By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Pablo Laso is the new head coach of Baskonia.
Laso, 56, signed a three-year contract to take over the team based in his hometown Vitoria-Gasteiz, the team announced on Friday.
The experienced tactician, a two-time champion of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Real Madrid, parted ways with FC Bayern Munich after one year with the German club citing family reasons as the reason for the early termination of his contract.
However, per Eurohoops sources “Pablo Laso and his family are more than OK”.
Starting his professional playing career at Caja Alava / Taugres, now labeled as Baskonia, Laso made 370 appearances between 1984 and 1995. In his last season, he lifted the Copa del Rey trophy and was named tournament MVP. Nearly three decades later, he returns to his hometown team as the new head coach.
Real Madrid was his home from 1995 to 1997 as a player and highlighted his successful coaching career from 2011 to 2022. In a history-making spell at Los Blancos, his play-calling efforts combined with six ACB championships, six Copa del Rey titles, and seven Supercopa titles, besides guiding his side to the top of the EuroLeague in 2015 and 2018.
Last season, Bayern finished 15th behind a 13-21 record in the Regular Season, falling four games shy of a berth in the Play-In Showdown. Meanwhile, Baskonia went through the Play-Ins to confirm the eighth seed but went on the wrong end of a three-game sweep to Madrid in the Playoffs.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net