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ago 04 2026Greek basketball enters the 2026/27 season with two of the most powerful rosters in the EuroLeague. Olympiacos and Panathinaikos have strengthened projects that already had maximum aspirations and now present depth, talent, and sufficient alternatives to compete for all titles. Two teams built differently, but with the same objective: reach the Final Four and lift the trophy.
Olympiacos maintains the continuity of Georgios Bartzokas and continues to bet on a recognizable structure, with physical players, perimeter scorers capable of occupying multiple positions, and a top-tier frontcourt rotation. Panathinaikos, now under the direction of Zeljko Obradovic, has assembled a collection of stars that is difficult to match, especially in the power forward and center positions.
Olympiacos, Balance Around Vezenkov and Fournier
The arrival of Codi Miller-McIntyre provides Olympiacos with a physical point guard capable of defending multiple positions, attacking the rim, and generating offense from the pick-and-roll. His addition completes a backcourt that also features Thomas Walkup and Cory Joseph, two players with different profiles but with enough experience to control high-stakes games.
The major perimeter addition is Jean Montero. The Dominican brings creativity, playmaking, and scoring after establishing himself as one of the most impactful guards in Spanish basketball. His ability to play point guard or shooting guard will allow Bartzokas to pair him with Miller-McIntyre, Walkup, or any of his scorers.
Evan Fournier continues to be one of the team's primary offensive references. Olympiacos has surrounded the Frenchman with players who can reduce his playmaking load, but will continue to need his talent in tight finishes. Tyler Dorsey adds points and outside threat, while Omiros Netzipoglou and Giannoulis Larentzakis, provided the latter remains, complete a deep perimeter rotation.
At the small forward position, Kostas Papanikolaou retains his importance as captain, defender, and bridge between different generations of the team. Tyson Ward brings physicality, rebounding, and the ability to play both the three and four positions.
However, the player around whom much of the project continues to revolve is Sasha Vezenkov. His off-ball reading, his shooting, and his ability to produce without monopolizing possessions make him a fundamental piece. Olympiacos doesn't have another pure power forward at his level, but can use Ward or Papanikolaou in smaller, more mobile lineups.
The center position presents three complementary profiles. Nikola Milutinov offers size, rebounding, and play near the rim; Tyrique Jones adds energy, power, and the ability to finish above the rim; and Donta Hall allows the second unit to elevate its physical and defensive level.
The departures of players like Keenan Evans, Alec Peters, Moustapha Fall, Shaquielle McKissic, and Frank Ntilikina represent a significant transformation. Still, Olympiacos appears to have maintained its identity while increasing the individual talent of its perimeter line.
Panathinaikos Assembles a Star-Studded Roster
If Olympiacos represents balance and continuity, Panathinaikos has opted for an accumulation of talent that barely has comparison in Europe. The return of Zeljko Obradovic to the Athens bench adds even more anticipation to a project that offers alternatives in practically every position.
The backcourt is in the hands of Jerian Grant and Sylvain Francisco, with Kostas Sloukas ready to assume minutes as point guard or shooting guard. Grant provides defense, control, and the ability to adapt to the stars around him. Francisco, for his part, brings speed, scoring, and creativity off the dribble.
At shooting guard appears Kendrick Nunn, one of the continent's most difficult scorers to stop. His ability to create his own shots and assume important possessions makes the American the team's primary offensive reference. Brancou Badio reinforces that line with defense, energy, and the ability to attack in one-on-one situations, while Panagiotis Kalaitzakis offers intensity and off-ball work.
The arrival of Isaac Bonga further increases perimeter versatility. The German can defend from point guards to power forwards, help with rebounding, and initiate transitions after steals. Along with Nikos Rogkavopoulos, Panathinaikos has wings with size, shooting, and the ability to participate in different types of lineups.
It is in the interior positions where the roster reaches an extraordinary dimension. Juancho Hernangómez, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Guerschon Yabusele, and Konstantinos Mitoglou can occupy the power forward position, though several of them are also capable of playing as small forwards or stretch fives.
Obradovic will have the possibility of building big lineups, using Juancho or Hayes-Davis as threes, or smaller, more open formations with Yabusele as five. The presence of so many important players will require managing roles and minutes, but will also allow Panathinaikos to maintain a very high physical level for all 40 minutes.
Mathias Lessort and Moustapha Fall form a center pairing that is difficult to surpass. Lessort brings energy, quick finishes, offensive rebounding, and aggressiveness; Fall adds his 2.18 meters, ability to protect the rim, and back-to-basket game. Ioannis Kouzeloglou appears as an additional alternative to complete an almost inexhaustible interior rotation.
Two Different Paths Toward the Same Goal
Olympiacos appears to present a more defined roster, with clear hierarchy around Vezenkov, Fournier, Montero, and Milutinov. Bartzokas has players compatible with each other and a structure that maintains much of the team's usual characteristics: defense, ball movement, tactical discipline, and consistency in effort.
Panathinaikos, on the other hand, brings together a greater number of names capable of deciding a game on their own. Nunn, Sloukas, Hayes-Davis, Yabusele, Juancho, Lessort, or Francisco can assume offensive responsibility at any moment. Their main challenge will be distributing responsibilities and ensuring that so much talent functions within a collective system.
On paper, Panathinaikos presents a more extensive roster with greater accumulation of stars. Olympiacos can offer more natural functioning from the start thanks to Bartzokas's continuity and several important pieces.
The season will decide which of the two formulas proves more effective. The only certainty is that the Athens derbies will once again be among the most anticipated matchups in European basketball. Greek rivalry no longer limits itself to dominating their championship: Olympiacos and Panathinaikos have built two teams destined to also compete for the EuroLeague throne.
