Panathinaikos will dream their biggest dreams in the upcoming season since 2011 when they last climbed to the top of Europe.
After almost a decade of wandering, the “Greens” have decided to return to the paths of their former glory in the EuroLeague, resulting in the formation of a “dream team” under the coaching expertise of Ergin Ataman. The Turkish strategist showcased his ability to build a system conducive to winning elite competitions while at the helm of Anadolu Efes. Now, it’s time to apply the same recipe at the Athens giant.
As a reminder, Panathinaikos finished the previous season in the 17th position in the EuroLeague, with a dismal record of just nine wins and a staggering 23 losses. It’s worth noting that the “Greens” changed two coaches and several players in their roster during the last season. The trophy drought in the past basketball year served as a trigger for the club’s leaders to make numerous revolutionary moves during the summer.
The OAKA is once again the place where the biggest dreams are dreamed
Since Zeljko Obradovic’s departure in 2012, Panathinaikos hasn’t made it to the EuroLeague Final Four even once. Coaches, players, and even the management structure have changed. Dimitrios Giannakopoulos was formally the constant owner, but at one point, he stepped back from running the club. The departure of his arch-enemy Jordi Bertomeu was the call to invest heavily again in the Athens “Greens,” and the controversial Giannakopoulos did just that. First, Ergin Ataman was appointed as the head coach, a man who shares one common trait with the Panathinaikos owner: they both have the word “most controversial” next to their names in their professions.
Ataman did exactly the same as when he took over Anadolu Efes in 2017, at a time when they were the last team in the EuroLeague. “He demolished the house from its foundations…”. Back then, only Krunoslav Simon and Bryant Dunston remained on the team, and this time, Marius Grigonis was the sole “lucky one.” The Turkish coach has already shown how to build the most powerful team in Europe from “scratch,” and this time, he decided to entrust the keys of the team to Kostas Sloukas. Bartzokas didn’t want to give him the role of the main player and 25+ minutes on the court continuously. Ataman did! And that will be enough motivation for Sloukas to play the season with unprecedented determination. He received money that Olympiacos wouldn’t have given him even in their wildest dreams, but such a “transfer” is a stab in the heart for Olympiacos. Giannakopoulos would probably have given even more if Sloukas had asked for it…
Alongside Sloukas, the backcourt will feature players who mostly lack extensive EuroLeague experience. Jerian Grant was one of the best point guards in the EuroCup while playing for Turk Telekom, Kyle Guy impressed in Joventut, and young Dimitrios Moraitis will make his debut on the big stage. The term experience is only associated with Luca Vildoza, and Ataman has a significant task to distribute the roles correctly. Panathinaikos has “captured” Ioannis Papapetrou and Mathias Lessort from Partizan, and they will share minutes in the frontcourt with Juancho Hernangomez, Aleksander Balcerowski and Dinos Mitoglou.
Panathinaikos has spent a lot of money between seasons, and the expectations will be as high as possible, but it’s not realistic to reach the top overnight. The impression is that the team is very well-balanced and players were not signed “just for the sake of it.” To enter the conversation for the EuroLeague Final Four, it will be essential for Grant and Guy to truly be “strengthenings,” and for Papapetrou to be even better than last year. They might sign another “three-pointer” at some point, although that might not be necessary if Grigonis plays like he did back in Zalgiris… When he was the best small forward in this competition alongside Vladimir Lucic. One thing is certain. “OAKA” will be on fire from the first game, which wasn’t the case in previous years, and that’s not a negligible factor.
EuroLeague Preview – Panathinaikos: Roster for the upcoming season
Kyle Guy /188cm/ – USA
Kostas Sloukas /190cm/ – GRE
Luca Vildoza /191cm/ – ARG
Dimitris Moraitis /194cm/ – GRE
Jerian Grant /196cm/ – USA
Neoklis Avdalas /196cm/ – GRE
Marius Grigonis /198cm/ – LTU
Panagiotis Kalaitzakis /200cm/ – GRE
Ioannis Papapetrou /206cm/ – GRE
Mathias Lessort /206cm/ – FRA
Juancho Hernangomez /206cm/ – SPA
Lefteris Mantzoukas /207cm/ – GRE
Kostas Antetokounmpo /208cm/ – GRE
Dinos Mitoglou /210cm/ – GRE
Aleksander Balcerowski /217cm/ – POL
Departures: Georgios Papagiannis, Paris Lee, Nate Wolters, Derrick Williams, Arturas Gudaitis, Matt Thomas, Mateusz Ponitka, Lefters Bochoridis, Dimitrios Agravanis, Georgios Kalaitzakis
Arrivals: Kyle Guy, Kostas Sloukas, Luca Vildoza, Dimitris Moraitis, Jerian Grant, Ioannis Papapetrou, Mathias Lessort, Juancho Hernangomez, Kostas Antetokounmpo, Dinos Mitoglou, Aleksander Balcerowski
EuroLeague Preview – Panathinaikos: Greatest Success in the competition
The rise of the giants from Athens on the European stage occurred only in the mid-1990s when the club secured its first EuroLeague title. Under the coaching of Bozidar Maljkovic, Panathinaikos created a “dream team” in 1995, tasked with reaching the pinnacle of the continent, which they accomplished in 1996. Dominique Wilkins, alongside Giannakis, Vrankovic, Alvertis, and Patavoukas, led Panathinaikos to its first European championship by defeating Barcelona in the final (67:66), marking the beginning of the club’s golden era.
With Zeljko Obradovic taking charge of Panathinaikos, the “Greens” became the most dominant club in Europe. The Serbian head coach claimed the EuroLeague trophy in 2000 and repeated the same success two seasons later (with a loss in the final in between). The current coach of Partizan lifted the prestigious competition’s trophy three more times with the Athens powerhouse (2007, 2009, 2011), solidifying his status as a deity in the OAKA arena.
After Obradovic’s departure, Panathinaikos swiftly declined to a level where merely participating in the EuroLeague playoffs became a satisfactory achievement. Numerous coaching changes, an unstable budget, and unclear ambitions from the club’s leadership led to the six-time EuroLeague champion becoming a team that hasn’t been competitive enough for a playoff spot for several seasons.
Few words about the head coach – Ergin Ataman
Ergin Ataman is facing undoubtedly the biggest challenge of his career, as instant results are expected from him. The Turkish strategist has been given a free hand to assemble a “dream team” to his liking, so anything less than reaching the EuroLeague Final Four in the near future will be considered a failure. Ataman has already won the EuroLeague twice in his career, and now he is expected to apply the same recipe at the Athens club.
Ataman’s coaching career began back in 1996 when he served as an assistant coach at Turk Telekom. The first club he independently managed was Karsiyaka in 1999, followed by a move to a higher level with Anadolu Efes. He had his first foreign coaching experience with Montepaschi in Italy (2001-2003), and it’s worth noting that he also coached Fortitudo in Italy.
His greatest successes are tied to Turkey, where, in addition to the aforementioned clubs, he also managed Ulkersport, Besiktas, and Galatasaray. He earned legendary status in his home country by winning six Turkish Super League titles along with an equal number of national cups and eight President’s Cups.
Interestingly, Ergin Ataman has coached three out of four fierce rivals in Turkish basketball, bringing numerous joys to each of them on the European stage. As the coach of Besiktas, he won the FIBA EuroChallenge in 2012, and five seasons later, he lifted the EuroCup trophy with Galatasaray. There’s no need to elaborate on his tenure at Anadolu Efes, as the “punitive expedition” from Istanbul was the European champion twice in the past three years.
New challenges await Ataman in Athens, and if the pieces fall into place on time, we might witness the creation of a dynasty similar to the one he established at Anadolu Efes. Whether the Turkish coach becomes a “colonel or a casualty” in the OAKA arena will be revealed in the years to come.
![Ergin Ataman](https://basketballsphere.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ataman-2.png)
EuroLeague Preview – Panathinaikos: Expectations
When you “open the purse strings,” as Dimitris Giannakopoulos has done, bringing in the best available players, there’s certainly no settling for an outcome that doesn’t position you at the top of the EuroLeague. Despite it being Ergin Ataman’s and most players’ debut season with the Athens club, there’s no excuse for a potential absence from the playoffs (maybe even the Final Four).
The Turkish strategist has been given a free hand and a team tailored to his preferences. The OAKA Arena will be packed to the rafters at every game, providing the players with an extra push when playing on home turf. It’s expected that the “Greens” will have good and bad days, wins and losses, but from this perspective, it’s entirely realistic to predict they will finish the regular season in one of the top four spots on the table.
The sheer quality in the squad, coupled with the depth of the bench and the arrival of a seasoned coach, sends a clear message to the European basketball community that “green is back in style.” In the long run, the Athens club is almost certainly gearing up for a battle for the EuroLeague trophy. Whether this will be the case in the upcoming season depends solely on Ataman and his chosen players.