After just one year, perhaps the most prominent new signing in the history of the BBL is leaving the German Basketball Bundesliga. Serge Ibaka has announced his departure from FC Bayern: “At a moment when many doubted me, FC Bayern Basketball gave me a chance,” he said in the club’s statement.
The center, who won the NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, came to Munich with the goal of “winning everything.” Nationally, the plan worked: FC Bayern won the championship and the cup. Internationally, however, the Munich team fell short of expectations and missed the Euroleague playoffs by a long way.
Ibaka departure predictable after Laso exit
Ibaka’s departure does not necessarily come as a surprise. After all, coach Pablo Laso terminated his contract, which ran until 2025, early at the end of June for personal reasons. Laso was considered the main reason why FC Bayern managed to pull off the transfer coup with Ibaka; the NBA player knew Laso from his time in the Spanish league.
Ibaka: Euroleague top scorer and points guarantor
Ibaka was not only an important support in the BBL. In the Euroleague, he was FC Bayern’s best scorer with an average of 12.6 points and was also number one in this category with almost six rebounds. The Congolese native with a Spanish passport, who is actually known as a defensive specialist, also scored double-digit points in the league.
FCB managing director Marko Pesic explained: “Looking back, we see it as a great honor for our club that Serge made his move back to Europe after his successful time in the NBA with us in Munich.” Where Ibaka will go from here is not yet known. Nor is it known who will fill the gap left by his departure.
Big change: Bonga also leaves FCB
However, that is not the only gap that FCB has to close. World champion Isaac Bonga has also announced his departure. Point guard Sylvain Francisco, “MVP” of the BBL final series, has already said goodbye and will play for Zalgiris Kaunas in the future. With Leandro Bolmaro, another guard is leaving the club – the goal is Partizan Belgrade – also a Euroleague competitor of Bayern. The Munich team had previously announced the separation of Nelson Weidemann (ratiopharm Ulm) and Niklas Wimberg (Hamburg Towers). And sports director Daniel Baiesi is also moving back home.
The most pressing question, however, is who will replace Laso. After all, the BBL season begins on August 23rd – and FC Bayern will have similar goals this year as Ibaka did when he arrived in Munich.
2024-07-15 20:58:06
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