Entering his final months in professional basketball, Panathinaikos legend Dimitris Diamantidis wants to make the most of it and end on a high.
The three-time Euroleague winner and six-time Defensive Player of the Year turned back the clock on Thursday night by recording 15 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals in Panathinaikos’ 84-79 win over Lokomotiv Kuban, which improved their Top 16 record to 7-4 leaving them in good form to reach the quarter-finals.
The 35-year-old has enjoyed his final season as a professional player, and he intends to relish his final three months of basketball.
“I had announced that I will retire and everyone has been paying attention to only to that,” Diamantidis said. “It’s done. I am happy everytime I play. I play in front of 15.000 people and in two-three months I will not be able to live this experience again. I am glad about it and I am enjoying it until it lasts.
“The only think I would really like is to retire with my head high. Not play for five minutes per game. I would prefer it if we won against Lokomotiv Kuban without getting nervous, but basketball is unpredictable. It is great to play in front of such a crowd. Not many have the chance to live such an experience. I will live it for two-three months.
