In a long-anticipated move, Serge Ibaka has officially bid farewell to the NBA and embraced a new journey in the Euroleague with Bayern Munich, as announced by the German club recently.

The 33-year-old Spanish power forward of Congolese descent has reunited with his former coach, Pablo Laso, marking a return to their collaboration during Ibaka’s brief stint with Real Madrid back in 2011, amid the NBA lockout. Follow your favourite basketball team with attractive betting odds from Nextbet, one of the best basketball gambling sites.

Laso, who recently assumed the role of Bayern’s head coach, welcomes Ibaka as his latest addition. While Ibaka may have left his prime years behind, his defensive prowess remains a valuable asset.

This move marks Ibaka’s return to European basketball, a decision made 14 years after leaving Manresa to join the ranks of the Oklahoma City Thunder. His journey had been exclusively NBA-bound, except for a brief 40-day stint with Real Madrid.

Ibaka had been exploring new destinations following his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he was eventually transferred to the Indiana Pacers on February 9th this year, as part of a complex trade operation involving four teams that ultimately took Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns. However, just two days after the trade, the Pacers released Ibaka, leaving him without a team until now. 

His last official game was played on January 1st with the Bucks. During the 2022-23 season, he made appearances in only 16 games, averaging 11.6 minutes per game. Notably, his crowning achievement in the NBA was securing the 2019 championship ring with the Raptors.

Ibaka becomes Bayern Munich’s fifth acquisition of the summer, following the signings of Leandro Bolmaro (Canary Islands), Sylvain Francisco (Peristeri), Carsen Edwards (Fenerbahçe), and Devin Booker (Fenerbahçe). Additionally, the appointment of Laso to replace Andrea Trinchieri signifies a significant coaching change. 

Laso, the Spanish coach, returns to the helm one year after departing from Madrid, aiming to rejuvenate a team that fell short of expectations last season, failing to contend for the Euroleague playoffs and falling short in the Basketball Bundesliga final. Get the latest updates from the world of basketball only on Nextbet Sports.