FC Bayern’s basketball players missed the EuroLeague play-offs two years in a row. Things are going better this season – that’s mainly due to national player Andreas Obst.
Manila, September 8, 2023. Germany will play against the USA in the semifinals of the Basketball World Cup. Seconds before the end, Andreas Obst receives the ball in the right corner, uses a physical illusion to let his opponent slide into space, jumps up and sends the orange ball towards the American basket. As if in slow motion, the ball lands in the goal, making the score 111:107. A few moments later, Germany is in the World Cup final after a 113:111 win against the overpowering USA and is crowned world champion two days later.
Since this afternoon in Manila, Andreas Obst has been a household name in the basketball world – if he wasn’t already. His specialty: precise throws from beyond the three-point line.
FC Bayern basketball players in the EuroLeague on course for the play-offs
The 28-year-old also regularly demonstrates this quality at FC Bayern – recently setting a new three-point record in the EuroLeague. He sank eleven three-point throws against FC Barcelona. In the BR24Sport interview, he was still modest: “Then you get into such a small tunnel and then the basket feels as big as an ocean,” says Obst, looking back on his big evening against the Catalans.
The native of Halle has played a major role in the rise of Munich in Europe. In the last two seasons, FC Bayern’s EuroLeague participation was crowned with little success. They clearly missed the play-offs twice. This season it’s different. World champion coach Gordon Herbert’s team has won eleven of its 18 appearances on the international stage and – thanks in part to Obst – is fully on course for the play-offs.
“I work on myself, my game and my body every day. I just feel really good at the moment,” said the former Bamberger, who has been playing for the Reds since 2021. The 69:80 defeat against defending champions Panathinaikos Athens was the first home defeat for the Munich team in international business – and Obst was his team’s best scorer with 19 points.
FC Bayern Basketball is also on target in the league
But you shouldn’t limit fruit to your distance skills. The 28-year-old is now an all-rounder who also helps his team build up the game with clever passes. “I’ve trained that a lot over the last few years; to simply say, the more width I bring into my game, the better it is for me. Then I can help the team better.”
This is not only evident in the EuroLeague, Bayern are also marching at the top in the domestic league in step with league leaders Würzburg. Defending the title is certainly within the realm of possibility for last season’s double winner – and with Andreas Obst continuing to be so accurate, it is a lot more likely.
Source: BR24Sport December 30, 2024 – 6:30 p.m
