Marko Pesic: 'The European basketball ecosystem is struggling' / News - Basketnews.com

Marko Pesic breaks down Bayern Munich's way to success without any involvement from its football section, touches on Andrea Trinchieri's legacy, reveals what facilitated Serge Ibaka's signing, and weighs in on the status of Partizan and Zvezda. Bayern's CEO also explains why the EuroLeague seeks an expansion and European basketball needs to be restructured.

Credit: Christina Pahnke/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Christina Pahnke/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Marko Pesichas been working forFC Bayern Munich's basketball section since 2011, at a time when only a handful of European clubs would hire a person entrusted with the task of maximizing the value of their business.

2-pointers this season

55%20,6Points made:20,6Accuracy:54,9%Place in standings:6Record max:27Record min:12Most made 2FGs:Serge IbakaTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"When I started, we had six professional office people, including me. Now, we're between 60 and 70," the club's CEO, who recently turned 47, tellsBasketNews.

Bayern and Pesic took their first steps in the German Bundesliga during the 2011-12 season. They were both newcomers since the club had been playing in the country's lower divisions while Pesic had completed his studies in sports marketing, communication, and management and was re-entering the basketball world in the capacity of the sports director.

Back in the early 2010s, Bayern's participation in the EuroLeague was still an unfulfilled dream. But soon, things started to fall into place.

A brief EuroLeague presence was succeeded by several EuroCup campaigns, and when the time came, the Bavarian club proved more than ready to embrace the chance it was given to shine on the big stage. A EuroLeague shareholder since 2021, Bayern had to build its own business as a strictly basketball entity.

"We had to sell our own assets and fight for sponsors and fans to come to the arena," Pesic recalls.

"Our new gym is coming next summer. All our games are sold out in Munich, which also has to do with the aftermath of the World Cup. The fans are responding to our team and vice versa."

Bayern Munich's basketball court has already acquired a new name due to a new sponsor, being named BMW Park instead of Audi Dome.

According to reports, the new partnership will bring the club about five million euros a year. Pesic assures that the amount mentioned above doesn't correspond to the true figures.

"I don't talk about money, but the number is

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