Zeljko Obradovic and Dimitris Diamantidis are reunited at Panathinaikos, more than a decade after creating one of the greatest partnerships in EuroLeague history.
Zeljko Obradovic became the new head coach of Panathinaikos this summer, with Dimitris Diamantidis later joining his coaching staff as an assistant. Their reunion became one of the notable EuroLeague transactions of the offseason, bringing back, in a different role, a partnership that defined the most successful era in the club’s history.
Zeljko Obradovic and Dimitris Diamantidis at Panathinaikos
The Serbian coach was in charge of the club from 1999 to 2012, winning numerous domestic trophies in Greece as well as five EuroLeague titles.
During that period, Diamantidis developed under Obradovic and became one of the greatest players in EuroLeague history.
While watching footage from 2011, when Panathinaikos defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv in the EuroLeague Final in Barcelona, Obradovic began talking about his relationship with his new assistant.
“Yes, it was a team that was champion of Europe. So if you spend time with someone every day, for many hours, it’s obvious that you need to have a relationship where everyone respects each other. And this is the main thing. After that, you go to philosophy, you go to everything that exists, you know, between people. And, okay, I’m the coach, they are the players, but I like to talk to them, I like to show them the love that I have for them, and finally, as a coach, to create the atmosphere that is necessary to be at the level to have, finally, a good game and good results.”
Beyond the X's and O's.
— EuroLeague Head Coaches Board – EHCB (@HeadCoachesOrg) July 8, 2026
In the first edition of Throwback Moment, Željko Obradović and Dimitris Diamantidis share what truly defines a coach-player relationship.
Trust. Respect. Loyalty.
Watch the full story. pic.twitter.com/Yf2PSYlsLs
Diamantidis: I feel Obradovic is like my father on the court
Diamantidis continued speaking about the same topic.
“Always good memories with the coach and the team that I used to play for for 12 years. Great memories, very good feelings. I’m happy, I’m proud. What we saw right now was because we won the EuroLeague title, and all the feelings came out because of the pressure of the year.
And finally, when you win the trophy, all your emotions come out, and accidentally I went to the coach and hugged him. Because we won the trophy, we fought for this, we practiced a lot, we had many ups and downs that year, and at the end, you win. And what do you want as a player? To win the EuroLeague trophy, the EuroLeague title. We did it, we succeeded. We’re all happy. And that was the conclusion.”
For Diamantidis, his connection with Obradovic was much more than a typical coach-player relationship.
“Our relationship was not the typical relationship between coach and player. This gentleman over there, first of all, he brought me to Panathinaikos. He gave me all the elements to succeed, to play at the highest level. And he helped me a lot to feel all this that you said, the emotions, to have the opportunity to play with the best players and to have the opportunity to win important games and important titles.
This guy and, of course, my team Panathinaikos, they trusted me. And I think I gave my best. I gave 100% of myself. And for 12 years I was in Panathinaikos and eight years with the coach, usually the success was greater than the failure. And I was happy, very happy.
Really, I really love this guy. I feel him like my father on the court. I feel like family. For me, this is the most important. Besides the games, whatever you go through all year, at the end of the day, I know that I have a friend outside and I can call him whenever I want, and I can ask him whatever I need. So this is the most important.”
Panathinaikos’ EuroLeague title in Barcelona in 2011
Obradovic then tried to describe the emotions of winning the EuroLeague title in 2011 while watching the famous footage of his embrace with Diamantidis.
“Moment in Barcelona. This is 2011, almost the end of the game against Maccabi Tel Aviv, the final game, and okay, you know – the picture says everything. I mean, it’s not necessary to talk. I know that this is one of the pictures that, let’s say, first of all, the people of Panathinaikos and the fans of Panathinaikos like a lot. Me too, personally, this one and also this one, you know, show everything.
You can see the body language, my body language and Diamantidis’, and you understand everything. So, one of the best and happiest moments in my life, talking about basketball, of course. From the first day that I started to be a coach, I have been doing it like this. I will keep this because exactly this is who I am, you know. I need to be on their side always and to help them in everything. And they need to give me back some things.”
Diamantidis concluded with huge praise for his former coach and current colleague.
“He gave me the opportunity, he taught me, and after that you take all these things that the coach gives you, and you have to put them on the court, with your teammates, with all the staff. This is also important.
It was not only the coach. The coach knew that he had assistant coaches, the guys who take care of things outside the court, the administration, the president, the owners. All these elements create this team. That’s why we succeeded.”
