Maccabi Tel Aviv quickly denied rumors that Panathinaikos was interested in acquiring Jaylen Hoard after Mathias Lessort got injured.
Following a report from the Greek website Sportal this morning (Sunday) claiming that Panathinaikos was targeting Jaylen Hoard as a replacement for the injured Mathias Lessort, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv quickly responded with a firm statement.
Mathias Lessort
| Team: |
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens |
| Position: | C |
| Age: | 29 |
| Height: | 206 cm |
| Weight: | 113 kg |
| Birth place: | Martinique, France |
The club clarified on social media that no request had been made for Hoard, and even if one had been received, the player would not be released, as Hoard is still under contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
This development comes amid ongoing speculation about Hurd’s future, especially in light of the injury to Panathinaikos’ AKTOR Athens star center Lessort. The French big man suffered a fractured left fibula in his team’s recent 104-69 victory over Baskonia, which will sideline him for approximately four months.
Lessort’s injury is a significant blow to Panathinaikos, as he has been a key contributor in both the EuroLeague and Greek League, providing both scoring and defense.
With Lessort now out for the foreseeable future, Panathinaikos will face a tough challenge. The team will need to find ways to cope with his absence, both in terms of his scoring and his presence in the paint.
Given that the team is already dealing with a competitive EuroLeague campaign, the loss of such an important player at this stage could be a major setback. As of now, it seems the club is exploring different options, but with Maccabi shutting down the possibility of acquiring Hoard, it remains to be seen how Panathinaikos will navigate this critical period.
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