FC Bayern Basketball has signed their first new player: Argentine national player Leandro Bolmaro has signed a two-year contract with the cup winner until summer 2025. The 22-year-old guard finished the previous season in the Spanish ACB with Lenovo Tenerife, and in the previous one and a half years, he had 49 appearances in the NBA for Minnesota and Utah. The "Most Spectacular Player" of the 2020/21 ACB season, back then playing for FC Barcelona, was selected as the 23rd pick by the New York Knicks in the NBA Draft in the spring of 2020 and then traded.
"Bayern is one of the biggest clubs of all, and Pablo Laso is now the coach there, so the choice was easy for me," said Bolmaro, who is currently still in his Argentine hometown in the Córdoba region. "I had contact with Pablo in the spring, and of course, we knew each other from many duels in the ACB. I'm looking forward to him and Bayern."
Double with FC Barcelona, 49 appearances in the NBA
His role, his goals? "I see myself as a point guard who can also play shooting guard," responds the 1.98-meter-tall athlete. "My strength is pick-and-roll, and I bring a lot of energy and intensity. I want to be an important part of the team and help us finish at the top of the league and, of course, compete for the playoffs in the EuroLeague."
Head coach Laso is impressed with his first FCBB deal, saying, "Lea is a steal. He has EuroLeague and NBA experience and is a young talent who can defend any position. At the same time, as a pure point guard, he can dictate the pace on offense. He is tall and athletic, and his great mentality makes him one of Argentina's most promising future prospects."
Bolmaro's immense athleticism comes from his first passion, track and field: in 2014, he won the Argentine U14 championship in the heptathlon, with a personal best of 1.94 meters in the high jump. Ultimately, basketball took precedence; his father once played the sport himself and also worked as a coach.
Bolmaro spent three seasons with Barcelona before joining the NBA. (c) EuroLeague
U14 champion in heptathlon
The talent from South America, who made his debut in Argentina's elite league at the age of 16, caught the attention of major clubs early on. FC Barcelona secured the guard prodigy in 2018 with a long-term contract. After a year in the reserves, he moved up to the professional team at Barça, where Svetislav Pesic coached until the summer of 2020. In the 2020/2021 season, he became a permanent part of the rotation for the Spanish double winners, also making appearances in the EuroLeague (total of 36 appearances).
After the 2020 NBA Draft, Bolmaro decided to stay in Barcelona initially. A year later, he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves for four years but was traded to Utah after one season. In March, he decided to leave the "NBA business" and started fresh in Tenerife, where he was used as a wing. In the FIBA Champions League, the cup finalist finished in third place (5.6 points per game).
South American champion with Argentina in 2022
In Argentina, Leandro Bolmaro progressed through the junior teams and represented the national team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, winning the continental title in 2022 (7.3 points per game); however, the squad unexpectedly missed the 2023 World Cup. "That is naturally very sad and tough," says Bolmaro, "but it also has something good because I can acclimate to Munich and the club early on."
FCBB Sports Director Daniele Baiesi said, "I am thrilled that Leandro is coming to Munich. We have been observing him for some time, and we believe that he will be a cornerstone of our team next season. He is a tall, modern guard who can essentially play all positions, and thanks to his athleticism and talent, he has already made it to the NBA Draft. With us, he will further solidify his game."
LEANDRO BOLMARO
(*11 September 2000, Las Varillas, Córdoba/ARG)
Guard – 1,98 m – 91 kg
Former clubs:
- 2017 – 2018: Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca (ARG)
- 2018 – 2020: FC Barcelona II (ESP III/II)
- 2019 – 2021: FC Barcelona (ESP)
- 2021 – 2022: Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) // Iowa Wolves (G League)
- 2022 – 2/2023: Utah Jazz (NBA) // Salt Lake City Stars (G League)
- from 3/2023: CB 1939 Canarias (ESP)
Awards & Career Highlights
- FIBA Americas Champion 2022 (with Argentinia)
- ACB Winner 2021 (with FC Barcelona)
- Copa del Rey 2021 (with FC Barcelona)
- „ACB Most Spectacular Player“ 2020/21
- Olympic Games Tokyo 2021 (with Argentinia)
- Pick Nr. 23 NBA Draft 2020
- Nike Hoop Summit 2018
- FIBA Americas U17 Runner Up 2017 (with Argentinia)