By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following up on Vincent Collet, the head coach of the senior national team of France, recently wondering why Mathias Lessort is lacking an opportunity to play in the NBA, a report surfaced about the New York Knicks considering the 28-year-old big earlier in the offseason.
Seeking additional frontline depth, the Knicks showed interest but were unable to find common ground with Lessort, according to Ian Begley of SNY.
Lessort, 28, is among the leading players for France in the 2024 Olympic Games. Averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per contest, he helped in the push for the senior national team of his country to reach the gold medal game. The Final is against the United States in Paris on Saturday.
Leading to the Olympic tournament between Lille and the capital of France, Lessort placed among the key players for head coach Ergin Ataman en route to Panathinaikos Aktor winning the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. He tallied 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game over 41 appearances, including 29 starts in the 2023-24 edition of Europe’s premier club continental competition.
Since being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017, he has been constantly improving his game and using his strength inside the paint to disrupt the defensive plans of his opponents, besides his NBA rights being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers and the Minnesota Timberwolves, and from there to the Knicks in 2020.
From his EuroLeague debut with Crvena Zvezda mts to Unicaja, FC Bayern Munich, AS Monaco, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Partizan Mozzart Bet, Lessort also switched several teams, searching for the best possible situation in the Old Continent.
Photo Credit: FIBA