Photo by: Eurokinissi Sports
Jack Legend Thomas Walkup Key Figure in Olympiacos Piraeus’ EuroLeague Title
5/27/2026 3:46:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball
Former SFA All-American, 2x Southland Conference POTY reaches pinnacle of Europe’s most prestigious hoops league
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – One thing was missing from Thomas Walkup's laundry list of accolades and accomplishments in an overseas hardwood career that has spanned nearly a decade: a EuroLeague Championship. That was no longer the case on May 24 as the Lumberjack legend helped lead Olympiacos Piraeus past Real Madrid to claim the EuroLeague title on Sunday night in Athens, Greece.
Walkup, a two-time Southland Conference Player of the Year and three-time All-Defensive selection, played just under 24 minutes in the title game scoring ten points, while not missing a shot (3-3 FG, 2-2 3FG, 2-2 FT) in addition to grabbing two rebounds, dishing out two helpers and picking up a steal as Olympiacos outscored its Spanish opposition by 11 points in the final quarter to win 92-85.
The Pasadena, Texas native scored two of his ten points in the final frame as his only trip to the charity stripe resulted in a pair of makes to put his squad up 84-80 with 1:22 remaining. The title is the first for Olympiacos in four trips to the EuroLeague Final Four with Walkup on the roster.
"This is everything," Walkup remarked postgame to Andrea Trinchieri and Spero Dedes of the EuroLeague's YouTube channel. "As an athlete, as a fan of basketball, this is everything. To get to accomplish this, it's everything. To have the fans here chanting your name at a sold-out OAKA, it's beautiful. After a long five years, it's beautiful."
Speaking of beautiful, Walkup's career across the Atlantic has certainly been easy on the eyes. The Texan has crafted an impressive resume in nine pro seasons outside the United States.
He was named a German All-Star and Bundesliga Best Defender during his lone season with Riesen Ludwigsburg in 2017-18. In three seasons with Lithuania's Žalgiris Kaunas, Walkup was a three-time LKL Defensive Player of the Year, LKL Finals MVP in 2021 and a two-time King Mindaugas Cup winner. His past five seasons have been spent with Olympiacos where he has helped the club dominate the Greek League. A two-time Greek All-Star, a two-time Greek League Best Defender and a multi-year winner of the Greek Cup, Greek Super Cup and Greek League, Walkup was named the EuroLeague's top defender in 2024, a season after leading the EuroLeague in steals. Additionally, Walkup helped guide the Greece national team to the quarterfinal round of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Walkup's current contract has him signed with Olympiacos through the 2027 season.
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WE ARE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!!! ?????#OlympiacosBC #EuropeanChampions #WeAreOlympiacos #TogetherWeFight #Champions pic.twitter.com/1y5fs2pteM
— Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) May 24, 2026
Walkup, a two-time Southland Conference Player of the Year and three-time All-Defensive selection, played just under 24 minutes in the title game scoring ten points, while not missing a shot (3-3 FG, 2-2 3FG, 2-2 FT) in addition to grabbing two rebounds, dishing out two helpers and picking up a steal as Olympiacos outscored its Spanish opposition by 11 points in the final quarter to win 92-85.
The Pasadena, Texas native scored two of his ten points in the final frame as his only trip to the charity stripe resulted in a pair of makes to put his squad up 84-80 with 1:22 remaining. The title is the first for Olympiacos in four trips to the EuroLeague Final Four with Walkup on the roster.
"This is everything," Walkup remarked postgame to Andrea Trinchieri and Spero Dedes of the EuroLeague's YouTube channel. "As an athlete, as a fan of basketball, this is everything. To get to accomplish this, it's everything. To have the fans here chanting your name at a sold-out OAKA, it's beautiful. After a long five years, it's beautiful."
Thomas Walkup cezayi kesti! ?? #F4GLORY
— EuroLeague Türkiye (@EuroLeagueTUR) May 24, 2026
Giannis Antetokounmpo ?? pic.twitter.com/7BcHQtMurr
Speaking of beautiful, Walkup's career across the Atlantic has certainly been easy on the eyes. The Texan has crafted an impressive resume in nine pro seasons outside the United States.
He was named a German All-Star and Bundesliga Best Defender during his lone season with Riesen Ludwigsburg in 2017-18. In three seasons with Lithuania's Žalgiris Kaunas, Walkup was a three-time LKL Defensive Player of the Year, LKL Finals MVP in 2021 and a two-time King Mindaugas Cup winner. His past five seasons have been spent with Olympiacos where he has helped the club dominate the Greek League. A two-time Greek All-Star, a two-time Greek League Best Defender and a multi-year winner of the Greek Cup, Greek Super Cup and Greek League, Walkup was named the EuroLeague's top defender in 2024, a season after leading the EuroLeague in steals. Additionally, Walkup helped guide the Greece national team to the quarterfinal round of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Walkup's current contract has him signed with Olympiacos through the 2027 season.
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA men's basketball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
#AxeEm x #WinTogether
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