Mike Batiste reflects on life lessons at Panathinaikos, Obradovic, why he prefers EuroLeague to NBA

Three-time EuroLeague champion with Panathinaikos and the “OG” of undersized centers Mike Batiste joins Antonis Stroggylakis and Cesare Milanti on the latest episode of Eurohoops’ EurohooPOD.

A EuroLeague legend and now assistant at the Toronto Raptors, Batiste looks back at his days with Panathinaikos, how playing under Zeljko Obradovic changed him both as a player and a person and the impact that the Giannakopoulos family had in his life beyond basketball.

Batiste also explains why he prefers watching EuroLeague to NBA, talks about his influence on undersized big men like Kyle Hines, the evolution of his coaching career, working with Darko Rajakovic and Pascal Siakam plus the Raptors’ goals.

(1:06) The OG of the small ball and Darryl Middleton
(3:14) His time as an assistant coach with the Raptors
(6:12) The connection with Darko Rajakovic and Pascal Siakam
(8:58) Changing several NBA teams, praising Steve Clifford
(11:38) Dennis Schroder bringing the World Cup experience
(13:49) Dimitris Papanikolaou's emotional message about Mike Batiste
(17:58) Dealing with Zeljko Obradovic's pressure to get better
(20:15) Could Zeljko Obradovic be successful in the NBA?
(22:38) Panathinaikos is doing great for this new beginning
(24:32) Mike Batiste on Mathias Lessort's progression
(26:13) What is his favorite edition of Panathinaikos?
(29:11) An intense locker room speech changed everything
(31:24) The impact on the team by the Giannakopoulos brothers
(39:54) Prefering to watch the EuroLeague to the NBA
(45:46) Mike Batiste's favorite players in the EuroLeague
(47:56) Where would he be in today's EuroLeague?
(50:44) Being a pioneer for undersized centers like Kyle Hines
(53:39) Real Madrid could impress some people in the NBA
(1:00:42) Meet Mike at the Final Four in Berlin