Ataman stirs up the rivalry with the Celtics, taunting them by saying, “You guys are not world champions.”

The debate to define future world champions continues, and this time… Elgin Ataman,coach Panathinaikosthe current EuroLeague champion, a person in charge who wants to challenge the winner of the NBA title, boston celticsto the match that will truly determine who is the world champion.

The 58-year-old coach Panathinaikos This was one of the main reasons why the Greek team won the title against Greece in Europe’s premier competition. real madridand after the Celtics defeated the Mavericks in the NBA Finals and declared themselves “world champions,” Ataman wanted to challenge Joe Mazzula’s team to a game for world basketball supremacy. A Turkish coach did it on a podcast. outside the recordrepeating his objection that the legendary Massachusetts franchise had given itself such recognition.

“I want to say it again, you [los Celtics] “You guys are not world champions.”commented the engineer. “You guys are just NBA champions. You’re America’s champions. We’re Euroleague champions. If you want to be world champions, play against us. That’s the challenge, play against us. If you beat us, OK, you’re the champion of the world,” Ataman added. boston celtics.

In this way, the coach Panathinaikos added to the proposal Kostas SlokasHe asserted, “If the Celtics come to OAKA, we have a chance.”

The statements of Messrs. Ataman and Slokas stand in sharp contrast to the negligible importance of both. Joe Mazzulaas coach of the Celtics jayson tatumStar of the green team.

“I don’t think about what-ifs or what-ifs. “I don’t think it’s going to happen. I think it’s a very competitive format and it’s fun to talk about and discuss, but I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon,” Tatum told MD. meanwhile, mazulla He was more direct: “I’m going to play against the players that are on my calendar.”