Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman will continue his quest to win consecutive titles against the very team where he achieved that feat, Efes.
Game Notes: Panathinaikos vs. Efes

The Greek team’s boss has been critical of his team’s recent defensive efforts, allowing 101 and 96 points respectively against Paris and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, and Luca Banchi’s men are well placed to exploit any weakness in the home team after roaring into the playoffs with a run of eight straight victories.
In fact, Efes’s last defeat came at Tuesday’s venue with a 104-89 loss to Panathinaikos in February, when usual suspect Kendrick Nunn performed predictable heroics by netting 36 points. But the Greens also showed they are far more than a one-man team, with Juancho Hernangomez (14 points and 8 rebounds), Kostas Sloukas (13 points and 9 assists) and former Efes forward Cedi Osman (20 points) also shining in that triumph.
Arguably the most important head-to-head battle will take place in the backcourt as Efes leader Shane Larkin – who missed that February defeat through injury – attempts to avoid the attention of Panathinaikos defensive ace Jerian Grant. Similarly, PJ Dozier will look to stick like glue to Nunn, while the versatility of Elijah Bryant can help Efes in many ways at both ends of the floor.
In the paint, Vincent Poirier will be vital for Efes to win the rebounding battle – a key component of a game featuring so many prolific scorers at both ends.
Game Videos
- Panathinaikos beat Efes 104-89 in Round 26 behind Kendrick Nunn who erupted for 30 second-half points as he finished with 36 after going 7 for 10 on two-pointers, 5 for 11 on three-pointers and a perfect 7 for 7 from the free-throw line. Nunn also posted 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 4 fouls drawn for a 37 PIR, earning MVP of the Round honors.
- Efes thrashed Panathinaikos 93-67 in Round 15 in Istanbul and in the process set a club record with 8 blocks.
- Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman was in charge of the Efes bench between 2017 and 2023 and guided the team to back-to-back EuroLeague championships in 2021 and 2022. He was named the EuroLeague Coach of the Year in 2021, too.
- Panathinaikos center Tibor Pleiss will face Efes for the first time since leaving the club last summer. He spent six seasons there and helped the team win the EuroLeague in 2021 and 2022.
- Panathinaikos forward Cedi Osman grew up with Efes and made his EuroLeague debut there in the 2013-14 season. Efes's former head coach and now assistant Tomislav Mijatovic, was also an assistant coach during Osman's entire time with the club.
- When Panathinaikos beat Efes 95-69 in October 2021, Daryl Macon scored 34 points and made a club-record 9 three-point shots.
- Efes set its EuroLeague club record this century with 33 made free throws against Panathinaikos in April 2005.
- Panathinaikos recorded 51 total rebounds, its most in EuroLeague play this century, against Efes in March 2014.
- Panathinaikos beat Efes 81-71 in the 2000 EuroLeague Final Four semifinals and 74-66 in the 2001 FIBA SuproLeague semifinals.
- Panathinaikos ousted Efes 2-1 in their best-of-three EuroLeague playoffs series in 2005.
- Panathinaikos center Mathias Lessort and Efes center Vincent Poirier have been teammates on the French national team. Together they won bronze medals at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
- Efes's Dogus Ozdemiroglu, Shane Larkin, Ercan Osmani and Erkan Yilmaz all played under Coach Ataman on the Turkish national team and alongside Cedi Osman and Omer Yurtseven.
- Efes forward Derek Willis and Barcelona's Joel Parra were teammates at Joventut Badalona during the 2021-22 season.
- Efes guard PJ Dozier had career highs in PIR (28) and steals (6) playing for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade against Panathinaikos in January 2024.
- Efes's Jordan Nwora grabbed a personal best 8 rebounds in Round 15 against Panathinaikos.
- Marius Grigonis made a career-high 7 triples and had a career-best PIR of 28 to lead Panathinaikos past Efes, 83-76, last season in Athens.
- Efes guard Rodrigue Beaubois set his career-high with 4 blocks against Panathinaikos in November 2018.
- Efes center Vincent Poirier set his career high in steals with 4 for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz against Panathinaikos in November 2017.