By Giorgos Adamopoulos / gadamopoulos@eurohoops.net
Preparing for the most important challenge of the 2024-25 campaign with Panathinaikos Aktor, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, Cedi Osman sat down with Eurohoops to discuss his season so far and the possibility of becoming lifting a trophy in Abu Dhabi.
“You can say that,” he admitted to using his experience of playing alongside LeBron James and perhaps Victor Wembanyama to emerge as the unsung hero of the Greens, “People know me as a guy who plays hard and with a lot of emotions every time, no matter who the opponent is. So, whenever the game is on, I will come in and do my best every time, put 100% of an effort every game, offensive and defensively.”
The 30-year-old forward played 495 NBA games between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs before returning to Europe and joining the defending EuroLeague champions in September. He recently signed a two-year contract extension.
“Here, right now, I’m able to take responsibility, the important shots, and be one of the most important players on the team. That’s what is keeping me here. Obviously, the fans, the love that I’m getting here. I’m just happy that I’m here, signed for my first year and extended for another two, obviously,” he talked about committing his future to Panathinaikos versus considering potential NBA options, “I will do everything for this team, for the fans, to win as many as we can.”
In the championship-crowning tournament of Europe’s premier club continental competition, his side faces Fenerbahce Beko in Etihad Arena on May 23. With archrival Olympiacos on the opposite end of the bracket against AS Monaco, the eternal enemies can meet in the championship game on May 25.
“I would love to see two Greek teams playing against each other,” he revealed to Eurohoops, “This is something that I would love to play against Olympiacos in the Final. Winning a championship by beating them would be even more amazing, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves, because at this point it’s not important who we play, just important to win every game, step by step.”
The interview also featured a preview of the clash opposite Fener, playing for injured teammates Mathias Lessort and Marius Grigonis during the season, facing his former team, Anadolu Efes, in the Playoffs, and jersey selection to following the team coached by Ergin Ataman during the successful 2023-24 journey.
“He’s shown a lot of times that he wins this kind of games. I would be very surprised if they lost and didn’t go to the Final Four,” Osman recalled the Turkish head coach warning about his departure if the Greens were eliminated by Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the Playoffs.