Baskonia fires Paolo Galbiati after Euroliga slump and names Velimir Perasovic

Dismissal after a poor European start

Kosner Baskonia announced on Wednesday, 14 October, that it had ended its relationship with Italian coach Paolo Galbiati, in the first month of the 2026-27 season. The club said it had informed him that day that his contract was being terminated. Galbiati led the team in 87 official matches: 43 in EuroLeague, 40 in Liga Endesa and four in the Supercopa and Copa del Rey combined. His best-known result came in February 2026, when Baskonia won the Copa del Rey, its first title of that kind in 17 years.

In its farewell statement, the club wrote:

Kosner Baskonia thanks Paolo Galbiati for his work during all the time he has led the team and wishes him the best of luck, both professionally and personally.

A slump in Europe, a strong start at home

The decision followed a 79-93 defeat to Dubai Basketball on Tuesday, 13 October, at the Fernando Buesa Arena in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Dubai is coached by Xavi Pascual. It was Baskonia's fourth loss in five EuroLeague rounds, leaving the team with one win and last place in the table. In Liga Endesa the team had won all three of its games and shared the lead with Real Madrid and Breogán. After the Dubai game, Galbiati pointed to a lack of investment and experience in the squad, according to EL PAÍS. La Razón described a roster largely dismantled over the summer, citing the late arrival of Kenneth Faried and the collapse of a move for Alex Len.

Markus Howard leaves for Zenit

Markus Howard, a guard from New Jersey, also left the club. Europa Press dated that announcement to Wednesday, while El Mundo placed it on Tuesday. Howard joined in summer 2022 and played four seasons, 244 official matches in all, including the 2026 Copa del Rey win. In 109 Liga Endesa games he averaged 16.7 points and shot 40.1% from three-point range, with a league high of 38 points against Hiopos Lleida in November 2024. This season he has played three EuroLeague games, averaging 4.7 points, and one league game. La Razón reported that he has signed with Zenit Saint Petersburg, while the club praised his commitment and character in an official statement.

Perasovic returns as successor

Baskonia named Velimir Perasovic as Galbiati's successor. The Croatian coach begins his fourth spell with the club and has signed a contract until 2028. EL PAÍS reports he has coached 253 matches for Baskonia, the second-most in the club's history. The club said he will arrive in Vitoria on Thursday, 15 October, and coach his first match on Friday, 16 October, against Virtus Bologna. El Mundo wrote that he was the name all the rumours had pointed to.

Last summer and the Barcelona link

Galbiati arrived from Aquila Trento, and last summer Barcelona showed interest in him. El Periódico reports that Baskonia blocked his exit at the time. The club could not stop sporting director Xevi Pujol from leaving for Barcelona, where he now holds the same role. Barcelona instead hired Slovenian coach Aleksander Sekulic, who now leads the team from the bench. El Mundo wrote that Galbiati's dismissal had seemed a matter of time since the summer, when the rumours collided with Barcelona's interest in him.