The German basketball players survive the tricky duel in the World Cup qualification against Croatia because the players from the second row also take responsibility.
Johannes Thiemann made his big appearance before the game. The German Basketball Association subsequently honored the “Big Man” for 100 appearances in the DBB jersey. The 32-year-old was then allowed to lead the team onto the floor as captain, in the absence of regular captains Dennis Schröder and Johannes Voigtmann.
Thiemann then also took on the role of leader in the game against the Croatians: with 24 points and 12 rebounds, he was ultimately the best German player in the nerve-racking 91:89 win after extra time; it was even his career best in the DBB jersey. It was hardly noticeable that he had to take an overseas flight from Japan and had to miss several weeks with his club Gunma Crane Thunders due to a concussion.
Da Silva on Captain Thiemann: “Everyone knows what he has achieved”
“He’s our go-to guy with 100 international games under his belt”his teammate Oscar da Silva said afterwards: “Everyone here knows what he has done for the country in the national jersey.”
How important the presence of “JT” was for the team became clear once again in the particularly tricky qualifying window with the two duels against Croatia: In addition to the NBA stars, who are not available for international matches during the season, the national coach had to cope with further failures from the world and European champions with Isaac Bonga, Andreas Obst and Justus Hollatz. The fact that qualification is anything but a sure-fire success became clear after the narrow defeat against the Croatians in Zagreb last Friday.
With the victory in the second leg, after a real show of strength after extra time, the DBB team saved itself the enormous burden of going into the second group phase of the qualification two wins behind the Croatians. Together with Croatia, the DBB team will then form a new group of six. In addition, there will probably be Poland and Latvia, two equally uncomfortable opponents; the German basketball players have to leave at least three opponents behind in order to book the World Cup ticket. “It would have been very bitter for further qualification if we had lost”said Captain Thiemann and spoke of an “okay yield”.
Thiemann has taken part in all major tournaments in the national team since 2017 – and with it the astonishing development of the DBB team: from the preliminary round exit at the 2019 World Cup with a defeat against the Dominican Republic, which was perceived as an absolute low point, to bronze at the home European Championships in 2022, to the triumphs at the World Cup and European Championships.
Delow and Olinde take responsibility
At the last European Championship, captain Dennis Schröder spoke of the increased demands of the DBB team as the key to their recent successes. This self-image of being a top nation in basketball is now apparently also being transferred to those players who put on the DBB jersey during the qualifying windows during the season and take responsibility for the regular players from the NBA and Euroleague who are unable to play.
Against the Croatians, this was Malte Delow, who has held his own at the highest level in the Euroleague for Alba Berlin for years. Or Louis Olinde, who has always had above-average talent and who would probably have a regular place in the national team in any other generation of German basketball players.
In the difficult third quarter, when the German team was already 15 points behind, Delow took over as a game designer and brought the team back up with five points in a row. Olinde, who had already put up a strong fight in the first leg in Zagreb and suffered a bloody nose, became the emotional leader: the winger from the Spanish league reduced the deficit to five points with a three-pointer shortly before the siren – and whipped up the crowd once again for the comeback in the final quarter.
Special praise for youngster Kayil
The young Berliner Jack Kayil earned special praise, including from national coach Alex Mumbru: In the tricky final phase, the 20-year-old appeared like an experienced playmaker who had already led his team through many battles of nerves. In extra time he scored himself, with a three-pointer and from the line, and increased the lead to five points. “He is like a son to me”said Mumbru at Magentasport. “He came to the national team for the first time when he was 18 and immediately played a big role. He plays with so much intelligence, I believe in him.”
Mumbru had already pointed out the importance of the players from the so-called second row in advance, also to give the much-stressed top performers from the Euroleague such as Bonga or Obst, who have played practically every summer since the Corona break, a break. “We have a responsibility for the players, we have to take care of their health”said Mumbru in the Magentasport podcast before the Croatia games.
Next qualifying games in July and August – possibly with the best line-up again
Mumbru’s plan has worked so far, also thanks to young hopefuls like Jack Kayil. During the upcoming qualifying windows at the beginning of July and the end of August, when all leagues are on pause, the national coach could theoretically have access to all players again. It should be the next stage on the way to the 2027 World Cup in Qatar. And possibly the next big appearance from Thiemann and Co..
