Ergin Ataman sends a message to Olympiacos: 'Life will not be easy' / News - Basketnews.com

Although he has high respect for the organization, Ergin Ataman wanted Olympiacos to know that the new Panathinaikos is here, and the life will not be the same for the red-and-whites.

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

After several years of disappointment, a new beginning might be on the way for Panathinaikos Athens with head coach Ergin Ataman under the helm. A month before the season, the specialist sent a message to the club's biggest opponent.

After coaching the Turkish national team, Ataman has already arrived in Athens to begin the training camp for the upcoming season. The organization has high hopes for the upcoming season following almost a complete roster rebuild.

In a quick interview with Novasports, Ataman was asked to send a message to Olympiacos Piraeus. In a typical Ataman fashion, he did it with a smile, but respectfully.

"Big respect for Olympiacos. I have big respect for my friend - Coach [Georgios] Bartzokas. I have big respect for the Olympiacos club, [for their] management, everybody. I know it's a big competition between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos," Ataman began.

"The message is this - the last three years, they dominated in Greece, now Ergin Ataman is here, Panathinaikos are here with good players, strong players, and life will not be easy for Olympiacos," he said.

Throughout the offseason, Panathinaikos have added ten new players - Kostas Sloukas, Jerian Grant, Luca Vildoza, Kyle Guy, Dimitris Moraitis, Ioannis Papapetrou, Juancho Hernangomez, Kostas Antetokounmpo, Mathias Lessort, and Aleksander Balcerowski.

The first game of the new EuroLeague season will be the Greek derby against Olympiacos Piraeus on October 6th.

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