Ataman criticizes Turkish players, discusses Larkin-Wilbekin situation / News - Basketnews.com

The new head coach of Panathinaikos Athens, Ergin Ataman, gave extensive interviews to Turkish television. The experienced head coach talked about the controversies involving the statements of Dusan Alimpijevic about Turkish players and the status of Shane Larkin and Scottie Wilbekin.

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Ergin Ataman, the most decorated basketball coach in Turkish history, has taken on a new challenge as the head coach of Panathinaikos Athens, which has been having a downward slump over recent years.

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Ataman, who took charge of Anadolu Efes Istanbul when the Turkish team was at the bottom of the EuroLeague standings in the 2017-18 season, seemingly has a knack for reviving teams when they are at their worst.

Speaking to Turkish broadcasters TRT Spor and NTV Spor on two separate interviews, Ataman had interesting insights to share.

"Panathinaikos fans missed that excitement," Ataman said. "When I get on the court, I make my fist show for them. We built this team with that excitement."

"We are trying to create an unbeatable atmosphere at the OAKA," the experienced head coach sounded ambitious as always.

Although he seemed comfortable in his new role and environment, Ataman still has a foot in Turkey as he is the head coach of the Turkish national team and is an honorary board member of the Anadolu Efes company that funds the Anadolu Efes team.

Ergin AtamanCredit Vangelis Stolis

Therefore, the coach did not hold back on many controversial issues, talking about his successor, Erdem Can and speaking about Turkish players.

"Nobody can say 'Itoudis doesn't let Turkish players play, Ataman doesn't Turkish players play,'" the Panathinaikos head coach said. "Man, demonstrate your playing ability, and I'll let you play."

"For instance, Sertac Sanli demonstrated his ability, rose above the rotation, and became the starting center of the team that won the EuroLeague [in the 2020-21 season]," Ataman spoke proudly about his former player.

Ataman continued his statements about Turkish players, this time referring to the controversy revolving around Dusan Alimpijevic, who deeply criticized Turkish players' work ethic.

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"Instead of responding to Alimpijevic, some players should get motivated and train more," Ataman spoke. "This is what I think."

Relatedly, the Greek team's head coach clarified the Larkin-Wilbekin Turkish national team crisis, which unraveled this summer.

"I blame club managers for this situation... You cannot say that you will play the EuroLeague games and the Turkish League playoffs but that you will miss out on the national team duty by spending your summer rehabilitating," Ataman said.

"This is unfair to the other players," he added.

Ataman continued this time specifically mentioning Scottie Wilbekin.

"Wilbekin came to me, rather unsympathetically, in Rhodes [in the Nikos Galis preparatory tournament]," Ataman began narrating. "I was the other team's head coach; I could not have spoken to him."

"He told me, 'You didn't call me.' I said, 'The TBF [Turkish Basketball Federation] contacted you.' He responded, 'We cannot find common ground on this issue with you, I was injured.'"

Ataman expressed his disappointment.

"If involving foreign players in our squad is going to produce such negative effects, then it is best not to keep going on like this," Ataman said before giving an example from the Turkish women's volleyball team: "If the foreign player is going to be like [Melissa] Vargas, we would be open to such players."

Ataman's Panathinaikos will meet Fenerbahce tonight.

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