Homecourt and Ilyasova return could propel Turkey to the podium, predicts Ataman

ISTANBUL (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) – It is quite likely that Ergin Ataman will not be the coach to guide Turkey at FIBA EuroBasket 2017. The Turkish tactician took the reins of the national team in 2014 but his contract with the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) expired after last summer's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

"History shows that every time Turkey organised a major tournament we ended up winning a medal." - Ataman

Nonetheless, there is still plenty of time until FIBA EuroBasket 2017 tips off on 31 August and the 50-year-old Ataman does not rule out a return to the helm of the national team, as the prospect of coaching Turkey in a tournament whose Group D and the Final Phase will be staged in Istanbul is certainly appealing.

"I don't know what will happen because right now I am focused on my club, Galatasaray," Ataman told FIBA.com. "There is a new management at the TBF, they will decide whether they prefer a full-time or a part-time coach, what profile the coach must have, and we will see from there."

"I think the key player will be Ersan Ilyasova, if he comes everything will be different for Turkey." - Ataman

Ataman is adamant however that no matter who the Turkey coach ends up to be, he will have at his disposal a team destined not only to get out of Group D, where they are to square off with Serbia, Belgium, Latvia, Russia and Great Britain, but to reach as far as the podium in front of their fans.

"I think whoever gets the reins will find a group of guys with good chemistry because there are young players who are already experienced, like Cedi Osman, or players who have long been playing at the top level like Sinan Guler or Bobby Dixon," the Galatasaray head coach said.

"Playing at home will be easier because the young players will gain more confidence and also history shows that every time Turkey organised a major tournament we ended up winning a medal.

"Actually the only two medals of the senior national team came at home, the bronze at FIBA EuroBasket 2001 and the silver at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2010. So I believe the Turkish team will play much better next summer than it did in the last tournaments, where we were playing away from our country."

For that to goal to be achieved though, the former Turkey head coach says the team will need an important piece that they sorely missed last summer, during their bid to qualify for the Rio Olympics that fell short in Philippines.

"I think the key player will be Ersan Ilyasova because he was absent in the Pre-Olympic tournament and that was a problem for Turkey," Ataman said of the Philadelphia 76ers power forward. "If Ilyasova comes to play everything is already different and if you also add the likes of Semih Erden, Omer Asik or Furkan Korkmaz, Turkey will be able to fight for a medal.

"I hope he will play because especially at his position we don't have right now another experienced player of his characteristics. I like to think he will do everything he can to come, especially since the tournament will be at home and that is an extra motivation."

FIBA