David Voetsch (200-F-2001) is a 24 year old 200cm forward that is playing for the HEFTE HELFEN Bulls Kapfenberg (BSL). He has played there his whole life and has won 5 titles in his career with them with 3 cups and 2 Super Cups. He was a youth national player for Austria and has also worn the men’s national jersey the last years. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against German team MBC.

Thanks David for talking to germanhoops.com. You have played your whole life with the : Kapfenberg Bulls. What has been the greatest thing about being able to play for this organization?

As I grew up in Kapfenberg I had lots of love for the club, and it was always my childhood dream to play professionally for Kapfenberg. I always felt a strong bond with the club and the Bulls family

Sometimes guys stay a whole career with 1 organization like Quantez Robertson did with the Skyliners in Germany from 2009-2023. Could you imagine being a lifer with the Kapfenberg Bulls?
I don’t know if I will stay my whole career here but I love Kapfenberg and the Bulls will always be a special organization for me.

There were seasons in the last years where you averaged 11-12 minutes per game in the BSL and even one season averaged 19 minutes per game. You never averaged more than 3,0ppg in the BSL. Have you never thought about a change of scenery and maybe having a bigger type of role?
Yes of course, but I feel good in Kapfenberg and I am happy to be a part of the organization, and I think it always was and is a good place for me to develop and grow but let’s see what the future brings.

Have you had changes in roles in your career or has it been the same kind of role the last years? What is your role this season?
I think I had the same role in the last couple years to bring energy and intensity and help the team in that way.

The club won cups in your time there and last won the league title in 2019. How big is the desire and hunger to win a league title again? At the moment you are battling Oberwart and Wels for the top spot.
The hunger and desire is very big and the organization puts in a lot of work on and off the court and belongs to be on the top again. Unfortunately we lost the cup finals this season in overtime but we have a great group of guys that is hungry to compete for the championship.

The team has been struggling in the ENBL. It lost 2 close games but overall allow too many points. What has been your summary of the ENBL season?

It was our first season in the ENBL and the physicality and intensity is much higher than in the Austrian competition and we needed some time to adjust, but it definitely helped us to keep the game rhythm and be ready for the domestic league.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 200cm forward. To what players have you heard comparisons to how you play on the court?

When I grew up, I was watching Gabriel Deck a lot when he was in Real, at the moment, I orientate myself to Achille Polonara but sadly he got sick.

You’re a player that can do many things well on the court. How big is versatility in your game?
I try to bring energy and intensity and help the team in that way, also I focus to help on the rebounds and hit open shots.

Talk a little about your defensive game. What kind of a defender would you classify yourself at the moment and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
Solid defender with high energy but there is lots of room to improve as players get more skilled every year and the game becomes faster.

On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve as a player?
To be more solid from the three point line and to be more efficient from attacking close outs and to finish under the rim and in getting more athletic in general.

Did you have a special Austrian mentor in your young years? If so who was it?
I am thankful for all the coaches I had during my career but I think Michael Schrittwieser had a special role in helping me develop and get better as a player.

You played your first BSL game against UBSC Graz in the 2017-2018 season. Do you have any memories of that game?
Yes I remember that day exactly I played an under nineteen game before so I was pretty fatigued but I was so excited and happy that I forgot about that really fast.

You were on the 2019 team that won the Austrian Bundesliga title. What was so special about that team playing for head coach Michael Coffin and having guys like Xavier Ford and Elijah Wilson leading the team?
Those two guys were great teammates and really good scorers and we had great team chemistry in general especially Elijah Wilson helped me a lot and were shooting together after almost every practice.

You won the Austrian Cup from 2018-2020. Which one was personally the most special for you?
The first one in 2018, I was very happy to be a part of that team as a really young and unexperienced player, also to be on that team with my childhood friend Elias Podany with whom I played together since under ten was really special.

You played many seasons for Michael Coffin. How special of a coach was he? How did he help your game most?
Yes I played my first professional games under him and I am very thankful for the trust and the opportunities he gave to me, he always had confidence in me which made it easy for me to perform good on the court, I am happy for him that he is doing well now with the BC Vienna ABA League Team.

You were also teammates with Austrian legend Thomas Schreiner. What was your nicest moment with him?
Yes it was a pleasure for me to play with a such experienced player like Thomas especially because I watched him as a kid when he played the first time for the Bulls, a special moment was for sure to be on the court together with him for the first time after he came back to Kapfenberg.

Your closing in on 200 BSL games. What was your favorite game in your career in the BSL?

That’s a difficult question every game is special but I think the game against the Vienna DC Timberwolves were I scored my first points as a professional was the most special one.

You also have played for the Austrian national team. How is the state of Austrian basketball? What young players are coming up now and in the next years?

I think the Austrian Basketball is developing in a good direction especially with having Jakob Poeltl as the face of the Austrian Basketball. There are many young Austrian talents like Fynn Schott, Nico Zeleznik and Omer and Imran Suljanovic who will build the base of the future generation.

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

Jakob Poeltl in practice with the national team.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Very difficult I would like to name twenty but I will go with Nemanja Krstic, Miro Zapf, Elias Podany, Ian Moschik and AJ Turner.

Please list your personal NBA, German and Austrian Mount Rushmore of 5 best players ever?

Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant
Franz Wagner, Dennis Schroeder, Detlef Schrempf, Isaiah Hartenstein, Moritz Wagner
Thomas Schreiner, Rasid Mahalbasic, Jakob Poeltl, Bogic Vujosevic, Sylven Landesberg

Who is your GOAT?
Nikola Jokic

Thanks David for the chat.