By Panagiotis Vlachos/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos Aktor has officially reinstalled Dejan Bodiroga’s EuroLeague championship banner at Telekom Center Athens, ending a dispute between the Greek club and the Euroleague Basketball president.
The initial controversy erupted last March during halftime of the Greek derby against archrivals Olympiacos in the EuroLeague. Disgruntled by several refereeing decisions during the opening half of the match, team owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos ordered the immediate removal of Bodiroga’s standard from the arena’s rafters as an explicit sign of protest. For the duration of its absence, the flag for the championship in 2002 was replaced by an alternative piece honoring club legend Fragiskos Alvertis.
The decision to take down the tribute sparked widespread debate, given Bodiroga’s revered status in Athens. During his celebrated tenure with the Greens from 1998 to 2002, the Serbian forward led Panathinaikos to two continental titles, establishing himself as one of the most beloved figures in the team’s history.
Recognizing the drastic nature of the demonstration, Giannakopoulos publicly admitted a few weeks before the reinstatement that the choice, while fueled by active criticism, was a mistake that needed correcting. He emphasized that the Euroleague Basketball president remains an undisputed titan of European basketball and a personal friend.
With legendary head coach Zeljko Obradovic back in charge following his monumental return to the club, Panathinaikos is currently preparing for the start of official games on the 2026–27 schedule. They are fine-tuning their strategy during preseason tournaments as they gear up for their EuroLeague opener against Paris. The continental campaign tips off on home soil on September 24.
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