The regular season is over and two-time reigning champions FC Bayern Basketball (9-game winning streak) and German Cup winners BMA365 Bamberg Baskets (7 games) are the hottest teams entering the playoffs. Science City Jena team staved off relegation and sent Basketball Löwen Braunschweig and MLP Academics Heidelberg to ProA. The season awards were also handed out and Bayern star Andreas Obst was named Most Valuable Player while Bamberg’s Anton Gavel was honored as Coach of the Year.
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:
Braunschweig, Heidelberg relegated - Jena keep league
The final weekend decided the two teams who will be relegated to the ProA for next season and Basketball Löwen Braunschweig and MLP Academics Heidelberg are the two teams who will be dropped. Braunschweig ended up 17th and Heidelberg were 18th as neither team could finish ahead of 16th place Science City Jena, who were able to stay in the league after their promotion from last season.
Post-season starts with Play-Ins: Vechta host Trier in 7-8 game, Rostock welcome Ludwigsburg in 9-10
The regular season is complete and four teams still have a chance to reach the playoffs as they will compete in the Play-Ins. RASTA Vechta will host VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier in the 7-8 game with the winner to play ALBA BERLIN in the playoffs. The loser will have a final chance against the winner of the 9-10 Play-Ins game between hosts ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES and MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg. Whoever wins that game will play against FC Bayern Basketball in the first round of the playoffs.
Bayern push win streak to nine games heading into playoffs as top seed
FC Bayern Basketball finished the regular season in style by sweeping the final weekend to go into the post-season as the number one seed with a nine-game winning streak. Bayern won 86-78 at MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg and then won at home 77-67 over EWE Baskets Oldenburg for a 29-5 record. Bayern saw Ludwigsburg erase a 15-point deficit to tie the game in the third quarter but held on for the win. Neno Dimitrijevic led the way with 19 points and 8 assists and freshly-crowned MVP Andreas Obst added 17 points. The game also saw the season debut of Elias Harris, who had 8 points and 6 rebounds. At home in the regular season finale against Oldenburg, Bayern trailed in the second quarter as the visitors were still fighting for a spot in the Play-Ins. But Bayern controlled the second half and led by as many as 16 points in the final frame. Wenyen Gabriel had 16 points while Dimitrijevic scored 15 points in the win.
Bayern star Andreas Obst takes home MVP award
FC Bayern Basketball star guard Andreas Obst received the top individual honor of the league as he was named the Most Valuable Player of the season. Obst picked up 48.1 percent of the vote ahead of Ibi Watson of BMA365 Bamberg Baskets (19.2 percent) and Jordan Roland from VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier (13.5 percent). Obst is the first German player to win the league MVP since Pascal Roller in 2003-04 while Dirk Nowitzki having won the honor in 1998-99.
Berlin win final game to stay second ahead of Bamberg
ALBA BERLIN had just one game on the final weekend and grabbed a win to lock up second place in the league and home court advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Berlin, who could have fallen to third in the standings with a loss and a BMA365 Bamberg Baskets win, took care of business 83-65 at home against Science City Jena. Berlin actually fell behind Jena by 15 points in the first quarter. But the hosts allowed only 8 points in the second quarter and then just 9 points in the final frame. That gave Berlin a 24-10 record. Norris Agbakoko paced Berlin with 16 points and 9 rebounds and Sam Griesel added 11 points.
Berlin star talent Kayil named U22 Player of the Year
Jack Kayil of ALBA BERLIN was the convincing winner of the U22 Player of the Year in his return to the Bundesliga. The Berlin native came back to Germany after playing last year in Serbia and starred all season for Berlin. He received 93.8 percent of the votes to become the fifth ALBA player to win the honor following Nicolai Simon (2006-07), Ismet Akpinar (2016-17), Franz Wagner (2018-19) and Malte Delow (2022-23). Jared Grey of Veolia Towers Hamburg finished second with 6.3 percent of the vote.
Bamberg win final seven games of regular season, lock up third place
BMA365 Bamberg Baskets finished the regular season with two more wins - extending their win streak to seven games - to lock up third place in the league, narrowly missing out on second place. Under newly-named Coach of the Year Anton Gavel, Bamberg took down SYNTAINICS MBC 99-82 on the road before celebrating the regular season finale with the home fans 102-83 versus Telekom Baskets Bonn. Bamberg ended the season with a 24-10 mark, losing out to ALBA BERLIN on the tiebreaker. Bamberg poured in 35 points in the first quarter and kept going the rest of the way to win in Weißenfels. Austin Crowley scored 21 points as six Bamberg players totaled double figures. Cobe Williams added 18 points. At home against Bonn, Bamberg wasted a double digit second quarter lead as they temporarily fell behind in the third quarter. But Gavel’s men used a 22-6 run in the final frame to grab the win. Ibi Watson had 17 points and Demarcus Demonia collected 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Bamberg retire Karsten Tadda’s No. 9
BMA365 Bamberg Baskets had a special ceremony for the final regular season home game as the club retired the No. 9 jersey of long-time veteran and local favorite Karsten Tadda. The guard helped Bamberg to five German league crowns and saw his jersey lifted to the rafters of the Brose Arena Bamberg. Tadda is the Bundesliga’s record holder in games played with 640 and also played 89 times for the German national team.
Gavel named Coach of the Year for Bamberg surprise
Anton Gavel was shown recognition of the job he has done this season with BMA365 Bamberg Baskets by winning the Coach of the Year award. Gavel, who guided the team into home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, took 78.2 percent of the votes and finished ahead of Jacques Schneider of VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier (14.5 percent) and Sasa Filipovski of Fitness First Würzburg Baskets (5.5 percent).
Bamberg’s Onu named Defensive Player of the Year
EJ Onu was a big reason BMA365 Bamberg Baskets were one of the surprises of the season and he was honored for his work as the Defensive Player of the Year. The center received 30.9 percent of the vote followed by Justin Simon of ratiopharm ulm (20.0 percent) and the trio of Jonas Mattisseck and his ALBA BERLIN teammate Justin Bean and Will Christmas of SKYLINERS (all 5.5 percent).
Bonn split final weekend, finish fourth in regular season
Telekom Baskets Bonn managed only a split of the final weekend but still secured fourth place and home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Bonn beat VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier 102-77 at home before losing 102-83 in the last game at BMA365 Bamberg Baskets for a final 21-13 record. Bonn took the second quarter against Trier 35-15 and cruised the rest of the way. Joel Aminu and Patrick Heckmann both scored 14 points for Bonn. Against Bamberg, Marko Stankovic’s team gave up a 22-6 fourth quarter run to decide the game. Jalen Finch had 23 points and 5 assists off the bench as the starters totaled only 29 points.
Würzburg sweep weekend for fifth place finish
Fitness First Würzburg Baskets will be heading into the playoffs on a roll after they won both games on the final weekend. Würzburg took down Veolia Towers Hamburg 90-73 on the road and then eased past MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg 75-58 for a 20-14 record and fifth place in the standings. Würzburg unleashed a 28-4 run spanning the first two quarters to take control over Hamburg. Marcus Carr totalled 31 points and 7 assist and Brae Ivey had 15 points. Würzburg ran away from Ludwigsburg right away with a 23-10 first quarter and never looked back. David Muenkat collected 15 points and 10 rebounds and Davion Mintz added 11 points.
Ulm used second quarter to easy win over Frankfurt
ratiopharm ulm had just one game on the final weekend but took care of business with a convincing road victory over SKYLINERS. Ulm won the second quarter 30-8 en route to a 103-64 victory and a 19-15 record for sixth place. Mark Smith and Tobias Jensen both scored 20 points and combined for 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals while Christopher Ludlum totalled 11 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists.
Vechta beat Heidelberg to secure Play-Ins spot
RASTA Vechta have reached the post-season as they split the final two games with a road win over MLP Academics Heidelberg securing seventh place. Vechta lost their final regular season home game 90-78 against ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES and then knocked off Heidelberg 103-89 for a 17-17 record. Vechta will next take on VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier at home in the Play-Ins 7-8 game. Vechta lost the second quarter 32-18 against Rostock and could not get back into the game. TJ Bamba did have 19 points and 8 rebounds and Tibor Pleiß returned to the team after missing the last two months injured for 9 points and 5 rebounds. Vechta bounced back to register their seventh game with at least 100 points this season, deciding the game in the second quarter. Tevin Brown scored 22 points and Alonzo Verge picked up 16 points and 8 assists.
Trier make post-season in return to Bundesliga, take on Vechta in Play-Ins
VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier slumped to the finish but managed to secure a spot in the post-season in their return to the easyCredit BBL thanks to a win over SYNTAINICS MBC for eighth place. Trier lost in Round 33 at Telekom Baskets Bonn 102-77 before locking up a Play-Ins date at RASTA Vechta by beating Weißenfels 85-78 at home for a 17-17 record. Trier lost the second quarter 35-15 against Bonn and Jordan Roland’s 17 points were not enough. Things went better in front of the home fans in the regular season finale thanks to a comeback from 16 points down in the second quarter. Trier took the lead for the first time in the final frame to win the game. Steven Ashworth came off the bench for 21 points and 6 assists and Roland scored 20 points in the win.
Trier’s Roland named Offensive Player of the Year
The first season award saw Jordan Roland of VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier win the Offensive Player of the Year. He received 23.2 percent of the vote followed by EWE Baskets Oldenburg’s Chris Clemons (21.4 percent) and Alonzo Verge of RASTA Vechta (20.0 percent). Roland is the first Trier player to win the award since BJ McKie in 2003-04.
Schwartz show helps Rostock to sweep - hosting Play-Ins 9-10 game
ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES reached the post-season thanks to a late-season rally in sweeping the final weekend to finish ninth and hosting the Play-Ins 9-10 game against MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg. Rostock beat RASTA Vechta 90-78 on the road and then took their win streak to three games by knocking off Veolia Towers Hamburg 103-71 at home for a 17-17 record. Rostock took the second quarter 32-18 and never allowed Vechta to get back into the game. D’Shawn Schwartz put on a show with 39 points and 14 rebounds including 15 consecutive Rostock points in the second half. At home against Hamburg, Rostock raced ahead by 14 points after 10 minutes and the lead was 22 at halftime. Owen Klassen had 18 points and 7 rebounds and Lukasz Kolenda contributed 16 points and 6 rebounds in the win.
Ludwigsburg lose twice, manage to sneak into final post-season spot
MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg picked the wrong time for a three-game losing streak but they snuck into the final spot of the post-season with 10th place and a date at ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES in the Play-Ins 9-10 game. Ludwigsburg lost 86-78 at home to FC Bayern Basketball and then were beaten 75-58 in the season finale at Fitness First Würzburg Baskets for a 17-17 record. Ludwigsburg railed from 15 points down to tie the game in the third quarter but could never regain the lead against first-placed Bayern. Elijah Hughes had 18 points for Ludwigsburg. Ludwigsburg started slow in the game at Würzburg, falling behind 23-10 after 10 minutes and could not challenge in the game. Stef Smith had 12 points to lead the team.
Oldenburg fall at Bayern to miss post-season
EWE Baskets Oldenburg missed their final chance to reach the post-season as they lost at FC Bayern Basketball to close the season. Oldenburg started the final weekend with a 93-84 home win over Basketball Löwen Braunschweig for their fifth win the last six games. But they couldn’t beat Bayern in a 77-67 road loss to finish with a 16-18 record and 11th place. Oldenburg wasted a 13-point third quarter lead against Braunschweig but finished strong to get the win. Brian Fobbs came off the bench for 18 points and 6 assists. Oldenburg could not complete the job in Munich as the hosts controlled the second half. Chris Clemons had 20 points in the loss.
Chemnitz miss post-season after falling to relegated Braunschweig in finale
NINERS Chemnitz tripped up in their final game of the season as they lost at already-relegated Basketball Löwen Braunschweig to miss the post-season. Chemnitz had beaten SKYLINERS 86-82 in overtime at home in Round 33 but could not finish the job in a 104-90 road loss against Braunschweig for a 16-18 record and 12th place. Chemnitz nearly lost to Frankfurt, giving up a 12-point lead with 7 minutes before winning in extra time. Kevin Yebo scored 22 points with 7 rebounds and Amadou Sow added 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Chemnitz could not play much defense against Braunschweig, trailing 52-35 at halftime and falling behind by 31 points in the third quarter. Corey Davis had 22 points in the loss to end the season.
Wolves swept, finish season in 13th
SYNTAINICS MBC played out their final weekend of the season after being eliminated from the post-season and safe from relegation, and Wolves ended up losing twice to finish with a 13-21 record in 13th place. Wolves lost 99-82 at home against BMA365 Bamberg Baskets and then dropped the final game 85-78 at VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier. Milenko Bogicevic’s team allowed 35 points in the first quarter and could not slow down Bamberg. Spencer Reaves had 17 points in the loss and Jure Planinic picked up 13 points and 11 rebounds. Weißenfels looked like in control at Trier with a 16-point second quarter lead but they trailed in the fourth quarter and ended up losing. Planinic had 14 points and Nemanja Djurisic collected 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Hamburg drop final four games for 14th place
Veolia Towers Hamburg ended their season with four straight losses but a spot in the Bundesliga after a nightmare start to the season. Hamburg lost 90-73 at home to Fitness First Würzburg Baskets in Round 33 before falling 103-71 at ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES for a 13-21 record. Würzburg reeled off a 28-4 surge spanning the first two quarters to take over the game. Devon Daniels had 22 points in the loss. Hamburg started the game in Rostock slow and trailed by 14 points after 10 minutes and the deficit was 22 points at halftime. LJ Thorpe paced Hamburg with 13 points.
Frankfurt finish season in 15th after seven consecutive losses
SKYLINERS completed the 2025-26 season in 15th place after the final weekend saw two losses to extend their losing skid to seven games. Frankfurt lost 86-82 in overtime at NINERS Chemnitz in Round 33 and then fell at home to ratiopharm ulm 103-64 for a 12-22 record. Frankfurt erased a 17-point third quarter deficit and sent the game to overtime, where they actually led. But Frankfurt could not finish the job on the road despite Nahiem Alleyne scoring 26 points and Isaiah Swope pouring in 23 points. Skyliners could only score 8 points in the second quarter against Ulm in a blowout loss. Swope had 17 points and 9 assists.
Jena rally from nightmare start, beat Heidelberg to stave off relegation
Science City Jena will be playing in the easyCredit BBL next season as they staved off relegation thanks to a comeback home victory over MLP Academics Heidelberg. Jena beat Heidelberg 81-79 in overtime in Round 33 to lock up their spot in the Bundesliga before falling 83-65 at ALBA BERLIN in the final game. Jena had a nightmare start at home against Heidelberg, falling behind 22-5 after 10 minutes and the deficit was many as 20 points in the third quarter. But Mike Taylor’s team fought all the way back and even led in the fourth quarter. Joe Wieskamp hit a big three-pointer with 20 seconds left in the extra session to give Jena the win. Wieskamp finished with 19 points while Keith Braxton had 15 points. Jena managed only 8 points in the second quarter against Berlin and 9 points in the fourth in a blowout loss despite Wieskamp’s 16 points and 14 rebounds. But the job was done in Round 33.
Braunschweig bid farewell to Bundesliga with home win
Basketball Löwen Braunschweig needed help to even have a chance to stay in the Bundesliga this season and it didn’t work out as the team was relegated. Braunschweig lost at EWE Baskets Oldenburg 93-84 in Round 33 to be officially relegated. The team bounced back in the season finale at home and celebrated a farewell to the Bundesliga with a 104-90 win over NINERS Chemnitz for a 10-24 record in 17th place. Braunschweig rallied from 13 points down in the third quarter to take the lead but Oldenburg took the final frame 27-15 for the win. Simi Shittu had 20 points and 7 rebounds and David N’Guessan had 19 points and 8 rebounds. Braunschweig’s offense shined against Chemnitz, leading 52-35 at halftime and moving ahead by 31 points in the third quarter. Kaza Kajami-Keane scored 26 points, N’Guessan had 21 points and Shittu collected 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Heidelberg finish in last place after two losses on final weekend
MLP Academics Heidelberg went from the playoffs in 2024-25 to last place this season as they dropped their final two games of the season to be relegated to the ProA. Heidelberg’s fate was sealed in an 81-79 overtime loss at Science City Jena and then they dropped to 18th place with a 9-25 record after falling at home 103-89 to RASTA Vechta. Heidelberg dominated early in Jena with a 22-5 lead after 10 minutes and were leading by as many as 20 points in the third quarter. Heidelberg could not keep Jena from taking the lead in the waning minutes of regulation and then lost in the extra session. Mateo Seric had 17 points and 7 rebounds and Niklas Würzner picked up 14 points and 7 assists in the loss. Heidelberg saw Vechta grab control of the game in the second quarter and could not get back into the contest. Osun Osunniyi had 20 points and Ryan Mikesell picked up 16 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists in the loss.
Player(s) of the Week(s)
The final week saw two rounds of games meaning there are two Player of the Week honors to hand out. The top performance in Round 33 came from D’Shawn Schwartz for ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES with a 43 efficiency against RASTA Vechta. Schwartz had 39 points on 14 of 20 shots including 7 of 10 three-pointers to go with 14 rebounds. Round 34 saw two players register an efficiency of 28. Tobias Jensen had 20 points on 8 of 9 shots, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block for ratiopharm ulm against SKYLINERS. Simi Shittu had the same efficiency in Basketball Löwen Braunschweig’s win over NINERS Chemnitz with 19 points on 5 of 8 shots and 9 of 10 free throws, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Zach Ensminger, BMA365 Bamberg Baskets
Ensminger had two solid games as Bamberg just keep winning. He picked up 9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals against SYNTAINICS MBC and then had 12 points, 1 rebound and 3 assists versus Telekom Baskets Bonn.
G: Joel Aminu, Telekom Baskets Bonn
Aminu collected 14 points, 4 assists and 1 steal versus VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier and then had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists versus BMA365 Bamberg Baskets.
G: Andreas Obst, FC Bayern Basketball
Obst celebrated winning the MVP award with a strong game against EWE Baskets Oldenburg with 17 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist - his only game of the weekend.
F: Nicholas Tischler, EWE Baskets Oldenburg
Tischler tallied 13 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists and 1 steal against Basketball Löwen Braunschweig and then had 9 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists in the loss to FC Bayern Basketball.
C: Norris Agbakoko, ALBA BERLIN
Agbakoko had a big game against Science City Jena with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block.
Young Guns
Jack Kayil, 20, PG, ALBA BERLIN
Kayil did some of everything against Science City Jena with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals off the bench.
Christian Skladanowski, 22, SF, Fitness First Würzburg Baskets
Skladanowski helped Würzburg grab two wins with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block against Veolia Towers Hamburg and 3 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assist and 2 steals versus MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg.
Alec Anigbata, 21, SF, ratiopharm ulm
Anigbata had 10 points on 3 of 6 shooting (2/4 threes) and 2 of 4 free throws, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal against SKYLINERS in Ulm’s only game.
Germans Abroad
Maodo Lo convinced Zalgiris Kaunas enough this season to be given a contract for next season with the Lithuanian giants. The Berlin native is averaging 6.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in the Lithuanian league in his first season in the Baltic country and picked up 7.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in the EuroLeague.
