By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After scoring 29 points in the Game 5 win, Panathinaikos guard Kostas Sloukas made some sarcastic remarks addressed to Olympiacos presidents Panagiotis and Giorgos Aggelopoulos and coach Giorgos Bartzokas, implying that their behavior pushed him to sign with the Greens.
In the opening comment of his press conference, Sloukas stated: “I want to thank from the bottom of my heart for the arrogance, lack of respect, and contempt that brothers Aggelopoulos and Mr. Bartzokas showed me. They opened a door due to my motivation as an athlete. They opened the door of Panathinaikos. I saw people who were thirsty and believed in me from the first moment and supported me in difficult moments. For me, this is the greatest vindication. It was tough for me all year. I preferred to not answer, I answered on the court with my team. This offer by Panathinaikos was ‘there’ for 10 years.”
Sloukas signed with Panathinaikos after spending three seasons with Olympiacos in his second stint with the Reds. The Greek star had some negotiations with Olympiacos regarding a potential extension but ultimately the two sides didn’t reach an agreement and he later landed at Panathinaikos.
“My utmost respect for the Aggelopoulos brothers wasn’t imposed but inspired,” Sloukas had written back then.
Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos echoed his star by writing on his IG account that he is thankful to Olympiacos for releasing “the biggest Greek player”.