Ergin Ataman, the experienced coach of the Turkish national team and Greek club Panathinaikos, has once again stated that the gap between top European teams and NBA teams is not as wide as many believe. Speaking ahead of the EuroBasket tournament, he confidently claimed that many EuroLeague teams could defeat NBA opponents.
Ataman’s main point is that while the NBA has incredible superstars, the overall team strength in the EuroLeague is very high. He believes that if you remove one key star player like LeBron James or Stephen Curry from an NBA team, the playing field becomes much more level. He also challenged the NBA’s tradition of calling its champions “World Champions,” suggesting that a true world title should be decided in a competition involving champions from other top leagues, such as the EuroLeague.
🏀 A Bold Challenge to NBA Dominance
Ataman argues that the idea of NBA supremacy isn’t always supported by facts. He recalled pre-season games a few years ago where EuroLeague teams won a high percentage of their matches against NBA teams. “There is no big difference between the NBA teams and the EuroLeague teams,” he explained. He feels that for a team to be crowned the world champion, they should have to prove it by playing against the best from Europe and other regions, like Australia.
🏆 Different Styles of Basketball
According to Ataman, the two leagues offer different experiences. He described NBA basketball as having become “more like a show,” focusing heavily on its star players. In contrast, he views the EuroLeague as a blend of entertainment and intense competition, where “every game is like a final.” He noted that because of this high level of play, basketball fans worldwide, including those in the USA, are now paying more attention to the EuroLeague.
✈️ Panathinaikos’ Unique Pre-Season Journey
Ataman also discussed his club team, Panathinaikos, which is preparing for a unique pre-season trip to Australia. The team will face another top EuroLeague club, Partizan, led by the legendary coach Zeljko Obradovic. This trip presents a major challenge, as seven of his players and some coaching staff will travel directly to Australia after the demanding EuroBasket tournament. Despite the long travel and lack of a normal pre-season in Europe, Ataman is confident in his squad, calling them “the number one ranked for the title” in the upcoming EuroLeague season.
⭐ Praising Europe’s Competitive Edge
Finally, Ataman shared his thoughts on the EuroBasket tournament, describing it as “more intense and more competitive than the World Cup.” He pointed to the large number of high-level EuroLeague players and NBA stars participating, which creates a highly competitive environment. This view reinforces his belief in the strength and depth of talent within European basketball.
