Although Cedi Osman led the PAOK to victory against APU Udine, head coach Andrea Trinchieri did not hide his deep disappointment with his team’s attitude in the closing minutes.
The experienced Italian tactician took the opportunity to publicly criticize and “challenge” 22-year-old Nikos Bazinas after a very lackluster performance. Speaking to the media, Trinchieri noted that he was pleased with certain stretches of the game, but his breakdown of the final quarter was exceptionally harsh and unfiltered.
“We were sh*t in the fourth quarter”
Assessing the drop in focus from his players while holding a commanding lead, the PAOK head coach did not mince words:
“Fourth quarter. It was sh*t. It was really bad in terms of our mentality, body language, and overall attitude. I understand we were leading by 20, 25, 27 points, but that is not what we want. And that is exactly what I emphasized to my players. As for everything else, there were things we did well.”
Cedi Osman’s first basket in a #PAOK jersey ⚪️⚫️
— PAOK BC (@PAOKbasketball) September 5, 2026
More to come 🔜 Highlights ⏳ pic.twitter.com/SFudl6R5He
“In terms of energy, we were good; as for running the floor, we were okay. We had a lot of defensive issues, but I also think our legs were heavy.”
Public Lesson for Bazinas
The Italian strategist devoted a specific portion of his address to young Greek point guard Nikos Bazinas, who received an opportunity but sparked serious wrath from the head coach due to on-court mistakes. Trinchieri intentionally used provocative language to trigger a response from his young player:
“Honestly, I don’t know if you will see him in the rotation again after this game. I expect something completely different from a 22-year-old player.”
“When you are young, you are prone to making mistakes because you are inexperienced. And mistakes are part of the game. Basketball is a game of mistakes. Today he dragged the team to the bottom, and I am very, very disappointed.”
However, towards the end, Trinchieri toned down his message and clarified that the intense criticism came from a place of trust:
“I trust him, as I honestly told Bazinas, now I am challenging him. Because I believe in him a lot. I am a coach, not Santa Claus. I don’t give out gifts. If I send you onto the floor, I believe you can help the team.”
A project built for greatness: Osman, Calathes, and PAOK’s formidable roster
Such a demanding reaction from Andrea Trinchieri and his relentless pursuit of perfection come as no surprise, considering PAOK assembled an exceptionally powerful and ambitious sports project in Thessaloniki this summer. Hiring the former Partizan head coach was only the foundation of a complete rebuild, crowned by the massive acquisition of Cedi Osman, a move that stunned the European basketball landscape.
Alongside the Turkish star, the Black-and-Whites’ management ensured the coaching staff received a roster built to contend for silverware. Playmaking duties have been entrusted to legendary Greek point guard Nick Calathes, while scoring production and frontcourt physicality are guaranteed by proven talents like Marcus Foster, Kyle Alexander, and former NBA forward RaiQuan Gray. With this level of high-caliber talent in the locker room, PAOK has made it clear that lapses in concentration and lack of discipline will not be tolerated in the upcoming season.
