Ergin Ataman on Qualifiers system: 'It needs overhaul' / News - Basketnews.com

Ergin Ataman believes the current Qualifiers system in FIBA basketball needs an overhaul because NBA players cannot compete in it.

Credit: REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze Credit REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze

Turkish national team head coach Ergin Ataman is not a fan of the current EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers system and is asking for changes.

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In the upcoming Qualifiers window, Turkey will be missing four NBA players: Alperen Sengun, Cedi Osman, Omer Yurtseven, and Onuralp Bitim.

"Unfortunately, players who play in the NBA can't help us.The system needs an overhaul, we can't use our five best players, who are in the NBA," Ataman said ahead of Turkey's game against Italy.

"While football and volleyball are so successful, everyone is asking why basketball isn't. In the first two sports, the good athletes play in Europe and can compete with the national team, while in basketball, this is not the case because there's the NBA. This creates problems," Ataman added.

Even though FIBA windows were introduced in the 2017-18 season for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Turkey missed only one major tournament so far, which is the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

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