Happy New Year to all - hopefully everyone had a good end to 2024 and a good start to 2025. A lot has happened in the three weeks since the last Weekly News, and here are some of the biggest highlights. A still-slumping ALBA BERLIN grabbed a big win over FC Bayern Munich while Telekom Baskets Bonn star Darius McGhee tied a three-point record. SKYLINERS shocked ratiopharm ulm; ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES and SYNTAINICS both picked up historic wins over ALBA; and Basketball Löwen Braunschweig extended their win streak to six games. Speaking of SYNTAINICS MBC, lest we forget that Wolves were named as hosts of the VIMODROM TOP FOUR. Oh, and German NBA star Isaiah Hartenstein joined the ownership group of ratiopharm ulm.
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:
Isaiah Hartenstein joins ownership group at Ulm
Big news between the NBA and the easyCredit BBL as German NBA star big man Isaiah Hartenstein has joined the ownership group at ratiopharm ulm. “I got involved because I was searching for a German team that I could be a part of—one that, if I were younger and trying to make the next level, would get me there. I feel like they do a great job of developing young talent & helping them advance in their careers,” the Oklahoma City Thunder center said. Ulm have already produced three NBA Draft picks - Killian Hayes, Juan Nunez and Pacome Dadiet - and current youngsters Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue are both expected to be first round picks in the 2025 Draft. To complete the deal, the 26-year-old Hartenstein founded the Hartenstein Group with his father Florian Hartenstein as well as a name known in the Bundesliga nad Ulm: Adam Hess, who played for the club from 2013 to 2015. Hess has been living in Florida in the United States and working as a financial and investment counselor. The Hartenstein Group will own up to 10 percent of Ulm’s basketball program. Isaiah Hartenstein also said in interviews that he will likely host youth camps in the summer at Ulm’s Orange Campus.
Berlin hope home win over Bayern turns around turbulent season
Things have not quieted down at all for ALBA BERLIN, who did grab a big comeback win over EuroLeague rivals FC Bayern Munich to at least hope for a turnaround. Berlin rallied from 19 points down to knock off Bayern to move to 5-8 after a 2-2 stretch. ALBA beat BG Göttingen 109-83 for their first road win of the season but then lost 94-76 at SYNTAINICS MBC - their first loss at Wolves since February 27, 2010 - and fell at home 96-85 to ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES - Rostock’s first-ever win over Berlin. Berlin’s effort for a turnaround took a hit when they saw Maccabi Tel Aviv sign versatile big man Trevion Williams.
Tired Bayern lose at Berlin, Kharchenkov sets career high
The three weeks saw FC Bayern Munich get a rare couple of days break over the New Year but they didn’t help as Gordie Herbert’s team dropped the headliner at ALBA BERLIN 88-81 after two wins in the league. Bayern’s loss in Berlin - wasting a 19-point lead - came just two days after losing at Real Madrid in the EuroLeague. Before the defeat in the capital, Bayern downed Oldenburg 89-75 at home and then won 91-84 at SKYLINERS, where 18-year-old Ivan Kharchenkov set a new career high with 20 points. Bayern are now 9-4 in the four-way tie atop the league.
Rostock grab historic victory over ALBA, have league best three-game win streak
Don’t look now but ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES have the longest winning streak in the league with three straight wins - which includes a historic victory. Rostock started the holiday stretch with an 80-63 loss at Basketball Löwen Braunschweig but they bounced back to beat Veolia Towers Hamburg 92-78 at home. And then Rostock defeated ALBA BERLIN 96-85 on the road for their first ever win over the league giants thanks to Bryce Hamilton’s 37 points. Rostock made it three in a row - and a 7-7 record - with an 87-83 nailbiter over RASTA Vechta.
McGhee ties three-point record, Bonn stop Braunschweig
Telekom Baskets Bonn fans saw Darius McGhee put together another monster game while the team also slowed down the league’s hottest team, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig. Two games after scoring 44 points with 10 three-pointers, McGhee tied the league record since 1988 with 12 three-pointers as he poured in 40 points in a 123-88 home win over NINERS Chemnitz. Bonn fell 90-81 at home to FIT/One Würzburg Baskets and then beat BG Göttingen 80-67. Bonn’s first league game of 2025 was a 94-74 victory over Braunschweig, who had won six in a row. Bonn’s 3-1 holiday period has them at 8-6.
Braunschweig win streak reached six games, NEW YORKER returns
Basketball Löwen Braunschweig finished 2024 as the hottest team in the league with six straight wins before finally losing for a 3-1 stretch and an 8-5 mark. Jesus Ramirez’s team registered home wins over ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES (80-63) and EWE Baskets Oldenburg (83-82) and then beat Veolia Towers Hamburg 91-86 on the road. Braunschweig could not keep it going and lost their first game of 2025, 94-74 at Telekom Baskets Bonn. There was also off-court news as former name sponsor NEW YORKER (2006 to 2014) has returned as a top partner.
Wolves beat Berlin for first time since 2010, had home win streak at 5 games
SYNTAINICS MBC played five games over the stretch and picked up two wins including a historic victory over ALBA BERLIN. They started the period with a 76-70 home win over MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg but then lost 86-76 at FIT/One Würzburg Baskets. Wolves bounced back for a 94-76 win over Berlin, their first home win over the team from the capital since February 27, 2010. That was Weißenfels’ fifth straight home victory. The team could not build on the momentum though, losing 82-72 at NINERS Chemnitz and then falling at home again, 92-89 against ratiopharm ulm. Wolves now have a 7-7 record.
Weißenfels will host VIMODROM TOP FOUR
SYNTAINICS MBC made more news during the period as they were announced as the hosts of the VIMODROM TOP FOUR, where the 2024-25 German Cup champions will be crowned. The Stadthalle Weißenfels will host the event on February 15 and 16. The Semi-Finals will have FC Bayern Munich facing SYNTAINICS MBC and SKYLINERS taking on Bamberg Baskets on February 15. The winners will square off for the trophy on February 16.
Bamberg drop last two after win streak moved to four games
Bamberg Baskets appeared to be finding a rhythm in the long stretch but ended up losing their last two of five games for a 6-8 record. Anton Gavel’s team grabbed wins at MLP Academics Heidelberg (79-68), versus NINERS Chemnitz (81-80 - on new acquisition Noah Locke’s game-winner with 4.6 seconds left) and at FIT/One Würzburg Baskets (82-70) to extend their winning streak to four games - seven in total if all competitions are included. But Bamberg were blasted by ratiopharm ulm at home 98-77 - as Ulm got revenge for Bamberg’s 103-100 buzzer-beating win in the German BBL Cup Quarter-Finals - and then lost at home again 83-80 to Veolia Towers Hamburg.
Ulm bounce back from upset in Frankfurt, among leading quartet
ratiopharm ulm started the stretch with an upset loss and then bounced back for two wins - one of them a revenge victory. Ulm fell 87-85 at SKYLINERS as Booker Coplin scored the game-winner at the buzzer. Ty Harrelson’s men bounced back with a 98-77 thrashing of hosts Bamberg Baskets - getting back at Bamberg for the 103-100 loss in the German BBL Cup. And Ulm finished the stretch with a tight 92-89 win at SYNTAINICS MBC for a 9-4 record for a spot in the four-way tie atop the league.
Würzburg pick up three wins, in tie atop standings
FIT/One Würzburg Baskets are one of the four teams atop the standings with a 9-4 record after a stretch that saw Sasa Filipowski’s team win three of four games. Würzburg knocked off SYNTAINICS MBC 86-76 at home and then beat Telekom Baskets Bonn 90-81 on the road. Würzburg saw their three-game win streak end with an 82-70 home loss against Bamberg Baskets. But they bounced back to survive against last placed BG Göttingen 79-78.
Oldenburg snap three-game skid with return to home fans
EWE Baskets Oldenburg finished 2024 with three road losses and finally got back to the winning column to start the new year with their return home. Oldenburg lost 89-75 at FC Bayern Munich, 83-82 at Basketball Löwen Braunschweig and 98-91 at RASTA Vechta. They are still waiting for their first road victory with a 0-7 record away from EWE Arena. Oldenburg finally returned to the home arena for the first time since December 15 and won a defensive battle with MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg 70-64 for a 6-8 record.
Heidelberg split two games, still among top teams
MLP Academics Heidelberg have not played yet in 2025 - their first game will be on Saturday January 12 at home versus FC Bayern Munich - and are among four teams atop the league at 9-4 after splitting their two games. They lost 79-63 at home to Bamberg Baskets and then won a battle 67-63 at MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg. Heidelberg are the best road team in the league with a 6-1 mark.
Hamburg snap three-game losing streak
Veolia Towers Hamburg finished the holiday season with an 83-80 victory at Bamberg Baskets to snap a three-game losing streak. The northern Germans lost 73-66 at home to MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg and then were defeated 92-78 at ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES. That was followed by a 91-86 home loss against Basketball Löwen Braunschweig. Then came the win in Bamberg for their first win in 2025 and a 5-8 record.
Busy Ludwigsburg get just two wins in five games
As the calendar so has it, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg was one of the teams with five games over the three week stretch and John Patrick’s team picked up just two wins for an 8-7 record. Ludwigsburg lost 76-70 at SYNTAINICS MBC and then beat Veolia Towers Hamburg 73-66 on the road and SKYLINERS 82-61 at home. Ludwigsburg then fell 67-63 at home to MLP Academics Heidelberg and 70-64 at EWE Baskets Oldenburg.
Chemnitz win twice after last seconds loss at Bamberg
NINERS Chemnitz won their final two games of the holiday season after dropping their first two - the second one in the waning seconds. Chemnitz could not stop Telekom Baskets Bonn star Darius McGhee as he drained 12 three-pointers for 40 points in a 123-88 win over Rodrigo Pastore’s men. Chemnitz then lost 81-80 at Bamberg Baskets on Noah Locke’s game winner with 4.6 seconds left. Things turned around after that though with a 92-82 win at home over SYNTAINICS MBC and then Chemnitz cruised past SKYLINERS 85-66 at home. Chemnitz are now 8-6.
Frankfurt drop three in a row after shocking Ulm
SKYLINERS dropped their last three games after starting the stretch with a surprising victory over ratiopharm ulm. Booker Coplin hit a shot at the buzzer for an 87-85 upset for a crucial win in Frankfurt’s fight against relegation. But they couldn’t build on the momentum, losing at MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg (82-61), versus FC Bayern Munich (91-84) and at NINERS Chemnitz (85-66). That leaves Frankfurt in 16th place at 3-11.
Frankfurt keep Theodore until end of season
SKYLINERS agreed to exercise their option on their contract with Jordan Theodore and will keep the veteran point guard until the end of the season. The 35-year-old’s deal was to expire on January 6 after coming to the club for a third stint in early December. In his six games with Frankfurt, Theodore is averaging 12.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 27 minutes, including pouring in 18 points in SKYLINERS’ 87-85 upset win over ratiopharm ulm.
Vechta split two games
It was a rather quiet three weeks for RASTA Vechta, who split their two games for a 6-6 record. Vechta started the period with a 98-91 home win over EWE Baskets Oldenburg. They then lost 87-83 at ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES.
Göttingen loses three more games, still last and winless on road
Little has changed for last placed BG Göttingen, who suffered three more losses and are still awaiting their first road victory at 1-11 overall and 0-7 away from home. Göttingen lost 109-83 to stumbling ALBA BERLIN and then fell 80-67 at Telekom Baskets Bonn before giving FIT/One Würzburg Baskets a scare 79-78 on the road.
German Top Five of the Week
With 31 games over three weeks to consider - plus some teams playing five games and others just two, please excuse us for not including the German Top Five of the Week and Young Guns this edition.
Germans Abroad
Tristan Da Silva is starting to have an impact in his NBA rookie season with the Orlando Magic. The 23-year-old younger brother of FC Bayern Munich’s Oscar Da Silva poured in a career-high 25 points against Toronto to go with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. It was the third time Da Silva scored 20 or more points and the second in the span of three games. For the season, he is averaging 8.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26 minutes.
