By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos faces a severe roster crisis heading into Round 30 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season against Panathinaikos Aktor. During Thursday’s pregame media session, head coach Giorgos Bartzokas confirmed that stars Sasha Vezenkov and Thomas Walkup have been officially ruled out for the meeting in the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Friday. The injury woes for the 60-year-old tactician continue to mount, as 30-year-old guard Monte Morris is now considered doubtful due to a persistent back issue. These absences leave the Reds significantly shorthanded in a derby that carries immense weight for the final standings.
The current situation compounds a season already defined by devastating long-term setbacks for the Piraeus club. Olympiacos remains without Keenan Evans, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon back in Round 10, and defensive anchor Moustapha Fall. Fall’s ruptured patellar tendon, sustained during last June’s Greek League finals, has sidelined him for the entire year.
On the opposite side of the court, Panathinaikos enters the derby with its own fitness concerns, though they appear less severe than those of its rivals. With center Richaun Holmes battling sinusitis and young forward Alexandros Samodurov recovering from foot inflammation, both missed Wednesday’s practice and remain questionable. However, the Greens received a major boost with the return of Mathias Lessort.
Currently sitting third in the EuroLeague standings with an 18-10 record, Olympiacos must navigate this high-stakes battle with a severely depleted rotation. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos enters at 16-13, fighting to secure their spot within the Play-In Showdown zone.