Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has officially signed veteran center Tibor Pleiss for the remainder of the season.
The move reunites Pleiss with head coach Ergin Ataman, under whom he played for six seasons, including five at Anadolu Efes Istanbul.
Pleiss, a two-time EuroLeague champion, will provide much-needed depth to Panathinaikos’ frontcourt.
The Greens have been dealing with injuries to key big men, as both Mathias Lessort and Omer Yurtseven are sidelined.
At 35 years old, Pleiss brings vast EuroLeague experience, making this his 14th season in the competition.
Panathinaikos will be his seventh EuroLeague club, having previously played for Brose Bamberg, Baskonia, FC Barcelona, Galatasaray, Valencia, and Efes.
Pleiss arrives from Trapani Shark in the Italian League, where he averaged 6.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 17 games.
His ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim will be a valuable asset for Panathinaikos as they push for a deep EuroLeague run.
Pleiss is ranked seventh in EuroLeague history with 228 career blocks, demonstrating his defensive impact.
He also ranks 10th in offensive rebounds (470), 11th in two-pointers made (1,008), and 13th in total rebounds (1,396).
Beyond his two EuroLeague titles, Pleiss has won multiple domestic championships in Germany and Turkey.
Panathinaikos, the reigning EuroLeague champions, currently sit third in the standings with a 16-10 record.
They have won seven of their last ten games, positioning themselves as a strong contender for back-to-back titles.
Pleiss’ familiarity with Ataman’s system should ease his transition into the rotation.
