Surprise champion ratiopharm Ulm loses the next top performer in Yago dos Santos after the title coup in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) – and at the same time his finals MVP.
The point guard from Brazil, the most valuable player in the final series against Telekom Baskets Bonn, uses an opt-out clause. US forward Joshua Hawley is also leaving.
“It was to be expected that it would be difficult to keep the Finals MVP. Yago enchanted us with his style of play. We would have liked to have enjoyed his refreshing style of play for longer, but at the same time we keep our fingers crossed for his new challenge “said sports director Thorsten Leibenath.
BBL champion Ulm expresses frustration after MVP change
Dos Santos was originally on a two-year contract until 2024 but is now using his option to exit early.
At the end of June his compatriot Bruno Caboclo said goodbye to Reyer Venice/Italy. Like his two teammates in Ulm, Hawley can change thanks to an opt-out clause.
Managing director Andreas Oettel reacted with frustration to the next departures. “Unfortunately, there is a massive competitive disadvantage for us clubs here in Germany. In countries such as Italy, France or Turkey, the clubs use special tax rates to pay professional athletes,” said Oettel. This means that “our competitors can pay our players much better with less financial effort”.