Kostas Sloukas Returns as Panathinaikos Vs Žalgiris Heads to Sold-Out Arena
Kostas Sloukas returned to full practice this week as Panathinaikos prepares for panathinaikos vs žalgiris at Telekom Center Athens on 12/03 at 10: 00 pm ET. The veteran point guard had missed a recent domestic game with left knee tendinitis, and his presence reshapes a team still searching for consistency.
Kostas Sloukas and Mathias Lessort reshape Panathinaikos Aktor practice
Kostas Sloukas resumed full training on Tuesday after completing treatment for left knee tendinitis and was expected to lead the Greens on Thursday without restrictions. Mathias Lessort also practiced without limitations and has a strong chance to return to action for the first time since last May, offering a physical presence in the paint. Alexandros Samodurov remained limited to individual drills with a leg issue and stayed uncertain for the matchup.
Panathinaikos Vs Žalgiris at Telekom Center Athens is sold out
The club announced the game is sold out for Round 31, a fact that shapes arrival and entry rules at Telekom Center Athens. Ticket holders for Sections 402, 402A, 403 and 403A will enter through Gate 46 because Gate 40 will remain closed due to visiting fans. Vehicle access is permitted only through Gates A and D, and available parking areas are listed as P0, P2, P3, P4, P6 and P8, with Parking 5 reserved for VIP season ticket holders and suite holders.
Dimitris Giannakopoulos visit and Zalgiris roster questions
Owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos visited practice for a second time in 2026 after recent losses to Olympiacos and Iraklis, posting his presence online as a show of support. The visiting Kaunas side arrives with injuries: Laurynas Birutis is confirmed out with a knee injury, while Azuolas Tubelis is questionable with an ankle problem. Those absences factor into a matchup in which Zalgiris sits tied for sixth with a 17-13 record and Panathinaikos carries a 16-14 mark at the bottom of the Play-In Showdown zone.
Arena rules, safety measures, and what fans must follow
Fans were urged to arrive early to enjoy surrounding activities and avoid delays. All tickets, single-game and season, are strictly personal and non-transferable, and identification through the Gov Wallet application is mandatory for arena entry. Tickets must be presented as a QR code or printed version, and children older than three years may enter only with a separate ticket. Team support is allowed only through vocal encouragement; the use of lasers, smoke bombs and fireworks is strictly prohibited and carries heavy penalties, including games played behind closed doors. For safety and commercial policy reasons, bringing food, drinks or coffee into the arena is not permitted.
Back where this story began, Kostas Sloukas returns to a sold-out Telekom Center Athens on 12/03 at 10: 00 pm ET, with the club enforcing entry and behavior rules and the owner present in the days before the match. Fans will see whether his return and the frontcourt recoveries change Panathinaikos fortunes on a night framed by tight standings and concrete roster questions.
