PAO Basketball Director addresses transfer scenarios, peculiarity of game in Bologna / News - Basketnews.com

Panathinaikos' Basketball and Communication Director, Dimitris Kontos, referred to the rumors surrounding the club's next moves on the market and mentioned three players that the Greens want to extend. He also explained why PAO's game in Bologna is unlike any other in this EuroLeague season.

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

As the rumors about Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens' potential transfer targets has started to take shape long before the summer period, the club's Basketball and Communication Director, Dimitris Kontos, decided to come forward and address the issue.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens / Schedule

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne85-67 Olympiacos Piraeus Panathinaikos AKTOR AthensThu17:45

In an interview with SportFM radio station, Kontos clarified that the priority of the Greens is to extend the players who are already on the team. He even mentioned the cases of Jerian Grant, Marius Grigonis and Kentrick Nunn, essentially confirming that PAO will try to sign new deals with the three guards.

"We made a decision not to comment or deny everything," the Greek executive said.

"The return of Panathinaikos to the highest EuroLeague level has triggered several scenarios. Because Marca and AS are writing things about Real Madrid, we have to put a brake on those rumors," he added.

Credit Vangelis Stolis

"The truth is that Panathinaikos has a well-structured roster. We prioritize players who are on the team and whose contracts are about to expire, like Grant, Grigonis and Nunn," Kontos, 44, pointed out.

"We are looking at how to keep the players who are an integral part of the team," he repeated.

"Nunn is an NBA-caliber player. That said, who doesn't want to see him stay with Panathinaikos? We already know about Grant, while our intentions about Grigonis are evident from how the coach [Ergin Ataman] is using him. This team was built with a three-year horizon in mind, not for a sprint," Kontos stressed.

"This means that our core will be renewed and not change constantly. We have players like Grant who deserves more than a one-year deal, and Nunn, the type of player who has never come to Europe before."

Panathinaikos have been fortunate enough to rely on a packed OAKA arena this season. But the Greens can also count on huge fan support in their away games as well, as hundreds of Greeks keep following them wherever they play. This situation has caused Kontos and the management "a very beautiful stress and also huge pressure."

Credit Vangelis Stolis

On the occasion of Panathinaikos' game in Bologna on March 29, Kontos let PAO fans know that somewhere between 900 and 1.100 of them will be left without a ticket.

"We're constantly receiving petitions from Panathinaikos fans who will travel," he said. "Only 314 of them will get to enter the arena, and we may secure some expensive tickets behind our team's bench. Our fans have to be prepared that they might not get in, and be ready to cancel their plane tickets," he warned.

"Bologna is a special case and they do not even make tickets available online. So, those who want to save themselves some inconvenience and sadness, should have that in mind," Kontos concluded.

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.