By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following a commanding finale to the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Thursday, Donta Hall reflected on the chemistry and resilience that propelled Olympiacos to the top seed in the playoff bracket.
With the Reds finishing the campaign at 26-12, the 28-year-old center emphasized the collective effort required to navigate a turbulent year. “It’s been a long season. It’s been a tough season. A lot of ups and downs with players, and, honestly, it’s a good achievement for us, just finishing the season strong. And get ready for postseason,” he told Eurohoops, highlighting the significance of securing first place in the final standings.
Hall has become a focal point of the frontcourt, largely due to his chemistry with the team’s deep rotation of playmakers. Discussing his ability to finish above the rim, Hall credited his teammates for their unwavering confidence in his verticality.
“All of them have definitely made some wild passes, and just trusting me to go get the ball up there, it’s only a few that can get up there with me, and I feel like they trust me to do that, and they’ve done just that. We came a long way this season, just trusting me to go get the ball upstairs, and that’s what I do. I’m gonna trust him to throw it, and I’m going to go up there upstairs and dunk it.”
This synergy did not develop overnight, as Hall admitted that adapting to the tactical demands of head coach Giorgos Bartzokas required patience.
“Honestly, I just got back to being me, to be real with you. I was him before, but it takes time going to a new team and guys getting adjusted to you and what you do at a high level, and, over the season, it’s definitely gotten better,” he explained.
Looking ahead to the best-of-five playoff series, he maintained a focused, indifferent approach toward their eventual opponent, stating, “No, to be honest, no. We hit one game at a time. We finished the season strong, and now it’s time for the postseason, and it really doesn’t matter. We’re just going to go out and play Olympiacos basketball and have fun playing together.”
Giorgos Bartzokas:
“Hall asked to be substituted so that Milutinov could go in and get the rebounds he needed [to finish 1st in the league].
This is something more important than the fact that he’s playing well. This is precious to find in a personality and touches me deeply.” pic.twitter.com/IyarXpLIlW
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) April 17, 2026
Beyond his statistical contributions of 7.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, Hall’s character earned him specific praise from Bartzokas. In a display of veteran leadership, he requested a late-game substitution to allow Nikola Milutinov the opportunity to secure the rebounds needed to finish first in the league.
“Hall asked to be substituted so that Milutinov could go in and get the rebounds he needed. This is something more important than the fact that he’s playing well. This is precious to find in a personality and touches me deeply,” the 60-year-old play-caller remarked.
A veteran of 181 career EuroLeague appearances, he leads the roster into the quest for a Final Four ticket. “We got a full roster, crazy roster, honestly, but, like you had ups and downs, had guys going in and out, injuries and stuff like that, but we managed to make it work, and, like I said, the next man up, we all bring something different, that energy, and feel like we’ve done that together this year.”