By Nikola Miloradovic / info@eurohoops.net
The French center returns to action helping Panathinaikos snap a four-game losing streak while receiving an emotional ovation at OAKA Arena. He couldn’t be the best version of himself at the Abu Dhabi Final Four last year, as he was just recovering from a tough injury, but he gave it his all.
Along the way, he got injured again, and the pause lasted far longer than anyone had expected.
Lessort played for Panathinaikos in the third-place game at the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four on May 25, 2025. Fast forward to March 12, 2026, and he returned to the court, helping his teammates beat a tough Zalgiris side and bounce back after four straight EuroLeague defeats.
OAKA Arena erupted when he scored his first points back. Even though Cedi Osman played an outstanding game, Lessort was the man of the hour in Panathinaikos’ arena.
After the game, Osman rushed to embrace him, showing how glad he was to see Matthias back in the green jersey—and looking strong, by the way.
“I’m happy that we got the win, you know. The most important thing for me was to contribute to the team’s victory. It’s a crucial moment for us, and we needed to start winning, so I’m happy that we could do it tonight,” Lessort said in his postgame interview, with a huge smile and his native Martinique flag on his back.
He then explained how he approached his first game after such a long break and what was going through his mind once he returned to action.
“I was just trying to execute my routine and approach the game like I did before I got injured. Obviously, there was a lot of adrenaline, a lot of rush going through my body, but I was trying to calm down, tell myself to approach it like I approached games before. Like I said, I didn’t want this game to be about me. I wanted it to be about the team and the win we needed. That’s how I approached the game. I didn’t try to show off or be the hero. I was just trying to be a teammate and help my team get the win.”
As always, his family was by his side at OAKA, cheering him on every time he was on the court.
“It was huge, man, huge. They’ve seen me go through all this for a year and a half, and the support they gave me was amazing. I wouldn’t have been able to get through it without them. I can’t thank them enough. Now we’re going home to have a little celebration. For the first time, I saw my son sleep at the game—I might put him to sleep early tonight and enjoy time with the rest of the family.”
Through the years, thanks to his warrior mentality and endless energy, Lessort became a fan favourite—not just among the Panathinaikos crowd. Basketball fans from across Europe eagerly awaited his return, and many supported him throughout his long recovery.
“I received messages from all over, from all around the world, and I can’t thank these fans enough. Panathinaikos fans were huge behind me. Partizan fans were also very supportive — you know, those are the two teams I have in my heart. But what the fans here in Panathinaikos did for me tonight, the way they welcomed me, is something that will stay in my heart forever. I can’t thank them enough. The best way to thank them is to give them what they wish for. I won’t say it because I’m superstitious, but everybody knows what I’m talking about,” Matthias Lessort concluded before rejoining his teammates.