Ergin Ataman explained why his NBA dream might never be fulfilled / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP - Scanpix Credit AFP - Scanpix

Ergin Ataman has repeatedly referred to the possibility of potentially taking on a head coaching job in the NBA.

He even took the chance after his Anadolu Efes team beat Olympiacos Piraeus in the Final Four semifinal to make a joke about his NBA career opportunities. "Maybe after three consecutive final game appearances, Gregg Popovich thinks. 'Let's take one European coach to the NBA'," Ataman laughed.

More than two months ago, in early June, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, reported that Ataman is drawing interest as an assistant coach in the NBA and might receive an offer soon.

In an interview with the Turkish digital channel 'VOLE', the experienced tactician admitted he had been in contact with several NBA teams this offseason.

However, as he explained, he was only being considered for an assistant coach position, a prospect that didn't excite him.

"My aspirations regarding the NBA are diminishing. I observe that the NBA is a different world. They have a different perception regarding basketball coaches in Europe," Ataman noted.

The Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Turkey NT head coach pointed out that "no European coach has ever gone from Europe to the NBA as a head coach. There is no NBA history, zero. Until this day, no European coach became a head coach in NBA.

Igor Kokoskov and David Blatt were different cases. One of them stayed in the US for 20 years and the other one was a US head coach

Ataman, a two-time EuroLeague winner with Efes, admitted that he has had "contact with a few teams this year. What they always say is, 'You have to come here and coach for a while first.' Okay, I appreciate that, but they always say, 'The NBA is a player-centered league'.

Coaches are very dominant in Europe. We don’t think you can manage a team here. They don’t say it exactly like that, but you can feel it when they are talking," Ataman said.

The Turkish specialist is currently working with three players from the top-tier basketball competition - Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz, and Alperen Sengun. That's why there's also another perspective.

"As a head coach who is having big success in EuroLeague and won titles in the last four years, I don't think I have anything to prove about myself to NBA scouts. What matters the most for me is having some success and making Turkish people happy," he argued.

"I always say that when an offer comes from a team in the NBA, I won't hesitate, but I see that they have no such intention. They just say, 'You’re going to be an assistant coach here for a few years.'

Messina did just that. He went to Popovich and was an assistant coach for four or five years, but he didn't get an offer as head coach.

To be honest, I find it difficult, but if anyone wants, we can sit down and talk," the 55-year-old play-caller concluded.

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