By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos Aktor captain Kostas Sloukas suffered a left knee injury during the final training session before Tuesday’s Game 1 in the EuroLeague Playoffs versus Valencia in Roig Arena, forcing him to the sidelines for the entire best-of-five series.
The veteran Greek guard experienced intense discomfort during a routine drill, immediately clutching his knee in visible pain, and was rushed to the Ygeia Hospital for emergency diagnostic tests. The results confirmed a meniscus injury that requires immediate surgery, the worst-case scenario for head coach Ergin Ataman. The four-time EuroLeague champion tallied 9.6 points, 5.1 assists, 1.9 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game over 38 appearances in the 2025-26 edition of Europe’s premier club competition.
The news was a shock for the Greens, casting a heavy shadow over their championship aspirations just as the postseason schedule begins. However, this diagnosis extends beyond the duration of the Valencia series, with his availability for any potential 2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad, appearance, and the Playoffs of Greece’s Stoiximan GBL now shrouded in doubt.
Despite this setback, there was a glimmer of positive news on the injury front. Turkish forward Cedi Osman, who had been questionable due to persistent back issues, completed the final training session and will be available for Game 1 opposite the Taronges.
Second-seeded Valencia enters the series with a relatively healthy roster, welcoming back Omari Moore and Jaime Pradilla. Only Xabi Lopez-Arostegui remains on the injury list for head coach Pedro Martinez.