Mathias Lessort explains why he moved to Partizan / News - Basketnews.com

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens star Mathias Lessort explained what drew him to Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, particularly emphasizing Zeljko Obradovic's role.

Credit: Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic Credit Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic

Currently one of the biggest stars of the EuroLeague, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens player Mathias Lessort first truly shone as a player of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in the seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Mathias Lessort

Team:Panathinaikos AKTOR AthensPosition:CAge:28Height:206 cmWeight:113 kgBirth place:Martinique, FranceProfileNewsStatistics

Under the tutelage of Zeljko Obradovic, Lessort developed into one of the greatest current big men of the EuroLeague.

In an interview with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz's Chima Moneke, Lessort talked about how he moved to Partizan and what made the team particularly attractive for him.

"I started the year in Maccabi. Partizan wanted me already in the summer. I was coming out of the season with Monaco, I won the EuroCup. I was like 'I have nothing to do in the EuroCup,' I didn't want to go back there so I was like 'I got to find a EuroLeague job,'" he explained about his rationale behind signing a 2-month deal with Maccabi.

His stint with Maccabi was intended to be brief, and it indeed was brief, particularly after the then-main center of the Israeli team, Ante Zizic, recovered from his injury.

"Partizan was trying to push for me, but I wanted that EuroLeague chance. Maccabi came, I stayed there for two months," he explained. "Ante Zizic was injured. When he came back, the coach [Ioannis] Sfairopoulos told me, 'I like you, you are a good player, but we have a player under a contract here, so we have to respect that," Lessort recalled.

"After that, Partizan still called me. That was a big thing for me to see that they didn't just want to sign a center," the center said. "And for a coach to call you in September, you turning them down, and him calling you again is like he really wants you, like he really sees something in you," he remembered, appreciating Partizan's interest in him.

What really made the difference for Lessort was Zeljko Obradovic's presence, a coach who is the most decorated in EuroLeague history.

Mathias Lessort

MIN:28.84PTS:13.62 (63.79%)REB:6.03As:1.26ST:1.09BL:0.85TO:1.88GM:34ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

"A coach like Zeljko, you know how he can change somebody's career, somebody's life. When the deal was on the table, I looked at what I had, and I was like, 'Man, I don't know why I am thinking.' I will play for Zeljko, I am going to go back to Belgrade, play for the crazy fans there," Lessort stated, as he already had experience with Belgrade fans after playing for Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in the 2017-18 season.

"The team we had... We had KP [Kevin Punter], Zach [LeDay], I was like, 'We're going to win the EuroCup and go to the EuroLeague next year,'" Lessort concluded on the matter.

Although Partizan did not win the EuroCup that season (2021-22), they nevertheless received a wild card to participate in the EuroLeague and became one of the competition's toughest-to-beat teams, particularly in away games.

As for Lessort, he had a career season with Partizan last year with averages of 12 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 19.1 PIR. He was that season's rebounding leader and was named to the All-EuroLeague First Five.

His move to PAO did not cause a loss of form. This season, the center averaged 13.6 points, 6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 19.1 PIR in the EuroLeague regular season.

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