Cedi Osman: Why he chose PAOK after leaving Panathinaikos

Choosing PAOK over Turkish clubs

Cedi Osman has explained his summer move from Panathinaikos to PAOK and why potential transfers back to Turkey didn’t materialize. While a few Turkish teams showed interest, the main sticking point was that he still had one year left on his Panathinaikos contract, so any move would have required a buyout the club demanded.

Osman stressed he had no control over Panathinaikos’ asking price, and that interested clubs needed to work out terms directly with his former team. He believes that financial hurdle is what discouraged some Turkish suitors.

Rather than returning home, Osman was attracted by PAOK’s plan. The Thessaloniki club laid out a clear project, hired experienced coach Andrea Trinchieri and openly stated their aim to reach the EuroLeague — all of which appealed to him and helped shape his decision to sign a three-year deal.

He admitted leaving Panathinaikos wasn’t easy. He spoke with coach Željko Obradović and the club president before deciding, and those conversations played a part, but ultimately the contract situation and PAOK’s vision led him to move.

Re-adjusting after the NBA

Osman also talked about the challenge of returning to European basketball after several seasons in the NBA. The transition was tougher than he expected — from the feel of the ball to the tactical and physical nature of the game. He noticed the EuroLeague ball felt much lighter at first and had to adapt to different defensive schemes and spacing.

The first few months at Panathinaikos were difficult, and he questioned his own performances. He discussed adjustments with coach Ergin Ataman and worked through them, gradually finding his rhythm. After that rough start he managed to string together a strong period in Athens.

Now at PAOK, Osman says he’s excited by the club’s ambitions and believes the environment is right for the next phase of his career.