Pero Antic: 'I Cannot Choose Between Olympiacos, Red Star and Fenerbahce'

Kazan, a June evening in 2026, I sat in a beer bar next to the stadium, watching the TV screen replay the moment Mesut Ozil stood still amid a circle of South Korean players. Germany had just been eliminated from the World Cup. People called it the collapse of an empire. I called it the price of arrogance. But today, I don't want to talk about the Germans. I want to talk about a Macedonian, a three-time EuroLeague champion, who just made me pause my conversation with colleagues in Chicago to listen to every word. Pero Antic, a veteran of Olympiacos, Fenerbahce, and Red Star, now president of the North Macedonia Basketball Federation, appeared at the ABA League's 25th anniversary event with a statement that made me laugh. Not because it was funny, but because it was so sincere. When asked who would win the EuroLeague next season, Antic replied: "I cannot choose between three teams: Olympiacos, Red Star, and Fenerbahce." That is the answer of a man who has worn the jerseys of all three teams, who has lifted the European championship in the red-and-white of Olympiacos (2026, 2026) and the yellow-navy of Fenerbahce (2026). But to me, a man who has spent 44 years observing world basketball, this answer is not just the politeness of a former player. It is a signal. A signal about a EuroLeague season where there is no dominant favorite. Look at the context. This summer, Zeljko Obradovic, the greatest coach in EuroLeague history with 9 championships, returned to Panathinaikos after more than a decade away. He coached Panathinaikos from 2026 to 2026, winning 5 European titles. Obradovic's return is not just a contract; it is a declaration of war against Olympiacos, their Athens rivals. Antic, despite being an Olympiacos veteran, had to admit: "The derbies will be special." But Antic did not choose Panathinaikos. He chose Olympiacos, Red Star, and Fenerbahce. And I understand why. This is not tactical analysis; this is heart. Antic was born in Skopje, grew up in the red-and-white of Red Star from 2026 to 2026, before shining across Europe. He returned to Red Star in 2026 to end his career, as a final tribute. Olympiacos, where he won two consecutive European titles, was the peak of his career. Fenerbahce, where he got his third title, was proof of his longevity. But wait. I am not writing this to praise Antic's sentiments. I am writing to point out something the crowd often misses: the absence of Panathinaikos from Antic's favorites list, despite Obradovic's return, is a tactical signal. It shows that even insiders, those who understand Obradovic's value, still place Olympiacos higher. Why? Because Olympiacos has stability. They have a roster matured over many seasons, a system built by coach Georgios Bartzokas, who led them to the EuroLeague finals in 2026 and 2026 (losing to Real Madrid and Panathinaikos). They don't need a revolution; they need a finishing touch. And Red Star? This Serbian club is rising strongly. They have signed quality players like Milos Teodosic, a EuroLeague champion with CSKA Moscow, and are building a veteran-laden squad. Their presence on Antic's list is not sentiment; it is recognition that Adriatic basketball, after 25 years of the ABA League, has reached European standards. And Fenerbahce? The Turkish club just had a disappointing 2026-24 season, missing the Final Four. But with their massive budget and the chairman's patience, they are always a force. Antic, who won with them, knows this well. But I could be wrong. Maybe Panathinaikos under Obradovic will create a major shock, like they did winning the 2026 EuroLeague under Ergin Ataman. Maybe Red Star is not yet mature enough to compete with Western European giants. Maybe Olympiacos will fall again in the final, as they have done two years in a row. That is the beauty of the EuroLeague: nothing is certain. But one thing I am certain of. When a man like Pero Antic, who has touched the European summit three times, says he cannot choose between three teams, it means the upcoming season will be one of the most unpredictable in the league's history. And I, a hunter of failures yet to happen, will watch every game with the eyes of a skeptic. So, who will win? I don't know. But I know that, like Antic, I will never bet on a name. I will bet on a system, on a collective, on people who know how to listen to each other. And if you ask me why, I will answer: "Because for three years we chased a ball that seemed unguarded, only to realize that what we were chasing was the silence between people's hearts."