Panathinaikos head coach, Ergin Ataman, sent a stern message to the Boston Celtics to a duel in determining who is the real ‘World Champions’ in basketball. This statement by the three-time Euroleague champion coach came after he led Panathinaikos to a victory against Real Madrid for the Euroleague championship.
The NBA has been considered as the basketball league that boasts the best talents in the world, and that is why they proclaim the winner of the season as ‘World Champions’. This debate on how American sports leagues, namely the NBA, proclaim their winners as world champions came after American track and field sprinter Noal Lyles questioned this practice.
These sentiments by Lyles sparked a worldwide sports debate on who can proclaim ‘world champions, and questioned the NBA specifically since the league has mostly American athletes.
Right after the Panathinaikos win over Real Madrid, Ergin Ataman also chimed in on this practice and is willing to put it to the test by challenging the Boston Celtics for a basketball showdown between league champions.
“After the Boston Celtics became the NBA champions, they tweeted, ‘World Champion Boston.’ The EuroLeague also tweeted, ‘Beat this team first,’ with our photo,” said Ataman. “They see themselves very highly. They want incredible numbers to come and play a game in Europe. You are not the world champion. If you want to get the world champion title, come and beat us, the EuroLeague champion. If you are so confident, I say come and beat us in OAKA.”
Who will the Boston Celtics face if a basketball game with Panathinaikos happens?
While basketball fans around the world may wonder what it would look like if the Boston Celtics actually battled Panathinaikos, Jayson Tatum and the rest of the team may have their hands full with the Euroleague champions talents.
Panathinaikos has two American players in their lineup and that is former Washington Wizards guard, Kendrick Nunn, who had 21 points during their Euroleague championship clincher against Real Madrid. Former Bulls point guard Jerian Grant is also a starter at Panathinaikos.
Another former NBA player who popularly played the role of ‘Bo Cruz’ in Adam Sandler’s Netflix movie ‘Hustle’, Juancho Hernangomez, also plays for Panathinaikos and has been a role player for Panathinaikos. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother, Kostas, has also been part of the team’s rotation.
Other players that the Cetlics should look out for are four-time Euroleague champion Kostas Sloukas, Ioannis Papapetrou, and Matthias Lessort.
While the Boston Celtics secured the 2024 NBA championship, their dominance in the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks warranted Derrick White to join Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum to play for Team USA in the upcoming Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, the team’s second leading scorer Jaylen Brown is considered as one of the biggest snubs on Team USA.
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