Entering its ninth season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, FC Bayern Munich is ready to take things up a notch. After appointing two-time champion Pablo Laso as head coach, expectation levels have risen at BMW Park heading into the new campaign. Bayern has made a number of exciting additions to its roster, too, highlighted by 2019 NBA champion Serge Ibaka.
The German club failed to make the playoffs under the stewardship of former head coach Andrea Trinchieri in the 2022-23 season, as Bayern finished in 15th position with a record of 11-23. Having had back-to-back postseason trips under Coach Trinchieri in 2020-21 and 2021-22, it was viewed as a disappointment, although it must be said that injuries were a recurring problem for the team last season.
World Cup success
While both Bayern and fellow German club ALBA Berlin finished last season in the bottom four positions in the standings, there is plenty of excitement in Germany heading into the new EuroLeague season. That is thanks, in large part, to the success of the German national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, with Germany becoming world champions for the first time in its history.
Bayern had three players on Germany's World Cup-winning roster – Andreas Obst, Isaac Bonga and Niels Giffey – and they have all been reveling in that triumph, especially at Munich's world-famous Oktoberfest event.
Turning the page to a new era
On top of that, there is growing momentum at Bayern, with Coach Laso's arrival being followed by the signings of Leandro Bolmaro, Carsen Edwards and Sylvain Francisco. Not only are they all young – Bolmaro is 23 while Edwards and Francisco are 25 – but they should ensure that Laso can implement his high-pace style of basketball with minimal problems.
Later came the return of Devin Booker, who previously played for Bayern between 2016 and 2019, as well as the aforementioned addition of Ibaka. Bayern has also been building a new arena, SAP Garden, which should be completed next spring, so things are certainly on the up. It's a fun time to be a Bayern fan, that's for sure.