Errick McCollum critical of Ergin Ataman's move to Panathinaikos / News - Basketnews.com

Errick McCollum isn't a fan of Ataman's move to Panathinaikos, citing the team's lack of stability and a smaller budget compared to Efes. He also notes that Ataman values having control over the player selection, but he may not have the same level of authority at PAO, next to team owner Dimitrios Giannakopoulos.

Credit: REUTERS-Scanpix, FIBA Credit REUTERS-Scanpix, FIBA

"I think he will stay in Efes, honestly," Mindaugas Kuzminskas said in a recent URBONUS episode.

2-pointers this season

57%19,6Points made:19,6Accuracy:57,4%Place in standings:10Record max:26Record min:14Most made 2FGs:Will ClyburnTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"I mean, it sounds like the better play," Errick McCollum added.

The Pinar Karsiyaka duo did not see Ergin Ataman's move to Panathinaikos Athens.

However, SDNA broke the news on Friday night that Ataman will be the new PAO head coach for the next two years.

Ataman is expected to leave Anadolu Efes Istanbul after the current season is over, but McCollum isn't a fan of this Ataman move.

"I mean, Panathinaikos has gone how many coaches? They change it like we change underwear. It's a lot of pressure there, they haven't been a force in the EuroLeague playoffs in a long time. One time they have the same owner, another time he steps down, then he is trying to sell the stakes to the shareholders. If I'm a coach, I like stability, I like knowing what I'm going to have," McCollum shared his view.

"I would like to have double the budget. In Efes, you have double the budget, why would you want to go for half the budget and less job security? That's just my opinion unless Panathinaikos is going to be back in the old time."

Karsiyaka's scoring ace also noted that his former coach values having control over the player selection process, but Ataman may not have that same level of authority at Panathinaikos, next to team owner Dimitrios Giannakopoulos.

"Ataman likes to have his control when it comes to the player process, picking his guys and I don't know if Panathinaikos is going to do that," McCollum questioned. "It would be interesting to see, but he needs a strong guard player. When you cut the budget by 50%, going into a different team, it's going be hard to find Micics and Shane Larkins of the world."

The rumors about Ataman's move to Athens had been circulating for quite a long time.

Ataman himself confirmedthat talks were going on between him and Panathinaikos.

His agent Misko Raznatovic also affirmed Panathinaikos' interest in Ataman a couple of days before the agreement. Raznatovic then said that his client was looking for a challenge where he could bring a bottom team to the top, just like he did with Efes.

"For me, I have a problem with it," McCollum said of early Ataman's public talks. "I think players and coaches need to be held to the same standard because we represent organizations, we represent the fan base, and there's a certain level of professionalism.

"I'm not saying you can or can't sign the contract, whatever. That's the case if you signed, if you didn't sign -- that's for you to decide, but to speak publicly about another team that you could potentially play for or coach for while in the current season, to me, it's distracting. It makes it harder for your players to buy in for you."

Credit Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Anadolu Efes did not make the EuroLeague postseason after winning two titles in a row, but they still have Turkish League playoffs ahead. Last season, Efes lost the best-of-five final series against Fenerbahce, 1-3.

"When they're already having issues internally, when they are already having an up-and-down season whether it was from injuries, whether key players were out at the wrong time, or the guys weren't clicking in, whatever the cases may be, I think when you do that, you create another obstacle for your team, and this is a season when you need as few obstacles as possible. You're probably the first team in the historic era to win the EuroLeague championship and not go to the playoffs [the following season]," McCollum said.

"Me, as a player, I'm very respectful, but I'm also very vocal, and I would have a conversation with the coach and I would ask him about that," the 35-year-old guard added. "Because as a player, if I was doing interviews about playing for one of these teams, this would be a big problem. Fans would hate me, a team might try to find me, and there would be all types of breaches in my contract."

McCollum's and Ataman's paths crossed at Galatasaray before the Turkish specialist shifted to the other Istanbul squad.

Ergin Ataman has led Efes to a club renaissance since he took over as head coach in 2017. Under his guidance, Efes went from being the worst team in the league to reaching the EuroLeague final in the 2018-19 season. Ataman has also won two EuroLeague trophies with the team in the last two seasons.

Full URBONUS podcast with McCollum and Kuzminskas:

Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.