Hidayet Turkoglu backs Ergin Ataman in Maccabi controversy / News - Basketnews.com

Turkish Basketball Federation president Hidayet Turkoglu backed Turkiye national team head coach and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach Ergin Ataman in the recently unfolding controversy with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

Credit: imago images / Seskim Photo-Scanpix Credit imago images / Seskim Photo-Scanpix

The Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv controversy continues to unfold as Turkish Basketball Federation president Hidayet Turkoglu also got involved to protect Turkiye's and PAO's head coach, Ergin Ataman.

Free throws this season

75%14,9Points made:14,9Accuracy:74,7%Place in standings:3Record max:25Record min:8Most made FTs:Mathias LessortTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

In his X (formerly Twitter) account, the president and former player released a statement on recent controversial developments in the PAO-Maccabi Playoffs series.

"We condemn the outrageous threat and disrespect toward our men's national team head Coach, Ergin Ataman," wrote Turkoglu.

"We stand behind our coach and wish him success."

The Turkish Basketball Federation also chipped in, releasing the following statement on X (formerly Twitter).

"We condemn the threat against our men's national team head coach Ergin Ataman."

"We express our full support to our coach, who represents our country abroad and wish him success."

After Game 2 of the series, which went PAO's way with a score of 95-79, Ataman made remarks, stating that a member of the Maccabi staff threatened him.

"Somebody there when I went to the locker room, somebody from Maccabi staff, I don't know who it was, he was without the accreditation, told me, 'We'll see in Israel, we'll see what Zionists will do to you.' Come on, I'm Ergin Ataman, I'm the coach of Panathinaikos, I'm the coach of the Turkish national team, I'm a Turkish citizen, you cannot do anything to me!" was what he said.

Game 3 of the PAO-Maccabi Playoffs will be played in Pionir in Belgrade, where Maccabi will host Ataman's team.

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