Basketball: Ex-NBA star signs with the Bavarians

The change from NBA veteran Derrick Williams to Bayern Munich basketball players is finally perfect. As the German champion and cup winner announced on Wednesday, the 27-year-old wing player signed a contract until the end of the current season after completing medical examinations.

Williams had most recently played in China and at short notice for the Los Angeles Lakers, a total of 428 games in the NBA. Munich’s managing director Marko Pesic had already declared before the start of the season last week that nothing stood in the way of a commitment. “We are delighted with the opportunity to work with such a good player,” said sports director Daniele Baiesi.

Williams had been second chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2011 draft, in his third year he was handed over to the Sacramento Kings. This was followed by appearances for the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers alongside superstar LeBron James, and two matches for the Lakers after a guest appearance with the Tianjin Gold Lions in the Chinese professional league.

Without Williams, defending champion Bayern Munich won his second game of the season on Wednesday with 79:66 (38:26) against Rasta Vechta.

Munich’s national player Danilo Barthel was the top scorer of the game with 23 points. Among the guests Austin Hollins stood out with twelve points. But he could not prevent the second defeat in the second game of the season.

The MHP giants Ludwigsburg also celebrated their second victory of the season on German Unification Day. In the home match against the Eisbären Bremerhaven the team of coach John Patrick won 75:58 (38:22).