Nico Wenzl (184-PG-2001) is a 24 year old 184cm point guard that completed his second season with BBC Coburg averaging 9,1ppg, 3,2rpg and 6,6apg. He began his basketball career with DJK Neustadt. He then played in the medi Bayreuth organization from 2017-2021 playing 12 easyCredit BBL games. He also played a season with BBC Coburg in that span and with the TenneT Young Heroes U19 team (NBBL). In the last years he also played with the Dresden Titans, Trier, MBC and Sandersdorf. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Nico for talking to germanhoops.com You had BBL experience in Bayreuth and last season with MBC. You r eturned back to the Pro B. Why did you take 2 steps back?

I decided to take a step back so I could get more minutes and responsibility.

Is the easyCredit BBL dream over for you now or is it still a goal?

I wouldn´t go as far as saying that it is over, because my goal is to play as high as possible as long as I have a role.

You returned back to BBC Coburg after being away for 5 years. How did it feel to be back? Is it like a second home for you?

I wouldn´t say that it is a second home, but everything is very familiar. I feel very comfortable here.

How are you a better player now than compared to 2020 when you left?

I´m more mature and balanced. My focus is more on the playmaking and I´m a better leader now. I also have a stronger body.

Tobias Rotegaard said that he enjoys the vibe on the road. Why is BBC Coburg so strong on the road?

We ask ourselves that question a lot. I think that when your on the road, you travel all day and are more focused on the task at hand. I think we are more preoccupied before home games.

What has it been like sharing the back court at times with talented German Adrian Petkovic? What do you appreciate most about his game?

He is very aggressive on offense and a great scorer. When we play together, I have more room. We compliment each other very well.

You were a scoring point guard in the NBBL and never averaged more than 3.8apg as a pro. This season your averaging more than 6,0apg. Did you always have that playmaking in you?

I have always had it in me. I just had a different role in the NBBL. We didn´t have many scorers so I had to do that. This season we have many scorers so I can focus on my playmaking.

Especially in the game in Frankfurt, you dished out some nice assists. At times you looked like Luka Doncic. Do you watch his passing skills?

I watch more Euroleague than NBA. I do watch Doncic highlights, but I watch more videos of Teodosic and Campazzo.

Your averaging 7,8ppg in 31 minutes. Would you like to be averaging more points in the minutes that you get?

I´m focusing more on playmaking because the team needs it more than my scoring. I just do what the team needs. I think my scoring would hurt the team more.

Last season you played with the BSW Sixers Sandersdorf (ProB) averaging 11.8ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 44.3%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 73.9%. You also played 7 BBL games. What kind of an experience was playing for the 2025 BBL cup winner?

It was a very fun experience. It was fun especially during the home games. The arena is small, so it gets very loud.

You had talented American guards with Callison, Baldwin and Stove. Do you feel like you got a fair chance there? You only averaged 3,0 minutes in the BBL?

I knew before the season began that my focus would be more on the Pro B. I would practice mainly with the BBL team. I think that I did as good as a job I could of in the practices.

In 2022-2023 you went from Bayreuth to Trier, but averaged only 2,2ppg in 10 minutes time. How disappointing was this season? I´m sure you expected more playing time?

I think that the overall minutes that I averaged per game is deceiving. I played in some games where I started and played 25 minutes while in other games played 2-5 minutes. I feel like that when I did get the trust, I did a good job at that level. It is just difficult when new Americans come, you kind of slip down the rotation.

What was it like playing behind Garai Zeeb? What could you soak up most from him?

Garai is a very good defender and leader. I soaked up those 2 qualities the most from him.

What was it like playing for Jermaine Bucknor? The next season he was NBA champion with Boston. How crazy was that?

That was a huge step for him. I´m really happy for him. He was such a hard worker as a player and coach. It was a huge experience for him.

In 21-22 you played with the Dresden Titans (ProB) averaging 7.8ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 77.8%. You won the Pro B title. What was so special about this team?

I think that we had the most talented team in the Pro B that season. I think that our biggest strength that season was our chemistry. Most guys had been playing together for years and knew each other well.

Did you have some growing pains coming form the BBL going to the Pro B? How did your game grow under Fabian Strauss?

His playing style fit mine really well. He liked to play free and fast what I like. He liked us taking shots with confidence. That season was a lot of fun. He did a good job finding creative solutions on offense.

You played with medi Bayreuth form 2017-2021. You played your first BBL game at age 17 in May 2018 against Ludwigsburg logging 2 minutes. What memories do you have of him?

I remember that I was very nervous for the whole game. It was a blowout loss against Ludwigsburg in the playoffs. I knew I would play at the end. I was really happy to be able to make my debut in the playoffs.

Do you ever remember battling Gabe York in practice? He reached the NBA with the Magic Pacers a few years later?

I remember when I read that we had signed him, I had no idea who he was. Right away I watched his highlight videos on you tube. He was one of the most talented players that I ever played with. He was so athletic and could hit from all over.

You played your first season with BBC Coburg in 2019-2020 averaging 3,6ppg. How important was it for you having a teammate like Chris Wolf?

Everybody loved him. The fans would chat his name double as loud as everyone else´s. He was our leader and held the team together. He always made the big shots when we needed them most.

In the 2020-2021 season you played 11 games for medi Bayreuth. What was it like playing behind Bastian Doreth? What could you soak up from him?

His work ethic was the most important thing that I could take from him. He was always the first to arrive and last to leave the arena. He showed me what it meant to be a full time professional.

Your best easyCredit BBL game was netting 5 points and dishing out 4 assists against Alba Berlin. What memories do you have playing against guys like Lo, Sikma and Fontecchio

We had guys injured with Doreth and Jones and I knew I would play. I got in in the first half and then from about the 5 minute mark of the third quarter, I played until the end. I think that I used my chance well. I was very nervous, but as soon as I was on the court, it went away.

Who won a 1-1 back in the day you or Christian Feneberg?

If I had to bet, then I would say that I won more games.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your career that reached the NBA?

Tyrese Rice.

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

James Robinson, Gabe York, Nate Linhart, Demon Brooks, Andreas Seifert

Please name your personal NBA, Euro, German Mount Rushmore?

Kobe, Bryant Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Shaq

Milos Teodosic, Nikos Galis, Nikola Jokic, Giannis

Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schroeder, Franz Wagner, Pascal Roller

Who is your Goat?

Kobe Bryant

Thanks Nico for the chat.