Ergin Ataman: 'Stop the war. It's the only statement I am going to make today' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix Credit ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix

Ergin Ataman was asked about his thoughts prior to tonight's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague match between Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. However, he didn't talk about basketball.

Points this season

47%82,0Points made:82,0Accuracy:46,8%Place in standings:3Record max:99Record min:67Best scorer:Vasilije MicicTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"Stop the war," Ataman said pre-game. "There is no point in so much suffering for children and innocent people. It is the only statement I am going to make today."

However, his statement was cut from the EuroLeague broadcast, despite the fact that the league always leaves in all the pre-game comments.

FC Barcelona head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius also touched on this topic earlier today, expressing his concern about the war being so close to his home country of Lithuania.

"I am clearly concerned that (the Russia-Ukraine war) is happening near my land. War is the worst thing that can happen in the world.

Zalgiris Kaunas GM Paulius Motiejunas announced that his team will not travel to Russia for any EuroLeague games. He has also encouraged other teams to follow suit and boycott basketball contests against Russian squads.

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