Master title for Munich: beer, cigars, violets: Bavaria celebrate basketball triumph

When Andreas Obst spoke the celebration command with beer and cigar in hand, his boss was already drawn from the first party shocks at the Bayern basketball players. After the masterful happy ending of an extremely intensive season, the Munich team mobilized the last forces for their title party. Managing Director Marko Pesic showed a violet on the left eye after the final success of Ratiopharm Ulm – world champion Johannes Voigtmann had hit him with an XXL white beer glass in exuberance. Such mishaps, however, clouded joy, relief and pride.

“Thank God we made it,” summed up Pesic, who ends at the end of 2025 as head of sports at Bayern. The experienced basketball official was noticeable how big the pressure of success was after the semi-final bankruptcy in the trophy and the missed the Euroleague playoffs. This seventh championship title for the Munich team was “a bit special,” said Pesic after fruit and Voigtmann had thrown him into the ice pool in the SAP Garden cabin.

Short party after a long season? “Does he spin, or what?”

FC Bayern is a German basketball champion: that sounds like “Business as Usual”, but this year was the result of a breathtaking final against brave Ulmer. After the favorite in game four avoided the Ko, it looked early at the showdown in Munich after a significant success.

Ulm, however, made up for a 17-point deficit, even took the lead in the finish and let the arena fall silent. Bayern patron Uli Hoeneß and national coach Alex Mumbru hardly trusted her eyes. In the end, however, the Munich team fought for the redeeming 81: 77 success.

Then world champion Voigtmann made the mistake in a TV interview to suspect in view of the exhaustion of the whole team after 83 season games that the party would not take long. “Is he crazy, or what?”, Period replies fruit. “I all pull them with me that they have to suffer properly tomorrow. Nobody goes home before it is not bright outside.” Voigtmann announced Kleinlaut to simply stick to fruit.

Longing goal Euroleague: The task is becoming increasingly difficult

How big the pressure is with the best and most expensive German team is made clear a comment from club president Herbert Hainer after the final success. “If you lose today, then the whole season is in the bucket,” he said.

In Munich only titles count, coach Gordon Herbert also emphasized. The ex-national coach looked happy and empty, similar to 2023 after the World Cup triumph. He had worked through exactly 365 days on the day, he calculated. And what is coming now? “I have no idea,” replied Herbert.

And the challenges for the German basketball leader are not smaller. The bosses are still clearly committed to the Bundesliga. But the actual longing goal remains a top position in the Euroleague. In the future, 20 instead of 18 teams will play, including a club from Dubai. So 38 games are to be played in the main round alone. It is also becoming apparent that some teams invest more money in the squad, especially from southern Europe. Bavaria cannot keep up with it financially.

Bavaria want to talk about financial reforms in Euroleague

President Hainer reported discussions in the Euroleague about possible changes such as salary tops or financial fair play rules in order to keep the competition more balanced. “So far there is nothing concrete, just ideas.” Pesic said that with a view to possible new players, he was optimistic of being able to keep up with the best in Europe in 2025/26.

Neither Pesic nor Dragan Tarlac revealed concrete personnel decisions, which begins on July 1, as the new sports manager at Bayern. On Saturday there are talks with the players and a closing ceremony in Munich, then the vacation follows. So far, it is only clear that young talent Ivan Kharchenkov will go to college in the USA in autumn.

What will become of Weiler-Babb, Edwards and Co.?

In addition, it can be expected that Bayern will be recruited from European rivals with significantly better financial possibilities in summer, such as the German international Nick Weiler-Babb. What is next to it from Shabazz Napier, the former NBA professional, who often only came from the bank at Bavaria, but was voted the most valuable player in the final?

The future of Carsen Edwards, the best for months and then just in the final phase of the season, is unclear. Of course, the US professional did not miss the final showdown and the master party.