Ergin Ataman, speaking at the press conference for the EuroLeague Final Four, addressed both the possibility of Panathinaikos BC AKTOR winning the title for a second consecutive year and the turning point of the season that was crucial for qualification.

To begin with, the coach of the Greens stated: “I’m not concerned with achieving another back-to-back. I’m proud of having reached three Final Fours in the last four years. We are here to defend our title.”

Regarding the future of European basketball, he commented: “The EuroLeague has improved over its 25-year history. Our basketball is now much better than the NBA’s, which is why many in Europe no longer follow the NBA. However, the future is not my concern. I focus on the present.”

He was then asked about a potential Panathinaikos BC AKTOR – Olympiacos BC matchup in the final, starting with the semifinal against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul: “In these two years that I’ve been in Athens, we’ve played many matches against Olympiacos BC. Bartzokas and I even joke, saying ‘Again?’ I’m not thinking about the final. We have two tough semifinals ahead. I don’t think about what might happen in the future. We’ve played in finals before—that’s basketball.”

He also spoke about the most pivotal moment of the season: “We had the experience from last year. We can’t perform at the same level every day. There are ups and downs. The players make the decisions—I give them freedom and responsibility, and I trust them. I try to manage their game.”

Regarding Kendrick Nunn and the possibility of him becoming only the second player to win the Alphonso Ford Trophy, the MVP award, and the EuroLeague title in the same season: “I don’t think about history. I’m confident that my team is ready to fight, to win, and I’m certain we’ll claim another title like we did last year.”

When asked to sum up in one word what is needed to win the title, he answered: “Calmness.”

He concluded his statements by responding to whether Olympiacos’ presence in the Final Four brings any extra motivation to his team: “No.”

Nunn: “I don’t feel pressure as MVP – ambition is what it takes to go all the way”

Kendrick Nunn represented Panathinaikos AKTOR on behalf of the players emphasizing that he does not feel pressure from his MVP title and highlighting his personal preparation for the upcoming games.

The American guard began by saying: “I don’t feel pressure as MVP. I don’t really believe in pressure. I let my work speak for itself. I prepare properly. Honestly, if you ask me, I feel like I was the MVP last year too. There’s no pressure—this is a team sport.”

Commenting on his performance and the contrast with his appearances during the playoffs against Anadolu Efes, he noted: “Yes, I believe you’ll see the MVP version of Nunn in this Final Four—the one you’ve seen throughout the season. The series against Anadolu Efes was tough. They played good defense. But this is a team sport. We have an excellent team. When one player isn’t performing as usual, others step up. My offense during the playoffs wasn’t at its best, but I contributed on defense.”

He also responded to what it takes to win the title: “Ambition.”

On the preparation for a playoff game in the NBA compared to Europe, he said: “For me, the preparation is roughly the same. The coach hasn’t asked much of me—he let me bring my game and experience to the team. That made things easier for me. But I did watch a lot of video in preparation for the playoffs—that’s important. Every position and player matters. You need ambition, you need to win the 50-50 balls, every possession counts. Those are the things that matter in playoff games here in Europe.”

Finally, regarding his decision to stay with Panathinaikos AKTOR and his impressions of Abu Dhabi, he said: “Winning the title played a role in my decision to stay with Panathinaikos AKTOR. Success helps. As for Abu Dhabi, we’ve been here for two days and I feel at home. I’ve been to the Middle East many times and I love it. I feel very comfortable here.”