Morning News: Knicks Had Interest in French Olympic Star—Here’s What Went Wrong

No New York Knick is currently participating in the Paris Olympics, which conclude with this weekend’s basketball matches between the United States and France.

Knicks fans hoping to support host nation France in Saturday’s men’s game (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC) might have looked to Mathias Lessort, whose NBA draft rights belong to New York following a trade during the 2020 draft (the same draft that brought first-round pick Immanuel Quickley from Oklahoma City). According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the Knicks had considered using those rights while searching for additional frontcourt depth after Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure. However, negotiations with Lessort fell through, and he will have to wait for his NBA debut.

“Did the Knicks consider Lessort as they were searching for depth on the front line earlier this offseason? They did,” Begley noted. “New York inquired about Lessort’s interest in signing, but the player and team couldn’t reach an agreement.”

Instead, the Knicks re-signed Precious Achiuwa to back up Mitchell Robinson, who is recovering from ankle procedures. The team also includes veteran Jericho Sims and second-round rookie Ariel Hukporti on its roster, which currently has one open spot.

Lessort, who will turn 29 in September, has had a standout 2024, winning both the Greek League and EuroLeague championships with Panathinaikos before heading to the Olympics. Drafted 50th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017, he recently won the Greek League’s “Most Spectacular Player” award, previously claimed by Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Mario Hezonja.

In five Olympic appearances for France, Lessort is averaging 7.6 points (on over 63 percent shooting) and 3.4 rebounds in just over 14 minutes per game, filling in for NBA stars Rudy Gobert (Minnesota) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio). French head coach Vincent Collet expressed confusion over why Lessort isn’t in the NBA after a quarterfinal win over Canada, where he scored 13 points while substituting for an injured Gobert.

“Mathias was probably the best player in the EuroLeague this year. They won the championship with Panathinaikos, and he was close to winning MVP. So for me, it’s not a surprise,” Collet said. “I don’t understand why he isn’t playing in the NBA. I don’t know why no NBA team has taken him.”

Lessort is now set to win his first Olympic medal, marking France’s fourth and second consecutive Olympic medal.