Ergin Ataman
Ergin Ataman (born January 7, 1966 in Istanbul) is a Turkish basketball coach. He currently coaches Panathinaikos in the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague, and he is the head coach of the Turkish national team.
He is considered Turkey’s most successful coach and one of Europe’s best. He has won three EuroLeague titles (2021 and 2022 with Anadolu Efes; 2024 with Panathinaikos), plus the EuroCup (2016) and the Saporta Cup (2002) and EuroChallenge (2012). He has also claimed many domestic titles in Turkey and Greece, including multiple Turkish League championships and a Greek League title in 2024.
Ataman’s coaching career started with youth teams at Eczacıbaşı and moved through Turkish clubs such as Türk Telekom, Pınar Karşıyaka, Efes Pilsen, Beşiktaş, Galatasaray, and Anadolu Efes before taking the Panathinaikos job in 2023. He has led the Turkish national team during 2014–2016 and again from 2022 onward.
In 2025, Turkey finished with a silver medal at EuroBasket 2025, and Ataman was named the tournament’s best coach. He studied business administration at Istanbul University. He is married to Berna and has a son named Sarp. Among Galatasaray fans he is known as “Emperor” for his commanding leadership.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:00 (CET).