Evan Fournier spoke about the toxicity and the unprecedented levels it reached during the finals in a vidcast (Upset Media) in France. The 33-year-old Olympiacos star blamed Dimitris Giannakopoulos, while emphasizing that what is happening is bringing Greek basketball into disrepute.

“This rivalry is unbelievable. There’s a toxic atmosphere between the two teams, and, honestly, it’s striking. It’s a shame because Greek basketball is suffering because of it. The finals are an amazing event, but they’ve turned into a legal battle, a battle on the court, pressure on the referees, and even referees’ homes have been vandalized. “This series was supposed to be the showcase of Greek basketball, and in the end it turned into utter chaos,” he emphasized, adding:

“I don’t know where all this started. They’ve hated each other for so long that you no longer even know what the real problem is. There’s a long history that I’m not familiar with. It’s clear, though, that the owner of Panathinaikos is creating an atmosphere that isn’t good. Everything revolves around taunts and insults. The series is just starting, and everyone is already furious. The fans come and demand that we win, but it’s not just about basketball—they want to crush the other team. It goes beyond the bounds of sports.”

*photo source: KYPE