Carlik Jones reveals deep respect for Željko Obradović: 'I will hug him and tell him how much I love him, but...'

"As players, we need to approach this game just like any other. Sometimes people overthink a matchup, but we just have to treat it as business as usual. Of course, we know our former coach is returning, and the atmosphere will be electric—perhaps the best of the season so far. We must stay focused on our game plan, because losing focus could be very dangerous," said Carlik Jones.

"They are a quality team, well-covered at every position. We're the underdogs and I will embrace that mindset. I don't know if they're an All-Star team—we'll see tomorrow—but we will approach this match just like any other. It is going to be very exciting," Jones stated.

"Phenomenal, we are all in great shape. Everyone speaks highly of Panathinaikos, but we are a team capable of beating anyone. The energy will be there, and my goal will be to come out strong and play physically from the jump," Jones added.

"Naturally, everyone outside Partizan fans knows they are a top side and currently above us in the standings. That should serve as motivation for all of us. Words can't describe how excited I am—not just because of their coach. Even when he wasn't there, we played well, and I always relish beating teams considered stronger than us," Jones remarked.

"They are the frontrunners. They brought in many players who would be key figures on other teams. Anyone who can bring that talent together and make it click can achieve great things," Jones noted.

"It was the coach's decision. We spoke before the game; I was ready to play, but I respected his call. As I mentioned, we have a big week ahead of us and I want to deliver my best performance. I watched the game and the guys got the job done," Jones explained.

"I'll give him a hug and let him know how much I love and respect him, but all of that will happen after the game. Before that, I want to keep things strictly professional," Jones concluded.

"Basketball is primarily decided on defense. The more stops you get against your opponent, the more opportunities you create to score on the other end. Our focus is on defense, which has propelled our winning streak. We could have played better in Madrid, but now we return in front of our home crowd, and that will give us an extra boost. We will aim to execute our game plan," said Tonye Jekiri.

"On the court, it's five-on-five and we have a plan for them. Basketball is a team sport first and foremost. We need to match their energy because anyone on Panathinaikos can have a huge night. We can't just lock in on one player. I can't wait for tip-off," Jekiri added.