And then there were none … MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg took down the last undefeated team in the easyCredit BBL as they handed reigning champions ratiopharm ulm their first loss of the season. Ulm is now one of six teams with a 4-1 record. In the meantime, DeWayne Russell joined the 1,500 point club for EWE Baskets Oldenburg, one of 18 current players to have reached that scoring plateau.
In this section, we break out our English language skills and inform you about the latest news from the German easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga. If you’re short on time but still want your fill of Germany’s top basketball league then you are in the right place. Every week David Hein (www.heinnews.com) brings you up-to-date in German basketball – the easyCredit BBL short and sweet:
Ludwigsburg hand Ulm first loss of season
MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg picked up a big win in their early season fight as they beat ratiopharm ulm 99-70 in handing the reigning champions their first loss of the season. The game was close until Ulm fell apart in the fourth quarter, which Ludwigsburg won 34-14 for a 2-2 record and UIm fell to 4-1. Ulm shot just 21.4 percent on three-pointers and lost the rebound battle 43-30. Silas Melson came off Ludwigsburg’s bench for 20 points with Desure Buie scoring 17 points and Elijah Childs chipping in 10 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. LJ Figueroa was Ulm’s main weapon with 16 points with Georginho de Paula adding 14 points in the losing effort.
Russell joins 1,500 point club, Oldenburg spoil Tadda milestone
DeWayne Russell stole the spotlight by joining the 1,500-point club in the easyCredit BBL in EWE Baskets Oldenburg’s 92-83 win at Bamberg Baskets on a night Karsten Tadda played his 585th game - pulling him into second place in appearances since 1998 behind only Alex King. Oldenburg wasted a 13-point first quarter lead before pulling away with a 25-14 third quarter to improve to 4-1 with a third straight win and Bamberg falling to 1-4. Oldenburg shot 46.4 percent from long range and also outscored Bamberg 36-20 in the paint. Russell finished with 25 points to go with 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Charles Manning scored 20 points off the bench and Deane Williams added 12 points and 9 rebounds in the win. Zach Copeland paced Bamberg with 22 points and Justin Gray and Trey Woodbury both had 16 points.
Vechta bounce back from first loss, remain perfect at home
RASTA Vechta bounced back from their first loss of the season to remain undefeated at home with a 97-90 overtime victory over Basketball Löwen Braunschweig. Vechta led by 10 points in the first quarter and the game was close the rest of the way. TJ Crockett tied the game for Braunschweig 79-79 with 26 seconds in regulation to force overtime. Joel Aminu hit a three-pointer to start a 7-0 spurt in the extra session and that was all Vechta needed. The promoted side improved to 4-1 and Braunschweig lost their third straight game for a 2-3 mark. Braunschweig shot just 20.0 percent from long range and made just 67.9 percent on free throws. Wes Iwundu continued his excellent season with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists with Tommy Kuhse and Ryan Schweiger both scoring 17 points. Jilson Bango was unstoppable with 23 points and 13 rebounds for Braunschweig and Ahmaad Rorie added 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Bonn celebrate 500th home game with third straight win
Telekom Baskets Bonn celebrated their 500th home game in the easyCredit BBL by rolling past HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim 90-68 for their third straight win. Bonn turned the game in their favor with a 29-14 second quarter and never looked back for a 3-2 record and Crailsheim crashed to a 1-4 mark. Bonn shot 55.6 percent for the game including 65.8 percent on two-pointers. The hosts also forced 22 Crailsheim turnovers. Brian Fobbs was Bonn’s leading scorer with 19 points with Noah Kirkwood scoring 18 points and Harald Frey chipping in 12 points and 7 assists. Leo Westermann had 20 points in the losing effort for Crailsheim.
Seven Chemnitz players keep Wolfpack winless
NINERS Chemnitz survived some massive injury issues with just 7 players scoring in a 74-65 home victory over SYNTAINICS MBC for a four-game winning streak. Chemnitz grabbed control of the game with a 23-15 third quarter and improved to 4-1 and SYNTAINICS MBC is still the only winless team at 0-5. The guests had a nightmare shooting night from deep, hitting only 2-of-23 for 8.7 percent. Chemnitz also used a 44-35 rebound advantage to overcome 19 turnovers. Jeff Garrett had a monster double-double of 18 points and 16 rebounds while DeAndre Lansdowne scored 18 points and Jonas Richter added 13 points and 9 rebounds. Martin Breunig was the guests’ leading scorer with 16 points.
Rostock go to OT again: Seawolves down Tübingen at home
ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES went to overtime for the second time this season and gathered their second win of the season as they fended off Tigers Tübingen 108-103 at home. Nine points was the biggest lead for either team and there were 17 lead changes and 13 ties. Derrick Alston drained a three-pointer with 8 seconds left to knot the game 93-93 and send it to overtime. Eric Lockett hit a big basket to make it 104-101 inside the final minute of the extra session and Chris Carter and Tyler Nelson both knocked down two free throws in the final 26 seconds to secure the win. Rostock moved to 2-2 and Tübingen are 1-4 after a third straight defeat. Rostock shot 37.9 percent from long range and made 6 more free throws than Tübingen. Alston collected 29 points, 6 rebounds and 5 rebounds, Nelson scored 23 points and Chavez Goodwin (18 points and 14 rebounds) and Carter (11 points and 11 assists) both picked up double-doubles. Jhivvan Jackson led Tübingen with 32 points and 9 assists, Jimmy Boehheim added 19 points and Mateo Seric tallied 16 points and 8 rebounds.
Rostock strengthen backcourt with Wes Clark
ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES added reinforcements for their backcourt as they brought in Wes Clark. The 28-year-old signed until the end of the season as the club was dealing with an injury to Mike Smith. Clark has played twice in Germany - both times with NINERS Chemnitz from 2020-21 and 2022-23.
Tübingen sign Masters to replace Kivimaki
Tigers Tübingen reacted to their latest injury concern as they signed Javon Masters until the end of the season. The 28-year-old point guard, who has Jamaican and Canadian passports, will help fill the gap left by the injury to Aatu Kivimaki.
Berlin blow past Göttingen with 30 assists
ALBA BERLIN showed their offensive firepower and team balance in blowing past BG Göttingen 114-77 on the road. Berlin raced away already in the first quarter and led 39-14 after 10 minutes and were never challenged in moving to 4-1 and Göttingen fell to 1-2. Berlin dished out 30 assists in shooting 60.0 percent for the game including 55.0 percent from long range. The guests also won the rebound battle 42-26 while also forcing 18 Göttingen turnovers. Khalifa Koumadje shined with 21 points and 7 rebounds in the win with Gabriele Procida scoring 20 points and Justin Bean adding 15 points and 7 rebounds. Fedor Zugic knocked down 5 three-pointers for a team-high 21 points for Göttingen and Umoja Gibson contributed 15 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals.
Hamburg finally win again, down Heidelberg to snap 8-game skid
Veolia Towers Hamburg finally remember what it’s like to win a game as they downed MLP Academics Heidelberg 88-73 on the road to snap an 8-game losing skid. A late first half run gave Hamburg a 15-point halftime lead and the guests pushed it out to 20 points for a 2-3 record and Heidelberg fell to 1-4. Hamburg shot 55.4 percent for the game including 69.4 percent on two-pointers. Hamburg dominated in the paint with a 48-26 advantage. Aljami Durham came off Hamburg’s bench and paced five players in double figures with 21 points and Seth Hinrichs had 17 points and 9 rebounds and Will Christmas chipped in 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. Mike McGuirl was Heidelberg’s leading scorer with 17 points while Bennet Hundt came off the bench for 14 points and 3 assists.
Bayern give no chance to Würzburg, win third straight
FC Bayern Munich grabbed a third straight victory as they rotated through their players in a comfortable 87-64 home win over Würzburg Baskets. Bayern used a 14-0 third quarter run to take control for a 4-1 record. Würzburg fell to 2-2 as they shot just 34.3 percent for the game including 25.0 percent from long range. Bayern also committed only 9 turnovers. Syvain Francisco and Carsen Edwards both scored 13 points to lead Bayern and Leandro Bolmaro had 12 points. Otis Livingston was Würzburg’s main scorer with 18 points with Zachary Seljaas picking up 15 points and 7 rebounds.
Bayern star Ibaka releases song
Are you looking for entertainment from the Bundesliga? Well, FC Bayern Munich star big man Serge Ibaka has released a pop song - called “What it do Baby.” Check it out here.
Player of the Week
The Player of the Week honors for Round 5 go to Jilson Bango of Basketball Löwen Braunschweig as the Angola big man registered an efficiency of 33 in the team’s overtime loss to RASTA Vechta. Bango scored 23 points on 10-of-12 shots and 3-of-4 free throws to go with 13 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Bennet Hundt, MLP Academics Heidelberg
Hundt scored 14 points including 2 three-pointers while grabbing 1 rebound and dishing out 3 assists against Veolia Towers Hamburg.
F: Joskka Ferner, RASTA Vechta
Ferner contributed 14 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist in the win over Basketball Löwen Braunschweig.
F: Jonas Richter, NINERS Chemnitz
Richter has been producing better of late with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal against SYNTAINICS MBC.
F: Mateo Seric, Tigers Tübingen
Seric scored 16 points and added 8 rebounds and 2 assists against ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES.
C: Martin Breunig, SYNTAINICS MBC
Breunig had a strong 16 points to go with 2 rebounds and 1 assist against NINERS Chemnitz.
Young Guns
Johann Grünloh, 18, C, RASTA Vechta
Grünloh poured in 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 2-of-2 free throws as well as 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block in 30:55 minutes against Basketball Löwen Braunschweig.
Timo Lanmüller, 22, PG, Tigers Tübingen
Lanmüller continues his strong season with Tübingen with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting (3/6 threes), 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal in 26:22 minutes against ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES.
Ralph Hounnou, 21, PG, SYNTAINICS MBC
Hounnou scored a career high 8 points on 3-of-4 shots (1/2 threes) and 1-of-1 free throw in 10:58 minutes against NINERS Chemnitz.
Germans Abroad
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 MVP Dennis Schröder has had a strong start to his season with Toronto as he is averaging 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 8.8 assists - twice picking up double-doubles in the first four games.
