Pic Credit; FC Basketball
Niko Jerkic (202-F-2007) is a 19 year old 202cm forward from Croatia that is playing with FC Bayern Munich. He began his career in Germany in the ratiopharm Ulm organization. He played NBBL reaching the final in 2025 and also played for their Pro B team Orange Academy and their Regionalliga team. Last season he played with FC Bayern Muenchen Second Team (Germany-ProB, starting five) averaging 13.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 60.4%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 70.0%, played also with their NBBL team averaging 17.8ppg, 5.0rpg, 4.7apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 73.2% and also played 1 easyCredit BBL game. He spoke to germanhoops.com during the summer of 2026 about basketball.
Thanks Niko for talking to germanhoops.com. I know your Dad since a long time. I remember meeting you and Roko in Berlin in 2025 at NBBL top 4. I remember him telling you I was a writer. What other things do you remember him saying about me?
He told me that you are in the Basketball scene a long time and a very good writer. Also that you are a commentator.
How did you get a love to basketball and when did you start to play the game?
First I started to play football and my dad was watching the games, I never touched the ball. Then after we had a conversation and I switched to basketball. I think I started playing at 7 years old. My dad always shot with me outside, that´s when I really fell in love with basketball.
Please name your career stops from when you began to play until you came to orange academy jbbl?
Scanplus Baskets U10
Ulm U12, U14 and the JBBL two years with Orange Academy
Who were your early basketball inspirations? Was it a mix of German and Croatian players?
When I was 12 years old, it was always Lamelo Ball. I always watched his mixtapes and game highlights. Now I really like to watch players I get compared to like Dzanan Musa or Mario Hezonja. Those are my main inspirations right now. But I also have more players I really enjoy watching like Mike James or Dwayne Bacon.
Was your dad like a mentor for you? How has he helped your game most?
Yes he is my mentor my whole life. He trained me since I was little and supported me the most with my mom, watching every and giving me tips during and after the game. He even watched team practices when I was young.
You played JBBL with Orange Academy. How do you remember those early years in Ulm. Did you have another type of mentor besides your dad?
My first year no, my second year yes, it was my former coach Jochen Lotz. I enjoyed playing for him, because he saw my talent and gave me freedom to play. He pushed me every practice to go harder especially on defense.
In the 2023-2024 season you made the jump to the NBBL team and won ANGT over Zalgiris. What memories do you have of winning that title?
We were a really talented team and had a deep roster. Our Chemistry was awesome and it was a lot of fun to play in Dubai. What I remember the most is having fun at the pool with my guys.
You also got your first real experience playing with men playing for BBU 01 Ulm (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 8.3ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 45.7%, 3PT: 23.7%, FT: 73.7%. How vital was this time? How did your game then profit most from Regionalliga ball?
It helped me make the jump to senior basketball. That was my first year playing against grown men and also helped me to jump to the next league Pro b. I had freedom from our Coach Tim Roleder, that helped me trying stuff against better players and taking the next step.
How valuable was having a guy like Noa Essengue as a teammate and a guy you could battle in practice? What are your memories with him?
He is obviously a great player, he plays for the bulls now. I only practiced with him shortly before the ANGT, I would describe him as a quiet guy, but very nice to talk to. He carried our team that tournament.
In the 2024-2025 season you got your first Pro B experience and played NBBL with Ulm. How did your game profit most under Florian Flabb?
In the NBBL I was given freedom and had the ball in my hands. In the Pro B I had a different kind of role more off ball because we had other guys. He pushed me every practice to get better and I had some great conversations with him during my time playing for him.
You reached the NBBL final in 2025 in Berlin and averaged with ratiopharm Ulm U19 team (Germany-NBBL)16.6ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 75.0%, 3PT: 28.3%, FT: 75.4%. How tough was it losing to Munich in the final? What do you feel was the difference?
I thought that we deserved to win, because we worked so hard towards this final game. At the end they just brought more energy to the game and we didn´t step up like we should have.
You played on many teams with Ulm with Swiss army knife Joel Cwik. How special of a player was he? Was he like a teammate mentor for you?
He wasn´t a mentor for me because we are almost the same age. He is a player that always brings energy with his dunks and defense. He is a all rounder who can do a bit of everything on the court and is also a great funny guy to be around.
When you look back at your years in Ulm, what kind of a player did you become there?
I think I developed good at Ulm. I became a player that can create for himself but also for others. I didn´t only develop on the court, but of the court I think I also became a better person, becauseIi was around mature and nice people.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 202cm forward. If you had to compare your game to a pro player who would best fit the description?
Just recently I was compared to Dzanan Musa. I like Mario Hezonja a lot and feel like I play like him, I´m just not as athletic.
You’re a player that fills the stat sheet really well. How big is versatility in your game?
I would describe myself as a Big Guard and Point Forward. I can shoot and score but I think my passing is a bit underrated. My defense improved a lot the last years.
You shot 39% in the Pro B with Munich. How do you see the development of your 3 pointer last season and what goals do you have with it this season?
I had a good shooting season, even though I was injured for a long time. My goal is definetly to go over 40 percent this season, which is possible.
Talk about your defensive game. Are you still raw? What kind of a defender are you at the moment and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?
As I said my defense improved a lot, because I guard smaller guards at practice to get better. Also through the first team here in Munich my defense improved because I´m guarding Euroleauge players. I want to be able to guard multiple positions when I am done developing.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game best?
This summer my focus is definitely on the athletic part, getting faster, more explosive and stronger. That is really what I need to become a pro. Of course I´m also working on my creating with the ball.
You played with FC Bayern Munich last season in the Pro B averaging 13.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 60.4%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 70.0%, played NBBL and 1 BBL game. What is the best thing about playing for this great organization?
It is a really great organization. All the coaches and the staff cares about the player. The professionalism of all coaches and staff is at a really high level. I´m grateful to play for this amazing club and get a chance to develop as a person and a player. I have everything that I need here in Munich.
What is it like being teammates with brother Roko? What do you like most about him as a player and person?
It´s so fun playing with my little brother and I´m so grateful to share the court with him. I hope we stay healthy this season so we can even play more together. He has so much potential, the way he scans the court as a point guard with his size is incredible. Of course he can also score and likes to get everybody involved. But when it gets time to takeover, he knows how to do it. His ceiling is set very high. He pushes me every workout and we spend a lot of time to getter of the court also.
How competitve are you guys? How many 1-1 games do you win in 10 tries?
We are both really competitive and like to win. Of course I win 10 times you don´t even have to ask. Maybe in the future it will change, but for now I got myself every time. He will say otherwise, because he is a liar.
Your game really picked up in Feb 2026 after a long injury. How tough were those first months fighting the injury and getting fit again?
It was definitely a hard time mentally, because I had the injury multiple times. I was in the weight room everyday and couldn´t touch a basketball, that´s what annoyed me the most. Thanks to the great coaches here in Bayern I got fit fast.
How tough was it losing NBBL playoffs to your ex team Ulm? You gave all you had with 55 points in 2 games. What was the difference in this series? Was Teo Milicic to much to handle?
Yeah Teo definitely gave us problems, with his abilities to score but also to pass. We couldn´t stop him. Also Endurance really gave us problems with his size and grabbing rebounds and dunking on people. But also players like Milo Murray or Kayan Yeboah who are very versatile helped Ulm win. If we would have had a complete roster I think we would have won the series. We had guys like Roko Jerkic, Nikolas Sermpezis and Andrija Susic missing the whole series. They´re also some main guys.
You made new strides last season. How did your season grow further with FC Bayern Munich?
Because of my Injury I missed half of the season, but still I think I did a solid job. Bayern is really letting me develop by giving me freedom and trying out new things in games. I also trained a lot with the first team, which really helped me to get better. When you practice with them and then go to Pro B, it seems so much easier. Every Coach wants the best for you and wants you to succeed, I really like this whole philosophy and the ideas of the club.
You made your BBL debut against Braunschweig scoring 1 point in 3 minutes. What will you always remember from that first BBL game?
I will always remember Coach Pesic calling my name to get subbed in. Especially debuting for such a legendary coach is awesome. My first free throw I was a bit nervous, but then I calmed down and made the second one. Also all the fans and players cheering for me was a very special moment.
What was it like playing for legend Svetislav Pesic? Do you remember having a meaningful conversation with him about basketball or life?
We had multiple conversations about basketball, he always tried to get me better at everything I did. He pushed me and always said I need to go harder and really compete.
If you had to pick 1 Munich BBL player who had the biggest impact on you what would it be?
Isaiah Mike
What are your personal goals for the 2026-2027 season?
I would like to end up in first place in the Pro B and have a great Season as a team and individually.
You also play for the Croatian youth national team. How is the stat of Croatian basketball? What young talents are coming up for the future?
Croatia has some very talented players, especially in the generation of 2010.
You played at the FIBA U16 European Championship Division B in Pitesti (Romania) winning Gold averaging 8.5ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 21.1%, FT: 44.4%. What memories will you always have of winning that title?
We won because our team chemistry was great and we trained so much. I will always remember chilling with the guys at the hotels and having fun.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA or Euroleague?
I think the hardest person I ever had to guard is Xavier Rathan-Mayes. His skillset is so unique.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
I will give you a Top 10 because I can’t decide. Not in order.
Milo Murray, Jervis Scheffs, Oliver Kullamae, Endurance Aiyamenkhue, Kayaan Yeboah, Caspar Vossenberg, Namik Muratovic, Andrija Susic, Teo and Zoran Milicic.
Please list your personal Croatian and German Mount Rushmore of all-time best 4 players?
Croatia: Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc, Ivica Zubac, Mario Hezonja
Germany: Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner, Isaac Bonga
Who is your GOAT?
Paul George
Thanks Niko for the chat.
