Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens announced on Saturday, February 28, that the club has parted ways with center Omer Yurtseven, ending his tenure midway through the 2025-26 season.
The 27-year-old big man saw his role reduced in recent months as head coach Ergin Ataman prioritized Richaun Holmes and Kenneth Faried in the rotation. Mathias Lessort, who has yet to feature this season, is also nearing his return from injury, further crowding the frontcourt.
Yurtseven appeared in 19 EuroLeague games this season, averaging 6.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 12 minutes and 39 seconds per contest. He shot 63.5% from two-point range and 80.6% from the free-throw line but had logged only nine minutes and 13 seconds of action since Round 22.
The Turkish center joined the Greens ahead of the 2024-25 campaign and played a supporting role during their run to the Final Four. Last season, he averaged 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds across 31 appearances as Panathinaikos fell short of the title.
Roster dynamics shifted this year, with Holmes averaging 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17 games while shooting 65.5% from the field. Faried added 7.0 points and 5.2 rebounds in 20 appearances, providing energy on the glass and rim protection.
Panathinaikos currently sit 10th in the EuroLeague standings with a 16-13 record after 29 rounds. The team is averaging 85.7 points per game while shooting 56% on two-pointers and 34% from beyond the arc.
Lessort’s return could further stabilize the paint rotation as Panathinaikos push for playoff positioning in a tightly contested middle tier. The club remains within reach of the top eight, where teams such as Barcelona, Crvena Zvezda, and Zalgiris are separated by minimal margins.
