#albaberlin

On the eve of Germany’s basketball season start, FC Bayern Munich made headlines by signing David McCormack from rival Alba Berlin, along with Aleksa Radanov, in a bold move to address roster gaps caused by injuries. Bayern hopes the 2.08m American big man and Serbian forward provide immediate depth and firepower as they aim to defend their titles in both the BBL and EuroLeague.

Why Bayern Pulled the Trigger Now

The timing of this transfer is no accident. Bayern entered the new season weakened: veteran center Johannes Voigtmann is recovering from a knee injury, and guard Rokas Jokubaitis is sidelined with a torn ACL. To maintain competitiveness, the club prioritized reinforcements. The additions of McCormack and Radanov are intended to relieve pressure on the remaining core, allow injured players to rehab without being rushed, and stabilize rotational balance.

McCormack joined Bayern on a one-year contract, while Radanov’s deal runs until year’s end. The move also signals that veteran Tibor Pleiß, who had been in preseason, will not be offered a contract this season.

Sporting director Dragan Tarlac explained: “We get two high-quality players, who either already know the team or, in David’s case, are familiar with both leagues. They will support coach Gordon Herbert right away and help us manage load across the squad.”

McCormack’s Journey: From Kansas to Berlin to Munich

David McCormack is no unknown entity in European basketball. After a standout college career at Kansas—including an NCAA championship—he began his pro path in Turkey and later played for Istanbul teams. Last season he spent time with Milan and Alba Berlin.

With Alba, McCormack became a key contributor, averaging double-digit scoring and pulling down rebounds in EuroLeague contests. His ability to compete across leagues and step into high-pressure roles makes him a valuable addition for Bayern.

His career trajectory—from Beşiktaş to Darüşşafaka, Galatasaray, Milan, and Berlin—shows adaptability and perseverance.

What McCormack & Radanov Bring to Bayern

Interior strength & rim presence McCormack’s size, rebounding, and scoring in the paint add a physical dimension that Bayern will need while Voigtmann recovers. His prior experience in German basketball helps with the transition.

Rotation flexibility These new players allow Bayern to extend minutes across more bodies, reducing fatigue on stars and enabling tactical shifts mid-game.

Know-how & league experience McCormack is familiar with both the BBL and EuroLeague environments, while Radanov already trained with Bayern during preseason—meaning less downtime for acclimation.

Message to rivals Signing a key player from Alba Berlin is more than strategic—it’s symbolic. Bayern is asserting ambition early, telling rivals they won’t be passive.

Risks & Adjustments to Watch

Adapting midseason brings challenges:

Chemistry: Integrating McCormack and Radanov rapidly without disrupting team flow will be critical.

Role definition: Who plays when? How will minutes be allocated among new and returning players?

Health management: With injured players sidelined, the new signings carry extra pressure to perform immediately.

Expectations: Bayern will expect meaningful contributions—McCormack can’t just sit on the bench and wait.

Immediate Matchups & Benchmarks

Bayern will debut this season against newly promoted Science City Jena in the Bundesliga. That game offers a stage for the new arrivals to settle in.

Fans and analysts will watch:

McCormack’s first performances in BBL and EuroLeague

How rotations shift now that Pleiß is out

Whether Bayern maintains dominance despite injuries

Long-term strategies: will McCormack stay beyond one year?

If all goes well, Bayern’s gamble could pay off. The club has added firepower at a moment of vulnerability and shown they’re serious about defending titles.