Mathias Lessort
French basketball player (born 1995)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mathias Michel Lessort (born 29 September 1995) is a French professional basketball player for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. He stands 206 cm (6’9’’) tall and plays at the center position. A two-time All-EuroLeague First Team selection in 2023 and 2024, Lessort won the EuroLeague title in 2024 with Panathinaikos.
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Early life
Born in the French overseas department of Martinique and raised in Le Morne-Vert until the age of 15,[1] Lessort joined the youth ranks of Élan Chalon in 2010 and won the French national championship with Chalon’s cadet team in 2012 and 2013 and with their development team ("Espoirs") in 2013. He also helped Chalon win the 2013 Trophée du Futur.[2]
Personal life
Professional career
Early years
Lessort was handed his first professional contract by the club in June 2014[5] and made his debut in the French top-flight Pro A during the 2014–15 season. Before turning professional, he had considered enrolling at a university in the United States and had been in touch with Gonzaga and North Carolina State.[6]
He saw action in 23 games as a rookie, chipping in with 2.0 points a game, while pulling down 2.0 rebounds per contest.[7] In 2015–16, he logged his first minutes in a European club competition, the FIBA Europe Cup.[8]
In April 2016, he declared for the NBA draft,[9] but later withdrew.[10] On 1 June 2016 he joined JSF Nanterre of the French Pro A on a three-year deal.[11] In April 2017, Lessort won both the French Basketball Cup and the FIBA Europe Cup championships with Nanterre.[12]
On 11 August 2017 Lessort signed a three-year deal with the Serbian club Crvena zvezda.[13][14] He played there only in the 2017–18 season, before signing with Spanish ACB side Unicaja in July 2018.[15]
Lessort spent the 2019–20 season in Germany with Bayern Munich.
AS Monaco (2020–2021)
On 18 September 2020, Lessort signed with AS Monaco of the French LNB Pro A.[16]
Maccabi Tel Aviv (2021)
On 25 September 2021, Lessort signed a 2-month contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League in order to replace the injured Ante Žižić.[17] In five games, Lessort averaged 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He parted ways with the team on 26 November.[18]
Partizan Belgrade (2021–2023)
On 20 December 2021, Lessort signed with KK Partizan of the Basketball League of Serbia, the ABA League and the EuroCup.[19]
On 18 July 2022, he signed a new contract with Partizan.[20] Under coach Željko Obradović. He was one of the most useful players in the Euroleague, he was in the first team of the Euroleague, and he was also one of the main candidates for the MVP title. During the 2022–23 season, Partizan was eliminated from the Real Madrid in tight playoffs series. Over the season, Lessort averaged 12 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Partizan ended the 2022–23 season by lifting the ABA League championship trophy, after 3–2 score against Crvena zvezda in the Finals series.[21]
In March 2023, Lessort was involved in a physical altercation after an ABA League derby between Partizan and Crvena zvezda, following provocation by Filip Petrusev. In the moments after full-time, Lessort shoved Petrusev and then struck him in the face. He later apologized for his reaction, saying he felt his dignity had been impinged.[22][23]
He was suspended for three games and fined €10,000 for the incident.[24]
Panathinaikos (2023–present)
On 27 June 2023, Lessort signed a two-year contract with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos. On February 29, 2024, in a 97–86 win against Real Madrid, Lessort set his EuroLeague career-high of 26 points, alongside 7 rebounds and 4 assists. On May 26, 2024, Lessort helped Panathinaikos win its seventh EuroLeague title by scoring 17 points and recording 6 rebounds in a 95–80 win over Real Madrid in the final.
On December 19, 2024, during a EuroLeague match against Baskonia, Lessort suffered a serious fibula fracture in his left leg.[25][26] The injury caused panic inside the arena, with several fans fainting and one suffering a heart attack.[27] He underwent successful surgery the following day at Ygeia Hospital, performed by team physician Dr. Athanasios Konidis.[28][29] Initial estimates suggested an absence of approximately four months.[30][31]
On December 31, 2024, and whilst being injured, Lessort officially signed the newly offered three-year contract extension with the defending EuroLeague champions through 2028.[32]
Despite the severity of the injury, Lessort began rehabilitation quickly and made a surprising return during the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi, where he logged minutes in the semifinal against Fenerbahçe Beko.[33][34] However, he was later omitted from Panathinaikos’s roster for the domestic league finals against Olympiacos. Team doctor Thanasis Konidis stated that Lessort had been medically cleared to play, but the coaching staff opted to rest him to allow confidence and rhythm to return gradually rather than due to any renewed medical restriction.[35]
On 29 September 2025, Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman provided an update on Lessort’s recovery from his serious fibula fracture. Ataman confirmed that while Lessort was progressing, he was not yet ready to return to full team activities. The club intended to act cautiously, and Lessort was expected to be available for selection in November. Ataman stressed that Lessort’s participation in the EuroLeague Final Four was not a misjudgment, noting that the player had completed one month of intensive individual and partial team training prior to the tournament. “He’ll return in November, about 1–1.5 months from now,” Ataman said.[36]
However, on 7 November 2025, the club issued a further statement indicating that Lessort’s recovery plan remained unclear. During his reintegration phase he experienced discomfort in his left ankle, and new imaging revealed bone oedema, prompting a reassessment of his treatment strategy. The statement noted that a decision was yet to be made regarding whether he would continue with conservative treatment or undergo surgery. As a result, no definitive timetable for his return to full team participation was given.[37]
On 17 November 2025, Panathinaikos and head coach Ergin Ataman provided an update on Lessort’s recovery. They confirmed that he had been experiencing persistent discomfort in his left ankle and that new imaging revealed bone oedema. The club stated that a final decision on whether to continue with conservative treatment or proceed with surgery was still pending, and no definitive timetable for his return to full team participation was given.[38]
He eventually returned to action on March 12th in a home game against Zalgiris Kaunas, recording 9 points and 3 rebounds in 23 minutes of play.
NBA draft rights
Lessort was drafted in the second round as the 50th pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. In July 2019, his draft rights were traded to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a four-team trade.[39] On 19 November 2020 his draft rights were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.[40] Lessort's draft rights were traded again, to the New York Knicks, on 20 November.[41]
On February 6, 2025, Lessort's draft rights were included in a four-team trade and ultimately acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks.[42][43][44]
National team career
Lessort played in the 2013 Nike Global Challenge, averaging 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks a game,[45] while receiving International All-Tournament Team honors.[46]
He represented France at the 2014[47] and 2015 U20 European Championships. In 2015, he averaged 4.1 points and 5.1 rebounds en route to a semifinal appearance.[48]
As a member of the French men's national team, he captured a bronze medal at the 2019 World Cup[49] and a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.[50]
In 2025, Lessort was included in France’s preliminary roster for EuroBasket 2025, but withdrew from the extended squad having still not fully recovered from a fibula fracture he sustained in December 2024. He was replaced by Yoan Makoundou in the 18-man training camp roster.[51][52]
Career statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance index rating |
| Bold | Career high |
EuroLeague
| † | Competition Winner |
| * | Led the league |
 |
Denotes season with 50%+ of games missed due to injury |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Crvena zvezda | 30 | 29 | 21.1 | .549 | .000 | .632 | 5.7 | .8 | .8 | .7 | 8.5 | 10.7 |
| 2019–20 | Bayern Munich | 22 | 4 | 11.3 | .528 | — | .600 | 2.2 | .5 | .5 | .5 | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| 2021–22 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 5 | 3 | 11.7 | .737 | — | .562 | 3.4 | .6 | 1.0 | — | 7.4 | 9.2 |
| 2022–23 | Partizan | 38 | 23 | 30.2 | .674 | .000 | .734 | 7.1* | 1.4 | .9 | .8 | 12.0 | 19.1 |
| 2023–24† | Panathinaikos | 41* | 29 | 29.4 | .624 | .000 | .607 | 6.3 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .9 | 13.9 | 19.6 |
| 2024–25 |
Panathinaikos | 19 | 16 | 25.4 | .714 | .000 | .644 | 6.5 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 13.0 | 20.1 |
| Career | 155 | 104 | 24.3 | .631 | .000 | .647 | 5.7 | 1.1 | .9 | .7 | 10.6 | 15.3 | |
EuroCup
FIBA Europe Cup
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Élan Chalon | 18 | 6 | 16.1 | .623 | — | .721 | 5.0 | .8 | .4 | .9 | 7.2 |
| 2016–17 | Nanterre | 20 | 18 | 21.3 | .634 | .000 | .689 | 6.3 | .6 | .7 | 1.3 | 9.9 |
| Career | 38 | 24 | 18.8 | .630 | .000 | .705 | 5.7 | .7 | .6 | 1.1 | 8.6 | |
Domestic leagues
| Year | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 |  Élan Chalon | Pro A | 23 | 5.9 | .586 | .000 | .667 | 2.3 | .1 | .3 | .2 | 2.2 |
| 2015–16 | Élan Chalon | Pro A | 34 | 12.4 | .625 | 1.000 | .633 | 4.4 | .7 | .4 | .8 | 5.6 |
| 2016–17 | Nanterre | Pro A | 36 | 22.9 | .574 | 1.000 | .593 | 7.2 | .7 | .7 | 1.0 | 10.2 |
| 2017–18 |  Crvena zvezda | KLS | 15 | 12.0 | .563 | .500 | .657 | 3.8 | .4 | .7 | .3 | 4.0 |
| 2017–18 | Crvena zvezda | ABA | 29 | 18.4 | .671 | — | .608 | 4.4 | .6 | .9 | .9 | 8.8 |
| 2018–19 |  Málaga | ACB | 37 | 20.0 | .566 | — | .647 | 5.3 | 1.0 | .9 | .5 | 8.6 |
| 2019–20 |  Bayern Munich | BBL | 19 | 15.8 | .620 | — | .565 | 3.9 | .8 | .8 | 1.1 | 6.5 |
| 2020–21 | Monaco | LNB Élite | 31 | 21.7 | .610 | .000 | .565 | 5.6 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .7 | 10.8 |
| 2021–22 | Partizan | ABA | 22 | 22.8 | .632 | — | .664 | 5.9 | 1.6 | .7 | .9 | 10.1 |
| 2022–23 | Partizan | ABA | 32 | 21.6 | .692 | — | .704 | 5.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | .6 | 9.3 |
| 2023–24† |  Panathinaikos | GBL | 28 | 21.0 | .630 | .000 | .674 | 5.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .6 | 10.8 |
| 2023–24 | Panathinaikos | GBL | 9 | 17.4 | .574 | .000 | .675 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | .2 | 9.9 |
Awards & Honours
Club career
- Greek Cup winner (2025)
- EuroLeague champion (2024)
- Greek League champion (2024)
- ABA League champion (2023)
- EuroCup champion (2021)
- FIBA Europe Cup champion (2017)
- Serbian League champion (2018)
- French Cup winner (2017)
Individual awards
- 2× All-EuroLeague First Team (2023, 2024)
- EuroLeague Flight Time (2024)
- Greek League Finals MVP (2024)
- All-Greek League Team (2024)
- Greek League Most Spectacular Player (2024)
- EuroLeague rebounding leader (2023)
- All-ABA League Team (2023)
- ABA League Best Defender (2023)
- All-EuroCup First Team (2021)
- All-EuroCup Second Team (2019)
- LNB Pro A Sixth Man of the Year (2016)
France senior national team
Honours
Chevalier in the French Order of Merit (2024)[53]
