Mathias Lessort opens up about Obradovic's trust and special bond with fans / News - Basketnews.com

"The most important thing to me is to feel that these people love me as Mathias," Lessort said of Partizan fans.

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

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade center Mathias Lessort is the second most efficient player in the EuroLeague with a 19.9 PIR.

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The 27-year-old Frenchman also posts 12.6 points and 7.1 rebounds over 30 minutes and undoubtedly plays his best season at the highest level.

No surprise it was the winningest European coach Zeljko Obradovic who found a way to unleash the best Lessort's qualities.

Everything depends on trust.

"This is the best thing I could ask for. In my whole EuroLeague career, I feel like I never really had the opportunity to really show myself," Lessort told BC Partizan TV. "I always played reduced minutes. I think that this opportunity comes at the right time when I'm mature enough when I understand my role and my responsibilities toward the team.

"And it's not like I play for a small coach and stuff like this," he emphasized. "I play for the best coach, whoever coached at least on this continent and maybe ever. For him to come here and accept this challenge... he won nine EuroLeague titles. Basically, he has nothing to prove. If he wins a 10th EuroLeague, of course, for people here, it's going to be crazy, but for his resume, like it's not going to change anything. 10th EuroLeague, it's not a big difference. So, he really has nothing to prove. An opportunity to play for him and to be a part of his journey is a big thing for me."

Lessort had a solid debut in the EuroLeague during the 2017-18 season, averaging 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and a 10.7 PIR while playing for Crvena Zvezda. However, he left the team after just one season and struggled to find his place in the European top club competition.

2-pointers this season

56%21,0Points made:21,0Accuracy:56,4%Place in standings:4Record max:29Record min:13Most made 2FGs:Mathias LessortTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"We match each other very nicely on and off the court," Lessort said of Obradovic. "We trust each other, and he has trusted me like nobody else. A lot of people doubted that I could have the role that I have on this team, a lot of people doubted that I could be the main big in the EuroLeague team, but, you know, with his knowledge, he knew that I could do that. I am trying to give it back to him every day on the court and during practices."

Partizan fans relish Lessort's efforts and great accomplishments not only on the court but his immense passion off the floor, too.

"They give me so much love and positivity," the center praised Partizan fans. "That's something I cannot appreciate enough. I am coming from a place (Lessort was born in Martinique) where to be honest, I didn't know where Serbia was when I grew up. I had no idea about that.

I had no idea about any of this. So I could never in my life imagine that one day, I would have this bond with all these people who were so far away from me, and the culture is so different."

Lessort is trying his best to make the time in Belgrade an unforgettable experience.

He even manages to find the moment to surprise everyone by being the best man at a Partizan fan's wedding.

"I could never in my life imagine that I would feel like I'm home here, and I would feel like some of these people are part of my family. I'm really close to them," Lessort admitted.

"When the game is over, celebrating with the fans it's something that I like a lot. As I said, they push us so much during the game, and they give me so much energy that being able to communicate with them [post-game] and have these exchanges is something that I really like to do.

"I didn't come here thinking, 'Oh, I want to be the fan favorite.' It's just my personality," he said.

"What's very important to me is that they accepted me as another person, not only as a basketball player. You can play well and put numbers, but sometimes, it's just more than this. They accepted me as a man, as a person. The most important thing to me is to feel that these people love me as Mathias, not just the starting big man of the team. They really like me as a person, and they like how I act or who I am. All of this comes naturally. I didn't plan this, but I really love the moment," he pointed out.

Full interview:

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