The backcourt of next season's FC Bayern Basketball squad is complete: As their third addition, the cup winner has now signed Carsen Edwards for the upcoming season. The 25-year-old US guard already has the experience of 72 appearances in the NBA for Detroit and the Boston Celtics. Last season, he played his first year overseas with the Turkish EuroLeague title contender, Fenerbahce Istanbul.
"Carsen is a scoring machine, and when he came to Europe, everyone thought, 'Wow, what a fantastic transfer'," recalls head coach Pablo Laso about Edwards' move to Fenerbahce a year ago. "It will be his second season in Europe, and we are getting a versatile player who can fill various positions. He is creative and very aggressive in offense, strong and quick in defense. We have high expectations for him because he is someone who can hold his ground against anyone."
The extremely athletic Texan is currently on home leave in Houston, and he says: "I want to give my best to help the team. I chose Munich after discussing with their staff and because I know their goals for the season. They have great fans, and Munich is a fantastic city that I will now dedicate myself to. I want to earn the trust of my teammates and the coaches. I aim to have an important role, but I know I have to earn it first."
72 NBA appearances
Carsen Edwards was selected as the 33rd overall pick in the NBA Draft in 2019 as an early entry. He spent three years in the prestigious program at Purdue University. Initially recognized for his football talent, the former high school sensation (averaging 26.3 points per game as a junior for Atascocita) finally showcased his scoring abilities in his junior year in college, averaging 24.3 points per game.
After the NCAA Tournament exit with the Boilermakers in 2019, he declared early for the NBA Draft. The Celtics selected him at number 33 (Philadelphia had given up his rights); he also played for them in the NBA Summer League, averaging 19.4 points per game.
In November 2019, Edwards achieved his NBA career-high of 18 points against Washington. During this COVID-19-affected season, he ultimately played 37 games, averaging 3.3 points per game.
The following year, while playing for Utah's G League team, Salt Lake City Stars, he averaged nearly 27 points per game, making him the scoring champion of the developmental league. In April 2022, he briefly returned to the NBA, playing four games for the Detroit Pistons.
"An impact on both ends of the court"
Last summer, Edwards decided to join the European elite league, and in Istanbul, he played for Fenerbahce's star-studded roster, averaging around 15 minutes of playing time and 8.0 points per game in the EuroLeague. In the Turkish BSL, he averaged 13.3 points per game for the runner-up team.
"I have known Carsen since his early days at Purdue, and I have always considered him one of the best scorers I have ever seen. But his game offers much more than that," emphasizes FC Bayern Basketball's sports director, Daniele Baiesi. "Because Carsen can influence both ends of the court, and he will also bring an additional creative force to our offense. He will have a great effect on our team."
CARSEN EDWARDS
(*12 March 1998, Atascocita, Humble/Texas, USA)
Guard – 1,80 m – 91 kg
Former Teams:
- 2016 – 2019: Purdue University (NCAA)
- 2019 – 2022: Boston Celtics (NBA), Maine Red Claws (G League, 2019-2020)
- 2021 - 2022: Detroit Pistons (NBA), Salt Lake City Stars (G League)
- 2022 – 2023: Fenerbahce Istanbul
Awards & Career Highlights:
- Pick Nr. 33 NBA Draft 2019
- NBA G League scoring champion 2022
- Big Ten All-Tournament Team 2018, 2019 (NCAA)
- Jerry West (Best SG) Award 2019 (NCAA)
- NABC All-American Second Team 2018, 2019 (NCAA)
- The Wooden Award All American Team 2019 (NCAA)
- Silver medal World University Games 2017 (Team USA)
- Bronze medal U19 World Cup 2017 (Team USA)