Ergin Ataman, the head coach of Panathinaikos BC AKTOR, spoke to the media shortly before the team’s departure for Paris, where they will face Paris Basketball (November 11, 22:00) in Round 10 of the EuroLeague Regular Season.

“It’s a double week, and we’ll be facing two completely different teams — not just in name, but in playing style. Paris Basketball plays at a fast pace, very similar to last season, and with players like Heafey and Robinson, they attack within the first 10 seconds, always looking for transition opportunities and quick shots. They’re a very athletic team with aggressive defense, so for us, it will be crucial to defend the fast break well and show our offensive abilities.”

Regarding the issues at the center position and the addition of Kenneth Faried, he stated: “We just finished practice, and he trained with us — the only full session possible under the circumstances. He’s a very experienced player, and from the first practice, he gave me a very good impression. He brings energy, confidence, and he’s the kind of player we’ve been missing because it’s really difficult to play without a true center. We’ll try to use him for 15–20 minutes, and for the remaining minutes, we’ll go with Mitoglou and Kouzeloglou.”

On the topic of rebounding and the team’s goal for the “double week,” Ataman commented: “In recent games, we were missing our ‘goalkeeper,’ and hopefully, with Faried, we can fix that. There might even be some good news about Holmes, who could return in one or two weeks along with Yurtseven. We’ll evaluate the situation before deciding whether to add another player. We’re going into this double week aiming for two wins, but both games are very different — as is the case with every EuroLeague matchup this season. We can beat anyone, but first, we must focus on the game against Paris Basketball.”

When asked about Dimitris Giannakopoulos’ support, he replied: “Giannakopoulos and I have always trusted each other. I don’t read social media. He always supports the team, me, and Greek basketball. That’s what matters most. We’re trying to do our best — as we’ve done over the past two years — but the past is the past, and we must be even better this season. The goal isn’t just to win 4–5 EuroLeague games or domestic titles; our objective is to reach our ultimate targets by the end of the season.”

Faried: “To show that I can still play at this level”

From the players’ side, ahead of the game against Paris Basketball, Kenneth Faried shared his thoughts:

“I’m always ready to play. I love basketball. I try to stay prepared under any circumstances, and when the time comes, I’m ready. I’ve been watching EuroLeague, especially my former teammates like Juancho and Hezonja. I see that there are many injuries and back-to-back games — it’s very demanding — but for me, this is an opportunity.”

“That’s how basketball is. You don’t play every day, so you’re blessed to have rest days. You get the chance to recover and prepare before each game, and that’s very similar to the NBA model.”

When asked whether he feels fatigued from traveling and about playing 15–20 minutes, he emphasized: “It’s a challenge, but that’s exactly why I came here. I’m not worried about myself or how many minutes I’ll get. What matters is stepping on the court and proving that I’m capable of playing at this level — that I still have it in the EuroLeague, even at 35 going on 36 years old.”