Ergin Ataman, the head coach of Panathinaikos spoke at the press conference following the Round 13 EuroLeague matchup against Partizan.
- Bo McCalebb: How can you not respect Zeljko Obradovic? My only regret is that I didn’t listen to him enough
- Numbers Game: Three trends to follow in EuroLeague Round 13
Claim Now “Partizan started the game very well, we had a lot of problems on defense, and the opponent scored many points in the paint. However, in the second half we changed our defensive principles, began switching, and controlled the pick-and-roll. Kostas Sloukas organized everything perfectly and we took control.
The third quarter was the best, when we went on a 25–0 run. We stopped making the mistakes from the beginning. Sloukas and Kendrick Nunn were outstanding together. Nunn scored in key moments and then everyone contributed. Everyone contributed. We had 44 rebounds, which shows our aggressiveness, and we also had a high number of assists,” the Turkish coach stated.
Kenneth Faried provided a huge boost.
“After Faried joined us, our defensive strategy started to work. Especially in the last four games, we have played very well defensively. We are continuing with that, because offensively we are playing with a lot of confidence. At the start I was very angry because of the terrible defense. Later it was perfect, which shows that it is all about concentration, and that is where we need to improve.”
He continued in the same tone…
“I mention Faried because he is the center, and in our system he is like a goalkeeper in a way. We had many good games with Holmes and with Yurtseven as well. However, there was a period when we were without a center, and that was our worst stretch, when we lost defensive balance. Faried understood the defensive strategy.”
Nikos Rogkavopoulos stepped up brilliantly in the absence of Cedi Osman.
“Osman was injured, and Nikos had more minutes and gave us great contribution. When you have a deep roster, you have the chance to use more players. We did not use Shorts as much because Sloukas, Nunn, and Grant were excellent offensively. Two weeks earlier, Shorts was outstanding in Paris and Madrid. Everyone can play, even if not everyone can be at the same level. Some have problems with injuries, performance, etc. That is why it is important to have alternatives in that sense,” Ergin Ataman concluded.
Kendrick Nunn led Panathinaikos to the win with 26 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Nikos Rogkavokopoulos added 13 points, while Kenneth Faried contributed 12 points and seven rebounds. Juancho Hernangomez finished with eight points but dominated the glass with 15 rebounds, including six on the offensive end.
In the next round of the EuroLeague, Panathinaikos will host Valencia with a 9–4 record.
Without a doubt, the lowest point of Zeljko Obradovic’s tenure that Partizan has reached.
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) November 25, 2025
His face says it all.
What will the legendary coach do and what move will he make after this performance in Athens tonight? pic.twitter.com/JK3OllUJHR
- Referee reports: Why FIBA Champions League is more open than the EuroLeague?
- The hidden cost of EuroLeague intensity: Record number of injuries this year
