Ten days after the end of the exhilarating European Championship, the basketball players are back in the league. The favorites are the same, but there is an exciting newcomer. Nothing has changed on TV yet.
Many basketball fans are still thinking about the great EM. But this Wednesday the league continues again. The German Press Agency answers the most important questions before the start of the new season.
Is there a basketball boom after winning bronze at the European Championship?
The 18 clubs hope so. The EM also inspired spectators who have not watched much basketball before. It is now a question of convincing this clientele of the attractiveness of the league. Players like Maodo Lo, Johannes Thiemann or Andreas Obst, who inspired at the European Championship, can now be seen in the league week after week. But there will probably not be a big boom, much will continue to take place in the niche. “It is a myth that a single tournament can change everything immediately. That has never worked in handball or ice hockey either,” said BBL Managing Director Stefan Holz.
Who are the favourites?
There will be no way around the two Euroleague teams Alba Berlin and Bayern Munich. In a survey by the German Press Agency, all 18 clubs expected the two heavyweights to meet again. Bonn and Oldenburg in particular are given outsider chances. While the face of the Bayern team has changed, especially in the German positions, Alba relies on continuity. Will the defending champion’s plan work? “Continuity is important. But if even a hint of complacency or carelessness mixes in, then it becomes very dangerous,” warned Alba managing director Marco Baldi.
who is new
The Rostock Seawolves are the only climbers. The Pro A champion also wants to play a good role in the first division and is particularly counting on the euphoria of the fans. The duo on the bench is interesting. The 34-year-old Christian Held is the boss, his father Ralph Held the assistant.
Who is missing?
In Rickey Paulding, Per Günther and Alex King, three faces of the league have ended their careers. But the EM has shown that there are enough interesting players who can slip into the role of figurehead. “We still have enough star power,” said BBL boss Holz. In Vladimir Lucic (Bayern) or Luke Sikma (Alba) there are also international stars who have been in the league for a long time.
Where is the Basketball Bundesliga on TV?
For the last time, all BBL games will be broadcast live on Magentasport. The kick-off between Alba Berlin and the Hamburg Towers this Wednesday (7 p.m.) is even free. Sport1 is also back as a live broadcaster. Up to 47 games can be seen live on free TV here. The regular slot is Sunday at 3:00 p.m. But medi Bayreuth and the Fraport Skyliners will kick things off on Friday (8:30 p.m.).
From the coming season, the new sports TV platform of the former DFL manager Christian Seifert and the media company Axel Springer called Dyn will be the new TV partner of the Bundesliga. Like all national team games, the Euroleague and Eurocup will continue to run at Magentasport after this season.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
