Basketball national player Johannes Thiemann is still having a bit of a hard time adjusting to everyday life in the Bundesliga after the historic World Cup title. “It was very difficult to come down after that. And now to be fit again for the start of the season. It’s difficult to get in right now. I’m of course highly motivated to attack for Alba again, but it’s not an easy situation,” said the Berlin captain on Monday.
The time after the big World Cup triumph on September 10th in Manila was “extremely eventful,” said Thiemann: “There was so much going on. Press appointments, activities with the team, which was really cool. But also really exhausting. That was action the whole time.” Just 18 days later, Thiemann and Co.’s Bundesliga opener at MLP Academics Heidelberg is scheduled for Thursday (8:00 p.m./Dyn).
“It’s a big switch. From ‘You just had the most important games of your life’ to a normal BBL game,” admitted Thiemann and added: “But this switch has to be successful. We want to play for titles again this season and Play better play-offs than last year.” In the previous season, Alba failed in the quarter-finals against eventual champions ratiopharm Ulm.
The favorite to win the championship this season is Bayern Munich. While Alba left top performers like Maodo Lo and Luke Sikma, the Munich team brought in, among others, Serge Ibaka, who became NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. “Of course they have strengthened a lot. That’s definitely an announcement,” said Thiemann: “But nonetheless: They had very good squads in the past few years and we still beat them.”