Marvin Esser (196-SF-2005) is a 19 year old 196cm forward who played with Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors last season. He began the season injured and came back in January 2025 and played 12 games averaging 1,8ppg and 2,1rpg. He spoke to germanhoops.com about big German center talent Hannes Steinbach.

Thanks Marvin for talking to germanhoops.com. How has your summer been?

I´m good thanks. I recently finished school and got my degree. I also had my prom. My school results were good. I was happy about it.

You had a difficult 24-25 season with injury. You missed the first half of season. How would you rate your Pro B season?

I would give my Pro B season a grade 7 out of 10. It wasn´t easy coming in mid season. I´m happy that my minutes went from 6-12.

What is the next step for you? Will you remain in Frankfurt?

I don´t know yet if I will remain in Frankfurt. I´m staying in contact with the Skyliners. I definitely will remain in the Frankfurt area.

When you hear the name Hannes Steinbach what is the first thing that comes to mind?

The first thing I think about is Wurzburg. I played against him the last few years. He is a very talented player with long arms and plays very well.

You played against him in the NBBL and Pro B. You don´t play same positions but is a guy like that a role model?

That is hard to say since we are the same age. Role models are usually players when I was growing up. It is usually guys that are older.

You played him in 23-24 in the NBBL winning 77-58 and he had a dominant 20/22 game. What memories do you have of that game?

I remember that his whole team lived off his game in the NBBL. It felt easier then to try to keep him under control even if it was still tough

You had a 8/10 game. I believe you had to match up against him because Frankfurt had no center. How tough was it as a undersized big?

I remember defending against him at times. We had more of a team duty to defend him. He was very physical and I had to use my whole body when trying to defend him.

As a undersized big, can you still soak up things from his game?

He uses his speed and athleticism very well. I feel like I can pick up things from his game like using my athleticism more on the outside.

He had an incredible 19/19 game in the first U-19 world cup game in Slovenia. Are you following his progress?

At the moment not because of my school things, but I will more now in the future

How much will the NCAA help his game? He already played against the highest competition in BBL and BCL. How will NCAA help him?

I think that it will be an adjustment at the beginning. But I think that the whole experience in USA will help him see another side of basketball. I´m sure that he will do well.

How good is he really? Some are saying that he is better than big German talent Johan Grunloh. Do you share that opinion?

That is hard to say. I never played against Grunloh. They are both big talents that can go far. I think most important is that both are great talents and not who is better than the other.

What makes Hannes Steinbach so good? What really stands out most in his game? Is it his versatility?

Yes his versatility is very special. He is a special player because he can play not only under the basket, but from outside. His combination of athleticism and size makes him special.

Could Hannes Steinbach be the next great German center? Is developing a three something he needs to do?

You can always have a better three pointer. He has good chances.

How scary could Germany look like in the next years with the duo of Grunloh and Steinbach?

Germany has a great future with both. But we have so many other great talents. I think that Germany will continue to grow and move forward in the next years especially with the national team.

Thanks Marvin for the chat.