Panathinaikos basketball team faces uncertainty following loss to Olympiacos

On March 7, 2026, Panathinaikos suffered a defeat against Olympiacos at the Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF) during the 30th round of the EuroLeague. Despite a poor first half where the team failed to match the intensity of their opponents, Panathinaikos briefly took the lead in the second half before ultimately losing. Following the match, coach Ergin Ataman, who was recently fined 20,000 euros by the EuroLeague for his conduct, criticized the team's lack of response and specifically noted player T.J. Shorts' performance. Club owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos publicly defended Ataman and the players against fan demands for coaching changes, reaffirming his goal to reach the Final Four. Panathinaikos currently holds a budget of 40 million euros and occupies 10th place in the standings, jeopardizing their qualification for the next phase. Media analysts suggest that Ataman's future may depend on the team's performance in the upcoming domestic Greek league playoffs.