By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Dimitris Giannakopulous already welcomed Ergin Ataman to Panathinaikos Athens, who agreed on a two-year deal with the Greek powerhouse starting from the next season, as multiple sources confirmed to Eurohoops.
On a teaser for a TV interview for NTV, the two-time European champion practically announced he will be joining Panathinaikos, but wanted to show respect to his current club Anadolu Efes, since he will guide the Istanbul team in the upcoming playoffs.
“I had a meeting with the president of Panathinaikos. In our first meeting, we agreed on many issues in principle, but I am currently the coach of Anadolu Efes and a fight continues in the Turkish Basketball Super League. After this fight is over, we will sit down with our president again, but most likely, 90% seems like I will undertake this mission. Here, too, I think that one of the biggest supports will be both the Turkish people and our club president Tuncay Özilhan and his management. If this happens, I am excited to be working for a Greek team for the first time, and in one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Maybe I just need this excitement,” Ataman said.
Ataman will be the first Turk to coach in Greece, and Giannakopoulos recently said that Panathinaikos will build a strong team to return to its former glory.