Matías Lesor expressed his desire to remain with Panathinaikos for as many years as possible and to help Željko Obradović win the EuroLeague for the tenth time. The French center noted the significant differences between the Serbian coach and Ergin Ataman’s three-year tenure, while also mentioning Gerson Jabousele and his ties to Partizan and Belgrade.
Specifically, the star from Martinique spoke to the Serbian outlet Sportske about:
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
-his collaboration with Obradović: “It’s a wonderful feeling to be working with Zeljko again and to have him back on the team. Obviously, Zeljko’s name carries tremendous weight in European basketball. So, for me, the opportunity to play under his guidance again—especially in this environment, at Panathinaikos, where he left his mark and made history—is truly special.”
-On the differences with Ataman: “Certainly, there’s a big difference between him and Ergin. They’re two different personalities, two different coaches, two different playing styles—everything is really different. You know, I played under Ergin for three years, so for me it’s a process of adjustment, even though I’m familiar with Zeljko’s system and many of his principles. However, it’s still an adjustment process for all of us as a team. We have many new players, and even those who have been with the team for three years have had to, to a large extent, adapt to the new system and understand what it requires. We’re still missing quite a few key players. So the current situation doesn’t tell the whole story, since we know we’ll need to change a lot of things once everyone returns. I’m just trying to help everyone understand his philosophy and what he expects on the court, to communicate with my teammates, and to try to make their lives easier.”
-On working with Yabusele, following Real Madrid’s eventful game against Partizan: “When he signed, I called him right away to see how he was doing and how he viewed the whole situation. It was an unfortunate incident for both teams. Now that’s in the past; I believe all the players involved have put it behind them. But it happened, and it was unpleasant, especially given how it turned out for us, for Partizan. But that’s all in the past now—he’s my teammate, and he’s always been one of my best friends in basketball. We’ve known each other for over 15 years, and we’ve always talked about the possibility of playing together on the same team. We were lucky enough to play together on the national team, but the national team season lasts a month, maybe a month and a half—something like that—so we never had the chance to be together for an entire season. Now I hope we’ll be together for many years and enjoy every moment.”
-This year’s Partizan: “To be honest, I didn’t see much of their game because I was warming up and going through my usual pregame routine, but I sat down for a bit and watched them play. Obviously, it’s a completely different team from the one I used to play for. The players who were there when I played are gone, and the coaching staff is different. I was just happy to see some familiar faces—some of the guys who are still there, the assistant coaches, the trainers, and the physical therapists. These are the people who have stayed on, and it was nice to see them and say hello after the game. However, I haven’t really had a chance to see them play yet. As always, I wish them all the best, and I’ll continue to follow and support them.”
-His ties to Belgrade: “My whole family and the way we were welcomed in Belgrade are something very special, especially for me, for us. The way they made me feel at ease, accepted me as a person, and accepted my family. My son still knows some of Partizan’s songs to this day. When I was at Partizan, he was one year old—he could barely speak—and yet he still remembers those songs. That says a lot—more than words ever could. Every time I go there, I feel wonderful when I step onto the court, when I hear them chanting my name and all that… it brings back all those feelings. It’s not exactly the most pleasant thing, because I’d rather hear the opposing team’s fans boo me than have them shout my name and show me love, since on the field you’re supposed to go to “war,” yet you feel love… so, it’s a mix of emotions. But every time I go to Serbia, especially when I play against Partizan, it’s very moving. It’s a place that will always hold a special place in my heart; I have boundless respect for that club, and I’ll always have only positive things to say about it.”
-On the possibility of returning to Partizan in the future: “Ah, that’s a matter for the future; I can’t predict the future. Obviously, right now I’m playing for Panathinaikos; I belong to this club, and, as you said at the beginning, I’m very happy here. We have big goals ahead of us. I want to stay here as long as I can, but of course, if at some point I’m no longer here, I’ll always be open to the possibility of returning to Partizan… You know, I had a wonderful experience there, and who knows? God knows what the future holds for us, but if one day the opportunity arises and it works out for both sides, my answer will be yes, and I’d be more than happy if that happened.”
-On whether Obradović can win his tenth EuroLeague title with Panathinaikos: “I wanted that to happen and to be a part of it at Partizan. Unfortunately, as we discussed, what happened in Madrid happened. You know, I played under his guidance for two teams that are, let’s say, ‘his’ teams—where he’s a legend and his name is the biggest. I played for him at Partizan, I saw what the situation is like, and I hope I can help him achieve that great success he so desperately wants here at Panathinaikos.”
*photo source: KYPE
