NBA
Ataman throws down the gauntlet to the Boston Celtics
Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman challenges the NBA champions, after guiding his team to a seventh Euroleague title.
Ergin Ataman is quite a character. Always direct, sometimes humorous and nearly always interesting in his statements and observations - a delight for sports journalists. He was the mastermind behind historic teams such as Anadolu Efes - a side full of generational talents which won back-to-back Euroleagues.
Ataman guides the Greens to the double in his first year
Ataman always managed to beat the greatest, imposing fear on his rivals, first at then press conference and then out on court. And now, on board at Panathinaikos since last year, where he guided the Greens to glory in the Euroleague, to clinch the seventh title in Panathinaikos’ history - and capped off a memorable first year in charge by winning the Greek Basket League (GBL) - their 40th domestic title.
The European champions versus the NBA champions
Now, the Turkish coach has spoken out again. And again his message could not have been clearer - especially with the nomenclature of world champions that the NBA assigns to its champion, in this case to thus year’s winners, the Boston Celtics.
“If they want to win the title of world champion, let them come and beat us, the Euroleague champions. If you are so confident, come and beat us at the OAKA,” Araman said this week, challenging Joe Mazzulla’s side.
A clear declaration of intent from a coach who never tires of winning or being faithful to his style. And he has also stated that Panathinaikos are capable of winning the next five Euroleagues in a row - if they do, they would surpass Real Madrid’s record tally of 11 European titles along the way...