pic credit: Michael Kienzler

Marko Bacak (210-C-1995) is a 29 year old 210 cm center that was born in Berlin, Germany and also has the Croatian Citzenship and is playing his first season with the EPG Guardians Koblenz. Last season he played with SC RASTA Vechta 2nd team (Germany-ProA) averaging 6.0ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 30.2%, FT: 61.5%. In his career he has played for Alba Berlin 2 and played 50 BBL games with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg as well as Eurocup and BCL. He also has gained experience with clubs like the wiha Panthers Schwenningen, Bayer Giants Leverkusen, Artland Dragons, and Trier. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Marko for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Koblenz. How good did manager Thomas Klein sell the incredible product EPG Guardians to you?

Thanks Miles for having me! After some good talks with coach Stephan I decided to visit the City and organization by myself. Thomas invited us for Lunch and we had good talks where he described their plan they have for the club for the future. I saw the potential the club has and that helped me in my decision at the end.

The club have struggled the last 2 seasons, but are extremely ambitious and want to reach the easyCredit BBL. What was the main reason for joining this organization?

The trust from coach Stephan in my abilities and the potential the club has.

The first talks with head coach Stephan Dohrn went very well. What did you appreciate about his basketball philosophy most?

The fact that he knows that first of all you need good guys before talent to be successful. And also knowing the strenghs of his players and giving them a certain amount of freedom.

You played the last 2 seasons against the EPG Guardians in the Pro A. What memories do you have of the games?

Unfortunately most of them were negative hahah. With Trier we lost in Koblenz in a packed arena and great atmosphere, after we had a winning streak of 12 wins I think. With Vechta we lost the home game in overtime and in Koblenz we lost by 40 I think.

Your coming to a team where you most likely will be the oldest. How developed are your leadership skills and how else do you feel will you be able to help the team best with your game?

I think I can help the team with my experience especially when comes to being a team on and off the court. Knowing that good team chemistry can really lift you up as a team. And on the court just trying to make the right plays and lead as an emotional leader.

How excited are you to be teammates with other talented German big man Moses Poelking? How well do you feel will you 2 guys compliment each other best?

I know Moses for a long time already, playing with him together at Alba Berlin in Regionalliga back in the days. He is great Player, working hard on the court with a good inside game. And a great person off the court!

In the last years you didn´t have as big as an offensive role in Trier and Vechta as in Artland. What do you feel like will your role be this season in Koblenz?

From the talks with coach Stephan I felt a lot of trust from him in my abilities. But I also got to earn my role from the start off the preseason on and forward.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 210cm center. If you had to compare your game to a Euroleague player who would bets fit the description?

I would say maybe Johannes Voigtmann, being able to play inside, shoot and play for the team.

You’re a physical big man that can score and rebound. What other attributes does our game have?

The last years I have been working on my shot a lot, to be able to space the floor if needed.

You’re a modern day big man. How big is versatility in your game?

It’s very important I would say, because it gives me flexibility depending on which team we play, and which Match ups I am facing.

Your turning 30 this season. On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game?

Right now I am trying to get stronger and gain some weight. And my shooting of course, getting more consistent with my shot.

Last season you played with SC RASTA Vechta 2nd team (Germany-ProA) averaging 6.0ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 30.2%, FT: 61.5%. How tough was going from winning in Trier to losing in Vechta. What did you learn about yourself in this season?

It was not easy. Everything is easier when you are winning as a team. I learned that you need to focus on the positive things, because otherwise it will be tough especially mentally.

You were able to observe Johan Grunloh. How talented is the German center?

He is very talented and a very nice and humble guy! He is a very hard worker doing a lot of extra work when nobody is watching, that’s how He added the 3p shot into his skillset. And he has a great feeling for the game with great instincts.

In the 2023-2024 season you played with the ROMERSTROM Gladiators Trier (Germany-ProA) averaging 4.4ppg, 3.2rpg. What was it like playing with Maik Zirbes? How beneficial were the daily battles in the paint against him?

Since I had to play and pratice on the 4 spot, I did not really had a lot of battles with him. But I can tell you if Maik got you sealed down low it’s game over, there is no way that you are getting back in front. You could really see that he was levels higher when it comes to his game inside the paint.

You played a season with the Artland Dragons (Germany-ProA) averaging 11.1ppg, 5.6rpg, FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 76.4%. You lost 1 4 game series to PS Karlsruhe. What memories do you have of this season?

All in all it was a great season! Even though the Ending was kind of disappointing. Most of the season we were locked in 3rd place and then somehow we lost the last 6 regular season games and ended up at 6th place, having to play Karlsruhe who were rolling at that point of the season. But still we had great guys on the team and a lot of fun! Shoutout to Pat Flomo, he is a great coach and I really hope he will be able to show it in the future, and even more he is a great person!

You played 2 seasons with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen (Germany-ProA) averaging 9.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 58.6%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 75.0% and 9.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 72.6%. You were very consistent in these 2 seasons. What was your fondest memory in these 2 years?

The first season making it to the Pro a finals and earning the right to technically move up to BBL. That year and that team Was really special. Almost nice thinking back to that season.

How valuable was Hansi Gnad in your development? What was the most vital thing you learned from him center to center?

I learned a lot from Hansi, especially when it comes to my inside game, but also overall. He was a fan of us bigs also doing a lot of guard stuff which helped us in all areas of the game. Also shoutout to Hansi, great coach and great person!

You played a season with the wiha Panthers Villingen-Schwenningen (Germany-ProA) averaging 10.4ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 77.2%. This was your break through season in the Pro A. How important was this season playing for Alen Velcic? He had 100% trust in you?

It was a very important season for me being my first year in Pro a. I saw that I can compete on this level. And the trust I felt from coach Alen was the main reason I went there, and I am very thankful for the opportunity and trust from him. Great and special guy! Unfortunately the season ended earlier because of covid, I think we had a really good chance to make the playoffs and be a kind of “dark horse” team, since we really got rolling at the end.

You began your career with Berlin Sud (Germany-NBBL) and also played with DBV Charlottenburg 2. Do you remember having a mentor in this time?

I would say Christian Steinberg was my biggest mentor in my early days. He pushed me a lot in my younger years making me catch up all the other guys who were playing much longer than me. We still talk to each other on a regular basis and work out in the summers when I am in Berlin.

You then played 4 years with the EWE baskets Oldenburg playing 50 BBL games as well as Eurocup and BCL. How valuable were these years in your basketball development?

Very important. I got used to such a high level of basketball just from practicing with the BBL. And of course getting the chance to play BBL and european competition helped me a lot in my development as a player. Also in my 3rd and 4th year I had the chance to have individual practice with Elvir Ovcina. He helped me so much in developing my game and was like a father figure for us young guys. I am really thankful for meeting him.

You were teammates with some great bigs like Brian Qvale, Dirk Madrich and Rashid Mahalbasic just to name a few. Which player had the biggest impact on you?

All of them were great players and I was able to learn a lot from everyone of them. But the biggest impact was for sure from Rasid Mahalbasic. He made everything look so easy. He reminded me so much of Jokic, especially with his passing skills.

You were also teammates with the legend Ricky Paulding. What was your fondest moment with him?

I can’t really pick one moment. He was just a great guy. He cheered me up when I made a mistake, he was celebrating when I did something good and many more things. I think I don’t have one negative memory about him. Just a great player, person and leader.

You had many great games with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg including 13 points against Hapoel Holon winning 87-86. What memories do you have of that game playing against ex NBA guys like Glen Rice Jr, or Joe Alexander?

Good memories looking back to that game. Rasid Mahalbasic was out for that game so I knew I will get minutes. Offensively everything worked out and gave me confidence. Playing against those guys you could really see what kind of quality they had. You had the feeling they are not even trying 100% and where still able to make a big impact on the court.

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

Yabusele when I played against him with the U20 Croatian National team. Back then he was already a physical monster. And Hartenstein playing him in Pro B, he was so young back then and already the best player artland had.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time`?

Haris Hujic, Lucien Schmikale, JJ Mann, Joanic Grüttner-Bacoul, Dennis Heinzmann

Tough to just pick 5, there have been so many great teammates throughout my career.

Please list your personal NBA and Euroleague Mount Rushmore (5 best of all-time)

Euroleague: Printezis, Spanoulis, Navarro, Hines, Llull

NBA: Magic, Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, Kareem

Who is your GOAT?

Jesus Christ

Thanks Marco for the chat.