Sofoklis Schortsanitis: 'I want Maccabi to win' / News - Basketnews.com

Schortsanitis thinks Panathinaikos will win but he'd like Maccabi to take the series to allow their fans to come to the Final Four.

Credit: Fotodiena.lt/D.Pipas Credit Fotodiena.lt/D.Pipas

Sofoklis Schortsanitis has played for both Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. As such, he was asked about the upcoming EuroLeague playoff series.

Baby Shaq, as he was sometimes called during his playing days, transferred from Panathinaikos straight to Maccabi in 2013, where he went on to play for two seasons.

The series between the two teams has gathered attention from basketball fans all over Europe not only because of the squads but also because of the upcoming matchup between Wade Baldwin IV and Kendrick Nunn.

The two guards butted heads online over who is a better scorer. Schortsanitis didn't want to comment a lot about it.

"When I played, I never talked before games, so we'll see. Kendrick Nun is a talented scorer, but ok, it will be difficult. All I can say is that Kendrick Nunn is a talented scorer and that's all," he said with a smile in an interview with Moses Barda from ONE.

"You know, if I speak objectively, I believe that Panathinaikos will win because of the home advantage, but what I really want is for Maccabi to win one and take the series," Schortsanitis said. "With the war and the tragedy that happened, [I want] for the fans to have a chance to go to the Final Four."

One of the other three EuroLeague playoff series will feature Real Madrid and Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. Having been considered one of the most dominant big men in the entire continent during his prime, Schortsanitis was a force under the basket.

Now, Real Madrid's Edy Tavares is often seen as the most physically dominant center, and he's proven his worth throughout the years, capturing two Defensive Player of the Year trophies. Schortsanitis admits - he would've loved to play against Tavares

"I don't really know, I've always wanted to play against Tavares, but it never happened," the Big Sofo said. "He's a great player and a great person and I really wish him all the best and that he'll be back in the NBA one day, we'll see how It will go."

Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.