Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman has openly expressed his hope to one day see NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo play for the Greek team. His comments came after Giannis himself mentioned in a recent interview that playing in Europe could be a possibility in the future.
In a media day discussion, Ataman shared high praise for Giannis, calling him his favorite and the “most complete player in the NBA.” He also took the opportunity to respond to critical remarks from German player Dennis Schroder, and reflected on the Turkish national team’s narrow defeat in the recent Eurobasket final.
✨ A Future with the “Greek Freak”?
Ataman did not hold back his admiration for Giannis Antetokounmpo, extending what felt like an open invitation for him to join Panathinaikos. “He plays guard, he can run in the open court, and he can shoot in the paint,” Ataman explained. “He is a player whom I greatly admire.” He also noted that the team’s owner, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, has shown similar ambitions, adding, “Maybe Giannis will play for Panathinaikos in the future!”
🗣️ A Firm Response to Criticism
When asked about negative social media comments from Dennis Schroder, Ataman offered a calm but firm reply. He acknowledged Schroder as a “good player” but emphasized that character is more important to him. “For me, leadership, humanity, and a humble approach are more important than good performance,” he stated. Ataman suggested that Schroder’s frequent team changes in the NBA might reflect his situation, attributing his comments to the excitement of a big win and his “young age.”
💔 Reflecting on a Tough Loss
Ataman also spoke about the heartbreaking Eurobasket final, where he coached the Turkish national team against Germany. He recalled feeling confident throughout the game, believing his team would win. However, things changed in the final minutes. “In the last two minutes, we conceded a three-pointer, and our opponent took the lead. That’s when we panicked,” he said. Ataman pointed to a crucial missed layup by Alperen Sengun in the final 50 seconds as the moment the game slipped away, costing Turkey a historic gold medal.
