By Semih Tuna/ Stuna@eurohoops.net
Ergin Ataman was never shy with words, and he is also no stranger to winning. After three EuroLeague titles, two with Anadolu Efes and one with Panathinaikos, his goal on the bench of the Turkish national team is obvious.
Ataman wants to lead his players to the first Eurobasket medal of Türkiye, after winning silver just once at home in 2001.
Alperen Sengun’s performance is turning heads all over the world. Türkiye is tied with Serbia at the top of the standings in Group A with a 4-0 record, and in a few hours, they will battle for supremacy in the first phase of the tournament, since both teams have already qualified to the Round of 16.
Eurohoops had the pleasure of having an exclusive one-on-one interview with coach Ataman before the big game, not only about things at hand, but about the progress of the Turkish national team, the ambitions the generation of Alperen Sengun has, the key contribution of Cedi Osman, and much more.
After all, as he admitted and repeated, he would prefer to beat Serbia in the Eurobasket final and not in the group phase.
Last, but not least, coach Ataman clarifies his recent notorious comments about the top NBA players, who are essentially the difference between the US league and the EuroLeague, and defends his opinion using the NBA Europe project as an argument.
Q: Coach, first of all, congratulations. I’m sure when you came here, you dreamed of starting 4-0, but did you also imagine seeing such a powerful team on the court?
Ergin Ataman: Of course. I already saw the strength and potential of this team during the preparation games, which is why we came here aiming for a medal. So this start doesn’t surprise me. Among the four games we’ve played, the most critical one was against the hosts, Latvia.
Because Latvia was one of the favorites, thanks to being at home and having a star like Porzingis, playing that game at such a high level and winning decisively gave us confidence. The other teams we faced were below our level in terms of roster capacity, but they were all tough and physical. In tournaments like this, such tough games can produce upsets from time to time. But the way our team responded with the same toughness, while also smartly using our offensive potential, allowed us to win all the other games comfortably.
Now, of course, the teams we’ll face will not only be tougher physically but also stronger in terms of quality. That’s why I believe we’ll be playing basketball at a higher level from this point on.
Q: So far, it looks like there hasn’t been a single weak link. Even the 12th man seems fully locked in on one common goal. It’s not easy to achieve that in a deep roster. How did you manage it?
EA: There’s respect among all the players, and everyone has embraced their role. To go for a goal like this, some roles had to be clear before the tournament started. We experimented a lot in the preparation games—different minutes, different roles—and eventually established a main rotation. All of our players are already used to playing in big clubs, so they know the reality: whoever performs stays on the court. Sometimes it’s about form, sometimes it’s about the needs of the moment.
For example, against Portugal, Ömer Faruk Υυrtseven played really well, but yesterday against Estonia, Ömer played less while Adem Bona made a huge contribution. Especially in certain positions, we have several players of similar style, so we rotate based on the game. The important thing is that everyone has accepted this and stays focused on the main goal. Nobody here feels the need to prove themselves individually—they’re already big players. What we need to prove is that the Turkish national team can achieve something historic.
Q: In the first three games, we scored 90+ points—something Turkey had never done in a EuroBasket before. Do you know this statistic?
EA: Honestly, I don’t really care much about stats. For me, the most important thing is how we play in that game—our defense. The reason we’ve been able to score this much is mainly our defense. Because we defend so well, we can run in transition, and in set offense, having a player like Alperen who can both score and facilitate makes everything easier.
Q: The start has gone way beyond expectations. As a nation, we tend to live joy and disappointment in extremes, so people are already talking about finals and championships. How important is it to manage the players’ expectations and concentration at this point?
EA: We don’t have a special method. We just approach each game wanting to represent Turkey in the best way and win. We don’t think about quarterfinals, semifinals, or finals ahead of time. We came here for a medal, and for that, we need to win certain games—so we focus game by game.
Up until now, we were the team with the highest capacity in the group, and we used that capacity very well. But from now on, the teams we’ll face will be at our level—Serbia, Germany, Greece, and France. We have Alperen; they have Giannis. We have Cedi, they have Sloukas or Papanikolaou. That’s reality. The real test is now.
Q: Coach Pesic said after Serbia’s last game that this is the best and most complete Turkish national team ever, aside from maybe the Hedo generation. Do you agree?
EA: Pesic is a very important and experienced coach, a world champion. Since we’re playing an important game against them tomorrow, he was kind enough to make such a statement. Of course, we have a very strong roster. But let’s not forget that in the past, Turkey had national teams with not only Hidayet but also Mehmet Okur, İbrahim Kutluay, Harun Erdenay, Kerem Tunçeri, and Mirsad Türkcan—true stars of Turkish basketball. This team is similar in that sense, but whether it’s the strongest in terms of star power will be decided by the results.
Sometimes a roster can be full of stars but not succeed. Sometimes you only have two or three stars, but the contributions of the others lift the whole team to bigger success. Pesic recognizes the strength of this team and expressed it clearly. But for me, it’s too early to call this the best roster in our history. If we achieve the result we’re aiming for, then we can say this is the team that achieved the best outcome.
Q: Let’s talk about individual players, and naturally start with the team’s star. How big an advantage is it for a coach to have a player like Alperen Sengun, who makes difficult things look routine?
EA: Alperen right now has very important qualities and advantages. He’s reached an elite level. Over the last two seasons, he has played outstandingly in the NBA. He narrowly missed the All-Star Game one season and then made it the next, becoming the most important player for the Houston Rockets. That shows his capacity.
But he’s still only 23–24, hungry, and loves the game. He doesn’t treat basketball as just a profession—he truly enjoys it. He also spent most of his career in Turkey and has always played for the national team. Many of these players grew up together, especially in Bandırma, and even if they went their separate ways later—Alperen to the NBA, others to Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Efes—they share that bond.
What I see is that Alperen simply enjoys playing. NBA, national team, practice—it doesn’t matter. He’d enjoy playing even on the street with kids. That’s a huge trait. And it’s not just him—our whole team plays with love and passion. We’re a young team; Sertaç Şanlı is the most experienced player. That’s why I believe if this generation gets a good result here, they’ll carry the confidence to dominate European basketball for the next 5–6 years.
Q: Looking at Cedi Osman, he has always been productive statistically, but this time, he seems mentally stronger and more comfortable. Do you think being in a different role has helped him?
EA: Cedi’s capacity is unquestionable. He was one of the most important players for Cleveland in the NBA for years. But of course, when players return from the NBA to Europe, there are always adaptation challenges. We saw that at Panathinaikos, too—at first, we couldn’t get the expected performance from him. But he’s actually very suited to European basketball. He left for the NBA as a star and was one of the key players of EuroBasket 2017, averaging 17–18 points.
After joining Panathinaikos, he re-adapted to European basketball, and working together again was an advantage. He understood my system, his role within it, and when the same system was applied in the national team, he was very comfortable and confident. I don’t expect anything different from him. Just like in Panathinaikos, where he averaged 30 minutes and was the main small forward in the last months, he’s doing the same here.
On top of that, he has a very positive personality. At Panathinaikos, he was one of the most loved players, and in the national team locker room, he brings the same positivity. Having your captain be such a positive influence also boosts the team’s chemistry.
Q: Let’s talk about Wednesday’s game. Serbia came here as one of the favorites, with a star-studded roster. They had Bogdan Bogdanović, who has always been outstanding in FIBA competitions, but now he’s out with an injury. We have Alperen; they have Jokic—those will be the standards. But so far, Turkey’s supporting cast has looked better than the Serbs. Do you think this matchup will be decided by those second-unit players?
EA: Serbia is at the same level as us—maybe even more experienced in some positions. Jokic is an NBA MVP. Jovic had a great year in the NBA. They have very experienced EuroLeague players like Guduric and Petrusev who log big minutes with their clubs. Serbia is a very strong, very capable team. But so are we.
What I want to emphasize is this: the Serbia game is for first place in the group, but it’s not our championship game. Of course, we will play to win and finish first, but our real “target game” is Saturday in the Round of 16. That’s something we cannot forget. If we beat Serbia but lose in the knockouts, the tournament is over for us. If we lose to Serbia but win the knockout, our medal chances remain the same. That’s why I don’t see this Serbia game as a do-or-die match.
As I said in the press conference, yes, we want to beat Serbia. But if you ask me whether I’d prefer to beat them tomorrow or in the final, I’d choose the final.
We’ll practice tonight and again tomorrow before the game. Then we’ll go out and play our own basketball, just like we’ve been doing so far in this tournament—without extra precautions or double-teams on Jokic. If we win, great—we’ll be first in the group and face the 4th team from the other side. If we lose, we’ll be second and face the 3rd. Either way, our path remains open. Personally, my focus isn’t just Serbia—it’s the medal. Since we already secured a top-two finish, our road is clear, and we’ll continue preparing with that in mind.
Q: You told the Australian media that the only difference between the NBA and Europe is the stars. A lot has been said and written about it. Could you elaborate? Our understanding is that you meant that if you take out the Top 30 or 50 NBA players, the quality gap isn’t that big.
EA: Well, I actually said around 24 players—or one per NBA team. And I said it for a reason. If you look at the NBA regular season, you see very low-tempo games, very soft defense, and a lot of isolation plays. Teams play so many games that the focus isn’t always on winning.
In the NBA, even if a star player is having a terrible night, his minutes are guaranteed—he’ll play 40 minutes, because the fans come to watch his show, not necessarily to see the team win. In Europe, fans come to see victories. That’s why in the EuroLeague, whoever is performing stays on the floor. From the first game of the season to the Final Four, every game is played with the same intensity, with strong defenses, tactical preparation, and heavy crowd pressure.
So, if you take those star players out, I believe the top 10 EuroLeague teams—with their toughness and organization—could disrupt NBA teams. I’ve been saying this for years. Some ask, “Why take out the stars?” Well, because those stars are exceptional. But look at the evidence: in the last World Cup, the USA didn’t bring their top-tier stars and couldn’t even win a medal.
Of course, Serbia had Jokic and Bogdanović, France had Wembanyama. But the last World Cup was very telling for me. Without their top stars, NBA teams struggle. Meanwhile, EuroLeague basketball—with its toughness and fight—feels much stronger compared to the NBA regular season.
And honestly, in terms of entertainment, I think NBA basketball has lost some of its appeal. It’s becoming more and more about show, while the EuroLeague has risen. That’s why the NBA is now trying to set up “NBA Europe.” Would they care about European basketball otherwise? No. But they see the shift: NBA interest is decreasing in Europe, while EuroLeague is growing.
What happens with NBA Europe, I don’t know. But I hope the EuroLeague’s level of competition translates there. Because Europeans don’t care about showtime—they care about winning and championships. That culture comes from football, where the focus is on results, not spectacle.
That’s why I’m confident in saying this: EuroLeague teams are more organized, more competitive, and if you take out the NBA’s very top stars, EuroLeague teams can absolutely compete with them.