By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The heated rivalry between Olympiacos Piraeus and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens continued long after the final buzzer of Game 5 of the Greek League Finals, as controversy, accusations, and public statements overshadowed Olympiacos’ championship celebration.
Olympiacos secured the league title on home court at the Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF), defeating their archrivals in a tense and emotionally charged series. However, the aftermath of the decisive game quickly became the center of attention.
Following the contest, Panathinaikos star guard Kendrick Nunn and Olympiacos center Tyrique Jones, both of whom had been ejected during the game, were involved in a physical altercation in the locker room area. Video footage of the incident soon circulated on social media, sparking widespread discussion among fans and media.
Nunn’s partner, Blen Kiya, publicly defended the former EuroLeague MVP through a series of Instagram stories.
“If you ever see my man fighting a bear. HELP THE BEAR,” Kiya wrote. “He’ll never start it, but he’ll definitely finish it. Big & slow. None of those punches connected, but you definitely ate a few.”
In another apparent reference to Jones, she added: “Lesson learned: don’t start none, won’t be Nunn.”
Kiya later praised Nunn’s achievements and character, posting: “Love u 25 so proud of you always standing taller, you are the one, and only you are a champ, MVP, and much more! Your impact is impeccable. Don’t ever forget that.”
The social media reaction was not limited to Nunn’s family circle. Emily Grant, the wife of Panathinaikos guard Jerian Grant, also voiced strong criticism of Olympiacos and the overall environment surrounding the Finals.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Grant alleged that the championship series was affected by favoritism and unfair treatment toward Panathinaikos.
“When the kids and I first moved to Greece, so many fans tried to warn me about Olympiacos’ organization and how corrupt and dirty it has been for years,” Grant wrote. “Not just in basketball. I listened, but I didn’t really know much at the time. But now, experiencing it for myself, I see every bit of what they meant.”
She went on to claim that Olympiacos benefited from institutional support throughout the series.
“Strings are pulled for this team. It is never a fair chance with them, and sadly, we all kind of knew how it would end,” she wrote. “As an American, I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’m genuinely sorry to Panathinaikos fans who have had to endure this favoritism all these years.”
Grant concluded her statement by questioning the legitimacy of the title celebration.
“For the real, true basketball players that know the game and respect the game, they didn’t hold that trophy up with joy last night. For their hearts know it was an entire robbery!”
Adding another layer to the controversy, the Greek professional basketball players’ association (PSAK) issued a statement condemning what it described as an attack by Tyrique Jones against Kendrick Nunn following the game.
Make