Kalaitzakis: “The Panathinaikos roster is overcrowded – We can do something big in the coming years with the National Team”

The Panathinaikos guard gave an interview to Cosmote TV, Panagiotis Kalaitzakiswho called this year’s “green” roster overfull, while he also talked about the role he loves to play on the court, about Ataman, the Panathinaikos-Olympiakos comparison and the National team.

In detail what he said:



For his terrible nailing in the match with Karditsa: “I had done it again last year, I think with Aris. Exactly the same pick n roll, Nan’s shot misses and I had come to make the follow-up nail”.

On whether Panathinaikos is where it needs to be right now in the season: “I don’t think we are where we would like to be. We still haven’t managed to do a training together. Antetokounmpo is still missing. We are one of the best teams in Europe, if not the best. We have the ability to get better and we will. The Panathinaikos roster is overfull in all positions. We know our roles, we know what the coach is asking and every time we go in we know what we have to do. Most of us played together last year as well. Lorenzo is one of the best point guards in the Euroleague. Osman and Yurtseven have experience from the NBA and we are happy to have them”.

On his role at Panathinaikos: “I love being on the field and whatever I have to do to be in it, that’s what I’m going to do. It’s something I like. To mark the best players of the opposing team. Gives the team energy”.

For Ataman: “Each coach is different. He likes to make big statements like he did last year that we’re going to win the Euroleague, when our backs were against the wall. I don’t think anyone else does that, he’s not afraid to say what he thinks. He has confidence in his players and his team”

For the National Team: “It’s just the beginning. I believe in us and what we can do. We had a very good run, undefeated in the Pre-Olympics and 8th in the Olympics. We worked well, we got close to the children. Honor and great awe to play for your country. A dream we have had since we were little children. In the next two years, we can do something big. Of course, if Giannis is healthy and can help us, Sloukas, Papapetrou. If we are all together, we can bring success to our country that we have many years to see”.

For the battles with Olympiakos: “It is still too early to say what we excel at and if we excel at something, us or Olympiacos. Me and my teammates want to help my team win. Happy New Year to us and to the Olympiakos team”.