By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a quick turnaround from EuroBasket 2025 and winning a silver medal as the head coach of Turkiye, Ergin Ataman took over Panathinaikos Aktor in the preseason, heading to the 2025-26 editions of the EuroLeague and Greece’s Stoiximan GBL.
“We have an excellent team. For the last two years, we have had an excellent team, and now we have signed some new players. I believe that we will fight for all our big goals throughout the season,” the 59-year-old play-caller talked about the Greens during a media session in Australia.
“Right now, it is the preseason. Some players just arrived from the Eurobasket. But as you saw, we have the same system. We are 90% the same and the new players will contribute as well, just like [Vassilis] Toliopoulos did yesterday, who I like very much and will help us a lot, and he is a very smart player,” he referred to the exhibition versus Partizan Mozzart Bet in Melbourne on Thursday.
“I believe that this season, even if Panathinaikos played with two separate teams, both would fight for a spot in the Final Four,” added Ataman.
“Lessort needs more time”
Mathias Lessort is among the players stuck on the injury list during the preseason tournament.
“He needs more time, that’s for sure. But we talked and he told me that he’s doing well and things will probably progress faster than we expect,” said Ataman, “I want Mathias and I hope that when we return to Athens all the players will be on the court for our first EuroLeague game.”
Final Four in Athens
The experienced coach was also asked about the hosting rights of the Final Four 2026 being awarded to Athens by Euroleague Basketball.
“I don’t feel any pressure because it will be played in Athens. The pressure is to be in the Final Four and win. It doesn’t matter where you are,” he explained.
“I want to congratulate all the teams and the league for choosing the most beautiful stadium in Europe,” continued Ataman, “Everyone loves basketball in Athens, not only Panathinaikos fans but also Olympiacos fans. And Olympiacos fans are exceptional and want to be in any Final Four in any city, for sure.”
“Both teams reaching the Final Four is the most important. Just because the Final Four is in Athens, that does not guarantee a place for Panathinaikos and Olympiacos,” he pointed out, “We will fight to be there, and I believe that all Greek basketball fans will be there.”
“For me, it is very difficult to understand why some people in Greece did not want the Final Four to be in their city, in their homeland. I believe that the teams ultimately made the best decision, the smartest decision,” he added.
“I always want to win”
Rewinding to the recent EuroBasket, Ataman reiterated his approach to the losing effort opposite Germany in the gold-medal game.
“Everyone is very happy because after many years, in a tournament outside of Turkiye, we had such a great result. But for me, it’s not the same, because I always want to win, I want to be first. When you lose a game and you don’t have the same strength as your opponent, you can’t be disappointed. But in a game that we had control from the beginning until the last minute, and it’s decided in the last possession, for me it’s disappointing,” he said.