pic credit: TV Langen

Alexander Lagerman (202-SG-2004) is a 21 year old 202cm shooting guard playing his first season with TV Lagne. Last season he played with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf averaging 9.4ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 72.1%. In the 2023-2024 season he played with the wiha Panthers Schwenningen (ProB) playing16 games averaging 15.1ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 61.6%, 3PT: 27.1%, FT: 72.7%. He began his basketball career with the Fraport Skyliners in the JBBL (U-16) and also played 4 Pro B games and in 2022-2023 season in the NBBL averaged :21.2ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 78.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after TV Langen´s first win of the season over Wurzburg.

Congrats Alex on the first win for TV Langen over 89-69. How good does it feel? You had a buzzer beater last season in Wurzburg.

The win feels good. It was a big relief winning our first game. The funny thing is this win was around the same time as my buzzer beater with Rhondorf in Wurzburg last season. I seem to have Wurzburg and Ludwigsburg number. I always paly well against them.

Did you ever have doubts about winning? How tough was the season up to now losing 5 in a row?

The last loses were tough on us as a team. We moved up from the Regionalliga and it was known that the club didn´t have much money. When that is the case, then you have to win other ways bringing more effort. We had doubts up to game, but during the game everything worked. Plus Wurzburg didn´t have their best game.

Wurzburg had the quick 5-0 lead, but you then scored the first TV Langen points. How did you feel? Did you think like you could have a great scoring day?

Yes it felt good. I noticed that getting to the rim was so easy. That was the moment where I believed that I could have a good scoring night.

Wurzburg got a lot of easy buckets inside. The team allows 87 points. Is 1-1 defense something you feel the team will be able to clean up in next weeks?

Our 1-1 defense is our biggest weakness as well as rim protection. We don´t have the length and no big center so we have to defend harder and simply have more discipline. Paint protection and 1-1 defense are big focuses for us as a team.

How much energy did your dunk give the team at the end of the first quarter? TV Langen then got lead back at 18-16.

The dunk was big, but also we had a phase before and after the dunk where we got steals and transition baskets which helped us a lot. Bring defense to offense was key.

TV Langen led 46-35 at the break and took control of the game thanks to Niklas Pons who produced 12 points. He was a one man wrecking crew. How special of a player is he?

His play is vital for our success. He is a playmaker/glue guy. He always gives the team unbelievable energy especially on defense. He also does a great job getting to the basket. He is our internal engine.

He already achieved a triple double this season. Does his play motivate you in general as a player to work on your total game?

Yes he does. I see his complete game and some of the things that he does well are my weaknesses. I try to soak up as much as possible from his game. He is an expert on 1-1 defense and knows how to punish defenders.

TV Langen really broke open the game in the third quarter and led 70-48 after 30 minutes. You had 10 points. Did you feel like you were in the zone at one point?

Yes it felt like I was in the zone. I finally hit a three pointer after many attempts. My confidence rose after that and I hit a few more three´s after that. We really controlled the flow as a whole in that phase.

Wurzburg had a little run in the last quarter, but TV Langen still won by a large margin. How thrilled are you to have finished strong as a team?

I´m happy that we finished so well. I think key was that everyone was prepared to play that night. Every player brought much energy. It was a complete team effort. It was a lot of fun.

TV Langen won the rebounds, had 24 assists, 21 steals and 12 turnovers. What stat was the best for you?

I feel like steals was the most important stat. The steals helped us get out on runs. Our defense helped us capitalize on scoring which turned the game around.

On what areas does the team have to improve on to keep the winning streak alive against 5-2 Speyer?

Playing in Speyer is always difficult. I remember last season with Rhondorf having no chance there. We have to work on our 1-1 defense, rebounding and paint protection. On offense we have to work on spacing and getting better into our sets. Hitting more shots would also help.

You shot 13/29 having 33 points and 11 rebounds. This was a career high. Was this your best offensive game?

It wasn´t my best shooting day as I have had better games where I scored a lot and took less shots. But overall with scoring, rebounding, passing and steals was it up with my best in my career.

You had good games this season with the exception of your 2 points against Orange Academy. Is your aggressiveness at a point now where your content?

I like the aggressiveness that I have now. I will always take shots and not shy away from doing it. But for me the most important thing is that the team work well together to have success.

What is your goal as a player this season with TV Langen? Can you make the next step?

My goal is to keep working on my game and get better and more consistent. I also want to be more of a leader on defense. I think that being good defensively will always help your team most.

Is being the number one scoring option important for you or are you content on sharing the important shots with guys like Washington, Crnjac or Pons?

I always want to share it. I never go into the game wanting to score the most points. I always want to share the scoring. Plus it takes the scoring load of your shoulder when many can do it.

What were the main reasons for joining TV Langen? Your from Frankfurt. How vital was being closer to home?

I wanted to focus more on my studies. I will do a bank apprenticeship starting on 1.1.2026 in Frankfurt at UBS

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Drago Crnjac?

He wins some and I win some. Drago has a knack for making tough shots.

Thanks Alex for the chat.