AUDIO: Hamburg’s basketball players also win against Chemnitz (1 min)
Basketball Bundesliga
As of: February 2, 2026 2:53 p.m
The turnaround worked: The Hamburg Towers left the relegation zone in the Basketball Bundesliga with their 86:69 win against Chemnitz. Three players who were not yet under contract in Hamburg in the summer played a major role in this.
With 25 points, Devon Daniels IV was once again the best Towers shooter in the win against Chemnitz at the weekend. Martin Breunig contributed ten points, Ross Williams nine. The three winter additions were among Hamburg’s top four basket hunters.
The trio played a major role in the fact that the Hanseatic League managed the turnaround after the horror start to the season with eight defeats in the first eight BBL games and last place in the table. With their fifth win of the season, coach Benka Barloschky’s team has now left the relegation places after long months.
“We are becoming more mature as a team every day.”
Towers coach Benka Barloschky
For the 38-year-old coach, the 38-year-old coach doesn’t want to rest on his laurels or do any calculations: “Looking at how many wins will be enough in the end doesn’t help us right now.”
Willoughby admits summer transfer mistakes
After five wins in a row across all competitions, the mood has improved greatly in recent weeks. After a total of 19 defeats at the beginning – including the cup and Eurocup – it could hardly have been worse.
Sports director Marvin Willoughby therefore recognized the need for action early on, took full advantage of the opportunities for transfers in the winter and made the necessary changes. “What we thought about didn’t work. I had a responsibility and took a risk that wasn’t justified,” said the 48-year-old looking back.
Barloschky: “The most difficult phase of my career”
Barloschky speaks of “the most difficult phase of my career”, but knows only too well that not every transfer can work out. Also because many BBL competitors are financially superior to the Towers. “We are a training club. That is part of our DNA,” said the head coach. But he doesn’t doubt “our philosophy and how we signed up. The fact is that it didn’t fit together.”
Confirm the form against Braunschweig
Some players had to leave because of this. With Daniels IV, Breunig and Williams it’s a much better fit now. Most recently, they finally achieved their first two victories in the Eurocup against Venice and Wroclaw.
The towers are now much more stable, are not easily knocked down by setbacks and can now free themselves from critical phases of the game. “We are becoming more mature as a team every day,” says Barloschky happily.
The home game against Ljubljana is on Thursday (7.30 p.m.). In the Eurocup, two game days before the end of the group phase, it’s just a matter of saying goodbye properly. From Hamburg’s point of view, the coming weekend is much more important: On Sunday (4.30 p.m.) there will be a basement duel with bottom team Braunschweig. Barloschky then hopes again for his successful winter arrivals.
