Basketball - Bundesliga - 43rd German’s Basketball Season Begins

The 43rd season of the German Basketball-Bundesliga (BBL) begins next Saturday, September 20th. The BBL was founded in 1966 and was divided in two groups: the north and south, only nine years later the two groups were united. The 1st League in Germany is organized by the 1994 founded Veltins Basketball Bundesliga GMBH and contains 18 teams since 2006.

In the past years, the German Basketball League gained more and more credence and appreciation. Due to the active exchange of players with the US-American National Basketball Association (NBA), the BBL is now known all over the world. In this coming up season, we will see at least four foreign professional players. The 27-year-old Casey Gardner Jacobsen will start playing at the reigning German Champion ALBA Berlin. The Shooting Guard and small forward passed last year’s season with the Memphis Grizzlies. Jacobsen started his professional career in 2002 and played one season in Germany with the Brose Baskets Bamberg which in this season became German Champion for the second time. Will he be able to bring his current team the title as well?

Along with Jacobsen we will also get back the Newcomer of the year 2006, Je‘Kel Foster. After he played last season with the French club Paris Levallois, he will now join the German team EWE Baskets from Oldenburg. Foster was not only Newcomer of the year but he was also appointed into the All-Star-Team.

The first game of this year’s season reminds us of the last game of the past season because the two teams from ALBA Berlin and Artland Dragons will face each other again. With eight German basketball championships, five triumphs at the BBL-Cup and the victory at the Korac Cup in 1995, ALBA Berlin counts as one of the most successful clubs in the German basketball history. At the last coming together of the two teams, ALBA Berlin won over the reigning cup winner with a final score of 69:84 at the Artland-Arena in Quakenbrück.

The German Basketball League does not only gain on new talents but also has to say good bye to some of their players which are switching to the NBA. After only one professional basketball year, Berlin‘s master Bobby Brown will play for the Sacramento Kings. The 24-year-old started his career with the College Basketball team of the California State University in Fullerton. ALBA Berlin‘s coach Lika Pavicevic is very proud of the international interaction of the players who play at BBL.   

With a total of 265 transfers the German Basketball League moves just under the level of the past two years (2006: 275; 2007: 269). This has not always been like that because four years ago the former regulation of a limit of transfers has been abolished. The most transfers has been recorded for the former champion Köln 99ers (12 new arrivals) and for the Eisbären Bremerhaven (11 new arrivals).

As it was done in the past seasons there will be several awards in different categories this season as well. The chosen ones are elected by the fans, coaches and media representatives. Next week the American John Bowler will be awarded as the most likable player of the season 2007/2008. Further awards are most valuable player, best offensive player, best defensive player, Topscorer, Newcomer of the year, Rookie of the year and Coach of the year.