Bayern Basketball continues to strengthen its lineup and this time with a lot of experience: former international player, Elias Harris, 33, returns to the BBL after two foreign engagements and signed a two-year contract with the Munich team until 2024. Harris played last season in Japan, after a half-season in the strong Spanish ACB for Zaragoza. In the Bundesliga, the power forward has played 196 games so far.
"After my international experiences in Spain and Japan, I'm standing in the starting blocks with a lot of confidence and I'm looking forward to bringing that energy with me to Munich," said Harris. "I want to help the team succeed with my experience and skill set and bring titles and championships to Munich. After Bayern's injury woes in recent years, this is the goal and I am very motivated to rock the challenges in both the BBL and EuroLeague together with the team. I'm looking forward to playing in the top division of basketball again!"
Comeback under Coach Trinchieri
Elias Harris is not only returning to a familiar ambience in view of eight Bundesliga seasons already: He worked successfully with head coach Andrea Trinchieri in Bamberg for a good three years; he also knows sports director Daniele Baiesi as well as Augustine Rubit and Andreas Obst from their days together in Upper Franconia. With the former serial champions, the assertive big man (6ft6) has won three championships and the cup twice.
Harris: "In my three years under Coach Trinchieri, I've been able to learn a tremendous amount, both personally and on the floor through his strong winning mentality of pushing players to their maximum performance level."
"Multi-dimensional Big Man“
Baiesi says: "With Elias we get an experienced, versatile big man. We are looking forward to his offensive contribution as well as his great physicality in the zone and his rebounding. He also knows the coach and the system and has accepted our offer with great enthusiasm."
A native of Rhineland-Palatinate, Harris made it from a basketball boarding school in Speyer and through Gonzaga University in the U.S. (13.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg) to an NBA contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he made two brief appearances in 2013. This was followed by the long phase with the Baskets, where Harris was captain until his departure in 2020. He continued in Ludwigsburg (eleven appearances, 15.6 ppg) before being recruited by Spanish first division club Zaragoza in January 2021. In Europe's strongest national league, he averaged just under 23 minutes in 19 games, scoring 13.3 points (63% twos, 40% threes) and grabbing 4.4 rebounds. Harris also impressed in the Fiba Champions League (13.9 PpS) with the Final Four participant (3rd).
The adventure in the Japanese B-League in Toyohashi at San-en NeoPhoenix went well for Harris despite the team's mediocre performance personally with a scoring average of 17.8 and 6.6 rebounds.
For the DBB, Harris played in the junior teams until the 2009 U20 European Championships (14 ppg, 6.4 rpg), and later in the senior national team in 36 games.
Elias Harris is married and father of two children.
ELIAS HARRIS (*6. July 1989, Speyer)
Power Forward/Center – 6ft7 – 240 lbs
- 2005 – 2009: Baskets Speyer/BG Karlsruhe (ProB/Doppellizenz)
- 2009 – 2013: Gonzaga Bulldogs (NCAA)
- 2013 – 11/2013: Los Angeles Lakers/Los Angeles D-Fenders (NBA/NBA D-League)
- 12/2013 – 2020: Brose Baskets Bamberg
- 2020 – 1/2021: MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg
- 2021: Basket Casademont Saragossa (ACB)
- 2021 – 2022: San-en NeoPhoenix (JPN)
Achievements/Awards:
- German Champion 2015, 2016, 2017
German Cup Winner 2017, 2019
Final Four Fiba Champions League 2021 (3rd place)
NBA Summer League 2013 (LA Lakers)
European Championship participation 2010
World Cup participation 2011
MVP Orlando Classic 2013 (NCAA)
MVP Western Conference Tournament 2013 (NCAA)
NABC All District First Team 2010, 2012, 2013 (NCAA)
2. Bundesliga ProB "Young Player of the Year 2008
MVP NBBL Allstar Game 2007, 2008 (U19)