Obradovic on not releasing Papapetrou: 'It's absolutely not true' / News - Basketnews.com

Zeljko Obradovic told that the reason for not releasing Ioannis Papapetrou to the Greek national team was the health struggles the player experienced.

Credit: InTime Sports Credit InTime Sports

While Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade's Serbian players played for their national team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers window a week ago, Yam Madar and Ioannis Papapetrou did not represent Israel and Greece respectively.

Ioannis Papapetrou

MIN:21.42PTS:4.43 (42.86%)REB:2.86As:0.86ST:0.43BL:0.43TO:1.14GM:7ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

The head of all Greece national teams, Dimos Dikoudis, even announced that the Hellenic Basketball Federation has filed an official complaint to both FIBA and the Serbian Basketball Federation regarding the matter, claiming the competition was unfair.

In an interview with SportKlub Srbija, Partizan's head coach Zeljko Obradovic responded to the claims.

"As always, when the windows come, everyone talks about them. Before that, no one talks about it, and now everyone will forget. It lasted as long as it lasted. I'm just sorry that people come out with unverified information like me banning Papapetrou from playing for the Greek national team, which is absolutely not true," Obradovic told. "He had health problems, serious problems, and he used this situation to visit his doctor."

"I always tell the players that there is no better and greater honor than playing for the national team. In our case, [it's to play] for our national team but we are also talking about other national teams."

The legendary specialist later echoed the thoughts of other colleagues in his profession, stating that the players are put in a disadvantageous position during the windows.

"When the club and the national team play, we put the players in a situation where they have to decide, and when they respond [to the national team], they are heroes, and when they do not, then they are not interested in the national team jersey," Obradovic said. "People will say you earn money in the club, you are a professional. It's the worst for the players and I understand that from day one."

"We are putting the players in the problem of deciding on something that is impossible to decide on," the veteran coach concluded.

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