Isaiah Canaan explains conflict with Ergin Ataman

Photo: EuroLeague Basketball

In the course of the match, a tense situation unfolded as Isaiah Canaan found himself in a disagreement with Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman.

As the game came to a halt, the Olympiacos guard approached to eavesdrop on the conversation between the Turkish coach and Kostas Sloukas, triggering an intense response from Ataman.

Meanwhile, Sloukas had moved to the opposite side of the court, and Canaan conducted himself as if he were facing any other adversary.

“I was just standing there trying to listen, minding my own business. Sloukas came and bumped me, so I bumped him back. He bumped his coach, and Coach Ataman got upset about it. He said some disrespectful things, but I’m a man – you say something disrespectful to me, I’m going to respond man-to-man, and I don’t care who you are,” the player explained in an interview with Sport24.

“That’s all it was. I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a coach, I’ve had my battles against him,” Canaan said about Ataman. “I’m a competitor, I’m leaving it all out on the court. When I’m off the court, I’m a family guy, a good guy, I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help my team win.”