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Panathinaikos B.C.
Greek professional basketball team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Panathinaikos B.C. (Greek: ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός), also simplified to Panathinaikos or PAO and officially referred to as Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens for sponsorship reasons, is the professional basketball team of the major Athens-based multi-sport club Panathinaikos A.O.. It is owned by the Giannakopoulos family.
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The parent athletic club was founded in 1908, while the basketball team was established in 1919, making it one of the oldest in Greece. Along with Aris, Panathinaikos is one of the only teams never to have been relegated, with participation in every Greek First Division Championship.
Panathinaikos has developed into the most successful basketball club in Greek basketball history and one of the most successful in European basketball, establishing its own dynasty. The team has won seven EuroLeague Championships, forty Greek Basket League Championships, twenty-one Greek Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, one Greek Super Cup, and two Triple Crowns. They hold the record for the most consecutive Greek League titles, with nine consecutive championships (2003–2011), as well as the most consecutive Greek Basketball Cup titles, winning six from 2012 to 2017. Panathinaikos also counts a championship from 1921 organized by the YMCA[2], although it is not officially recognized by the Hellenic Basketball Clubs Association because it predates the creation of the Hellenic Basketball Federation. The team plays its home games at the OAKA Basketball Arena, which has a capacity of 19,250 for basketball. Panathinaikos holds the world record for the longest title-winning streak, spanning 27 seasons from 1995–96 to 2021–22, during which the team won at least one title each season and 43 titles overall.
Many top-class players have represented the club over the years, including Dominique Wilkins, Fragiskos Alvertis, Byron Scott, Nick Galis, John Salley, Dimitris Diamantidis, Antonio Davis, Stojko Vranković, Dino Rađja, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, Dejan Bodiroga, Nick Calathes, Nikola Peković, Panagiotis Giannakis, Fanis Christodoulou, Mike Batiste, Antonis Fotsis, Kostas Tsartsaris, Željko Rebrača, Vassilis Spanoulis, Dejan Tomašević, Nikos Oikonomou, Ramūnas Šiškauskas, Byron Dinkins, İbrahim Kutluay, Mike James, Sani Bečirovič, Jaka Lakovič, Marcelo Nicola, Hugo Sconochini, Nando Gentile, Pepe Sánchez, Darryl Middleton, Lazaros Papadopoulos, Žarko Paspalj, Nikos Chatzivrettas, Dimos Dikoudis, Oded Kattash, Alexander Volkov, John Amaechi, Tiit Sokk, Sofoklis Schortsanitis, Jason Kapono, Arijan Komazec, Edgar Jones, Romain Sato, Johnny Rogers, Tony Delk, Drew Nicholas, James Gist, Stéphane Lasme, Jonas Mačiulis, Roko Ukić, Robertas Javtokas, Ioannis Bourousis, Keith Langford, Jimmer Fredette, Kostas Sloukas, Juancho Hernangómez, Mathias Lessort, and Kendrick Nunn. Combined with the successful management of former long-time presidents Pavlos Giannakopoulos and Thanasis Giannakopoulos and the leadership of the most successful coach in EuroLeague history, Željko Obradović, Panathinaikos became the most successful team in Europe over the last quarter-century.
Panathinaikos is the only team on the European continent to win seven EuroLeague titles (1996, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2024) since the establishment of the modern EuroLeague Final Four format in 1988 (no other club has won more than four championships in this period). They were also runners-up in 2001. Panathinaikos reached the EuroLeague Final Four thirteen times overall (1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2024, 2025).
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History
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Basketball in Greece (1918–1945)
Panathinaikos started as a football club in 1908. In 1919, basketball was still unknown in Greece. During that period Giorgos Kalafatis with other athletes participated in the Inter-Allied Games in Paris and attended basketball games between the Allies of World War I. When he later returned to Greece with the necessary equipment, he set up the Panathinaikos basketball club, led by Apostolos Nikolaidis.[citation needed]
In 1919, PAO played their first match against X.A.N. Thessaloniki (YMCA), another club also pioneer of basketball in Greece, a match which took place at the Panathenaic Stadium.[citation needed]
In 1937, Kalafatis managed to create a new Panathinaikos team that, during the following year, tried to catch up with already established clubs like the YMCA, Ethnikos G.S. Athens, Panionios, Aris and Iraklis. Angelos Fillipou, Nikos Mantzaroglou, Litsas and Dimitrakos were the ringleaders of the group and were later joined by Telis Karagiorgos, Thymios Karadimos, Giorgos Bofilios, Philipos Papaikonomou, Petros Polycratis and Nikos Polycratis. During the German occupation that followed, Dimitris Giannatos (founding member of the basketball team) was executed by the Nazis for his resistance action.[citation needed]
Postwar history (1946–1970)
In 1946 (the first post-war championship) and 1947, Panathinaikos emerged champions, with the help of players like Ioannis Lambrou, Missas Pantazopoulos, Stelios Arvanitis (these players would later go on to win the bronze medal in EuroBasket 1949) and Jack Nicolaidis (nephew of Apostolos Nikolaidis).
In 1950 and 1951, Panathinaikos emerged as champions once again with the help of great athletes Faidon Matthaiou (considered the Patriarch of Greek basketball) and Nikos Milas. In 1954, the club would repeat the success, however the next five years would prove fruitless, and the club, despite its strength, would have to be renewed.
In 1961, Panathinaikos won the Greek League championship with new leaders Georgios Vassilakopoulos, Stelios Tavoularis and Petros Panagiotarakos. In 1962, Panathinaikos made the repeat, and was again the Greek League champion. That was also the year that PAO took part for the first time in a European-wide competition, as they faced Hapoel Tel Aviv in the FIBA European Champions Cup 1961–62 season.
On 23 November 1963, Panathinaikos beat Olympiacos, by a score of 90–48, in the Mantellos Cup, a tournament that was later replaced by the Greek Cup, which made its first appearance in 1976.
In 1967, Panathinaikos were crowned Greek League champions, with Giorgos Kolokithas (one of the greatest basketball players of his era) in their ranks. In 1969, the conquest of the Greek League championship was followed by the first European success of the club, the qualification to the semifinals of the FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup 1968–69 season, where they were eliminated by Dinamo Tbilisi. The next year, 1970, PAO was the first Greek basketball team to use a foreign player (Craig Greenwood) in a European game.
The Golden Age (1970–1984)
During these golden years, Panathinaikos won 10 out of 14 Greek League championships,[3] with their great leader and scorer Apostolos Kontos.
During this period, Kostas Mourouzis, nicknamed the fox of coaching, managed the team of the 4 Ks (the young Kontos, Koroneos, Kokolakis and Kefalos). These players, along with Iordanidis, who functioned as a link with older players, won 5 consecutive Greek League championships, and made the greatest accomplishment of their time by participating in the semifinals of the FIBA European Champions Cup 1971–72 season, when they were aided by American Willy Kirkland. Unfortunately, Ignis Varese, one of the giants of the era, proved an insurmountable obstacle for Panathinaikos.
Over the next 4 seasons, Panathinaikos captured the Greek League championship once, in 1977, and also won their first Greek Cup in 1979. They acquired Memos Ioannou in 1974, and Greek-American David Stergakos in 1979 (a player that would contribute greatly to the team in the coming years).
In the five years that followed, Panathinaikos won 4 Greek League championships (1980, 1981, 1982, 1984) and two Greek Cups (1982, 1983). More specifically, in 1982, while coached by Kostas Politis, Panathinaikos succeeded in winning their first Greek double, as well as placing 6th in the FIBA European Champions Cup 1981–82 season. During that season's group stage, Panathinaikos finished ahead of a strong CSKA Moscow team, after winning in the last seconds of a thriller game. The club's last Greek League championship, before the club's decline that followed, was in 1984, when Panathinaikos won the big game title in Corfu, which Liveris Andritsos and Tom Kappos starring for the team.
Panathinaikos had a great chance to avoid their upcoming decline, when they discovered Rony Seikaly, but Greek government bureaucratic problems prevented him from playing in the Greek League as a Greek citizen, despite claims that he was entitled to do so, which ultimately forced him to move to the United States to play college basketball at Syracuse.
The decline of 1985–1992
In 1985, PAO finished in 3rd place in the Greek League. Stergakos, Ioannou, Vidas, Andritsos and Koroneos – who left the following year – were the key players. The balance of the Greek League's power however, had tilted in favour of Aris, and Panathinaikos ceased to be the leader of the league, and were limited to a secondary role. Nevertheless, they remained a worthy adversary. Thus, in 1986, against all odds, they managed to eliminate powerful Aris from the Greek Cup at the semifinal stage. Then Panathinakos went on to beat Olympiacos in the final, and conquered what would be their last title until 1993. During the next 2 seasons, PAO would finish in 5th place In the Greek League (their worst results in many years).
In 1988, the ban on using foreign players in the Greek League was lifted, and Panathinaikos was able to acquire Edgar Jones, from the NBA. He was a capable shooter, scorer and rebounder, and for the next 2 years, he was the star of the team. Although PAO achieved significant wins over the other major Greek teams, they did not manage any notable distinctions. Over the next two years, Antonio Davis, who later made a great career in the NBA, replaced Jones, as the leader of the team. At this point in time, Panathinaikos had also acquired some of the most talented young Greek players (Fragiskos Alvertis, Nikos Oikonomou and Christos Myriounis), but that did not stop them from experiencing the worst period in the history of the club, as they finished 7th in the Greek League in 1991, and dropped to the 8th position in 1992, which left them outside of European-wide play for the first time since 1967.
Return to distinction (1992–1995)
In 1992, Panathinaikos’ basketball department became professional under the management of the Giannakopoulos family. That summer, the club undertook a full reconstruction of the team, acquiring Nikos Galis, Greece’s top basketball player, who was joined by star players Stojko Vranković, Tiit Sokk, and Arijan Komazec. Galis led Panathinaikos to a Greek Cup victory and to the Greek League championship finals, where the team ultimately lost despite having home-court advantage. In the 1993–94 season, Galis, along with Sasha Volkov and Stojko Vranković, guided Panathinaikos to a 3rd-place finish at the 1994 FIBA European League Final Four, the highest in the club’s history at that time, although they were unable to capture the title.
The 1994–95 season began with strong prospects as Panathinaikos acquired Panagiotis Giannakis and Žarko Paspalj, making the team a favorite for all domestic titles. The club eliminated Olympiacos in a tough Greek Cup match before the start of the Greek League championship. However, after the first few games of the Greek League, Nikos Galis, who had been instrumental in the Greek Cup victory and the decisive FIBA European League qualifiers of the 1994–95 season, retired from professional basketball. Despite some strong performances, the team finished 3rd place in Europe and reached the Greek League finals.
European, Intercontinental and Greek Champions (1996–1999)
During the years 1996–98, Panathinaikos fulfilled all of their objectives by winning the FIBA European League championship, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup and the Greek League championship (in that order).
In 1996, the expectations of the team had risen a lot, as it was imperative for Panathinaikos to obtain a significant title. In the summer of 1995, they acquired the nine-time NBA All-Star, Dominique Wilkins, one of the top American players that ever played in Europe. The head coach of the team was Božidar Maljković. The former, along with Giannakis, Vranković, Alvertis, and Patavoukas, comprised a very experienced team, which, in 1996, managed an unprecedented success for Greek basketball. Indeed, in April 1996, at the Paris Final Four, Panathinaikos became the first Greek team to lift the FIBA European League championship (now called the EuroLeague), by beating Banca Catalana FC Barcelona in the tournament's final, by a score of 67–66. Back in Greece, right after the big win in Paris, Panathinaikos was not able to clinch the Greek League title, after again losing the title to Olympiacos.
In the next season, Maljković removed all the stars from the roster, in an attempt to assemble a squad based on teamwork. With the start of the season, Panathinaikos was crowned 1996 FIBA Intercontinental Cup champion, by prevailing by 2–1 wins in a 3-game series over Olimpia of Venado Tuerto, the South American League champions. Unfortunately, the restructuring of the team failed, and Panathinaikos failed to participate in the 1997 FIBA EuroLeague Final Four, in order to defend their European title. Moreover, they finished in 5th place in the Greek League championship, thus losing the right to participate in next season's EuroLeague.
In the next season, Slobodan Subotić assumed head coaching leadership of the club, and convinced Dino Rađja to come to Panathinaikos. The huge transfer of Radja was accompanied by three-time NBA champion Byron Scott and Fanis Christodoulou, and with the help of Alvertis, Oikonomou, and Koch, Panathinaikos finally won the Greek League again, after 14 years.
In the summer of 1998 Panathinaikos chairman Pavlos Giannakopoulos began assembling a team to conquer Europe. In order to achieve that, he signed the 1998 FIBA World Cup MVP, Dejan Bodiroga, while Nando Gentile, Pat Burke and Nikos Boudouris also joined the team. The 1998–99 season proved very important for Panathinaikos, as Olympiacos, who had gained home court advantage in the Greek League playoffs, were prepared to return to the top. It was at the last game of the Greek League finals, when Panathinaikos achieved one of the most decisive away victories against their rivals, capturing the title.
Obradović era (1999–2012)
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The arrival of Željko Obradović at Panathinaikos in the summer of 1999 marked the beginning of an extraordinary era for the club, establishing it as one of the strongest teams in European club basketball history.
Obradović’s first task was to build the team around Dejan Bodiroga, Panathinaikos’ absolute leader at the time. This strategy proved highly successful: Panathinaikos captured two EuroLeague titles (2000 and 2002) after three consecutive EuroLeague Finals appearances (2000–2002), and won three consecutive Greek League championships (1999–2001). In 2000, at the Thessaloniki EuroLeague Final Four, Panathinaikos defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 73–67 to win its second EuroLeague title. In 2002, at the 2002 EuroLeague Final Four in Bologna, Panathinaikos defeated hosts Kinder Bologna 89–83, securing their third EuroLeague trophy.
Despite these successes, Panathinaikos failed to win the Greek Cup during this period, although they reached two finals. Notable players included Rebrača, Gentile, Middleton, Alvertis, Kattash, Kutluay, and Fotsis. Panathinaikos’ Greek League dominance was interrupted in 2002, the same year they won their third EuroLeague title, and the departure of Bodiroga necessitated a roster renewal.
The 2002–03 season marked the start of Obradović’s restructuring of Panathinaikos. He returned the team to the top of Greek basketball, eventually leading them to nine consecutive Greek League championships (2003–04 through 2010–11), six domestic doubles, and two triple crowns (Greek League, Greek Cup, and EuroLeague) in subsequent years, establishing a true dynasty. With Bodiroga gone, the team shifted from a star-centric model to a system focused on teamwork. Players such as Lakovič, Alvertis, Diamantidis, Fotsis, Tsartsaris, Batiste, and later Spanoulis, Šiškauskas, and Jasikevičius prioritized team success over individual accolades, transforming Panathinaikos into a title-winning machine independent of any single superstar.
At the 2007 EuroLeague Final Four, held on their home court at OAKA in Athens, Panathinaikos defeated defending champions CSKA Moscow 93–91 to win their fourth EuroLeague title. The two teams met again in the 2009 EuroLeague Final Four final in Berlin, where Panathinaikos won 73–71 for their fifth EuroLeague trophy. On 14 December 2009, Panathinaikos was voted the top Greek sports team of the year by the Greek Sports Journalists Association, while Obradović was voted top coach.
At the 2011 EuroLeague Final Four in Barcelona, Panathinaikos defeated Montepaschi Siena 77–69 in the semifinals, with Calathes contributing 17 points, six rebounds, and two steals. In the final, Panathinaikos overcame Maccabi Tel Aviv 78–70, securing their sixth EuroLeague title and further cementing their status as Greece’s “Great Club.”
Post-Obradović period (2012–2018)
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After the departure of Obradović, Panathinaikos' new head coach, Argiris Pedoulakis, was forced to make massive changes to the team, with 12 new players being added to the roster, including James Gist, Roko Ukić, and NBA players Jason Kapono and Marcus Banks. Team captains Dimitris Diamantidis and Kostas Tsartsaris led the rebuilding effort for the Greens, who reached the EuroLeague quarterfinals, only to fall to FC Barcelona Regal in a 5-game series. Panathinaikos won their 14th Greek Cup, by beating Olympiacos in the final, with a three-point difference (81-78).[4] During the same year, Panathinaikos was able to break Olympiacos' home court twice in the Greek League Finals, thus conquering the Greek League championship for the 33rd time in the club's history.
Since Dimitris Giannakopoulos first became the chairman of Panathinaikos, he repeatedly attempted to secure marketing deals with Asian corporations. The first step was made when Panathinaikos announced that they had signed Chinese basketball player Shang Ping. This deal made Panathinaikos the first European club to have a Chinese player on its roster. On 12 September 2013, Panathinaikos landed at the airport of Guangzhou, becoming the first European team to make a trip to China via airline. On 13 September 2013, Panathinaikos wrote European history once again, in less than two days, becoming the first European team to ever face a Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) team. In addition, Panathinaikos became the first European team to win against a Chinese team, the Foshan Dralions, with a score of 66–67.
On 8 March 2014, due to the fans' dissatisfaction with the team's bad record in the EuroLeague, the replacement of the team's head coach, Argiris Pedoulakis, was announced. It was also announced that the team would go to the Greek League Finals under the guidance of the club's legend, Fragiskos Alvertis, who would serve as an interim caretaker coach.[5] After the conquest of another Greek double by beating Olympiacos, Panathinaikos announced the recruitment of Duško Ivanović, to be their new head coach.
On 5 April 2015, Panathinaikos beat Apollon Patras, in the final of the Greek Cup, with a score of 53–68. Earlier in the cup competition, the team had to overcome the obstacles of Olympiacos and PAOK. Panathinaikos made the EuroLeague playoffs. In Greek League, Panathinaikos lost to Olympiacos in the finals, 0–3.
On 30 June 2015, Sasha Đjorđjević was announced by the team, as the club's new head coach. Panathinaikos was able to sign Greek point guard Nick Calathes, and Serbian center Miroslav Raduljica. The debut of the team was dreamy, as on 8 October 2015, Panathinaikos beat and eliminated Olympiacos, in an away match for the Greek Basketball Cup, by a score of 64–70. On 6 March 2016, Panathinaikos won the Greek Cup for the 17th time in the club's history, and for the 5th straight season, with a record score of 101–52 against the Greek 2nd Division club, Faros Keratsiniou.
On 19 April 2016, Sasha Đjorđjević was replaced by Argyris Pedoulakis, who once again took over the team's head coaching position. Despite that, the team lost against Olympiacos in the finals of the Greek League, with a 1–3 series loss.
With the retirement of Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos turned a new page in the club's history, increasing its budget to obtain players such as Mike James, K.C. Rivers, Chris Singleton, and Ioannis Bourousis. Many sponsorship deals were also achieved at the same time, as well as the deal that made OPAP, Greece's biggest betting firm, the team's main sponsor. The appointment of Xavi Pascual as the team's head coach for three years, started a new era for the club.
The next two seasons, 2016/17 and 2017/18, Panathinaikos with coach Xavi Pascual managed to win two back-to-back Greek Basket League Championships against Olympiacos, and the 2017 Greek Basketball Cup against Aris. They also made it to the EuroLeague playoffs, where they faced each year's upcoming champions (Fenerbahce in 2017, and Real Madrid in 2018) and eliminated from the EuroLeague Final Four both times. In the fifth Greek Basket League Championship final of 2017, Panathinaikos defeated Olympiacos in their home court, to win the Greek Championship after two years, winning the series with 3–2. The next year, Panathinaikos managed to be the only team in Europe to finish the regular season of their domestic championship undefeated. They remained undefeated until the finals, where they met Olympiacos again, and won the series once more with 3–2.
Despite the difficulties that followed Obradović's departure and the changes in the team's roster and the team's finances, Panathinaikos is the only team in Europe that manages to win at least one title every season, for 27 consecutive seasons, since 1996.
Rick Pitino era (2018–2020)
After two and a half seasons, Panathinaikos parted ways with coach Xavi Pascual on 20 December 2018.[6][7][8] Pascual paid the price for the team's poor performance and losing streak in the 2018/2019 EuroLeague. Georgios Vovoras served as Panathinaikos' interim head coach for the second time in his career, as the club reached an agreement with Hall of Famer Rick Pitino to become the team's new head coach until the end of the 2018/2019 season.[9] Under coach Pitino, Panathinaikos transformed into a stronger team, making an impressive comeback in the EuroLeague, finishing sixth, and reaching the playoffs. There, they faced the champions, Real Madrid, and were eliminated from the EuroLeague Final Four. The season ended with Panathinaikos winning both the Greek Cup, defeating PAOK in the final, and the Greek Basket League Championship, sweeping Promitheas 3–0 in the finals.
Panathinaikos offered Pitino a contract for the following season, and although he was willing to stay in Greece, a family matter required him to return home.[10] On 24 June 2019, Panathinaikos signed a two-year contract with Greek coach Argyris Pedoulakis, marking his third stint as the team's head coach in seven years.[11] Pedoulakis's third stint ended on 15 November 2019, when Panathinaikos fired him after poor EuroLeague performance and elimination from the Greek Cup. Georgios Vovoras once again served as interim head coach.[12]
On 26 November 2019, Rick Pitino officially returned to Panathinaikos,[13] having resolved the family matter that had kept him away, and signed a one-and-a-half-year contract to serve as the team's head coach until summer 2021.[14] However, on 20 March 2020, Panathinaikos and Pitino agreed to end their cooperation due to the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the suspension of play in the EuroLeague and Greek Basket League.[15] Pitino returned to his family in the USA and later became the head coach of Iona College.[16] Once again, Georgios Vovoras served as interim head coach, for the fourth time.[17]
Giannakopoulos step down & new team management (2020–2023)
In the summer of 2020, Panathinaikos went through major changes. On 10 June, the owner of the team, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, held a press conference where he announced that he would no longer be involved with Panathinaikos and that the club was up for sale for a price of 25 million euros.[18] As a result, a new and unusual era began for the Greens, meaning that the team had to be rebuilt and operated based on the balance sheet, and that players with large contracts could not stay with the club at the time. Many players had to leave the team, including long-time club captain Nick Calathes.[19] Also, long-time Panathinaikos member in various roles, Manos Papadopoulos, who had been very close to the Giannakopoulos family for over 30 years, left the Greens to join Zenit Saint Petersburg as the club's sports director.[20]
On 26 June 2020, Panathinaikos announced that the club's sports management would be represented by the team's legends and former players Dimitris Diamantidis and Fragiskos Alvertis, alongside former CEO Takis Triantopoulos.[21] Meanwhile, George Vovoras was named head coach for the challenging upcoming season.[22] After almost seven months, and due to the team's poor performance, Panathinaikos and coach Vovoras parted ways on 4 January 2021.[23] Kostas Charalampidis served as interim coach for a few days, until 14 January 2021, when Panathinaikos announced Oded Kattash as the club's new head coach on a one-and-a-half-year contract.[24] With coach Kattash, Panathinaikos managed to win both the 2020–21 Greek Basket League[25] and 2020–21 Greek Cup.[26] However, on 24 June 2021, the team parted ways with him.[27] Two days later, on 26 June 2021, Panathinaikos appointed Dimitris Priftis as their new head coach on a three-year deal.[28] Priftis was no stranger to the team, having served as an assistant coach in 2014 under then head coach Fragiskos Alvertis.
On 12 April 2022, after a home defeat in a Greek Basket League regular season game against Olympiacos, in an unexpected turn of events, coach Priftis, general managers Diamantidis and Alvertis, and technical director Nikos Pappas were all fired by Panathinaikos, while president Panagiotis Triantopoulos resigned.[29] Fragiskos Alvertis was given the option to stay with the club as team manager, but he declined, leaving Panathinaikos for the first time in his life after 32 years with the club.[30] Former Panathinaikos coach Argyris Pedoulakis was immediately appointed as the team's new technical director, responsible for the team and the hiring of a new coach. On 14 April 2022, Panathinaikos announced the return of head coach George Vovoras for the remainder of the season, with former Lavrio B.C. head coach Christos Serelis joining as his assistant.[31] According to the team's official press release, the massive changes were due to the failure to "create a basic core of athletes and build a team for today and especially for tomorrow," as well as economic challenges based on maintaining a balanced budget.
Giannakopoulos return, Ergin Ataman era and EuroLeague title (2023–present)
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In June 2022, Dimitris Giannakopoulos announced his comeback to Panathinaikos BC.
The 2023/2024 started with Panathinaikos appointing Ergin Ataman as its new coach for two years.[32] The deal was made official on 20 June 2023.[33]. Following this, Panathinaikos signed Kostas Sloukas, who instantly became the captain of the team after leaving Olympiacos. They also signed Juancho Hernangomez, Mathias Lessort, Ioannis Papapetrou, Jerian Grant, Dinos Mitoglou, Luca Vildoza, Kostas Antetokounmpo, Dimitris Moraitis, Aleksander Balcerowski, and, a few months later, their upcoming top-scorer Kendrick Nunn.
In the 2023–24 EuroLeague, Panathinaikos finished second in the regular season and returned to the playoffs after a five-year absence.[34]. In the playoffs, Panathinaikos beat Maccabi Tel Aviv, winning the quarterfinal series 3–2. They qualified for the EuroLeague Final Four.[35] where the Greens defeated Fenerbahçe in the semifinal. They then blew out Real Madrid in the final, claiming their seventh EuroLeague title. Kostas Sloukas was crowned MVP of the Final Four.[36]
About a month later, Panathinaikos also won the 2023–24 Greek Basket League. They beat Olympiacos 3–2 in the finals, coming back from a 0–2 deficit in the first two games. Kostas Sloukas was again named MVP of the finals.[37]
Although the 2024-25 season wasn't as successful as the previous one as the team was riddled with key player serious injuries such as Mathias Lessort, the team still finished the Greek League regular season undefeated. Panathinaikos also won the Greek Cup on 16 February 2025 defeating again their rival Olympiacos in the final. At the end of the game, Kostas Sloukas was once more named MVP of the final.[38]
In the 2024–25 EuroLeague, Panathinaikos finished the regular season in third place and qualified for the playoffs.[39] Kendrick Nunn won both the EuroLeague MVP and the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy.[40][41]. In the Euroleague playoffs, Panathinaikos beat Anadolu Efes 3–2 and qualified for the Final Four.[42]. At Abu Dhabi, where the Final Four took place, Panathinaikos faced Fenerbahçe in the semifinal. They lost to the eventual champions.[43]
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Players
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Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
EuroLeague Depth chart
GBL Depth chart
- GBL requires a maximum of 7 active foreigners in a team's roster, while 6 of them can be on a 12-men game sheet.
Retired numbers
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Squad changes for the 2025–26 season
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Past rosters
Honours
Domestic competitions
- Winners (40) (record):[47] 1945–46, 1946–47, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2023–24
- Runners-up (13): 1952–53, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2021–22, 2022–23
- Winners (21) (record):[48] 1978–79, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1985–86, 1992–93, 1995–96, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2024–25
- Runners-up (6): 1984–85, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2021–22
- Winners (1): 2021
European competitions
- Winners (7): 1995–96, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2023–24
- Runners-up (1): 2000–01
- Semifinalists (1): 1971–72
- 3rd place (3): 1993–94, 1994–95, 2004–05
- 4th place (2): 2011–12, 2024-25
- Final Four (13): 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2024, 2025
- FIBA Saporta Cup (defunct)
Worldwide competitions
- Winners (1): 1996
Other competitions
- FIBA International Christmas Tournament (defunct)
- Winners (1): 1999
- Athens, Greece Invitational Game
- Winners (1): 2007
- Valjevo, Serbia Tournament
- Winners (1): 2008
- Kruševac, Serbia Invitational Game
- Winners (1): 2009
- Užice, Serbia Invitational Game
- Winners (1): 2010
- Kragujevac, Serbia Invitational Game
- Winners (1): 2010
- Novi Sad, Serbia Invitational Game
- Winners (1): 2011
- Crete, Greece Invitational Game
- Winners (1): 2015
- Dimitris Diamantidis Tournament
- Winners (1): 2016
- Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament
- Winners (1): 2018
- Portaria-Makrinitsa, Greece Invitational Game
- Winners (1): 2018
- Vilnius, Lithuania Invitational Game
- Winners (1): 2020
Individual club awards
- Winners (2): 2006–07, 2008–09
- Winners (11) (record): 1981–82, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2020–2021
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Crest and colours
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The trifolium is the emblem of the team; a symbol of harmony, unity, nature and good luck. The main colours of the team, since its foundation, are green and white (green for health and nature, such as physiolatry, and white for virtue). Alternative colours also used include black, lime, dark blue/purple uniforms, and elements of golden yellow.
Since 1992, the year in which the club's basketball department became professional, Panathinaikos B.C. uses its own logo.
Sponsors and manufacturers
Since 1982, Panathinaikos has a specific kit manufacturer and a kit sponsor. The following tables detail the shirt sponsors and kit suppliers by year:
Current sponsorships
- Title Sponsor: AKTOR
- Great Shirt Sponsor: Pame Stoixima
- Official Sport Clothing Manufacturer: Adidas
- Official Sponsor: Altion, Protergia, Cosmote, Avance Car Rental, Coca-Cola 3E, EZA, Electroholic, Aktina, Viva, BP, HEDNO, Molto, Lenovo, Nikas, Nestle, Matrix, The Mall Athens, Pizza Fun, Indiba
- Official Broadcaster: Cosmote TV
- Official Partner: Smartup, Direction Business Network, Leoforos.gr
- Official Health Care Service Provider: Hygeia Medical Center
Historical uniforms
    1957–59
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 1970–75[51]
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  1992–93
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 2007–11
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  2013 (A)
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  2014 (A)
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  2016–17 (A)
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  2016–17
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Arena
Panathinaikos' long-time home court is the O.A.K.A., which is the largest indoor venue in Greece. It is located in Marousi, and is a part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. The venue was completed in 1995, and renovated for the 2004 Summer Olympics. It is considered to be one of the biggest and most modern indoor sports arenas in all of Europe. The seating capacity for basketball games is 18,300[52] however, the arena can hold up to a temporary capacity of 21,098.
Internal view
Banners of Panathinaikos
Glass floor
Outside view
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Supporters
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The team, which is famous for its fans' passionate support, also set a record (broken in 2009), for the highest home game attendance in the history of the EuroLeague, which was 20,000 fans,[53] achieved at a home game in OAKA, against Benetton Treviso, on 29 March 2006, during the second phase of the 2005–06 EuroLeague.
An attendance of 18,900 fans has also been achieved three times in the EuroLeague, in home games of the Greens, against Efes Pilsen in 2005, and TAU Cerámica (twice) in 2006. While PAO no longer holds the record for largest EuroLeague home crowd, it still holds the honor of being involved in the record attendance game. PAO was the opponent of Partizan Belgrade, when it drew 22,567 fans to Belgrade Arena, during a 2008–09 EuroLeague game.[54] The EuroLeague attendance record was then broken again by Panathinaikos, on 18 April 2013, on the season's 4th EuroLeague game (2012–13 EuroLeague) against FC Barcelona. It was estimated that the number of viewers reached 30,000 (over 25,000 officially). However, the EuroLeague does not officially recognize that as the all-time attendance record, since the number of fans in the arena, went over the arena's normal seating capacity.
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Mascot
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Mr. Green (2006–2021, 2023–present)
"Mr. Green" is the first official mascot of Panathinaikos B.C. "Born" in 2006, he is a green muscular basketball player, with a basketball as a head. He uses to wear a jersey with the number "08", which is a reference to 1908, the year Panathinaikos was founded. Creating Mr. Green took a good part of a month, since he was made out of material commonly being used in the Hollywood motion pictures industry for the construction of movie costumes, such as the ones for Batman, Spider-Man and other American movie characters. He entertains fans of all ages during game breaks, gives away presents, and participates in all entertainment events inside the court. Mr. Green partakes in each and every game hosted by the team at OAKA, while he always stands by the children, participating in social responsibility events. He has also participated in six All Star Games.[55]
Green Kong (2021–2023)
On 18 September 2021, during the 2021-22 pre-season and the beginning of the "3rd Pavlos Giannakopoulos tournament", "Green Kong", a different mascot was revealed, a grey haired gorilla sporting a Panathinaikos jersey. Two years later, he was replaced by the previous mascot, "Mr. Green".
Rivalries
Olympiacos
Panathinaikos hold a major long-term rivalry with Olympiacos, and matches between the two teams are referred to as the "Derby of the eternal enemies". Panathinaikos is the most successful basketball club in Greece, with Olympiacos being runners-up. For the eternal enemies are the most traditional basketball powers, as they have been fighting in the top level of the Greek basketball scene longer than any other team.
Their rivalry is highly credited, especially in the 1990s-2000s, when they met each other in several regular season and playoff series, and in some EuroLeague matches which marked their history.
Minor rivalries
Panathinaikos used to hold a minor rivalry with Aris, mostly during the 1980s, when Panathinaikos and Aris were the two biggest dynasties in Greek basketball at the time. They also hold a minor rivalry with AEK and PAOK, not for on-court dominance but mostly due to the fanbase of the clubs involved. None of the above rivalries can even be compared to the huge and manifold rivalry with Olympiacos, though.
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Seasons
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Season by season
International record
The road to the seven EuroLeague victories
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EuroLeague 2024
Less significant European successes
Panathinaikos has advanced to the Final Four of the EuroLeague (and its predecessor) another five times: Tel Aviv in 1994 (3rd), Zaragoza in 1995 (3rd), Paris in 2001 (2nd), Moscow in 2005 (3rd), and Istanbul in 2012 (4th). Other significant successes are: the two appearances in the semifinals of the FIBA Cup Winners' Cup (1968–69, 1997–98), as well as the road to the semifinals of the FIBA European Champions' Cup in the 1971–72 season (eliminated by Ignis Varese (78–70, 55–69). In the 1981–82 season, Panathinaikos participated in the semifinals of the FIBA European Champions' Cup, after eliminating the teams of CSKA Moscow and Levski-Spartak, in that order.
Friendly games against NBA and Chinese teams
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Panathinaikos has twice made a tour of the United States, for friendly games. In 2003, when they played against the NBA team the Toronto Raptors,[56] and in 2007. On 11 October 2007, Panathinaikos played against the NBA's Houston Rockets,[57] and on 18 October 2007, they played against the defending NBA champions at the time, the San Antonio Spurs.
Panathinaikos has also twice made a tour in China for friendly games. In 2013, when they played against Foshan Long Lions. On 28 September 2015, Panathinaikos played against Zhejiang Lions, and on 30 September 2015, they played against the Guangdong Tigers.
Season-by-season records
Notable players
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Listed as Green Legends in Panathinaikos B.C. site:[58]
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
Faidon Matthaiou (1949–1955)- Giorgos Kolokithas (1966–1973)
- Takis Koroneos (1968–1986, 1989–1990)
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Chris Kefalos (1969–1978) - Dimitris Kokolakis (1969–1983)
- Apostolos Kontos (1969–1983)
- Memos Ioannou (1974–1990)
- David Stergakos (1978–1991)
- Fragiskos Alvertis (1990–2009)
- Antonio Davis (1990–1992)
- Nikos Galis (1992–1994)
Stojan Vranković (1992–1996)- Dominique Wilkins (1995–1996)
- Panagiotis Giannakis (1994–1996)
- Dino Rađja (1997–1999)
- Byron Scott (1997–1998)
- Fanis Christodoulou (1997–1998)
- Antonis Fotsis (1997–2001, 2002–2003, 2008–2011, 2013–2017)
Dejan Bodiroga (1998–2002)- Željko Rebrača (1999–2001)
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Darryl Middleton (2000–2005) 
Oded Kattash (1999–2001)- Mike Batiste (2003–2012, 2013–2014)
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2004–2016)
- Tony Delk (2006–2007)
Sarunas Jasikevicius (2007–2010, 2011–2012)- Nick Calathes (2009–2012, 2015–2020)
- James Gist (2012–2019)
Mentioned by Panathinaikos B.C. as players who have left their mark in basketball history:[59]
Club captains
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- Apostolos Kontos (1972–1983)
- Takis Koroneos (1983–1985)
- Memos Ioannou (1985–1990)
- Liveris Andritsos (1990–1992)
- Nikos Galis (1992–1994)
- Panagiotis Giannakis (1994–1996)
- Nikos Oikonomou (1996–1997)
- Kostas Patavoukas (1997–1999)
- Fragiskos Alvertis (1999–2009)
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2009–2016)
- Nick Calathes (2016–2017)
- Ian Vougioukas (2017–2018)
- Nick Calathes (2018–2020)
- Ioannis Papapetrou (2020–2022)
- Georgios Papagiannis (2022–2023)
- Kostas Sloukas (2023–present)
Head coaches
- Missas Pantazopoulos (1945–1951)
- Nikos Milas (1960–1961, 1963–1965, 1975–1976)
- Kostas Mourouzis (1966–1974, 1986–1987)
- Richard Dukeshire (1974–1975)
- Michalis Kyritsis (1978, 1983–1986, 1988–1989, 1997)
- Kostas Politis (1978–1982, 1993–1994)
- Christos Kefalos (1982–1983)
- Christos Iordanidis (1989–1991)
- Željko Pavličević (1991–1993)
- Efthimis Kioumourtzoglou (1994–1995)
- Božidar Maljković (1995–1997)
Slobodan Subotić (1997–1999)
Željko Obradović (1999–2012)- Argyris Pedoulakis (2012–2014, 2016, 2019)
Duško Ivanović (2014–2015)- Aleksandar Đorđević (2015–2016)
- Xavi Pascual (2016–2018)
- Rick Pitino (2018–2019, 2019–2020)
- Georgios Vovoras (2020–2021, 2022)
- Kostas Charalampidis (2021)
- Oded Kattash (2021)
- Dimitris Priftis (2021–2022)
- Dejan Radonjić (2022–2023)
- Christos Serelis (2023)
Ergin Ataman (2023–present)
Honours and statistics
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League records
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Cup records
European records
Top 10 players in games, points, rebounds and assists in the A1 Division (since the 1986–87 season)
Panathinaikos team leaders in games played, points scored, and rebounds, in games played in the Greek A1 Division, since it was first formed, starting with the 1986–87 season.
- * Still active player with the team.
- As of 25 May 2022:
One-club men
Individual honours
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors
- Fragiskos Alvertis
- Dejan Bodiroga
- Nikos Galis
- Panagiotis Giannakis
- Šarūnas Jasikevičius
- Božidar Maljković
- Željko Obradović
- Dino Rađja
EuroLeague Basketball Legend Award
EuroLeague Basketball 2001–10 All-Decade Team
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2007)
All-Europe Player of the Year
- Dejan Bodiroga (2002)
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2007)
- Dominique Wilkins (1995–96)
- Željko Rebrača (1999–00)
- Dejan Bodiroga (2001–02)
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2006–07, 2010–11)
- Vassilis Spanoulis (2008–09)
- Kostas Sloukas (2023–24)
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11)
- Stéphane Lasme (2012–13)
- Nikos Galis (1993–94)
EuroLeague Coach of the Year Award
- Dejan Bodiroga (1998–99)
- Željko Rebrača (1999–00)
- Fragiskos Alvertis (2002–03)
- Jaka Lakovič (2004–05)
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2013–14)
- Vassilis Spanoulis (2008–09)
- Mike Batiste (2009–10)
- Stéphane Lasme (2012–13)
- Nick Calathes (2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19)
Greek Basket League Finals MVP
- Dino Rađja (1997–98)
- Dejan Bodiroga (1998–99, 1999–00)
- Željko Rebrača (2000–01)
- Jaka Lakovič (2002–03, 2004–05)
- Nikos Chatzivrettas (2003–04)
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2013–14)
- Mike Batiste (2009–10)
- Stéphane Lasme (2012–13)
- Dominique Wilkins (1995–96)
- Željko Rebrača (1999–00)
- Fragiskos Alvertis (2002–03)
- Jaka Lakovič (2004–05)
- Kostas Tsartsaris (2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08)
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2008–09, 2015–16)
- Šarūnas Jasikevičius (2011–12)
- Roko Ukić (2012–13)
- Ramel Curry (2013–14)
- Loukas Mavrokefalidis (2014–15)
- James Feldeine (2016–17)
- Nick Calathes (2018-19)
- Giorgos Kolokithas (1965–66, 1966–67)
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2010–11)
- Stéphane Lasme (2012–13, 2013–14)
- Nick Calathes (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18)
- David Stergakos (1987–88)
- Antonio Davis (1991–92)
- Dino Rađja (1997–98)
- Nikos Galis (1992–93, 1993–94)
- Byron Dinkins (1995–96)
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2005–06, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2014-15)
- Vassilis Spanoulis (2007–08)
- Nick Calathes (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18)
Greek League Most Improved Player
Greek League Coach of the Year
- Željko Obradović (2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11)
- Argyris Pedoulakis (2012–13)
- Xavi Pascual (2016-17, 2017-18)
- Kostas Tsartsaris (2003-04)
- Dimitris Diamantidis (2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2015-16)
- Jaka Lakovič (2004-05)
- Vassilis Spanoulis (2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09)
- Ramūnas Šiškauskas (2006-07)
- Mike Batiste (2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12)
- Šarūnas Jasikevičius (2008-09)
- Nikola Peković (2008-09)
- Drew Nicholas (2009-10)
- Stéphane Lasme (2012-13, 2013-14)
- Jonas Mačiulis (2013-14)
- Loukas Mavrokefalidis (2014-15)
- Nick Calathes (2016-17, 2017-18)
- Chris Singleton (2016-17, 2017-18)
Management
Ownership & Current Board
Academies staff
Presidential history
Until 1992, the President of Panathinaikos A.C. was responsible for the management of the team. In 1992, the basketball department became professional, with its own President.
See also
References
External links
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