Panathinaikos center Lessort suffers from horrific leg injury during game against Baskonia

By Can Erozden

Greek club Panathinaikos' French center Mathias Lessort got his leg fractured during a Thursday basketball game against Spain's Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.

"We have nothing to celebrate and it’s very bad luck for Mathias. It looks like he broke his leg and the whole team was in shock after that," Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman said after the game.

In the third quarter of a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game between Panathinaikos and Baskonia at Athens' Oaka Altion, Lessort, 29, landed awkwardly while he was trying to steal the ball in the paint.

Lessort collapsed and was in pain to scream on the court. He was said to be taken to hospital and that he had a fractured fibula to be out for months.

"What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! Thanks for all the messages and prayers love you all ! I’ll be back stronger then ever," Lessort said on X as many clubs and players sent him best wishes.

Before the horrific injury, Lessort scored 10 points against Baskonia, and took six rebounds, made two assists and two steals in 16 minutes for the Greens.

This season Lessort averaged 13.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in the EuroLeague.

Lessort won the 2024 EuroLeague title with Panathinaikos, and also plays for the French national team. He secured an Olympic silver with France at the Paris 2024.

Following the game in Athens, Baskonia guard Markus Howard Lessort's Panathinaikos teammates huddled on the court to pray for the Frenchman.

Panathinaikos beat Baskonia 104-69 in a Round 17 game to improve to 10-7 to be seventh in standings led by Paris Basketball with 11 wins in 16 games.

Baskonia are in the lower ranks as they were handed 10th loss of the season.