Ergin Ataman talks Turkey's chances in the EuroBasket and Omer Yurtseven's case / News - Basketnews.com

A few days before the start of EuroBasket 2022, Ergin Ataman spoke to Greek outlet SPORT24 about the Turkish national team, his famous quotes, the issue with Omer Yurtseven and his plans for the future.

Credit: Argiris Makris/Hellenic Basketball Credit Argiris Makris/Hellenic Basketball

In the weeks leading up to Belgrade's Final Four,Ergin Atamandeclared in every opportunity that Anadolu Efes would win the EuroLeague trophy. This burst of self-confidence was justified, after the Turkish powerhouse won the title for the second consecutive season.

Omer Yurtseven

Position:CAge:24Height:213 cmWeight:120 kgBirth place:Tashkent, UzbekistanProfileNewsStatistics

However, when asked aboutTurkey's chances in the upcoming EuroBasket, Ataman doesn't seem to have the same confidence that his team will win the gold medal.

"We'll try. But frankly, it's not entirely realistic to talk about the gold medal," the experienced coach told SPORT24 in an interview a few days ago.

"In Anadolu Efes for the last two years I spoke with so much confidence because I really believed that I have the best team in the EuroLeague. I've been in Anadolu Efes for four years and I know.

The first season we played in the final, the second the season was interrupted while we were in the first place of the regular season, the third and fourth we won the title. So there's a story behind it, before I got such confidence and certainty,"he added.

Now, the Turkish national team has a lot of young and inexperienced athletes. With an average age of 24 years, the team isn't entitled to look very high, according to Ataman.

"OK, we have some guys from the NBA, but we don't have dominant players, like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic," he went on to say.

"At the moment, I don't think it's realistic to speak with such confidence. If there's one thing I can say, it's that we're going to be fighting hard. We will fight for a medal, but I don't know if we will make it. I can't say that we are among the favorites, like Slovenia, France, Greece and Serbia".

Another question posed on Ataman was whether Turkey can play like Anadolu Efes, choosing fast pace and many possessions which ultimately lead to high productivity.

"We'll try!" Ataman replied.

"Especially with Shane Larkin, Furkan Korkmaz and Cedi Osman on the court. These three guys can support this, because they are quick with the ball in their hands, shoot well and have the ability to threaten the opponent's basket in every way."

However, Ataman thinks big men have a say in this.

"In Anadolu Efes, I was happy to work with Adrien Moerman, who contributed a lot from the '4' with his outside shot. However, in Turkey we don't have players in this position with high three-point percentages at the moment. That will be a problem for us," the 56-year-old coach maintains.

If Furkan Korkmaz, Cedi Osman and Alperen Sengun will be present at EuroBasket, the same rule doesn't apply toOmer Yurtseven. The 24-year-old Miami Heat big man decided to skip the tournament, causing a strong reaction from Ergin Ataman who said that the player should apologize to the Turkish people the next time he joins the national team.

"I have great respect for players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic," Ataman repeated in this interview.

"They are NBA superstars. So if they say that they are tired and that they need rest, they will all respect it because they play many minutes in the NBA every year. However, they feel the need to give something back to their home country.

But Omer Yurtseven is not like them because he didn't have a corresponding role or minutes with his team. In some games he didn't even play, in others he played for ten minutes."

Ataman pointed out that during theAcropolis Tournament, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers had sent their coaches for a visit.

"So, come and play for the national team, so that they can watch you and trade you. Come to EuroBasket to play, since it's being followed by many NBA scouts. What are you doing in Miami?" he asked.

"All you have to do for the Turkish national team is sacrifice some days off. I only took a three-week holiday. I could be on a boat in the Aegean Sea and go on holiday with my family. I am here with my players," Ataman further underlined.

The Turkish coach thinks that someagents who work in the States have had a bad influence on the player.

"Omer came and played at the July windows, without any trouble. But two days before the start of preparation, his agent sent a message that the player wants to work individually to improve and be ready for next season with the Miami Heat. This is all bull***t, that's what I think," the two-time EuroLeague coach stressed.

"That's why I asked the Federation to somehow punish the company that represents him. A company that does not let the athlete play for the national team, shouldn't be allowed to work in the country."

In view of future events and tournaments, Ataman is willing to take Yurtseven back, provided that he issues an apology.

"He is a young athlete, who made a wrong decision. If he comes and apologizes to the Turkish people, then we will think about it. No one can say, 'I'm not coming this year, I'm coming next year.' It's not up to them.

So if he doesn't apologize, he won't be in the next big competitions," Ataman clarified.

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