Spanoulis Returns: Aris Begins New Season with the Antetokounmpo Question

The Aris training ground in Thessaloniki on the first day of September didn't have the atmosphere of a team trying to find itself. There was an unusual order, the kind of order of a man who once subdued all of Europe with his pick-and-roll plays, now standing in the center circle, arms crossed, watching every movement of his students. Vassilis Spanoulis is no longer the legendary number 7 of Olympiacos in the red and white jersey. He's wearing the yellow and black training gear of Aris, and everything starts from here.

The first training session of the 2026-25 season had nothing special tactically. No new formations, no polished offensive sets, no data that I could use to tell you what kind of basketball Aris will play next season. But I've stood in the corridors of JFK Airport long enough to know that the most important things are never on the training court. They're in the absent list, in the eyes of the players sitting out, and in the way a legend walks into the locker room for the first time.

Let's talk about what we know. Kostas Antetokounmpo, Giannis's brother, is undergoing treatment for a knee injury. Adam Mokoka and Giorgos Tanoulis are also absent due to injuries. Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the remaining Antetokounmpo brother, was the only newcomer to appear in the first training session. That's all the original article provides. But for me, that's enough to start placing bets.

Kostas Antetokounmpo and the knee obsession

I've followed Kostas since his days with the Dallas Mavericks, through Sacramento Kings, then Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce. One thing I've learned after 34 years sitting courtside: a 27-year-old player, at the most mature point of his career, never has to "treat his knee" on the first day of pre-season training without a serious reason. The knee is the only weapon of a big man. When it creaks, the whole system shakes.

Look at Kostas's injury history. He's had lower-body issues for years. This isn't a new injury. This is an old debt coming due. And with a new coach like Spanoulis, known for his strictness and attention to detail, having a key player absent from the very first training session is a bad sign. It means Kostas will be slower in learning the new system, slower in finding common ground with new teammates, and if the injury is more serious than we think, Aris might have to find another big man mid-season. That's the worst-case scenario, but I've lived long enough to know that the worst-case scenario always has a higher probability than we think.

Thanasis: More than just a name

Now, let's talk about the other brother. Thanasis Antetokounmpo at 32 is past his prime. He's not a good offensive player. His three-point percentage has never been a real threat, and his ability to create his own shot is limited. But I've watched Thanasis play for the Milwaukee Bucks, and I know what he brings: energy, defensive intensity, and a fighting spirit that never stops. In a team rebuilding under a new coach, those things are worth more than gold.

But there's a bigger question: why did Aris sign Thanasis? This isn't purely a basketball move. This is a media move. Thanasis is the brother of Giannis, the biggest star in Greek basketball. His presence will attract media attention, sell tickets, and create headlines. But will it help Aris win games? I'm not sure. And that's exactly what I want to talk about.

Spanoulis: The teacher and the system problem

Spanoulis is not an ordinary coach. He's one of the greatest guards in European basketball history, a man who made history with Olympiacos and coached the Greek national team. He understands basketball at a level few can touch. But being a legend on the court doesn't automatically make you a good coach. And coaching a national team, where you have the best players in the country, is completely different from coaching a club like Aris, where the budget is limited and the squad quality is uneven.

I predict Spanoulis will build an offense around the pick-and-roll, the weapon he used most effectively. He will demand that his guards be smart, read the game, and move without the ball constantly. But to do that, he needs guards with high basketball IQs. And I'm not sure Aris has those players in their current roster. This is a big risk.

The big picture: Where is Aris?

Let's look at the big picture. The Greek Basketball League is dominated by Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. Aris is a team with a rich history, but in the last two decades, they haven't been a real force. They're a mid-tier team, a Eurocup team, a team that can compete for playoff spots but isn't a title contender. The arrival of Spanoulis and Thanasis could raise their profile, but it can't change the landscape after just one summer.

The closed-door friendly against Vikos Falcons, a lower-division team, on September 6th will be the first test. But don't rush to conclusions from that game. It's just an advanced practice, an opportunity for Spanoulis to experiment with lineups and see how his pieces work together. The real tests will come when the season starts, when the opponents are seasoned Eurocup teams like Valencia or Hapoel Tel Aviv.

What everyone is missing

Now, let me say what no one else is saying. Everyone is focused on the name Spanoulis, on the name Antetokounmpo. But I look at the absent list and I see a bigger problem: the lack of cohesion. When three key players are absent from the first training session, they fall behind in learning the new system. They won't understand the coach's demands, won't grasp the on-court signals, won't build chemistry with teammates. When they return, they'll have to catch up while the season has already started. This creates a division within the team, a division between those who have trained together and those who just returned. And in a long season, that division could be the difference between success and failure.

There's another thing I want to say. Spanoulis is a demanding person, a perfectionist. He will demand perfection from his students. But can the Aris players, who aren't used to that level of strictness, withstand the pressure? Can they meet the standards Spanoulis sets? This is a big question, and the answer will only come when the season starts.

Conclusion: A risky bet

Aris is entering a season full of promise but also full of risk. They have a legendary coach, a notable newcomer, and a roster that blends experience and youth. But they also have injuries, a new system that needs time to operate, and enormous media pressure. I've lived long enough to know that seasons built on expectation often end in disappointment. But I've also lived long enough to know that sometimes, a legend can create magic.

JFK Airport taught me one thing: to get through the gate fast, don't stand in line. Aris is trying to get through the door of resurgence using a shortcut. Will they succeed? I don't know. But I'll be sitting courtside to watch. And I'll be betting on Kostas Antetokounmpo's legs, because in basketball, everything starts with the legs.

All of Moscow looked at number 17 and laughed. I looked at the legs and placed my bet. Now, I'm looking at Kostas Antetokounmpo's knee and wondering: will it hold?