And then there were two left standing: Two-time reigning champions FC Bayern Basketball will face ALBA BERLIN in the 2025-26 easyCredit BBL Finals. Bayern swept past Telekom Baskets Bonn into the Finals while Berlin needed five games to get past BMA365 Bamberg Baskets. In off the court news, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg named Spaniard Carles Duran their new head coach while Science City Jena announced that Steven Esterkamp would be their new playcaller.
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:
Bayern versus Berlin to decide 2025-26 champion
The 2025-26 easyCredit BBL Finals are set with two-time reigning champions FC Bayern Basketball facing ALBA BERLIN starting Friday June 12. This will be the seventh time these two clubs face off for the German championship following Bayern’s wins in 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2024 and ALBA’s titles in 2021 and 2022. Bayern are shooting for their eighth trophy while Berlin have 11 German league crowns. If Bayern win, they would become the fourth club to claim three consecutive championships: Leverkusen 1990-96 (7); Berlin 1997-2003 (7), 2020-22; Bamberg 2010-14 (4), 2015-17. Bayern have home court advantage for the best of five series which has shown to mean a lot in the history of the Finals. Only three times since 1990 has the team without home court advantage in the final series won the crown: Berlin 2002, RheinEnergie Köln 2006, ratiopharm ulm 2023.
Dominant second quarter carries Berlin past Bamberg in Game 5, into Finals with Bayern
ALBA BERLIN booked their spot in the easyCredit BBL Finals by blowing out BMA365 Bamberg Baskets 97-66 at home in the winner-take-all Game 5 at home. Berlin will now face off against defending champions FC Bayern Basketball in the Finals, which start on Friday in Munich. Bamberg were hoping to become just the fifth team to come back from down 2-0 in a best-of-five series - and first since Bonn in 2002-03. But Berlin gained control of the game for good with a 30-9 second quarter. Six Berlin players scored at least 10 points, topped by Michael Rataj’s 16 while Justin Bean had 12 points. Ibi Watson had 16 points as Bamberg’s only player in double figures.
Bamberg defend home court again, force Game 5 in Berlin
BMA365 Bamberg Baskets forced a Game 5 in their Semi-Finals series with ALBA BERLIN by grabbing a second straight game at home with an 81-67 victory. The game was tight throughout until Bamberg drained three straight three-pointers to open a 15-point cushion with 5 minutes to play. Austin Crowley had 17 points, Ibi Watson scored 13 points and both Cobe Williams and Demarcus Demonia had 12 points for the win. Michael Rataj scored 18 points and fellow reserve Sam Griesel added 11 points as the Berlin starters totaled only 23 points.
Bamberg stay alive with strong Game 3 win without Onu
BMA365 Bamberg Baskets remained alive in their Semi-Finals series against ALBA BERLIN by winning Game 3 at home 81-73 despite missing the injured EJ Onu. Bamberg were able to take control in the second quarter and build a 13-point lead, and the hosts extended the cushion to 17 points in the third quarter before holding on for the win. Cobe Williams collected 20 points, 5 assists and 6 steals, Ibi Watson scored 18 points and Demarcus Demonia tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds for Bamberg. Justin Bean and Norris Agbakoko both scored 14 points in a losing effort.
Berlin defend home court again for 2-0 lead over Bamberg
ALBA BERLIN moved within one win of the Finals as they defended home court for a second straight game with an 85-71 victory over BMA365 Bamberg Baskets in the Semi-Finals. The hosts led for much of the game and then opened a 16-point lead in the third quarter after a 14-4 run. Bamberg could never challenge the rest of the way. Martin Hermannsson scored 18 points with 5 assists and Jack Kayil totaled 17 points for Berlin. Cobe Williams scored 14 points in the loss.
Berlin’s Germans score 77 points, take Game 1 at home
ALBA BERLIN got 77 points from their German players as they won Game 1 of their Semi-Finals against BMA365 Bamberg Baskets at home 105-86. Bamberg came into the game having won their last 10 games, but Berlin ran away with the series opener thanks to a 35-15 second quarter. Jack Kayil collected 18 points and 6 assists off the bench for Berlin while Michael Rataj and Malte Delow both had 14 points. Ibi Watson had 16 points in the loss.
Bayern finish sweep with strong defense
FC Bayern Basketball swept their way into the easyCredit BBL Finals as they finished off Telekom Baskets Bonn with a strong defensive performance in a 77-57 road win for the 3-0 series win. Bayern conceded only 8 points in the second quarter and then 11 in the final frame to lay the foundation for the win. Xavier Rathan-Mayes drained 6 three-pointers in scoring 27 points and Isiaha Mike added 11 points off the bench for the winners, who were still without the sickened Andreas Obst. Tylan Birts was Bonn’s leading scorer with 13 points.
Bayern roll to 2-0 lead without Obst
FC Bayern Basketball grabbed a commanding 2-0 lead in their Semi-Finals series with Telekom Baskets Bonn with a dominant 91-69 home victory. Despite playing without MVP Andreas Obst, Bayern blew the game open with a 27-12 second quarter and never looked back for a second home win. Xavier Rathan-Mayes poured in 20 points to lead Bayern while Oscar da Silva picked up 17 points and 7 rebounds and Nenad Dimitrijevic totaled 13 points and 6 assists. Alijah Comithier had 18 points and Joel Aminu added 16 points for Bonn.
Bayern charge back from 12 down in fourth to take opening game
Reigning champions FC Bayern Basketball needed a fourth quarter comeback to defend home court advantage in Game 1 of the Semi-Finals against Telekom Baskets Bonn with an 83-78 victory. Bonn built a double-digit lead in the second quarter and led by 12 points with 8 minutes to play. But the hosts charged back into the game with a 27-9 run to take the opener. Oscar da Silva came off the bench to lead Bayern with 13 points while Nenad Dimitrijevic totaled 10 points and 14 assists. Joel Aminu had 23 points as Bonn’s only player in double figures.
Ludwigsburg hand coaching reins to Spaniard Duran
MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg have found a new head coach as they brought in Carles Duran on a two-year contract. The 50-year-old Spaniard coached the last two seasons in Türkiye with Darussafaka Istanbul and then Mersin MSK. Duran made his name in Spain by coaching from 2018 to 2024 at Joventut Badalona. He replaces the departed head coach Miiko Riipinen.
Jena sign Esterkamp as head coach until 2029
Science City Jena ended their search for a new head coach as they signed Steven Esterkamp until 2029. The 45-year-old American joins Jena after coaching last season at Bremerhaven. Esterkamp has over 20 years of experience in German basketball as a player and coach.
Trier bring in defensive ace Simon from Ulm
VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier showed they mean business for next season as they signed Justin Simon for the 2026-27 campaign. The 30-year-old American joins Trier from Ulm, where he shined on defense, receiving the second most votes for Defensive Player of the Year. Simon averaged 7.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season with Ulm.
Chemnitz snatch up Seric, French-German Coupas and von Seckendorff
NINERS Chemnitz had a busy last few days as they added three important pieces for their roster next season. They signed German veteran Mateo Seric to a contract for one season and an option for the following year. The 27-year-old can play forward positions and already has played 315 Bundesliga games for Ludwigsburg, Bamberg, Tübingen and Heidelberg. Seric averaged 8.8 points and 2.9 rebounds for Heidelberg last season. Chemnitz also beat out a number of teams in signing the French guard Yohan Choupas, who played last season in the Basketball Champions League with Chalon. The 26-year-old’s mother was born in Iserlohn so he has a German passport. The sides agreed on a one-year deal plus option for the 2027-28 season. Chemnitz also signed athletic German forward Jannis von Seckendoff for next season. The 23-year-old played last season with Bremerhaven in the second division.
Wolves add American wing Gaines, Serbian playmaker Radojicic
SYNTAINICS MBC made two moves for next season as they added American wing Anthony Gaines as well as Serbian playmaker Vuk Radojicic. The 28-year-old Gaines agreed to a two-year contract with Wolves after having played the past two years in Germany with Hakro Merlins Crailsheim and before that with Nürnberg Falcons. Wolves’ first acquisition of the offseason was the signing of Radojicic to a two-year deal. The 24-year-old, who can play both guard spots, played a number of years in the youth system of Jena and is not considered a foreign player. Radojicic last played with OKK Belgrade.
Vechta add Lamin Sabally on multi-year deal
RASTA Vechta hope they have stroke gold as they signed German power forward Lamin Sabally to a multi-year contract. The 23-year-old is the brother of Nyara and Satou Sabally, both who play for Germany’s women’s national team. Lamin was born in Berlin but left for high school in the United States in 2019. He then went to the University of Texas at San Antonio followed by two years at Incarnate Word and then Iona.
Zipser extends with Heidelberg, also for the ProA
Paul Zipser will play another season of basketball as the veteran re-signed with MLP Academics Heidelberg to play next year in the ProA. The 32-year-old has played 11 seasons in the Bundesliga but will remain with the relegated team in Germany’s second division. He averaged 12 minutes per game in 2025-26.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Jack Kayil, ALBA BERLIN
Kayil was superb all series against BMA365 Bamberg Baskets. He had 18 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in Game 1 followed by 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. He contributed 8 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in the third game and 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in Game 4. Kayil then tallied 10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in Game 5.
G: Joel Aminu, Telekom Baskets Bonn
Aminu could not keep Bonn from being swept by FC Bayern Basketball. He scored 23 points with 5 three-pointers to go with 1 assist and 3 steals in the opening game. He then tallied 16 points, 2 rebounds and 3 steals and picked up 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in Game 3.
G: Zach Ensminger, BMA365 Bamberg Baskets
Ensminger tried to match the ALBA BERLIN guards but struggled to make a major impact, though he had a solid Semi-Finals. He had 4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in Game 1 followed by 4 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 2 steals and then 6 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist in Game 3. The guard picked up 4 points and 3 rebounds in Game 4 and finished with 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals in the final game.
F: Michael Rataj, ALBA BERLIN
Rataj played a major role in Berlin getting past BMA365 Bamberg Baskets. He had 14 points, 2 rebounds in the opening game and then 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block in Game 2. He tallied 8 points and 1 rebound in the third game followed by 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in Game 4. Rataj then picked up 16 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 block in the decisive Game 5.
F: Oscar da Silva, FC Bayern Basketball
Da Silva collected 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in the opener and then 17 points, 7 rebounds and 1 steal in Game 2. The big man helped Bayern finish off Bonn with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 block in Game 3.
