EuroLeague champion coach Ergin Ataman challenges Boston for the 'World Champion' title: "They see themselves very highly"
The debate over the 'World Champion' tag has continued since Track and Field superstar Noah Lyles called out NBA players for this matter. As the Boston Celtics emerged as the 2024 title winners, Ergin Ataman offered a daring contest between them for the right to claim the prestigious distinction.
In an interview on Rafine TV, Ataman blasted the C's for naming themselves 'World Champions' and instead proposed a challenge to fight him and his reigning EuroLeague champion squad Panathinaikos.
"After the Boston Celtics became the NBA champions, they tweeted, 'World Champion Boston.' The EuroLeague also tweeted, 'Beat this team first,' with our photo. They see themselves very highly. They want incredible numbers to come and play a game in Europe. You are not the world champion. If you want to get the world champion title, come and beat us, the EuroLeague champion. If you are so confident, I say come and beat us in OAKA," Ataman exclaimed.
Comparing the Celtics and the Panathinaikos
Ataman, 58, is one of the most decorated coaches in EuroLeague history. His team, with Kendrick Nunn, Mathias Lessort, and Kostas Sloukas, compiled a 23-win season. That catapulted them to this year's EuroLeague tournament, securing the franchise's seventh title—the most by any team in the EuroLeague's Final Four era. Ataman's success in bringing Panathinaikos back to the top even captivated Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Celtics excelled at their best in the past NBA season. With a stacked starting five of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White, they conquered historically with a league-leading 64 wins. They ultimately dominated their path to the NBA title with a convincing 16-2 record that earned them that elusive 18th banner for Beantown.
Both teams are special in their own
Unless there is an agreed-upon exhibition game, teams are unlikely to meet and battle it out to potentially battle for that 'World Champion' title. Still, it would be intriguing to see how they'll fare with each other using their approaches to playing the game.
EuroLeague clubs are famously known for orchestrating a slow, fundamentalistic, and collective type of play, which is different from what most NBA teams demonstrate by having fast-paced systems catering to individual talent.
In the end, the Celtics have thrived the most in the NBA, which can also be referred to in the case of Panathinaikos in the EuroLeague. Both teams are special in their respective ways, and the 'World Champion' title will remain a subjective discussion.
