Mathias Lessort compares Zeljko Obradovic to Zvezdan Mitrovic / News - Basketnews.com

Mathias Lessort talked about working with Zeljko Obradovic, his development since he played at Red Star, and the French NT in football and basketball.

Credit: EHCB Credit EHCB

After four EuroLeague games, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade center Mathias Lessort is his team's best scorer (13.5 points) and rebounder (8.8 boards) so far in the competition.

Mathias Lessort

Team:Partizan Mozzart Bet BelgradePosition:CAge:27Height:206 cmWeight:113 kgBirth place:Martinique, FranceProfileNewsStatistics

In an interview with Sport Club, the big man from Martinique discussed a number of topics. In particular, he touched on the cooperation with Zeljko Obradovic, the most decorated European coach.

"Before I say something about him as a coach, I have to point out that he is a great person," the Frenchman said.

"People don't say that often enough about it. An excellent man, honest and direct. It means a lot to me as a player to have someone who can tell me everything to my face. He hides nothing and is not afraid to speak openly with the players. That is very important," he argued.

Lessort pointed out that he has nothing new to add to the discussion regarding Obradovic as a coach.

"He's exceptional. The way he understands, feels and sees basketball is something incredible. He is always two steps ahead of others. He's a basketball genius. He has a basketball brain and when you play for him you understand the game better.

Your basketball IQ goes up when he's coaching you. He helps every player who plays for him," said the former player of Chalon, Nanterre, Unicaja Malaga, Bayern Munich, AS Monaco and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Now 27, Lessort thinks he's gone a long way since he played for Partizan's main rivals Crvena Zvezda back in 2017.

"I've become a better player in general. I may not be as much of an athlete as I was back then, but I'm still good. In general, my understanding of the game has improved, I'm more patient, I can do more things with the ball, I read the game better on offense," he explained.

Mathias Lessort

MIN:32.03PTS:13.5 (67.39%)REB:8.75As:0.5ST:1BL:2TO:1GM:4ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

The Frenchman achieved great success by collaborating in Monaco with Zvezdan Mitrovic. The two won the EuroCup together in 2021. Lessort thinks that the Montenegrin coach's personality bears a strong resemblance to Zeljko Obradovic.

"They're very similar personalities. That helped me a lot when I came to Partizan," he commented.

Lessort calls his time spent in Monaco "great" and believes that the 2020-21 team "has contributed a lot to the progress. We have taken a big step. I think we have built something and it means a lot to us when we see how the club is doing now."

Credit EuroLeague Head Coaches Board

As a player who had experience playing for the French national basketball team in the past, Lessort also weighed in on Vincent Collet's team that won a medal at the EuroBasket in September.

"For the last five years, France has consistently recorded good results. I think they are one of the best teams in the world. My opinion is that France is the second best after the USA. Of course, we wanted a gold medal at the EuroBasket, and we were a little disappointed with the silver. However, when you look back, it's still a big deal. Especially when you keep in mind how this tournament went."

Basketball is the sport he professes, but football is definitely Lessort's favorite sport to watch.The World Cup in Qatar is approaching, and the French big man expects his country to win the title once again.

"I love football, it's by far the most popular sport in Martinique, the island where I was born. In second place is handball, and basketball comes in third," he explained.

Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.