By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Ergin Ataman’s adventure at the head of Panathinaikos hasn’t started in the smoothest way possible, losing three out of his first five games in the EuroLeague with the Greek powerhouse. However, after beating Olympiacos in the domestic league and acquiring Kendrick Nunn, things could change.
Talking to the Anadolu Agency, the Turkish head coach talked about the 28-year-old guard. “We made a big change in the squad. We did not establish a team with astronomical budgets. Our only player with Final Four experience is Kostas Sloukas. We need a scorer and a playmaker. We felt [Kendrick Nunn] was it”, he commented on the former Los Angeles Lakers guard.
The back-to-back EuroLeague champion with Anadolu Efes zoomed in on the former Miami Heat player’s move. “[Kendrick]Nunn also had a notable career in the NBA, he’s someone who averaged 15.0 points two seasons ago. A player who was on LeBron James’ team. When such a possibility arose, we completed this transfer immediately. Many teams were after him, especially Olympiacos”, he added.
However, Dimitris Giannakopoulos – who announced the American guard’s transfer on his Instagram account – made sure he ended up playing with the Greens. “When the president puts his mind to something, he always does it. He will give us strength. It was a great transfer success. The president turned the needle to [Kendrick] Nunn with a big move, just like the [Kostas] Sloukas transfer. I spoke to [Kendrick] Nunn on the phone three days before the transfer. He made his decision on our side”, Ergin Ataman also said.
Spending four years in the NBA by representing the Miami Heat (2019-21), the Los Angeles Lakers (2021-23) and the Washington Wizards (2023), the gold medal winner at the 2012 U17 FIBA World Cup in Lithuania has been averaging 12.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in the United States over 193 total appearances.
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