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Marius Grigonis has returned to Žalgiris Kaunas after four seasons with Panathinaikos, a turbulent period that ultimately ended with him becoming a EuroLeague champion.

Looking back on his experience in Athens, Grigonis described it as “organized chaos.” His relationship with former head coach Ergin Ataman was particularly distant.

“I would like you to find at least one player who has a relationship with him. He completely separates himself from the players. He chooses that position. There is no communication.”

That became especially evident during Grigonis’ final season. After returning from a lengthy absence caused by back problems, he received limited playing time and often had little idea whether he would even be needed for games.

“With Ataman, it doesn’t work like that,” Grigonis explained.

“I would leave after practice, go home, and then get a call: ‘Come to the airport. You have to travel to the game,’” he recalled. “Or I would come to the locker room and, 25 minutes before the game, they would bring me my uniform and tell me I was needed.”

Despite the uncertainty, Grigonis tried to remain professional.

“I looked at it as: I am here and I will try to do my job,” he said. “My contract is to help the team. Of course, I complained a lot and gave my opinion, but when they needed me, I was ready.”

His early experience at Panathinaikos was equally difficult, with tensions inside the team and criticism from supporters.

“In the locker room, everyone was fighting and telling each other off,” Grigonis recalled. “The coach would leave someone out of the team. Our own fans would curse us. They would spit at us. You would walk down the street and people would say things to you.”

Only a year later, Panathinaikos had transformed into EuroLeague champions.

“One year they were cursing you, and the next they were carrying you on their shoulders because we had won the EuroLeague,” Grigonis said.

The passion surrounding basketball in Athens also left a lasting impression.

“We talk about fanaticism in Kaunas and Žalgiris, but there everything is on another level,” he said. “They are truly crazy. They don’t even need to drink beer to be like that. That’s just how they are naturally.”