Turkish basketball coach Ataman calls team 'best in Europe' after perfect qualifiers

Ergin Ataman, the head coach of the Turkish National Men's Basketball Team, declared the team "the best in Europe" following their flawless 6-0 record in the first round of World Cup qualifiers. Ataman stated that FIBA ranks the Turkish team as the strongest in Europe, a title he believes they have earned. Looking ahead, the team will face Italy, Iceland, and Lithuania in the next group stage, aiming to secure at least three wins to guarantee a spot in the World Cup. Ataman congratulated his players for their enthusiasm and dedication, attributing the team's success to a family-like atmosphere and the renewed support from the Turkish public.

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The Turkish National Basketball Team is currently the best in Europe. I'm not saying this. We are shown as the strongest team in Europe by FIBA. We earned it. We went 6-0 in this group. In the next group, Italy, Iceland, and Lithuania will come. We will start that group as leaders. Our goal there is big. Even 3 wins will take us to the World Cup. I congratulate the players. They all come to the national team with great excitement and eagerness. We achieved this as a family. The support of the Turkish people for the National Basketball Team has peaked again after years. We are trying to represent our country in the best way with this responsibility.

Reflecting on his 100th match as head coach, Ataman expressed pride not just in the number of games but in representing Turkey with achievements. He recalled narrowly missing the European Championship title last year, resulting in a silver medal after a 25-year drought. "If we participate in the World Cup, we have unfinished business from last year. We will try to settle that score," he said, emphasizing qualification as the immediate priority.

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I am proud. What matters is not the number of matches, but representing Turkey with successes in the best way. Last year we narrowly missed the European championship. We won a silver medal at the European Championship after 25 years. Hopefully, if we participate there (World Cup), we have unfinished business from last year. We will try to settle that score. First, we need to qualify for the World Cup. I am happy and proud to have played my 100th match.

Ataman also lauded the U17 National Team for their fourth-place finish at the World Cup, calling it a significant achievement. He announced plans to invite two players from the U17 squad to the senior national team in the near future. The coach highlighted the robust state of Turkish basketball, noting the sport's popularity among children and families. He pointed to the full attendance at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall for a weekday evening game as evidence of this passion, promising continued dedication from grassroots to the professional level.

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They became world fourth with a great success. They represented Turkey in the best way. In the coming period, we will invite 2 players from there to the A National Team squad. Turkish basketball is on the right track. Turkey is a basketball country. Children and families love basketball. On a weekday at 19:00, 18,000 people are in the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall and the hall is full. We will continue to do justice to this from infrastructure to superstructure.

National team player Furkan Korkmaz echoed the goal of winning a medal at the 2027 World Cup. Kenan Sipahi, another player, expressed pride in being part of the team and acknowledged a shaky first half against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but emphasized the team's strong second-half performance. He reiterated the objective of reaching the World Cup and securing a medal. Sipahi also stressed the importance of completing the group stage undefeated, congratulating his teammates and noting the significance of the win given unexpected results from other teams in their qualifying path.

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Our goal is to go to the World Cup and win a medal.