date=2 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102221724/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/995641/vassilis-spanoulis-becomes-the-all-time-euroleague-scorer/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.talkbasket.net/63246-olympiacos-captain-vassilis-spanoulis-is-the-new-euroleague-scoring-king |title=Olympiacos captain Vassilis Spanoulis is the new EuroLeague scoring king! |date=3 January 2020 |access-date=19 January 2020 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411083715/https://www.talkbasket.net/63246-olympiacos-captain-vassilis-spanoulis-is-the-new-euroleague-scoring-king |url-status=live }}</ref> His record was surpassed by [[Mike James (basketball, born 1990)|Mike James]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US point guard Mike James becomes EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/sports/us-point-guard-mike-james-becomes-euroleagues-all-time-leading-scorer/3158640 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref>

After Spanoulis set the EuroLeague scoring record, he was congratulated via video by several well-known professional basketball players. He was congratulated by several [[NBA]] players such as [[Giannis Antetokounmpo]], [[Tony Parker]], [[Pau Gasol]], and [[Luka Dončić]]. He was also congratulated by several [[EuroLeague]] players such as [[Georgios Printezis]], [[Juan Carlos Navarro (basketball)|Juan Carlos Navarro]], [[Facu Campazzo]], [[Fernando San Emeterio]], [[Othello Hunter]], [[Šarūnas Jasikevičius]], [[Sergio Rodríguez]], [[Alexey Shved]], [[Kostas Sloukas]], [[Stratos Perperoglou]], [[Ante Tomić (basketball)|Ante Tomić]], [[Toko Shengelia]], [[Vasilije Micić]], [[Vladimir Lučić]], [[Gustavo Ayón]], [[Nick Calathes]], [[Jordan Taylor (basketball)|Jordan Taylor]], [[Kyle Hines]], and [[Kostas Papanikolaou]]. He was also congratulated by the legendary European basketball coach [[Aíto García Reneses|Aíto]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAeaqAob83Q Η αποθέωση στον King Bill συνεχίζεται {{in lang|el}}]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qraa_pMeCsk Η Ευρωλίγκα υποκλίνεται στον V-Span! {{in lang|el}}]</ref>

On 4 February 2020, Spanoulis again suffered a season-ending peroneal tendon rupture injury,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/OmadesBasket/A1Olympiakos/olympiakos-rhksh-tenontwn-kai-xeiroyrgeio-gia-ton-spanoulh.5679127.html |title=Επιβεβαιώθηκαν οι φόβοι, χειρουργείο και τέλος η σεζόν για τον Βασίλη Σπανούλη που υπέστη ρήξη τενόντων στο δεξί πόδι στην εκτός έδρας αναμέτρηση με τη Ζάλγκιρις Κάουνας . |access-date=29 July 2020 |language=el |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807130522/https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/OmadesBasket/A1Olympiakos/olympiakos-rhksh-tenontwn-kai-xeiroyrgeio-gia-ton-spanoulh.5679127.html |url-status=live }}</ref> in a EuroLeague game against [[BC Zalgiris Kaunas|Žalgiris Kaunas]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/Euroleague/eb-news/eb_olympiacos/olympiakos-xtuphse-kai-phge-sta-apodythria-o-spanoulhs.5678341.html |title=Στα μισά της τρίτης περιόδου, ο Βασίλης Σπανούλης ζήτησε αλλαγή από τον Γιώργο Μπαρτζώκα λόγω προβλήματος στο δεξί πόδι . |access-date=29 July 2020 |language=el |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411083635/https://www.sport24.gr/basket/olympiakos-chtypise-kai-pige-sta-apodytiria-o-spanoylis.8941051.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the same right foot injury, that he had suffered in the previous 2018–19 season. On 7 February 2020, Spanoulis had another surgery to repair the tendon.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/Euroleague/eb-news/eb_olympiacos/olympiakos-xeiroyrghthhke-o-spanoulhs.5679509.html |title=Ο Βασίλης Σπανούλης εγχειρίστηκε την Παρασκευή (7/2) για να αποκαταστήσει το πρόβλημα στο δεξί πόδι . |access-date=29 July 2020 |language=el |archive-date=8 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208122409/https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/Euroleague/eb-news/eb_olympiacos/olympiakos-xeiroyrghthhke-o-spanoulhs.5679509.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 12 May 2020, Spanoulis was named to the [[EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/al7wwe4ek6ddexq4/2010-20-all-decade-team-vassilis-spanoulis |title=2010-20 All-Decade Team: Vassilis Spanoulis. |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-date=15 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515193327/https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/al7wwe4ek6ddexq4/2010-20-all-decade-team-vassilis-spanoulis |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1058624/vassilis-spanoulis-named-to-euroleague-2010-2020-all-decade-team/ |title=Vassilis Spanoulis named to EuroLeague 2010-2020 All-Decade Team. |date=12 May 2020 |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919132808/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1058624/vassilis-spanoulis-named-to-euroleague-2010-2020-all-decade-team/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/Euroleague/eb-news/eb_olympiacos/euroleague-o-spanoulhs-sthn-kaluterh-omada-ths-dekaetias.5709162.html |title=EuroLeague: Ο Σπανούλης στην καλύτερη ομάδα της δεκαετίας . |access-date=29 July 2020 |language=el |archive-date=2 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602153056/https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/Euroleague/eb-news/eb_olympiacos/euroleague-o-spanoulhs-sthn-kaluterh-omada-ths-dekaetias.5709162.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Among the 10 players voted onto the EuroLeague's All-Decade Team, Spanoulis was voted the number one overall [[EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team#The All-Decade Team by vote|EuroLeague Player of the 2010–2020 Decade]], in a vote decided by EuroLeague [[head coaches]], EuroLeague players, [[fan (person)|fans]], and [[sports journalists]]. He received more than twice as many votes as the player who came in second place in the voting,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/Euroleague/eb-news/eb_olympiacos/spanoulhs-eixe-diplasies-pshfoys-apo-ton-deutero-gia-thn-omada-ths-10etias-ths-euroleague.5709192.html |title=Σπανούλης: Είχε διπλάσιες ψήφους από τον δεύτερο για την ομάδα της 10ετίας της EuroLeague! . |access-date=29 July 2020 |language=el |archive-date=1 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601124345/https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/Euroleague/eb-news/eb_olympiacos/spanoulhs-eixe-diplasies-pshfoys-apo-ton-deutero-gia-thn-omada-ths-10etias-ths-euroleague.5709192.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="translate.google.com"/> which was [[Bogdan Bogdanović (basketball)|Bogdan Bogdanović]].

====2020–21 season====
On 11 July 2020, Spanoulis re-signed with [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos]], to a one-year €600,000 [[net income]] contract, through the [[2020–21 EuroLeague|2020–21 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1079596/vassilis-spanoulis-re-signs-with-olympiacos-through-2021/ |title=Vassilis Spanoulis re-signs with Olympiacos through 2021. |date=11 July 2020 |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-date=3 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903135041/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1079596/vassilis-spanoulis-re-signs-with-olympiacos-through-2021/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/apyxhro39awf64cr/olympiacos-re-signs-superstar-spanoulis |title=Olympiacos re-signs superstar Spanoulis. |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728040056/https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/apyxhro39awf64cr/olympiacos-re-signs-superstar-spanoulis |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vassilis Spanoulis re-signs with Olympiacos |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/vassilis-spanoulis-re-signs-with-olympiacos/ |website=Sportando |access-date=July 11, 2020 |date=July 11, 2020 |archive-date=12 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712023650/https://sportando.basketball/en/vassilis-spanoulis-re-signs-with-olympiacos/ |url-status=live |last1=Carchia |first1=Emiliano }}</ref> On 10 December 2020, in a game against [[BC Red Star Belgrade|Red Star Belgrade]], Spanoulis passed [[Juan Carlos Navarro (basketball)|Juan Carlos Navarro]], to become the all-time leading scorer in the history of Europe's top-tier level basketball competition, including all the history of the competition, under both the management of both [[FIBA Europe|FIBA]] and [[EuroLeague Basketball]], dating back to the original [[FIBA European Champions Cup]] competition, in [[1958 FIBA European Champions Cup|1958]].<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1140588/vassilis-spanoulis-becomes-top-scorer-in-european-champions-cup-history/ |title=Vassilis Spanoulis becomes top scorer in European Champions' Cup history. |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104212245/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1140588/vassilis-spanoulis-becomes-top-scorer-in-european-champions-cup-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Retirement from playing career and legacy===
At the age of 38, Spanoulis announced his intention to retire from playing [[professional sports|professional]] basketball, on 26 June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/legend-icon-euroleague-scoring-king-vassilis-spanoulis-retires/ |title=Legend, icon, EuroLeague scoring king Vassilis Spanoulis retires. |date=26 June 2021 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104212729/https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/legend-icon-euroleague-scoring-king-vassilis-spanoulis-retires/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://basketnews.com/news-152997-vassilis-spanoulis-the-story-of-retirement.html |title=Vassilis Spanoulis: The story of retirement. |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104213203/https://basketnews.com/news-152997-vassilis-spanoulis-the-story-of-retirement.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 27 September 2021, at the age of 39, Spanoulis held a [[press conference]], in which he officially announced his retirement as a player.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/backstage/1250676/spanoulis-officially-retires-with-a-message-from-giannis/ |title=Spanoulis officially retires with a message from Giannis Antetokounmpo. |date=27 September 2021 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104213202/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/backstage/1250676/spanoulis-officially-retires-with-a-message-from-giannis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> When he retired, Spanoulis finished his men's playing career with a total of 13,533 [[point (basketball)|points scored]] in 1,234 [[games played]], across all leagues and competitions.

In international club competitions, Spanoulis scored 24 points in 2 games played in the official World Club Championship, known as the [[2013 FIBA Intercontinental Cup|FIBA Intercontinental Cup]], and he also scored a total of 4,872 points in 403 games played in European-wide professional club competitions, which was the second most points ever scored in the history of European-wide competitions, and a mere 32 points behind the career record holder [[Nikos Galis]]' 4,904 career points.<ref>[https://www.bnsports.gr/box-to-box/articles/627478/o-nik-kalathis-tous-exei-3-000-tous-pontous-sta-kypella-evropis Ο Νικ Καλάθης τους έχει... 3.000 τους πόντους στα Κύπελλα Ευρώπης {{in lang|el}}.]</ref> At the time of his retirement, Spanoulis stated that being able to spend more time with his family, was more important than playing until he scored another 33 points to break Galis' scoring record. Of Spanoulis' 4,872 career points scored in European-wide leagues, 4,455 points were scored in 358 games played in Europe's top-tier level competition, the [[EuroLeague]], which was the league's all-time career scoring record, including all formats of the competition, dating back to the original [[FIBA European Champions Cup]], which began in [[1958 FIBA European Champions Cup|1958]].<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

Spanoulis also scored a total of 16 points in 4 games played in the 3rd-tier level [[2001–02 FIBA Korać Cup|FIBA Korać Cup]] competition,<ref>[https://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_MsfTeemRHYovSUdkYV76x0.season_2002.roundID_2557.playerID_35533.teamID_5308.html VASSILIS SPANOULIS MAROUSSI ATHENS 2001–02.]</ref> 86 points in 8 games played in the 3rd-tier level [[2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup|FIBA Europe Champions Cup]] competition,<ref>[https://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_3PFNKyhLHWIYKHG2fZORy3.season_2003.roundID_3553.playerID_35533.teamID_5308.html VASSILIS SPANOULIS MAROUSSI ATHENS 2002–03.]</ref> 133 points in 21 games played in the 3rd-tier level [[2003–04 FIBA Europe League|FIBA Europe League]] competition,
<ref>[https://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_BYg5Rb55Jw-G5I3MZ6JB01.season_2004.roundID_3670.playerID_35533.teamID_5308.html VASSILIS SPANOULIS MAROUSSI ATHENS 2003–04.]</ref> and 182 points in 12 games played in the European 2nd-tier level [[2004–05 ULEB Cup|EuroCup]] competition.<ref>[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/ VASSILIS SPANOULIS Olympiacos Piraeus GUARD 2004–05.]</ref> In addition to that, he also scored a total of 5,909 points in 571 games played in national domestic leagues. Of which, 303 points were scored in 39 games played in the [[Greek A2 Basket League|Greek 2nd Division]], 5,517 points were scored in 500 games played in the [[Greek Basket League]] (Greek 1st Division),<ref>[https://esake-hof.damsquare.gr/player/079-spanoules-basiles Σπανούλης Βασίλης POSITION Guard HEIGHT 1.93 {{in lang|el}}.]</ref> and 89 points were scored in 32 games played in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] (85 points scored in 31 regular season NBA games, and 4 points scored in 1 NBA playoff game).<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/spanova01.html Vassilis Spanoulis Position: Shooting Guard ▪ Shoots: Right Draft: Dallas Mavericks, 2nd round (21st pick, 50th overall), 2004 NBA Draft.]</ref>

Spanoulis' 5,517 points scored in the Greek Basket League is the league's [[Greek Basket League all-time leading scorer|all-time career scoring record]]. Spanoulis also scored a total of 414 points in 47 games played in the [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] competition.<ref>[https://eokbasket.sportstats.gr/2018-2019/cup-men/playerdetails/id/3248242B-0FB0-4C80-B5F7-DFC3161C5321 ΣΠΑΝΟΥΛΗΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΣ {{in lang|el}}.]</ref> In [[national sports team|national team]] competitions, Spanoulis had a total of 211 [[cap (sports)|caps]] (games played), in which he scored a total of 2,314 points.<ref>[https://www.basket.gr/playerview/?playercode=826&playername=ΣΠΑΝΟΥΛΗΣ%20ΒΑΣΙΛΗΣ&birthday=1982-08-07 Σελίδα Αθλητή ΣΠΑΝΟΥΛΗΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΗΣ Ημ.Γεν: 1982-08-07 {{in lang|el}}.]</ref>

After he retired from playing professional club basketball, Spanoulis was inducted into the [[EuroLeague]]'s Hall of Fame, as he was named a [[EuroLeague Legend]], on 22 April 2022.<ref>[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tribute-to-vassilis-spanoulis-newest-euroleague-basketball-legend/ Tribute to Vassilis Spanoulis, newest Euroleague Basketball Legend.]</ref><ref>[https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1335787/vassilis-spanoulis-formally-named-euroleague-legend/ Vassilis Spanoulis formally named EuroLeague legend.]</ref><ref>[https://basketnews.com/news-170448-vassilis-spanoulis-to-be-honored-as-the-newest-euroleague-legend.html  Vassilis Spanoulis to be honored as the newest EuroLeague Legend.]</ref>  

Spanoulis' number 7 jersey was retired by [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]], on 17 September 2023, at a ceremony that was called, "The Night of the Legend".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T-HHmDjoPs Το Νο7 στον... ουρανό του ΣΕΦ! {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1554696/olympiacos-retires-no-7-jersey-of-vassilis-spanoulis/ Vassilis Spanoulis celebrated in jersey retirement ceremony.]</ref><ref>[https://basketnews.com/news-194796-vassilis-spanoulis-jersey-gets-retired-by-olympiacos.html Vassilis Spanoulis jersey gets retired by Olympiacos.]</ref><ref>[https://basketballsphere.com/en/video-vassilis-spanoulis-has-become-immortal-this-is-the-greatest-night-of-my-career/ (VIDEO) Vassilis Spanoulis has become immortal: This is the greatest night of my career.]</ref><ref>[https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/03/27/olympiacos-retires-7-jersey/ Vassilis Spanoulis: Olympiacos retires #7 jersey in honour of the basketball legend.]</ref> 

As a result of the great success that he had with Olympiacos during his playing career, Spanoulis was voted [[Olympiacos CFP|Olympiacos Piraeus CFP]]'s [[multi-sport club]]'s Greatest of All Time (GOAT) Athlete, across all club sports and divisions, in the club's 100-year history.<ref>[https://www.tovima.com/sports/olympiacos-europes-most-successful-multi-sport-club-315th-title-months-before-centennial/ Olympiacos: Europe’s Most Successful Multi-Sport Club; 315th Title Months Before Centennial.]</ref><ref>[https://www.sport24.gr/basket/100-xronia-olimpiakos-o-vasilis-spanoulis-einai-o-megaliteros-athlitis-stin-istoria-tou-sillogou/ 100 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΘΡΥΛΟΣ 100 χρόνια Ολυμπιακός: Ο Βασίλης Σπανούλης είναι ο μεγαλύτερος αθλητής στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://basketworld.net/spanoylis-o-apolytos-thrylos-toy-olympiakoy-aytoi-einai-oi-10-koryfaioi-athlites-stin-istoria-toy-syllogoy/ Σπανούλης: Ο απόλυτος Θρύλος του Ολυμπιακού – Αυτοί είναι οι 10 κορυφαίοι αθλητές στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://www.sport24.gr/football/100-xronia-olimpiakos-aftoi-einai-oi-10-megaliteroi-athlites-stin-istoria-tou-sillogou/ 100 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΘΡΥΛΟΣ 100 χρόνια Ολυμπιακός: Αυτοί είναι οι 10 μεγαλύτεροι αθλητές στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://iliakanea.gr/100-chronia-olybiakos-aftoi-einai-oi-10-megalyteroi-athlites-stin-istoria-tou-syllogou/ 100 χρόνια Ολυμπιακός: Αυτοί είναι οι 10 μεγαλύτεροι αθλητές στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhFaEI4C7vo Βασίλης Σπανούλης, ο μεγαλύτερος αθλητής στην ιστορία του Ολυμπιακού: 1ος στην ψηφοφορία του SPORT24 {{in lang|el}}.]</ref> 

{{Blockquote
|text= “Do you understand who Vassilis Spanoulis is in Europe? He's like the [[Kobe Bryant|Kobe]] [Bryant], or [Michael] [[Michael Jordan|Jordan]] of Europe.”
|source= [[Giannis Antetokounmpo]]<ref name="Η φανέλα του Θρύλου στον MVP">{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKNusfJyew0&t=67s |title=Η φανέλα του Θρύλου στον MVP . |website=[[YouTube]] |date=20 November 2020 |access-date=4 January 2023 |language=el |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104221034/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKNusfJyew0&t=67s |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceC">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/basket/spanoylis-kompi-eyropis-dinei-faneles-gianni-antetokoynmpo-sef.9055786.html |title=Αντετοκούνμπο: "Ο Σπανούλης είναι ο Κόμπι της Ευρώπης". |access-date=26 April 2021 |language=el |archive-date=26 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426170909/https://www.sport24.gr/basket/spanoylis-kompi-eyropis-dinei-faneles-gianni-antetokoynmpo-sef.9055786.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

{{Blockquote
|text= “I always said, and you <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Georgios Bartzokas]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> know of course, Vassilis Spanoulis is my favorite player of all time in Europe. I think he's the greatest player to ever play in Europe.” 
|source= [[Joe Arlauckas]], on Vassilis Spanoulis' European basketball playing career.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4g2PKXQtcA Joe Arlauckas: "Vassilis Spanoulis Is The Greatest Player To Ever Play In Europe".]</ref>
}}

{{Blockquote
|text= “At the age of twelve to thirteen, I <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Luka Dončić]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> got enchanted by Spanoulis.”

“From playing in Europe, I know he [Spanoulis] was my idol. I always admired him. That's why I wear the number seven...I couldn't get the seven, because it was taken...that's why I have 77...I just want to thank him...for everything that he brought to basketball, not just to me. I think to a lot of players, he just showed...how to play basketball, how to act on the court, what is leadership. So, that's everything.”
|source= [[Luka Dončić]], on his childhood idol, Vassilis Spanoulis' influence on him as a young player, and choosing to wear the number 7, to honor him.<ref name="EuroHoops">{{cite web |title=Doncic: "I got enchanted by Spanoulis" |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/561446/doncic-got-enchanted-spanoulis/ |publisher=EuroHoops |access-date=July 2, 2018 |date=November 25, 2017 |archive-date=23 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323164554/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/561446/doncic-got-enchanted-spanoulis/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR7ViUxmz1A Luka Dončić Talking About Vassilis Spanoulis And Why He Chose To Wear The Numbers 7 and 77.]</ref>
}}

{{Blockquote
|text= “I feel particularly moved, because from the first day in my life that I saw Vassilis Spanoulis, I believed in him, and I saw that he had a special passion, and a different character from all the others. Later in his career, we also discovered his greatness. There was not anything that he couldn't do. It was a sensational career for European and [[Greek basketball]], and he continued our great history since 1987. He left his mark on all of European basketball. I personally admire him for his rare character.”

“I think one night [jersey retirement ceremony] is not enough. He [Vassilis Spanoulis] has done so many great things, and is a player who has made us proud, and motivated our children to get involved in the sport. He has done incredible things in his career, we thank him very much, but not only for the basketball that he played, but also for the way he persevered on the court and worked with the people around him. Vassilis has done things that are difficult for anyone to predict, although from a young age – because I was his supporter in his early days – he was a player who had passion and faith, worked hard, and he listened to advice that would help him reach higher. He didn't just reach high; he surpassed the sky. I think he is an example to follow, not only for what he did as an athlete, but also as a family man.

There are many moments, but certainly the first year we were in [[Maroussi BC|Maroussi]], he showed that he can lead any basketball team...The least that could have been done was to retire his jersey. Kudos to the people who realized that this had to be done, for a player who started modestly, far from the center of basketball, and began to compete with the best in the world, and to make us rejoice with his successes. He never gave up. He never stopped dreaming and believing, and that was his biggest motivation. Every day that he was on the court, he gave his best, and he wanted to make his goals come true...These players [current players] need to understand that talent is not enough, and that you must understand the game, but also work hard, because without hard work, you will not achieve even 1/10 of what Vassilis did.” 
|source = [[Panagiotis Giannakis]], on Vassilis Spanoulis' European basketball playing career.<ref>[https://www.sport24.gr/basket/o-panagiotis-giannakis-sto-sport24-gia-ton-vasili-spanoyli-enas-spoydaios-ellinas.9275831.html Ο Παναγιώτης Γιαννάκης στο SPORT24 για τον Βασίλη Σπανούλη: "Ένας σπουδαίος Έλληνας" {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://www.sport24.gr/basket/o-vasilis-spanoylis-den-eftase-aplos-psila-xeperase-ton-oyrano.10180844.html Παναγιώτης Γιαννάκης: "Ο Βασίλης Σπανούλης δεν έφτασε απλώς ψηλά, ξεπέρασε τον ουρανό" {{in lang|el}}.]</ref>
}}

==National team career==
===Greek junior national team===
Spanoulis was a key member of the [[Greek men's national under-18 basketball team|Greek under-18 junior national team]] at the [[FIBA Under-18 EuroBasket]]'s [[2000 FIBA Under-18 EuroBasket|2000 tournament]]. Greece finished in third place in the tournament, winning the bronze medal.<ref>[http://www.eurobasket.com/events/ecu18/00/ecu18.asp Eurobasket.com 2000 Under-18 European Championship.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428144304/http://www.eurobasket.com/events/ecu18/00/ecu18.asp |date=2008-04-28 }}</ref> He averaged 10.1 points per game at the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/2327/tid/291/_/2000_European_Championship_for_Junior_Men_Final_Round/index.html |title=2000 European Championship for Junior Men 14 to 23 Jul. 2000 - Zadar in Croatia. |access-date=13 January 2023 |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113201508/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/2327/tid/291/_/2000_European_Championship_for_Junior_Men_Final_Round/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Spanoulis also played at the 2000 edition of the [[Albert Schweitzer Under-18 World Tournament]], where he averaged 14.0 points per game,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.basket.gr/playerview/?playerid=812 |title=Σελίδα Αθλητή . |access-date=13 January 2023 |language=el |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113193056/https://www.basket.gr/playerview/?playerid=812 |url-status=live }}</ref> and won the silver medal with Greece.

Spanoulis was also on the [[Greek men's national under-20 basketball team|Greek under-20 junior national team]] that finished in first place, and thus won the gold medal, at the [[2002 FIBA Under-20 EuroBasket]]. During the 2002 FIBA Under-20 EuroBasket's gold medal game, Spanoulis sank two clutch free throws, with just 13 seconds remaining on the game clock. That allowed Greece to clinch the win over the [[Spain men's national under-20 basketball team|Spain under-20 national team]] and win the tournament's gold medal.<ref name=nbabio/><ref>[http://www.eurobasket.com/events/ecu20/02/ecu20.asp Eurobasket.com 2002 Under-20 European Championship.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080425073251/http://www.eurobasket.com/events/ecu20/02/ecu20.asp |date=April 25, 2008 }}</ref> Spanoulis averaged 16.0 points per game at the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/2368/tid/291/_/2002_European_Championship_for_Young_Men_Final_Round/index.html |title=2002 European Championship for Young Men 26 Jul. to 4 Aug. 2002 - Kaunas, Alytus, Vilnius in Lithuania. |access-date=13 January 2023 |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113201517/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/2368/tid/291/_/2002_European_Championship_for_Young_Men_Final_Round/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Greek senior national team===
Spanoulis played with Greece at the [[Basketball at the 2001 Mediterranean Games|2001 Mediterranean Games]]. Spanoulis was a key member of the team for Greece during that tournament. Greece finished in second place in the tournament, winning the silver medal.
Spanoulis won a gold medal with the [[Greece men's national basketball team|Greek national team]], at the [[2006 FIBA Stanković World Cup]] tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/event/p/cid/ASMBS/sid/4017/_/2006_Stankovic_Continental_Champions_Cup/index.html |title=2006 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup 11 to 15 Aug. 2006 - Nanjing and Kunshan in China. |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105160828/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/event/p/cid/ASMBS/sid/4017/_/2006_Stankovic_Continental_Champions_Cup/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> On the way to that achievement, Greece defeated [[Australia men's national basketball team|Australia]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/1/grid/A/rid/5072/sid/4017/tid/291/_/2006_Stankovic_Continental_Champions_Cup/statistic.html |title=Game: AUSTRALIA vs GREECE (Group A). |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105162333/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/1/grid/A/rid/5072/sid/4017/tid/291/_/2006_Stankovic_Continental_Champions_Cup/statistic.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and then [[Germany men's national basketball team|Germany]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/9/grid/3/rid/5130/sid/4017/tid/291/_/2006_Stankovic_Continental_Champions_Cup/statistic.html |title=Game: GREECE vs GERMANY (Group 3). |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105160824/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/9/grid/3/rid/5130/sid/4017/tid/291/_/2006_Stankovic_Continental_Champions_Cup/statistic.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> (the latter whose team included [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] star [[Dirk Nowitzki]]).

Spanoulis was named the [[Most valuable player|MVP]] of both the [[2007 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2007 edition]] and the [[2009 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2009 edition]] of the [[Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|Acropolis Tournament]]. He was also the Top Scorer of the [[2008 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2008 edition]] of the Acropolis Tournament and the [[assist (basketball)|assist]] leader of the [[2013 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2013 edition]] of the Acropolis Tournament. In total, Spanoulis won eight gold medals at the Acropolis Tournament with the Greek national team, as he won the [[2005 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2005]], [[2006 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2006]], [[2007 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2007]], [[2008 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2008]], [[2009 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2009]], [[2010 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2010]], [[2013 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2013]], and [[2015 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2015]] editions of the tournament.<ref>[http://www.eurobasket.com/GRE/GRE.asp?NewsNo=14 EUROBASKET – Greek Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings, Pro Basketball.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929110955/http://www.eurobasket.com/GRE/GRE.asp?NewsNo=14 |date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref> He also won the silver medal at the [[2004 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2004 edition]] of the Acropolis Tournament.

Spanoulis' retirement from the Greece men's national basketball team was announced on 17 September 2015, after the [[2015 FIBA EuroBasket]].<ref name=retirement>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportando.com/en/national-teams/national-teams/176147/vassilis-spanoulis-retires-from-greek-national-team.html |title=Vassilis Spanoulis retires from Greek National Team |website=www.sportando.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006175514/http://www.sportando.com/en/national-teams/national-teams/176147/vassilis-spanoulis-retires-from-greek-national-team.html |archive-date=2015-10-06}}</ref> He ended his Greece men's national basketball team career, having been the leading scorer in every major tournament that he played in, from 2006 onward (9 tournaments in total: [[2006 FIBA World Cup]], [[2007 FIBA EuroBasket]], [[2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men|2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament]], [[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2008 FIBA Summer Olympics]], [[2009 FIBA EuroBasket]], [[2010 FIBA World Cup]], [[2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men|2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament]], [[2013 FIBA EuroBasket]], and the [[2015 FIBA EuroBasket]]).

In December 2019, Greece's senior national team head coach at the time, [[Rick Pitino]], stated that "Just for the record I would love to see Spanoulis join our national team”.<ref name="ReferenceD">{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/national-teams/981640/rick-pitino-i-would-love-to-see-spanoulis-join-our-national-team/ |title=Rick Pitino: "I would love to see Spanoulis join our national team". |date=9 December 2019 |access-date=10 December 2019 |archive-date=10 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210224749/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/national-teams/981640/rick-pitino-i-would-love-to-see-spanoulis-join-our-national-team/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Rick Pitino @RealPitino">{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/RealPitino/status/1204046949382524928 |title=Rick Pitino @RealPitino. |access-date=10 December 2019 |archive-date=9 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209144318/https://twitter.com/RealPitino/status/1204046949382524928 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceE">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/ElladaBasket/EthnikiBasket/pitino-tha-kanw-protash-ston-spanoulh-poy-den-tha-mporei-na-arnhthei.5710873.html |title=Πιτίνο: "Θα κάνω πρόταση στον Σπανούλη που δεν θα μπορεί να αρνηθεί" . |access-date=29 July 2020 |language=el |archive-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607015235/https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/ElladaBasket/EthnikiBasket/pitino-tha-kanw-protash-ston-spanoulh-poy-den-tha-mporei-na-arnhthei.5710873.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In his career, Spanoulis had 146 official [[cap (sports)|caps]] with the senior men's Greek national team, in which he scored a total of 1,494 points, for a scoring average of 10.2 points per game. In all official [[games played]] with Greece's men's national team, he had a total of 211 caps, in which he scored a total of 2,314 points, for a scoring average of 11.0 points per game.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.basket.gr/playerview/?playerid=826 |title=Σελίδα Αθλητή Ημ.Γεν: . |access-date=18 January 2023 |language=el |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524143205/https://www.basket.gr/playerview/?playerid=826 |url-status=live }}</ref> Spanoulis finished his [[national sports team|national team]] career with Greece, having won a total of nine medals at all levels, seven of which came in [[FIBA]] competitions. In 2020, he was named to both the [[FIBA Summer Olympics 1992–2020 Dream Team]], and the [[FIBA EuroBasket 2000–2020 Dream Team]].

====FIBA Summer Olympic Games====
Spanoulis made his debut with the senior men's [[Greece men's national basketball team|Greek national team]], for the first time, in the summer of 2004, when he was selected by his then-head coach at [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi]], Greek basketball legend, [[Panagiotis Giannakis]], to be a member of the Greek squad during the [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2004 FIBA Summer Olympics]], which were held in [[Athens]], [[Greece]]. Spanoulis was able to play in front of his home country's fans at [[Helliniko Olympic Arena]], as Greece was the Olympic Game's host country. Greece finished in 5th place in the tournament, losing to [[Manu Ginóbili]] and the eventual gold medal-winning [[Argentina national basketball team|Argentine national basketball team]], 69–64, in the quarterfinals.<ref>[http://www.eurobasket.com/events/ol/04/ol04.asp Eurobasket.com 2004 Olympics basketball results.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410172235/http://www.eurobasket.com/events/ol/04/ol04.asp |date=April 10, 2008 }}</ref> That was tied for the 2nd highest finish for Greece, in [[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics Basketball]], in its history. The 5th-place finish, making Greece one of the top 5 national teams in the world, was the beginning of Greece's great run, in international tournaments during the 2000s (decade).

Spanoulis averaged a team-leading 12.8 points per game,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/4508/tid/291/_/2008_FIBA_Olympic_Qualifying_Tournament_for_Men/index.html |title=14 to 20 Jul. 2008 - Athens in Greece. 7 - Vasileios Spanoulis. |access-date=12 December 2019 |archive-date=10 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210050158/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/4508/tid/291/_/2008_FIBA_Olympic_Qualifying_Tournament_for_Men/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> at the [[2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men|2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament]], where Greece finished in first place. He also played at the main [[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2008 FIBA Summer Olympics]] competition, where he led Greece in scoring average at 14.3 points per game,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/4004/tid/291/_/2008_Olympic_Games_Tournament_Men/index.html |title=2008 Olympic Games: Tournament Men Greece 7 - Vasileios Spanoulis. |access-date=21 November 2019 |archive-date=10 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210051704/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/4004/tid/291/_/2008_Olympic_Games_Tournament_Men/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and at the [[2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men|2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament]], where he again led Greece in scoring, with an average of 19.3 points per game,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/6229/tid/291/_/2012_FIBA_World_Olympic_Qualifying_Tournament/index.html |title=2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament Greece 7 - Vasileios Spanoulis. |access-date=21 November 2019 |archive-date=10 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210044127/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/6229/tid/291/_/2012_FIBA_World_Olympic_Qualifying_Tournament/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> which was the third highest scoring average in the tournament. He was named to the [[FIBA Summer Olympics 1992–2020 Dream Team]] in 2020.

{{Blockquote
|text= “Just for the record I would love to see Spanoulis join our [Greek] [[Greek men's national basketball team|national team]]”.

“I must say that I still want Spanoulis to play. Before the injury [Spanoulis' ankle injury], I thought that Spanoulis would play. I want him to be the leader, I want him to lead the team, even if he is not 100% ready. He will have time to get back on his feet. I want him to come as a leader. We will not win with athleticism, but with intelligence and the pride of playing for Greece. Spanoulis is very important to me; I want to have him with me. I will make him an offer that he can't refuse.”
|source= [[Rick Pitino]], on Vassilis Spanoulis playing for him on the [[Greek men's national basketball team|Greek NT]].<ref name="ReferenceD">{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/national-teams/981640/rick-pitino-i-would-love-to-see-spanoulis-join-our-national-team/ |title=Rick Pitino: "I would love to see Spanoulis join our national team". |date=9 December 2019 |access-date=10 December 2019 |archive-date=10 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210224749/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/national-teams/981640/rick-pitino-i-would-love-to-see-spanoulis-join-our-national-team/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Rick Pitino @RealPitino">{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/RealPitino/status/1204046949382524928 |title=Rick Pitino @RealPitino. |access-date=10 December 2019 |archive-date=9 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209144318/https://twitter.com/RealPitino/status/1204046949382524928 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceE">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/ElladaBasket/EthnikiBasket/pitino-tha-kanw-protash-ston-spanoulh-poy-den-tha-mporei-na-arnhthei.5710873.html |title=Πιτίνο: "Θα κάνω πρόταση στον Σπανούλη που δεν θα μπορεί να αρνηθεί" . |access-date=29 July 2020 |language=el |archive-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607015235/https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/ElladaBasket/EthnikiBasket/pitino-tha-kanw-protash-ston-spanoulh-poy-den-tha-mporei-na-arnhthei.5710873.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

On 3 June 2021, Spanoulis returned to once again play with the senior Greek national team at the [[2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments – Victoria|2020 FIBA World Olympics Qualification Tournament]], after a six-year hiatus from the team was announced.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://greekreporter.com/2021/06/03/vassilis-spanoulis-return-greek-national-basketball-team-olympics/#:~:text=Vassilis%20Spanoulis%20Returns%20to%20Greek%20National%20Basketball%20Team%20Ahead%20of%20Olympics,-By%20Tasos%20Kokkinidis&text=Vassilis%20Spanoulis%20announced%20on%20Monday,qualify%20for%20the%20Tokyo%20Olympics. |title=Vassilis Spanoulis Returns to Greek National Basketball Team Ahead of Olympics. |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104213836/https://greekreporter.com/2021/06/03/vassilis-spanoulis-return-greek-national-basketball-team-olympics/#:~:text=Vassilis%20Spanoulis%20Returns%20to%20Greek%20National%20Basketball%20Team%20Ahead%20of%20Olympics,-By%20Tasos%20Kokkinidis&text=Vassilis%20Spanoulis%20announced%20on%20Monday,qualify%20for%20the%20Tokyo%20Olympics. |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/06/06/39-year-old-vassilis-spanoulis-returns-to-greek-national-basketball-team-to-assist-greece-olympics-aspirations/ |title=39 year old Vassilis Spanoulis returns to Greek National basketball Team to assist Greece Olympics aspirations. |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104214227/https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/06/06/39-year-old-vassilis-spanoulis-returns-to-greek-national-basketball-team-to-assist-greece-olympics-aspirations/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.talkbasket.net/128824-vassilis-spanoulis-returns-to-the-greek-nt-after-six-years-ahead-of-the-olympic-qualifying-tournament |title=Vassilis Spanoulis returns to the Greek NT after six years ahead of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. |date=3 June 2021 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104214229/https://www.talkbasket.net/128824-vassilis-spanoulis-returns-to-the-greek-nt-after-six-years-ahead-of-the-olympic-qualifying-tournament |url-status=live }}</ref> However, on 26 June 2021, Spanoulis announced his retirement from the sport for good, after he suffered an injury during Greece's training camp preparation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://greekreporter.com/2021/06/26/greek-legend-spanoulis-retires-from-professional-basketball/ |title=Greek Legend Spanoulis Retires from Professional Basketball. |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104214731/https://greekreporter.com/2021/06/26/greek-legend-spanoulis-retires-from-professional-basketball/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.archysport.com/2021/06/vassilis-spanoulis-retires/ |title=Vassilis Spanoulis retires. |date=26 June 2021 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104214732/https://www.archysport.com/2021/06/vassilis-spanoulis-retires/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/voices/1223183/the-hard-decisions-made-by-vassilis-spanoulis/ |title=The hard decisions made by Vassilis Spanoulis. |date=28 June 2021 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104214921/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/voices/1223183/the-hard-decisions-made-by-vassilis-spanoulis/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====FIBA EuroBasket====
[[Image:Vasileios Spanoulis cropped close.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Spanoulis, in action with the [[Greece men's national basketball team|Greek national team]], at the [[2009 FIBA EuroBasket]].]]

At the [[2005 FIBA EuroBasket]], Spanoulis was a key member of the Greek team<ref>[http://eurobasket2005.fibaeurope.com/en/cid_SbGnUV12IgwUcAUu7UmfU1.pageID_MoI,BSrrH7o-tFECErFFF0.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2005.roundID_3769.teamID_291.html Eurobasket2005.com Greece national team roster.]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109125113/http://eurobasket2005.fibaeurope.com/en/cid_SbGnUV12IgwUcAUu7UmfU1.pageID_MoI%2CBSrrH7o-tFECErFFF0.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2005.roundID_3769.teamID_291.html |date=January 9, 2008 }}</ref> that won the [[FIBA EuroBasket]] and took home the gold medal.<ref>[http://eurobasket2005.fibaeurope.com/en/cid_SbGnUV12IgwUcAUu7UmfU1.teamID_291.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2005.roundID_3769.coid_6kJ2BA4GJTYSgbdn69Tdq2.articleMode_on.html Eurobasket2005.com Greece wins gold medal.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012161158/http://eurobasket2005.fibaeurope.com/en/cid_SbGnUV12IgwUcAUu7UmfU1.teamID_291.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2005.roundID_3769.coid_6kJ2BA4GJTYSgbdn69Tdq2.articleMode_on.html |date=October 12, 2008 }}</ref> It was just the second time in Greece's history, that the senior men's national basketball team won the gold medal at the FIBA EuroBasket, and the first time since the [[1987 FIBA EuroBasket]], when the legendary players [[Nikos Galis]], [[Panagiotis Fasoulas]], [[Fanis Christodoulou]], and [[Panagiotis Giannakis]], led Greece's national team.

Two years later, at the [[2007 FIBA EuroBasket]], Spanoulis was again part of Greece's team.<ref>[http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq,v3.teamID_291.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.html Eurobasket2007.org Greece team profile and roster.]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517085448/http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq%2Cv3.teamID_291.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.html |date=May 17, 2008 }}</ref> Greece played the tournament shorthanded, as it was without key players, [[Antonis Fotsis]] and [[Sofoklis Schortsanitis]], and was not able to medal in the tournament. Greece finished in 4th place in the tournament,<ref>[http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/default.asp Eurobasket2007.org final standings.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509161534/http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/default.asp |date=May 9, 2008 }}</ref> losing in the semifinals game against the [[Spain men's national basketball team|Spain basketball team]], and its numerous star players, like [[Marc Gasol]], [[Juan Carlos Navarro (basketball)|Juan Carlos Navarro]], [[José Calderón (basketball)|José Calderón]], [[Sergio Rodríguez]], [[Jorge Garbajosa]], [[Rudy Fernández (basketball)|Rudy Fernández]], and [[Pau Gasol]]. Spanoulis was the game's leading scorer, with 24 points, and he also dished out 5 assists,<ref>[http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq,v3.pageID_MIo9t,r8GfgCzft4jY3M,2.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.teamID_291.gameID_5174-49-A-1.html Spain – Greece Eurobasket 2007 semi-final box score.]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726232632/http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq%2Cv3.pageID_MIo9t%2Cr8GfgCzft4jY3M%2C2.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.teamID_291.gameID_5174-49-A-1.html |date=July 26, 2011 }}</ref> but Spain got the win, by a score of 82–77, over the depleted Greek squad. Spanoulis led the Greek team in scoring during the tournament, with a scoring average of 11.7 points per game.<ref>[http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq,v3.pageID_EGajPKhiHO6wAXOCLq-EN2.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.teamID_291.html Greece / Accumulated Statistics.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104031412/http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq%2Cv3.pageID_EGajPKhiHO6wAXOCLq-EN2.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.teamID_291.html |date=2008-01-04 }}, ''Eurobasket2007.org''</ref> He also had the top highlight play of the tournament, with a [[buzzer beater|buzzer-beating]] 3-pointer to win the game for Greece against [[Croatian national basketball team|Croatia]], by a score of 81–78.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/olympics/olybb/news/story?id=3011861 Greece beats Croatia at buzzer; Spain sinks Russia.]</ref><ref>[https://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/article/spanoulis-greece-beat-buzzer-and-croatia-1816050.php Spanoulis, Greece beat buzzer and Croatia.]</ref><ref>[https://bgbasket.com/en/new.php?id=11691 Spanoulis beat the buzzer for Greece win.]</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/sports/09iht-09ebasket.7441728.html Basketball: Greece beats Croatia, Portugal beats Israel.]</ref> Spanoulis' 2007 game-winning shot against Croatia, is widely considered to be the greatest game-winning shot in the history of the FIBA EuroBasket tournament and is also widely considered to be one of the greatest game-winning shots ever in any FIBA tournament.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=616429585430126 Spanoulis with one of the most epic clutch shots in history!]</ref>

At the [[2009 FIBA EuroBasket]], Spanoulis led Greece in scoring, with an average of 14.1 points per game, and led Greece to the bronze medal. He was named to the [[EuroBasket All-Tournament Team|FIBA EuroBasket All-Star Five]]. At the [[2013 FIBA EuroBasket]], despite playing most of the tournament with a severe ankle injury,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/news/healthy-present-spanoulis-has-greece-primed-for-podium |title=Healthy, present Spanoulis has Greece primed for podium. |access-date=12 December 2019 |archive-date=12 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212154449/http://www.fiba.basketball/news/healthy-present-spanoulis-has-greece-primed-for-podium |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurobasket/32633/spanoulis-dilemma-tyus-out/ |title=Spanoulis' dilemma, Tyus and Cekovski out. |date=6 September 2013 |access-date=12 December 2019 |archive-date=12 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212154451/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurobasket/32633/spanoulis-dilemma-tyus-out/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Spanoulis led Greece in scoring, and was third overall in the tournament in scoring, averaging 16.7 points per game.<ref>[http://www.eurobasket2013.org/en/cid_8Xfg3jZMG1QuJnp6pnUWd3.pageID_FGXd9ExbII-hQNQEBcgQi3.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2013.html EuroBasket2013.org STATISTICAL LEADERS – PLAYERS Points Per Game.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922212637/http://www.eurobasket2013.org/en/cid_8Xfg3jZMG1QuJnp6pnUWd3.pageID_FGXd9ExbII-hQNQEBcgQi3.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2013.html |date=2013-09-22 }}</ref> During the tournament, he led Greece with a 20-point scoring performance, to a 79–75 victory<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/1/grid/F/rid/8731/sid/8722/tid/291/_/2013_EuroBasket/statistic.html |title=Game: GREECE vs SPAIN (Group F) Date: 12 September 2013. |access-date=12 December 2019 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213025203/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/game/p/gid/1/grid/F/rid/8731/sid/8722/tid/291/_/2013_EuroBasket/statistic.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> over the world's 2nd-ranked team in the [[FIBA Men's World Ranking|FIBA World Rankings]] at the time, [[Spain men's national basketball team|Spain]].<ref>[http://www.eurobasket2013.org/en/cid_8Xfg3jZMG1QuJnp6pnUWd3.gameID_8731-F-1-1.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2013.roundID_8722.teamID_291.coid_OktmjoggGl61AewtnLisH2.articleMode_on.html EuroBasket2013.org Greek Plan Stuns Spain.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004224137/http://www.eurobasket2013.org/en/cid_8Xfg3jZMG1QuJnp6pnUWd3.gameID_8731-F-1-1.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2013.roundID_8722.teamID_291.coid_OktmjoggGl61AewtnLisH2.articleMode_on.html |date=2013-10-04 }}</ref> At the [[2015 FIBA EuroBasket]], Spanoulis led the Greek team, which had four players who had spent the [[2014–15 NBA season|2014–15 season]] in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] ([[Giannis Antetokounmpo]], [[Kosta Koufos]], [[Nick Calathes]], and [[Kostas Papanikolaou]]) in points per game and assists per game. Greece was ultimately defeated in the quarterfinals by [[Spain men's national basketball team|Spain]], by a score of 73–71, and finished the tournament in 5th place. After the tournament, Spanoulis announced his retirement from the Greek senior national team.<ref name=retirement /> He was Greece's leading scorer in every major [[FIBA]] tournament that he played in, from 2006 onward. He was named to the [[FIBA EuroBasket 2000–2020 Dream Team]] in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Διαμαντίδης και Σπανούλης στην κορυφαία πεντάδα της 20ετιας των EuroBasket|url=https://www.sport24.gr/basket/diamantidis-kai-spanoylis-psifistikan-stin-koryfaia-pentada-tis-20etias-ton-eurobasket.8989177.html|publisher=FIBA|access-date=11 August 2020|date=16 August 2023}}</ref>

====FIBA World Cup====
Spanoulis was a member of the Greek senior team that competed at the [[2006 FIBA World Cup]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/teamPlay/team/p/cp//eventid//langid//playernumber//roundid/3507/teamnumber/291/zone//fe_teamPlay_teamRost.html |title=2006 World Championship Greece roster |publisher=Fiba.com |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=10 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610120851/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/teamPlay/team/p/cp//eventid//langid//playernumber//roundid/3507/teamnumber/291/zone//fe_teamPlay_teamRost.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and he helped to lead the Greek team to the silver medal, as they finished in second place in the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |author=Pau Gasol (Esp) |url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/index.asp |title=2006 World Championship final standings list |publisher=Fiba.com |date=2006-08-29 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=20 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220211224/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/index.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the semifinals game against [[United States men's national basketball team|Team USA]], Spanoulis was Greece's leading scorer, and the game's second-leading scorer overall (after [[Carmelo Anthony]], who scored 27 points for the USA), with 22 points, and along with his teammates, [[Theo Papaloukas]] and [[Sofoklis Schortsanitis]], led Greece to victory over the US, by a score of 101–95.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/scheResu/p/eventid/3507/gamename/A/groupname/75/langlc/en/roundid/5152/fe_scheStat_boxScor.html |title=2006 World Championship Greece – USA box score |publisher=Fiba.com |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=20 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220211149/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/scheResu/p/eventid/3507/gamename/A/groupname/75/langlc/en/roundid/5152/fe_scheStat_boxScor.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Team USA's head coach at the time, [[Mike Krzyzewski]], later stated that, "I know that from 2006. That's a lesson we learned that the Greek team taught us, how to play internationally."<ref name="FIBA">{{cite video |date=9 September 2014 |title=Coach Mike Krzyzewski: "The Greek Team taught us how to play internationally" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=530eIAK8Il4#t=14m27s  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/530eIAK8Il4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|publisher=FIBA |location= Barcelona |access-date=20 August 2015|time= 14 min 27 sec }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Spanoulis led the Greek national team in scoring during the 2006 FIBA World Cup, with an average of 11.7 points per game, and he also led the Greek team in free throw shooting percentage at 87.8 percent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/teamPlay/play/p/eventid/3971/langlc/en/openNodeIDs/699/playernumber/35533/roundid/3507/season/0/selNodeID/699/teamnumber/291/fe_teamPlay_playStat.html |title=Vasileios Spanoulis – Player Stats |publisher=Fiba.com |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=10 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610122441/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/teamPlay/play/p/eventid/3971/langlc/en/openNodeIDs/699/playernumber/35533/roundid/3507/season/0/selNodeID/699/teamnumber/291/fe_teamPlay_playStat.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Blockquote
|text= “...I know that from [[2006 FIBA World Cup|2006]] [FIBA World Cup]. That's a lesson we <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[USA men's national basketball team|Team USA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> learned that the [[Greek men's national basketball team|Greek team]] taught us, how to play internationally.”
|source= [[Mike Krzyzewski]], on [[United States men's national basketball team|Team USA]]'s loss to Vassilis Spanoulis and the [[Greek men's national basketball team|Greek NT]], at the [[2006 FIBA World Cup]].<ref name="FIBA">{{cite video |date=9 September 2014 |title=Coach Mike Krzyzewski: "The Greek Team taught us how to play internationally" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=530eIAK8Il4#t=14m27s  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/530eIAK8Il4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|publisher=FIBA |location= Barcelona |access-date=20 August 2015|time= 14 min 27 sec }}{{cbignore}}</ref>
}}

Spanoulis also played with Greece at the [[2010 FIBA World Cup]], where he averaged 13.7 points per game,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/4728/tid/291/_/2010_FIBA_World_Championship/index.html |title=Greece 7 – Vasileios Spanoulis Player Profile. |access-date=27 August 2016 |archive-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003200624/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/35533/sid/4728/tid/291/_/2010_FIBA_World_Championship/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> which made him Greece's leading scorer in the tournament.

==Coaching career==

===EuroLeague under-18 Next Generation Select team===
After he retired from playing professional club basketball, Spanoulis began a new career, working as a [[basketball coach]], in 2021. He began his coaching career, working as the [[head coach]] of the EuroLeague under-18 Next Generation Select team. Spanoulis led the under-18 Next Generation Select team to the [[Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament|EuroLeague under-18 Next Generation tournament]]'s 2021–22 season finals, where they lost to [[KK Mega Basket|Mega Basket]]'s Under-18 team, by a score of 82–61.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1348362/mega-mozzart-wins-2022-adidas-next-generation-tournament/ |title=Mega Mozzart wins 2022 Adidas Next Generation Tournament |date=21 May 2022 |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105182829/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1348362/mega-mozzart-wins-2022-adidas-next-generation-tournament/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://basketnews.com/news-172273-mega-mozzart-win-euroleague-angt-in-front-of-european-basketball-celebrities.html |title=Mega Mozzart win EuroLeague ANGT in front of European basketball celebrities. |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105182830/https://basketnews.com/news-172273-mega-mozzart-win-euroleague-angt-in-front-of-european-basketball-celebrities.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/2021-22-belgrade-finals/u18-mega-mozzart-belgrade-u18-next-generation-select-team/JTF21/13/#boxscore |title=Final 21 May 2022 Hala Sportova Ranko Zeravica 05:30 Attendance: 1200. |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105182832/https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/2021-22-belgrade-finals/u18-mega-mozzart-belgrade-u18-next-generation-select-team/JTF21/13/#boxscore |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Peristeri Athens===
====2022–23 season====
On 24 June 2022, Spanoulis was officially announced as the new head coach of the [[Greek Basket League]] and [[FIBA Champions League]] club [[Peristeri BC|Peristeri Athens]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/fiba-champions-league/1361507/peristeri-appoints-vassilis-spanoulis-as-head-coach/ |title=Peristeri appoints Vassilis Spanoulis as head coach. |date=24 June 2022 |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105183859/https://www.eurohoops.net/en/fiba-champions-league/1361507/peristeri-appoints-vassilis-spanoulis-as-head-coach/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://basketnews.com/news-174085-vassilis-spanoulis-officially-takes-over-peristeris-bench-for-two-years.html |title=Vassilis Spanoulis officially takes over Peristeri's bench for two years. |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105183902/https://basketnews.com/news-174085-vassilis-spanoulis-officially-takes-over-peristeris-bench-for-two-years.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In his first season as Peristeri's head coach, Spanoulis led the club to its first-ever finals appearance in the [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] competition, as they made it to the title game of the [[2022–23 Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup 2022–23]]. However, they lost in the finals to the [[EuroLeague]] club [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]].

In the Greek Basket League's [[2022–23 Greek Basket League|2022–23 season]], Spanoulis led the team to a third-place overall finish in the league. In the [[2022–23 Greek Basket League#Playoffs|league's playoffs]], Peristeri defeated the FIBA Champions League club [[AEK Athens BC|AEK Athens]], with a 2–0 sweep in their first round best-of-three series. They then proceeded to lose 3–2 in their best-of-five semifinals series against the EuroLeague club [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos Athens]]. Peristeri then finished their season by sweeping the FIBA Champions League club [[PAOK BC|PAOK Thessaloniki]] 3–0, in the league's third-place series. During the entire Greek Basket League season (regular season and playoffs), Peristeri managed to beat the Greek EuroLeague club Panathinaikos, three times in seven games, with one of their four losses against Panathinaikos coming by just one point.

In European-wide competition, Peristeri was eliminated by the [[LNB Élite|French Pro A League]] club [[JDA Dijon Basket|JDA Dijon]], by a series score of 2–1, in the [[2022–23 Basketball Champions League#Play-ins|play-ins]] of the [[2022–23 Basketball Champions League|FIBA Champions League 2022–23 season]].

====2023–24 season====
In the [[2023 Greek Basketball Super Cup|2023 edition]] of the [[Greek Basketball Super Cup|Greek Super Cup]] competition, [[Peristeri BC|Peristeri]] was eliminated by the Greek [[EuroLeague]] club [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]], in the semifinals, by a score of 84–64. In the [[2023–24 Greek Basketball Cup|2023–24 edition]] of the [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] competition, Peristeri was once again eliminated by Olympiacos, as they lost in the quarterfinals, by a score of 87–68.

In the [[2023–24 FIBA Champions League]] season, Peristeri qualified for the [[2024 Basketball Champions League Final Four|2024 FIBA Champions League Final Four]]. In the semifinals, Peristeri was knocked out of the Final Four tournament, after a 97–94 defeat to the [[Spanish ACB League]] club [[CB Canarias|Tenerife]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Huertas-Guy-Shermadini trio took over for the BCL Final, Peristeri is out |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/fiba-champions-league/1664219/lenovo-tenerife-peristeri-bwin-basketball-champions-league-final-four-2024-semi-finals/ |website=eurohoops.net |access-date=11 May 2024}}</ref> Ultimately, Peristeri finished in fourth place in the FIBA Champions League season, after they lost the bronze medal game against the Spanish ACB League club [[UCAM Murcia CB|UCAM Murcia]], by a score of 87–84.<ref>{{cite web |title=Second BCL bronze medal for UCAM Murcia, Peristeri finish fourth |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/fiba-champions-league/1665274/peristeri-ucam-murcia-basketball-champions-league-final-four-belgrade-2024-third-place-game/ |website=eurohoops.net |access-date=11 May 2024}}</ref> Spanoulis was named the [[FIBA Champions League]]'s [[Basketball Champions League Best Coach|Best Coach of the Season]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Marcelinho Huertas and Vassilis Spanoulis are the 2023-24 MVP and Coach of the Year |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/fiba-champions-league/1664717/marcelinho-huertas-mvp-basketball-champions-league-2024-final-four-awards-ceremony/ |website=eurohoops.net |access-date=11 May 2024}}</ref><ref>[https://www.championsleague.basketball/23-24/news/mvp-huertas-coach-spanoulis-headline-bcl-season-8-award-winners MVP Huertas, coach Spanoulis headline BCL Season 8 award winners.]</ref><ref>[https://www.courtside1891.basketball/news/4000678/bcl-23-24-wrap-malagas-redemption-best-games-players-and-coach-from-the-basketball-champions-league BCL 23-24 Wrap:]</ref><ref>[https://basketnews.com/news-205342-huertas-named-bcl-mvp-at-40-spanoulis-crowned-coach-of-the-year.html Huertas named BCL MVP at 40, Spanoulis crowned Coach of the Year.]</ref>

{{Blockquote
|text= “To play against him [Spanoulis], and then understand that as a [[basketball coach|coach]], he has the same attention to details...his name is "[[Kill Bill]]" for a reason, and he has the same mentality as a coach. He holds everybody accountable, he holds himself accountable. The amount of information you can get from him, from just a two-minute conversation, it’s unbelievable. I’ve never seen it before. He can be walking next to you, and in those two minutes, you're getting so much energy, and so much knowledge, in two minutes.”
|source= [[Jermaine Love]], on Vassilis Spanoulis' basketball knowledge and coaching ability.<ref>[https://www.eurohoops.net/en/fiba-champions-league/1664085/jermaine-love-peristeri-basketball-champions-league-final-four-2024-interview/ Jermaine Love on Vassilis Spanoulis’ knowledge: “Unbelievable, I’ve never seen it before”.]</ref>
}}

=== AS Monaco ===
[[File:Vasileios Spanoulis AS Monaco Basket EuroLeague 20241212 (5).jpg|thumb|right|180px|Spanoulis (wearing the [[suit and tie]]), while coaching [[AS Monaco Basket|AS Monaco]], in [[2024–25 EuroLeague|2024]].]]

On 27 November 2024, [[AS Monaco Basket|AS Monaco]], of France's top-tier level [[LNB Pro A]] and the [[EuroLeague]], signed Spanoulis to be their new head coach, on a two-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=Monaco names Vassilis Spanoulis as head coach {{!}} EuroLeague |url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-basket-names-vassilis-spanoulis-as-head-coach/ |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=Euroleague Basketball |language=en-GB}}</ref> In his very first season as the club's head coach, Spanoulis led Monaco to the [[2025 EuroLeague Final Four]], by eliminating [[Barcelona Basket|Barcelona]] with a 3-2 series win in the playoffs of the [[2024–25 EuroLeague|EuroLeague 2024–25 season]].<ref>[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/el/euroleague/news/monaco-beats-barcelona-85-84-to-confirm-final-four-return/ Monaco beats Barcelona, 85-84, to confirm Final Four return.]</ref> In the Final Four, Monaco defeated Olympiacos in the semifinals but lost in the final to Efes. In the French Championship, Monaco lost the title to Paris in the fifth game of the series.

===Greek national team===
Spanoulis was named the [[head coach]] of the senior men's [[Greek men's national basketball team|Greek national team]], on 2 October 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2025/qualifiers/news/greece-hand-reins-to-vassilis-spanoulis-it-s-a-dream-come-true|title=Greece hand reins to Vassilis Spanoulis: ''It's a dream come true!''|access-date=January 10, 2024|date=October 3, 2023|agency=FIBA.Basketball|publisher=FIBA.Basketball|author=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/national-teams/1560383/vassilis-spanoulis-greek-national-team-head-coach-two-years/|title=Vassilis Spanoulis officially becomes the Greek national team's head coach|access-date=January 10, 2024|date=October 2, 2023|agency=FIBA.Basketball|publisher=FIBA.Basketball|author=Cesare Milanti }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://basketballsphere.com/en/official-vassilis-spanoulis-is-the-new-head-coach-of-greece|title=OFFICIAL: Vassilis Spanoulis is the new head coach of Greece|access-date=January 10, 2024|date=October 2, 2023|agency=BasketballSphere.com|publisher=BasketballSphere.com|author=Lukas Kowicki}}</ref> He made his head coaching debut with Greece, on 23 February 2024, in which he guided Greece to a 72–64 win over the [[Czech Republic men's national basketball team|Czech Republic]], in [[Piraeus]], [[Athens]], as part of the [[2025 FIBA EuroBasket Qualification]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spanoulis marks Greece debut with win in front of sold-out crowd |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2025/qualifiers/news/spanoulis-marks-greece-debut-with-win-in-front-of-sold-out-crowd |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=FIBA.basketball |language=en}}</ref> Spanoulis next coached Greece at the [[2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments – Piraeus|2024 Piraeus FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament]], before the [[2024 FIBA Summer Olympics]].

{{Blockquote
|text= “Certainly, coach [Dimitris] [[Dimitris Itoudis|Itoudis]] is an excellent coach, and the collaboration we had was tremendous. I wish I could have been at the [[2023 FIBA World Cup|Worlds]] [2019 FIBA World Cup] with him, because he was a terrific coach. But Spanoulis coming to the [[Greek men's national basketball team|national team]], someone who has won with the national team, and all of the players respect him – is something different. I don't believe that any player on the national team didn't have him as a role model.”

“I think this is what the national team needs. A person with many unbelievable moments for [[Greek basketball]], from playing for the national team, to [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos]] and [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos]]. He has tremendous experience as a player. As a coach, over the last two years, he showed what he can do.”
|source= [[Giannis Antetokounmpo]], on Vassilis Spanoulis coaching the [[Greek men's national basketball team|Greek NT]].<ref>[https://www.sport24.gr/basket/antetokoynmpo-oso-eimai-ygiis-tha-eimai-stin-ethniki-den-mporoysa-na-pao-stin-proponisi-kai-na-fygo-me-klamata.10271036.html Αντετοκούνμπο: "Όσο είμαι υγιής θα είμαι στην Εθνική, δεν μπορούσα να πάω στην προπόνηση και να φύγω με κλάματα" {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://basketballsphere.com/en/giannis-antetokounmpo-i-have-never-played-in-the-olympic-games-and-i-really-want-for-us-to-get-there/#:~:text=Giannis%20Antetokounmpo%20also%20talked%20about,tremendous%20experience%20as%20a%20player. Giannis Antetokounmpo: I have never played in the Olympic Games and I really want for us to get there.]</ref>
}}

Under Spanoulis' leadership, the Greek national team won the [[2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments – Piraeus|2024 Piraeus FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament]] and thus qualified for the main [[Basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2024 Summer Olympic Games]] basketball tournament. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Greece managed to qualify through the tournament's [[Death Group]], which also consisted of [[Australian men's national basketball team|Australia]], [[Spanish men's national basketball team|Spain]], and [[Canadian men's national basketball team|Canada]], and make it to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, they were eliminated by the [[2023 FIBA World Cup]] champions [[German men's national basketball team|Germany]], by a score of 76–63<ref>{{cite web |title=Germany dashes dreams of valiant Greek side |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/sports/1245688/germany-dashes-dreams-of-valiant-greek-side/ |website=ekathimerini |access-date=27 August 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Spanoulis' older brother, [[Dimitris Spanoulis|Dimitris]], is a former professional basketball player. Spanoulis is married to [[Miss Star Hellas]] of 2006, [[Olympia Chopsonidou]]. Together, the couple have six children: Thanasis, Vassilis Jr., Dimitris, Emilia, Anastasia and Alexandra.

Spanoulis' basketball idols, and favorite players as a kid, were [[Michael Jordan]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euroleague.net/final-four/berlin-2009/main-page/i/48829/2772/item |title=Spanoulis interview |publisher=Euroleague.net |date=2009-04-27 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=1 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501083751/http://www.euroleague.net/final-four/berlin-2009/main-page/i/48829/2772/item |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Nikos Galis]].<ref name="sport24.gr"/> During his playing career, Spanoulis is often referred to by the nicknames V-Span and [[Kill Bill]].<ref name=interbasket>{{cite web |url=http://www.interbasket.net/players/spanoulis.htm |title=Vassilis Spanoulis, Greece ...player profiles by Interbasket |publisher=Interbasket.net |date=1982-07-08 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190423/http://www.interbasket.net/players/spanoulis.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> When Spanoulis played with [[Maroussi BC|Maroussi Athens]], he was given the nickname [[Bill the Butcher]], by [[Tracy Murray]], who was at that time a player of Maroussi's rivals, [[Panathinaikos BC|Panathinaikos Athens]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/opinions/charis-stayroy/o-spanoylis-einai-enas-kai-den-tha-yparxei-allos.9169853.html |title=Ο Σπανούλης είναι ένας και δεν θα υπάρξει άλλος . |access-date=26 April 2021 |language=el |archive-date=26 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426164940/https://www.sport24.gr/opinions/charis-stayroy/o-spanoylis-einai-enas-kai-den-tha-yparxei-allos.9169853.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spanoulis was the first Greek-born player to play for the [[Houston Rockets]], and he was the third Greek-born player to play in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]].<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/birthplaces.cgi?country=GR&state= Players Born in Greece – Basketball-Reference.com.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907174721/http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/birthplaces.cgi?country=GR&state= |date=September 7, 2015 }}</ref> While he was with the [[Houston Rockets]], Spanoulis was friends with his teammates: [[John Lucas III|Lucas]], [[Jake Tsakalidis|Tsakalidis]], [[Shane Battier|Battier]], [[Tracy McGrady|McGrady]],<ref>{{cite web |author=JONATHAN FEIGEN, Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/5204852.html |title=ROCKETS NOTES: Spanoulis just a memory &#124; Chron.com – Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=2007-10-11 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629094926/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/5204852.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Steve Novak|Novak]].<ref>[http://www.jsonline.com/blog/index.aspx?id=308&month=2&year=2007 JS Online:Todd Rosiak: Marquette Basketball.] {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Over his playing career in Europe, some of the basketball players that he has been friends with have included: [[Mike Batiste|Batiste]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/Euroleague/mpatist-o-spanoulhs-me-ekane-na-mh-fovamai.5724078.html |title=Μπατίστ: "Ο Σπανούλης με έκανε να μη φοβάμαι" . |access-date=29 July 2020 |language=el |archive-date=25 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625092123/https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/Euroleague/mpatist-o-spanoulhs-me-ekane-na-mh-fovamai.5724078.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Tony Parker|Parker]], [[Carlos Arroyo|Arroyo]], [[Šarūnas Jasikevičius|Jasikevičius]], [[Miloš Teodosić|Teodosić]], [[Rasho Nesterović|Nesterović]], [[Roderick Blakney|Blakney]], [[Nick Calathes|Calathes]], [[Ioannis Bourousis|Bourousis]], [[Dimitris Diamantidis|Diamantidis]], [[Theo Papaloukas|Papaloukas]], [[Georgios Printezis|Printezis]], [[Panos Vasilopoulos|Vasilopoulos]], [[Mike James (basketball, born 1990)|James]], [[Shane Larkin|Larkin]], [[Vangelis Mantzaris|Mantzaris]], [[Ioannis Papapetrou|Papapetrou]], [[Kostas Sloukas|Sloukas]], [[Kostas Papanikolaou|Papanikolaou]], [[Dimitris Agravanis|Agravanis]], [[Stratos Perperoglou|Perperoglou]], [[Sasha Vezenkov|Vezenkov]], [[Nikola Milutinov|Milutinov]], [[Milan Tomić|Tomić]], [[Pero Antić|Antić]], [[Dušan Vukčević|Vukčević]], [[Kyle Hines|Hines]], [[Othello Hunter|Hunter]], [[Shaq McKissic|McKissic]], along with numerous other teammates that he is also good friends with from his basketball playing career. Over the years, he has been best friends with [[Nikos Zisis]], and he was the [[best man]] at Zisis' wedding.<ref>[http://www.olagiatogamo.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=252:nikoszisisfaniskoufi&catid=16:weddingstories&Itemid=192 Olagiatogamo.gr Νίκος Ζήσης & Φανή Σκουφή {{in lang|el}}.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104221958/http://www.olagiatogamo.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=252%3Anikoszisisfaniskoufi&catid=16%3Aweddingstories&Itemid=192 |date=2013-11-04 }}</ref>

==Club career statistics==
{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

===EuroLeague===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background:#AFE6BA; width:3em;"|†
|Denotes season in which Spanoulis won the [[EuroLeague]] championship
|-
| style="background:#CFECEC; width:1em"|*
| Led the league
|}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2005–06 Euroleague|2005–06]]
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="4"| [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]]
| 23 || 3 || 27.8 || '''.534''' || .368 || .780 || 2.0 || 3.1 || '''1.4''' || {{sort|-|—}} || 14.6 || 15.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2007–08 Euroleague|2007–08]]
| 20 || 5 || 27.8 || .444 || .355 || .750 || '''2.6''' || 2.7 || 1.3 || {{sort|-|—}} || 11.3 || 11.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| [[2008–09 Euroleague|2008–09]]†
| 19 || 9 || 25.6 || .413 || .309 || '''.879''' || 2.4 || 3.5 || 1.2 || {{sort|-|—}} || 10.5 || 11.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2009–10 Euroleague|2009–10]]
| 14 || 6 || 25.3 || .398 || .277 || .845 || 1.5 || 3.6 || 1.1 || {{sort|-|—}} || 10.3 || 9.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2010–11 Euroleague|2010–11]]
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="11"| [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]]
| 20 || 17 || 29.5 || .444 || .347 || .852 || 1.8 || 4.3 || 1.1 || .1 || 14.2 || 14.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| [[2011–12 Euroleague|2011–12]]†
| 21 || 19 || 29.8 || .479 || '''.386''' || .827 || 2.0 || 4.0 || .7 || '''.1''' || '''16.7''' || '''16.0'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| [[2012–13 Euroleague|2012–13]]†
| style="background:#CFECEC;"|31* || style="background:#CFECEC;"|31* || '''30.0''' || .397 || .321 || .782 || 2.2 || 5.5 || .9 || .0 || 14.7 || 15.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2013–14 Euroleague|2013–14]]
| 26 || 26 || 28.1 || .430 || .344 || .738 || 2.0 || 4.6 || .4 || {{sort|-|—}} || 15.1 || 13.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2014–15 Euroleague|2014–15]]
| 26 || 26 || 28.1 || .396 || .333 || .759 || 1.8 || 5.5 || .8 || '''.1''' || 14.4 || 14.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2015–16 Euroleague|2015–16]]
| 20 || 20 || 26.9 || .318 || .260 || .706 || 1.5 || 5.4 || .4 || {{sort|-|—}} || 11.2 || 8.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2016–17 EuroLeague|2016–17]]
| 33 || '''32''' || 26.8 || .396 || .315 || .759 || 1.7 || '''6.1''' || .6 || {{sort|-|—}} || 12.6 || 11.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2017–18 EuroLeague|2017–18]]
| 24 || 24 || 26.3 || .396 || .315 || .817 || 1.5 || 5.6 || .7 || {{sort|-|—}} || 14.0 || 11.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2018–19 EuroLeague|2018–19]]
| 25 || 14 || 22.1 || .382 || .331 || .712 || 1.8 || 5.1 || .4 || .0 || 10.2 || 9.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2019–20 EuroLeague|2019–20]]
| 22 || 20 || 24.6 || .410 || .286 || .807 || 1.2 || 4.6 || .4 || {{sort|-|—}} || 11.3 || 9.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2020–21 EuroLeague|2020–21]]
| '''34''' || 2 || 17.3 || .355 || .283 || .644 || 1.5 || 2.7 || .6 || {{sort|-|—}} || 6.4 || 4.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2|'''Career'''
| 358 || 254 || 26.2 || .412 || .321 || .779 || 1.8 || 4.5 || .8 || .0 || 12.4 || 11.7
{{S-end}}

===Domestic leagues===
====Regular season & Playoffs<ref>[https://esake-hof.damsquare.gr/player/079-spanoules-basiles Σπανούλης Βασίλης.]</ref>====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background:#AFE6BA; width:3em;"|†
|Denotes season in which Spanoulis won the [[Greek Basketball League]] championship
|-
| style="background:#CFECEC; width:1em"|*
| Led the league in the regular season
|-
| style="background:#EDD1D1; width:1em"|**
| Led the league in the full season (regular season and playoffs combined)
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
! Season 
! Team
! League
! {{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}
! {{Tooltip|MPG|Minutes per game}}
! {{Tooltip|2P%|2 point field goal percentage}}
! {{Tooltip|3P%|3 point field goal percentage}}
! {{Tooltip|FT%|Free throw percentage}}
! {{Tooltip|RPG|Rebounds per game}}
! {{Tooltip|APG|Assists per game}}
! {{Tooltip|SPG|Steals per game}}
! {{Tooltip|BPG|Blocks per game}}
! {{Tooltip|PPG|Points per game}}
|-
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2001–02 Greek Basket League|2001–02]]|||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi]]|| | [[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]  || 16 || 13 || .606 || .166 || .650 || .3 || .9 || .3 || .0 || 4.9 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2002–03 Greek Basket League|2002–03]]||| {{flagicon|GRE}} [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi]]|| | [[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
  || 29 || 29.5 || .496 || .278 || .750 || 1.4 || 3.3 || '''1.5''' || .0 || 10.3 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2003–04 Greek Basket League|2003–04]]|||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi]]|| |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]] 
 || 33 || 28.3 || .534 || .361 || .827 || 2.2 || 2.8 || .8 || .0 || 11.1 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2004–05 Greek Basket League|2004–05]]|||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi]]|| |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]] 
 || 35 ||style="background:#CFECEC;"| '''30.9'''* || .459 || .377 || .825 || 2.1 || 3.9* || 1.4 || .0  || style="background:#EDD1D1;"| '''15.9'''** 
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA; style="text-align:left;"| [[2005–06 Greek Basket League|2005–06]]† || |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]]|| |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]] 
 || 34 || 27.7 || .519 || .367 || .779 || 1.8 || 3.5 || 1.0 || .0 || 11.0 
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA; | [[2007–08 Greek Basket League|2007–08]]† || | {{flagicon|GRE}} [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]] 
 || '''36''' || 26.4 || .570 || .393 || .803 || 1.7 || style="background:#CFECEC;"| '''4.3'''* || 1.1 || .0 || 12.1
 |-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;  style="text-align:left;"| [[2008–09 Greek Basket League|2008–09]]† || | {{flagicon|GRE}} [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]] 
 || 30 || 23.7 || .481 || .405 || .830 || 2.0 || 2.8 || .7 || .0 || 10.1 
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA; style="text-align:left;"| [[2009–10 Greek Basket League|2009–10]]† || |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
 || 31 || 21.1 || '''.708''' || .433 || .795 ||1.3 || 2.5 || .6 || .0 || 10.1 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2010–11 Greek Basket League|2010–11]] || | {{flagicon|GRE}} [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]]|| |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
 || 30 || 23.5 || .515 || .300 || .784 ||1.4 || 5.1 || .7 || .0 || 10.6 
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA; style="text-align:left;"| [[2011–12 Greek Basket League|2011–12]]† || |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
 || 31 || 23.4 || .475 || .336 || .815 ||2.1|| style="background:#CFECEC;"| '''5.0'''* || .8 || .0 || 11.7 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2012–13 Greek Basket League|2012–13]] || |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
 || 33 || 24.5 || .487 || .295 || .743 ||1.5|| style="background:#CFECEC;"| '''5.7'''* || .8 || .0 || 11.3 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2013–14 Greek Basket League|2013–14]]|| |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
 || 29 || 21.4 || .441 || .294 || .745 || 2.0 || 4.8 || .6 || .0 || 9.4 
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA; style="text-align:left;"| [[2014–15 Greek Basket League|2014–15]]† || |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
 || 31 || 23.5 || .525 || .375 || .747 ||1.7 || style="background:#CFECEC;"| '''5.6'''* || .5 || .0 || 12.5 
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA; style="text-align:left;"| [[2015–16 Greek Basket League|2015–16]]† || |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
 || 29 || 25.0 || .459 || .333 || .822 ||1.5 || 5.4 || .6 || .0 || 13.1 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2016–17 Greek Basket League|2016–17]]|| |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
 || 25 || 22.2 || .442 || .205 || .802 ||1.5 || '''5.7''' || .5 || .0 || 8.4 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2017–18 Greek Basket League|2017–18]]|| |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
 || 28 || 23.0 || .487 || .261 || .821 ||1.6 || 5.3 || .4 || .0 || 10.8 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2018–19 Greek Basket League|2018–19]]|| |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
 || 15 || 20.6 || .518 || .306 || .642 || '''2.5''' || 4.8 || .7 || .0 || 9.5 
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2020–21 Greek Basket League|2020–21]]|| |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]] || |[[Greek Basketball League|HEBA]]
 || 3 || 16.3 || .571 || '''.462''' || '''.857''' || .7 || 4.3 || 1.0 || .0 || 10.7
|-
|-class=sortbottom
| align="center" colspan=3 |'''Career'''
| 499 || 23.6 || .504 || .330 || .792 || 1.7 || 4.3 || .8 || .0 || 11.0
{{s-end}}

===NBA===
<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/spanova01.html |title=Vassilis Spanoulis. |access-date=2 December 2017 |archive-date=3 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403091405/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/spanova01.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Regular season====
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2006}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2006–07 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 31 || 0 || 8.8 || .319 || .172 || .810 || .7 || .9 || .2 || .0 || 2.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;"| '''Career'''
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 31 || 0 || 8.8 || .319 || .172 || .810 || .7 || .9 || .2 || .0 || 2.7
{{S-end}}

====Playoffs====
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2007 NBA Playoffs|2007]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2006–07 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 1 || 0 || 3.0 || .500 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || 4.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;"| '''Career'''
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 1 || 0 || 3.0 || .500 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || 4.0
{{S-end}}

==Greece national team career statistics==
<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/spanoulis/pid//_//players.html |title=Vasileios SPANOULIS (GRE) participated in 29 FIBA / FIBA Zones events. |access-date=5 July 2016 |archive-date=18 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818061955/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/spanoulis/pid//_//players.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
|style="background:#FFD700; width:3em;"|*
|Denotes tournaments in which Spanoulis won a {{Gold medal}} 
|-
|style="background:#C0C0C0; width:3em;"|**
|Denotes tournaments in which Spanoulis won a {{Silver medal}}
|-
|style="background:#CD7F32; width:3em;"|***
|Denotes tournaments in which Spanoulis won a {{Bronze medal}}
|}

{{FIBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#C0C0C0;;"| [[Albert Schweitzer Under-18 World Tournament|2000]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Albert Schweitzer Under-18 World Tournament|U18 World Cup]]
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2| [[Greece men's national under-18 basketball team|Greece Under-18]]
| 7 || [[N/A]] || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || 14.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#CD7F32;;"| [[2000 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship|2000]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship|U18 EuroBasket]]
| '''8''' || [[N/A]] || 25.9 || '''.579''' || .286 || .786 || 1.1 || 1.9 || .5 || .0 || 10.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2002 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship|2002]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship|U20 EuroBasket]]<br />Qualifying
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2| [[Greece men's national under-20 basketball team|Greece Under-20]]
| 5 || N/A || 29.2 || .545 || .304 || .533 || '''3.4''' || 4.4 || '''1.4''' || .0 || 15.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#FFD700;"| [[2002 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship|2002]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship|U20 EuroBasket]]
| '''8''' || N/A || '''31.3''' || .467 || '''.477''' || '''.875''' || 3.1 || '''5.5''' || .9 || .0 || '''16.0'''
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=3| Career
| 28 || N/A || 28.7 || .520 || .395 || .755 || 2.5 || 3.9 || .9 || .0 || 13.7
{{S-end}}

{{FIBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#C0C0C0;"| [[Basketball at the 2001 Mediterranean Games|2001]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Basketball at the Mediterranean Games|Mediterranean Games]]
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=13| [[Greece national basketball team|Greece Men]]
| 4 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || 8.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2004]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
| 6 || [[N/A]] || 11.0 || .444 || '''.500''' || .750 || 0.7 || 1.0 || .3 || .0 || 3.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#FFD700;"| [[2005 EuroBasket|2005]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[EuroBasket]]
| 7 || 0 || 10.3 || .227 || .100 || .600 || 1.1 || 0.3 || .3 || .0 || 2.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#FFD700;"| [[2006 FIBA Mini World Cup|2006]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[FIBA Stanković World Cup|Stanković World Cup]]
| 3 || N/A || 23.0 || .429 || .444 || .706 || 2.7 || 1.7 || 2.3 || .0 || 9.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#C0C0C0;"| [[2006 FIBA World Cup|2006]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[FIBA World Cup|World Cup]]
| '''9''' || N/A || 27.2 || .358 || .262 || .878 || 1.8 || 1.3 || 1.2 || .0 || 11.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2007 EuroBasket|2007]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[EuroBasket]]
| '''9''' || 0 || 26.1 || .418 || .303 || .576 || 1.8 || 2.0 || 1.1 || .0 || 11.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#FFD700;"| [[2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men|2008]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament|World OQT]]
| 4 || N/A || 24.0 || .474 || .400 || '''.900''' || 2.5 || 3.8 || '''2.8''' || .0 || 12.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2008]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Basketball at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
| 6 || N/A || 28.2 || .531 || .273 || .632 || 3.0 || 3.0 || 1.3 || .0 || 14.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#CD7F32;"| [[2009 EuroBasket|2009]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[EuroBasket]]
| '''9''' || '''8''' || '''31.3''' || .458 || .436 || .829 || 2.7 || 4.2 || 1.4 || .1 || 14.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2010 FIBA World Cup|2010]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[FIBA World Cup|World Cup]]
| 6 || 6 || 29.3 || .520 || .419 || .810 || 1.0 || 2.3 || 1.2 || .0 || 13.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men|2012]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament|World OQT]]
| 3 || 2 || 26.3 || '''.613''' || '''.500''' || .619 || 2.7 || '''5.7''' || 0.3 || .0 || '''19.3'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2013 EuroBasket|2013]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[EuroBasket]]
| 6 || 6 || 30.2 || .439 || .303 || .780 || '''3.3''' || 2.5 || 0.7 || '''.2''' || 16.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2015 EuroBasket|2015]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[EuroBasket]]
| 7 || 7 || 27.6 || .411 || .385 || .727 || 2.3 || 5.3 || 0.3 || .1 || 11.4
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=3| Career
| 79 || N/A || 24.9 || .445 || .351 || .746 || 2.1 || 2.6 || 1.1 || .0 || 11.3
{{S-end}}

==Awards and accomplishments as a player==
===Pro club team accomplishments===

====Worldwide club competitions====
* [[FIBA Intercontinental Cup]] Champion ([[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos Piraeus]]): [[2013 FIBA Intercontinental Cup|2013]]

====European club competitions====
* 3× [[EuroLeague]] Champion: [[2009 EuroLeague Final Four|2009]], [[2012 EuroLeague Final Four|2012]], [[2013 EuroLeague Final Four|2013]]
** [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos Athens]]: 2009
** 2× [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos Piraeus]]: 2012, 2013
* 5× [[EuroLeague Finalist]]: 2009, 2012, 2013, [[2015 EuroLeague Final Four|2015]], [[2017 EuroLeague Final Four|2017]]
** [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos Athens]]: 2009
** 4× [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos Piraeus]]: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017
* 2× EuroLeague Runner-up: [[2015 EuroLeague Final Four|2015]], [[2017 EuroLeague Final Four|2017]]
** 2× [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos Piraeus]]: 2015, 2017
* [[European Basketball Triple Crown|European Triple Crown]] Winner ([[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos Athens]]): 2009
* [[FIBA EuroChallenge|FIBA Europe League]] Finalist ([[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi Athens]]): [[2003–04 FIBA Europe League|2004]]

====Domestic league club competitions====
* 7× [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] Champion: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016
** 4× [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos Athens]]: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
** 3× [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos Piraeus]]: 2012, 2015, 2016
* 6× [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] Finalist: 2004, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018
** [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi Athens]]: 2004
** 5× [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos Piraeus]]: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018
* 4× [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] Winner: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011
** 3× [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos Athens]]: 2006, 2008, 2009
** [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos Piraeus]]: 2011
* 5× [[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] Finalist: 2002, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2018
** [[Maroussi B.C.|Maroussi Athens]]: 2002
** [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos Athens]]: 2010
** 3× [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos Piraeus]]: 2012, 2013, 2018

===National team accomplishments===
====Junior national team career====
* [[2000 FIBA Under-18 EuroBasket]]: {{bronze medal}}
* [[Albert Schweitzer Under-18 World Tournament|2000 AST Under-18 World Tournament]]: {{silver medal}}
* [[2002 FIBA Under-20 EuroBasket]]: {{gold medal}}

====Senior national team career====
* [[Basketball at the 2001 Mediterranean Games|2001 Mediterranean Games]]: {{silver medal}}
* [[2004 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2004 Acropolis Tournament]]: {{silver medal}}
* [[2005 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2005 Acropolis Tournament]]: {{gold medal}} 
* [[2005 FIBA EuroBasket]]: {{gold medal}}
* [[2006 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2006 Acropolis Tournament]]: {{gold medal}}
* [[2006 FIBA Stanković World Cup]]: {{gold medal}}
* [[2006 FIBA World Cup]]: {{silver medal}}
* [[2007 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2007 Acropolis Tournament]]: {{gold medal}}
* [[2008 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2008 Acropolis Tournament]]: {{gold medal}}
* [[2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men|2008 FIBA World OQT]]: {{gold medal}}
* [[2009 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2009 Acropolis Tournament]]: {{gold medal}}
* [[2009 FIBA EuroBasket]]: {{bronze medal}}
* [[2010 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2010 Acropolis Tournament]]: {{gold medal}}
* [[2013 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2013 Acropolis Tournament]]: {{gold medal}}
* [[2015 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2015 Acropolis Tournament]]: {{gold medal}}

===Youth club career===
*[[:el:Πρωτάθλημα Ελλάδας καλαθοσφαίρισης εφήβων|Panhellenic Youth Championship]] Champion: 1999

===Individual awards and accomplishments===
====Worldwide awards and accomplishments====
* [[FIBA Intercontinental Cup MVP]]: 2013<ref name="FIBA.basketball"/>
* [[Giuseppe Sciacca International Awards Sports Prize|International Sports Prize's World Athlete of the Year]]: 2013
* HoopsHype's 75 Greatest International Players Ever: 2021<ref name="hoopshype.com"/>

====European awards and accomplishments====
* 101 Greats of European Basketball: 2018
* [[EuroLeague MVP]]: 2013
* 3× [[EuroLeague Final Four MVP]]: 2009, 2012, 2013
* 3× [[EuroLeague Final Four]] Top Scorer: 2009, 2012, 2013
* [[EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer]]: 2013
* 3× [[EuroLeague MVP of the Month]]: 
** February 2012, November 2012, October 2014
* 8× [[EuroLeague MVP of the Round#Players with the most MVP of the round awards|EuroLeague MVP of the Round]]: 
** 2006 (2× – Regular Season Round 2 and Playoffs Games 1 and 2), 2014 (2× – Regular Season Round 8 and Top 16 Round 1), 2017 (2× - Regular Season Round 2 and Playoffs Game 5), 2018 (Regular Season Round 23), 2019 (Regular Season Round 14)
* 8× [[All-EuroLeague Team]]: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018
* 2× EuroLeague total points leader: [[2011–12 Euroleague|2012]],<ref>[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/players/?size=1000&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2011&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=score EuroLeague Players Stats Season 2011-12.]</ref> [[2012–13 Euroleague|2013]]<ref>[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/players/?size=1000&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2012&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=score EuroLeague Players Stats Season 2012-13.]</ref>
* 2× EuroLeague total assists leader: [[2012–13 Euroleague|2013]],<ref>[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/players/?size=1000&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2012&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=assistances EuroLeague Players Stats Season 2012-13.]</ref> [[2016–17 EuroLeague|2017]]<ref>[https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/players/?size=1000&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2016&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=assistances EuroLeague Players Stats Season 2016-17.]</ref>
* [[EuroLeague season statistical leaders|2nd in Points Per Game in EuroLeague]]: [[EuroLeague season statistical leaders#2011–12|2012]]
* [[EuroLeague season statistical leaders|2× 3rd in Points Per Game in EuroLeague]]: [[EuroLeague season statistical leaders#2010–11|2011]], [[EuroLeague season statistical leaders#2013–14|2014]]
* [[EuroLeague season statistical leaders|2nd in Assists Per Game in EuroLeague]]: [[EuroLeague season statistical leaders#2016–17|2017]]
* [[EuroLeague season statistical leaders|3rd in Assists Per Game in EuroLeague]]: [[EuroLeague season statistical leaders#2012–13|2013]]
* Named the Most Clutch Player in EuroLeague History: 2017<ref name="Vladimir Stankovic p 10"/>
* [[EuroLeague]]'s [[captain (sports)|Best Captain]]: 2018
* Voted the Best EuroLeague Player of The 2010s Decade by Eurohoops.net: 2020<ref name="eurohoops.net"/>
* [[EuroLeague 2010–2020 All-Decade Team]]: (2020)
* [[EuroLeague 2010–2020 Player of the Decade]]: 2020<ref name="translate.google.com"/>
* [[EuroLeague Basketball Legend|EuroLeague Hall of Fame]]: 2022
* Voted the [[EuroLeague]]'s "GOAT" ("Greatest of All Time") player, in a BasketNews.com poll of EuroLeague players: 2023<ref name="Donatas Urbonas"/>
* [[EuroCup Basketball|EuroCup]] Rookie of the Year: 2005
* [[EuroCup Basketball|EuroCup]] Sixth Man of the Year: 2005
* [[Balkan Athlete of the Year]]: 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-44947520091223 |title=Reuters.com, Spanoulis named Balkan athlete of the year |publisher=In.reuters.com |date=2009-12-23 |access-date=2012-04-24 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212949/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-44947520091223 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympiacosbc.gr/en/news/news/1165-the-2013-world-sporting-award-giuseppe-sciaccavatican-goes-to-vassilis-spanoulis.html |title=The 2013 World Sporting Award Giuseppe Sciacca(Vatican) goes to Vassilis Spanoulis!|date=October 12, 2012 |publisher=olympiacosbc.gr|author=olympiacosbc.gr |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref>
* 3× Eurobasket News All-EuroLeague Guard of the Year: 2012, 2013, 2015
* [[Eurobasket.com#Eurobasket News All-Europe Team|Eurobasket News All-Europeans Guard of the Year]]: 2013
* [[Eurobasket.com#Eurobasket News All-Europe Team|Eurobasket News All-Europeans First Team]]: 2013
* 2× [[Eurobasket.com#Eurobasket News All-Europe Team|Eurobasket News All-Europeans Second Team]]: 2009, 2012
* 2× [[Eurobasket News All-Europe Player of the Year]]: 2012, 2013
* 3× [[Eurobasket.com#Eurobasket News All-Europe Team|Eurobasket News All-Europe Guard of the Year]]: 2009, 2012, 2013
* 3× [[Eurobasket.com#Eurobasket News All-Europe Team|Eurobasket News All-Europe First Team]]: 2009, 2012, 2013
* [[Eurobasket.com#Eurobasket News All-Europe Team|Eurobasket News All-Europe Second Team]]: 2011

====Domestic awards and accomplishments====
* 5× [[Greek Basket League MVP|Greek League MVP]]: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2016
* 4× [[Greek Basket League Finals MVP|Greek League Finals MVP]]: 2006, 2008, 2015, 2016
* 2× [[Greek Basket League Most Popular Player|Greek League Most Popular Player]]: 2015, 2017
* [[Greek Basket League Best Young Player|Greek League Best Young Player]]: 2003
* [[Greek Basket League Most Improved Player|Greek League Most Improved Player]]: 2004
* 10× [[HEBA Greek All Star Game|Greek League All-Star]]: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019
* 12× [[Greek Basket League Pentad|All-Greek League Team]]: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
* 4× Eurobasket News Greek League Domestic Player of the Year: [[2005–06 Greek Basket League|2006]], [[2008–09 Greek Basket League|2009]], 2013, 2016
* 3× Eurobasket News All-Greek League Guard of the Year: 2009, 2012, 2016
* 12× Eurobasket News All-Greek League Domestic Team: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
* [[Greek Basketball Cup Finals Top Scorer|Greek Cup Finals Top Scorer]]: 2018
* 4× [[Greek Basket League Assists Leader|Greek League Assists Leader (Regular Season)]]: 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015
* [[Greek Basketball League full season statistical leaders|Greek League Full Season Top Scorer (Regular Season + Playoffs)]]: 2005
* 4× [[Greek Basketball League full season statistical leaders|Greek League Full Season Assists Leader (Regular Season + Playoffs)]]:  2005, 2008,  2012, 2013
* [[Professional Greek Basket League all-time leading scorer|Professional Greek League's All-Time Career Scoring Leader]]
* [[Professional Greek Basket League all-time leader in assists|Professional Greek League's All-Time Career Assists Leader]]
* [[Greek Basket League Hall of Fame|Greek League Hall of Fame]]: 2022

====Club team awards and accomplishments====
* [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]]' All-Time [[EuroLeague]] Top Scorer<ref name="Stathakopoulos">{{Cite web |last=Stathakopoulos |first=Christos |title=Οι 7 πρώτοι όλων των εποχών στην Ευρώπη |url=https://www.olympiacosbc.gr/el/games-el/europe-el/euroleague-player-records/top-7-europe.html |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=Olympiacos BC |language=el-gr |archive-date=25 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325183109/https://www.olympiacosbc.gr/el/games-el/europe-el/euroleague-player-records/top-7-europe.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]]' All-Time [[EuroLeague]] Assists Leader<ref name="Stathakopoulos"/>
* [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]]' All-Time [[Greek Basket League|Greek League]] Assists Leader<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stathakopoulos |first=Christos |title=Οι 7 πρώτοι όλων των εποχών στο ελληνικό πρωτάθλημα |url=https://olympiacosbc.gr/el/games-el/basket-league-el/a1-players-statistics-el/koryfaioi-ellada.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Olympiacos BC |language=el-gr}}</ref>
* [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]]' 2010–2020 Team of the Decade<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-12 |title=Ολυμπιακός: Με Πρίντεζη, Σπανούλη, Σλούκα και Παπαλουκά η ομάδα της δεκαετίας |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/el/euroleague-el-2/1090001/olimpiakos-me-printezi-spanouli-slouka-ke-papalouka-i-omada-tis-dekaetias/ |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=Eurohoops |language=el |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319083232/https://www.eurohoops.net/el/euroleague-el-2/1090001/olimpiakos-me-printezi-spanouli-slouka-ke-papalouka-i-omada-tis-dekaetias/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Olympiacos BC|Olympiacos Piraeus]] Club Legend: 2023
* [[Olympiacos B.C.#Retired numbers|#7 jersey retired by Olympiacos]]: 2023<ref name="BasketNews.com"/><ref name="Johnny Askounis"/>
* The Greatest of All Time (GOAT) Athlete in the history of the [[sports club|multi-sports]] club [[Olympiacos CFP|Olympiacos Piraeus CFP]]: 2025<ref>[https://www.sport24.gr/basket/100-xronia-olimpiakos-o-vasilis-spanoulis-einai-o-megaliteros-athlitis-stin-istoria-tou-sillogou/ 100 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΘΡΥΛΟΣ 100 χρόνια Ολυμπιακός: Ο Βασίλης Σπανούλης είναι ο μεγαλύτερος αθλητής στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://basketworld.net/spanoylis-o-apolytos-thrylos-toy-olympiakoy-aytoi-einai-oi-10-koryfaioi-athlites-stin-istoria-toy-syllogoy/ Σπανούλης: Ο απόλυτος Θρύλος του Ολυμπιακού – Αυτοί είναι οι 10 κορυφαίοι αθλητές στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://www.sport24.gr/football/100-xronia-olimpiakos-aftoi-einai-oi-10-megaliteroi-athlites-stin-istoria-tou-sillogou/ 100 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΘΡΥΛΟΣ 100 χρόνια Ολυμπιακός: Αυτοί είναι οι 10 μεγαλύτεροι αθλητές στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://iliakanea.gr/100-chronia-olybiakos-aftoi-einai-oi-10-megalyteroi-athlites-stin-istoria-tou-syllogou/ 100 χρόνια Ολυμπιακός: Αυτοί είναι οι 10 μεγαλύτεροι αθλητές στην ιστορία του συλλόγου {{in lang|el}}.]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhFaEI4C7vo Βασίλης Σπανούλης, ο μεγαλύτερος αθλητής στην ιστορία του Ολυμπιακού: 1ος στην ψηφοφορία του SPORT24 {{in lang|el}}.]</ref>

====National team awards and accomplishments====
* [[FIBA EuroStar]]: 2007
* [[FIBA EuroBasket All-Star Five]]: [[EuroBasket 2009|2009]]
* [[FIBA Summer Olympics 1992–2020 Dream Team]]: 2020<ref name="fosonline.gr"/>
* FIBA EuroBasket 2000–2020 Greek Dream Team: 2020<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/el/national-teams-el/1065745/ethniki-omada-i-mithiki-elliniki-pentada-tis-20etias-photo/ |title=Εθνική Ομάδα: Η ΜΥΘΙΚΗ ελληνική πεντάδα της 20ετίας! (photo) . |date=31 May 2020 |access-date=7 April 2021 |language=el |archive-date=11 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511062310/https://www.eurohoops.net/el/national-teams-el/1065745/ethniki-omada-i-mithiki-elliniki-pentada-tis-20etias-photo/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[FIBA EuroBasket 2000–2020 Dream Team]]: 2020<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* 2× [[Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|Acropolis Tournament]] [[Most valuable player|MVP]]: [[2007 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2007]], [[2009 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2009]]
* [[Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|Acropolis Tournament]] Top Scorer: [[2008 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2008]]
* [[Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|Acropolis Tournament]] [[assist (basketball)|assist]] leader: [[2013 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2013]]

====Youth club awards and accomplishments====
*[[:el:Πρωτάθλημα Ελλάδας καλαθοσφαίρισης εφήβων|Panhellenic Youth Championship]] Top Scorer: 1999
*[[:el:Πρωτάθλημα Ελλάδας καλαθοσφαίρισης εφήβων|Panhellenic Youth Championship]] [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]]: 1999

==Individual and team awards and accomplishments as a head coach==
===Youth clubs===
'''EuroLeague under-18 Next Generation Select team''':
*[[Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament|EuroLeague Under-18 Next Generation tournament]] finalist: 2022

===Pro clubs===
===Other honors===
*[[EuroLeague Finals]] Finalist: [[2025 EuroLeague Final Four|2025]] (with [[AS Monaco Basket|AS Monaco]])
*[[EuroLeague Final Four]] Participation: [[2025 EuroLeague Final Four|2025]] (with [[AS Monaco Basket|AS Monaco]])
*[[FIBA Champions League Final Four]] Participation: [[2024 FIBA Champions League Final Four|2024]] (with [[Peristeri BC|Peristeri Athens]])
*[[Leaders Cup]] Finalist: 2025 (with [[AS Monaco Basket|AS Monaco]])
*[[Greek Basketball Cup|Greek Cup]] Finalist: [[2022–23 Greek Basketball Cup|2023]] (with [[Peristeri BC|Peristeri Athens]])

===National teams===

*[[2024 Acropolis International Basketball Tournament|2024 Acropolis Tournament]]: {{gold medal}} (with [[Greek men's national basketball team|Greece]])
*[[2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments – Piraeus|2024 Piraeus FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament]]: {{gold medal}} (with [[Greek men's national basketball team|Greece]])

===Individual awards and accomplishments===
*[[FIBA Champions League Best Coach|FIBA Champions League Coach of the Year]]: [[2023–24 Basketball Champions League|2024]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Vasileios Spanoulis}}
'''Player:'''
* {{Basketballstats |nba= 2779 |bbr= s/spanova01 }}
* {{Basketball-Reference.com international player|vassilis-spanoulis-1}}
* [https://m.basketnews.com/players/3789-vassilis-spanoulis/statistics/seasons/2020.html#2 Vassilis Spanoulis] at BasketNews
* [https://eokbasket.sportstats.gr/2018-2019/cup-men/playerdetails/id/3248242B-0FB0-4C80-B5F7-DFC3161C5321 Vassilis Spanoulis] at EOKBasket {{in lang|el}}
* [https://www.esake.gr/el/action/EsakeplayerView?idteam=00000002&idchampionship=DC917125&idplayer=00000577&mode=4 Vassilis Spanoulis] at [[esake.gr|ΕSΑΚΕ]] {{in lang|el}}
* [https://esake-hof.damsquare.gr/player/079-spanoules-basiles Vassilis Spanoulis] at [[ESAKE Hall of Fame]] {{in lang|el}}
* {{Eurobasket.com player|24569}}
* [https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/profile/juo/ Vassilis Spanoulis] at [[EuroLeague]]
* [https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/final-four-club-legend-vassilis-spanoulis-olympiacos/ Vassilis Spanoulis] at [[EuroLeague Basketball]]
* {{FIBA profile|new_id=134874|old_id=35533}}
* [http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.playerID_35533.teamID_291.html Vassilis Spanoulis] at [[FIBA Europe]]
* [https://www.basket.gr/playerview/?playercode=826&playername=ΣΠΑΝΟΥΛΗΣ%20ΒΑΣΙΛΗΣ&birthday=1982-08-07 Vassilis Spanoulis] at [[Hellenic Basketball Federation]] {{in lang|el}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|vasileios-spanoulis}}
* {{Olympedia|108505}}
* [https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/7481/vassilis-spanoulis Vassilis Spanoulis] at ProBallers
* [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Vassilis-Spanoulis/International/405/Career/By_Split Vassilis Spanoulis] at RealGM

'''Head Coach:'''
* [https://asmonaco.basketball/team/profile.php?ID=60682 Vassilis Spanoulis] at [[AS Monaco Basket|AS Monaco]] {{in lang|fr}}
* [https://basketball.eurobasket.com/coach/Vassilis-Spanoulis/79239 Vassilis Spanoulis] at [[Eurobasket.com]]
* [https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/spanoulis-vassilis/ Vassilis Spanoulis] at [[EuroLeague]]
* [https://www.basket.gr/coachpage/?Code=220 Vassilis Spanoulis] at [[Hellenic Basketball Federation]] {{in lang|el}}

{{AS Monaco Basket current roster}}
{{Navboxes|list1=
{{2004 NBA draft}}
{{Greece Squad EuroBasket 2005}}
{{Greece Squad 2006 FIBA World Championship}}
{{Greece Squad EuroBasket 2009}}
{{Panathinaikos B.C.}}
{{Panathinaikos BC 2008-09 Euroleague champions}}
{{Olympiacos B.C.}}
{{Olympiacos B.C. 2011–12 Euroleague champions}}
{{Olympiacos B.C. 2012–13 Euroleague champions}}
{{Olympiacos B.C. 2013 FIBA Intercontinental Cup}}
{{Greek Basketball League Best Young Player}}
{{Greek Basketball League Most Improved Player}}
{{Greek Basketball League Top Scorers}}
{{Greek Basketball League MVPs}}
{{Greek Basketball League Finals MVPs}}
{{Greek Basketball League Most Popular Player}}
{{Greek Basketball League Hall of Fame}}
{{EuroLeague Basketball Legends}}
{{EuroLeague 2010–2020 All-Decade Team}}
{{EuroLeague MVP Award}}
{{EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer}}
{{EuroLeague Final Four MVP Award}}
{{FIBA Intercontinental Cup MVPs}}
{{BTA Best Balkan Athlete of the Year}}
{{Giuseppe Sciacca International Awards Sports Prize}}
{{Basketball Champions League Best Coach}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spanoulis, Vassilis}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Greek sportsmen]]
[[Category:2006 FIBA World Championship players]]
[[Category:2010 FIBA World Championship players]]
[[Category:AS Monaco Basket coaches]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Larissa]]
[[Category:Basketball players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:Coaches at the 2024 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 2001 Mediterranean Games]]
[[Category:Dallas Mavericks draft picks]]
[[Category:FIBA EuroBasket–winning players]]
[[Category:Greece national basketball team coaches]]
[[Category:Greek basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Greek Basket League players]]
[[Category:Greek expatriate basketball people in the United States]]
[[Category:Greek men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Gymnastikos S. Larissas B.C. players]]
[[Category:Houston Rockets players]]
[[Category:Maroussi B.C. players]]
[[Category:Mediterranean Games medalists in basketball]]
[[Category:Mediterranean Games silver medalists for Greece]]
[[Category:NBA players from Greece]]
[[Category:Olympiacos B.C. players]]
[[Category:Olympic basketball players for Greece]]
[[Category:Panathinaikos B.C. players]]
[[Category:Peristeri B.C. coaches]]
[[Category:Point guards]]
[[Category:Shooting guards]]