Ergin Ataman: I don’t care if we lose now, as long as we beat Serbia in the final

In his trademark style, Ergin Ataman turned the spotlight on Serbia ahead of the Group A showdown at EuroBasket 2025. Speaking in Riga, the Turkish coach was clear: “I hope we’ll meet again in the final, and I’d rather beat them there than in this group stage game.”

Ataman stressed that Wednesday’s clash is more about spectacle than medals: “Both rosters are full of great players. This game won’t decide who wins medals, but I expect great basketball. Serbia were everyone’s pre-tournament favorite, so for me, beating them in the final would mean more.”

On Nikola Jokić, Ataman was realistic: “We have no solution for Jokić. He can score 50 points, as long as we win.” On Alperen Sengun, he added: “He’s only 23–24, but in the future I believe he can be even better than Jokić.”