Veteran guard Kostas Sloukas has undergone knee surgery after suffering a lateral meniscus tear, leaving Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens short-handed ahead of a crucial EuroLeague playoff series against Valencia Basket.
The club confirmed on Tuesday, April 28, that the operation was completed successfully in Athens following medical evaluation earlier in the week.
Panathinaikos issued an official statement detailing the procedure and medical team involved.
The injury comes at a critical moment in the season, with Panathinaikos preparing for a best-of-five playoff series against Valencia. Head coach Ergin Ataman confirmed earlier in the week that Sloukas would miss at least the opening two games due to the knee issue.
Sloukas, 36, remains one of the most experienced guards in EuroLeague history. He is a four-time EuroLeague champion and was named Final Four MVP two seasons ago after leading Panathinaikos to the title.
This season, he has averaged 9.6 points per game and leads the team with 5.1 assists across 38 appearances. His role has been central to the team’s half-court organization and late-game execution.
Panathinaikos finished the regular season in seventh place with a 22–16 record and earned a playoff spot via the play-in tournament. Valencia, ranked second at 25–13, enters the series with home-court advantage and one of the league’s most efficient offensive profiles.
Without Sloukas, spacing and tempo control become key concerns for the Greek side. His experience in high-pressure European playoff environments has often been a stabilizing factor in close possessions.
There is no official timeline for his return beyond the confirmation that he will miss the start of the series. His recovery progression will now shape Panathinaikos’ guard rotation depth as the playoff race intensifies.
The winner of the Panathinaikos–Valencia matchup moves to the Final Four in Athens, but the immediate focus remains on how the Greek club adapts without its captain.
