"My Heart is Finally at Peace!" Lauvergne on the New and Old Partizan: "I Explain to Them What it Means to Wear This Jersey, Basketball is More Important in Serbia Than in France and Germany" /VIDEO/

Pulse Sports Team 09:01 - 18 September 2026

Joffrey Lauvergne has long proven that it's no coincidence he was the first foreigner honored with the Partizan captaincy, and he never misses an opportunity to demonstrate and remind everyone of that. The French center has returned to Humska after 12 years, and as he told Sportal, his heart is now at peace.

Among the familiar and new faces gathered for Partizan's pre-season, one in particular drew significant attention. Joffrey Lauvergne is once again donning the Belgrade club's jersey. The man who made club history as the first foreign captain and whose unwavering dedication long ago won over the fans has returned to the black-and-white side of the Serbian capital. The experienced French center spoke to Sportal before the season began about preparations, working with coach Đoan Penjaroja, the locker room dynamics, and the special emotion he feels when wearing the Partizan uniform. Naturally, he spoke in Serbian.

At the outset of the conversation, the French center reflected on the initial days of training and the team's atmosphere.

"It's great. Preparations are going well. I believe we have a good team, good guys. We need time to gel, but I think it will be fine."

Partizan faces a demanding schedule with numerous matches across multiple fronts, raising questions about his role in coach Đoan Penjaroja's tactical plans.

"I think my role will be to be ready for every game. I'll definitely play, I just don't know exactly how much. We have many games now. I think sometimes one player will play more, and in another game, it will be someone else. I feel good. I'm ready, we'll see how it goes."

Beyond his on-court duties, a significant off-court role is expected of him – to help unite the team in the locker room and convey to younger and foreign players what it truly means to wear the Partizan crest.

"I try to explain to the players what it's like to wear this jersey. And I think there's nothing special you need to do, you just have to fight and be a good guy for the team. It's nothing extraordinary."

The pressure and emotion of playing in Belgrade differ significantly from the rest of Europe, and Lauvergne is well aware of how much basketball means to people here.

"Basketball is very important to people here. Much, much more so than in France or, I don't know, Germany. But when you're a professional, it doesn't matter where you play, you have to give everything you have, that's the most important thing."

Drawing a parallel between his first stint in Belgrade and his return, it's clear that much has changed, with him particularly emphasizing the team's structure.

"A lot, a lot has changed... Now we have many more foreign players, not many Serbian players, but that's the situation. But we have the same fans, that's the most important thing."