Late call that changed Rubit's and Bayern's fate / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Euroleague Basketball via GettyImages Credit Euroleague Basketball via GettyImages

Usually, the crucial roster decisions are made early in free agency or even months before the summer market opens. But this late call heavily impacted the trajectory of Augustine Rubit and Bayern Munich season.

Augustine Rubit

MIN:25.32PTS:10.87 (58.98%)REB:4.71As:1.42ST:0.61BL:0.29TO:1.03GM:31ProfileEuroLeague2021/2022

August was never the case for Augustine.

Rubit didn't have a contract in August for the first time in his professional career.

All the previous deals with Zalgiris Kaunas, Olympiacos Piraeus, Brose Bamberg, Ratiopharm Ulm, or Tigers Tubingen were signed in July. But summer 2021 was different.

Zalgiris decided not to exercise the second-year option, and the American big man became a free agent on July 26. When EuroLeague clubs started their preseason camps in the middle of August, Rubit wasn't sure about his future destination.

Every year, some players end up overslept in the market. But for Rubit, that was messy free agency.

You can't imagine how teams get suspicious when they see players changing the EuroLeague club every year, especially when teams opt out of their contracts. After Olympiacos, Zalgiris was the second team that decided to let him go.

Rubit, 32, also was always double-checked because of his health history.

The fact that the Detroit Pistons hired Rubit's agent George David as an assistant general manager also didn’t help.

Augustine Rubit was very close to returning to FIBA Champions League at the end of August. Galatasaray Istanbul made a solid offer, and Rubit's agents seriously considered taking it.

Just in case, they thought about including the EuroLeague out clause in his deal.

"We asked to wait," Daniele Baiesi, the sports director of Bayern Munich, recalls a decisive phone call with his agents.

Credit Imago Images/Nordphoto - Scanpix

In August, Bayern were about to make its last market move that summer. Coach Andrea Trinchieri was looking for reinforcement in the frontline. Knowing the financial ceiling for Bayern, two Italians were looking for some sleepers on the market.

2-pointers this season

55%20,5Points made:20,5Accuracy:54,6%Place in standings:4Record max:27Record min:14Most made 2FGs:Brandon DaviesTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

It took a little bit of time for Baiesi to convince Trinchieri to sign Rubit. But that was the deal they couldn't pass.

Rubit signed for very favorable conditions for Bayern Munich. The Germans got a skilled, versatile, all-around big man for arguably low money without any locker room issues.

"We all agreed that it was worth every risk for the money we had," Baiesi said BasketNews.

It's funny now that there was a time when Augustine Rubit didn't really enjoy his time with Andrea Trinchieri that much.

He had some rough experiences with Trinchieri in Bamberg. Rubit played there from 2017 to 2019 and spent the 2017-18 season together.

"I had never played for such a smart coach who always tested me. Trinchieri was like a genius that wanted me to think like him. It irritated me. But then I just started realizing that he makes the game easier for you," Augustine Rubit said when he joined Zalgiris.

He said that Trinchieri constantly challenges his players. He often asks them about some details of the game. He wants you to explain why you did this or that. He likes to talk about basketball in detail.

"He tried to bait you sometimes. It felt like mind games, but he said he just wanted to see what I would do. He's a great coach, and I'm happy that I had this opportunity," Rubit said. "I believe that many EuroCup players could be solid EuroLeague players. But you have to have a coach believe in you. He took a chance on me, and I really appreciate it."

Credit EuroLeague Basketball via GettyImages

They couldn't think of a better reunion.

Rubit averaged 10.9 points. 4.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 12.6 PIR in the EuroLeague regular season. That’s a career-high season for Rubit.

In scoring, he’s only behind Darrun Hilliard (13.8 PPG) and Vladimir Lucic (12.3 PPG). Rubit has only Lucic ahead of him in PIR (14.0 PIR).

He’s the third-best Bayern player per +/-, according to BBallytics.

Most importantly, Rubit is only one of three Bayern players who didn't miss a single EuroLeague game this season.

Considering three Covid outbreaks and never-ending injuries, Rubit was a significant boost for coach Trinchieri since the coach was always missing important guys on his lineup.

His consistent presence on the court helped him miraculously come out in the Top 8.

"Rubit knows the system, and he knows the people. Andrea is not the easiest guy, but he's not affected by him" Daniele Baiesi told BasketNews.

"This year, Rubit has found continuity. But at the same time, it’s also true some guys tend to shine with my coach in a system where you give them trust. Rubit clearly is the most crafty big we have, and Andrea relies on him a lot," Baiesi added. "The players that play out of great confidence play a big role. There are guys like Jason George, who is the second-best 3-point shooter on our team. A guy who has been spending years in the youth team getting crazy about the fact that he couldn’t make the shot."

Now Rubit is highly interested in extending the contract with Bayern, and Andrea's future in the club also plays an essential role in his decision.

On top of that, Rubit is set to start his first-ever EuroLeague playoff series facing the coach who wanted to sign him for Zalgiris three years ago.

It's funny how fate works.

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