By Antonis Stroggylakis / [email protected]
ABU DHABI– The 2024-25 EuroLeague campaign came to an unceremonious end in a rather ugly manner for reigning MVP Kendrick Nunn.
With 5:45 remaining in the EuroLeague semifinal between defending champion Panathinaikos Athens and Fenerbahce Beko and his team down 64 – 56, Nunn was called with his fifth foul, an offensive one on Devon Hall, and had to watch the rest of the last crucial minutes from the bench.
Visibly frustrated and perhaps still in disbelief with the fact that he wouldn’t play anymore in the match, Nunn spontaneously reacted by throwing his mouthpiece in the air and caught it. Panathinaikos got a technical foul because of that move and Fenerbahce increased its lead to 67 – 56 in the next play en route to a 82 – 76 victory.
“It’s always some bullsh-it calls,” Nunn told Eurohoops in the locker room of Panathinaikos after his team’s eliminating loss. “And then he [referee] gives me a tech for throwing my mouthpiece in the air and catching it. It’s always like that with those guys. It is what it is.”
Nunn couldn’t hide his disappointment with the fact that he was unable to help Panathinaikos down the stretch as the team were making their final rally to erase their deficit. The Greens fought hard but missed the outstanding clutch gene and buckets that the 2025 MVP can provide.
He finished with 19 points on 7 out of 10 two-pointers, 0-5 triples and three rebounds during the 23:39 he spent on the floor. This was his first game this season with zero assists, an important aspect of what he delivers to the offense of Panathinaikos, since he posted 4.4 dimes in the regular season and 4.3 in the playoffs.
“I’m the only player that fouled out in the game. It’s been a couple of games like that. How am I fouling out?” Nunn added.
Fenerbahce had a pretty strong entrance in the game, hitting the open shots and beating Panathinaikos in the physical aspect of the game to go up 31 – 18, three minutes into the second quarter.
“I just think they had a little bit more pop than us. Obviously they jumped on us in the beginning of the game. They got a big lead. We kind of tried to fight our way back. But we fell short.”
According to Nunn, Panathinaikos’ problem was a physical one.
“Mentally, we were ready for it [Fenerbahce’s entrance]. Physically… I don’t think so.”