2017 NBA Draft: Sixers select Mathias Lessort with 50th overall pick

The Sixers selected French power forward/center Mathias Lessort with the 50th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, giving the team another draft-and-stash player to monitor over the years.

The 21-year-old spent the 2015-16 season with Elan Chalon in France’s top division, and was named French League Co-6th Man of the Year. He moved to JSF Nanterre last season, and averaged 10.2 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 57.4 percent from the floor. Lessort helped Nanterre win both the FIBA Europe Cup and French Cup.

He was ranked as the 32nd best player in Draft Express’s Top 100, and Bogdan Karacic had this to say about his game:

Playing with a huge motor, Mathias shows impressive physical tools, playing above the rim with the ease and having great speed in the open court and pick and roll. Lessort is a bit undersized for a center and doesnt show the type of scoring range or playmaking ability from someone who might play some power forward, even if his intensity level and length on defense does help ease some of those concerns. The way the NBA game is trending will certainly benefit him, as teams are far less reluctant to use 69 centers as in the past, especially one with Lessorts bulk.

According to David Pick, Lessort is nearing a deal with German club Bamberg, but does have some NBA outs in his deal.

It’s very unlikely Lessort will join the Sixers any time soon, so if you’re looking to dive deep into European hoops over the next couple years, he and Pasceniks should have you covered.