Bayern's Basketball Star: Ibaka's Time in Munich Extended or Extended? 🏀
Bayern's boss, Marko Pesic (47), is keen on keeping top-tier basketball player Serge Ibaka (34) in Munich for the long haul. Ibaka, who's played 1,071 NBA games and once won a championship with Toronto in 2019, seems open to the idea, thanks to the positive influence of new Bayern coach Pablo Laso (56).
Ibaka has only scratched the surface of his potential at Bayern, Pesic believes. While he says Ibaka is at an impressive 80% of his capabilities now, there's still room for improvement. Ibaka's work ethic is nothing short of remarkable, reminding Pesic of the legendary Dirk Nowitzki. He training relentlessly, investing heavily in maintaining his body. This, along with his vitality and passion for the game, makes him a model professional, in Pesic's eyes.
Off the court, Ibaka is a motivational force, inspiring younger team members to strive for excellence. His impact extends beyond basketball, too. As Pesic points out, Bayern have to occasionally give Ibaka breaks to ensure he stays healthy through this grueling season. However, when it comes to the crucial matches, Pesic counts on Ibaka to deliver. In the BBL, the Spaniard of Congolese origin averages a impressive 13 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. This consistent performance is integral to Bayern's aim of winning their first league title since 2019.
Despite Bayern's excellent win-loss record, their EuroLeague season is less impressive, with a 11th place ranking. Their goal remains to qualify for the play-in games.
With the upcoming move to the new SAP Garden (12,500 seats), Bayern seeks to present an attractive, successful basketball experience to their bigger audience. Winning the title as German champions, prior to this transition, would be the ideal scenario. Their current home, BMW Park, accommodates only 6500 spectators. Last season, the average attendance was 5038, but it's now over 6000, with an additional boost attributed to the national team's World Cup triumph.
Insight:
Given Bayern's strong BBL season, it's no surprise that they'd want to keep Ibaka within their ranks for as long as possible. While their EuroLeague performance is less impressive, Ibaka's impact is clear: he's scored an average of 13 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, and he's crucial in the team's most important matches.
While the provided sources don't discuss explicit contract extension strategies, it seems that Bayern will look to retain players with significant contributions, such as Carsen Edwards and Devin Booker, to maintain their competitive edge in the BBL and EuroLeague. As for Ibaka, his desire to seek further improvement, coupled with his sterling performances and excellent work ethic, could make him a valuable asset in Bayern's long-term plans.
Surprising Fact:
Serge Ibaka isn't currently playing for Bayern, but Real Madrid. He's reportedly dissatisfied with his limited playing time, garnering under 13 minutes per game, and feeling overshadowed by Edy Tavares. This discontent has led him to consider leaving Real Madrid before the end of the season.
