Photo: EuroLeague Basketball

Kostas Sloukas sat down with Eurohoops during EuroLeague preseason Media Day to reflect on the final stages of his career and what might lie ahead.

“I have little time left to finish my career, for sure, but I am very motivated to win the EuroLeague and the Greek League once more,” the veteran guard said, making clear that his hunger for titles remains strong even as he contemplates retirement.

Although the 35-year-old has already achieved nearly everything possible in European basketball, the Thessaloniki-born leader of Panathinaikos Aktor has not yet circled a date on the calendar for when he will walk away from the game.

“I don’t know,” he admitted when asked about retirement. “But I know, from the beginning of my career, that you must understand when to stop. I think I have a respectable career, which deserves a proper closure and correct timing.”

For Sloukas, chasing more silverware is motivation enough. He emphasized that the looming 2026 Final Four in Athens is not adding any extra burden to him or his teammates.

“All the guys here understand the pressure to win, for titles, positive showings. I don’t think there will be additional pressure,” he explained.

His journey has already been one of remarkable highs. After making the controversial move in 2023 from Olympiacos to their eternal rivals Panathinaikos, Sloukas quickly justified his decision by lifting another EuroLeague title in 2024. The achievement etched his name into the history of the Greens and placed him alongside legends of the club.

“I am proud,” he said, while glancing up at the championship banners inside OAKA, now known as Telekom Center Athens. “We achieved something great. This is my legacy, what I am leaving behind on the team for many years to come. I am very honored to be the captain of this team through recent success. And, of course, I am placed alongside [Dimitris] Diamantidis, [Dejan] Bodiroga. [Zeljko] Obradovic. As I have said many times, I am still struggling to believe it.”

The intensity of the rivalry between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos is something Sloukas knows all too well. He has experienced it from both sides of the divide and understands how much it matters to the fans. Still, he urges a more measured approach.

“There is a rivalry. Certainly, we all want to win. It’s us or them,” he noted, before offering perspective on the bigger picture. “Beyond the court, this stuff doesn’t matter, as proven by our great success alongside Olympiacos players on the national team. We shouldn’t blame the fans only. I believe toxicity is a comfortable space for some. The players must be calm on the court and be the example to follow for our families.”

Looking ahead, Panathinaikos will begin their EuroLeague campaign at home, facing FC Bayern Munich on Tuesday followed by a marquee matchup against FC Barcelona on Friday. The Greens will also kick off their domestic season next Sunday in the Stoiximan GBL Regular Season with a game against PAOK.

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