After a pre-season friendly match in Sydney, Australia, Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman shared his outlook for the upcoming 2025/26 season. He provided key updates on the team’s preparation and player fitness, and also weighed in on the classic debate comparing European basketball to the NBA.
Despite a disrupted pre-season schedule, Ataman expressed confidence in his team’s readiness, highlighting the stability of his core roster and the strategic addition of new players for depth. He also made a strong case for the EuroLeague, arguing that its high-stakes, competitive nature offers more excitement for fans than the show-oriented style of the NBA.
🏃♂️ A Hectic Start to the Season
Ataman admitted that preparing for the new season has been unusual and challenging. With eight key players representing their countries at EuroBasket, the team had very little time to practice together. However, he remains optimistic. “We have the advantage that 90% of the team is the same as last year,” he explained, adding that the new players are smart and his system is simple to learn. He believes the team will be fully prepared for the EuroLeague opener after about a week of focused training back in Athens.
💪 Roster News and Injury Updates
The coach provided a positive update on Cedi Osman, who has been recovering from an injury sustained during EuroBasket. Ataman is hopeful that Osman will be able to join team practices just two or three days before the first EuroLeague game. He also emphasized the importance of new Greek players Vassilis Toliopoulos and Nikos Rogkavopoulos, who bolster the team’s depth. With a demanding schedule of 80–85 games, Ataman said this deep roster is “exactly what we need to fight for the EuroLeague and the championship.”
🔥 EuroLeague’s Edge Over the NBA
When asked about the quality of global basketball, Ataman didn’t hold back his opinion. He described the NBA as being “more about show,” whereas he feels the EuroLeague delivers a powerful mix of entertainment and true competitiveness from the very start of the season. “Even at the start of the season, EuroLeague games feel like playoff games,” he stated, suggesting this gives fans more excitement. He also observed that fan attendance seems to be rising for EuroLeague games in Europe while declining for the NBA, concluding that the EuroLeague regular season currently offers a “much better” quality of basketball.
