The great basketball hype after the 2023 World Cup title should also propel the German teams into new international spheres. But Bayern and Alba remain behind in the Euroleague. There are various reasons for this.
Pablo Laso didn’t seem particularly disappointed or even angry. His basketball players from FC Bayern had just lost in the Euroleague against FC Barcelona, but the Munich team’s chances of making the knockout round are practically gone. But the frustration was limited on Thursday evening. After the 79:87 (30:47) coach Laso seemed more like someone who has long since acknowledged that his team cannot keep up with the very best in Europe this season for various reasons.
The three German World Cup champions Isaac Bonga, Andreas Obst and Niels Giffey, who Bayern have in their squad, couldn’t change that. The “League of World Champions”, as the Bundesliga proudly sold itself after the gold sensation of the DBB national team in 2023, is still a long way from the top of the European elite competition. Alba Berlin, as the second German Euroleague representative, had no chance of making it into the playoffs at the bottom of the table for a long time.
Finances, experience, deep squad
“We have to get better to get to this level,” Laso summed up. The Spaniard knows what he is talking about, after all, he won the most coveted club trophy in Europe twice during his time at Real Madrid.
He is also realistic enough to no longer hope for the tiny remaining chance of climbing to tenth place in the last two games of the main round; this would entitle you to take part in the playoff qualification. To do this, Bayern would have to beat the title favorites Panathinaikos Athens and AS Monaco and also hope for collective mistakes from five direct rivals. Of course, this cannot be assumed.
There are a few explanations as to why the German duo was left behind. “The reasons for this situation can be found primarily in the financial development within the league,” said Alba sports director Himar Ojeda to the German Press Agency. “Many other teams in the Euroleague are financially stronger and spend more money. At the same time, these clubs afford to accumulate more debt. A sensible financial fair play rule would make the competition fairer and more balanced.”
Masters Ulm also failed in the round of 16 in the second-class Eurocup. In the FIBA Champions League – which does not reach the level of the Euroleague – Bonn and Ludwigsburg are in the quarterfinals. In the fourth-class Europe Cup, Chemnitz even has its sights set on reaching the final.
Hoping for basketball gods
In the premier class, however, it remains difficult for the Bundesliga duo as long as competitors from Spain, Greece, Turkey or Italy can record annual losses in the double-digit million range and thus get the best and most experienced professionals as well as the deepest squads. “We had player absences at the most inopportune moments and then we lacked experience in some moments,” said Bayern coach Laso.
Munich captain Vladimir Lucic was out for months at the start of the season, and center Devin Booker and world champion Obst also missed important games. “It was a strange year,” said Laso, immediately admitting that this sounded like an excuse. Lucic became clearer: “You have to win against the best teams, especially at home, if you want to achieve anything.” So far this season, Bayern have only won one of 14 games against the best eight teams in the league.
Next year, when Bayern move to a new hall for big games, the Munich team want to get one step closer to their rivals. “Often it’s just details and you have to take advantage of your chances,” said Lucic. “And sometimes the basketball gods give you something back.”
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
