The Crossover: Ergin Ataman

The Anadolu Efes Istanbul coach talks to Joe Arlauckas about his life and achievements. Ergin Ataman has won a host of titles at the helm of many different teams in Turkey and Italy, including Galatasaray, Besiktas, Montepaschi Siena and during three spells with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague leaders. He discusses the pros and cons of criticising players in public, why there aren’t more of his countrymen coaching at the top of European basketball and how he took Anadolu Efes Istanbul from the bottom of EuroLeague to last season’s Championship Game after recruiting the likes of Shane Larkin, Vasilije Micic, Tibor Pleiss and James Anderson.