In an exclusive interview, Panathinaikos guard Kostas Sloukas talks about his summer move from archrival Olympiacos and his quest to add to his three EuroLeague titles.
Kostas Sloukas, Panathinaikos: 'People say I look good in green'
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During a super-exciting summer of player transfers in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, no move made a bigger splash than Panathinaikos Athens acquiring three-time champion Kostas Sloukas from its archrival and last season's runner-up, Olympiacos Piraeus.
As the two Greek powerhouses get ready to clash in their EuroLeague season-opener at a packed OAKA Altion on Friday, all eyes are on Sloukas as he goes against his former team.
"I respect the years I was [at Olympiacos]", Sloukas says in the interview. "Seven years I was there and we achieved many things. But life is like this. I keep these seven years in my heart."
Sloukas debuted in the EuroLeague with the Reds as a teenager in 2009 and helped them win back-to-back continental titles in 2012 and 2013. He re-joined Olympiacos in 2020 as a veteran leader as the team reached the last two Final Fours. His shot at the buzzer of last season's championship game would have won another title for Olympiacos, but it missed.
Of course, such a superstar leaving one archrival for another resonated widely and generated plenty of opinions. While Sloukas was celebrated for his decision among the Green family of fans, he was heavily criticized, to say the least, by Olympiacos' fan base.
In the interview, Sloukas had an answer for all the critics.
"I want to speak with my baskets and with my acts on the court, I don't want to speak [outside] of the gym," he says.
"Sorry if I sound arrogant, but I don't care about people attacking me, or saying mean things. I care about the opinions of my wife, my family, my good friends and my team and teammates."
The veteran guard's focus might have shifted from red to green, but his approach will remain the same as he is trying to get Panathinaikos, the six-time EuroLeague champion, back to its former glory.
"My priority in every team is to work hard and to improve my game," he says. "Even now, at 33, I want to improve my game, I want to be better. I want to be always as good as possible to help my team."