Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman praised Olympiacos coach Giorgos Bartzokas while also expressing frustration with the way he believes he is treated by officials.
“Giorgos Bartzokas is a great coach. Big respect. He won the EuroLeague this year,” the coach said, acknowledging the success achieved by his longtime rival.
However, Ataman suggested that he does not always receive the same level of recognition from referees, questioning whether outside opinions may be influencing their decisions.
“But I need the same respect from refs. Maybe the refs read social media too much,” he remarked.
Despite the criticism, Ataman made it clear that public perception does not concern him, pointing to his accomplishments over the past decade as proof of his standing in European basketball.
“For me, it’s not important. I’m still the best coach of the last 10 years. The most successful,” Ataman stated.
Ergin Ataman:
Giorgos Bartzokas is a great coach. Big respect. He won the EuroLeague this year.
But I need the same respect from refs. Maybe the refs read social media too much
For me, it’s not important. I’m still the best coach of the last 10 years. The most successful” pic.twitter.com/OFPiaOdS4f
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) June 5, 2026
