By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Giorgos Bartzokas is getting ready for Lokomotiv Kuban for the upcoming Euroleague Final Four, but his name is already mentioned in reports all over Europe.
The Greek coach who can already be considered a prime candidate for the coach of the year award in Euroleague, is linked with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Anadolu Efes and lately with Barcelona, according to “El Mundo Deportivo”. Bartzokas himself denied the rumors about Maccabi and Efes, however it’s obvious that the summer for him will be more than interesting.
The main question is if he will continue his career in Russia, considering the fact that Lokomotiv has not secured a place in the Euroleague next season and needs to do so via the VTB playoffs. And of course, Lokomotiv without any pressure is the position to compete for the Euroleague title. As Bartzokas admitted today, speaking on the Greek station Sport24 radio: “No, the Final Four was not one of our main goals. I didn’t even think about it. However, specially after the Top16, things changed. When you beat four times Barcelona and three times Panathinaikos, this is only natural”.