The German team goes confidently into their opening game against hosts Japan at the Basketball World Cup. For the world association, the German selection is one of the top favorites for the title behind the USA.
Moritz Wagner still looks a bit sleepy. The German NBA professional is fighting jet lag before the start of the World Cup in Okinawa. “But it’s getting better and better,” says Wagner. A seven-hour time difference with over 30 degrees and high humidity: “It won’t affect our game against Japan in any way,” says Moritz Wagner with certainty. The tournament for the German team begins on Friday with the game against the hosts (2:10 p.m. CEST, live in the sports show ticker).
Nice neighborhood
“We’ll just stay indoors,” counters national coach Gordon Herbert with a smile when asked about the weather. His team did well, together with the other teams from World Cup Groups E and F, the Germans reside in a large hotel complex right on the shore of the East China Sea. Okinawa is one of the southernmost of Japan’s 14,125 islands. Most of the buildings on the island are long past their golden age. It doesn’t look idyllic at all, but the view of the turquoise Pacific also impresses the German internationals.
Rocket launch disturbs sleep of athletes
Neither the special Japanese holiday atmosphere nor the alarm from the Ministry of the Interior at four in the morning with a shrill warning tone and a Japanese message on the cell phone changes anything about the concentration on the sporting tasks. “Missile launch, missile launch from North Korea,” read the message. A few minutes later the all clear was given. North Korea’s failed attempt to launch a spy satellite had no effect on Japan and Okinawa.
German team feels safe
“It was scary,” says Slovenia’s NBA superstar Luca Doncic the morning after, “I didn’t get much sleep.” The German players take it easier. “I didn’t even notice it because I turned off my cell phone accordingly,” says Moritz Wagner: “Of course it’s a bit strange, but as long as nobody around me gets nervous, I won’t either, I’ve decided.” . His trainer thought at first that the doorbell had rung. “The message was in Japanese, and it wasn’t until I turned on the television that I realized what was going on. But we’re not worried,” says Gordon Herbert. “Japan is very safe.” In fact, such alerts appear to be more common on Okinawa.
Even the stars are hardly recognized
You won’t find the great World Cup euphoria on the island. The German players and even NBA star Luca Doncic can also go out for a cup of coffee outside the team hotel without being bothered. The Japanese fans recognize the team kit, but not necessarily who is in it. The German team can meet Slovenia and Doncic in the intermediate round. The preliminary round is after the game against Japan, then on Sunday (10.30 CEST) against Australia and on Tuesday (9.30 CEST) against Finland. “Somebody called it death group,” says Gordon Herbert.
Moritz Wagner stays relaxed
In fact, the preliminary round group E is strong compared to the others at this World Cup. But a win against Japan is just as important as against the European Championship quarter-finalist Finland, who traveled with NBA all-star Lauri Markkanen. The game against Australia, which is peppered with NBA professionals, is likely to be the most complicated. The two best-placed teams in the preliminary round qualify for the intermediate round. The German team would only move to the Philippines for the knockout stage. But Moritz Wagner is far from thinking that far. First of all, his parents are coming to Okinawa on time for the opening game, “and I only have Japan on my mind right now anyway”.