Theo Papaloukas to dress for CSKA Moscow again

Legendary playmaker Theo Papaloukas is expected to wear the uniform of CSKA Moscow for the first time in almost five years tomorrow as part of his ongoing tryout with the club. Papaloukas (2.00 meters, 35 years old) has been registered in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague and is therefore eligible to play against Anadolu Efes Istanbul tomorrow after having practiced with CSKA over the last few days. Papaloukas last played for CSKA in a Euroleague game in the 2008 Euroleague final, when they won their second title together. Papaloukas went from CSKA to Olympiacos for three seasons and last year helped Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv reach the Euroleague playoffs, falling a victory win short of what would have been his ninth Final Four appearance. He joined CSKA in 2002 and during six seasons there helped guide the club to the Final Four every year, including three straight title game appearances and the Euroleague crown in 2006 and 2008. His greatest years came under Ettore Messina, who returned to CSKA last summer after three seasons away. Papaloukas is the competition’s career leader in assists (938), steals (327) and games played (235). The ultimate sixth man, Papaloukas has carved out a unique role in basketball history as arguably the most successful substitute ever at such a high level in the sport; he has come off the bench in 215 of his Euroleague appearances. Papaloukas’s illustrious career has seen him capture countless titles and accolades. He earned Euroleague Final Four MVP honors in 2006 in Prague, where he led CSKA to its first Euroleague title in 35 years. He then became the Euroleague MVP for the 2006-07 season, when CSKA fell just a basket short of a repeat title. He led CSKA to another crown in 2008, when he was also selected among the 50 greatest contributors to Euroleague history. In all, Papaloukas was named to the All-Euroleague team four times and was named to the Euroleague all-decade team, too. Papaloukas began his career with Abelokipi and also played for Dafni and Panionios before getting his break with Olympiacos in 2001. He moved to CSKA a year later and spent six years with the Russian giants before returning to Greece for three seasons with the Reds. Among his other titles are six Russian League championships, three Russian Cups and three Greek Cups and last season’s Israeli League and Cup double. Papaloukas also helped the Greek national team capture gold at EuroBasket 2005 and the silver medal at the 2006 World Championships.