By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Dealing with plenty of backcourt issues early in the 2025-26 schedule, FC Bayern Munich is looking into recent signing Spencer Dinwiddie to provide solutions, following necessary familiarization with European basketball.
“I have no idea. We’ll have to wait and see,” noted head coach Gordon Herbert, replying to a question about how the veteran of 654 NBA games and newcomer to the EuroLeague can help navigate a demanding stretch.
“Obviously, he’s an NBA guy coming to Europe, never being in Europe. There will be a transition period,” he added in the postgame press conference following a home loss to Olympiacos in Round 6 of the EuroLeague Regular Season on Friday, “Is it one to two weeks, two to three months? I don’t know. We’ll have to see how that plays out. No idea. It’s a different game. Some guys adjust pretty quickly, some guys don’t.”
The 66-year-old tactician also hinted at incorporating Dinwiddie in three-guard lineups, similar to the 2024-25 journey with Nick Weiler-Babb, Carsen Edwards, and Shabazz Napier, who have since left Bayern, alongside Andreas Obst.
“It’s tough to say,” answered a question about revisiting small ball, “Last year, we were really successful with three-guard lineups. With Babb, Edwards, Napier, and Obst. That’s when we played our really good basketball in the EuroLeague.”
Voigtmann and Rathan-Mayes updates
The German club’s injury list consists of Rokas Jokubaitis, Johannes Voigtmann, and Elias Harris, all in knee surgery rehab.
“Everybody talks about Dinwiddie coming in, but it is just as important to get Johannes Voigtmann back,” commented Herbert, projecting a possible return for the 33-year-old big next week.
Last night in SAP Garden, Xavier Rathan-Mayes went to the locker room with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, with the winner already decided.
“He’s leaving next week to see the baby, but his wife was giving birth, and that’s why he left, to be with his wife a little bit,” explained Herbert.
At 2-4, his side is one game away from the Play-In Showdown zone and two games away from a direct ticket to the Playoffs. Resuming continental action with the next two-game week, the Munich outfit will be in SAP Garden against Real Madrid on Tuesday and Virtus Bologna on Thursday.