FC Bayern Basketball has welcomed back a very familiar face: Serbian national player Stefan Jovic is joining the team of head coach Gordon Herbert for the upcoming season. The experienced playmaker, 34, will arrive at the German champion’s training camp at the end of the week. Jovic already played for Munich from 2017 to 2019, experiencing one of the most successful periods of his career with a double and a back-to-back championship. The 1.96-meter guard later moved to Moscow and most recently played in Spain, first in Zaragoza and for the past two seasons with EuroLeague returnee Valencia.
"It is no secret that we had to react to the serious injury of Rokas Jokubaitis, and that this was a very difficult undertaking so late in the summer. We are therefore even happier to have been able to bring in Stefan, an experienced and well-known playmaking point guard who, in our opinion, fits perfectly into our system. In addition, he knows Munich and the EuroLeague very well. Stefan also showed at the recent EuroBasket that he is in very good shape," said FCBB sporting director Dragan Tarlac. "We look forward to this reinforcement for the backcourt and his positive influence on our team."
After two years in Valencia
When Stefan Jovic first transferred from Red Star Belgrade to Munich, there was already a certain awareness of his unique skills: almost exactly ten years ago, during a visit of the Serbian team to Munich’s Westpark arena, the skillful playmaker set an assist record with 19 assists. Now, entering his ninth EuroLeague season, Jovic has appeared in 154 games in Europe’s top competition, averaging 6.3 points (38% three-point shooting) and 4.2 assists.
"When I heard about Bayern’s interest over the weekend, the decision was immediately clear for me. We had a very successful time together back then, the club has developed a lot, and we felt very, very comfortable there," said Jovic, who is spending a few days in his hometown Niš after the EuroBasket tournament with Serbia. "Above all, my eldest son has very fond memories of Munich and was also immediately excited. So it was not only a sporting decision, but also a family one. I also know the medical staff very well, as a summer check-up in Munich is always part of my preparation. I’m fit and looking forward to this challenge."
When I heard about the interest, the decision was immediately clear for me!
Stefan Jovic
Eight EuroLeague seasons
Jovic has already spoken with coach Herbert: "I’ll be ready, whether for fewer minutes or more, that will develop. I know that defense is very important to the coach, and I want to help there. In general, that’s my game: helping the team, playing for the team, and controlling the game."
Jovic previously spent three successful years with Red Star Belgrade, where he celebrated a triple-double of titles: winning the Adriatic League three times (Finals MVP in 2016) and the Serbian national championship three times. For Bayern, he played 75 BBL games across two seasons – and his ability to read and orchestrate the game was instrumental in the club’s championship and cup triumph in 2018, followed by the title defense in 2019.
His career continued with stints at Khimki Moscow, half a season at Panathinaikos Athens, and then a move to Spain’s ACB with Zaragoza (8.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.2 APG). At Valencia, he played the EuroLeague in 2023/24 and the EuroCup the season before (semifinals: 7.7 PPG, 4.0 APG).
With the Serbian national team, Jovic is a veteran with more than ten years of experience, highlighted by the Olympic silver medal at Rio 2016 and two World Cup silver medals (2023, 2016). At EuroBasket 2025, he again was part of Serbia’s roster after missing the 2024 Olympics for personal reasons. "The disappointment is still in my head; as a team, we had different goals," he said after missing out on the quarterfinals last week. Jovic averaged 5.5 assists in six games, playing nearly 17 minutes per contest.
From Jovic’s former Bayern team, only captain Vladimir Lucic remains. His compatriot Jovic says: "That’s enough!"
STEFAN JOVIC (*November 3, 1990, Niš, Serbien)
Career Timeline:
- 2010 – 2012: KK Sloga (SRB)
- 2012 – 2014: KK Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB)
- 2014 – 2017: Roter Stern Belgrad (SRB)
- 2017 – 2019: FC Bayern Basketball
- 2019 – 2021: Khimki Moskau (RUS)
- 1/2022: Panathinaikos Athen (GRE)
- 2022 – 2023: Basket Saragossa (ESP)
- 2023 – 2025: Valencia Basket (ESP)
Achievements/Awards:
- ABA Champion 2025
- Serbian Champion 2025
- EuroCup Finalist 2024
- Canadian Champion 2023
- German Champion 2018, 2019
- German Cup winner 2018
- Adriatic League (ABA) 2015, 2016, 2017
- Serbian champion 2015, 2016, 2017
- Serbian Cup winner 2015, 2017
- World Championship silver medalist 2023, 2014
- Olympic silver medal 2017
- European Championship silver 2017
- Bronze Universiade 2013
- BBL First Team 2018
- All-ABA League Team 2017
- ABA Finals MVP 2016