Pesic Faces Reality Check as Bayern Munich’s EuroLeague Hopes Fade
MUNICH – “Immer weiter.” Those two words embody the mantra of Svetislav Pesic and serve as the title of his recently released biography, reflecting a basketball career marked by significant achievements. The Serbian coach has tasted success as a World and European champion, and has secured EuroLeague titles with Barcelona, alongside domestic championships in Yugoslavia, Spain, and Germany – including with FC Bayern Munich. At 76, Pesic isn’t finished, and his return to Bayern signaled a renewed ambition, though recent results have presented a stark challenge.
As of Wednesday, a place in the EuroLeague playoffs is mathematically out of reach for Bayern Munich. Crvena Zvezda Belgrade’s victory over Vitoria-Gasteiz extinguished any remaining possibility of the Munich team reaching the play-in tournament. The play-in involves teams ranked seventh through tenth competing for the final two playoff spots, but Bayern trails the tenth-placed team by five wins with only four games remaining in the regular season. Even a 93-83 victory against bottom-of-the-table Villeurbanne on Thursday evening couldn’t alter the mathematical reality: Bayern currently sits at 14th in the standings, falling short of preseason expectations.
This marks the second setback for the ambitious Munich squad, following their semi-final exit in the national cup competition. While defending their national title offers some consolation, it can only partially salvage a disappointing season. The newly assembled team has struggled to meet expectations, particularly on the international stage. A significant blow came even before the season began, with key offseason acquisition Rokas Jokubaitis suffering a torn ACL during the Basketball European Championship in the fall, and remains sidelined.
The early stages of the season were likewise disrupted by a challenging schedule that saw Bayern play seven consecutive EuroLeague away games. Head coach Gordon Herbert was sidelined for an extended period due to a post-COVID-19 illness. The arrival of NBA prospect Spencer Dinwiddie, intended to fill the void left by Jokubaitis, didn’t immediately translate into on-court success, and his contract was terminated prematurely in January due to family matters.
These disruptions contributed to a damaging eight-game losing streak, prompting the club to relieve Herbert of his duties. Pesic, the German league champion from the 2014/2015 season, stepped in, but even his expertise couldn’t salvage a playoff berth given the competitive landscape of the EuroLeague.
Pesic Restores Principles, But Can’t Overcome Early Deficits
Upon his return, Pesic re-established core principles of discipline and hard work, emphasizing defense and simplifying the offensive system. Despite a 7-2 record in his first nine games, Bayern couldn’t close the gap sufficiently to contend for a playoff spot. The blame for the current situation doesn’t fall squarely on Pesic’s shoulders. but, the unexpected cup exit is a blemish on his record. Four largely inconsequential games remain in the continental competition, compounded by ongoing injury issues. Against Villeurbanne, Bayern was without Stefan Jovic and Nenad Dimitrijevic, the latter recently signed to replace Dinwiddie, while Kamar Baldwin, another prominent addition, has been sidelined for months.
Currently, much of the offensive burden rests on Andreas Obst, who continues to perform at a high level, but is increasingly the focal point of opposing defenses. Following the game against Villeurbanne, Pesic lamented a lack of individual quality within the squad, a deficiency less pronounced in the German Bundesliga, where Bayern boasts a roster featuring several World and European champions. Players like Justinian Jessup, who arrived from Ulm, and center David McCormack, who saw limited playing time under Herbert, are now showing significant improvement.
“The word excuses is not in my vocabulary,” Pesic stated, looking ahead. The German championship remains the primary objective, and Sporting Director Dragan Tarlac is already focused on roster planning for next season. “We learn from every game, even from defeats.” Tarlac indicated a full assessment will be conducted after the season, including a review of Pesic’s position. Pesic’s contract expires at the finish of the season, but he has expressed his willingness to continue. “Immer weiter.”
The situation highlights the challenges of building a competitive EuroLeague roster, even with a coach of Pesic’s pedigree. The early-season injuries and schedule difficulties created a significant handicap, and the team struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm. While Bayern remains a dominant force domestically, the EuroLeague demands a different level of consistency and depth.
For Bayern fans, the focus now shifts to the German Bundesliga, where they remain the clear favorites. The club will undoubtedly look to address its roster deficiencies in the offseason, potentially targeting experienced EuroLeague players to complement its core group. Pesic’s future remains uncertain, but his commitment to the team and his unwavering belief in the “immer weiter” philosophy suggest he’s not ready to give up on Bayern Munich just yet.
Next up for Bayern Munich is a Bundesliga matchup against [Opponent and Date to be confirmed]. Fans can follow updates and official announcements on the team’s official website: https://fcbayern.com/basketball/en.
