By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos Aktor is dealing with several preseason injuries, including Cedi Osman carrying an ankle issue from his participation with Turkiye in EuroBasket 2025.
The 30-year-old small forward has been sidelined indefinitely, starting from the seventh annual Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament to be held in Australia. With T.J. Shorts II, Mathias Lessort, and Marius Grigonis previously ruled out, Osman did not make the trip for the upcoming prep games opposite against Partizan Mozzart Bet and Adelaide 36ers.
Extending the collaboration with head coach Ergin Ataman from the Greens to the senior national team of his country, Osman picked up the ankle injury in the Quarterfinals matchup opposite Poland, but returned to the court and was eventually cleared to play against Greece in the Semifinals. In the gold-medal fixture versus Germany on Sunday, he lasted the entire 40 minutes and settled for a silver medal. Over nine appearances in Riga between Group A and the knockout stage, he tallied 16.0 points per contest.
Playing through the injury over the last few days developed a bone bruise. Upon medical evaluation by Panathinaikos, he will continue treatment in Athens instead of traveling to Australia.
With limited space left until the tipoff of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season, Osman is considered questionable for Round 1 and a clash opposite FC Bayern Munich in Telekom Center Athens on September 30.
On the heels of 495 NBA games with the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs from 2017 to 2024, Osman joined the Greek powerhouse before the 2024-25 journey. Last April, he extended his contract until the end of the 2026-27 season.