AUDIO: Oldenburg’s carpenter: “Hide the table completely” (3 min)
As of: December 28, 2025 1:15 p.m
The Baskets Oldenburg have made an impressive comeback in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) with two very clear victories. The change of coach seems to be working – and the opponents also expect the “Thunderbirds” to soar.
At first glance, you might think that Santa Claus is a “Thunderbird.” Three days before Christmas Eve, the Oldenburgers won 93:68 at the Löwen Braunschweig. One day after the festival, the Baskets also defeated the Towers in Hamburg with 94:69. A strong balance sheet. Because on the ten previous BBL match days they had only won one game.
“We were all ready,” said Nicholas Tischler after the win in Hamburg and praised the great “intensity” in his team’s game. The 25-year-old was the top scorer in the Inselpark Arena with 20 points. Due to the consistent pressure in offense and defense, the Towers eventually broke.
However, the Baskets received nothing for free. Looking back, Tischler said: “The last few weeks have been tough. But we have become closer together as a team – and you can now see that.”
“Absolute new start” after the change of coach was a success
Lazar Spasic played a big part in this. Predrag Krunic’s former assistant coach was promoted to head coach at the beginning of December and is responsible for the recent successes. After a good performance in the 79:87 win against Bayern Munich, there were two wins in the northern duels.
“We had a choice: we can bury our heads in the sand or we can start from scratch.”
Oldenburg’s Nicholas Tischler
“We are currently completely hiding the table,” said Tischler. “The first ten games were the worst-case scenario. That was a nightmare for everyone.”
Not everything was bad under Krunic, but the tactical adjustments that Spasic made now fit the team even better – confidence in their own strength after the “absolute restart” is back. “It feels good right now. The team is enjoying it.”
Oldenburg victory makes an impression in Hamburg
Towers coach Benka Barloschky also paid respect to the “Thunderbirds”: “I assess Oldenburg to be working their way out of this little by little and not be at the bottom of the table at the end of the season.” The Baskets simply have “too much quality and depth in their squad” for that. Hamburg’s defeat against Lower Saxony was “one against a very good opponent.”
Vechta has to dress warmly
After the two northern duels in Braunschweig and Hamburg, Oldenburg faces the Lower Saxony duel in Vechta (Monday, 8 p.m.). And it almost sounds like a threat when Tischler describes: “We are extremely talented on offense – and are now managing to use our strengths. Everyone has their own individual qualities and they are coming into their own right now.”
Is there a third away win in a row for the “Thunderbirds”? “Absolutely!” says Tischler confidently. It’s welcome, but it doesn’t have to be so clear again. “The main thing is that it’s another win.”