soccer

Can Amon Doerries(Bucknell University) Win At The NCAA Level After Winning So Much At The Youth Level?

pic credit: FIBA

Amon Doerries (211-F/C-2006) is a 19 year old 211cm center that is playing his first season at Bucknell University (NCAA). He played the last seasons in the Alba Berlin organization. Last season he played 5 Euroleague games for Alba Berlin and also played with SSV Lokomotive Bernau (ProB) averaging 10.0ppg, 3.5rpg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT-1 (50.0%), FT: 69.1%, and also played with the U19 team (NBBL) team of Alba Berlin averaging 14.2ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 61.2%. Amon spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball

Thanks Amon for talking to germanhoops.com. You played at your fourth youth tournament. You have won a Gold, Bronze (AST), Silver and Goldtime you play you have success. Is that something that is always tough to realize or are you used to it now?

It’s still and will always be something special, especially the last two years writing history for the German federation in the youth department. So even though you know the group and maybe feel you have a chance the hardest thing is to perform when it matters. In all that FIBA tournaments: after the first three group games, every game is a do or die so it all can be over really quick.
So I am really grateful for the experience, this group of guys and that we were able to be this successful during these last four years.

How blessed do you feel to have won medals at 4 tournaments including 2 Golds. Do you have a favorite?


As mentioned before the last four years were great, not only successful but also fun because this team is amazing and I like a lot of the guys a lot. For me the silver medal of the 2025 WC is my favorite. The path we had wasn’t easy, beating the third of last years European championship Slovenia twice, beating Serbia (last years second place) again, which is always a special duel and also beating Canada and Australia was great. But also personally it was my best tournament after a difficult summer last year.

Winning 4 medals in 4 years is a testament for the amazing work of the German basketball federation. How have you seen the development of German youth basketball in the last years?

I think this generation is special, also having the chance to play with almost the same team for multiple years in a row gives the chance to really build a team. But also the individual quality has never been this good and I hope that some of the guys will get the chance to show their talent with the men’s national team soon.Looking at other generations too, you can see a lot of talent coming up. Then seeing the men’s team already being successful on the big stages is a great feeling.

Congrats on winning the silver medal at the 2025 U-19 World Cup. How good does it feel making history for Germany again at the youth sector?

As I said before I am thankful for the opportunity and all the experience I could gain. But this team was great and that was the biggest part for me because if we didn’t have this much fun it wouldn’t be half as good.

You won a Gold medal in 2022 with Germany at the U-16 Euro. Where does this silver rank with the Gold you won in 2022?

Comparing these two events is hard, because it’s not only two completely different age groups but also competitions. For me it’s great to see that we were successful through all those 4 years. Honestly I would like to know how far we could have come in the A division in 2022.

Germany dominated most games until the final losing to USA. How enriching was it playing so consistent as a team against so many different countries?

It was tremendous to get the chance to play against teams and players with so many different strengths and playing styles from different continents. So being able to adapt and still continue to keep playing our own style was a big part of our success.

Germany had some start problems against Slovenia, but then played with discipline at both ends reaching the final. How do you feel did Germany grow as a team in the first 6 games?

I think the reason for the struggles in the first game was because it was a first game. During preparation we had not even one game where we played as a whole team, it was always someone missing. So after getting this together we found a way to grow, keep learning tendencies and certain styles of each other.

Germany held their own in the first quarter, but then was overpowered by USA who had a 12 man rotation. How difficult was it defensively for Germany to find a solution against the American’s incredible athleticism?

As you said the athleticism of the US team was something most of us where not used to play against, so keeping up this effort of stopping that over and over again was extremely hard. In addition to that they had a great game, scoring a lot of difficult shots, getting extra possessions through offensive boards because of their athletic and stops on the other end.

USA had some incredible players with Dybantsa, Peat and Brown. Which American player had the biggest impact on you?

I think all of them had their part and I don’t want to pick one. I think Peat had some great stretches especially in the beginning but also Brown and Dybansta did the things they can do best.

You have been teammates with Christian Anderson for years. He has developed incredibly in the last years. Do you see him making the NBA in the future?

Chris is a great guy and it was great playing with him. I think he has a lot of talent shooting the ball but is also working like crazy. So seeing his development becoming an even better playmaker was great. I am excited to see how far he can go.

What was it like playing with Hannes Steinbach? What did you appreciate most about his game?

Also Hannes has had an incredible development the last years. I think for me the craziest is his rebounding. Even though he is not crazy tall he just gets like almost every rebound, being able to tip the ball and keep it in the air until you got it is something not a lot of guys can do.

How valuable of a player was Eric Reibe for Germany? Is there anything from his game that you could soak up from his game?

He played a great tournament, after missing the last two years he showed his ability to score the ball. Especially in this tournament, you could see defenders were not ready for his left hand and the touch he has with it – this was great to see and maybe something I might work on a bit more in the future.

Jack Kayil was also an important player for Germany. How vital are his leadership skills?

Jack was very important for the team, he kind of was the extended connection between the coach and the team. But also his playmaking on the court was great and he can always give you some tuff buckets in important moments.

You played in 7 games averaging 3/2 in 13 minutes. How would you rate the way you played at the World Cup U-19?

I had a good feeling with the world cup. Being more solid on finishing but also defending, was a step compared to last year. And it gave the coach the possibility to speed up the game or switch on defense to change up the rhythm of the game.

You played the last 2 years with ALBA Berlin and played a few BBL and Euroleague games. How did your game grow in these 2 years?

If you would ask me what’s the biggest change over the last two years I would say changing my hand of shooting. Which was a very big step for me and something I now, after such a ‘short’ time, feel very comfortable with. But most consistent was developing my body which took a big part and getting the first experiences of being a pro. This is the first time where you kind of get to do your own decisions. So this is an age where you can learn a lot and I think at ALBA you have a good base and good staff around you to do that.

You played with so many great players at Alba Berlin. What player had the biggest impact on you?

For me personally it was the professionalism of Matt. You could see he has experienced a lot and I did learn a lot from him about taking care of your body.

You won the 2023 NBBL title in Frankfurt. What do you remember from the buzzer beater from Nils Machowski?

The championship is a great memory, especially now for me leaving Berlin this is something I talked about with some of my old teammates and coaches. And the moment where you are uncertain if it’s going to be overtime or winning the game is something really exciting and great to experience.

What are your memories of the 2022 Euro Gold where you averaged 3/1 in 7 games? You had 7 points in the final against Finland.
It was the first time being with this group so I kind of tried to find my own role, sometimes better and against some teams it was harder to adapt.

You won the Gold at the U-18 Euro. You played very little averaging 1/1. What positives could you take from this Euro?

This has been a difficult summer for me finding my rhythm and role in the team. But in the end we became European champion and this is what stays.

Who is the toughest player that you have battled so far in your career that reached the NBA?

Maybe it wasn’t a official game but I was practicing with Franz Wagner during the off season. Not only playing against him but also talking to him, getting tips and him sharing his own experiences was something interesting.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Dorian Grosber and Anton Anton Nufer, because we have spent a lot of time together, lived together and shared most of the ALBA experiences together. Jack Kayil because we know each other since a really long time, spent a lot of time in school, practices and now also national team together. And then let’s take Jane Mueller and Hannes Steinbach because I really like these two guys and we had a great time at national team.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron and Michael Jordan we will talk about them shortly again. And then Kobe and KD. Because Kobe and his work ethic is just iconic and then KD as one of the best scorers ever and someone I personally always liked as a player.

Who is your Goat?

In my Opinion MJ is the Goat as someone who has an incredible legacy, but for me overall Lebron is the best player ever.

Thanks Amon for the chat.

Tanner Omlid(FC Porto) Learned 4 Vital Pillars From Jim Shaw With Attitude Work Ethic Leadership And Team And Still Lives By It Today

Tanner Omlid (196-F-1993, college: WOU) is a 32 year old 196cm forward from Idenpendence, Oregon playing his 8th professional season and 7th in Portugal and third with FC Porto. He also played 2 seasons with Imortal BC Albufeira and 2 seasons with Sporting Clube de Portugal Lisboa. He played his rookie season with Aceitunas Fragata Moron (Spain-LEB Silver) averaging 9.3ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.3apg, SPG-1 (2.4), FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 70.6%. He began his basketball career with Central High School and then played 2 seasons with the U.S. Military Academy (NCAA) averaging 5.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.5apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 58.0%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 63.0% and 6.6ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.2apg, 2.2spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 10.0%, FT: 50.0%. He then finished at Western Oregon University (NCAA2) averaging 10.5ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.3apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 59.3% and in his second season 16.3ppg, 7.7rpg, 3.2apg, 3.1spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 65.6% and in his last season averaged 13.6ppg, 6.5rpg, 3.3apg, 2.7spg, 1.8bpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 30.2%, FT: 69.2%He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Euro Cup game against German team Rostock.

Thanks Tanner for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your 8th professional season in Europe and 7th in Portugal. Is it fair to say that Portugal has become like your second home?

Most definitely Portugal is my second home. I have made some great friends whom I consider family. This country and the people have been very good to me and especially my family. My son is even Portuguese.

Your playing your third season with FC Porto (Portugal-Liga Betclic). You have won 3 titles with them. What makes this organization so special?

This organization had confidence in me after coming back from my ACL injury. It is a club that puts in the same amount of trust and respect that I give to them.

The team won the last 2 cups, but haven´t won the league since 2016. Does this season´s team have the talent for the double?

I believe that if we are all healthy at the end of the season then we have a great chance to win the championship this season.

Unfortunately you are inactive at the moment- You had shoulder surgery. How is the rehab going and when are you expected back?

Rehab for the shoulder is so much different than the knee. I’m so used to working through the pain, but with this recovery I’m not supposed to feel pain. I’ve really had to be patient and trust the process. I’m finally able to start doing basketball moves and shooting, which has not only been good physically but has helped me mentally as well.

You won 2 cups with FC Porto. Was one more memorable than the other one?

I would say the last Portugal Cup; we beat Benfica in the semis where I had a great game. Then we went on to beat Sporting in the finals and got to celebrate with all of our fans.

Last season you played with ex NBA player Toney Douglas and 2 years ago lost to him in the final. What memories will you always have of him as a teammate and opponent?

Toney is a player with a tremendous IQ of the game. He can score on all three levels and plays defense with physicality and precise angles. As an opponent, I remember him making big shots in the finals that were very crucial. As a teammate, I will remember his competitiveness and will to win. It was a pleasure to play alongside him.

In your first season at FC Porto, you lost the last game to Benfica despite scoring 24 points. What memories will you always have of that 2 game series?

I will remember how I gave everything I had and still came up short. After that series I could look at myself in the mirror and honestly say I gave it my all.

You’re a player that fills the stat sheet great, but how valuable is your defensive game? You had 7 steals twice in a game in the Fiba Europe Cup. What NBA defender is your role model?

I try and take tid bits from the best defenders of all time. My hustle comes from Dennis Rodman. My exterior on ball defense is from Gary Payton. Then I try to work angles like Tony Allen. But if I’m being honest, my role model as a defender is Brian Dawkins from the Philadelphia Eagles. He had the ability to strike fear into people before even playing them. Not that people should be afraid of me, but I try to come into the game being fearless. We are all on the same court.

You played 2 seasons with Sporting Clube de Portugal Lisboa (Portugal-Liga Betclic). What memories do you have of this great organization? What did you enjoy most about the 2 years?

My first season was a very fun season. We were a historic team for being the first Portuguese team to make it to the Quarterfinals of FibaEurocup. We won 3 cups. I ended up tearing my ACL at the end of the season. It was a great group of guys and a pleasure to compete with them. My second season was a rehab season for my ACL. I tried to come back after 10 months, but I wasn’t even close to where I was before or where I am now. I learned a lot that season because I watched every practice and analyzed the game. I enjoyed playing with Travante Williams because we are both from the GNAC (NCAA D2). We both had a chip on our shoulder and still feel like we have something to prove. He’s a winner. I miss competing with that man.

You had some really good games that first season, but none better than against Pova where you scored 32 points. Was this possibly your best game in Portugal besides your 40 points against Braga??

Those were some good games, but I’d say my best game was in the semi finals of the Portugal Cup against Benfica last season. I think I finished with 29 points and made some tough 3’s. The games against Povoa and Braga were great games, but when it is a rival on a big stage it makes the game a little more special.

You played 2 seasons with Imortal BC Albufeira (Portugal-Proliga) and helped the team move up to the first division. What was so special about that team?

That team was special because we all bought in. Coach Modesto had a coaching philosophy that matched well with all of the players. We worked hard and that same group of guys all signed for the next season.

In your second season there you were teammates with veteran DJ Fenner. What was it like battling him on a daily basis in practice? What could you soak up from his game?

DJ was and still is a very hard worker. We battled throughout the season and helped each other get better. I really enjoyed getting to know him as a person and basketball player. His footwork on offense was really good. His ability to turn his hips and square up to take shots (on balance) off of all types of screens was impressive.

In the 3 game playoff series against Lusitania you averaged 24,0ppg and 11,0rpg and shot an amazing 23/26 from the 2%. Was this the best basketball you played in a week´s time in the first division Portugal?

I never really thought of my best week’s but those stats speak for themselves. I can’t think of any other time in the top league that I’ve played that good.

You played your rookie season with Aceitunas Fragata Moron (Spain-LEB Silver) averaging 9.3ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.3apg, SPG-1 (2.4), FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 70.6%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

That was a tough year for me because I spent half the season away from my wife. I remember walking down the street and people would stop eating and talking to just look at me. I didn’t speak the language that well until about February. When I flew back to the US, I knew I was back when I could understand everybody. I was so accustomed to walking through town and hearing people talk and it would be like a white noise because I couldn’t understand. Then I got back home and I kind of missed the innocence of not understanding what was being said.

You played 2 seasons at the U.S. Military Academy (NCAA) averaging 5.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.5apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 58.0%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 63.0% and 6.6ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.2apg, 2.2spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 10.0%, FT: 50.0% What memories do you have of playing for Zac Spiker?

My entire time West Point was kind of a blur. I was so sleep deprived and just trying to get through the day and pass my classes. My escape was the 3-4 hours a day when we were “up the hill” at the basketball arena and weight room. Coach Spiker was the person who taught me how to win offensive rebounds on free throws.

You then played at Western Oregon University (NCAA2) from 2015-2018 winning the GNAC title twice. What title was sweeter?

On championship teams everybody has a role and every role is equally important. The first title was sweet because we were a team that was surrounded by hoopers. We were a D1 team disguised as a D2 team. If any of those guys wanted to go pro they could have come to Europe and had good careers. The second title is different because that was my team. I was the only starter from that previous team that was on this team. We were special because we all had a chip on our shoulder and bought into Coach Shaw’s system.

In your second season you had an amazing 18/15/11steals triple double in a win over Seattle Pacific. What memories do you have of that game?

The main memory I have of that game is having a reverse dunk and it was alumni night so the gym was packed. After the game, I met Robert Day who let me know that I could have a good professional career. It planted the seed.

In the same season in another game you had 34 points in a 76-74 win over Seattle Pacific. In your senior year you exploded for 32 points. You seemed to have their number?

I don’t think it was Seattle Pacific, but more Kegan Bone’s. He was an assistant coach on that first WOU team that won the title. He left us and to quote Michael Jordan, “I took that personally”. Looking back now, if I was in his shoes I would have done the same thing because at the time that was his dream job, but at the time it was personal.

How did head coach Jim Shaw groom and prepare you best for a pro career?

I only have good things to say about Coach Shaw. From day 1, he treated us like professionals. He had standards on the court. He instilled the 4 pillars that I still live by on and off the court. Attitude: Be positive and grateful Work Ethic: Don’t allow someone else outwork you physically and mentally Leadership: To be able to lead someone else, you must first be able to lead yourself Team: Nothing great in life comes from selfishness. His system was built on his 4 pillars, but he had the ability to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of a team early on and he would change the entire offensive/defensive schemes to get the maximum potential out of his players and win. He wasn’t hubris in his philosophy and would listen to input and would have serious conversations about anything.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Ali Farouq-Bey?

I think we only played 1v1 a few times because they would last forever. At the time, I was not a great offensive player and Ali could hold his own defensively. But he had a hard time scoring on me, so it came down to whoever could make the harder shots that day. He is one of my favorite teammates of all time, and now he is a middle school teacher and I’m proud of him.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

I played against Kyrie Irving in an open gym. I remember I had him locked in the corner after chesting him twice, then he drove left towards the free throw line and made a left-handed runner going parallel to the baseline. He went on to use the same exact move the following season to hit a game winner against the Denver Nuggets.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

1: Abdul Gaddy (Crawsover-pro-am) 2: Marcus Lovett (Sporting) 3: Travante Williams (Sporting) 4: Andy Avgi (WOU) 5: Robert Upshaw (Crawsover-pro-am) P

Please list your NBA Mount Rushmore?

MJ, LeBron, Steph, Shaq

Who is your Goat?

LeBron James.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

No I haven’t.

Thanks Tanner for the chat

Ivan Kharchenkov Wants To Keep His Winning Ways Alive At Arizona(NCAA) With A NCAA Title And Getting Drafted By An NBA Team In 2026

picc redit: FCBB

If one was to give Ivan Kharchenkov (201-F-2006) a new middle name, the simplest would be winner. Winning is never easy as stress is always involved. What this 19 year old has achieved in only the last 2 years is simply incredible. But what is even more amazing is that he has done it at the Pro and youth level. In the summer of 2024 he led team Germany to the U-18 Eurochampionships in Finland averaging 17.5ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.8apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 64.5%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 66.7%. At the pro level he helped FC Bayern Munich win the easyCredit BBL title despite playing only 12 games and averaging 11 minutes per game and scoring 38 points, he gave his 2 cents to the success. His winning ways continued in 2024-205 as he added 2 new titles to his collection. He finally made 3 is a charm winning his first NBBL (U-19) title with FC Bayern Munich. Even if he only played 2 games the whole season, he did win in spectacular fashion taking a short break from the BBL playoffs against MBC and taking a train with his mother from Munich to Berlin on the day of the final and helping his friends Dominik Dolic, Ivan Volf and CO win the championship. He then returned back to the BBL playoffs and helped FC Bayern Munich nip ratiopharm Ulm in an exciting 5 game series. But when a competitor continues winning like he does, that hunger just continues and so does the stress. After the 2025 BBL title, Kharchenkov had a short vacation and then went on to the new challenge. He will play the 2025-2026 NCAA season with the University of Arizona. But instead of heading over at the end of August to start, he had to go already in mid July. “I have to do summer school. It is a requirement for international students”, said Ivan Kharchenkov. He wants to keep the winning streak alive with winning the 2026 NCAA title and crowning everything with being drafted by an NBA team.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Ivan Kharchenkov at the 2025 NBBL final in Berlin

The young 3 level scorer already has accomplished more than most German professional players winning 2 easyCredit BBL titles as a teenager. If one would ask Michael Jordan what his sweetest of 6 NBA titles would be, he may very well comment on his first, but how was it with Kharchenkov? “The sweetest was my second one. I contributed more to the second one while the first was a gift”, said Ivan Kharchenkov. He actually only played 1 minute more than in 2023-2024, but he was a much important player for Gordon Herbert. His games grew from 12 to 39 as did his points per game from 3 to 5. He scored in double figures in 5 games including 20 points in Frankfurt and 17 points against BG Goettingen. He also posted 15 points against Wurzburg and 14 points a piece against Alba Berlin and the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. He played a total of 8 playoff games and logged a total of 44 minutes. In the BBL finals, he played 4 games against ratiopharm Ulm and logged 30 minutes in the 4 games. He had a massive game 4 netting 7 points. “That was my biggest moment in the finals. I played a lot. We went to Ulm with our backs to the wall. It was a real nasty environment and we held them to 53 points. I had goosebumps”, remembered Ivan Kharchenkov. In the 2024-2025 season he played only 1 minute more in the BBL and 2 less minutes in the Euroleague. Was it a lost season for him? “No it wasn´t. I did play less minutes, but I played way more games. I feel despite playing less games last year, I still learned a lot despite one door being closed”, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov.

The 2023 U-18 Gold medalist who lists TJ Shorts, Facundo Campazzo, Justin Jaworski and Alfonso Plummer as his toughest opponents last season ahd to fight for minutes everyday. It is no secret that it has always been tough for young German players to get minutes with FC Bayern Munich. Kharchenkov expected to get more minutes. Usually a player will seek the talk with the head coach about playing time. Didn´t he have talks with 2023 World Cup champion head coach Gordon Herbert about his situation? “I didn´t talk to him in detail. He just told me to stay ready. I think it isn´t right for a player to talk with coach about his minutes. I have to accept it. I have to show in practice that I deserve the minutes. I showed in games against Ulm and Belgrade that I could help the team. His job is too give minutes”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. He is a year older and more basketball wise and learned valuable things not only on the court.” I learned a lot of things behind the scenes. It is important to stay calm and not get mad when something doesn´t go right. On the court, I feel like my defense developed further. I watched the game of Nick Weiler-Babb a lot. He taught me how to take the position correctly and when to gamble and when not to. I also improved off the ball. I think being in the weight room another year helped my athleticism as well ”, added Ivan Kharchenkov. He had the fortune also of being teammates with ex NBA player and NCAA champion Shabazz Napier who showed he could become 2025 BBL finals MVP. “He taught me to always believe in myself. I like his overview of the game and how calm he always is”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov.

Ivan Kharchenkov 2025 NBBL(U-19) German champion with FC Bayern Munich

The 2025 NBBL (U-19) champion who believes that in a game of 1-1 and 10 attempts against Nick Weiler-Babb, he would make 5-6 baskets and 4 baskets against ex NBA player Carson Edwards now has a new challenge in the NCAA with the University of Arizona. There will be so many young Germans playing in the NCAA this season like never before. It wasn´t only money that attracted players. “I´m really excited to be able to play in USA. Basketball is such a culture there. The arenas aren´t as crazy as in Belgrade. It will be different. I had to make this move, because I wanted more playing time. I had more offers and Arizona wasn´t even the best financial offer. I liked the coach and that he has had success with international kids. I feel like we could do some damage at March Madness”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. His new coach is Tommy Lloyd who definitely is used to success. He was an assistant coach at Gonzaga for 18 seasons and won 13 WCC titles and reached the NCAA final twice. He is in his 5th season with Arizona and reached 3 NCAA Sweet 16´s in his first 4 years there and recently coached Team USA to the U-18 World Cup Gold. “We clicked pretty well in our talks. We talked about my role and about my strengths. Coach told me I could be the best playe there, but I have to prove it every day in practice”, said Ivan Kharchenkov. It is a no brainer that one of his goals is to get drafted by an NBA team in 2026? “That is the plan. If that doesn´t work, I will stay a second year. I also hope that I won´t get injured”, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov. He will be in great company with Bryce James the son of the GOAT for many Lebron James. What was his reaction when he heard that he would be playing with Lebron James´s son? “The second time, I spoke with the assistant coach, he mentioned it. My reaction was oh cool”, smiled Ivan Kharchenkov. How well could these 2 guys harmonize on the court despite both being shooting guards? “That is hard to say. I feel like I can play well with anyone. I´m versatile. We will see”, stated Ivan Kharchenkov. He surely will meet Lebron James one day when he comes to watch Bryce play. What would be the first question he would ask him? “I would say one word How? How can you still play so well at a high level at age 40? I would also ask him what he learned at age 18 that made click when he got to the NBA”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. This will be an exciting year for Ivan Kharchenkov. Just another chapter for him in a booming career.

Urald King(Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier) Has Come A Long Way Since Playing In Bad Aibling 10 Years Ago To Winning In The Berlin Uber Arena Recently

Pic credit: Simon Engelbert

Urald King (198-F-1990, college: SE Oklahoma) is a 35 year old 198cm forward from West Monroe, Louisiana playing his 10th professional season and first with the VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier (Germany-BBL). He has gathered experience in Iceland where he played parts of 4 seasons as well as in countries like Germany, France, Finland, Austria, Denmark and Israel. He began his basketball career at West Monroe high school and then played at Southeastern Oklahoma State University (NCAA) from 2010-2014 and as a senior averaged 16.9ppg, 9.1rpg, 1.3apg, 1.0spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 58.8%, FT: 67.1%. He spoke to eurobasket before a cup game against the Telekom Baskets Bonn.

Thanks Urald for talking to eurobasket.com. Congrats on the great 4-0 start. How good is basketball life for you at the moment?

Basketball life is perfect, when your team is 4-0 what better start can you ask for.

The Romerstrom Gladiators are 4-0 at the moment and the big surprise in the league. Is it fair to say the team has taken the momentum from last season into this season?

Absolutely! Obviously I wasn’t here last season but the message has been clear, the goal was never to be happy just to be in the BBL but to competitive. The board did a great job of keeping the core together and finding complimentary players like myself to add to the roster to keep and build on the momentum.

The Gladiators were 10 years in the second division (Pro A) and now back in the easyCredit BBL. Do you sense that proudness of being back in the first league with the day to day work from everyone in the organization?

For sure, from day 1 we were told how important it was to the city and fans to reach the BBL again. With every practice, game, and promotional events for the club you can feel the pride of being back in the BBL.

The team kept many players from last season and only had to integrate a few guys. How easy has the transition been for you coming from the Danish league?

It’s been up and down. My role is a bit different from what I had in the Danish league so I had to make those adjustments. But as you mentioned there’s a lot of core pieces back from last season so they’ve done a great job of helping me get up to speed.

The goal is to win 12 games and the team already has 4 wins. You won titles in Iceland, Austria and Denmark and knows how winning teams tick. How special are the Gladiators and aren´t they better than a team that has the goal to win 12 games?

It’s still too early to determine how special this team is or will be but I will say we have a group of guys (especially the coaches) who come to work everyday and put their best foot forward. When you’re around a group of men like this the sky’s the limit.

You have played for many coaches in your career. How unique has Jacques Schneider been? He seems to make coming to work fun

I have been globetrotter but the great thing I can say about Jacques is he does make it fun and he’s relatable. He does a great job of making you feel comfortable and you’re able to communicate with him on a personal level. And he also does a great job of holding everyone accountable no matter if you’re a 10+ year guy like Me, JJ, or Maik or a rookie.

How unique is the treasure chest? Do you feel like this has given the players an extra motivation to perform well in games?

I think the treasure chest is a creative tool for the team and it helps keep the excitement because you naturally grow curious as to whats inside of it. Also, We understand we’re a newly promoted team to the BBL and most nights we’ll be the underdogs and the opportunity to play on this stage is motivation too.

You beat Alba Berlin and Bamberg back to back. Nobody in Trier would ever have believed that could happen in 2015, but this season it happens. How special was winning in Berlin in that atmosphere?

For me personally it was amazing!! I started my career off in Bavaria, in Regionalliga II so getting a chance to play in an arena with 10k+ people there was extraordinary. And from a team standpoint it showed us that we’re capable of being anyone on any given night.

One good sign so far has been that Trier won the last 3 games in crunch time and by slim margins against Berlin, Bamberg and Braunschweig. What does that tell you about a team that can win like that so early in the season?

It comes down to our late game execution, we know our roles and we stick to them. Also we understand most games in this league will be close in the end so it’s all about execution and we’ve done a great job of that thus far.

The team can score, rebounds well and have shot the ball solidly from outside. What do you believe is this team´s biggest strength?

I think our biggest strength is we’re an egoless team. We all know our roles and play them but we also understand on any given night it can be your night (to be the leading scorer) so we’re all ready.

The club allows 82 points on average. Is tightening up the defensive end one of the biggest areas to improve?

Of course, this league is full of talent and we understand we can’t win every game based off our offensive abilities alone.

How have you experienced team captain Maik Zirbes best this season? The ex Euroleague player can do it all on the court and even run marathons off the court.

Maik is a very experienced player as you said and he does a great job of leading us from a leadership standpoint. Honestly speaking as productive as Maik has been, I think he’s just now starting to hit his stride and the league will see how much more he has to offer.

Behnam Yakhchali is an incredible player that can do it all and knows how to make crucial plays. What have you learned to appreciate the most from him?

Behnam, B as we call him is an extremely poised player you never see him fluster or speed up he plays at his own pace. He’s a very experienced player and has a good feel for the game. He does a great job of putting guys in the right positions to be successful and is a great shooter.

You played with a true leader with Skyler Bowlin in Denmark and now play with Jordan Roland. He led Trier last season to the Pro A title. Could he become a top point guard in the BBL this season?

I definitely believe Jordan can be a top point guard in this league. He’s great under pressure and has the ability to make difficult shots.

Your averaging 11/6/1 and shooting 41% from outside. How content have you been with your play? You have adjusted well and proven you can be a impact player in the best league you have played in in your career?

I think if anyone has followed me throughout my career they’ll notice I can adjust in any circumstance and this is no different. Yes, this is the highest level I’ve played out but I have a great feel of the game and no matter the level I know how to be productive.

You have shown your whole career that you fill the stat sheet and be an impact player at both ends. What exactly is your role on the team?

My role is to be consistent. We had a rid range of scores so my role is to help space the court, rebound at a high level, defend, bring energy to the game, and make shots when they come my way.

Trier wants to keep their winning streak alive with a win in the cup against Bonn on Friday. Bonn is finding their groove after losing their first 2 BBL games and now have a 2 game winning streak. They are a team that average 73 points per game and allow 73 points per game. What will be key to getting the win?

The key points to the game is to make them adapt to our playing style. We’re currently undefeated for a reason so we don’t want to change what’s been successful but we also want to focus on being physical and making them uncomfortable.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Nolan Adekunle?

Nolan is a very good player but I will always bet on myself.

Thanks Urald for the chat.

Max Peters(Skyliners Juniors) Wants To Make The Next Step In The Pro B And Be Important At Both Ends

Maximilian Peters (206-F-2007) is a 18 year old 206cm forward playing for the Skyliners Juniors and Eintracht Frankfurt / Fraport Skyliners U19 team (NBBL). Last season he played 16 game sin the Pro B averaging 2.8ppg, 1.9rpg an din the NBBL averaged 7.6ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 65.0%. At the moment he is injured and spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Max for talking to germanhoops.com. Your currently Injured. How did it happen?

It happened in a test game against Saarlouis. I went for a rebound and fell on the foot of another player.

How is the rehab going?

The rehab is going well and a bit faster than planned. I´m working now on strength and stability.

When are you expected back?

I hope to be back at the start of November for the next home game against FC Bayern Munich.

You improved your NBBL stats last season from 3,0ppg to 7,0ppg. How did your game grow?

I had more volume with taking shots and I became more physical.

You shot only 20% from outside. How much of a goal is it to improve your outside shooting?

It is very important for me to continue to improve my shooting. I had good and bad shooting phases last season. I have to become more consistent. I´m taking more reps than usual.

On what other areas of your game do you want to improve on most?

I´m constantly working on my physicality. I worked a lot last summer with coach Markus Klusemann on my athleticism and explosiveness.

Last season you played 16 Pro B games averaging 2/1. What are your goals in the Pro B this season?

I want to make the next step in the Pro B. I want to be more important on the court at both ends.

What is your impression of the current Pro B team?

The team is very young and has a lot of individual qualities. We are a team that has many good qualities at both ends. I feel like we already have a good chemistry at this stage of the season.

The team has good German scorers with Ivan Crnjac, Dusan Nikolic and Jamie Edoka. What is your role exactly?

My role this season will be to be a scorer from the bench. I want to be that sixth or seventh man off the bench that is able to keep offensive qualities high.

What has been your impression of talented Czech player Lukas Smazak?

He is a really good shooter. But his biggest strength is his passing. His court vision is really good and he is a very smart player.

What is your biggest wish as a player this season?

My biggest wish is that we as a team start winning games in the Pro B and continue to compete well.

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

I win.

Thanks Max for the chat.

Ivan Crnjac(Skyliners Juniors) Wants To Dominate This Season At The Pro B Level And Get In The Skyliners BBL Rotation

Ivan Crnjac (203-F-2007) is a 18 year old 201cm forward that averaged 20,5ppg, 7,9rpg, 2,2apg, and 1,7spg in the NBBL (U-19) and in the Pro B averaged 11,0ppg, 4,1rpg, 1,3apg and 1,0spg in the 24-25 season. He helped the Fraport Skyliners win the B League title at the U-18 International Cup in Tokyo, Japan. In 2023 he reached the JBBL (U-16) top 4. He won the NBBL MVP award for the 24-25 season. Currently he is injured, but will return soon back to action. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Ivan for talking to germanhoops.ttzcom. Your injured at the moment and had to watch the Fellbach win in Frankfurt. How did your injury happen?

I twisted my leg in practice during the first week of training camp.

How is your current status? When will you be back in action?

I had torn ligaments. I will be out 2 more weeks.

How is your rehab going?

The rehab has been going well. I have been jogging.

Last season you made a big jump in the Pro B averaging 3,8ppg and 1,6rpg in 2023-2024 to 11.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.3apg last season. How did your game grow in the Pro B?

I had a bigger role and my self confidence grew. I feel like I improved in all aspects of my game. I also became more of a scorer.

You also shot the ball really well with 36% in the Pro B to 34% in the NBBL from outside. What do you still have to do to reach 40%?

I was around 40% the whole season. I just had a weak shooting phase at the end. I need to be more consistent even when I´m not shooting well. I have to take better shots off the dribble or on the pin down.

You had many great games last season. What was your favorite game? Possibly the 29 points against Ludwigsburg?

Yes I would agree. The Ludwigsburg game was a cool one.

On what areas of your game did you work on most last summer?

I worked a lot on my ball handing as well as getting stronger. I want to be able to compete against BBL centers.

You played at the U-18 European Championships last summer. The team didn´t get a medal. What was your summary of the team performance?

In my eyes, we were a better team than the result. I think it was still a good team result. I think the team showed more of a done dimensional game. We weren´t able to showcase the individual qualities of each player.

You averaged 7,0ppg and 4,0rpg and shot 24% from outside. What was your summary of your own game?

The way I played wasn´t what I expected. I would have liked to have doubled my average of 7/4. I was in good form. I awaited more trust and more possessions and shots for me.

I thought that you couldn´t showcase your whole game. Do you feel like you were a bit in the shadow of Matthieu Grujicic?

Yes. But he is a very good player. He was the number #1 option, but I feel like more guys could of contributed. It was too many quick pick and rolls with Gurjicic and the center.

What did you learn from the Euro experience?

I learned that sometimes things don´t happen the way you want them to happen. You just have to take what comes. I also saw that there are better players than me. I know that I can always improve.

What is your impression of the 2025-2026 Skyliners Juniors?

We are a young team that has a good attitude. It is a talented and hungry bunch of players.

What is your impression of massive 18 year old talent Lukas Smazak from the Czech Republic?

He is a good point guard. We actually played together once in a fun tournament in France. He is a pass first guard with very good passing skills. He also has a good shot. He will be a good fit.

Do you feel like you will crack the easyCredit BBL roster?

It would be great to crack the BBL roster. I will need to produce for that to happen.

What are your personal goals for this season?

I want to play in the BBL and get in the rotation and make an impact. In the Pro B, I want to be dominant and perhaps be the scoring leader.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Max Peters?

I win.

Thanks Ivan for the Chat.

Could This Be The Best Pro A Season Ever For The EPG Baskets Koblenz? Why Not?

It is no secret that the last 2 seasons of the EPG Baskets Koblenz were nothing to brag about. In fact they were quite poor as both seasons ended with the club ending on the 16th position. Despite the non-success, the organization has always been ambitious. It is also no secret that the long term goal of the club is to play in the easyCredit BBL. Sport director Thomas Klein loves his team and will do anything to bring success. The last 2 seasons featured 2 coaches with Pat Elzie and Marco Van Den Berg that were able to bring in talented individual players, but that doesn´t guarantee winning. One hopes that one learns from it´s past mistakes. Thomas Klein´s first good mood was bringing in the success coaching duo from Rhondorf with Stephan Dohrn and KJ Sherril. My feeling that this season´s club could be a good one grew with every new signing that happened through out the summer. It seems like this time the club has learned from it´s past mistakes and have brought in the right mix from the guard position to the center position. My feeling that this could be a good season continues to be there as the team continues to grow in pre season. The team has individual talent, character and heart. “Almost every new player wants to prove themselves. They are all high character guys. They want prove themselves not with their ego´s, but as team players. They all want to play together”, warned EPG Baskets sport director Thomas Klein. This is thought was heightened simply by the type of players they have brought in. One can never be sure about the Americans, but with Calvin Wishart (188-G-1999, college: UCSB)t, Tim Smith Jr and Aleksa Kovacevic, the team has 3 winners. I will be bold and proclaim that this will be the best season ever for the EPG Baskets Koblenz. Ok one can only get better from landing on the 16th place the last 2 seasons, but still the Pro A is fiercely competitive where any team can beat any team on any night. The only place is up with this team and they will be better than 16th place. “I´m really looking forward to the season and have 100% a good feeling. I think the team is very homogeneous and we are stronger than the last 2 seasons. We are above average at the guard position. I think the team has shown that in pre season”, stressed Thomas Klein.

A big problem the last 2 seasons was the defense of the EPG Baskets Koblenz. At least last year they tried to focus and defend better and at times it worked, but as usual they never could truly establish a real defensive identity and 1-1 defense often hurt them most. In both seasons, they had the talent to score a lot, but still scored a lot less than what was expected. A big problem last season was the terrible three point shooting percentage. This season, the club wants to be able to combine offense and defense and be more consistent. If the formula worked once before in Rhondorf where Dohrn led the team to the Pro B title, why not do it again in Koblenz. “It’s pretty much the same concept here in Koblenz. With Stephan, he puts emphasis on defense. So we want that to be our identity, not just an offensive team. We know we can score, but we want to have consecutive defensive stops. That’s what wins games”, warned KJ Sherrill.. This season the club has really powerful guards with Wishart, Kovacevic, Hicks, and Buck, but also have very skilled big men who are very experienced. In the last years, the big men play wasn´t as focused on scoring. Will that change this season? “Our bigs maybe won’t be our outstanding scorers, but their presence under the basketball is what we need. Rebounding and being physical down low. Controlling the paint and setting good screens. With their experience, they are able to contribute to the game a whole lot and we are happy to have them with us”, stated KJ Sherrill. “We are very big especially at the positions 3-5, but even big at the position 2. We are very versatile and will play fast and be aggressive on defense”, warned Thomas Klein.

The clubs 2 best signings were most likely Calvin Wishartt and Aleksa Kovacevic. With Wishart, you have a motivated guard who showed last season that he was a top guard in the Pro B. He knows how to lead a team and is more than just a great offensive player, but gives all on defense. He could be a MVP candidate. Aleksa Kovacevic has BBL experience and is ready to have a great Pro A season so he can get back to the BBL. He played many years for Crailsheim and practiced on a daily basis with top BBL guards TJ Shorts, Trae Bell-Haynes and Dwayne Russell and learned from NBA coach Tuomas Iisalo. The Serbian is so hungry. He will rock the Pro A. Badu Buck has had his ups and downs as a pro, but had success with Dohrn in Rhondorf and will give important offensive qualities to the team, but most importantly leadership skills. Garrett Hicks comes to Koblenz after a strong rookie season in Georgia. Don´t let his Damian Lillard scoring fool you. He is more than that, but a guy who will do anything to help the team win. The team kept young guard Jacob Hanzalek from last season. He had trouble last season getting minutes and it won´t be easier this season, but he is a point guard that plays controlled that can hit the three pointer as well as make the big play on defense.

The team has a talented rotation at the forward position with 2 Germans and 2 Americans. Tim Smith Jr comes from the Dragons Rhondorf and has a great rookie season and wants to make the next step in the Pro A. He has shown in the pre-season that he can do that. He is a scorer and tenacious rebounder that is also an impact defender. He doesn´t talk much on the court, but leads by example. He most likely won´t have the Pro B stats, but will be consistent in the minutes he gets. He could be a glue guy type of player. DJ Jeffries came late to the team and is hungry for his pro break through. It is his first season overseas and he is more than motivated to have success after a very disappointing season in the G-League. His middle name could be Mr versatile as he fills the stat sheet with ease, but most importantly is a good defender that can guard many positions. He wants to be the next successful DJ in Koblenz. The team also brought in experienced Jonas Niedermanner. He like others on the team is very versatile and can shoot the three. The fan of Tadas Sedekerskis has 6 seasons of Pro A experience as well as BBL experience. Perhaps the most interesting signing was young 22 year old German Jannis Sonnefeld. After paying his dues in the Bamberg and Trier organizations, he had his Pro A break through in Paderborn last season averaging 9/7. He is also versatile and likes to shoot the three pointer. When describing the 2 centers Marko Bacak and Alex Moeller, all one can say is experienced. Bacak has 6 Pro A season experience and 4 BBL seasons with Oldenburg and was even teammates with BBL legend Rickey Paulding while Moeller proved in 5 Pro B seasons that he was a top center and during his 4 Pro A seasons was a solid role player. Bacak is another versatile big man that plays like Johannes Voigtmann while Moeller is the classic banger under the basket.

So what kind of a season will the EPG Baskets Koblenz have this season and where will they land? When looking at the schedule, one can´t say that they have an easy start. They have to face BG Goettingen and Crailsheim in the first 3 games. At least those games are at home. A good start would be ideal for the team. The club knows that you can´t look forward, but simply take it game by game in the Pro A. This should be a club that will average somewhere between 80-85 points. They also should be a strong rebounding team. They also should be a better three point shooting team after their horrible shooting season in 2024-2025. Scoring won´t be the problem, but can they be a well rounded defensive team? The club definitely have the versatility and good defensive players. It will be the job of the coaching staff to develop an identity quickly and then continue to develop it. “When you play fast and aggressive, you give the opponent more possessions. We will see more high scoring games than last season. Everybody thinks that coach Dohrn only concentrates on offense, but he is a very skilled defensive coach as well. I like how he really goes into detail”, warned Thomas Klein. I see this club having the potential of landing somewhere between 9-15. “I see us being somewhere between 10-12 this season”, added Thomas Klein. If they can develop through the season and refrain from getting injuries then they will have their best Pro A season ever.

In Klaus Perwas We Trust As Could This Be The Season Where The Skyliners Finally Make The BBL Playoffs Again?

Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.DE

It feels like an eternity since the last time the Skyliners made the easyCredit BBL playoffs. The last time the 2000 BBL cup winner reached the promised land not including the Covid season, they were led by the historic Gordon Herbert. Even if a guy like Gunnar Wobke surely could of predicted some things in the future when regarding Herbert, I’m sure nobody would ever have thought that the Canadian would be very responsible for the German national team having so much success. When the Skyliners bowed out to FC Bayern Munich in the spring of 2018, Franz Wagner was still a NBBL player, Isaac Bonga wasn’t even drafted by the NBA yet and Luka Doncic was still with Real Madrid. The Skyliners in the last 7 years have been an organization that have really struggled. It was even that bad, that the club had to play a season in the Pro A. The 2023-2024 was successful in that they moved right back to the BBL as that is definitely a feat. Teams like Bremerhaven, Giessen and Trier have stayed in the Pro A for years showing you can build yourself a rut in the Pro A.. Having enough money in the budget has always been a problem for the Skyliners. Often one reels in young Americans with little experience and just hope for the best. The best news story going into the 2025-2026 season is that they finally have Klaus Perwas as head coach. Perwas had always been the faithful assistant coach and once in a while even was interim head coach, but having the main responsibility was never his cup of tea. Somehow Wobke was able to persuade him to do the head coach job. Perwas is a coach that had been responsible for helping developing so many young Germans over the years and if there is 1 player that knows if Perwas can handle the head coaching job then it Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson who played there form 2009-2023. ‘ He was always cool and focused as an assistant coach. Now as head coach, we can see how he does everything his way. His defensive principles were always the same as Gordie Herbert. Now we will see how his offense will work. He has always been known as a defensive coach, but now we will see how the Skyliners offense works’, warned Quantez Robertson. With Perwas as head coach and a face lift with the roster, could this finally be the season again where the Skyliners make the playoffs?

You never really know what to expect when a club produces a fine house cleaning as they reeled in 7 new players. From the new players, the club have added a healthy mix of young and experience. But they also kept a healthy core from last year. Important is having that solid duo at the big positions with Lorenz Brenneke and Jacob Knauf. Both have experienced highs and lows over the years. Brenneke will bang inside while Knauf likes to sparkle form outside while also helping inside. The team added 2 really talented bigs with BBL experienced versatile Till Pape who played the last 2 years in Bonn and newcomer Ryan Hawkins who played in France and Italy the last 2 seasons and also sparkled with his versatile game while he shot 45% from outside in his last 2 seasons in the NCAA 2. The team also reeled in Radii Caisin and Jaedon LeDee for the forward positions. Casin played parts of 4 seasons in the BBL with 3 teams and played 96 BBL games, but never averaged more than 3,3ppg in a season. After 2 successful seasons with BC Raiffeisen Flyers Wels (Austria-BSL) where he averaged 18.8ppg, 7.6rpg, 3.1apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 82.2% last season, he is hungry for his BBL break through this season. With LeDee, the Skyliners could have a guy that will be one of their consistent scorers in the season while also grabbing many rebounds. He played his rookie season in the G-League and reached the NCAA final in 2023 with San Diego State University.

The Skyliners are also very deep and talented at the guard position. Going into the season, they have 3 players with BBL experience with Garai Zeeb, Will Christmas and Marcus Domask. Zeeb is going into his 7th season with Frankfurt and has 147 BBL games under his belt. He is a great team player that will give effective minutes form the bench. Christmas is like a mini Cinderella story. He began in the Pro B and via Luxemburg reached the BBL and became a solid player player. He fills the stats sheet and is a consistent scorer while Domask already had a short tour of duty last season with Frankfurt. He is another versatile player that has G-League experience and showed last season that he needs no adjustment time to the BBL. The club also added 3 more guards with 2 with no experience overseas with Logan Johnson and Isaiah Swope and Nahiem Alleyne who has experience in Greece and Poland and played at 3 NCAA schools including UConn and Virginia Tech. Johnson is probably one of the more interesting signings as he is the point guard and will run the team. His dunking and athleticism may stand out, but he knows how to lead a team a she showed as a rookie with the Oklahoma City Blue averaging 10.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 25.6%, FT: 76.1%. Isaiah Swope is a rookie and showed at 3 schools in the NCAA that he could adapt to any coach averaging 16/3/3 in his last 3 years. He is quick and gets to the hoop well. This could be Malik Parsons’s 2,0. Alleyne is a great shooter that averaged 38% from down town in 3 years at Virginia Tech. But as a rookie overseas had growing pains. The gritty defender is hungry for his overseas break through in Frankfurt. The Skyliners also have 2 talented young Germans with Ivan Crnjak and Jamie Edoka who had solid Pro B seasons in 2024-2025 and are planned for the main BBL rotation. However this Skyliners roster is talented and deep. The question is will they anything besides garbage time minutes this season?

So what will be the fate of the Skyliners this season. The excitement is massive simply because Klaus Perwas is the head coach from day 1 of a season. He has been known for being a coach who prides his team to play defense. One saw that philosophy under Gordon Herbert and with Denis Wucherer in the Pro A. It will be interesting to see how he wheels and deals with the offense. The club definitely have offensive weapons and should score much on a consistent level and it will be interesting to see how well the players are able to identify and accept their roles. The team has valuable shooting players but a team also with big men who finish at the paint. One can only hope they become more than just a shooting team. With the athleticism, the team should play fast as well. The team should be an above average rebounding team and sky is the limit at the defensive end. The club has many hungry players that will want to produce and have to not only execute on the offensive end. The Skyliners aren’t the only club with many new players, but there are so many other teams with the same scenario with new players. The question is always how well can these new guys get integrated to the easyCredit BBL and how well can the coach develop that correct team chemistry. The Skyliners have many guys with LeDee, Swope and Johnson where the potential to be successful is great. That is one of the exciting aspects to every season. Can some of these BBL newcomers break out or will they be flops. The Skyliners schedule in the first month is difficult to evaluate as it is hard to rate how well an Oldenburg and Ludwigsburg will play as they have many new faces. However MBC and Braunschweig are teams that have had success recently and won’t be cake walks. A good start to a season is always beneficial. Predicting where the Skyliners will finish is never easy. However I will bold enough to say that they won’t be 17th or 16th in May 2026. I see this team being a club that could be one on of the surprise teams this season, if many things go right and they aren’t hit by the injury bug. I see them somewhere from 8-14. It is finally time again for the faithful Skyliners fans to have joy again. The suffering in the last years simply has been to long There is that famous phrase on the US 1 $. In God we trust. Skyliner fans should etch ‘In Klaus Perwas we trust’.

Being An Actor Like His Dad Was Never On Nicolas Kodjoe´s(FC Bayern Munich 2) Menu As Being An Athlete Was Simply His Calling

nicolas with dad Boris at the U-19 World cup in 2025

Having Hollywood actors and Actresses have their offspring follow in their foot steps is nothing unusual. It definitely happens. From the top of my head, it doesn´t get any better than the father son duo of Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas who´s careers have spanned more than 80 years. But there are others as well like the family trio of legendary actor Martin Sheen and his sons Charlie and Emilio Estevez who have been gracing the big screens since the 80´s. Some other father and son and daughter duo´s include Sean Connery and Jason and Don Johnson and Dakota. But not all sons and daughters follow in the foot steps of their parents. For example last season Dragons Rhondorf fan Arne Westor told me a real scoop about one of FC Bayern Munich 2 talents Nicolas Kodjoe (198-F/G-2006). I love knowing these fine tidbits for my basketball play by play. He had mentioned to me that his dad Boris was a well known Hollywood actor best known for the TV series Seattle fire fighters. But not only dad Boris is in show business, but also wife and mother of Nicolas Nicole Ali Parker is an actress who played in the 1997 movie Boogie Nights with Mark Wahlberg. But Nicolas didn´t do what Charlie Sheen or Michael Douglas did and take the acting route. Nicolas´s love became basketball. “ I never wanted to act or be a model, It just never appealed to me more than being an athlete”, stressed Nicolas Kodjoe.

Pic credit: FCB Bayern Basketball

Nicolas Kodjoe who spent quality time with family in New York this summer and lists current Boston Celtic Jordan Walsh as his toughest opponent so far was born on Halloween 2006. He grew up in Los Angeles and played at Southern California academy. He has the German citizenship, on account of his dad having a German mother. He began palying for German youth national teams starting in 2022 and right away picked up a Gold medal at the U-16 Euro averaging 4.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1spg. “There are so many great memories from that tournament. The celebration after winning was pretty great. My role then was to be mainly a defensive player, my role now was to be 3 and D, with the ability to catch and drive”, stated Nicolas Kodjoe. In 2024, he won 2 medals first at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany (Unofficial World Championship U18) winning the Bronze playing 7 games averaging 1.4ppg, 2.7rpg and a few months later won the Gold at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket in Tampere (Finland) averaging 4.8ppg, 2.2rpg. Winning 2 Golds in a span of 2 years was a massive achievement for him. “It was super gratifying to win back to back golds with the same group of guys”, remembered Nicolas Kodjoe. He spent 2 summers in Germany winning Gold medals, but wasn´t the only guy flying in from the States. His teammate Christian Anderson of Texas Tech was also doing it. Despite only being with the squad for a short time during the summers, a bond still was able to form. “After our first win back in 2022, everyone stayed in great contact with each other. Even though everyone went their separate ways, we still remained close. So the last tournament we were a very very close family”, warned Nicolas Kodjoe.

Pic credit: FIBA

The athletic forward who lists Lebron, Jordan, Kobe, and Magic on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore decided to come overseas and played the 2024-2025 season with the FC Munich 2 team that competes in the Pro B and also played with the NBBL (U-19) team. He definitely has learned how to win with the youth national teams and also did with FC Bayern Munich U-19 team. After 3 tries, FC Bayern Munich finally captured the title, the first since 2019. “ The guys had told me about the year before and their final 4 exit. It was a great feeling to help bring a title to Munich”, said Nicolas Kodjoe. He was mainly an energizer short of player from the bench, but stepped up big from the bench scoring 11 points over Vechta. He also had a very solid first Pro B season averaging 4,4ppg, 2,8rpg and 1,1apg. He did his best in the minutes he got always trying to make an impact in any way at both ends of the court. “This year showed me what works and what doesn’t. Especially against grown men. My physicality and aggression is my biggest growing point”, said Nicolas Kodjoe. He couldn´t name 1 player who had the biggest impact on him. All were crucial in him being able to make the adjustment smoother. “Everyone had a unique impact on me, it wouldn’t be right to say just one person. Everyone was crucial to making me feel at home and welcome. But in a way, he has to have a special relationship with roommate Ivan Kharchenkov who is balling at Arizona (NCAA) this season. Did his killer instinct rub off on him? “The most important lesson I learned from Ivan is to not shy away from who you are, play your game, and make everyone see you”, said Nicolas Kodjoe. He didn´t decide to go the NCAA route like so many, but will return back to FC Munich to keep developing in Bavaria. “My biggest goal this year is to help bring this team to the playoffs. My aggression and downhill attack will be on a higher level this year”, warned Nicolas Kodjoe.

Pic credit: FIBA

After winning the NBBL (U-19) title, his winning ways didn´t end in 2025 as in less than 2 months, he helped the German U-19 team win the Silver medal at the World Cup. “This year was a great year of growth for me”, added Nicolas Kodjoe. Germany had some start problems against Slovenia, but then played with discipline at both ends reaching the final. “With every game we played we grew much more disciplined and in control. Maintaining control was one of our keys to winning with each game we played. Maintaining control under any circumstances”, remembered Nicolas Kodjoe. It must have been very enriching for the team being able to play so consistent as a team against so many different countries. “It just proved how much chemistry and balance we have as a team. Our history together really showed in those moments”, expressed Nicolas Kodjoe. Germany had to battle the aggressive and annoying USA and held their own for a half, but then fell apart in the second half. He definitely knew what he was up against as he had played against some of them and trained with them. The athleticism of USA was simply too much for Germany. “The depth that USA had was tough to compete with, their athleticism was brought out because of how rested everyone on their team stayed”, remembered Nicolas Kodjoe. The talent level of Germany was high, but the talent level of USA was maybe a tick higher as there were future NBA draft picks with Dybantsa, Peat and Brown. One of these 3 had the biggest impact on him. “Koa Peat was super fundamental and composed throughout all 4 quarters”, stated Nicolas Kodjoe. With all the medals that he has won, where does the Silver one rank? “This silver ranks 2nd in level of importance”, said Nicolas Kodjoe.

2025 NBBL in Berlin

The forward who names Lebron James as his GOAT has been playing with the same guys now for 3 summers and he has seen them develop and now exactly where the path of Christian Anderson will go. “Chris has an amazing work ethic, skill, and loves to compete. He’s played and will continue to play on the biggest stages if he keeps improving. I believe he will be an NBA player within the next couple of years”, warned Nicolas Kodjoe. Watching big man double double monster Hannes Steinbach do his thing was enriching and he will have to watch from afar as the ex Wurzburg player will be playing for Washington (NCAA) this season. “Hannes’ size and touch around the rim already put him in a very high position. His fight and competitiveness is what puts him even higher”, added Nicolas Kodjoe. He also saw the incredible leadership skills of Alba Berlin guard Jack Kayil flourish. “Jack is a very unselfish guard, he knows where to find you. It’s very fun to play with someone like that”, said Nicolas Kodjoe. Despite only playing 4 games at the U-19 World Cup and 11 minutes less than in the Pro B, his professionalism is huge. Guys like Janne Muller, Tom Stoiber and him had to fight for minutes. His mindset and discipline is already at a high rate. I “I love to play, I want to play, but at the end of the day it is the coaches decision, and I have to live with that”, stressed Nicolas Kodjoe. Even if he didn´t play heavy minutes, the whole experience on and off the court was enriching for him at the U-19 World Cup. He experienced a lot including seeing Dirk Nowitzki in the crowd. “My coolest moment off court was just having downtime with the team, either playing ping pong, or just hanging with the guys. Dirk has been a friend of my father since before I was born, he’s a great person to be around”, warned Nicolas Kodjoe. But nothing will be more special than having that unique brotherhood with 7 guys that began to win at the first tournament in 2022.” No doubt, we will definitely be brothers for years and years to come”, stressed Nicolas Kodjoe.

Germany Need Just 1 Quarter To Show Who´s Boss Pounding Portugal 85-58 Reaching Quarterfinals At The Euro 2025

pic credit: FIBA

The way Germany was dominating at the 2025 Euro, one was wondering if it would ever stop? Germany averaged more than 100 points in the first 4 games and were defending with discipline and heart and nobody could stop Germany. In the Round of 16, they had an annoying opponent with Portugal who were one of those sleeper teams that you couldn´t ever underestimate. At the end of 40 minutes, the result showed again that Germany had dominated in the win. But for those who only saw the score at the end and didn´t watch the game, wouldn´t have known that Portugal was dangerously close down only by 1 point after 30 minutes. However all Germany needed was 1 quarter to show who´s boss as they totally pounded Portugal with a 33-7 fourth quarter to defeat Portugal 85-58 and earn a quarterfinal birth on Wednesday. “Germany’s victory was built on a dominant second half, where they completely shifted the game’s momentum through sharper half-court execution and relentless defense. They forced Portugal into rushed, low-quality shots while steadily improving their own shot selection and ball movement. Portugal’s early energy faded without consistent scoring support, while Germany’s depth and balanced attack took over. This comeback highlighted Germany’s ability to adjust under pressure and control games down the stretch”, stressed ratiopharm Ulm U-19 head coach Florian Flabb. Germany was led by their potent scoring duo of Franz Wagner (208-F-2001, college: Michigan) and Dennis Schroeder with 16 points a piece.

Germany received a scare early trailing rapidly 7-2 with not even 2 minutes played. Boston Celtic Neemias Queta led the charge with 5 points. However Germany didn´t let that quick burst of energy by Portugal stall them, as they showed once again how explosive their offense can be as they stormed out on a 9-0 run to lead 11-7. They got 3 buckets on drives by unstoppable drivers Schroeder and Wagner while ex NBA player Daniel Theis also scored. Defensive specialist Isaac Bonga showed his range nailing a trey to get Germany back on track and in the drivers seat. Germany kept the lead getting an additional basket by Schroeder while ex Stanford forward Osca Da Silva gave valuable support off the bench as Germany had the 17-12 advantage after 10 minutes. “ Germany’s 17-12 lead showed their composure after a shaky start. Portugal struck first with quick points inside, but Germany answered through sharp half-court execution, creating quality looks and steadily taking control. Their focus on attacking the paint shifted momentum, while Portugal’s offense stalled, producing just one three-pointer and two free throws outside of their early push. The 6-2 run to close the quarter was decisive, as Germany’s defense forced Portugal into rushed, low-quality shots. This defensive pressure, combined with balanced scoring, gave Germany early control”, said Florian Flabb.

In the second quarter. Portugal stormed back to get the slim lead, but Germany continued to defend well despite having awful shooting percentages and only trailed 32-31 at the break. Portugal took advantage of Germany´s shooting woes cruising out on a 9-0 run to suddenly lead 26-21 with 3,46 to play. In the run, they shared the ball well and were sparked by the 3 ball from Candido Sa and Travante Williams. However the German principle of playing fast by head coach Alex Mumbru paid dividends as Bonga, Schroeder and Wagner all scored on transition giving Germany the lead back at 27-26. However Portugal stayed tough and continued to attack on offense showing no timidness as Williams and Queta connected for the 32-31 advantage at half time. “Portugal flipped the script in Q2, outscoring Germany 20 to 14 to carry a halftime lead, capitalizing on Germany’s cold shooting and offensive disconnect. Despite the scoring drop, Germany’s offense retained a degree of structure through steady half-court execution. Portugal seized control by being more aggressive and efficient offensively, especially from the perimeter and the foul line, while Germany continued to struggle from distance. Germany’s inability to generate high-quality shots allowed Portugal to stay in rhythm, but Germany’s defense stiffened enough to prevent a runaway. In spite of offensive miscues, Germany forced Portugal into several rushed, low-quality attempts as the quarter closed. Their defensive consistency kept the momentum from slipping entirely“, stated Florian Flabb.

The third quarter was very tight with 3 lead changes and despite Germany going on a little run at the end, they couldn´t shake Portugal as they continued to have nerves of steel trailing only by 1 point after 30 minutes of play. Germany went on a little run at the start with 4 points by Bonga and free throws by Wagner as Germany led 37-34 However Portugal made smart offensive decisions and always had an answer getting baskets by Rafael Lisboa and Queta to dead lock the game at 39-39. Both teams continued to trade baskets as Wagner and Queta scored as Portugal led 44-43. Germany gained some momentum at the end with a 8-0 run as Bonga and ex Alba Berlin guard Maodo Lo dropped trey´s to lead 52-43, but they couldn´t hold it as once again they allowed Portugal to strike back. A Portugal 8-0 run sparked by three´s by Diogo Brito and Diogo Gameiro had Portugal dangerously close with only 10 minutes to play “Germany improved half-court execution created cleaner looks inside, while defensive rotations tightened, limiting Portugal’s open shots. Portugal’s offense, which had been sharp in the second quarter, stalled under pressure, generating mostly contested, low-quality attempts. Germany’s rebounding edge also became a factor, giving them extra possessions and slowing Portugal’s transition game. This shift in physicality and shot quality swung the momentum firmly in Germany’s favor”, added Florian Flabb.

The game had been close for 30 minutes and the question when was the bubble finally going to burst for Germany? Sometimes all it takes is 1 quarter to totally turn a game around and that is exactly what Germany did with a dominating 33-7 rout. Germany started the fourth quarter with a crushing 13-0 run to lead 65-51 deciding the game in a matter of 3,57 minutes. In the run, Germany shared the ball spreading their love around as Maodo Lo connected for 2 three´s while Daniel Theis and Andi Obst scored while Dennis Schroeder gave support with 4 points. Travante Williams halted the stop with a trey, but Germany´s explosive offense continued with a 10-0 run led by three´s by Lo and Orlando Magic Tristan Da Silva as Germany suddenly led 74-54. Francisco Amarante stopped the run with a lay in, but Germany didn´t slow down, but wanted more closing out the game strong with a 11-2 run. In the run, Tristan Da Silva exploded with 8 points and 2 three´s while Obst nailed a open trey. “Germany completely took control in the fourth quarter, outscoring Portugal 26-9 to secure the victory. Their defense forcing turnovers and pushing Portugal into hurried, low-quality shots. On offense, Germany finally found rhythm, combining efficient inside play with timely perimeter scoring to stretch the lead quickly. Portugal’s fatigue showed as their ball movement broke down and second-chance opportunities dried up. Germany’s balance on both ends turned a tight game into a comfortable win, underlining their depth and composure in high-pressure moments“, explained Florian Flabb. Germany had 5 guys score in double figures as Isaac Bonga had 15 points and Maodo Lo 12 points while Portugal was led by Neemias Queta with 18 points. Germany shot 46% from the field and 27% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 10 turnovers while Portugal shot 30% from the field and 20% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 15 turnovers.