When Alex King is happy it’s hard to miss. The basketball professional stood on the court in his red jersey and the broad grin that is typical of him and hugged his colleagues. In just under 24 minutes of play, he scored 16 points, collected six rebounds and twice stole the ball from the opponent. So everything as always? Not quite, the jersey was red, but not from FC Bayern Munich, with whom he extended his contract for three more years in July 2019. He wore the s.Oliver Würzburg jersey, which is where he has been loaned out since last weekend. And there the 35-year-old winger was instrumental in ensuring that Würzburg was able to land its second win of the season against newly promoted Chemnitz with 76:67 points.
“King really hurt us, especially with his three-pointers,” said Chemnitz coach Rodrigo Pastore. The Würzburg team can look forward to a coup at the start of the season. In addition to his former club, from which the distance throwing specialist left for Berlin seven years ago to take his career to a new level, the up-and-coming Hamburg Towers and the Skyliners Frankfurt were also reportedly interested. Ultimately, the proximity to Munich was the decisive factor in King’s decision. In this way he can cover the distance to his family in a short time, his wife and the four-year-old twins will stay in the state capital for the time being. “I think it will be good for me to play more at the end of my career,” he said. “I’m looking forward to that and I was warmly welcomed in Würzburg. After this loan season we will see what the future brings.”
King played no role in coach Trinchieri’s plans
Actually, the impeccable sportsman could be expected in the squad of the new Bayern coach Andrea Trinchieri, who promised “100 percent” when he took office, “to have German players on the court who will give us a lot of energy”. As is well known, every club in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) has to enter six on its score sheet, in the Munich squad these are Paul Zipser, Robin Amaize and the naturalized Leon Radosevic as well as captain Nihad Djedovic. King was at least a valuable alternative for the BBL, now Bayern have to fill up their contingent more with young talent.
Like last weekend, when Jason George, Matej Rudan and Sasha Grant got many minutes of action in the 93:71 win against Gießen. In such games against comparatively easy opponents, the top players required in the Euroleague are spared as far as possible. Actually an ideal field for a veteran like King, who had always fitted himself into the role intended for him without grumbling, and always performed on the field without a long start-up time.
In Trinchieri’s plans, however, it does not play a role, the Italian is apparently relying on his own talents, and only top-class and internationally experienced basketball players were brought in, proof that the FCB is orientating itself upwards at the European level. Bayern are currently third in the table, and the number of foreign players in the continental premier class is not limited to six compared to the national league. At his own request, King became the oldest loan player in BBL history, and clubs usually provide their young players with playing time in this way.
King is a great addition to Würzburg. The goal is to stay in class
King doesn’t care, he adapts once more to the circumstances without complaining. The two-time German champion and three-time cup winner also decided not to dispute his favorite jersey number 7, in which he has been wearing for years, from his new team-mate Nils Haßfurther. King simply chose 77, which is also a fitting reminder of his still valid Eurocup record when he sank seven threes in seven attempts in December 2012 in the Würzburg jersey in the game against the Ukrainian team from Mariupol.
King, who also holds the record in the Bundesliga with 586 appearances, is a great addition to his new club. For the people of Lower Franconia, in contrast to the people of Munich – for whom the title is almost mandatory – only remaining in class counts. Würzburg coach Denis Wucherer is accordingly happy: “Alex has seen everything over the past 18 years and has more experience than any other player in the league. His career speaks for itself. He will do our young team good in their search for their identity. because he understands his job and can help the team especially in critical situations. “
Alex King said goodbye to the team in Munich last week. The former colleagues now have to find a replacement DJ, King was responsible for the music in the weight room. For the time being only until the end of the season, then “he will come back”, as FCB managing director Marko Pesic said. But that will also depend on how happy Alex King is in Würzburg.
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