Markus Howard in Advanced Talks to Join Zenit from Baskonia

Markus Howard is nearing an exit from Baskonia after more than four years with the Vitoria-based club, with Zenit Saint-Pétersbourg emerging as his likely destination.

Contract Negotiations and Stalled Minutes in Vitoria

The 27-year-old guard has seen his playing time drop significantly under head coach Paolo Galbiati, who took charge of the Basque squad in the summer of 2025. Across the opening three rounds of the Euroleague season, Howard averaged just 4.7 points in 10.4 minutes per game. His absence from the squad during an 84-92 defeat to Beşiktaş on October 9 was attributed to a technical decision by the coaching staff. In domestic Liga Endesa play, he was likewise left out of the group against Girona and subsequently against Joventut Badalona.

Financial Relief and Roster Reconstruction for Baskonia

Crónica Vasca notes that Howard ranks as the highest-paid player in the Baskonia locker room with a net annual salary of two million euros. His departure would wipe more than one million euros off the club’s payroll without requiring a transfer fee. Noticias de Álava reports that management intends to reinvest these freed-up funds to strengthen the team’s frontcourt rotation. Baskonia holds a 1-3 record in Euroleague play heading into a Tuesday fixture against Dubai.

Markus Howard in Advanced Talks to Join Zenit from Baskonia

Reunion With Dusko Ivanovic in Saint-Pétersbourg

If the transfer goes through, Howard will link up once more with head coach Dusko Ivanovic, under whom he produced the most prolific stretch of his European career. During the 2023-24 campaign, Howard claimed the Euroleague scoring title by averaging 19.5 points in 23 minutes per contest—a surge that coincided with Ivanovic’s autumn 2023 return to the Baskonia bench. Asked about the potential acquisition over the weekend, Ivanovic stated: We are interested in any good player on the market. Howard is a good player and he nous intéresse. Donc… Neither club has officially announced an agreement, and discussions remain ongoing.

Career Trajectory and Physical Hurdles

The impending move represents a sharp turnaround for a player who initially resisted overtures from Turkish outfits, including Galatasaray, during the summer transfer window. Persistent physical setbacks, including a hand injury sustained in October 2025, have hampered his rhythm and confidence on the perimeter. His departure would close a four-year chapter in Spain that included a lucrative contract extension signed in May 2024 through 2028.