The Turkish men’s national basketball team is turning lots of heads in the ongoing EuroBasket 2025. But it’s not just their play on the court that has grabbed attention. In a recent interview with EuroHoops, Turkey head coach Ergin Ataman did not hold back on his thoughts on the NBA. 

Asked to elaborate on his previous statement about the “stars” being just the difference between the NBA and Europe, Ataman doubled down on his observation that sounds like a direct shot at the oldest professional basketball league in the world.

“In the NBA, even if a star player is having a terrible night, his minutes are guaranteed—he’ll play 40 minutes, because the fans come to watch his show, not necessarily to see the team win, Ataman shared.

“In Europe, fans come to see victories. That’s why in the EuroLeague, whoever is performing stays on the floor. From the first game of the season to the Final Four, every game is played with the same intensity, with strong defenses, tactical preparation, and heavy crowd pressure.”

The current state of the NBA has been absorbing criticisms left and right over the past years for a variety of reasons. Even those who’ve played several years in the league have shaken their fists in the air while yelling at the clouds to express their disappointment over how things have gone in the NBA. Ataman isn’t the first one to criticize the NBA, but his stature in European basketball gives his claim more weight.

Ataman believes that without the benefit of their stars, NBA teams aren’t as superior as they used to over European clubs. He even used Team USA’s experience in the 2024 Paris Olympics to strengthen his case.

“So, if you take those star players out, I believe the top 10 EuroLeague teams—with their toughness and organization—could disrupt NBA teams,” uttered Ataman. “I’ve been saying this for years. Some ask, “Why take out the stars?” Well, because those stars are exceptional. But look at the evidence: in the last World Cup, the USA didn’t bring their top-tier stars and couldn’t even win a medal.

“Of course, Serbia had Jokic and Bogdanović, France had Wembanyama. But the last World Cup was very telling for me. Without their top stars, NBA teams struggle. Meanwhile, EuroLeague basketball—with its toughness and fight—feels much stronger compared to the NBA regular season.”

Can Turkey finish the group stage unscathed?

Meanwhile, Ataman’s squad is having a smooth ride in Group A of EuroBasket play thus far. They have four wins and zero losses. 

All their wins have been double-digit blowouts, including their last one, an 84-64 demolition of Estonia. Turkey opened their campaign with a 93-73 takedown of Latvia before whipping Czechoslovakia, 92-78. They collected their third win by pummeling Portugal, 95-54.

Turkey’s offense has been among the elite in the tournament, as they are averaging 91 points on a 56.4 percent shooting from the field and 46.1 percent from behind the arc. 

Turkey is already assured of a spot in the next round, but before that, they have a meeting with fellow undefeated Group A squad, Serbia. Nikola Jokic and company are also 4-0.