Bayern München messed up the start to the semi-final series of the BBL playoffs against Heidelberg. Even worse is the injury of a top player, which caused some moving scenes.
Double shock for the basketball players of FC Bayern! The Munich team not only sensationally lost game one of the playoff semi-final series against the MLP Academics Heidelberg, but also their star center Devin Booker.
Just under two minutes before the end of the first half, the Big Man wanted to get an easy defensive rebound after a missed shot by Heidelberg when his former teammate Paul Zipser unfortunately undercut him. Booker also buckled due to contact with Zipser’s right ankle.
FC Bayern is threatened with a longer absence of Devin Booker
The center immediately noticed that something was wrong, hit the floor in pain, and pulled his jersey over his head. “That’s of course bitter because he runs into him from behind, shortly before Booker lands,” said Dyn commentator Florian Pertsch about the scene.
Expert Heiko Schaffartzik also immediately recognized the seriousness of the situation and commented anxiously: “Oh, oh! Let’s hope it’s not too bad and we see him in the second half.”
Booker’s wife rushes onto the field after injury
But Booker did not return from the locker room in the second half. The second bitter absence threatens one of Bayern’s most important players. The veteran had already missed more than two months this season after a knee injury.
The reaction of his wife Amber showed how great the renewed injury shock was. She immediately rushed onto the floor with her youngest daughter in hand and asked her husband how he was doing. An extremely unusual scene, because family members are rarely seen on the field during the game. She then followed her husband into the locker room with a worried expression.
If Booker is actually out for a longer period, this renewed injury could be almost more bitter for FC Bayern than the surprising defeat in game one of the semi-final series. The center is the second-best scorer for Bayern in the current season in both the EuroLeague (14.9 points) and the BBL (12 points).
The champion is also still missing top star Carsen Edwards, who has been struggling with persistent back problems for weeks. With Oscar da Silva, Bayern also have to do without another Big Man. A longer Booker absence would therefore be difficult to compensate for.
Of course, it is still open whether Booker will be absent for a longer period. At least Bayern coach Gordon Herbert was not very shocked after the game when asked by SPORT1: “I can’t say anything specific yet, he probably has an ankle injury. That’s the sport. Now we need players again who will step into the breach.”
Zipser apologizes to Booker: “It was my fault”
And Booker was at least able to smile slightly in the catacombs after the game. He joked with his children, but his right ankle was thickly taped.
Afterwards, it became extremely emotional again in the substructure of the SAP Garden. The former Bayern star Zipser, who played strongly again, but was also unfortunately involved in the injury of his former teammate, went to Booker with his head down and apologized.
The latter accepted the apology, but also defended Zipser: “I know you didn’t do that on purpose.” Zipser replied: “I’m still very sorry. It was my fault. I hope to see you on the field again.”
Booker didn’t sound really confident afterwards: “We’ll have to see. Let’s see how bad it is.” Not only opponent Zipser will hope that Booker returns to the field this season.
The loss of another top star would be difficult for FCBB to cope with in the fight for the championship. And so this scene in the second quarter could weigh even heavier for Bayern than the defeat against Heidelberg.