By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Ergin Ataman won the EuroLeague and Greek League in his first year with Panathinaikos.
As a European champion, he challenged NBA champions Boston Celtics to a game against his side.
“After the Boston Celtics became the NBA champions, they tweeted, ‘World Champion Boston.’ The EuroLeague also tweeted, ‘Beat this team first,’ with our photo. They see themselves very highly. They want incredible numbers to come and play a game in Europe. You are not the world champion. If you want to get the world champion title, come and beat us, the EuroLeague champion. If you are so confident, I say come and beat us in OAKA,” Ataman said during an interview on Rafine TV.
He also commented on the possibility of continuing his career in the NBA.
“Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks are in the finals, so they don’t need me. We can move a team from the lower ranks to the upper ranks. I won’t mention any names now. I am very happy at Panathinaikos. If a team is there, they can come when my contract is up; we can talk.”
Ataman believes his coaching style would fit well in the NBA, as shown by the example of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who complimented him after winning his third EuroLeague title in four years.
“NBA basketball is a show. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most valuable players in the NBA. My style, which these players like, includes my relaxed demeanor, connection with the fans, relationship with the players, the team’s playing style, and my bold moves. When we faced each other at the national team level before, Giannis was already interested in my style. After winning the final match, his enthusiasm peaked. If Giannis Antetokounmpo ever becomes the General Manager of a club, I would go to the NBA, but by then, who knows how old I will be,” Ataman added, laughing.
For now, he is the coach of Panathinaikos, and today, the club’s owner teased a possible long-term contract extension with the Turkish coach.
“I’m not in a hurry. There is a serious success and career here. I don’t have a request to ‘extend the contract immediately.’ The president knows how happy I am in this environment and is probably also relaxed. In professional life, you never know what will happen next. We will see what happens in the coming days. Right now, everything is very nice in Athens, and there is tremendous love. After all, this is our job. Of course, I would like to stay at Panathinaikos for many years after this love and success, but as I said, the president and my manager will evaluate this professionally. I don’t like to talk too much about these things. I think Panathinaikos will want to do this in the best way possible. We will look at this in the coming days.”
Panathinaikos’ head coach also talked about reinforcements, with Lorenzo Brown already added to the EuroLeague-winning team.
“In our team, the president usually announces the transfers first. Lorenzo Brown is a very important transfer. He was the most important point guard last season. Integrating him into the team will be very valuable. We will get a player who can play 4-5. We are scouting the market. We are not in a hurry to go and get him; we are calm. We are talking to everyone and looking at developments. We are also looking at players in the NBA. Some European players do not wait and sign immediately, and we say, ‘Okay.’ Last season, there was a star player we wanted. I talked to him many times, but he chose another club. It was for the best. That club couldn’t make the playoffs, but we became champions. So right now, we don’t have a specific target; the president continues negotiations,” Ergin Ataman concluded.