On the sidelines of the press conference for the 8th “Pavlos Giannakopoulos” tournament, Dimitris Giannakopoulos spoke with “Mozzart Sport.” The head of the Panathinaikos Basketball Club expressed his confidence that his team will be a contender for the EuroLeague title, noting that having Zeljko Obradovic on the bench as a major advantage.
At the same time, he reiterated his desire to one day bring Nikola Jokić to the team, while also referring to past discussions he’d had regarding a potential investment in Partizan. Finally, he highlighted his favorite players from the former Yugoslavia who wore the “clover” jersey.
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Specifically, Dimitris Giannakopoulos spoke about:
Panathinaikos’ high expectations with Obradović’s return: “I knew deep down that it would happen at some point, that he would return here. It’s a matter of fate. I’m very happy it happened this year. I hope we’ll have successful results. But, as I said at the press conference, for me, this season alone is a success. Look, history has shown that it’s not just about how you build a team. There are many factors that play a role in winning the title at the end of the season—good health, and sometimes luck. Yes, having Zeljko as your coach always gives you a competitive edge. Having a good team gives you a competitive edge. Now, I wouldn’t want to make any predictions. But I believe that Panathinaikos will be one of the main contenders for the title.”
On his relationship with Serbia: “When I was studying in London, my roommate was Serbian. Ever since then, I’ve loved Serbia and made many, many friends. That happened long before basketball and long before Coach Željko… I love Serbia, so I believe the feeling is mutual. Yes, I really do believe that. To be completely honest, in Serbia I’m a Partizan fan.”
Regarding the rumors from back then that he wanted to invest in Partizan: “I’ll tell you what I remember. It was during Duško Vujosević’s time, I think. Yes, Duško Vujosević—he was the coach back then. I apologize if I’m wrong… I remember there was a period when Partizan was facing enormous financial difficulties. It was about 10 or 15 years ago, most likely in the late 2000s. And there were some discussions. There were talks about business matters, about investments… As I told you, I love Serbia. It was an idea I was working on. Why didn’t it happen? Because I realized you can’t just take over the basketball team. You have to take over swimming, water polo… the entire sports club, the entire organization. And that’s something completely different. I love Partizan. Its fans are the closest to that… the closest to that atmosphere and to the stadium that Panathinaikos has. So yes, it was an idea. What can your team achieve this year? I have to be 100% honest. I haven’t really been following all the moves that took place this summer. So, all I can do is wish them the best. But how could I possibly make any predictions?”
On the Serbian players who stand out among those who’ve played for Panathinaikos: “Does it have to be a Serb? Can I pick someone from the former Yugoslavia? Stojan Vranković! Forever, forever in my heart! Yes! And Tomasević! Yes! He played with his head. He played with his head. And I respect people—I respect players who use their minds more than their physical abilities.”
His interest in Jokić: “Look, as far as I’m concerned, I stopped watching the NBA the day Michael Jordan stopped dribbling the ball. Seriously. I started watching the NBA again a little when Jokić went there. I believe he’s among the top 10 players of all time. I’d really love to see him in a Panathinaikos jersey, and I’ll do everything in my power to make that happen. I realize that the political side of things is difficult, as I don’t think it’s a matter for the clubs. The issue is that the NBA might not allow such a big star to leave.”
*photo source: KYPE
