Pic credit: Schwelmer Michi
Jonathan Almstedt (208-C-1999) is a 27 year old 208cm center that is playing his second season with the ETB Miners Essen (ProA) averaging 4/1 stats. Last season in the Pro B he averaged 8.0ppg, 5.1rpg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 57.6% and helped the team win the Pro B title. He has previous Pro A experience having played 3 seasons with the ROMERSTROM Gladiators Trier (ProA) playing a total of 89 games. Previously he played 2 seasons with SG DJK Saarlouis-Roden/BBF Dillingen (Regionalliga). In the 2023-2024 season he played with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (ProB) averaging 6.0ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 84.2% and in the 2024-2025 season played with the EN Baskets Schwelm (ProB) averaging 12.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 68.8%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 57.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
The 2025-2026 season was such a special season for the ETB Miners. Why was this team so special?
It´s really the fact that we had such a good chemistry in the Team. I can´t remember one time that we had a real dispute or something similar. It was just a great group of guys who appreciated each other and wanted to have a good time on and off the court.
The team lost only 5 games during the regular season. Was there a game during the season where you then knew, we will win the whole thing?
Our motto was to go from game to game. So that in head it was probably before the last game.
How vital was head coach Lars Wendt for the success? What was his biggest ability as a coach to be able to help bring success to the team?
One of his biggest strengths is that he is open to speak to players and listen to their opinions or ideas. He is also willed to get feedback about how we players feel about certain things and that makes it easier to speak to him if for example the team felt sore that day because the practice the day before was really intense. That way he was able to adapt the intensity. I would say that’s a skill not every coach has.
How special was it sharing the back court with Mychael Paulo? What part of his game will you always remember best?
Mychael is great guy as well. Not the most talkative guy, but he is speaking by his actions on the court. I´m talking about clutch 3s and wild and-1s. Oh yeah and I can´t forget about his reliability from midcourt. I never saw anybody hitting halfcourt shots that consistently like Mychael. The Harlem Globetrotters might be a thing for him after his professional career.
How valuable was sniper guard Marc Friederici? What besides his scoring helped the team be successful?
Marc is/was a really important guy and probably the hardest worker in our team. This guy lives and dies for basketball on and off the court. I would call him our allrounder. He makes an impact on both sides of the court. On offense he attacks the basket and shoots his threes and on the other side he defends like crazy. Not to forget his athleticism and ability to rebound/collect the ball (while I tried to box out the Bigs ??). So all in all a great guy who does more than just shoot threes.
How valuable were bigs Ben Uzoma and Niclas Sperber? What was each player´s biggest attribute for the success?
Ben is just a beast in the paint. Once he is in there its´ tough to get him out of there. His presence in the zone on offense and defense is a huge advantage in this league and I´m very happy I had him in my team again and not like last season as an opponent. Captain Nic is the guy who kept us all together and the most important link between us players and coaches. On the court you never know what he will do next. With his abilities to shoot but also to post up and score with his back to the basket he is really difficult to guard.
Which player was the most improved during the season?
Gabriel Jung is the answer. Nothing more to say about that. I mean look at how he led the team in the games and saved us in some intense Moments in a lot of games. Actually I also do not want forget about Reik and Lukas who in my opinion also did a great step, by playing more confident and energetic in games and practices.
You averaged 8,0ppg and 5,1rpg in 20 minutes. How content were you with your season in Essen?
I´m really happy about how the season went. Of course there is always something that you don’t like about your personal game or something you wished would have been better. But who am I to not be happy after what we achieved this season and like I said earlier I always wanted to play in a team that plays to be promoted or win the title.
How did you feel did your game grow this season with a winning team? Did your leadership skills grow as well?
That’s a good question. I think in every team and every season you learn something new that you can and should add to your game. I got a lot of input for my postgame by Raffi Wilder. He showed me that it does not always have to be those fancy moves in the post but that the basics can be really important and can bring you already far. I think my role as a leader wasn’t that important this season because we already had a lot of experienced guys like Nic, Marc; Q or Ben. Of course here and there I tried to give some advices if asked but all in all I just watched and learned for myself.
What was your second favorite game of the season after game 2 of Orange Academy?
Probably the second mainround game against Schwelm in Schwelm. It´s always special to play against former clubs and this one was even more special because I met a lot of familiar faces. Another one that’s stuck with me is the second game against Frankfurt in the first round of the playoffs.
In the 2024 season you played with the EN Baskets Schwelm (ProB) averaging12.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 68.8%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 57.9%. You doubled your scoring average from your Iserloh season. This was your break out season. What steps did you make with your game in Schwelm?
Schwelm gave me a bigger role with more playing time and responsibilities. Schwelm brought me the fun in playing Basketball back. I lost that a little bit during my Time in Iserlohn. I think that’s the biggest point in how those numbers in Schwelm doubled. I just felt good and was happy to give something to the Ttam even though we fell short of our goal to reach the playoffs.
After 3 seasons in the Pro A with Trier you moved to the Iserlohn Kangaroos (ProB) averaging 6.0ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 84.2%. Were you a little disappointed that you weren´t more of a focal point in the offense?
Like I said, Iserlohn was a little hard for me, but I don’t want to miss the time I had and the people I met. I think out of everything you experienced you can take something positive and that’s what I did.
Who won a 1-1 in practice in Iserlohn in 2023 and now in 2026 in Essen in practice you or Ben Uzoma?
The question is rather am I allowed to shoot or not. I would say it’s a friendly 50:50 between me and Ben.
You played 3 years in the Pro A with Trier never averaging more than 4,5ppg in a season. How do you have these 3 years in your memories. How did your game grow further in these years?
I have Trier in great memories and I am still very grateful for that time. I came there as a guy who played basketball for maybe 2 years and got the opportunity to start my professional basketball career in the second division in Germany. I was surrounded by teammates who played basketball for half their life and started young by playing JBBL and NBBL or at colleges. I never did that, I played most of my life as a semi good goalkeeper in youth football and suddenly I was in an organization for professional Basketball. How did my game grow during these years? Well I think I basically got it there and had the opportunity to go step by step. At the end I just wasn’t ready for what the organization was planning and needed to go my way and I think that was the right decision by both sides.
You played for Jermaine Bucknor in Trier and a year later he was NBA champion with the Boston Celtics. How crazy was that and what will you always remember when you hear his name?
Buck is a Legend in Trier and I think he will always be. Personally I will always remember his professionalism and his support towards anybody who asked him for help. I´m a little sad that we never shared the court but it is what it is. He is a great guy and I wish him all the best for his future as a coach.
Before you went to Trier you played some seasons in Saarlouis. How do you remember these years. How valuable were the battles in practice with veteran Muharem Mujkanovic? How vital was his presence?
Those years were my first years in basketball and I learned all my basics there. I basically went form Landesliga to Regionalliga in two years and got a lot of input in a short period of Time. Guys like Hari played a big role during this time: He showed me what Postgame is and started off showing my first couple moves.
When you look back at your Saarlouis days, what did it mean you be teammates with Mr Regionalliga Ricky Easterling? How amazing a player was he?
I think at that time I didn’t really realize how good of a player Ricky was/is. But in retroperspective it´s been some nice two years with him. Like Hari he is one of those guys I looked up to at that time, like probably every youth player that came or still comes out of that Saarlouis/Dillingen program. Me and Ricky always have to laugh nowadays when I come back to watch a game and we always talk about the time back then. Who knows if he is still balling with 50 in a couple years, maybe we will have a reunion haha.
Who is the toughest player that you ever played against in your career that reached the NBA or Euroleague?
To be honest I cant remember that I played against somebody who now is playing in the NBA or Euroleague. But who knows maybe in the future I will see somebody hooping there.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
That’s not fair…but I try:
Austin Wiley, Quashawn Lane, Marco Hollersbacher, Dan Monteroso, Chris Frazier
Please name your NBA and German Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?
NBA:
Dirk Nowitzki, Nikola Jokic, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
German:
Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schröder, Andi Obst, Franz Wagner
Who is your GOAT?
Just for the ragebait: Nikola Jokic
Site note: I´m really not that much into the NBA rather now than in the past
Thanks Jonathan for the chat.
