Mathias Michel Lessort (born 29 September 1995) is a French professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player for Panathinaikos of the

Greek Basketball League The Greek Basketball League (GBL), and also known as the Stoiximan Greek Basketball League (GBL) for sponsorship reasons, is the first tier level professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by the Hellenic Basketball Associat ...

(GBL) and the

EuroLeague The EuroLeague is a European men's professional basketball club competition. The league is widely recognised as the top-tier and the most prestigious men's basketball league in Europe. The league consists of 20 teams, of which 16 are given lon ...

. He stands 206 cm (6’9’’) tall and plays at the center position. A two-time All-EuroLeague First Team selection in

2023 Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...

and

2024 The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...

, Lessort won the

title in

with Panathinaikos.

Early life

Born in the French overseas department of

Martinique Martinique ( ; or ; Kalinago language, Kalinago: or ) is an island in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It was previously known as Iguanacaera which translates to iguana island in Carib language, Kariʼn ...

and raised in

Le Morne-Vert Le Morne-Vert () is a village and commune in the French overseas department of Martinique. Euroleague champion basketball player Mathias Lessort was raised in Le Morne-Vert. See also *Communes of the Martinique department The following is a ...

until the age of 15, Lessort joined the youth ranks of

Élan Chalon Élan Sportif Chalonnais, commonly known as Élan Chalon, is a French professional basketball club that is based in Chalon-sur-Saône, France. The team's main colors are red and white, and their mascot is a moose. The team's home arena is called ...

in 2010 and won the French national championship with Chalon’s cadet team in 2012 and 2013 and with their development team ("Espoirs") in 2013. He also helped Chalon win the 2013 Trophée du Futur.

Professional career

Early years

Lessort was handed his first professional contract by the club in June 2014 and made his debut in the French top-flight Pro A during the 2014–15 season. Before turning professional, he had considered enrolling at a university in the United States and had been in touch with Gonzaga and

North Carolina State North Carolina State University (NC State, North Carolina State, NC State University, or NCSU) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina sy ...

. He saw action in 23 games as a rookie, chipping in with 2.0 points a game, while pulling down 2.0 rebounds per contest. In 2015–16, he logged his first minutes in a European club competition, the

FIBA Europe Cup The FIBA Europe Cup (FEC) is an annual professional club basketball competition organised by FIBA for eligible European clubs. It is FIBA Europe's second level competition. Clubs mainly qualify based on their performance in national leagues an ...

. In April 2016, he declared for the

NBA draft The NBA draft is the National Basketball Association's (NBA) annual event, dating back to 1947 BAA draft, 1947, in which the teams in the league can Draft (sports), draft players who declare for the draft and that are Eligibility for the NBA dr ...

, but later withdrew. On 1 June 2016 he joined JSF Nanterre of the French Pro A on a three-year deal. In April 2017, Lessort won both the

French Basketball Cup The French Basketball Cup, or French Federation Basketball Cup, () is the annual national basketball federation cup competition of France. It is organized by the French Basketball Federation. It is also known as the Trophée Robert Busnel (Robert ...

and the

championships with Nanterre. Mathias Lessort - Penya-Unicaja by unniks-11

On 11 August 2017 Lessort signed a three-year deal with the Serbian club

Crvena zvezda Fudbalski klub Crvena zvezda ( sr-cyrl, Фудбалски клуб Црвена звезда, lit=Red Star Football Club), commonly referred to as Crvena zvezda () and colloquially referred to as Red Star Belgrade in anglophone media, is a ...

. He played there only in the 2017–18 season, before signing with Spanish ACB side Unicaja in July 2018. Lessort spent the 2019–20 season in Germany with

Bayern Munich Fußball-Club Bayern München e. V. (FCB, ), commonly known as Bayern Munich (), FC Bayern () or simply Bayern, is a German professional sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. They are most known for their men's professional football team, ...

AS Monaco (2020–2021)

On 18 September 2020, Lessort signed with

AS Monaco Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club, commonly referred to as AS Monaco (), is a professional football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. Although not in France, they are a member of the French Football Federation (FFF) and currently ...

of the French

LNB Pro A LNB may refer to: Sport * Liga Nacional de Baloncesto, a professional basketball league in the Dominican Republic * Liga Nacional de Básquetbol, an Argentine basketball league * Liga Nacional de Básquetbol (Paraguay), Liga Nacional de Básquetb ...

Maccabi Tel Aviv (2021)

On 25 September 2021, Lessort signed a 2-month contract with

Maccabi Tel Aviv Maccabi Tel Aviv () is one of the largest sports clubs in Israel, and a part of the Maccabi association. Many sports clubs and teams in Tel Aviv are in association with Maccabi and compete in a variety of sports, such as football, basketball, j ...

of the

Israeli Premier League The Israeli Premier League (, Ligat HaAl, ) is a professional association football league in Israel and the highest level of the Israeli football league system. The league is contested by 14 clubs, and operates on a system of promotion and rele ...

in order to replace the injured

Ante Žižić Ante Toni Žižić (; born 4 January 1997) is a Croatian professional basketball player for Virtus Bologna of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. He was selected 23rd overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2016 NBA draft. Professio ...

. In five games, Lessort averaged 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He parted ways with the team on 26 November.

Partizan Belgrade (2021–2023)

On 20 December 2021, Lessort signed with

KK Partizan Košarkaški klub Partizan ( sr-Cyrl, Кошаркашки клуб Партизан, lit=Basketball Club Partizan), commonly known as Partizan Belgrade, or as Partizan Mozzart Bet for sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball Sports cl ...

of the

Basketball League of Serbia The Basketball League of Serbia (), commonly abbreviated as KLS, is a Serbian basketball league system, top-tier men's professional basketball Sports league, league in Serbia. Founded in 2006. It is currently not run by the Basketball Federation o ...

, the

ABA League The ABA League, renamed the ABA League First Division in 2017, is the top-tier regional men's professional basketball league that originally featured clubs from former Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedoni ...

and the EuroCup. On 18 July 2022, he signed a new contract with Partizan. Under coach Željko Obradović. He was one of the most useful players in the Euroleague, he was in the first team of the Euroleague, and he was also one of the main candidates for the MVP title. During the 2022–23 season, Partizan was eliminated from the

Real Madrid Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (), commonly referred to as Real Madrid, is a Spanish professional Football club (association football), football club based in Madrid. The club competes in La Liga, th ...

in tight

playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...

series. Over the season, Lessort averaged 12 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Partizan ended the 2022–23 season by lifting the

championship trophy, after 3–2 score against Crvena zvezda in the Finals series.

Panathinaikos (2023–present)

On 27 June 2023, Lessort signed a two-year contract with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos. On February 29, 2024, in a 97–86 win against

, Lessort set his

career-high of 26 points, alongside 7 rebounds and 4 assists. On May 26, 2024, Lessort helped Panathinaikos win its seventh EuroLeague title by scoring 17 points and recording 6 rebounds in a 95–80 win over Real Madrid in the final. On December 19, Lessort sustained an injury when he fractured two bones in his right lower leg leaving him out for a significant amount of the season. On December 31, 2024, Lessort officially signed a three-year contract extension with the defending EuroLeague champions through 2028.

NBA draft rights

Lessort was drafted in the second round as the 50th pick in the

2017 NBA draft The 2017 NBA draft was held on June 22, 2017, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. ...

by the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, also known colloquially as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlan ...

. In July 2019, his draft rights were traded to the

Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The ...

as part of a four-team trade. On 19 November 2020 his draft rights were traded to the

Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves (often referred to as the Wolves or T-wolves) are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Divisio ...

. Lessort's draft rights were traded again, to the

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...

, on 20 November. On February 6, 2025, Lessort's draft rights were traded to the

Washington Wizards The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays i ...

in a four-team trade.

National team career

Lessort played in the 2013 Nike Global Challenge, averaging 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks a game, while receiving International All-Tournament Team honors. He represented France at the 2014 and 2015 U20 European Championships. In 2015, he averaged 4.1 points and 5.1 rebounds en route to a semifinal appearance. As a member of the French men's national team, he captured a bronze medal at the 2019 World Cup and a silver medal at the

2024 Olympics The 2024 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad () and branded as Paris 2024, were an international multi-sport event held in France from 26 July to 11 August 2024, with several events started from 24 July. P ...

in Paris.

Career statistics

EuroLeague

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2017–18 , style="text-align:left;",

, 30 , , 29 , , 21.1 , , .549 , , .000 , , .632 , , 5.7 , , .8 , , .8 , , .7 , , 8.5 , , 10.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2019–20 , style="text-align:left;",

, 22 , , 4 , , 11.3 , , .528 , , , , .600 , , 2.2 , , .5 , , .5 , , .5 , , 3.8 , , 4.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2021–22 , style="text-align:left;",

, 5 , , 3 , , 11.7 , , .737 , , , , .562 , , 3.4 , , .6 , , 1.0 , , , , 7.4 , , 9.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2022–23 , style="text-align:left;", Partizan , 38 , , 23 , , 30.2 , , .674 , , .000 , , .734 , , style="background:#CFECEC;", 7.1* , , 1.4 , , .9 , , .8 , , 12.0 , , 19.1 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;", 2023–24† , style="text-align:left;", Panathinaikos , style="background:#CFECEC;", 41* , , 29 , , 29.4 , , .624 , , .000 , , .607 , , 6.3 , , 1.4 , , 1.0 , , .9 , , 13.9 , , 19.6 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 136 , , 88 , , 24.3 , , .618 , , .000 , , .647 , , 5.6 , , 1.1 , , .8 , , .7 , , 10.3 , , 14.6

EuroCup

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2018–19 , style="text-align:left;",

Málaga Málaga (; ) is a Municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 591,637 in 2024, it is the second-most populo ...

, 19 , , 11 , , 21.9 , , .701 , , , , .602 , , 5.4 , , 1.1 , , .9 , , 1.3 , , 11.0 , , 16.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2020–21 , style="text-align:left;",

Monaco Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...

, 23 , , 17 , , 24.6 , , .583 , , .000 , , .672 , , 6.1 , , 1.1 , , .9 , , 1.2 , , 12.5 , , 17.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2021–22 , style="text-align:left;", Partizan , 10 , , 4 , , 23.4 , , .634 , , , , .683 , , 6.4 , , 1.0 , , 1.0 , , .5 , , 13.1 , , 19.1 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 52 , , 32 , , 23.4 , , .630 , , .000 , , .651 , , 5.9 , , 1.1 , , .9 , , 1.1 , , 12.1 , , 17.6

FIBA Europe Cup

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2015–16 , style="text-align:left;",

, 18 , , 6 , , 16.1 , , .623 , , , , .721 , , 5.0 , , .8 , , .4 , , .9 , , 7.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2016–17 , style="text-align:left;",

Nanterre Nanterre (; ) is the prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located some northwest of the centre of Paris. In 2018, the commune had a population of 96,807. The eastern part of Nanterre, b ...

, 20 , , 18 , , 21.3 , , .634 , , .000 , , .689 , , 6.3 , , .6 , , .7 , , 1.3 , , 9.9 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 38 , , 24 , , 18.8 , , .630 , , .000 , , .705 , , 5.7 , , .7 , , .6 , , 1.1 , , 8.6

Domestic leagues

{, class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;" ! Year ! Team ! League ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! , - , style="text-align:left;", 2014–15 , , style="text-align:left;",

, , style="text-align:center;", Pro A , , 23 , , 5.9 , , .586 , , .000 , , .667 , , 2.3 , , .1 , , .3 , , .2 , , 2.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2015–16 , , style="text-align:left;",

, , style="text-align:center;", Pro A , , 34 , , 12.4 , , .625 , , 1.000 , , .633 , , 4.4 , , .7 , , .4 , , .8 , , 5.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2016–17 , , style="text-align:left;",

, , style="text-align:center;", Pro A , , 36 , , 22.9 , , .574 , , 1.000 , , .593 , , 7.2 , , .7 , , .7 , , 1.0 , , 10.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2017–18 , , style="text-align:left;",

, , style="text-align:center;", KLS , , 15 , , 12.0 , , .563 , , .500 , , .657 , , 3.8 , , .4 , , .7 , , .3 , , 4.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2017–18 , , style="text-align:left;",

, , style="text-align:center;", ABA , , 29 , , 18.4 , , .671 , , , , .608 , , 4.4 , , .6 , , .9 , , .9 , , 8.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2018–19 , , style="text-align:left;",

, , style="text-align:center;", ACB , , 37 , , 20.0 , , .566 , , , , .647 , , 5.3 , , 1.0 , , .9 , , .5 , , 8.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2019–20 , , style="text-align:left;",

, , style="text-align:center;", BBL , , 19 , , 15.8 , , .620 , , , , .565 , , 3.9 , , .8 , , .8 , , 1.1 , , 6.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2020–21 , , style="text-align:left;",

, , style="text-align:center;",

LNB Élite The LNB Élite, currently known for sponsorship reasons as Betclic Élite, is a professional basketball league in France and is the highest level of the French basketball system. The competition has existed since 1921. Since 1987, the Ligue Nat ...

, , 31 , , 21.7 , , .610 , , .000 , , .565 , , 5.6 , , 2.0 , , 1.0 , , .7 , , 10.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2021–22 , , style="text-align:left;", Partizan , , style="text-align:center;", ABA , , 22 , , 22.8 , , .632 , , , , .664 , , 5.9 , , 1.6 , , .7 , , .9 , , 10.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2022–23 , , style="text-align:left;", Partizan , , style="text-align:center;", ABA , , 32 , , 21.6 , , .692 , , , , .704 , , 5.2 , , 1.4 , , 1.1 , , .6 , , 9.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2023–24 , , style="text-align:left;", Panathinaikos , , style="text-align:center;", GBL , , 28 , , 21.0 , , .630 , , .000 , , .674 , , 5.1 , , 1.0 , , 1.0 , , .6 , , 10.8

Personal life

His brother Grégory Lessort is also a professional basketball player.

Honors

Ordre national du Merite Chevalier ribbon

Chevalier in the French Order of Merit: 2024.

References

External links

Mathias Lessort
at aba-liga.com
Mathias Lessort
at draftexpress.com *
Mathias Lessort
at euroleaguebasketball.net

at lequipe.fr {{DEFAULTSORT:Lessort, Mathias 1995 births Living people 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup players ABA League players AS Monaco Basket players Baloncesto Málaga players Basketball League of Serbia players Centers (basketball) Élan Chalon players FC Bayern Munich basketball players French expatriate basketball people in Germany French expatriate basketball people in Greece French expatriate basketball people in Serbia French expatriate basketball people in Spain French men's basketball players French people of Martiniquais descent KK Crvena zvezda players KK Partizan players Liga ACB players Martiniquais men's basketball players Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. players Nanterre 92 players Philadelphia 76ers draft picks Panathinaikos B.C. players Sportspeople from Fort-de-France Basketball players at the 2024 Summer Olympics Olympic basketball players for France Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medalists for France Olympic medalists in basketball 21st-century French sportsmen Knights of the Ordre national du Mérite