The Finals of the easyCredit BBL are set with regular season champions FC Bayern Munich to face off with ALBA BERLIN starting on Saturday June 8 with Game 1 in southern Germany. Bayern swept past Würzburg Baskets 3-0 while Berlin needed to come back from a 2-1 series deficit to win 3-2. The league also saw three clubs - ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES, MLP Academics Heidelberg and SYNTAINICS MBC - name new head coaches for next season. Speaking of the 2024-25, there were only be 17 teams in the league after relegated HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim declined to apply for a wild card.
In this section, we break out our English language skills and inform you about the latest news from the German easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga. If you’re short on time but still want your fill of Germany’s top basketball league then you are in the right place. Every week David Hein (www.heinnews.com) brings you up-to-date in German basketball – the easyCredit BBL short and sweet:
Finals set: Bayern vs ALBA again
After an outlier last season, the easyCredit BBL Finals will be decided once again by the two strongest clubs in recent history - FC Bayern Munich and ALBA BERLIN. The clubs are two of the most successful in league history - Berlin with 11 league crowns and Bayern with five. Bayern and Berlin have squared off five times in the Finals since 2014 with Bayern taking the trophy three times (2014, 2018, 2019) and Berlin winning twice (2021, 2022). Game 1 will take place Saturday June 8 in Munich with Game 2 planned for Monday June 10 in the Bavarian capital. Games 3 and 4 will take place in Berlin on Wednesday June 12 and Friday June 14 (if necessary). A Game 5 would be back in Munich on Sunday June 16.
Chemnitz make history for teams from former East Germany
Before we head into the Finals, let’s look back on the wildly successful season for NINERS Chemnitz as the surprise team of the 2023-24. By reaching the Semi-Finals - where they lost the series 3-2 against ALBA BERLIN - Chemnitz accomplished the biggest success for teams from the former East Germany. SYNTAINICS MBC in 1999-2000 became the first team from the five states which were reunified in 1990 to play in Germany’s top flight. The club reached the Pre-Playoffs as the sixth placed team in 2000 as SSV Hagebau Weißenfels and then qualified for the Quarter-Finals in 2001 as the seventh-placed team (losing 3-0 to Bayer Leverkusen). Science City Jena debuted in the easyCredit BBL in 2007-08 but were relegated after one season. Jena returned to the Bundesliga in 2016 for three seasons but never made the playoffs. The 2017-18 season was historic as three clubs from the former East Germany played in the league - Weißenfels, Jena and Oettinger Rockets from Gotha - just like the last two seasons with Chemnitz, MBC and ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES. The biggest success for former East German clubs were Weißenfels winning the FIBA EuroCup Challenge in 2004 and Chemnitz claiming the FIBA Europe Cup this season.
Berlin finish series comeback with Wagners in crowd, will face Bayern in Finals
ALBA BERLIN fought all the way back from down 2-1 in the Semi-Finals and have reached the easyCredit BBL Finals - and a date with FC Bayern Munich - as they beat NINERS Chemnitz 97-84 thanks to a 19-4 run to close the game for a 3-2 series win. Former ALBA players and world champions Moritz and Franz Wagner were in the Uber Arena stands. Berlin briefly opened a nine-point lead in the first quarter but were down 11 points late in the first half. Chemnitz were up by eight points midway through the third quarter but trailed after 30 minutes. The guests found themselves up 80-78 with under 6 minutes to go before Berlin pulled off the big rally. Berlin shot 65.7 percent on two-pointers and held Chemnitz to 32.3 percent from long range and made 15-of-18 free throws compared to 4-of-7 foul shots for the guests. Matt Thomas drained 6 three-pointers in scoring 24 points with 5 assists while Malte Delow scored 17 points, Sterling Brown picked up 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and Johannes Thiemann contributed 14 points. Jeff Garrett and Kevin Yebo both scored 16 points and Kaza Kajami-Keane added 12 points and 7 assists in the loss.
Brown heats up to help Berlin even series, set up Game 5 at home
ALBA BERLIN and NINERS Chemnitz will play one final game to decide who plays FC Bayern Munich for the 2023-24 title as Berlin came back to beat Chemnitz 96-85 on the road to even the series 2-2 and force Game 5 in the German capital. Chemnitz were playing the game without star big man Kevin Yebo, who was suspended one game and fined 3000 euros for his kick of Tim Schneider in Game 3. The game was close for most of the first half and Chemnitz were up 51-43 at the break. The hosts’ lead extended to 12 points midway through the third quarter before Berlin started to come back. They temporarily took the lead with 6 minutes and then decided the game with a 14-0 surge to lead 91-80 with under 3 minutes to go. Berlin hit 50.0 percent from long range with 12 three-pointers while making 20-of-26 free throws compared to 7-of-7 for Chemnitz. Sterling Brown finished with 25 points including 4 three-pointers, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Martin Hermannsson joined him off the bench with 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, and Matt Thomas added 14 points. DeAndre Lansdowne scored 19 points and Aher Uguak picked up 15 points in the losing effort.
Chemnitz lose Yebo, force Berlin meltdown to take 2-1 series lead
NINERS Chemnitz pulled off a shocking comeback win over ALBA BERLIN, rallying from 17 points down without star player Kevin Yebo for an 84-72 victory to grab a 2-1 series lead and move closer to their first-ever Finals. Berlin took control in the first quarter with a 14-point lead and Chemnitz’s star big man Yebo was ejected late in the period. The cushion grew to 16 points midway through the second frame. Chemnitz did trim the gap to six points in the third quarter but Berlin used three-pointers to take a 17-point lead 56-39 with 4 minutes left in the third quarter. Chemnitz exploded with a 36-9 run including 10 Berlin turnovers to pull ahead 84-69. Chemitz committed only 9 turnovers and forced 20 Berlin miscues while also shooting 65.9 percent on two-pointers. Kaza Kajami-Keane scored 15 points with 7 assists and Jeff Garrett had 15 points and 9 rebounds while Jonas Richter chipped in 11 points for Chemnitz. Matt Thomas and Johannes Thiemann both tallied 13 points in the loss.
Berlin dominate the glass, even series with Chemnitz at 1-1
ALBA BERLIN fought back into their Semi-Finals showdown with NINERS Chemnitz with a dominant 86-64 victory at home to knot the series at 1-1. Berlin opened a 12-point lead in the first quarter and it was 13 points late in the first half. Chemnitz managed to get the gap down to five points early in the third quarter but Berlin pulled away after that. ALBA held Chemnitz to just 34.9 percent from the field including 38.2 percent on two-pointers. Berlin also out-rebounded Chemnitz 50-32 including 18 offensive rebounds to 7 for the guests which led to a 23-6 advantage in second chance points. Louis Olinde collected 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, Martin Hermannsson had 11 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals and Tim Schneider added 11 points for the winners. Kevin Yebo scored 13 points and Wesley van Beck had 12 points in the loss.
Yebo’s 23 points off bench help Chemnitz steal in Game 1 in Berlin
NINERS Chemnitz shrugged off their first Semi-Finals game in club history by stealing home court advantage in the series with a 95-82 victory at ALBA BERLIN in Game 1. The game was close until Chemnitz went on a 17-3 run spanning the second and third quarters to open a 14 point lead. Berlin could not get closer than six points the rest of the way. Chemnitz dominated the glass 39-29 with a 15-7 advantage on offensive rebounds for a 22-4 difference in second chance points. Kevin Yebo came off the bench for 23 points and 6 rebounds, fellow reserve Kaza Kajami-Keane had 16 points and 6 assists and both Jeff Garrett and Jonas Richter scored 13 points. Sterling Brown led Berlin with 24 points and Johannes Thiemann tallied 23 points in a losing effort.
Bayern finish 3-0 sweep of Würzburg with comfortable road win
FC Bayern Munich booked their ticket to the easyCredit BBL Finals with a 75-61 victory at Würzburg Baskets to complete a 3-0 sweep of the Semi-Finals series. The five-time German champions are just three wins from a fourth title in the last 11 seasons and they will face ALBA BERLIN. Bayern fell behind by nine points in the first quarter and took the lead with a 26-15 second quarter and extended the cushion to 14 points after three quarters. Bayern committed only 8 turnovers and held Würzburg to just 38.5 percent from the field including 26.9 percent from long range. Serge Ibaka was outstanding with 19 points and 8 rebounds, Carsen Edwards scored 15 points and Vladimir Lucic added 12 points. Würzburg only had 10 players on their roster including the injured MVP Otis Livingston and Sasa Filipovski essentially only had eight players available. Darius Perry collected 21 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals and Javon Bess and Collin Welp both scored 12 points and combined for 13 rebounds in the loss.
Bayern pull away late for comfortable 2-0 lead over Würzburg
FC Bayern Munich took a commanding 2-0 lead in their Semi-Finals series with Würzburg after a 99-75 home victory thanks to six players scoring in double figures. The game was tight for the first three quarters and Bayern were up just 8 points late in the third quarter. Bayern took control with a 22-7 run spanning the final two quarters to get the win. Bayern committed only 5 turnovers and shot 47.8 percent on three-pointers while holding Würzburg to 27.6 percent from long range. Carsen Edwards, Isaac Bonga and Vladimir Lucic all picked up 14 points and Serge Ibaka added 10 points and 9 rebounds. Zac Seljaas scored 17 points and Darius Perry had 14 points and 8 assists in the loss.
Balanced Bayern wallop Würzburg in Game 1 win at home
FC Bayern Munich used a balanced attack and tough defense in rolling past Würzburg Baskets 91-76 at home to take a 1-0 lead in their Semi-Finals playoffs series. Bayern raced ahead to a 21-11 lead after 10 minutes and the advantage was 49-27 at halftime and the guests could not make it close. Bayern did an excellent job sharing the ball with 25 assists and just 8 turnovers while shooting 66.7 percent on two-pointers and holding Würzburg to just 43.3 percent. Serge Ibaka paced five Bayern players in double figures with 18 points, Carsen Edwards had 15 points and 5 assists and Niels Giffey scored 12 points. Max Ugrai led Würzburg with 18 points off the bench and Darius Perry scored 17 points while Zac Seljaas was limited to 7 points. Würzburg were playing without season MVP Otis Livingston.
Rostock name Frasunkiewicz as new head coach
ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES have found their new head coach and the playcaller is Przemyslaw Frasunkiewicz. The 45-year-old Polish coach and Rostock agreed to a one-year deal plus an option for the 2025-26 season. Frasunkiewicz, who succeeds Christian Held as Rostock coach, appeared in 500 games in the Polish top flight and scored more than 5,000 points and won two titles. He also played for the Polish national team from 2004 to 2008. Frasunkiewicz has been a head coach since 2016 and won the FIBA Europe Cup in 2023 with Anwil Wloclawek, where he coached from 2021.
Heidelberg hand coaching reins to Finnish coach Jansson
MLP Academics Heidelberg found their new head coach as they signed Danny Jansson for two years plus an option for a third season. The 44-year-old Finnish playcaller takes over after Heidelberg decided not to keep Ingo Freyer who helped the club avoid relegation after joining during the season. Jansson arrives at Heidelberg after spending the past four seasons with Tigers Tübingen, with whom he two seasons ago earned promotion to the easyCredit BBL but then were relegated back to ProA for next season.
Wolves name Latvian Gailitis as head coach, sets up point guard duo
SYNTAINICS MBC have found their new head coach as they named Janis Gailitis as their playcaller for next season. The 39-year-old Latvian succeeds Predrag Krunic, who exercised his option to leave the club. Gailitis coached VEF Riga for 8.5 years and led the club to seven domestic championships including three straight league and cup doubles. Gailitis has also served as assistant coach for the Latvian national team since 2021 and helped the country reach fifth place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in their debut in the competition. Gailitis already knows who his point guards will be as the club announced one-year deals with Charles Collison and Aleksa Kovacevic. Collison re-signs with the club for his third season with the Wolves while Kovacevic returns to the team where he played in 2022. The 22-year-old Serbian played last season at Sloga Kraljevo and counts as a local player since he came up in the youth ranks for HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim.
Crailsheim will not apply for wild card, will play 2024-25 in ProA
HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim will play the 2024-25 season in the ProA second division after deciding against applying for a wild card to return to the easyCredit BBL. Crailsheim finished the 2023-24 season in 17th place and were relegated after six seasons in Germany’s top flight. The move means there will only be 17 teams in the league for 2024-25. The easyCredit BBL only had 17 clubs in 2019-20.
Skyliners keep Wucherer as head coach in return to league
FRAPORT SKYLINERS will return to the easyCredit BBL with the head coach who led them to promotion as Denis Wucherer will be back with the Frankfurt team. The 51-year-old German declined to exercise his option and will be back for his second season with the club. Wucherer said he wants to help the club stabilize itself both domestically and internationally and that his work in Frankfurt is not done yet. Skyliners have been promoted to the Bundesliga after one season in the ProA second division. They lost in the ProA Finals to PS Karlsruhe LIONS.
Captain Bleck leaves Crailsheim after five years; rumored to head to Würzburg
Relegated side HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim bid farewell to a number of their key players from this past season as they prepare for the ProA, including captain Fabian Bleck. The 31-year-old Bleck leaves the club after five seasons following his arrival in 2019. Rumors have surfaced that he will play next season at Würzburg Baskets.
Göttingen add Collin Welp as first signing, Silins leaves
BG Göttingen made their first addition looking ahead to next season as they signed German forward Collin Welp. The 25-year-old son of 1993 European champion Christian Welp arrives from Würzburg Baskets, with whom he reached the Semi-Finals. Göttingen at the same time saw Karlin Silins leave as the Latvian big man has signed with Italian side Pistoia.
Braunschweig and Schröder just fit together: Löwen sign Benny for three years
Basketball Löwen Braunschweig announced their first addition for next season and it’s a very familiar name - Schröder. The club from world champion Dennis Schröder signed German U20 international Benjamin Schröder to a three-year contract. “Benny” started his career in FC Bayern Munich’s youth ranks and already played in the ProB third division with Unterhaching at age 17. He played two seasons of college basketball in the United States - first at Oklahoma and then George Washington.
Schwieger, Vechta agree on one more season together
RASTA Vechta have retained one of their top players for next season as they will bring back small froward Ryan Schwieger for the 2024-25 season. Schwieger was the team’s third leading scorer last season with 10.8 points on 41.2 percent three-point shooting to go with 2.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists. The 25-year-old American guard has spent both of his professional seasons with Vechta after finishing college in the United States.
Bonn lose Frey, Turudic; re-sign Thiemann and give pro deal to Müller
Telekom Baskets Bonn lost a fan favorite as well as an important German big man as they bid farewell to Harald Frey and Benedikt Turudic. The Norwegian point guard Frey signed a deal with Spanish club Bilbao and Bonn exercised their option on Turudic, who struggled this season to stay healthy with a back injury. The team did look to the future at the German spots as they agreed to a contract until 2026 with 24-year-old Lars Thiemann. Bonn also signed a contract until 2027 with 17-year-old Janne Müller, who will have a double license for the 2024-25 season for the easyCredit BBL and the ProA after he helped Dragons Rhöndorf win the ProB title.
Krimmer moves to Bamberg, joins forces again with Gavel
Bamberg Baskets announced the first signing of the season - and the first one with head coach Anton Gavel - as they agreed to a two-year contract with Moritz Krimmer. The 23-year-old wing arrives from ProA second division Römerstrom Gladiators Trier. Krimmer knows Coach Gavel from their time at ratiopharm ulm, and Krimmer returns to his home area as he hails from Mellrichstadt in Lower Franconia.
Hamburg guard Nico Brauner retires at age 29
Veolia Towers Hamburg will be looking for a new German player as Nico Brauner announced he is retiring from basketball at age 29. The playmaker played 54 games in the easyCredit BBL and BKT EuroCup last season in his first season with Hamburg. It was his second year in Germany’s top flight as he played the 2022-23 campaign with JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers. Brauner said basketball does not fulfill him any more and the motivation is no longer there.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Malte Delow, ALBA BERLIN
Delow proved himself as a real leader for Berlin in the 3-2 series win over NINERS Chemnitz. In Game 1, he had 8 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists, followed by 5 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal in Game 2. He then had 7 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists in Game 3. His best two games came when Berlin needed them most - with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in Game 4 and then 17 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in the deciding Game 5.
F: Isaac Bonga, FC Bayern Munich
Bonga did a bit of everything in all three games against Würzburg. In Game 1 he had 5 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists and then picked up 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in the second game. In Game 3 on the road, Bonga tallied 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
F: Collin Welp, Würzburg Baskets
Welp tried his best but could not stop Würzburg from getting swept by FC Bayern Munich. In Game 1, he had 10 points and 7 rebounds and then had 3 points and 5 rebounds in the second game. In Game 3 at home, Welp picked up 12 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist.
F: Jonas Richter, NINERS Chemnitz
Richter shined in the series against ALBA BERLIN, opening with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in Game 1. He had 11 points and 1 rebound in Game 2 and then picked up 11 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist in Game 3. In Game 4, he tallied 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, and then had 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in the deciding game.
F: Johannes Thiemann, ALBA BERLIN
Thiemann helped Berlin the whole series as one of the leaders. In Game 1, he had 25 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block. He followed that with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals and then had 13 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist in Game 3. In Game 4 he collected 7 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists and finished the series with 14 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists in Game 5.
Dennis Schröder makes football debut in Germany
Dennis Schröder can now officially call himself a football player as the world champion played a match in Germany’s sixth division Landesliga Braunschweig. Schröder played 63 minutes as a left winger for FC Germania Bleckenstedt in a 5-1 loss to 1. SC Göttingen 05. The Brooklyn Nets star Schröder hails from Braunschweig and is the principal owner of Basketball Löwen Braunschweig.
Germans Abroad
How can we not highlight the Maxi Kleber is in the NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks. Can the Würzburg native follow up Dirk Nowitzki and win the title crown with the Mavs? Game 1 went to Boston Celtics at home 107-89 with Kleber contributing 2 points, 1 assist and 1 block in 19 minutes.
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Vorberichte
Der rekordverdächtige Final-Dauerbrenner seit 2014: Bayern und Berlin duellieren sich zum sechsten Mal um die deutsche Meisterschaft
Nachberichte
Dank 24 Punkten von Matt Thomas und Zonenverteidigung: Berlin schaltet Chemnitz in Herzschlag-Halbfinale aus
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