Ergin Ataman, in an interview with Fanatik, discussed Panathinaikos’ success and the club’s finances in the current season.
The Turkish strategist emphasized how the fans believed in his work from day one, highlighting that reaching the EuroLeague Final Four was not solely his achievement but a team effort.
“The Panathinaikos fans believed in me from day one. Perhaps we didn’t start the season in the best possible way, but that belief existed then. You could feel everyone believing in us on the streets, in the stands, the organization gave us extra motivation… It was easier for us to focus on our goals.
Panathinaikos may not have made it to the Final Four in 12 years, but it’s a club with a basketball culture, rich history, trophies… All of that made our job easier.”
Only one player has an astronomical contract
The interest in the fifth playoff game of the EuroLeague between Panathinaikos and Maccabi Tel Aviv was historic, with over 80,000 people on the waiting list for tickets.
“Incredible data, it’s really all a great story. Of course, I didn’t achieve this alone, credit goes to the players, the club, Dimitris Giannakopoulos… He believed in us from day one, and except for the young players, we only kept Marius Grigonis. The whole team has changed,” said Ergin Ataman, adding:
“At that time, everyone thought we spent a lot of money. We gave Kostas Sloukas astronomical resources. We had to do it, we signed the most important player from the ranks of the main rival. They became weaker, and we became stronger. The remaining budget was used very efficiently. The most important thing is that the club doesn’t lose money. With success, revenues have increased. The budget is now equalized with sponsors, TV rights, and ticket revenues.”
“I will be calm”
Ataman promises to be calm and modest in Berlin during the Final Four, stating:
“I will be calm and modest, especially off the court. But of course, we will give our all to win on the court.”
He also addressed his statement about leaving the “Greens” bench if they didn’t qualify for the EuroLeague Final Four.
“When I was disappointed, I said, ‘If we fail to qualify for the Final Four, I won’t be here next year’ to motivate my players. It motivated everyone even more. Losing the first game at home in these series is a big handicap. But we managed to bounce back. There is already a great bond between us, the president, and the club. I think I will stay here for many more years.”