Obradović after Panathinaikos' first EuroLeague loss: 'I don't have time to talk about this'
Coach reacted after Hapoel ended the unbeaten run and said the team must rest and prepare for Peristeri on Sunday at 13:00.
On 17 October 2026 Panathinaikos suffered its first defeat of the EuroLeague season after Hapoel ended the team’s unbeaten start, leaving coach Željko Obradović to shift focus immediately to the next fixture.
Obradović: no time to dwell
“We didn't have the necessary concentration. We came back into the game, but we missed a few easy shots. It's basketball, these things happen. Congratulations to the opponent,” Obradović said after the game.
The coach emphasised the tight schedule the club faces and underlined that both ends of the floor matter if they are to convert defence into easy transition points.
“Many times I've said that basketball is a game where everything is important. Both defence and offense. To be able to score easy points in transition, we have to play good defence. One more thing — we play Peristeri at 13:00 on Sunday. The players need to sleep. I don't have time to tell them about this game. They are smart, they know it themselves. We'll try to prepare for Peristeri, and at the start of next week we'll talk about the mistakes from this match. It's simple,” he added, signalling that review of the defeat will wait.
Obradović also stressed his personal commitment to the club and the squad. “It's great that I have the chance to work with these guys, who are great, to work at this club and the job I love the most. I'm crazy about basketball,” he said.
Photo: press material from the event
