I think the network is still there, there are Americans with European roots like Mike D'Antoni who played in Italy as a player........ Europeans that have been working for College teams and GLeague teams instead of winning Euroleague titles. Those are more in the limelights. They prefer the assistant coach turning coach tree........and the Popovich disciples..... Ime Udoka Nigerian Coach and Jordi Fernandez Spanish are the most recent examples - Guys that have been in the States and American basketball system almost all their entire life that have foreign roots
There are already a few in Iisalo, Fernandez and Rajakovic. But they are young and a new generation. I imagine it's much harder for old school coaches like Ataman who had a long and successful career to adapt to the NBA. But if he ever gets an offer to be a head coach, he will accept it immediately.
He is but he strongly identifies with Nigeria, one of the Americans that chose to represent the NT of his forefathers......Giannis did not play for Nigeria. Ime holds or held both citizenships at one point. African basketball was mostly infliuenced by Europe.
He surely identifies with Nigeria but he couldn't play for Team USA, so that's why he played for Nigeria. Giannis on the other hand probably chose the Greek team because playing for a European powerhouse is much better for his career than playing for Nigeria.
Ime was born in the US and went to college here. The only reason he played for Nigeria is because of his heritage. I agree about Giannis. Giannis could identify as whatever and play for almost any country's national team, if allowed, because he's that good. Ime wasn't on that level to where he can just up and go play for whatever team. In other words, he chose to play for Nigeria, but he wasn't talented enough to play for any US teams, anyway. His career in the NBA had barely even started by the time he played for the Nigerian national team. His basketball was heavily influenced in the US with a few stops overseas in his playing career. He's said Popovich was a massive influence on him as a pro/coach, too.
https://en.protothema.gr/2025/09/13...nd-the-comment-did-the-sea-breeze-bother-you/ Yeah this is not it Alpi, should apologize for sure.
To be fair, Greeks are also very patriotic and do not refrain from make references to their independence war against Ottoman Empire. I think both countries are quite similar in that aspect, they like to resurface old wounds.
It’s not about Turks or Greeks or even have that spirit while playing, that’s all good, whatever fuels your fire. But to tweet that is really immature and not in good spirit. I’ve seen tons of Turks call him out online, that he crossed the line and I agree.
Ataman is a real top coach, he got truck load of trophies to prove that. Besides you need to understand that basketball dynamics is way different in europe is way different than europe. Take greek league championship game between pana and oly. Owners clashed and got suspension. Pana owner threatened the refs. Government intervened and postponed the game and threatened to cancel the games all together if things did not cool down. In this environment you can not only be a good coach, you also need to be a politician
That Alpi used a phrase that refers to a war between Greeks and Turks where Greeks had to flee through the sea and its said they learned to swim that day. Not cool!
You don't have to be Pops or Phil to play mind games. Ataman has enough influence in Europe to effect people. What is entertaining to you might be very effective against a European player or coach.
Who TF is the editor of this toilet paper which refers to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as 'Kemal'? He is the father of Turks, founder of Turkish Republic and very respected military and political figure. 35 nations have his statue as a sign of respect and among them many fought against him at WW1. 120 streets are named after him all over the world (outside of Türkiye) Just search for quotes of world leaders about him and you'll see. There is absolutely nothing wrong about posting Atatürk with the team since all Turks are considered his children. If Greeks are still bitter about their aggression in Anatolia ended in a disaster for them more than a 100 years ago, it's their own problem. On the other hand yes it's not classy to refer an independence war after a sport event but since Greek anthem still contains lines about annihilation of all Turkish race and their provocations in every event, I'll let alpi slide.
Very true. this https://en.protothema.gr is a toilet paper. No doubt. 1. "İyi gelmez mi hiç deniz havası?" doesn't mean: Did the sea breeze bother you?”. It means "Wouldn’t the sea weather do us good?" So this toilet paper translates the phrase provocatively. 2. This sentence is from a song called "kafa nereye biz oraya" (Where the mood takes us, that’s where we go). 3. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is to the Turks what George Washington is to the Americans. He was a great revolutionary statesman. An American wouldn’t be ashamed to share a picture of George Washington. So why should Alperen be ashamed to share a picture of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk? Atatürk is the person who founded Turkey, abolished the Islamic caliphate, granted women the right to vote and be elected, and transformed Turkey into a republic. Even UNESCO proclaimed 1981 as the Year of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Source: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000114032. Moreover, this toilet paper calls him just "Kemal". Idiots. Before the game, many Greeks tried to provoke Alperen Şengün by saying things like, ‘He’s not a real Turk. Alperen Şengün is a Greek, let him take a DNA test.’ Şengün responded to them with his performance on the court. It seems that some Greek losers still can’t accept the defeat. After the game, many of our Greek friends congratulated us. We also wished them success in the Finland match. But unfortunately, toxic people and toxic media will always exist, and they will keep doing provocations just for more clicks.
Since Turkish people who do not feel the need to defend Alpi have said he’s out of line, given the explanation I concur. The line itself might seem harmless but he definitely did it to show the Greek fans like FU. Trash talking basically. And it’s something that since it refers to a war that I’m not cool with.
Since no other rockets fan felt the need to post an ultra nationalist Greek toilet paper to undermine Alpi, I feel like there is something else between the lines and i'm not okay with your efforts as well.
I don't know, Türkiye has not been a powerhouse long enough to suggest what you said...... Posters here listed only his Club successes but did he really win that much with the National team without counting this year?? Currently Türkiye is standing at 27 in the FIBA Ranking before the EUROS......
