FC Bayern Basketball announced on Wednesday afternoon that it has signed German national player Leon Kratzer. The center, who was most recently under contract in Paris, is returning to the BBL after two years.
Bayern continues to build its roster for the new season! Leon Kratzer is the second center to sign with FCBB this summer. At the beginning of July, the team strengthened its roster with former NBA player Wenyen Gabriel.
“Leon is an experienced, mobile big man who will give us a lot of presence on the rebound, especially on defense,” said sporting director Dragan Tarlac in the press release, adding: “We are very excited to welcome another German national team player.”
Kratzer is leaving Paris Basketball after two years. In 2024, the 28-year-old won the EuroCup with the French capital club. In the past EuroLeague season, the Bayreuth native averaged around ten minutes of playing time.
“For me, playing for Bayern is a dream come true. I had two great years in Paris, but now I’m taking the step that many German players want to take – to a club whose name speaks for itself,” said Kratzer. “This brings me back to Germany, closer to my family in Bayreuth, back to the Bundesliga and also back to the guys, many of whom I know.”
Kratzer was trained at his home club BBC Bayreuth before joining Bamberg’s youth program in 2011. In 2020, the 2.12-meter player moved to Telekom Baskets Bonn, with whom he won the Basketball Champions League in 2023.