The Boston Celtics made headlines last season when they captured their historic 18th NBA title, surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers in the race for the most championships in league history. However, despite the title win, the Celtics garnered a wave of criticism, as many suggested that their path to the title was less challenging than that of other teams.
One notable critic is Ergin Ataman, the head coach of Panathinaikos, a team in the Greek league. Ataman, who won the Euroleague in his first year with the Panathinaikos, did not shy away from publicly challenging the Boston Celtics.
“You guys [Celtics] are not world champions. You are only NBA champs. We [Panathinaikos] are the EuroLeague champions. If you want to be world champions, come and play us. Beat us, and then okay, you’ll be world champions,” Ataman said.
Ataman’s comments have sparked a debate among basketball fans, particularly regarding the legitimacy of his claims. The EuroLeague is often referred to as the Champions League of European basketball, and while it boasts some of the best teams and players outside of the NBA, many fans believe that the level of competition in the NBA is significantly higher.
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Despite Ataman’s bravado, NBA fans took to social media to voice their skepticism. Many pointed out that the Celtics, as the NBA champions, are already in the position to defeat Ataman’s team with a greater point difference.
Ergin Ataman Challenged Boston Celtics’ Claim To World Championship
It’s not the first time that Ergin Ataman attacked the Boston Celtics. In July, shortly after the Celtics claimed their title, Ataman directed a pointed challenge at the team, expressing his disbelief in their claim to be the “world champions.”
“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,” Ataman told Rafine TV.
“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,” he added.
The Celtics have begun their regular season with a solid 5-1 record after finishing the preseason with a 4-1 mark. How the Celtics respond to Ataman’s criticisms and justify their title as NBA champions will be closely watched.
