Pero Antic and the hardest EuroLeague choice: Olympiacos, Red Star or Fenerbahce?

At the ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the ABA League, North Macedonia Basketball Federation President Pero Antic was unexpectedly asked about EuroLeague title contenders for the new season. Instead of picking one team, the former forward, a three-time European champion, put all three of his former clubs on his shortlist: Olympiacos, Red Star Belgrade and Fenerbahce. Antic said he cannot choose among them because all three shaped his career. “I can't decide between Olympiacos, Red Star and Fenerbahce,” Antic said. The former star born in 2026 stressed that he once belonged to the “red-and-white world” – the shared identity of Red Star and Olympiacos – so making a single choice was impossible. Fenerbahce, despite wearing yellow and blue, still holds a special place because that is where Antic won the EuroLeague in 2026 under head coach Željko Obradović. Antic's career has been closely tied to those three clubs. He started at Red Star from 2026 to 2026 and returned to the Serbian side for the 2026-18 season before retiring. But it was his two-year spell at Olympiacos from 2026 to 2026 that lifted him to consecutive European titles. At Fenerbahce, Antic gained Obradović's trust and helped the Turkish club make history. Bringing up three former clubs at an ABA League event was not mere nostalgia. The 25th-anniversary celebration arrived as Balkan basketball was rising. Red Star, the club Antic loved during his youth, has dominated the ABA League in recent seasons and regularly competes in the EuroLeague. Antic believes Red Star deserves to be mentioned among European title contenders because winning consistently in a strong regional league builds the mentality needed for bigger stages. Olympiacos, Red Star and Fenerbahce are not the only contenders. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Monaco and Panathinaikos can all compete. What makes Antic's statement interesting is his handling of Panathinaikos. He left Panathinaikos out of his favorites but called them a serious threat because of Obradović's return. Obradović is not a stranger to Antic. They worked together at Fenerbahce and won the EuroLeague in 2026. Asked about Panathinaikos, Antic said the Greek derbies between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos will be special again with Obradović around. The Serbian coach led Panathinaikos from 2026 to 2026, won five EuroLeague titles, and later built another powerhouse at Fenerbahce. He has returned to Athens with the aim of restoring Panathinaikos' status. Obradović's return changes the balance of power. Panathinaikos lacked consistency last season, but with a legendary coach, the Greens will immediately benefit from tactical discipline and better game control. Obradović has won the EuroLeague with Partizan Belgrade and Real Madrid, and almost every club he coached soon became a title contender. At Fenerbahce, he helped the Turkish club escape the shadow of Western European powerhouses. Therefore, his presence at Panathinaikos makes the title race less predictable. Antic experienced many Greek derbies as an Olympiacos player. It is an environment where coaches, players and fans face huge pressure. One controversial referee decision can ignite the whole arena. Obradović understands that more than most because he spent years on the other side of the rivalry. What Antic calls “special” is actually a tactical clash between Olympiacos's fiery mentality and the discipline that Obradović has followed throughout his coaching career. At the end of the day, Antic's comments point to a clear trend: the EuroLeague is seeing the return of traditional giants. Olympiacos still has a veteran core, Fenerbahce owns roster depth, Red Star is reaching its peak, and Panathinaikos is regaining its edge under Obradović. Antic offered no strong prediction and no detailed analytics; he simply described his bond with each club. But fans understand that when a former three-time champion mentions those teams, the message is clear: European basketball this season will not forgive the impatient.