Kendrick Nunn will start Panathinaikos’ new campaign on the sidelines. However, Željko Obradović already has two high-level lineups capable of absorbing the short-term impact of the American scoring star’s absence. SKWEEK analyzes the options.
As is already known, Nunn suffered a torn medial meniscus in his right knee during an individual workout in the United States a few days ago. After speaking with Panathinaikos officials and the club’s medical staff, the 31-year-old guard underwent surgery in the US on Wednesday, August 19. The arthroscopic partial meniscectomy — considered a routine procedure — was successful, and he is expected to return to full training within six to eight weeks.
The one positive for Nunn and Panathinaikos is that the injury occurred at a stage of the season when its competitive cost can be limited. The American superstar was already carrying a two-game suspension in domestic competitions and would have missed the Greek Super Cup anyway. In practical terms, he is expected to sit out the opening EuroLeague games, with the competition tipping off on September 24, as well as the start of the GBL on the first weekend of October.
Based on the current timetable, the MVP is likely to miss the home games against Paris, ASVEL and Maccabi before facing a race against time to return. Panathinaikos have made it clear from the outset that they will not enter the market for another player. Obradović can turn to Kostas Sloukas, Sylvain Francisco, Jerian Grant, Brancou Badio and Dimitris Moraitis in the backcourt, distributing roles and responsibilities among them until his leading scorer is back.
The truth is that Nunn cannot simply be replaced. How could he be, when he is one of the competition’s premier scorers — if not the very best? Across his three EuroLeague seasons, he has averaged 18.2 points, 3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, but his impact goes far beyond the numbers. Every opponent shapes its defensive plan around him, sends help and adjusts coverages to limit his influence. Panathinaikos need his scoring, but they also rely on the space his presence creates for everyone else.
This is where the work completed in the transfer market becomes important, giving Obradović the tools to disguise Nunn’s absence over the coming weeks. Panathinaikos added depth, quality, athleticism and size at almost every position, building a roster that is not dependent on one specific lineup.
The club’s depth chart for the 2026-27 season underlines just how complete the roster is:
- Guards: Kostas Sloukas, Kendrick Nunn, Sylvain Francisco, Jerian Grant, Brancou Badio, Dimitris Moraitis.
- Forwards: Nigel Hayes-Davis, Juancho Hernangómez, Isaac Bonga, Nikos Rogkavopoulos, Dinos Mitoglou, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, Lefteris Mantzoukas.
- Centers: Mathias Lessort, Guerschon Yabusele, Moustapha Fall.
The welcome selection headache created by such a deep rotation now belongs to Obradović. The legendary coach knows better than anyone that a loaded roster is not enough on its own. It also requires clearly defined roles, balance and combinations that bring out each player’s strengths. That is precisely why he stressed the importance of the work Panathinaikos must put in during preseason when he made his first public comments.
At the same time, “Zoc” has the experience and ability to introduce lineups that few expect to see today. He could, for example, use Hayes-Davis at small forward, put several big bodies on the floor together or completely change the identity of a unit without sacrificing spacing.
The versatility of this new-look Panathinaikos roster gives the Serbian coach the freedom to move in that direction. There is size at every position, the ability to switch defensively and plenty of three-point shooting throughout the team. Those elements can open up the floor at both ends. It is far too early for firm conclusions, but on paper Panathinaikos can field two different lineups — even without Nunn — with EuroLeague-contender-level talent.
The first lineup would be:
- PG: Sylvain Francisco
- SG: Brancou Badio
- SF: Isaac Bonga
- PF: Nigel Hayes-Davis
- C: Mathias Lessort
This unit starts with pressure, athleticism and a defensive safety net from the “2” through the “5”. Badio, Bonga, Hayes-Davis and Lessort can cover ground, disrupt passing lanes and protect Francisco from the most demanding defensive assignments. In that setting, the French guard’s weaknesses on defense can be masked by the size and speed around him. This lineup can operate in man-to-man coverage but also switch screens whenever the matchup calls for it.
Offensively, the Francisco-Lessort partnership provides an effective pick-and-roll, with the former attacking gaps and the latter applying vertical pressure on the rim. If the defense sends a double-team at the ball handler, there are players around them capable of converting uncontested looks. At the same time, Hayes-Davis becomes the second offensive hub. He can attack face-up, punish smaller defenders in the post and stretch the floor. In a setup with better spacing and clearly defined possessions, “NHD” has every chance to rediscover his best form and once again resemble the MVP-caliber Hayes-Davis of his Fenerbahçe days.
The second lineup would feature:
- PG: Kostas Sloukas
- SG: Jerian Grant
- SF: Nikos Rogkavopoulos
- PF: Juancho Hernangómez
- C: Guerschon Yabusele
The starting point here is different. Sloukas, the “coach on the floor”, provides elite playmaking, controls the tempo and identifies weaknesses in the opposing defense before it can adjust. Alongside him, Grant takes on the toughest perimeter assignment, while Hernangómez and Yabusele offer answers against different body types. Together, those three give Panathinaikos the option to switch defensively without easily losing their balance.
On offense, this unit can go all the way to a five-out alignment. All five players are threats from beyond the 6.75-meter line, clearing the paint for Sloukas’ creation, Grant’s cuts and the closeouts that Rogkavopoulos and Hernangómez can attack. The chemistry already developed by Grant and Hernangómez provides a reliable foundation. Yabusele, however, is the key: his strength allows him to become a reference point near the basket, punish mismatches and pull the opposing center away from the paint.
Of course, all of this exists only on paper for now. Moustapha Fall and Dinos Mitoglou are not included in either of these two lineups, at least in theory, but both can unlock completely different frontcourt combinations. Fall adds size, inside-out creation and a powerful presence in the paint, while Mitoglou provides a different balance between the two big-man positions and another threat from beyond the arc.
In any case, Nunn’s absence is no minor issue. Panathinaikos will temporarily be without their leading scorer and the player who single-handedly changes the way every opponent sets up its defense. Yet the Greens have a deep roster with a wide range of skills, plenty of size and enough creators to share the load during the opening rounds.
Obradović knows how to buy time and fit the pieces of the puzzle together. Until the MVP returns, “Zoc” does not need to find the next Nunn. He needs to get a little more from everyone.
That is exactly what he intends to do.