The Bayern Basketball team is pushing ahead with its squad and has managed to sign another former US professional of high EuroLeague level after Darrun Hilliard: Last season's playoff participant will rely on the experienced center Othello Hunter, 35, who won the European premier league with ZSKA Moscow in 2019 and most recently played two years with Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv - the Munich team's opening opponent next season on September 30.
„"We are incredibly proud that such a great and highly decorated player will play for us and be on our side."”
Daniele Baiesi über Othello Hunter
The former NBA pro (23 games for the Atlanta Hawks 2008 - 2009) is without question one of the most effective big men of the past few years. In the EuroLeague statistics, in 216 games he has scored 1789 points (8.3 ppg) and 1134 rebounds (5.3 rpg). He reached the EuroLeague final for the first time with Olympiakos Piraeus in 2015 (10 points and 7 rebounds against Real Madrid), before taking the crown with ZSKA in their second final appearance two years ago (7 points in a 91-83 win against Efes).
Eleven trophies since 2013 - and a EuroLeague championship in 2019.
Othello Hunter is currently on home leave in Charlotte, North Carolina: "Honestly, I had not thought much about basketball in the last few weeks after the two not so easy years, among other things with the Covid situation, and wanted to recover above all. But now, when the offer came from Bayern with Coach Trinchieri, who I've been following and have known for a long time, I didn't think twice. We talked - and we simply have the same views. I'm looking forward to Bayern and we should definitely become a playoff team again, which they did this time for the first time. But actually, my goal is always to reach the Final Four and win championships and cups. That's how I'm going to approach it with Bayern as well."
Bayern sports director Daniele Baiesi says: "Othello's career and achievements in his life speak for themselves. Nevertheless, he has shown everyone that there is still a lot left in his game. The value of his pure presence on the court and in the locker room will be impossible for us to measure. We are incredibly proud that such a great and highly decorated player will play for us and be on our side."
(c) Euroleague Basketball 2021, Serbia
In addition to stints in Italy and China, Othello Hunter also had a year with Real Madrid (2016 - 2017/7.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg), where he celebrated winning the Copa del Rey. In total, the athletic 6ft6 big-man from North Carolina has won 11 trophies since 2013, including most recently the Eastern European VTB title twice with ZSKA and then the Israeli championship twice with current double winners Maccabi Tel Aviv.
23 NBA games for the Atlanta Hawks
The family man spent his college years first in Hillsborough, Florida, and then at Ohio State University for the Buckeyes. In 2008, he played for the Hawks in the NBA Summer League (13.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg), shuttling between the NBA and Denver's farm team Anaheim until January 2010. Hunter eventually worked his way up to the level of EuroLeague heavyweights Olympiakos, Real and ZSKA via stints in Italy's Serie A with Sassari (14.8 ppg) and Spain with Valladolid (13.3 ppg).
Othello Hunter is married and father of a three-year-old daughter.
OTHELLO HUNTER (*28. Mai 1986, Winston-Salem, North Carolina/USA)
Center – 6'6 – 224 lbs
Up until 2011: Richard J. Reynolds High School
2004 –2006: Hillsborough CC (NCAA)
2006 – 2008: Ohio State University (NCAA)
2008 – Jan. 2010: Atlanta Hawks (NBA)
Anaheim Arsenal (NBA G League)
2010 - 2011: Ilysiakos B.C. (GRE), Dinamo Sassari (ITA)
2011 – 2012: Shandong Flaming Bull (CHN), Azowmasch Mariipol (UKR)
2012 – 2013: CB Valladolid (ESP), Jiangsu Tongx (CHN)
2013 – 2014: Montepaschi Siena (ITA)
2014 – 2016: Olympiakos Piräus (GRE)
2016 – 2017: Real Madrid (ESP)
2017 – 2019: ZSKA Moskau (RUS)
2019 – 2021: Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR)
Achievements/Awards:
Israeli champion 2020, 2021
Israeli Pokal 2021
Israeli League-Pokal 2020
EuroLeague 2019
VTB United League 2018, 2019
Spanish Pokal 2017
Greek champion 2015, 2016
Italian Supercup 2013
National Invitation Tournament 2008 (NCAA)
Big Ten Tournament 2007 (NCAA)
Center of the year VTB-League 2019