By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Just hours after last night’s defeat by Olympiacos, Panathinaikos players had to practice, and team owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos visited them in the gym.
It was the 10th straight defeat of Panathinaikos to Olympiacos in the EuroLeague, and Giannakopoulos wanted his team to react.
As he said, he didn’t sleep at all, and he also made a warning to the players about their off-court night habits.
The full speech to the team is the following: “First of all, I would like to wish you, your families, and your loved ones a happy new year.
I have been wanting to come for about 1-1.5 months now, but due to various commitments, I couldn’t. It has nothing to do with yesterday’s game.
When things don’t go well in a family in a team, there are no exceptions; everyone is responsible.
I wouldn’t ask you to, but please, don’t be shy. Speak up. Do you have any complaints about the club? Any issues, big or small?
None? Everything is perfect, then…. Respect is a two-way street. Most of you have been with the team for a few years and have entered my black office and have received raises of 50, 100, or even 200%, which you deserve, and I’m clarifying that. Did I negotiate with any of you? I don’t think so. I signed straight away.
Coach, did you ask me for something and I refused? Players or something else? Anything you all ask for doesn’t take more than 5 minutes for me to sign.
Satisfying every wish also increases the expectations of the club for you. The results can be good or bad. Determination and discipline are a team thing.
There must be respect for the biggest jersey in Europe.
My father used to tell me that I have to respect everyone. Respect for people means respect for everyone. And you have to demand it in return.
I don’t think it’s a question of talent.
Is there anyone here who doubts that, individually, we have the greatest talent in Europe? We may not be the best team as a whole, but we have the greatest talent. That’s my opinion, without being a basketball expert, the coach is. We have the best coach in Europe.
Based on history, we have the best basketball culture in Europe. And yet, I don’t see the zeal, I don’t see the thirst.
I won’t mention names. You come and ask for a 100-150% increase, and you get it. But from my side, I demand 250% more professionalism and dedication. More will. Yesterday I didn’t come to the game, but as you can see, I haven’t slept at all.
I was asked to come to the game three times, but I stopped the fourth time to come here and talk to you.
You know, my father never slept after bad results…
We lived in an apartment building, the whole family. When we lost, no lights would turn on. Nobody slept, especially after home losses to Olympiacos.
Olympiacos is one of the best teams in Europe. But it doesn’t have the best roster. Comparing each of you to anyone else, for me, there is no comparison. But they have the zeal. I told you I wanted to come here for a month now. It has nothing to do with yesterday’s game.
What I see is that we enter the games and within a minute we are 15 points behind, and we are running to make up the difference. I don’t see that passion and that zeal that I want. I see it in a few players. In 3, maybe 4, definitely in very few.
I really want to ask you something. When you go home after training, look at yourself in the mirror for five minutes and ask yourself: Am I playing at my best? Am I giving everything? “Deserve” is a difficult word, but I will use it. Do I deserve this contract that I have? This money that I am getting? I think only 3 or 4 players this year can look in the mirror and say, “I deserve it”.
I want to see determination on the court.
I’m sleepless, but I came here to talk to you. This time, I’m going to single someone out, and it has nothing to do with talent or ability.
I want you to see Matias’ determination. He’s an example to follow. Like Sloukas or a few others.
Other players deserve their contracts. I’m not saying that.
I’m not talking about talent. Talent exists and is enough to even beat NBA teams.
Please respect the Club and your contracts. Watch some games from two years ago. Those of you who were here then, ask yourself.
Am I giving what I was giving two years ago? Do I have the same thirst? Or did I rest because I signed a big contract? Or because I take 300 selfies a day, or because I’m part of the biggest team in Europe?
The goal is one: to give your best and go home at night knowing that you gave 100% even after defeats.
I look you in the eye, and I tell you: you are not giving 100%. Only 3 or 4 out of 15-16 players do it. It is a very small percentage.
I expect you to give 100%. We cannot lose to lower-level teams by 15, 20, or 30 points during a match.
I did not sleep yesterday, just like thousands of fans throughout Greece did not sleep.
In the past, I have been extremely strict in matters of discipline of off-field activities. Perhaps the strictest owner of a European team in such matters. You know something… There are matches where we must understand their meaning.
Some things I cannot accept.
I know who drank, how much they drank, and when they drank. I will not mention names, although I know everything. Two days ago, and you know who you are, at 5 o’clock in the morning you were drunk. Is it possible? No. I cannot accept this. Not out of a punitive mood, but because I am in pain about it.
I asked you from the beginning: do you have any complaints? Because if there were any complaints, ok.
Since you do not have any complaints, I do not want to have any either.
I really want to ask you to give 100%, to respect the name of the Club, and to become a team. BECOME A TEAM! With the best roster in Europe, we must play the best basketball in Europe. I am not an expert in the sport. What I understood and liked to see was Alvertis shooting and scoring, or Kendrick doing it from the center. That’s the basketball I understand.
What I do know, though, is that you have to fight for every ball with passion and determination. To dive into the court for every ball. That’s what I want to see. That makes me happy. Okay, who doesn’t want the titles at the end of the year?
I don’t want to have any complaints from any of you, but when I see the ball passing, and you don’t dive to catch it, then yes, I have a complaint.
The coach decides how many minutes you will play, but when I see a player who doesn’t play much being under the basket and not being able to score, I can’t accept it.
You are the best roster in Europe, give the fans, your families, and the Club what we deserve.
We deserve to see the best basketball in Europe. You have the best coach and the best conditions.
Please love your teammates like you love your family. Love the Club and the fans all over Greece who didn’t sleep last night.
Happy New Year to everyone”.