D.J. Seeley returns to strengthen Bayern's lineup

The Bayern Basketball team has once again added to its squad and signed D.J. Seeley until the end of the season. The 33-year-old American, who played for Bayner from December 2020 for a good half-season in the jersey of Munich and won the German Cup in 2021 has just terminated his contract with the French first division club Gravelines-Dunkerque. The FCBB are reacting to the effects of the accumulated illnesses and injuries since the beginning of the season.

"Preventing overworking our players"

"We have been playing with a very short rotation for a good six weeks now, having had and still having to cope with numerous injuries especially in the backcourt," explained sporting director Daniele Baiesi on Seley's return to the Audi Dome. "Considering these facts, we decided to strengthen our lineup to prevent further overload of those players who recently had to play too much with three to four games a week - if not way too much."

At the moment, head coach Andrea Trinchieri has to do without the injured starters Vladimir Lucic and Andreas Obst (both in rehab after ligament injuries in their elbows). Zan Mark Sisko had to leave the court at the beginning of November for personal reasons and thus so so far the international contingent included only seven players.

2021 Cup winner with Bayern

D.J. Seeley is flexible and he has been playing in Europe since 2015. Two years ago, he proved to be an offensively strong guard who does not need much of a jump start to get going. In 35 BBL games he averaged 12.4 points and in the playoffs15.5 points. When Bayern became the first German team to qualify for the EuroLeague playoffs, he averaged 8.1 points in 27 appearances shooting 51% from three. In Munich's Cup final win over Berlin, he managed 11 points and four assists.

"I'm really happy to come back to Germany and to Munich, where we had a great season together with coach Andrea," Seeley said. "I want to try to help take the season in an even better direction and that we can end up bringing the championship back to Munich. I still know some players and I hope I can support the younger ones with my experience."

Most recently 12.8 points per game in French Pro A

D.J. Seeley, transferred to the French Channel coast in the summer from Montenegro's record champion and EuroCup starter Podgorica. He played 13 games and was averaging 12.8 points (40.2% from the field) and 2.6 assists.

Baiesi says about the experienced Californian, who made more than 100 appearances in the strong Spanish ACB: "D.J. is a familiar face for us, he knows the club, our system, the coach and also many players. When it was made possible to bring him in at short notice, it was a no-brainer."

D.J. Seeley has been in Munich since Tuesday evening and took part in team practice for the first time on Wednesday. It remains to be seen whether he will make his 54th appearance in the Euroleague on Friday in Istanbul against defending champions Efes.  

DENNIS JEROME „D.J.“ SEELEY

(*28. November 1989, Redding/USA)

Guard – 6ft3 – 233lb

• Until 2008: Modesto Christian School (California)
  2008 - 2013: University of California/until 2010, California State University Fullerton (NCAA)
  2013 - 2014: Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB)
  2014: Medi Bayreuth (BBL)
  2014 - 2015: Delaware 87ers (NBA D-League)
  2015: Basquet Manresa (ESP), Besiktas Istanbul (TUR)
  2015 - 2016: CB Gran Canaria (ESP)
  2016 - 2017: Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR)
  2017 - 2018: CB Gran Canaria (ESP)
  2018 - 2019: Rytas Vilnius (LTU)
  2019 - 12/2020: Basket Zaragoza (ESP)
  12/2020 - 2021: FC Bayern Basketball
  2021 - 2022: KK Buducnost Podgorica (MNE)
  Since 2022: BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque (FRA

Achievements/Awards:

• Big West Newcomer of the Year 2012 (NCAA)
  First-team All-Big West 2012 (NCAA)
  Second-team All-Big West 2013 (NCAA)
  Israeli Cup Winner 2017
  Lithuanian Cup Winner 2019
  German Cup Winner 2021
  Montenegrin Champion 2022
  Montenegrin Cup Winner 2022