In the flash interview, Ataman expressed his frustration with the refereeing:
“We play basketball. This is not an American football game. They called 8 or 9 offensive fouls in the second half; it’s the first time I’ve ever seen anything like this. We tried to play basketball; we are a very good basketball team, but if you’re playing rugby or American football in EuroLeague with these referees away from home, it’s going to be very hard to win any game. Thank you.”
Later, in the post-game press conference, the Turkish coach went further, emphasizing the impact of the officiating:
*”In the locker room, I congratulated my players because they won the basketball game that was played in the first half. In the second half, we were not ready to play American football. That’s my comment on the game.
In all the games where basketball was played, we have shown that we are contenders for the Final Four and the title.
I think tonight we have a new record. Not from the players, but from the referees. Seven offensive fouls against us. A new record. Players aren’t the only ones who set records. You can check it if you want. Seven offensive fouls against us. Then you’ll understand what I mean. Every time, you write about players’ records, three-pointers, or points—about Nigel Hayes-Davis or Sasha Vezenkov. Tonight, you can write about the referees’ record. Seven offensive fouls against us.
On the other hand, I want to congratulate Jabari Parker, who played excellently. I have to give him credit. He made the difference in terms of scoring.”*
Officiating and the importance of protecting EuroLeague stars
With 45 seconds left in the game, an altercation between Kendrick Nunn and Kevin Punter further ignited tensions. Both players received a foul after coming face to face following a collision. Commenting on the incident, Ataman issued a warning:
“If we don’t protect the stars of the EuroLeague, then they will leave and return to the NBA. They’ll go play there. And we in the EuroLeague will keep playing as if it’s American football or a college tournament.”
Ataman takes to social media to back his claims
The day after the game, Ataman continued his criticism on social media. The Turkish coach posted a photo on Instagram showing Kendrick Nunn being hit in the head by Barcelona’s Youssoupha Fall while holding the ball. His caption read:
“I never make statements without reason!!!”
A rare off night for Kendrick Nunn
On an individual level, Kendrick Nunn had an uncharacteristically quiet performance. The Panathinaikos star finished with just 7 points (2/8 from two, 1/7 from three), marking his first single-digit game in EuroLeague after 25 consecutive matches. The last time Nunn scored under 10 points was 267 days ago during the 2023/24 playoffs against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Even during last season’s Final Four, where Panathinaikos won the title, Nunn consistently delivered double-digit scoring performances.
‘We’re supposed to play basketball, not American football.’
Ataman delivers a fiery post-game rant! 🔥 He blasts, calling out the referees. 🏀💥 pic.twitter.com/L5EYXxWRB2
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) January 15, 2025
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