McCollum explains Ataman’s ejections: 'If he feels you’re not fighting, he’ll fight for you' / News - Basketnews.com

Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach Ergin Ataman leads the EuroLeague in ejections. With Efes struggling midway through the regular season, that raised the question of whether Ataman is losing control of his championship team.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul / Schedule

Anadolu Efes Istanbul Panathinaikos Athens82-81 Zenit Saint Petersburg Anadolu Efes IstanbulThu17:00 CSKA Moscow Anadolu Efes Istanbul02-0217:00

On January 13, Ataman was thrown out of the game in Barcelona with 17 minutes to play. It was the 10th Anadolu Efes loss in 20 EuroLeague games this season, as the reigning champions are still far from their level.

The Lithuanian sports commentator Rytis Vysniauskas did not hide his criticism over recent Ataman's actions.

"The showmanship with "I won the cup!" was entertaining. But when I see a coach who can't control himself, do I trust him to control a group of individuals?" Vysniauskas said on the Urbonus podcast.

"Efes are struggling this year. With this roster, they're not where they are supposed to be as EuroLeague champions. Ataman is constantly losing his temper. Three ejections, practice during Christmas time... Maybe it's the old Ataman, not a new one, that we got used to in recent years when Efes were winning everything?" Vysniauskas said.

"You can have an opinion whether it was fair or not to eject him from this game, but I just see a man who's not controlling his emotions. He's losing it. So how can he control the team?"

Errick McCollum was on the recent Urbonus podcast to discuss Ataman's loss of temper and if it's related to the idea that he might be losing control of his team.

"Ataman is very strategic. Everything he does, there's a mental aspect and a motivational factor. Something that kind of pushes the button to set the alarm in you," his former player said.

"From my years playing with him, he sometimes would issue personal challenges to you privately or in front of the team. His favorite is through the media. If he wants you to wake up, if he wants you to play well, to single out the player, he'll say this player is not playing at his level, and this is why we lost," McCollum explained.

3-pointers this season

34%9,1Points made:9,1Accuracy:34,2%Place in standings:7Record max:13Record min:5Most made 3FGs:Shane LarkinTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"You've seen him doing it with Micic (last year) when they played on the road game. He said he's not playing at the EuroLeague elite level, which is why they lost. A lot of people might take that the wrong way, but a player with a strong mentality and capacity to fight through adversity, is going to take that as I want to show something, I want to prove something."

McCollum shared some of his stories when Ataman also challenged him during their time together in Galatasaray Istanbul.

McCollum was named to the All-EuroCup First Team and selected as the EuroCup MVP in the 2015-16 season. But just before the EuroCup final series, he tore his calf muscle and didn't practice for two weeks.

McCollum scored only 8 points on 3 of 11 shooting in the first finals game and turned the ball over three times. Galatasaray lost the first leg at Strasbourg 62-66.

"I still wasn't myself, but I was trying to fight through. I was just trying to get my rhythm. And he goes to the media, and he says: our MVP didn't play like the MVP," McCollum recalls. "For me, it didn't bother me because I knew who he was. I knew he believed in me. But I told myself: 'Okay, I will show you what MVP looks like in the next closing game.' That game, I finished with 12 points in the fourth quarter, and we ended up winning the EuroCup."

McCollum explains that Ataman is a big winner, and if he doesn't see his team fighting, he's challenging it in his ways.

"He's for sure getting thrown out because he's frustrated with the team's lack of aggression, with the inability to close games, and with the stress that they're causing because he is used to winning. He likes to win. He likes to make predictions and claims, and he wants to fight for his club. But if he feels like you're not fighting, he's going to fight for you," McCollum said on Urbonus.

"And I think these are just simple messages, that he's getting to the team, really to show them that I'm here. I'm still coaching you. I still care. Where's your energy? Where's your fight?"

"And they have yet to respond. But I wouldn't be surprised if you see some media call-outs, some more practices, or some hotel nights, where you go to the hotel straight after the game. He's very creative trying to find ways outside the ELPA," McCollum laughed.

You can watch more of McCollum's thoughts on Efes' struggles on the recent Urbonus podcast:

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