Panathinaikos looked dominant and… different in their EuroLeague opener. A comfortable 91–72 win over Paris offered an early glimpse of the Greens’ new era under Zeljko Obradovic.
Fourteen years on, Zeljko Obradovic was back on the Panathinaikos bench for an official game. His reception at the T-Center carried all the emotion of a return millions of Greens fans had been waiting for, with scenes steeped in affection and nostalgia. Once the ball went up, though, the basketball itself took centre stage: here was a team that knew what it wanted to do and how to get there. An “Obradovic team”, you might say…
The 91–72 victory over Paris gave Zoc’s return a fitting result, both in the margin and comfort of the win and in the basketball behind that “W” in the EuroLeague game centre. Above all, it quickly revealed how far Panathinaikos have already travelled towards a different way of operating on the court. With clear demands, contributions throughout the available rotation and defence as their starting point, the seven-time European champions displayed the traits that will shape their new identity.
“The team comes before all of us,” the Serbian coach stressed at the press conference. It is a line Zoc uses often, and one that serves as the organisation’s compass rather than a throwaway cliché.
On a night understandably centred on him, Obradovic brought the conversation back to his players. He thanked the fans for their special welcome and explained that watching his team compete made him feel even better. That was the essence of this first European outing. Indeed, when the crowd saluted him at the end, he gestured towards his players, indicating that they deserved the warm applause of a near-capacity T-Center.
Panathinaikos entered Europe’s premier competition without Kostas Sloukas, Kendrick Nunn, Nigel Hayes-Davis and Moustapha Fall. Those absences limited their options, on paper at least, and took quality away from several positions. Yet the Greens remained cohesive. The available players accepted responsibility, while the distribution of roles and minutes allowed the hosts to impose themselves early.
Their opponents, after all, arrived with an uncomfortable recent record for Panathinaikos: three wins in four meetings over the previous two seasons, including two in Athens. Paris had shown they could drag the Greens into their preferred tempo. This time, they encountered pressure on their playmakers, protection around the rim and a determined effort to secure the ball after missed shots.
Paris’ 44 points at the end of the third quarter show how effectively that framework worked. A 17-point lead in the 13th minute had grown to 25 by the 27th and remained there after 30 minutes. Defensive consistency allowed Panathinaikos to pull away without relying on a constant stream of difficult baskets. Their 45 rebounds, including 15 on the offensive glass, completed the picture of dominance.
At the other end, the ball passed through more hands, decisions had purpose and five players reached double figures. There were mistakes and stretches of less clear-headed basketball, but this is a process still in its early stages. The intention remained consistent: keep everyone involved and contributing to the team’s play. At this point in the season, that provides a substantial foundation on which greater fluency can develop.
At the heart of the effort was an explosive Mathias Lessort, gradually looking more like the best version of himself. His 15 points came with nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks. Even on 2-for-7 shooting from two-point range, the French centre imposed himself: he drew nine fouls and made his trips to the line count, converting 11 of 12 free throws. His performance index rating of 28 neatly captures the breadth of his impact, though the more significant detail was how the ball handlers kept looking for him whenever he had a mismatch.
Alongside him, Guerschon Yabusele brought out his “beast” side, adding strength and offensive options. His 13 points on 3-for-5 two-point shooting and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc, along with five rebounds, made this his most complete performance in green so far. His ability to threaten from different distances adds another dimension to a team still developing its combinations. It is worth pointing out that “Yabu” delivered that performance while playing almost exclusively at power forward.
Sylvain Francisco, meanwhile, supplied his own brand of swag: 18 points, three triples on seven attempts and four assists in fewer than 22 minutes. He played with confidence, had the ball on a string and brought the crowd to its feet. Afterwards, he described the balance between freedom and responsibility within his new team: “The coach tells me how he wants the team to play, but also to play freely as long as I respect the plan.”
The French connection already has a strong personal foundation. Lessort described Yabusele and Francisco as his brothers, explaining that the idea of playing together at club level had come up during their time with the national team. That familiarity now carries over into daily life at Panathinaikos, helping them settle into an environment with plenty of new demands. So far, the adjustment has certainly been seamless for “Sisco” and “Yabu”.
Two Greek players also earned a significant place in the story of opening night, seizing their opportunities. The valuable Dinos Mitoglou contributed 11 points and six rebounds. An in-form Lefteris Mantzoukas reached 10 points, shooting 2-for-5 from three, and added four rebounds and three blocks.
Of course, Round 1 of the EuroLeague is only the beginning of a demanding journey. Two Super Cup games in Peristeri await this weekend, September 26–27, followed immediately by the first double-round week, with home fixtures against ASVEL on September 30 and Maccabi on October 2. The pile-up of games, the challenges posed by their opponents and the absences of Sloukas, Nunn, Hayes-Davis and Fall will test both their ability to sustain this level of performance and their consistency in getting results.
Obradovic made it clear that players must be fully ready and have worked with the rest of the group before returning. Until then, Panathinaikos must build on what they have already shown: the night of the great return delivered substance on the court, and what comes next will determine how quickly those first clear principles become established habits.