By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
Mathias Lessort has not been medically cleared to return to action with Panathinaikos Aktor, but followed the team to Belgrade, ahead of a clash with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet in Belgrade Arena on Wednesday.
Entering Round 9 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season, the Greens will be looking to improve the current 5-3 tally opposite one of the co-leaders sitting at 6-2.
A request by the 30-year-old French center, who is recovering from bone swelling in his left leg, to travel with the team to the Serbian capital was approved by the Greek club, and thus he will be at the venue as a spectator, supporting his side.
In a similar status, Lessort is expected to follow Panathinaikos to Paris and Madrid for two away fixtures in the following double-game week of Europe’s premier club continental competition, against Paris in Accor Arena on Tuesday and Real Madrid in Movistar Arena on Thursday.
Further issues at the five position for head coach Ergin Ataman extend to Richaun Holmes tending to a ruptured medial collateral ligament in his right knee and projected to sit out for one month, and Omer Yurtseven dealing with a grade 2 left adductor sprain and expected to miss three weeks. Giannis Kouzeloglou is the only healthy center.
Panagiotis Kalaitzakis is also sidelined for the meeting with Zvezda due to a ligament injury in his right elbow.
Besides Kouzeloglou, T.J. Shorts II, Cedi Osman, Kostas Sloukas, Nikos Rogkavopoulos, Alexandros Samodurov, Jerian Grant, Kendrick Nunn, Vassilis Toliopoulos, Marius Grigonis, Juancho Hernangomez, and Konstantinos Mitoglou are the remaining available players.