FC Bayern München Basketball GmbH, commonly referred to as Bayern Munich, is a professional basketball club, a part of the FC Bayern Munich sports club, based in Munich, Germany. The club competes domestically in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and internationally in the EuroLeague for their male team and in the 2. DBBL for their female team. The club has won six German championships, and five German Cups in its history.
Founded in 1946, Bayern's basketball section had early success in the 1950s and 1960s, before mostly disappearing from the national first level in the following three decades. The team had a resurgence in 2010s and has since been among Germany's best teams, as well as a EuroLeague regular.
Bayern plays its domestic home games at BMW Park, which was opened in 1972, while international games are played at the SAP Garden, which opened in 2024.
FC Bayern Munich Basketball also has a reserve team that plays in German third-tier level ProB.
History
Early history (1946–1989) Bayern Munich was founded in 1900 when a number of football enthusiasts split from a Munich gymnastics club (MTV 1879). The basketball section was founded in 1946 after one former football player started the team after retiring from his former sport.
Bayern has a long basketball tradition. Besides its most successful years in the 1950s and 1960s (German championships in 1954, 1955, and German Cup in 1968), the club enjoyed remarkable popularity in 1956, when it even drew 40,000 fans to an open-air test game against Lancia Bolzano, once a top basketball club from Italy. Later, in 1966, the club was a founding member of the Basketball Bundesliga.
Bayern was one of the founding members of the Basketball Bundesliga in 1966.
In the following years, the club slowly, but surely, faded into obscurity, and in 1974, was even relegated to the German 2nd Division. For a long time after that, the club never completely recovered, and only had a few successful years (Bayern moved up to the Basketball Bundesliga in 1987, and stayed there until 1989).
Resurgence (2008–2014) In 2008, Bayern Munich, led by then-president Uli Hoeneß and then vice-president Bernd Rauch, announced its plans to return the club to its former glory, and return to the top level Basketball Bundesliga. Two years later, in 2010, Bayern Munich's club members voted in favor of a one-time financial injection in the team, with the aim of bringing it back to the first division. Following its new financial funding, the team announced national team head coach Dirk Bauermann. In 2011, the team became fully professional.
Success in the domestic area followed quickly,Interview of the Week – October 29: Bayern Munich basketball coach Michael Schwarz. as in the 2012–13 season the club reached the BBL semifinals, where it lost 3–2 against the reigning champions Brose Baskets.
German power house and EuroLeague (2014–present)
Thanks to a wild card,Proposed team list for 2013–14 Turkish Airlines Euroleague; Euroleague.net, 26 June 2013 Bayern Munich played in the EuroLeague in the 2013–14 season. This was its first appearance in the top European championship, and it reached the Top 16 stage in its debut.
On 18 June 2014, Bayern won its third national title when it beat Alba Berlin 3–1 in the Finals. It was the first title for the team in 59 years, its last having been in 1955. The star player of the team was Malcolm Delaney, who won both the MVP and Finals MVP awards.
In the 2014–15 season, Bayern failed to win a title. In the BBL Finals they were defeated by Brose Baskets, 3–2. The team had to wait until 2018 for its next championship, as they beat Alba Berlin 3–2 in the Finals that year. By winning the BBL, Bayern also qualified for the following EuroLeague season.
In the following years, Bayern Munich became a power house in the BBL, as well as a regular in the EuroLeague.
Home arena
The team's home arena is called BMW Park, which seats 6,700 spectators.
New arena
The team's home arena for EuroLeague games is called SAP Garden, which seats 12,500 spectators.
Players
Retired numbers FC Bayern Munich retired numbers No Nat. Player Position Tenure 6 Steffen Hamann PG 2010–2014 24 Demond Greene SG 2010–2014
Current roster
Depth chart
Notable players
Players at the NBA draft
PositionPlayerYearRoundPickDrafted bySG/SF Paul Zipser20162nd round48thChicago Bulls
Head coaches
Honours Domestic competitions German League Winners (7): 1953–54, 1954–55, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2023–24, 2024–25 Runners-up (5): 1950–51, 2014–15, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2025–26 German Cup Winners (5): 1968, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024 Runners-up (2): 2016, 2017 German Supercup Runners-up (1): 2014 German 2nd League Winners (2): 1986–87, 2010–11 Runners-up (2): 1982–83, 1983–1984
European competitions EuroLeague: Quarterfinalist (2): 2020–21, 2021–22 EuroCup Semifinalist (1): 2017–18
Worldwide competitions NBA G League International Challenge Winners (1): 2019
Other competitions Zadar Basketball Tournament Runners-up (1): 2015
Individual awards
BBL Most Valuable Player Malcolm Delaney – 2014 BBL Finals MVP Malcolm Delaney – 2014 Danilo Barthel – 2018 Nihad Đedović – 2019 Carsen Edwards – 2024 German Cup MVP Vladimir Lučić – 2021 Nick Weiler-Babb – 2023 Sylvain Francisco – 2024 All-BBL First Team Malcolm Delaney – 2014 John Bryant – 2015 Bryce Taylor – 2016 All-BBL Second Team Chevon Troutman – 2012, 2013 Tyrese Rice – 2013 Bryce Taylor – 2014 Deon Thompson – 2014 Nihad Đedović – 2015 Maxi Kleber – 2017 Danilo Barthel – 2018, 2019 Devin Booker – 2018 Vladimir Lučić – 2019 BBL Best German Young Player Paul Zipser – 2016 BBL Best Defender Nick Weiler-Babb – 2025 BBL Most Effective Player Maxi Kleber – 2017 ProA Young Player of the Year Bastian Doreth – 2011
50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors
Nominated: Svetislav Pešić EuroLeague Basketball 2010–20 All-Decade Team
Nominated: James Gist All-EuroLeague First Team Vladimir Lučić – 2020–21 Carsen Edwards – 2024–25 All-EuroLeague Second Team Vladimir Lučić – 2021–22 EuroLeague Best Defender Nick Weiler-Babb – 2024–25 EuroLeague MVP of the Month Augustine Rubit – 2022–23, January EuroLeague MVP of the Round Malcolm Delaney – 2013–14, Top 16, Week 10 Duško Savanović – 2014–15, Regular Season, Week 9 Derrick Williams – 2018–19, Regular Season, Round 12 Vladimir Lučić – 2020–21, Regular Season, Round 3–4 Vladimir Lučić – 2020–21, Regular Season, Round 8 Wade Baldwin – 2020–21, Regular Season, Round 17 Nick Weiler-Babb – 2020–21, Regular Season, Round 22–23 Jalen Reynolds – 2020–21, Regular Season, Round 24 Serge Ibaka – 2023–24, Regular Season, Round 11 Shabazz Napier – 2024–25, Regular Season, Round 6 Carsen Edwards – 2024–25, Regular Season, Round 23 Carsen Edwards – 2024–25, Regular Season, Round 28 All-EuroCup First Team Devin Booker – 2017–18 All-EuroCup Second Team Maxi Kleber – 2016–17 EuroCup Basketball MVP of the Week Deon Thompson – 2015–16, Quarterfinals, Game 1 Danilo Barthel – 2017–18, Regular Season, Round 8 Devin Booker – 2017–18, Top 16, Round 3 Danilo Barthel – 2017–18, Top 16, Round 5 NBA G League International Challenge Finals MVP Greg Monroe – 2019
Season by season SeasonTierLeagueGerman Cup European competitions 1 BBL Süd 4th 1 BBL Süd 4thChampion 1 BBL Süd 3rd 2 Cup Winners' Cup 1 BBL Süd 6th 1 BBL Süd 4th 1 BBL Süd 6th 1 BBL Süd 5th 1 BBL Süd 8th ... 2 2. BBL Süd 2nd 2 2. BBL Süd 2nd 2 2. BBL Süd 4th 2 2. BBL Süd 3rd 2 2. BBL Süd 1st 1 BBL 10th 1 BBL 11th 2 2. BBL Süd 5th 2 2. BBL Süd 5th 2 2. BBL Süd 6th 2 2. BBL Süd 11th ... 2 2. BBL Süd 12th ... 2 2. BBL Süd 12th ... 2 2. BBL Süd 15th ... 2 ProA 8th 2 ProA 8th 2 ProA1st 2011–12 1 BBL 5th 2 Eurocup 2012–13 1 BBL 4thThird position 2013–14 1 BBL 1stFourth position 1 Euroleague 2014–15 1 BBL 2ndQuarterfinalist 1 Euroleague 2 Eurocup 2015–16 1 BBL 4thRunner-up 1 Euroleague 2 Eurocup 2016–17 1 BBL 4thRunner-up 2 EuroCup 2017–18 1 BBL 1stChampion 2 EuroCup 2018–19 1 BBL 1stQuarterfinalist 1 EuroLeague 11th2019–20 1 BBL 5thRound of 16 1 EuroLeague —2020–21 1 BBL 2ndChampion 1 EuroLeague 2021–221 BBL 2nd Quarterfinalist 1 EuroLeague 2022–231 BBL3rdChampion 1 EuroLeague 15th2023–241 BBL 1stChampion 1 EuroLeague 15th2024–251 BBL 1st Semifinalist 1 EuroLeague 2025–261 BBL 2nd Semifinalist 1 EuroLeague 13th2026–271 BBL 1 EuroLeague
International record Season Achievement Notes EuroLeague 2013–14 Top 16 6th place in a group with CSKA Moscow, Real Madrid, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, Galatasaray, Lokomotiv Kuban, Partizan and Žalgiris 2014–15 Regular season 5th place in a group with FC Barcelona, Fenerbahçe Ülker, Panathinaikos, EA7 Milano and PGE Turów 2015–16 Regular season 5th place in a group with Fenerbahçe, Khimki, Crvena zvezda Telekom, Real Madrid and Strasbourg 2020–21 Quarterfinals eliminated 3–2 by AX Armani Exchange Milan, 79-78 (L) & 80-69 (L) in Milan, 85-79 (W) & 85-82 (W) in Munich, 92-89 (L) in Milan 2021–22 Quarterfinals eliminated 3–2 by Barcelona, 77-67 (L) & 75-90 (W) in Barcelona, 66-75 (L) & 59-52 (W) in Munich, 81-72 (L) in Barcelona EuroCup 2011–12 Regular season 3rd place in a group with Spartak Saint Petersburg, Benetton Treviso and Cedevita 2014–15 Eighthfinals eliminated by Valencia Basket, 80–58 (L) in Valencia and 60–94 (L) in Munich 2015–16 Quarterfinals eliminated by Galatasaray Odeabank, 99–89 (W) in Munich and 72–59 (L) in Istanbul 2016–17 Quarterfinals eliminated 2–1 by Unicaja, 91–82 (W) in Munich, 82–67 (L) in Málaga and 69–74 (L) in Munich 2017–18 Semifinals eliminated 2–0 by Darüşşafaka, 76–74 (L) in Istanbul and 83–87 (L) in Munich FIBA Saporta Cup 1968–69 Second round eliminated by AŠK Olimpija, 81–101 (L) in Munich and 94–46 (L) in Ljubljana
Sponsorships Official Shirt SponsorBernd Siegmund GmbHOfficial Sport Clothing ManufacturerAdidas AG
Esports Bayern Munich was featured in the NBA 2K15, 2K16 & 2K17 video games.FC Bayern Baskets erstmals in NBA 2K15 von 2K Games spielbar NBA 2K16 mit komplettem Euroleague-Kader
The official FC Bayern Basketball NBA 2K19 esports team "Bayern Ballers Gaming" was founded in April 2018. The Ballers quickly became one of the best virtual basketball teams in the world: together with their coach Swen Müller, the team continued to climb the NBA 2K ProAM world ranking, making them one of the Top 5 European teams.
References
External links
Bayern Munich at easycredit-bbl.de Bayern Munich at Euroleague.net