Larentzakis: «I want to prove that I'm not here by chance »
Giannoulis Larentzakis' basketball career is attached to a constant: "Proof".
The international guard was called to prove to his parents that it was the right decision to have been devoted to basketball from a very young age. He had to prove to his respective coaches that he deserved a chance. He wanted to prove to himself that he can make it at the high level Endesa League and is now called to prove that he can make it in the Euroleague wearing the jersey with the special weight that the 'reds' jersey carries.
The new signing of the Piraeus team, talked to the official web page of Olympiacos BC and in a mini retrospect he traced back his basketball course up to now…
"My father used to play as an amateur. He really loved basketball; he had it in his blood and passed his passion in me! It's because of him that I love basketball that much. When I was 6 or 7 I would be attending the Academies at Egaleo. The team was playing for the A1 category at the time had a professional mentality and its Academies were functioning at a really good level".
The National team played also a role… "I would be watching more basketball as I was growing up. It's certain that the success the National team has had had a great influence on me. I would be watching all those games and I would be really excited when they were winning, as if I were a member of that team! I was dreaming of one day wearing the National team badge and I'm blessed to have done this. I would be watching and looking up to players from all over the world… My Greek favorites were Spanoulis, Papaloukas and Diamantidis, while my favorite NBAer was Kobe Bryant. There have others too though… Ginobili. Scola, Pau Gasol, Navarro …"
Vocational guidance was of no interest to Giannoulis Larentzakis, since he had decided about his path very early on. "I realized very early in my life that I'm really into basketball and I wanted to go professional with it. So, one year before I was to finish high school, I told my parents that I would stop tutorials that were aiming to help me get accepted to a University and rather devote myself to basketball. My mother had a very strong reaction, she had wanted me to try for an academic degree, however, my father just knew, he liked my decision and got to support me from day one. He really helped me a lot. My mom also helped me later on, however, she was negative about it at first, just like I believe any mother would have been".
The first indication that he might make it came when he made the Men's team of Egaleo. "I had been among the key players of the junior and cadets teams, and that's why I was given the chance to play with the Men's team for the B' National Division at the age of 17. It was a special moment for me. At the end of that season, specifically in the summer of 2010 I got transferred to Ikaros Kallithea. The team was playing for the A1 League, however, I would be mostly playing for the junior team and I would be participating some practices with the Men's team. I will never forget when Aris Lykogiannis called me to get on the floor, for my first game in the top division! I was 18 at the time…"
It was November 6, 2011 when Aris Lykogiannis signaled him to get on the floor of OAKA during the game against Panathinaikos for the 3rd day of that season's League. Ikaros lost 58-93, however, during the 12:03'' he had been on the floor Larentzakis made his presence visible with 5 points (1/1 2p., 1/1 3p.) and 1 rebound. "The coach played a very important role in my career. It was him that gave me the opportunity to play for the big League and believed in me. I met with him again with Kolossos, when I was more mature and ready. He believed in me and gave me the chance to have a protagonist role. He has played a very important role in my career".
His next station would be Thessaloniki and Aris. "I was coming from a very good tournament with the U-20 team in the summer of 2013 and that when I got signed by Aris. Things did not work out though… It was the first time I was alone in a city I didn't know away from my family and friends, while I also did not get the breaks I had wished for and thought I deserved. Of course, I was also only 19 at the time, with a totally different mindset. I hadn't been that mature. Despite that, it was a valuable experience and lesson and helped me with my life's course".
The contract he had signed had been for three seasons; however, Aris gave him on loan to the Rhodes team for the next two seasons. "Mr Koutalianos had been the coach at first, while he got replaced by Mr. Lykogiannis. My time with the team of Rhodes was the best thing that could have happened to me at the time, because I had matured, the city and its people embraced me, Tsamis and Stefanidis (i.e. team mates) were very protective of me, while my two coaches played an essential role, because the believed in me and gave me a chance. A chance that I took advantage of".
These chances led him to sign with AEK in the summer of 2016. "I stayed there for three years and each year had been a huge lesson for me. I owe a lot to AEK. I won titles with this team; I lived through some unique moments and experiences. I'm happy and grateful to have been a member of one of the greatest teams in Greece. MY first career title had been the Greek Cup. I was so incredibly happy! I had goose bumps all over and I remember thinking that it might be the first and only Cup in my career. It had been a life dream and the fact that we had beaten Panathinaikos in the semis and Olympiacos in the final, two teams of the highest level, gave it all the more value. But another trophy followed that season … The FIBA Champions League title. I really enjoyed that too. These are moments I always have in my mind and will never forget. It was my first European title, in Athens, with my parents and friends at the gym. I'm really lucky to have lived all of that".
At some point though, he felt that his cycle with AEK had closed and that was because … "I wanted to take the next step, test myself anew, and face new challenges. I wanted to see if I can really play at that level, to be part of the best League in Europe, the Spanish one. I got transferred to Murcia and things had been pretty rough at first. It was hard for me to adjust to the tempo, probably because I was used to having my friends and family close by. But I was able to get acclimated and everything went smoother after that…"
This summer though, he was able to realize yet another big dream, since he got wear the 'reds' jersey. "When you have such an offer, you just can't say no. I'm very happy to be a member of Olympiacos. This had been my goal! It has been a life dream to play at the highest level and I'm determined to work very hard to vindicate all those who trusted and believed in me. I want to prove that I'm not here by chance. My biggest dream is to go to Final Four with Olympiacos and win the Euroleague. Trophies are what history mentions and make fans remember you. I'm here to help the team as much as have my name included in the already huge Olympiacos' history".
Instead of an epilogue, Giannoulis Larentzakis … texted the Olympiacos' fans: "It's a weird season due to the pandemic, however, we are optimistic. I think we have something good going on. All the players are going to be giving our 100% on the floor and I believe that together will make something beautiful happen at the end".