Ataman: “Panathinaikos can be a dynasty – Giannis told me that I am the best coach in the world”

The belief that the Panathinaikos can make a dynasty in the EuroLeague expressed o Ergin Ataman after winning the title.

“It’s a fantastic feeling. This season and especially tonight we made one of the most impressive results in the history of European basketball. Panathinaikos, after so many years without a presence in the Final 4, from 17th place reached first place in front of approximately 15 thousand spectators. In the first period you might all have thought ‘it’s going to be a boring final’. But not us. From the time outs, we were talking about becoming more aggressive in defense. In the third quarter we conceded only seven points and in the fourth quarter we played perfectly. As always, the first team in the regular season does not get the title, we are the champions. I told Sluka he was going to be MVP when they didn’t pick him in the top five“, he emphasized.

When asked if Panathinaikos can create a new dynasty, he replied with a smile:Certainly, it could be the beginning of a new dynasty. From the moment we met at the airport, Sluka and I said we were rivals, but we had a lot of respect. He has a two-year contract, I have one, so I can’t guarantee for more than a year».

Regarding whether he expected Panathinaikos to reach the title in the first season, he said: “Maybe we won’t get it, but I believed from the beginning that we can go to the Final 4. We went step by step and when we got to the Final 4 I believed it. We got two wins and we did it».

Asked to comment on the fact that he was not named coach of the year, he pointed out: “Chus Mateo deserved the award in the regular season. Real Madrid may have excellent players, but you have to be able to manage such material. But the coach of the year never won the title, that’s why I said to him ‘you better get the title, I’ll win the Euroleague’. I don’t remember when I got the award, but I remember my achievements».

Regarding Galatasaray winning the championship, he said:It gives me extra joy that Galata won the football championship. I congratulate her on the title».

Regarding Sluka’s move to invite him to lift the trophy together, he said: “My father has been by my side in all the conquests so far. I lost him a month ago. When he died, Slukas and other players told me that we will honor you and try to get the title. Kostas told his teammates ‘the coach will take us to the final’. And step by step we succeeded. Slukas insisted that we lift the trophy together and that shows the love and respect that unites us.”

On how he changed the mentality of the team he said:In the first training session I showed the players the six banners with the titles in OAKA and told them that I came to add one more. I said the same thing at the last practice before we flew to Berlin. I have faith in myself and I want to thank the Greek fans for their respect and loyalty from day one. Even though we lost by 25 points in the Super Cup to Olympiakos, when I came to Athens and I was a bit… scared, the whole world trusted me and here we are».

At the same time, he revealed that Giannis Antetokounmpo “… he hugged me, congratulated me and told me that I am the best coach in the world. Not of Europe, of the world!».

Finally, regarding whether there are similarities in the three Euroleagues he has won, he said:We had a chance to become a team since we played a total of 41 matches to win the title. When you are a new team you improve every day. In my first Euroleague I was nervous and excited. But then I got used to it. Yesterday and today I was very calm and confident. I told my players ‘don’t think it’s a final, just play your basketball’. You should not think about the result, but play your game. Today we scored 36 points in the first quarter, we were down by 14, but we didn’t panic. The same thing happened in the series with Maccabi».