Zeljko Obradovic spent the past few days in Athens not only in his role as Panathinaikos head coach, but also as a lecturer at the EHCB (EuroLeague Head Coaches Board) seminar.
Following those responsibilities, which he clearly enjoyed, the most decorated coach in European basketball sat down with OnSports for what was essentially his first interview since returning to the Panathinaikos bench.
He began by discussing the EuroLeague and the current state of European basketball.
“It’s obvious that everyone loves the level of the EuroLeague. The numbers keep growing, it’s exciting, and every game matters. People in basketball just need to get everything organized—we have different rules depending on the competition. Everything is possible if there’s enough willingness.”
How basketball has changed
Asked how much his coaching philosophy has evolved since his previous stint with Panathinaikos, Zeljko Obradovic explained:
“Basketball keeps changing. Every day you wake up, you have to improve and adapt. This is 2026—it can’t be the same as it was 20 or 30 years ago. The number of games is completely different, there’s much less practice time, and you have to adjust to that.
Training camps used to last two months; now they’re only about a month. It’s not easy. We have domestic leagues, European competitions, cups, Super Cups, national teams… It’s not easy for players to stay motivated all the time. We have to help them.”
When asked how difficult it is to coach a team through 80 or 90 games in a season with constant travel, he added:
“At the clinic, we had two doctors from the United States talking about health, about how many hours we spend on planes and in arenas. We have to take care of ourselves. I’m not sure many people truly understand our profession. In life, so much revolves around money, but that’s not everything, even though people will say we have big contracts.
We chose this profession because we love it, and I’m not complaining. But it was important to have doctors there discussing mental health. Personally, I’ll stay in touch with them. It’s always good when you can talk to someone who understands what you’re going through.”
"I told my manager, 'I don't want to hear anything about a new job until June.' That's how it was. Then I came here, met Dimitris Giannakopoulos, and we talked.
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) July 14, 2026
He believed I was the right option for Panathinaikos, and I believed it was the right opportunity for me to come… pic.twitter.com/5VkR9K1o8i
Returning to Panathinaikos
Speaking about the moment he decided to return to Panathinaikos, Obradovic revealed:
“I met with Dimitris Giannakopoulos, we talked, and I decided to come back. He deserves the credit. I hadn’t been here for 14 years, but I always maintained a great relationship with the people around the club. It was a difficult period after leaving Partizan because that’s my club.
But the feeling here is amazing. I see that everyone is ready to do everything possible to make this work. More important than anything else is maintaining an atmosphere of mutual respect. Especially among the players, because they’re the most important people in the organization.”
Reflecting on the 14 years he spent away from the club, he said:
“I spent seven years at Fenerbahce and then another four and a half wonderful years at my club, Partizan. I truly enjoyed that time. What happened, happened. Whether the past was good or bad, you always have to look toward the future. I’ll do everything I can to make this a great experience.”
Asked how he felt when Panathinaikos contacted him, Obradovic explained:
“Back in November, I told my agent—who is first of all my friend—that I didn’t want to hear anything about another coaching job until June. That’s exactly how it happened. Then I met with Dimitris and we talked. Of course, the fact that I spent 13 years here played a role. In my heart, I never really left.”
When asked whether he ever expected to return to Panathinaikos, he answered:
“I never think that way. I was very happy at Partizan. Then you make a decision, and you live with it.”
A new era for the Greens
Although the Giannakopoulos family remains in charge of the club, much has changed since Obradovic’s first tenure.
“Panathinaikos has a great organization. Right now, it’s operating at the highest level, and that’s very important for the next step. Back then there were three brothers who were always by my side and treated me like family.
I know Dimitris has spent all these years trying to keep Panathinaikos at the top. OAKA is completely different today thanks to him and his team.”
Asked whether he himself has changed, Obradovic smiled:
“Now I’m the oldest guy around, but I feel great. I still have a huge desire to work, and I’m happiest when I’m on the court. My passion for basketball is exactly the same. Of course, it wouldn’t be normal if I were the same person I was years ago.
Everyone will remember what we accomplished during my first time here, but now we’re starting from zero. That’s the best approach. There were great moments, trophies, Finals, and also difficult times. Now we’re focused on what’s ahead.”
He also addressed a quote from years ago, when he said he wanted Panathinaikos to become more decorated than Real Madrid.
“This club and this team must always have the highest possible goals. I understand why I’m here.”
Building the new roster
Asked what style of basketball fans should expect, Obradovic emphasized that everything starts with the players.
“It always depends on the individual characteristics of the players. I’ve already spoken with some of them, and next week I’ll talk with the rest. I have my own ideas, but I want to hear their opinions and make sure we’re on the same page. I want to know where they’re most comfortable, what problems they experienced last season, and what they expect from me.”
He also explained the additions of Moustapha Fall and Brancou Badio.
“We didn’t have any centers left because everyone except Mathias Lessort left the club. Moustapha Fall has tremendous experience, and we believe in him. He’s a big presence who can help us on both ends of the floor. Badio is aggressive, and that’s exactly what we need. He’s a true team player who contributes offensively and defensively.”
A legendary coaching staff
Off the court, Panathinaikos has also strengthened its basketball operations. Alongside Obradovic, club legends Dimitris Diamantidis, Fragiskos Alvertis, and Mike Batiste have joined the project.
“For me, Diamantidis, Alvertis, and Bodiroga are the three greatest players in Panathinaikos history. As for Mike, he worked last season in Toronto under Darko Rajakovic, who is an outstanding coach and an even better person. He’s also from my hometown of Cacak. We’ve stayed in touch, and I know Mike really wanted to come back here.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming Greek League season, Obradovic expects fierce competition with coaches such as Georgios Bartzokas, Andrea Trinchieri, Vassilis Spanoulis, and Dragan Sakota all leading ambitious clubs.
“We should probably mention every coach,” he laughed. “It’s going to be extremely exciting. I’m especially happy for Thessaloniki because that’s fantastic news for Greek basketball. The people there deserve it.”
Developing young players
Finally, Obradovic was asked about the ongoing discussion surrounding the development of young Greek players.
“I never look at passports. I don’t care where someone comes from. Young players certainly need support, but in basketball there are good coaches and bad coaches—not young coaches and old coaches. The reason I had so many Greek players in the past was because they worked incredibly hard and proved they deserved to play ahead of foreign players.
Just show me you have quality. Whether you’re Greek or from somewhere else doesn’t matter. If you love this sport, work harder than everyone else. We only have 30 days of preseason, and during the season there’s almost no practice time. That means players have to put in extra work on their own.”
