Anadolu Efes Istanbul made a major move on Monday by signing Nick Weiler-Babb, the 2024–25 EuroLeague Best Defender, to a two-year contract with an option for a third season. The club announced the deal as it continues to reshape its roster following the departures of Elijah Bryant and Darius Thompson.
Weiler-Babb, 29, arrives in Istanbul after five seasons with FC Bayern Munich, where he became a cornerstone of the German club’s EuroLeague and domestic success.
“Weiler-Babb’s defensive impact and versatility make him an ideal fit for our ambitions,” Anadolu Efes noted in its official statement.
Standing at 1.96 meters and playing primarily as a guard, Weiler-Babb averaged 8.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.5 steals over 34 EuroLeague games last season. His 1.5 steals per game led the EuroLeague, underscoring the defensive prowess that earned him the league’s top defender award.
The American-born player, who also represents Germany internationally, helped Bayern capture the German League championship in 2023–24 and back-to-back German Cups in 2023 and 2024. In addition, he contributed to Germany’s bronze medal run at EuroBasket 2022.
Weiler-Babb’s tenure at Bayern saw him climb the club’s all-time leaderboards, ranking first in assists (459) and steals (170) while placing second in appearances (161), points (1,118), and rebounds (584).
Before his professional career in Germany, Weiler-Babb played for Iowa State University and began his European journey with Riesen Ludwigsburg in the 2019–20 season. Anadolu Efes will mark his first experience outside of the German basketball system.
Efes aims to return to EuroLeague contention next season, and Weiler-Babb’s arrival signals a clear commitment to elite perimeter defense and playmaking. The guard also averaged 6.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 33 domestic league appearances for Bayern last year.
