By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Limited to individual practice, Cedi Osman has been ruled out by Panathinaikos Aktor for the opener of the 2025-26 Regular Season of the EuroLeague versus FC Bayern Munich in Telekom Center Athens on Tuesday. He is also considered questionable for Friday’s Round 2 home game against FC Barcelona.
The 31-year-old small forward has been on the injury list of the Greens since his setback with the senior national team of Turkiye in the knockout stage of EuroBasket 2025. Head coach Ergin Ataman was optimistic about his player being medically cleared for the opening week of Europe’s premier club continental competition, but Osman might end up sitting out both contests.
Following 495 NBA games with the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs from 2017 to 2024, the experienced forward joined the Greek powerhouse before the 2024-25 journey. Last April, he extended his contract until the end of the 2026-27 season.
With Mathias Lessort expected to remain sidelined for several more weeks, the remaining players, including 27-year-old T.J. Shorts II recovered from an illness, are available for the meeting with Bayern.
“The most important thing is for us to be mentally prepared, after a long break,” mentioned the play-caller of Panathinaikos, “The official games are starting and we must be ready.”
For the visitors, Rokas Jokubaitis and Johannes Voigtmann are out due to EuroBasket injuries with Lithuania and Germany. Elias Harris is also sidelined by the team guided by Gordon Herbert due to a knee injury in June.