Marius Grigonis criticizes former coach Ergin Ataman

Basketball player Marius Grigonis has criticized his former coach, Ergin Ataman, following his move from Panathinaikos back to Zalgiris Kaunas. In an interview with Zalgiris, Grigonis described his four-year tenure in Athens as ‘organized chaos,’ citing locker room tensions, intense fan pressure, and organizational issues.

Grigonis specifically targeted Ataman’s coaching style, claiming the coach maintains a total lack of communication with players. ‘I would like you to find at least one player who has a relationship with him. He is completely detached from the players,’ Grigonis stated. He noted that communication was often non-existent, sometimes only receiving instructions immediately before games.

Despite these criticisms, Grigonis’s time at Panathinaikos included significant success, including winning the EuroLeague in 2024. Agent Miško Ražnatović defended Ataman on social media, pointing to the coach’s history of winning European titles with various players as evidence of his effectiveness.