Veteran guard Kostas Sloukas has undergone knee surgical procedure after struggling a lateral meniscus tear, leaving Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens short-handed forward of a vital EuroLeague playoff sequence towards Valencia Basket.
The membership confirmed on Tuesday, April 28, that the operation was accomplished efficiently in Athens following medical analysis earlier within the week.
Panathinaikos issued an official assertion detailing the process and medical group concerned.
The damage comes at a important second within the season, with Panathinaikos making ready for a best-of-five playoff sequence towards Valencia. Head coach Ergin Ataman confirmed earlier within the week that Sloukas would miss at the very least the opening two video games because of the knee situation.
Sloukas, 36, stays one of the skilled guards in EuroLeague historical past. He’s a four-time EuroLeague champion and was named Last 4 MVP two seasons in the past after main Panathinaikos to the title.
This season, he has averaged 9.6 factors per recreation and leads the group with 5.1 assists throughout 38 appearances. His position has been central to the group’s half-court group and late-game execution.
Panathinaikos completed the common season in seventh place with a 22–16 report and earned a playoff spot by way of the play-in event. Valencia, ranked second at 25–13, enters the sequence with home-court benefit and one of many league’s best offensive profiles.
With out Sloukas, spacing and tempo management turn into key issues for the Greek aspect. His expertise in high-pressure European playoff environments has usually been a stabilizing consider shut possessions.
There is no such thing as a official timeline for his return past the affirmation that he’ll miss the beginning of the sequence. His restoration development will now form Panathinaikos’ guard rotation depth because the playoff race intensifies.
The winner of the Panathinaikos–Valencia matchup strikes to the Last 4 in Athens, however the fast focus stays on how the Greek membership adapts with out its captain.
