Georgios Bartzokas has opened up on several important topics surrounding Olympiacos ahead of the new EuroLeague season, including the departures of Thomas Walkup and Moustapha Fall, the club’s approach to roster building and Zeljko Obradovic’s recent praise for the reigning European champions.
Olympiacos enters the new campaign after winning the EuroLeague, but the roster has undergone significant changes during the offseason. The departures of two experienced players who played important roles under Bartzokas have been among the most notable developments.
Speaking to SPORT24, the Greek head coach discussed the emotional side of those decisions, the philosophy behind adding new players and the importance of maintaining a strong core within the roster.
Georgios Bartzokas on Thomas Walkup and Moustapha Fall departures
The departures of Walkup and Fall represented the end of an important chapter for Olympiacos and Bartzokas personally.
“Basically, sports are becoming more and more of a business. It is no secret that both players were extremely important to us and to me personally over the previous years. These developments saddened me a lot. I would have liked to continue working with them. For various reasons, that did not happen. I am not saying this so much because Fall went to Panathinaikos. Obviously, that also upset me, to be honest.
“In any case, we had to make certain decisions. And even if he had not gone to Panathinaikos, the end of my cooperation with Fall would have saddened me, but it was something that had to happen. And with Walkup, there was this situation and that had to happen as well. In life, things happen when they have to happen.”
Asked whether he felt any bitterness about the developments, the Olympiacos coach was unequivocal.
“Somewhat bitter? No, no. I got over those things many years ago.”
What does Bartzokas want from Olympiacos’ new additions?
Olympiacos has had to make adjustments while trying to preserve the balance that has defined the team under Bartzokas. The Greek coach explained that his approach to recruitment depends on the position and the individual player, but that he generally wants players capable of contributing on both ends of the floor.
“It depends on which player and at which position. It is a very complex issue to answer in just a couple of words. Obviously, information plays a role. If possible, the player should be good at both ends of the floor. And if, for example, in the case of our signing of Ndiaye, we are overflowing with offensive talent, then we also need to get a player who gives us balance.”
“The fans, of course, always want someone who scores 40 points in every game, but if you only put players like that together, you don’t win anything. So you have to find a combination of players who do things that may not be as attractive to the fans.”
Bartzokas explains why Olympiacos needs a core
Georgios Bartzokas understands why Olympiacos fans constantly follow the transfer market, particularly during the summer when there are no competitive games to discuss.
“Look, summer is always for the fans. During the winter, everyone is concerned with the games, with criticizing the team and the coach or with the joy that victories and titles bring. In the summer, because the adrenaline that sport provides is missing, people want to open websites, not newspapers like in the old days, and read about which player we signed.”
“I used to do the same thing as an Olympiacos fan, in football, basketball and every other sport. Who did we sign, the player who would spark new discussions? Whether he is good or not? How will he be? We think about how he will be. So I understand that it is absolutely logical.”
“On the other hand, though, I consider it extremely important to have a core of players with whom the fans develop an emotional connection. Because there are players nowadays, given the way international football is, who come and go, and after a few months I forget their names even though they played for our team. I am not saying this about Olympiacos; I mean all teams. It happens.”
So I would say that having a core of players is important. Adding players every year, but not in large numbers, and strengthening the existing core is equally important.”
That does not mean Olympiacos will automatically close the door on further additions.
“Obviously, I need to see the team play together. Whether you bring in players during the season is something influenced by many factors. Whether you see sporting gaps, whether something is missing on the court, whether it is a matter of health or injuries, or whether someone is vulnerable to injuries and you need to support that player. All of these things play a role.”
Olympiacos faces a demanding start away from home
Another factor Georgios Bartzokas believes should not be overlooked is the amount of time Olympiacos will spend away from its home environment at the beginning of the season, as the team’s home arena is undergoing renovations.
“A very important role, and everyone needs to understand that. And I am talking about the general public, our fans first and foremost, but also journalists. Not playing at home always causes a great deal of wear and tear. Because you move away from your routines and, obviously, we will not have the home-court advantage we would have here with our fans.”
“We will be forced to play many games away from home at the beginning, and all of us, the fans, the management, ourselves and the players, need to be patient and focus, as always, on the present, but also on the fact that as the season progresses we will have more weapons than we have at the beginning.”
Georgios Bartzokas responds to Zeljko Obradovic’s praise
The final topic produced perhaps the most interesting exchange of the interview, with Bartzokas asked about Zeljko Obradovic’s comments regarding Olympiacos and their style of play.
“‘Praising’ is a very relative word, and I think it is a great exaggeration to put it that way. He simply used an example, which was random, in the sense that he spoke about the team that won the EuroLeague. If it had been another team, he would have used another team.
“Zeljko Obradovic and I have an excellent relationship, which was built through basketball, through respect, but also on a personal level. He is someone who is very good company. So I thank him very much for those words. Perhaps it is a kind of confirmation for those who question us and always have something to say that, in any case, Olympiacos must have done something right to win the EuroLeague.”
