Drama in Munich: Bayern Basketball becomes champions after thriller!

Drama in Munich: Bayern Basketball becomes champions after thriller!

The basketball stronghold of Munich has once again proven its dominance. On June 26, 2025, FC Bayern Munich defended its championship title in the exciting Bundesliga playoff final against ratiopharm Ulm. In a dramatic game that was fought until the last minute, Bayern won 81:77 (48:41) and thus secured the Basketball Bundesliga championship for the seventh time in the club's history.

Bayern had a challenging season. After failing in the cup semi-finals and missing the Euroleague playoffs, the comeback followed at the crucial moment. The best-of-five series against Ulm ended 3-2 in favor of Munich. Devin Booker was crucial to the win, scoring 19 points, while Ulm's Karim Jallow had the best performance for his team with 22 points.

Exciting twists in the finale

The sold-out game at SAP Garden, which drew 11,500 spectators, saw a rotating lead. Bayern started strong and led by up to 17 points (47:30) in the second third. Ulm had great difficulty throwing three points; the first ten attempts didn't end up in the basket. But the Ulm team didn't give up and reduced the deficit when the first throw from outside finally fell.

Ulm even took the lead in the 33rd minute when they scored 66:65. In the final minutes the game became an intense exchange of blows. Johannes Voigtmann gave Bayern the opportunity to take the lead with two decisive three-pointers shortly before the end. Finally, captain Vladimir Lucic secured the victory with a free throw.

Missing key players and coaching success

Both teams had to do without important players: Bayern fought without Carsen Edwards, who had been out for over two months with a back injury. Ulm also couldn't count on young star Noa Essengue, who was selected in the NBA draft. Despite these setbacks, Bayern showed a unified team performance, which secured coach Gordon Herbert his first title with the club.

The victory also means more for Munich, who celebrated their return to the top after a titleless season last year. This is the twelfth title for FC Bayern Munich, having previously won the title in 1954, 1955, 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2024. This means that Munich remains the German basketball capital. Ulm, on the other hand, missed the chance of another title after the coup in 2023.

Overall, it can be said that Bayern delivers in the crucial moments of a game. As in the first ten duels between these two teams, the home team prevailed for the eleventh time, which illustrates the tension and uncertainty of the playoffs.

Basketball fans can already look forward to next season, while Bayern and Ulm will learn lessons from this successful, albeit demanding, season.