Bayern his time: Jack enjoying German Euro trip

• ‍Jack White signed with German powerhouse Bayern Munich at the beginning of April
• He has only been eligible to play domestic German basketball, missing out on EuroLeague action
• Germany's BBL is coming to the end of its regular season, just three rounds remain

Just days after arriving in Germany in early April, Jack White immediately felt at home with his new Bayern Munich teammates. "I'm loving the experience so far, loving the people. It's a great locker room. It's a fun group to be a part of," White told Open Court.

The 27-year-old Australian joined Bayern Munich during a critical phase of their season—with EuroLeague playoff positioning at stake and the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) championship run approaching. It's a situation White acknowledges as "unique" but one he's embraced wholeheartedly.

"For me coming in, I really wanted to be sort of low maintenance, just sort of fit in as well as I could, but at the same time, try and be an aggressive, assertive player and bring my strengths to the group," White says about joining a team mid-season.

White's transition to European basketball has been seamless, largely due to what he describes as the "high character people" throughout the organisation. From players to coaching staff to front office personnel, the welcoming environment has allowed him to quickly establish relationships that translate to on-court chemistry.

He describes himself as an "undersized, versatile power forward" who brings athleticism and strength to the court. "I think I shoot the ball really well and I can also put a lot of heat on the rim," he explains regarding his playing style.

Bayern's coaching staff, led by Gordon Herbert—who also coaches the German national team—has encouraged White to play with aggression and bring his natural skills to the team. "The only mistake I can really make at this point, and what's been encouraged to me, is just play hard," White says.

As he settles into the team's system, White is focusing on rebounding, defence, and finding his shooting spots within the offence. With center Oscar da Silva injured, White has been asked to help fill that void while bringing his own strengths to the table.

Beyond This Season

Now in Munich, White has clear goals for both his immediate and long-term future. First and foremost is helping Bayern capture the BBL championship this season.

"Every fan of Bayern Munich basketball is very happy to hear that," White smiles when discussing the title ambitions. "This is the goal for the whole club, for the whole organisation, and especially for the fans as well."

Beyond this season, White is open to extending his time in Europe. Having opted out of his player option with Melbourne United, he's at a career juncture where he wants to explore new challenges and continue improving.

"I'm 27, 28 years old, and sort of coming into the prime of my career and really want to see if I can experience different things," White explains.

His international ambitions also remain strong. "I want to play the next two Olympics. I want to play the next two World Cups," he says emphatically. The 2032 Olympics in Brisbane represent a particularly meaningful target, though White acknowledges he'll be in his mid-30s by then.

A return to the NBA remains a possibility as well, though White is thoughtful about what such an opportunity would need to offer. "I don't want to be in the NBA just to be there and then just be on the end of the bench," he explains. "I'm really trying to play and contribute to winning and be a part of something special."

Ultimately, White's priority is clear: "For the rest of my career, I just want to be remembered as a competitor and a winner."

From Traralgon to the NCAA

White's basketball journey began at age five in the Victorian town of Traralgon, about two hours from Melbourne. Though he played multiple sports in his youth, including Australian football, tennis, and cricket, basketball quickly became his passion.

"I knew early on that it was my favourite, and I love playing it the most, and just sort of couldn't get the ball out of my hand," White recalls about his early basketball days.

By age 14, White was already playing senior basketball with a local state-level team in Australia. His height—roughly 190 cm as a teenager—certainly helped his prospects, but his versatility and shooting touch allowed him to develop as more than just a traditional big man.

After receiving a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport, White attracted attention from American colleges. He ultimately landed at Duke University, one of college basketball's most storied programmes, where he would spend four years under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski.

"My outlook for college was trying to put myself in the most challenging environment possible, and seeing what I'm made of," White explains about his decision to attend Duke. There, he developed alongside future NBA stars like Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, and RJ Barrett, eventually becoming team captain for his final two seasons—the first Australian male to earn that honour at Duke.

Following A Unique Path

After college, White began his professional career with Melbourne United in the NBL. His start was anything but smooth, after just nine games as a professional, he tore his Achilles tendon, a devastating injury for any athlete.

"Tearing my Achilles and me going to a dark place and then having to re-emerge and embrace that challenge of trying to come back better was something that helped me," White reflected. "I definitely felt like I came back better and more athletic and more confident after the injury."

His perseverance paid off. After returning to the court and completing a strong season with Melbourne, White earned an invitation to the NBA Summer League. His impressive performance there led to a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets—an opportunity that would result in White becoming part of an NBA championship team during the 2022-23 season. A year which saw him win championships with Geelong in the NBL1, Melbourne United in the NBL, and Denver in the NBA.

White speaks warmly about his time with the Nuggets, particularly the culture fostered by MVP Nikola Jokić. "When your best player Nikola doesn't care about himself, if you're a selfish player, then that stands out even more," White explains. "That just sets a great culture within the group."

After his championship season with Denver, White had a brief stint with the Memphis Grizzlies on a 10-day contract before returning to Australia. This season, after his Melbourne United team narrowly lost in the NBL finals, White received the call from Bayern Munich that would bring him to Europe for the first time.

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