Obradovic speaks frankly: Panathinaikos not ready for EuroLeague despite thrilling win over PAOK

Last weekend, in the final of the Pavlos Giannakopoulos friendly tournament, Panathinaikos edged PAOK in a thriller. But the most striking moment was not the scoreline — just 2 minutes into the game, legendary coach Zelimir Obradovic called a timeout. In a friendly, when the score means almost nothing, that action was a declaration: he is setting the standard for the entire season, not for an exhibition game. On the court, several Panathinaikos players repeatedly dove for the ball, fell, got up, and kept fighting. They played as if this were a EuroLeague final. And after the game, Obradovic admitted a truth that made everyone pause: "We are not ready."

The context of this match matters more than fans usually think. The Pavlos Giannakopoulos tournament is not merely a ceremonial event. It is part of the Giannakopoulos family's branding strategy for Panathinaikos — one of Europe's most tradition-rich basketball clubs. Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the club owner, once publicly posed a symbolic question to Obradovic: "Panathinaikos Legends or Panathinaikos 2026-27?" — a reminder that the club must balance its historical legacy with present ambition.

PAOK was no easy opponent. In Obradovic's assessment, they are a "EuroLeague-level team" on their way to promotion to Europe's premier competition. Obradovic praised them: "This was a very good game for us before the start of the EuroLeague." But those praises could not hide a harsh reality.

"Hot news will cool down, lessons are expensive, and the truth does not need to be broadcast urgently." I learned this after my 2026 mistake, when I aired an unverified transfer rumor and paid for it with my credibility. Likewise, instead of rushing to celebrate Panathinaikos' victory, I want to look at the numbers and the truth behind it.

And those numbers are far more alarming than the final score.

Obradovic confirmed that Panathinaikos has completed only 7 practices with 10 players. A typical EuroLeague team needs at least 15 to 20 quality practices with a full roster before the season begins. Elite teams like Real Madrid or Olympiacos have even more. The number 7 for Panathinaikos is alarmingly low — and it reflects a reality: the team is suffering from multiple injuries.

The team has "several injured players" — that is how Obradovic put it cautiously. But the consequences are clear: practices cannot follow the proper curriculum, game situations cannot be simulated with a full roster, and most importantly, the core players are forced to train with a heavier load than normal. The risk of accumulated injuries is undeniable. Based on my experience following games in the EuroLeague and NBA over many years, a team entering the season with only 10 players practicing will pay the price in conditioning and cohesion during the early season.

The problem becomes even more serious when Obradovic confirmed there are only 3 practices remaining before the EuroLeague starts. In total, Panathinaikos will have just 10 practices before the season. If the EuroLeague is a 9-month marathon final, then the Greek club is entering the race with shoes that have not been tested. No substitutions in practice means no opportunities to experiment with tactical options, no conditions for the coach to evaluate players in different positions, and no solid physical foundation for the entire group.

The moment Obradovic called a timeout after 2 minutes becomes even more valuable in this context. In elite basketball, a coach calling an early timeout in a friendly usually does so for one of two reasons: either the team is repeating mistakes already corrected in practice, or he wants to send a message about performance standards from the very first minutes. For Obradovic — a strategist with 9 EuroLeague titles — it was almost certainly both. He never accepts complacency, even in a friendly. Recall how he spoke about his players' hustle plays: not about technique, not about system, but about "energy and concentration."

That reveals a clear philosophy: when a team lacks proper preparation, the only thing that can compensate is fighting spirit. Obradovic is turning the lack of conditioning and cohesion into a story about character. But the question is: can fighting spirit compensate for tactical shortfalls over a long EuroLeague season?

"A contract has a hundred clauses, but a signature is only worth something when the heart has signed first." My saying about football applies equally to basketball. The hustle plays showed that the hearts of Panathinaikos' players have signed the contract with Obradovic. But the heart cannot replace tactical preparation when facing teams with fully built systems from day one.

The thrilling win over PAOK could be a double-edged sword. On the positive side, it proves the team has character, can perform under pressure, and has a coach who knows how to make a difference in decisive moments. PAOK, as Obradovic noted, is a EuroLeague-level team, and beating them in a tense battle is an undeniable signal. But on the negative side, this victory could create a false sense of security. If Panathinaikos played this well with only 7 practices, many will wonder whether all the concerns are being exaggerated.

The answer lies in the nature of elite basketball. Friendlies, no matter how intense, do not replicate the intensity and systematic nature of the EuroLeague. In a friendly, a coach can adjust, experiment, and accept risks. In the EuroLeague, every mistake is punished, every lapse in focus is exploited. A team with only 10 practices before the season will lack automation in defensive rotations, lack chemistry in offensive sets, and lack the conditioning to sustain intensity for 40 minutes.

There is another angle that fans should consider. Obradovic publicly admitting "we are not ready" may not just be honesty — it could also be a deliberate psychological tactic. With the credibility of a legend with 9 European titles, Obradovic has the privilege of speaking bluntly without losing the locker room's trust or facing media pressure. By lowering expectations, he creates a safe space for the team: if Panathinaikos performs well, it is a pleasant surprise; if they fail, it is an inevitable consequence of inadequate preparation. This is an extremely shrewd way of managing the media narrative, honed through decades of campaigning in the European arena.

"Russia 2026 did not give me greatness, only taught me the truth where no one expected it." At the 2026 World Cup, I witnessed how an underestimated team used emotion and unity to overcome physical and tactical limitations. Panathinaikos could follow that path. Obradovic understands better than anyone the value of unity in adversity. He built his glorious career on discipline and collective spirit. But even Obradovic cannot perform miracles if the injured players do not recover in time during the early season.

"Force majeure clauses do not save a match, but they strip bare how we love football." In this context, injuries and lack of preparation are Panathinaikos' "force majeure clause." It reveals how this club loves basketball: they are willing to dive for loose balls knowing the team is not ready. But love and readiness are two entirely different concepts.

Looking ahead, Panathinaikos has 3 final practices before the EuroLeague begins. That is an extremely short window. Obradovic will have to make difficult decisions: what to prioritize? Defensive system? Basic offensive sets? Or simply building confidence for a group still searching for rhythm? From my experience, I believe Obradovic will prioritize defense and competitive spirit — two elements that can improve fastest in a short time and have the greatest impact on game results.

Meanwhile, the first question will be answered within Panathinaikos' first 5 EuroLeague games. Can they start well enough to maintain belief before the injured players return? Or will they sink into a losing streak, turning a preparation deficit into an unhealable crack for the entire season?

The thrilling win over PAOK is a beautiful moment, but it is only a snapshot. The full picture is still revealing itself, and the main character — Obradovic — understands better than anyone that what lies ahead is much longer and harder. Insiders never say they understand everything. They only say: we are trying, and we are not ready.