Munnings signs with Benfica

Travis Munnings had an eventful summer, and now he’s decided to return to Europe to continue his professional basketball career, playing for Sport Lisboa Benfica in Lisbon, Portugal, this upcoming 2021-2022 season.

Munnings remains in the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB), the highest men’s basketball league in Portugal. Last season, he played for Uniao Desportiva Oliveirense.

At Benfica, he will look to do whatever it takes to help his new team win.

“I know I’m with a great organization, so I’m looking forward to starting and doing something special. I feel it will go very well. I think I’ll be able to bring out the best in everyone, bring energy and do whatever it takes to win,” he said.

At Oliveirense last season, Munnings played in 28 games and averaged 12.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. They finished fifth overall with a 19-7 win/loss record while Benfica finished one place ahead of them in fourth with an identical record but held the tiebreaker advantage. The two faced each other in the playoffs but Benfica won that series 3-1.

Benfica has a new coach in Norberto Alves, who coached Munnings last season at Oliveirense. Munnings is happy to play for him again and play on the same court with guard José Barbosa.

“I feel that Alves and I have a very good bond, we understand each other well and I think this will help me improve and do what he wants me to do. I’m also excited to play with José Barbosa. He was my teammate last year, so I want to play with him again, but I’m excited to play with the whole team,” Munnings said.

The forward is known as a high motor player who can rebound the ball as well as shoot it with accuracy.

“My best quality as a player is communication,” Munnings said. “My energy, the impact I have on every game, doing things in a way that they see me doing them is how I set an example, “ Munnings stated.

The schedule for the 2021-2022 LPB season is not out as yet.

The former University of Louisiana at Monroe student-athlete recently finished up a stint in the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) MGM Resorts Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Golden State Warriors earlier this month. He played in three of the five games the Warriors played in, coming off the bench each time. Munnings averaged 3.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per game.

The 26-year-old is a staple on The Bahamas’ senior men’s national basketball team. The forward took advantage of his opportunity at the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Pre-Qualifiers in early July, leading the team in scoring and in rebounds. Munnings averaged 14.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. His 4.7 assists per game was the second-highest on the team.

In the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 Qualifiers, in which the final window ended in February of this year, Munnings averaged 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. They were in a very tough group with Americas Zone powerhouses Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States of America (USA). Against the US, the top ranked team in the world, he dropped in 22 points.

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