Ataman on Farid: “He brought us balance and proved our true level”
The coach of Panathinaikos idolizes the American for his enormous influence
Ergin Ataman raved about Kenneth Farid’s decisive presence after Panathinaikos’ two big away wins against Paris and Real Madrid. The Turkish coach emphasized that the American center immediately changed the situation and breathed life into a team that until now was basically fighting without a clean “5”.
“He played great on both ends of the floor”
“We had Farid again, who was amazing both in defense and attack. We got two wins that clearly showed us what our level really is,” said Ataman.
He then credited management for reacting immediately to the market:
“I think the people at the team did a great job of bringing him here. In many games we played without a classic center and that was terribly difficult. With Farid, we finally found a balance.”
“The key to changing mindsets”
The coach of Panathinaikos explained how the presence of the American affected the team as a whole:
“He was the key to both our mental and competitive change. With him on the court, we showed focus, strength and beat two very demanding teams.”
“He played like Lessor – Everyone respects him”
Ataman did not fail to mention Farid’s long career in the NBA:
“If you look at his career in the NBA, it’s impressive. He has competed against the USA Dream Team, alongside Curry, Harden and Davis. He is a high-profile player and everyone respects him.”
Finally, he concluded:
“In these two matches he replaced Lesor and played like him. He is extremely important to us. It shows that he likes his role and that he belongs at this level — and all the players understood that.”
