Spanoulis and Ataman heat up Greece-Turkey due to Antetokounmpo's fouls

The semifinal between Greece and Turkey this Friday at Eurobasket 2025 promises madness not only on the court but also in the stands. Just hours before the anticipated match, the coaches of both teams have begun exchanging statements that raise tension and focus on the player who could end up being key, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It all started when the Turkish coach, Ergin Ataman, pointed out in a press conference that the Greek player receives too much advantage in offensive actions, implying that fouls are overlooked on his attacks. His words were interpreted as an attempt to influence the referees' decisions on the eve of a decisive confrontation.

The response did not take long. After the Greek team's training in Riga, Vassilis Spanoulis showed surprise, but not too much, at his colleague's statements:
"We expected Coach Ataman to say these things. He is a great coach and has been trying to influence people's minds for many years. But I don't think he will succeed. I don't speak to influence; I speak because I observe reality," emphasized the Greek coach.

Spanoulis defended Antetokounmpo and claimed that, far from being favored, the power forward from the Milwaukee Bucks is rigorously penalized.
"If we review the games, we see how many fouls he draws, how many are unsportsmanlike, and how many he commits in offense. I don't think he has committed many offensive fouls that haven't been called. Those he did, were whistled. And on several occasions, they even penalized him for actions that were not fouls," he insisted.

The coach cited a specific example from the recent match against Spain, where Giannis was penalized with a controversial call:
"In that game, they called an offensive foul on him that wasn't. He was within the three-second zone, and still they called it on him. It was a very important decision for the outcome of the match," he recalled.

Will the referees be impressed?

These statements show how, even before the tip-off, the semifinal has become a psychological showdown between two coaches with strong characters and vast experience in international competitions. Ataman, true to his style, seeks to shift the pressure onto the referees and influence the perception of Antetokounmpo, while Spanoulis responds by rallying around his player and advocating what he believes is fair treatment.

The game between Greece and Turkey is not just a clash between two teams with a great basketball tradition but also a confrontation loaded with historical rivalry. The presence of Giannis, one of the best players in the world, further intensifies the excitement. Every detail, from referee decisions to the emotional management of both benches, could make a difference on the road to the final.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Spanoulis y Ataman calientan el Grecia Turquía por las faltas de Antetokounmpo