One of the players to have left their permanent mark on Panathinaikos but also on Greek and European basketball, decided to hang up his jersey. Kostas Tsartsaris commits the step beyond the court bounds as a champion, the way he had been accustomed to for so many years, having aided to the greatest extent in one of the toughest seasons in the entire team history, a season to end behind two titles, praise to his great input. It is impossible for anyone to forget that he remained with the team at the beginning of the season, that he did not turn his back on it and that he had an offer at every level, coming full circle with a big-time performance to seal the title at SEF.
Kostas Tsartsaris bids basketball farewell in his very own way: “After 16 years of continuous presence and having experienced the greatness of sports through numerous moments of joy, thrill and pride, the time has come for me to bid my great passion, basketball farewell.
Upon departing, I would like to address the young and tell them that sports are a source of creativity and uplift. All to have invested in them won the battle of life.
Now that the time has come to say goodbye, I would like to thank all who believed in me, trusted me and supported me from the bottom of my heart.
The basketball society put its arms around me and I owe it more than I can ever express.
It was my soul and my strength.
Thank you,
Kostas Tsartsaris”
At the top
He was the Panathinaikos player to be the longest on the team after Fragiskos Alvertis retiring. Kostas Tsartsaris came to the clover from Peristeri in 2002, to offer numerous solutions close up and far away for the basket, a very important pin in the team engine in its stride towards absolute recognition. Standing at 2.09m he could compete close to the basket but he could as easily follow the perimeter defensively and aim for a three. Player to be able to do anything the team requires according to each game’s need. His ability to follow the rotations and his cunning perception made him a key in the way Panathinaikos competed and continues to compete.
From GE Veria (1993-95), to Filippos Veria (1995-87), to Island’s Grindavik (1997-98), to Near East (1998-2000) and Peristeri (2000-02), Tsartsaris shook hands with Panathinaikos in 2002. From then till now only few titles have… got away, history being made at every level, at both sides of the country’s border. He retires from action Champion and Cup Holder, adding another pair of trophies to his already huge collection, one to contain a pair of triple crowns. Not bad for a boy to start out his career in handball and Veria, to become known through Island in order to be established in Panathinaikos…
Tsartsaris’ titles
Euroleague Champion: 2007, 2009, 2011
HEBA League Champion: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
Greek Cup Holder: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013
With the national team: 2005 Men’s Eurobasket Gold Medal, 2006 Men’s World Championship Silver Medal, 5th place in the Olympic Games 2004 (Athens), 2008 (Beijing).
Distinctions: HEBA League rookie of the year, 1999. Named to the 2004 all HEBA League team, Greek Cup MVP 2006, 2007, 2008
