By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Shortly following a coach decision to sit Kostas Antetokounmpo on Tuesday, a team decision led to parting ways with the 27-year-old big, among the younger brothers of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“He will not continue on our team,” announced Ergin Ataman during a media session on Wednesday, leading into Round 26 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season and a clash with Anadolu Efes in OAKA Altion on Thursday.
“We have made our decision,” added the head coach of the defending EuroLeague champions, “Our manager talked with his agent and he will certainly play for another team. I do not know if his new team is in Greece or Europe.”
A former NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Antetokounmpo moved to the Greens before the 2023-24 season. He contributed to winning the EuroLeague and GBL championships in 2024 but his playing time was reduced through his second straight season.
Despite limited options in the paint with Mathias Lessort and Omer Yurtseven on the injury list, Ataman will focus on Wenyen Gabriel and Konstantinos Mitoglou to cover the five position, navigating the bottom end of the 2024-25 campaign. Lithuanian sharpshooter Marius Grigonis is sidelined as well.
Starting a two-game week in the EuroLeague Regular Season, Panathinaikos edged out Fenerbahce Beko in OAKA Altion on Tuesday. Preparing for another clash with an Istanbul-based club, the former team of Ataman, a 15-10 tally is tied with three other teams in fourth place of the standings and sits 2.5 games away from leader Olympiacos.