The Boston Celtics recently won the NBA championship, while Panathinaikos, a Greek team, secured the EuroLeague title. Panathinaikos head coach, Ergin Ataman, believes his team deserves the title of world champion and has challenged the Celtics to face them in Athens to prove themselves.
The EuroLeague is considered the Champions League of European basketball, where the top clubs compete for the prestigious title. Panathinaikos had a successful season, finishing with a 23-11 record and claiming the No. 2 seed in the tournament. They defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv and Fenerbahçe Beko in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, before beating Real Madrid in the finals.
Some familiar names to NBA fans on the Panathinaikos roster include Kendrick Nunn and Jerian Grant. Ataman is not the only sports figure to question the “world champion” title, with track-and-field star Noah Lyles also expressing his thoughts on the matter.
While technically the Celtics are not world champions by winning the NBA, the league has attracted the best talents from around the globe for many years. This is similar to other leagues like MLB, which calls its championship the World Series. Despite the technicalities, the focus now shifts to the upcoming Olympics in Paris, where NBA stars will represent their countries on the international stage.
It is evident that Ataman and Lyles have valid points regarding domestic league titles. However, the debate over the world champion title in basketball continues to spark discussions among fans and sports figures alike. The challenge has been set, and all eyes are now on whether the Celtics will accept the invitation to face off against Panathinaikos to determine who truly deserves the title of world champion.