The week was highlighted by Michael Devoe scoring 32 points in Weißenfels’ history-making win over EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Also this week, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg put together a miracle comeback in their first game with Lars Masell as head coach after the club and John Patrick parted ways, and FC Bayern Munich had 73 of their 81 points scored by German players.
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 (Taking The Charge) brings you up-to-date in German basketball – the easyCredit BBL short and sweet:
Amazing comeback in Masell debut: Ludwigsburg rally from 21 down to win at Vechta
What an opening to the post-John Patrick era as MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg rallied from 21 points down to beat RASTA Vechta 70-64 on the road in Lars Masell’s first game as interim head coach. Vechta led 49-28 early in the second half and only scored 6 points - with 0 field goals made - in the fourth quarter. Ludwigsburg snapped a three-game losing streak for a 12-12 mark while Vechta have lost three in a row for a 14-11 record. Joel Scott had 16 points for Ludwigsburg.
Ludwigsburg mutally part ways with John Patrick, hand reins to assistant Masell
The John Patrick era at MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg is officially over as the club terminated the contract with the American-German head coach on mutual terms and handed the reins to his assistant Lars Masell. The 57-year-old Patrick coached Ludwigsburg from 2013 to 2022, helping them reach the German league Finals in the 2019-20 season. Patrick left the club for two seasons to coach in Japan and returned before this season. The 44-year-old Masell was with the club in 2021-22 and returned before this season. He has won all three games as head coach when Patrick was unable to coach.
Devoe delivers 32 points, Weißenfels win in Oldenburg for first time in 11 years
Michael Devoe poured in 32 points as SYNTAINICS MBC picked up their first victory at EWE Baskets Oldenburg in 11 years with a thrilling 97-95 win. The game was back and forth with 18 lead changes and 11 ties but Weißenfels won in Oldenburg for the first time since the 2013-14 season. They have won their sixth of the last seven games for a 13-11 record including the tiebreaker over Oldenburg with two wins. Oldenburg had their three-game winning streak snapped for a 12-12 record including a 10-2 mark at home, where they had won their last six games. In addition to Devoe’s big game, Spencer Reaves scored 21 points while Justin Jaworski had 23 points in the loss.
73 of 81 points by Germans: Bayern win fourth game in 7 days
FC Bayern Munich have mastered a tough stretch of the schedule with an 81-73 victory at FIT/One Würzburg Baskets for their fourth win in the last seven days - thanks to a massive game by their contingent of German players. Bayern had beaten ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES, FC Barcelona and Partizan Belgrade before knocking off Würzburg for their third straight league win and an 18-6 record. Würzburg have dropped three of their last four games for a 12-12 mark. Bayern had five German players score in double figures (Niels Giffey 17, Ivan Kharchenkov 15, Elias Harris 12, Andi Obst and Johannes Voigtmann both 10) and 73 of the 81 points came from Germans.
Braunschweig bounce Bamberg, snap 4-game skid - score most points in 27 years
Basketball Löwen Braunschweig have finally won again, beating Bamberg Baskets 114-88 at home to snap a four-game losing streak. Braunschweig saw their 20-point lead to start the second half trimmed to three points but answered with 10 straight points to regain control for a 15-10 record. Bamberg have dropped to 10-15 after a third consecutive loss. Arnas Velicka collected 23 points and 9 assists off the bench and Sanada Fru added 17 points and 13 rebounds for Braunschweig. The 114 points were the most points scored by Braunschweig in a game in 27 years, since a 126-61 victory over Schalke on October 15, 1997. Only two of the current Braunschweig players - Gavin Schilling and Chip Flanigan - were even born when that game took place.
Pearson pours in 27, Rostock surprise Ulm at home
ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES picked up a big win in their fight to challenge for the post-season as they rolled past second-placed ratiopharm ulm 85-67 at home. Rostock led 21-10 after 10 minutes and never were challenged to move to 12-12 while Ulm fell to 17-8. Nijal Pearson poured in 27 points while Malik Osbourne added 18 points and 8 rebounds.
Stove heats up late, Hamburg spoil Bonn’s 30th birthday party
Johnathan Stove came to the rescue for Veolia Towers Hamburg, who fought off Telekom Baskets Bonn 96-93 on the road to spoil the party celebrating 30 years of the Bonn club. In a game that had 18 lead changes - 7 of them in the final 85 seconds - and 10 ties, Stove scored 10 of his 20 points in the final 90 seconds for Hamburg, who have won four of their last five games for a 12-12 record as Bonn dropped to 11-13. Niklas Wimberg added 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in the win while Phlandrous Fleming and Darius McGhee both scored 22 points for Bonn.
Horne, Mikesell combine for 41, Heidelberg remain fourth
MLP Academics Heidelberg defended their spot in fourth place by fighting past ALBA BERLIN 90-86 at home for their third straight victory. The game was back and forth until the hosts opened an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter and held on to move to 14-9. Berlin’s struggles continue as they lost their third game in the last four to fall to 11-13. DJ Horne had 21 points and Ryan Mikesell scored 20 points in the win while Berlin wasted 29 points from Yanni Wetzell.
Seric and Ersek next Heidelberg players to stay on board
MLP Academics Heidelberg keep on working on continuity as Mateo Seric and Erol Ersek both will stay with the club next season. Both players last off-season signed 1+1 contracts and have exercised their options and will play with Heidelberg in 2025-26. Michael Weathers has already agreed to remain with Heidelberg for next season.
Chemnitz down Frankfurt for third straight win - all on road
NINERS Chemnitz have turned into road warriors as they defeated SKYLINERS 70-65 for their third straight victory away from home. Chemnitz finished the game with an 8-2 spurt over the final 83 seconds to move to 14-9 while Frankfurt fell to 6-17. Victor Bailey, Jeff Garrett and Kevin Yebo all had 13 points for the winners.
Ex-coach Gleim will return to Frankfurt as sports managing director
A familiar face will be back with SKYLINERS next season as former head coach Sebastian Gleim will take over as the sports managing director starting on August 1. The 40-year-old Gleim signed a three-year deal with the club. He coached in the Frankfurt organization from 2014 to 2021, the final two years leading the top team. Gleim then went to Crailsheim in 2021 and coached this season in New Zealand for Franklin Bulls. Gleim also was part of the Germany coaching staff that won the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Gleim had in 2021 been offered the spot as sports director, but he wanted to continue coaching. Now he returns with more responsibility.
Player of the Week
The top performance of Round 26 came from Michael Devoe of SYNTAINICS MBC, who came off the bench for an efficiency of 35 against EWE Baskets Oldenburg to earn Player of Week honors. Devoe scored 32 points on 8 of 14 shots (3/7 threes) and 13 of 14 free throws to go along with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
German Top Five of the Week
F: Karim Jallow, ratiopharm ulm
This will be a big lineup as Jallow takes the first spot after collecting 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals in a loss to ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES.
F: Niels Giffey, FC Bayern Munich
Giffey grabs the spot that a number of Bayern players could have been given as the veteran had 17 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal versus FIT/One Würzburg Baskets.
F: Niklas Wimberg, Veolia Towers Hamburg
Wimberg is really having a strong run right now and makes the Top Five after collecting 14 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block against Telekom Baskets Bonn.
F: Sanada Fru, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
Fru had an outstanding game in the win over Bamberg Baskets with 17 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks for the 21-year-old.
C: Norris Agbakoko, EWE Baskets Oldenburg
Agbakoko had a strong game in the team’s loss to SYNTAINICS MBC with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Young Guns
Ivan Kharchenkov, 18, FC Bayern Munich
Kharchenkov started against FIT/One Würzburg Baskets and tallied 15 points on 6 of 10 shots (1/4 threes) and 2 of 5 free throws, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals in 22:04 minutes.
Johann Grünloh, 19, C, RASTA Vechta
Grünloh collected 11 points on 2 of 4 shooting (1/2 threes) and 6 of 7 free throws, 7 rebounds and 1 block in 14:19 minutes in a start against MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg.
Jacob Patrick, 21, SG, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg
Patrick started against RASTA Vechta and played 28:33 minutes, collecting 12 points on 4 of 15 shots (2/9 threes) and 2 of 2 free throws, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
Germans Abroad
There will be no German player at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio as Christian Anderson and Texas Tech were eliminated in the Elite Eight with a 84-79 loss against Florida - wasting a nine-point lead with 3 minutes left. Anderson picked up 4 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist in the defeat, which ended the Red Raiders’ dreams of reaching their first Final Four since finishing second in 2019. In 35 games in his freshman season with Texas Tech, Anderson averaged 10.6 points on 38 percent three-point shooting, 3.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals.
Germany drawn into EuroBasket group in Finland
The reigning world champions Germany were drawn into Group B of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 in Finland. Also in the group in Tampere will be co-hosts Finland, partner nation Lithuania, Great Britain, Montenegro and Sweden. The Germans will cross over with Group A in the Round of 16 with the Riga group consisting of co-hosts Latvia, partner nation Estonia, Czechia, Portugal, Serbia and Türkiye.
