VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - Florent Pietrus is proof that you don't always have to pour in 10 points a game, hand out several assists or grab double digits in rebounds to have a long and successful career.
Pietrus, who at 39 called it quits as a player this week, showed you have value if you hustle, if you dive on the floor to get the ball or sacrifice your body to get a rebound.
His career needs to be celebrated, especially for the time he wore the France shirt and served as his national team's de facto "dirty work" player.One of the biggest moments for Pietrus was the EuroBasket 2013 Semi-Final win over Spain
It's his effort and huge smile that we'll remember most. He was the man with boundless enthusiasm.
Pietrus was a vital piece for France. Coming off the bench, his abundance of energy could change a game. For coach Vincent Collet, he was low maintenance.
His longevity, his desire to always play for his country and his positive attitude endeared Pietrus to fans, and his teammates.Pietrus went to hell and back with France.
At FIBA EuroBasket 2003 in Sweden, he walked off the court shellshocked after a 69-67 defeat to Italy in the Third-Place Game, a loss that cost France a spot in the Athens Olympics.
Two years later in Belgrade, Pietrus and France led Greece, 62-55, with 40 seconds left in their EuroBasket Semi-Final but collapsed and missed out on the title game. They ended up beating Spain in the Third-Place Game.
France were within touching distance of a spot in the EuroBasket 2007 Semi-Finals in Madrid but lost to Russia and ended up finishing eighth to miss out on the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
At FIBA EuroBasket 2009 in Poland, France were unbeaten going into their Quarter-Final against Spain but crashed to an 86-66 defeat.
Things took a turn for the better at FIBA EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania, when France reached the Final to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, yet in London the following year, Pietrus and his teammates tasted disappointment again in a narrow Quarter-Final defeat to Spain, 66-59 - a game closer than the final result indicated.Perseverance paid off, finally, at FIBA EuroBasket 2013 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In France's gritty come-from-behind overtime win over Spain in the Semi-Finals, fans saw vintage Pietrus.
In 27 minutes he had eight rebounds, a steal and a block to go with his five points to help France overcome a 34-20 deficit at halftime to prevail, 75-72. France then blew out Lithuania in the Final to capture the title.Pietrus helped France get to the podium the following year at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, where they shocked the tournament hosts in the Quarter-Finals, 65-52.
Before a European record 26,922 fans in Lille, France, Pietrus suffered overtime heartbreak as Spain beat Les Bleus, 80-75, although they bounced back and defeated Serbia in the Third Place Game. He retired from the national team the following summer, along with Tony Parker and Mickael Gelabale, after a Quarter-Final meltdown against Spain at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Though he never played in the NBA like his brother, Mickael, Florent Pietrus had a fantastic career in Europe.Starting in France with Pau Orthez, along with his brother, Pietrus also played for Spanish outfits Unicaja Malaga, Valencia, Estudiantes, Baskonia and French clubs SLUC Nancy, BCM Gravelines, Levallois Metropolitans, SIG Strasbourg and Orleans.
In his retirement statement, Pietrus recognized the supporters that he had such a strong connection with because of his approach to the game, and his long-standing commitment to the national team.
"Thanks to the fans, the followers who have followed and encouraged me from the beginning," he said. "It is not an end in itself, just a page that turns. To be continued..."
Florent, we bid you adieu!