Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman answered Eurohoops’ questions ahead of the new season.
After a season where Panathinaikos won both the EuroLeague and the Greek League titles, the team is continuing preparations for the new season. The Greek club recently held a media day, during which Ataman gave an exclusive, in-depth interview to Eurohoops.
Eurohoops: How has life changed for you and the team after winning the EuroLeague and Greek League titles?
Ataman: “Of course, it was a historic season for the club, for me, and for all of us. After achieving great success with Anadolu Efes, coming to Panathinaikos was a new challenge for me. Panathinaikos finished 17th in the EuroLeague the previous season. Plus, this was the first time since 2006 (Bologna) that I’d worked outside of Istanbul. It was a historic season, and I started enjoying Athens from my first day. I love Athens, I love life in Athens. I never felt like a stranger here. The people here were very warm towards me, including the people at the club, the fans, and the president. The president treated me like a friend, not as a boss, which made me very comfortable. After the historic results last season, I had an incredible summer. The passion and love people showed me on the Greek islands and across Europe was amazing.”
EH: Was it harder to start last season, or will it be tougher to begin this season as EuroLeague champions?
Ataman: “Honestly, last season was easier mentally and stress-wise. After all, even if we had only made the Play-In or Playoffs, it would have been a big step from finishing 17th. Now, the situation is different. After winning both the EuroLeague and the Greek League, everyone is talking about us as the favorites again. Other teams have made significant transfers and formed new rosters. We know every game in the EuroLeague will feel like a final for us. Sometimes, I think about it before bed—I was more relaxed last season (laughs). This season, we’ll experience adrenaline from the first game.”
EH: Recently, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said, “The phrase ‘defending a championship’ is passive-aggressive. If you look at the animal kingdom, the strongest animals don’t defend; they attack.” Do you agree?
Ataman: “Yes, I agree. In the new season, everyone will be more aggressive against us. Especially in away games, teams will do everything to beat us. Last season, some games were like that, but it will be different this time. Our job will be more challenging. In some home games, opponents won’t just want to beat us—they’ll want to win by 10 or 20 points. So we need to be prepared for everything. It won’t be easy.”
EH: Last summer’s moves led you to EuroLeague and Greek League titles. This summer wasn’t as busy, but you made three key signings. How will Lorenzo Brown, Ömer Yurtseven, and Cedi Osman contribute to the team?
Ataman: “Our first transfer was Lorenzo Brown. Luca Vildoza was a great player, but I couldn’t find the right role for him in our team chemistry last season. In my system, Vildoza is more of a shooting guard, but we needed a true point guard to give Sloukas a break. So, we parted ways with Vildoza and signed Lorenzo Brown, a player I’ve admired for the past few years. He has shown tremendous growth, knows the game well, and led Spain to the EuroBasket (2022) title. His ability to score and assist fits perfectly into our system. After that, we stayed calm in the market because we already had a championship-winning squad. We monitored the market and then saw that two NBA players with EuroLeague experience (Yurtseven, Osman) were ready to return to Europe. Having worked with them in the Turkish national team, convincing them wasn’t difficult. We signed them, and now, with 15 players, we are fully prepared for the EuroLeague. Sometimes, I joke with my assistant Christos (Serelis) that we could enter the EuroLeague with two different teams (laughs). But if you’re a favorite and have serious rivals with strong rosters, you need to match that level. That’s what we did.”
EH: Some have said that Cedi Osman’s signing was a luxury and unnecessary. What are your thoughts on this criticism?
Ataman: “I think we need to answer these criticisms on the court. Honestly, if we had found a player similar to Cedi but without EuroLeague experience, we wouldn’t have signed them. Cedi has great potential and an impressive NBA career. He’s only 29, not a player coming to Europe to finish his career at 33 or 34. Cedi didn’t find the contract he wanted in the NBA this summer, so he chose the EuroLeague. He knows that the competition level in the EuroLeague is close to, and sometimes higher than, the NBA—especially during the regular season. I’m confident he’ll help us a lot, particularly during the most critical parts of the season.”
EH: What can you tell fans about the upcoming season? Last year, you said Panathinaikos would make the Final Four, and you delivered. Any promises this year?
Ataman: “Don’t wait until November for your Final Four tickets. Last year, I told our fans to get their tickets, and many couldn’t find any because they delayed and didn’t believe me. I’m saying it again: go and get your Final Four tickets. Panathinaikos will be in the Final Four, and we will fight for our eighth EuroLeague title. I’m sure of that.”
