On the EuroLeague Fine

Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman did not hold back when discussing the fine he received from the EuroLeague. The Turkish coach stated that while he will pay the penalty for his comments on officiating, the EuroLeague should be concerned because the NBA is always waiting in the background.

On the Game Against Alba

“All EuroLeague teams have competitive rosters. Alba may not be high in the standings, but they have experienced players like Hermansson, Matt Thomas, Procida, and Spagnola, and they won their last game by scoring 97 points. They are strong offensively, play fast, and excel in transition. It’s crucial for us to protect our home court.”

On Yurtseven’s Condition

“Yurtseven won’t be available tomorrow. Maybe next week he’ll start training with the team, but he hasn’t done so yet, so he will definitely not play.”

On Home Court Advantage

“It doesn’t matter who we face. What matters is securing home-court advantage in the playoffs. We must win all three of our remaining home games. If we can get an additional road win, we’ll secure a top-four finish. Tomorrow’s game is very important because teams like Alba have less pressure and play more freely. Then, we have a crucial match against Paris, where we lost the first encounter. After that, we play Crvena Zvezda, who are competing for a playoff spot. Every game is significant. We must stay focused from start to finish because one mistake could cost us the season.”

On the Fine for Kendrick Nunn

“That’s not my concern, and I don’t know about it.”

On Greek Teams Performing Well in the EuroLeague

“You can analyze that however you like. I don’t care which other Greek teams make the playoffs. My only focus is for Panathinaikos to finish in the top four and secure home-court advantage.”

On the Fine for Himself and Dimitris Giannakopoulos

“I didn’t know about it. One of the EuroLeague’s sponsors is covering these penalties. I hope they find a better sponsor to fund the league. I will pay my fine, but the EuroLeague should look for better solutions because the NBA is always lurking, and they should be worried instead of punishing us.”