The 2025-26 easyCredit BBL season tipped off with FC Bayern Munich starting their title defense with a win over promoted Science City Jena while the other promoted side VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier notched their first Bundesliga victory in a decade. And ratiopharm ulm knocked off NINERS Chemnitz in the top billing of the opening weekend.
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 (Taking The Charge) brings you up-to-date in German basketball – the easyCredit BBL short and sweet:
Short-handed Bayern run away from Jena late in season-opening game
Reigning champions FC Bayern Munich used a big fourth-quarter surge to run away from promoted side Science City Jena 93-77 in the first game of the 2025-26 easyCredit BBL season. Jena stuck close and were down just 72-65 early in the final frame before the short-handed champs mounted a 19-4 spurt to end the game. Bayern were without Rokas Jokubaitis, Johannes Voigtmann, Elias Harris, Wenyen Gabriel, David McCormack, Aleksa Radanov, Andi Obst and Justus Hollatz. Vladimir Lucic paced six Bayern players in double figures with 19 points and Xavier Rathan-Mayes collected a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. Tavian Dunn-Martin was Jena’s top scorer with 20 points.
A decade later: Trier beat Rostock in their return to the Bundesliga
Welcome back VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier as the promoted ProA champions with young coach Jacques Schneider (33) defeated ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES 88-78 in their first game in the easyCredit BBL in more than a decade. Playing their first Bundesliga game since April 30, 2015, Trier wasted a 13-point second quarter lead but with the game tied early in the fourth quarter turned the game with a 9-0 run. Eli Brooks collected 17 points and 8 assists and Jordan Roland added 14 points in the win. DeAndre Lansdowne top-scored for Rostock with 14 points.
Late run enough for Ulm to beat Chemnitz at home
ratiopharm ulm started their season just how they wanted with a 94-81 home victory over NINERS Chemnitz in one of the top-billed games of the opening round. The game was close for 32 minutes before Ulm put the game away with a 12-2 spurt. Nelson Weidemann hit 5 three-pointers for a team-high 21 points while Christopher Ledlum had 16 points and Christian Sengfelder totaled 14 points and 10 rebounds. Kevin Yebo had 18 points in the loss.
Bamberg bury 17 triples, beat Braunschweig with EuroBasket trophy in the house
BMA365 Bamberg Baskets made it two wins in two games as they ruined the home opener for Basketball Löwen Braunschweig with a 98-75 road victory in front of Germany’s national team hero Dennis Schröder and the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 trophy. After winning their German Cup game against Veolia Towers Hamburg, Bamberg drained 17 three-pointers in blowing the game open in the second half in Braunschweig. Demarcus Demonia led Bamberg in scoring with 21 points and 11 rebounds while Benny Schröder and Barra Njie had 16 points in the loss.
Verge, Kuhse carry Vechta past Heidelberg in home opener
RASTA Vechta used a strong defensive performance in opening their easyCredit BBL season with an 86-76 victory at home over MLP Academics Heidelberg. Vechta gave up just 11 third quarter points and broke the game open with a 26-6 run spanning the final two quarters. Alonzo Verge scored 22 points and Tommy Kuhse had 16 points for Vechta, who registered their second win in two games after beating Giessen 46ers on the road in the German Cup. Michael Weathers paced Heidelberg with 21 points and 9 assists.
Frankfurt rally from 16 points down to roll past Oldenburg on road
SKYLINERS came up with an impressive second half as they rallied from 16 points down to beat EWE Baskets Oldenburg 89-75 on the road to tip off their league campaign. Oldenburg led by 16 points early in the second half and were still up by 14 points midway through the third quarter. But Frankfurt turned the game around with a 44-16 run spanning the final two frames. Till Pape collected 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists to lead who way and Isaiah Swope and Jaedon Le Dee both had 15 points. Christopher Clemons had 19 points for Oldenburg.
Würzburg shut down Bonn to win season-opener at home
Fitness First Würzburg Baskets played some tough defense to beat Telekom Baskets Bonn 72-61 at home in their season-opener. Würzburg never trailed in the game and the lead was as big as 24 points in the fourth quarter. Marcus Carr came off the bench for 15 points for Würzburg and Davion Mintz added 11 points and 4 assists. Grayson Murphy was the top scorer with 12 points for Bonn, who hit just 14 percent on three-pointers.
Reaves’ late threes push Wolves past Hamburg on road
SYNTAINICS MBC opened their season in style with a 93-85 victory at Veolia Towers Hamburg thanks to some late heroics by Spencer Reaves. The guests had multiple double-digit leads - as high as 11 points - but the game was tied inside the final 4 minutes. But Reaves hit 3 three-pointers within 95 seconds to give Wolves the win. Collin Welp drained 5 three-pointers in scoring 23 points, Marcus Foster had 17 points and Jure Planinic chipped in 11 points and 11 rebounds. Carlos Stewart came off Hamburg’s bench to lead the hosts with 21 points.
Player of the Week
Collin Welp came off the bench for SYNTAINICS MBC in their win over Veolia Towers Hamburg for the Player of the Week honor. Welp scored a team-high 23 points while shooting 9 of 10 from the field including 5 of 6 three-pointers while missing his one free throw attempt. Welp added 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal for an efficiency of 30. Welp was two points off his career high in points and evened his top output in rebounds.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Elias Baggette, ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES
Baggette had a strong game in Rostock’s loss to VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal
G: Benny Schröder, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
Schröder had a career night against BMA365 Bamberg Baskets as the 22-year-old scored a personal best 16 points to go with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
F: Collin Welp, SYNTAINICS MBC
Welp had one of the best games of his career as he totaled 23 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal against Veolia Towers Hamburg.
F: Till Pape, SKYLINERS
Pape made a strong impression in his first Bundesliga game for Frankfurt with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal against EWE Baskets Oldenburg.
F: Christian Sengfelder, ratiopharm ulm
Sengfelder played a major role in Ulm’s win over NINERS Chemnitz with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists.
Young Guns
Jared Grey, 20, SF, Veolia Towers Hamburg
Grey collected 7 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 19:33 minutes against SYNTAINICS MBC.
Christian Skladanowski, 21, SF, Fitness First Würzburg Baskets
Playing in his 12th game in the league, Skladanowski tallied 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 17:05 minutes against Telekom Baskets Bonn.
Nico Kodjoe, 18, SF/Killian Fischer, 18, C, FC Bayern Munich
Bayern’s personnel problems - and expected easy game against Science City Jena - allowed for both 18-year-olds Kodjoe and Fischer to make their easyCredit BBL debuts, each playing 1:53 minutes. Kodjoe missed his only shot and Fischer grabbed one offensive rebound.
Germans Abroad
Martin Breunig had a strong game to start his first season in France with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block in Nancy’s loss to LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne.
