Since Friday morning, FC Bayern Basketball have been opening a new chapter in their now 80-year history. New head coach Anton Gavel put his team through its first training session of the 2026/27 season at BMW Park, starting promptly at 11 a.m., and outlined the task ahead. “Invest! We all have to invest as a team,” was one of the key messages from the 41-year-old, who led Bayern to the domestic double as captain in his final season as a player before returning to the club as a coach.
Rokas’ return
There is little time to waste this summer either: the season opener is already just one month away, with Bayern hosting Bamberg in the opening game of the BBL season at BMW Park on Sunday, September 20, at 6 p.m. With the exception of Germany internationals Oscar da Silva and Johannes Thiemann, Gavel was able to welcome his entire roster on Friday. This season’s squad consists of a 15-man rotation supplemented by five promising FCBB youngsters. Long-term absentee Rokas Jokubaitis also finally returned to practice. The Lithuanian underwent knee surgery almost a year ago. Andi Obst, meanwhile, is currently taking things more cautiously because of back problems, but is expected to gradually increase his workload next week.
The first of five preseason games, against Ulm, is scheduled for the weekend after next. The final preparation games will take place on the last weekend of the preseason at a high-profile tournament in Cagliari featuring EuroLeague opposition. The highlight of the preseason will be the team presentation for Bayern fans at BMW Park on Sunday, September 6, followed by a friendly against Gavel’s former club Bamberg.
FCBB’s season schedule
- August 29: Friendly vs. ratiopharm ulm (behind closed doors)
- September 1: Friendly vs. Patrioti Levice (behind closed doors)
- September 6, from 6 p.m.: Season opener, including a friendly vs. BMA365 Baskets Bamberg (BMW Park)
- September 12–13: “City of Cagliari” Tournament
- Saturday, 8:30 p.m.: FCBB – ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne
- Sunday (TBA): FCBB – Hapoel Tel Aviv/Maxima Rom
- Sunday, September 20, 6 p.m.: Matchday 1, easyCredit BBL, FCBB – BMA365 Baskets Bamberg (BMW Park)
- Thursday, September 24, 7 p.m.: Matchday 1, EuroLeague, Hapoel Tel Aviv – FCBB (in Sofia, Bulgaria)