Panathinaikos Owner Praises Hapoel Tel Aviv Owner and Coach Pini Gershon

Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the owner of Panathinaikos basketball club, known for his outspoken and controversial presence in the EuroLeague, recently gave high praise to Ofer Yanai, the owner of Hapoel Tel Aviv, and to coach Pini Gershon. In an interview with Euro Insiders on August 9, 2026, Giannakopoulos expressed admiration for Yanai, calling him an "amazing figure" despite noting that each owner has their own management style. He acknowledged that Hapoel Tel Aviv is a relatively new team still gaining experience and suggested that results ultimately determine the right approach.

Giannakopoulos also discussed Panathinaikos' team-building strategy for the season, which involved signing many star players. He emphasized that the success of such a strategy depends heavily on the coach. He contrasted coaches like Dušan Ivković, who excelled with young teams but struggled with star-studded rosters, with others like Ergin Ataman, Željko Obradović, and Pini Gershon, who have proven capable of managing teams full of stars and maximizing their potential.

The interview highlighted Giannakopoulos' respect for Gershon's coaching abilities and Yanai's leadership, reflecting a positive view of Israeli basketball figures within the broader EuroLeague context.