Pic credit: Simon Engelbert

It was 10 very long years for Trier basketball fans as their beloved basketball team Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier had to endure life in the second division Pro A. That last season in the BBL in 2014-2015 was brutal as they finished in 17th place and had to move down. Moving back to the BBL isn´t self evident as teams Like Bremerhaven are in their seventh consecutive Pro A season while other clubs like Giessen and BG Goettingen have been back, but can´t hold the momentum to stay. It is never easy for clubs to reestablish themselves back in the first division. Because of that it is extra refreshing when a club like Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier return and take the BBL by storm as they have with a 4-0 record. They are actually 5-0 including their cup win. The excitement would probably be bigger if there weren’t teams like Wurzburg and Weissenfels who are also unbeaten. Trier basketball was gone from the BBL for a long time and it is very evident that everyone involved is super grateful to be back.

“Basketball life is going great at the moment for us. We have had 4 big wins and beaten well established teams like Alba Berlin and Rostock. You notice right away here during the day to day on the court and in the office that people have wanted to be back in the BBL for a while. Everyone is super excited. One also sees that with our intro video before games that the organization is centered to be back in the BBL”, stressed Jordan Roland (185-PG-1997, college: Northeastern).

The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier should of already moved up a season ago, but were rudely bounced out of the playoffs by Frankfurt. But last season they were on a mission and finally made it back to the BBL. The way the club has played now, it seems like they have taken the momentum from last season into this season! They kept many players and only added a few pieces including current team top scorer Eli Brooks as well as ultra veteran and winner Urald King who has won titles in 3 different countries.

“For sure. I think that a big part of this has been being able to keep so many players from last season. It is super tough to be able to keep so many players together, but being able to do that has been so important for our success. Adding UK has been so big. He is versatile and so experience. He has been a huge addition for us”, stated Jordan Roland.

Some clubs think big and sometimes that kind of mentality can come back and bite you in the behind. But the The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier had the correct mentality right from the get go and didn´t think to big and forget what is realistic. Their goal is to win 12 games in the easyCredit BBL. They are already one third of the way to that goal. But isn´t this team better than just winning 12 games?

“The goal is to win 12 games and we are already on a good path to beat that. Usually the goal of a team that moved up is to stay in the league. But we feel like despite the current success, we can´t set the bar higher. Winning 12 games for us was more a base than a lofty goal”, warned Jordan Roland.

To be successful, so many things have to come into place. One has to have the right players and develop a sound team chemistry. That is something that is already cemented, but there are also so many other factors like having the right coach as well as having certain special aspects that makes coming to work every day so much more enjoyable. With Jacques Schneider who had to pay his dues for many years as an assistant in Leverkusen, everything has fallen into place since becoming head coach in 2024. His coaching methods and treasure chest have motivated his players.

“I love to play for coach. I like that he allows us to play fast and gives everyone freedom. He leads us well and keeps us together. Having good chemistry already now has been big for our success. He has been able to get high quality players all on one page and establish a culture. I´m not sure if the treasure chest has been an extra motivation for us to perform better, but everyone wants to win and having the treasure chest aspect is really cool. Being able to take a goal and visualize it is important. We really look forward to it when we win games”, added Jordan Roland.

Back 10 years ago, teams like Alba Berlin and Bamberg were the crème de la crème in Germany and in the 2014-2015 season, Trier did play Alba Berlin tough once losing in OT 86-83, but the other time stunk out the arena losing 91-54 and against Bamberg were swept badly losing 71-64 and the second time being blown out badly 84-44. Those were the days when being a Trier basketball fan was extremely tough, but in 2025 the season isn´t even a month old and they beat both Alba Berlin and Bamberg. Beating Alba Berlin on the road was like extra icing on the cake.

“To be able to win in the Uber arena was huge. That is like a NBA arena. The Alba Berlin organization carry a lot of weight in Germany. It was cool to get the win for some of the ex Alba players on our roster”, commented Jordan Roland.

Another interesting aspect to the The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier early success has been their ability to win crunch time games. They didn´t just win 1 or 2, but right away 3 in a row

Being able to win so many close games so early in the season says a lot for our continuity. Having that just makes everything feel more comfortable in a situation like in Berlin. We had control against Bamberg and Braunschweig, then lost it, but came back and won. That says a lot for the character of our team”, warned Jordan Roland.

One of the team´s big strengths is their pace as they have demonstrated that they are one of the most high paced teams in the BBL. That they allow 82 points is only normal when they play so high paced. Working on their defense is a daily thing that the club continues to work on. Every player has a role and every guy is important in their own way. But there couldn´t be 2 more key guys than captain Maik Zirbes who has played in the Euroleague and won 15 titles as well as Behnam Yakhchali who can do it all and just knows how to make the crucial plays.

“With all the experience that Maik has, he commands a certain level of respect. He is a great leader and motivates us all. He plays so hard and shows in practice that nobody can stop him. He is an elite inside presence and keeps everyone together. He is also huge off the court hosting. Behnam brings that clutch factor. I remember last season when he hit 2 big three pointers in Munster. He always plays hard and leaves all on the court. He is unselfish and a team first guy”, warned Jordan Roland.

Jordan Roland and Eli Brooks have been a lethal a 1-2 scoring punch at the guard position. Brooks is averaging 16,5ppg, 3,0rpg and 4,8apg while shooting a potent 47% from the parking lot. While Roland is averaging 15,5pp, 3,0rpg and 2,3apf, but is only shooting 28% from outside. 2 seasons ago in Rostock, he was at 43% and last season 38%. He has that same role from last season which is to score, shoot, defend at a high level and be team first.

Eli is a great player. He is also a team first player and totally unselfish. He is a threat in so many ways. He is a great shooter and can create for himself and others. You can´t take one thing away. He really gives us another dimension. I have been content with my game. The most important thing is that we are winning. Of course I would like to be shooting the ball better. I´m confident my shooting will improve. I have been in the high 30´s and 40% my whole career. It has only been 4 games in. I´m not concerned”, warned Jordan Roland.

A big part of Roland´s game is his leadership. He showed in Rostock and last season that he can help move a team up to the easyCredit BBL. In a way he pulled a Chris Carter last season in Trier. He couldn´t have had a better mentor in Chris Carter that has done the magic 4 times helping Vechta, Chemnitz, Rostock and Jena move up to the BBL.

“Chris was huge for me my first year in Rostock. He was a great leader on and off the court. I remember him helping me feel comfortable off the court. He helped me with groceries and getting adapted to the language barrier. He did many of the little things off the court like hosting”, remembered Jordan Roland who will always take himself in a 1-1 battle in practice against Eli Brooks.

Even if the easyCredit BBL regular season takes a 1 week break, the The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier are not idle, but have a do or die game against the Telekom Baskets in cup play. Bonn has found their groove slowly having a 2 game winning streak after losing the first 2 games. They aren´t a high scoring team, but have defended well allowing only 73 points on average in the first 4 BBL regular season games. Trier have a 5 game winning streak and want to keep it going.

“Bonn is a good defensive team and we are a good defensive team. We just have to be able to play our game. It will be huge if we can play our style. We have a great home crowd. The energy hasn´t worn off. We have to keep the momentum going”, stressed Jordan Roland.