Lauvergne Reveals He Messaged Dule About Partizan Return: "I Don't Know If He Read It, I'm Sad, But He'd Be Happy For Me!"

Pulse Sports Team 20:01 - 15 April 2026

After a long wait, Joffrey Lauvergne has once again donned the Partizan jersey, officially completing a return that had been rumored for years. However, his arrival back to the black-and-white side comes at a poignant moment, tinged with emotion following the passing of Duško Vujošević, the man who played a pivotal role in his career.

The French center openly discussed the emotions surrounding his return:

"I'm incredibly happy. Truly. At the same time, it feels strange given the circumstances. I'm sad about Dule, but I think... Dule would be happy for me. I honestly doubted this would ever happen. But here we are... It happened. I'm happy, yet also sad. Life goes on." - Joffrey Lauvergne

He spoke with particular emotion about the final days of the legendary coach:

"I knew he wasn't well. Still, I didn't expect it to happen. My last message to him was that I was returning to Partizan. I don't know if he read it." - Joffrey Lauvergne

Regarding his role for the remainder of the season, it's clearly defined: due to administrative restrictions, he won't play in the EuroLeague or ABA League, but he will bolster the team in the domestic championship.

"I spoke with Vanja, I spoke with people from the club. I can't play EuroLeague or ABA this season, but I will play in the KLS (Serbian League) thanks to my Serbian passport. I have time to integrate. I feel good; I've been training with Mega. Coach Peñarroya expects me to fight and give my all." - Joffrey Lauvergne

Off the court, his return also has a personal dimension, as he plans to remain in Serbia even after his career concludes.