BBL: 11 teams in European competitions and young French players to watch as season resumes
By Antonin D'Agostini, in Berlin,
Often overlooked when discussing Europe's major championships, the German championship nonetheless has significant depth. The BBL attracts talented players every year, who come to hone their skills before joining more prestigious teams in Europe or heading across the Atlantic.
Since Telekom Baskets Bonn won the Basketball Champions League in 2023, German clubs have struggled to establish themselves consistently in the final phases of European competitions. This season, however, several teams have built ambitious rosters. With 11 of 18 teams competing on the European stage, German basketball will have several opportunities to stand out.
In EuroLeague, Bayern Munich wants to return to the playoffs
Bayern Munich will once again aim to reach the EuroLeague playoffs. To achieve this, the Bavarian club has once again been active in the transfer market, bringing in several top-level recruits.
After Spencer Dinwiddie last season, whose season was cut short for family reasons, Bayern has notably welcomed Duane Washington Jr. and MarJon Beauchamp. The former arrives from Partizan Belgrade after a season averaging 14.9 points and 2.5 assists in EuroLeague. A point guard capable of creating both for himself and others, he could quickly become one of the team's main playmakers.
MarJon Beauchamp, meanwhile, arrives directly from the NBA, having played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. Rarely used in the big league, he had more opportunities to show himself in the G League, where his offensive skills were on display. One of the two will need to help fill the void left by Dinwiddie in offensive creation.
Bayern can also count on Rokas Jokubaitis, who is set to return to the court after a long injury. The Lithuanian has already shown his potential at the highest European level, notably with Maccabi Tel Aviv and with the national team.
Kamar Baldwin, meanwhile, is starting his second season at Bayern. He will bring his versatility off the bench. As a reminder, the American, naturalized Georgian, notably left a strong impression against France in the last EuroBasket.
Inside, Miles Norris brings his athletic and mobile profile after a season at FC Barcelona. Johannes Thiemann, a former Alba Berlin big man, also returns to EuroLeague after his stint in Japan. His experience, post play, and defensive qualities will be valuable.
Bayern can also count on Austin Wiley, who is coming off a EuroCup campaign close to averaging a double-double. On the wings, Tobias Jensen will make his EuroLeague debut at just 22 years old. The former Ulm player made great strides last season and was named EuroCup Rising Star.
All these recruits come to complement an already solid core. Andreas Obst will remain one of the group's main outside threats, while Vladimir Lucic begins his eleventh season at Bayern. Johannes Voigtmann will continue to bring his ability to stretch the floor from behind the arc, while Oscar da Silva continues to fill a more defensive role. Justinian Jessup, who averaged 8 points in EuroLeague last season, also returns.
On paper, Bayern therefore has many options to compete for the EuroLeague playoffs. It remains to be seen whether the team's cohesion will quickly take shape under Anton Gavel, the new coach and former club player, who led Bamberg to third place in the regular season last year.
Can Bayern be challenged in Germany?
It's hard to talk about the German championship without placing Bayern among the top favorites. Yet last season was a reminder that its dominance is not guaranteed: after finishing top of the regular season, the Bavarian club lost to Alba Berlin in game 5 of the final.
The defending German champion actually retains a large part of its roster. Above all, Jack Kayil is still there. Selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, the young German point guard ultimately did not get a contract with the New York Knicks and is therefore continuing his development in Berlin.
After a successful playoff run and winning Best Young Player of the BCL, Kayil will be one of the players to watch this season. He still needs to improve his shot selection and efficiency, but his potential is significant.
Berlin can also count on several members of last season's championship team, such as Martin Hermannsson, Justin Bean, Jonas Mattisseck, Malte Delow, Sam Griesel, and Norris Agbakoko, impressive at 2.17m.
Alba has also strengthened its roster with Joe Wieskamp, who showed his offensive qualities in the BBL with more than 16 points on average. Brandon Angel, a 2.04m power forward/center, is coming off an interesting season in Israel, with nearly 17 points and 8 rebounds on average. Mobile and able to stretch the floor, he has a versatile profile.
Finally, Jordan Ford will bring his experience and outside shooting after a more difficult season in Turkey.
Preparation hasn't necessarily produced the hoped-for results, but the main concern is mainly the frontcourt rotation. Agbakoko is the only true center on the roster. In case of fouls or injuries, Alba could therefore be forced to play more regularly with a small lineup. Brandon Angel's role and the development of young Nevio Bennefeld will be particularly important.
Ulm, the little France of German basketball
For several years, Ulm has established itself as a preferred destination for young French players seeking development and visibility. The German club has a genuine reputation for developing young players before their move to the United States or major European clubs.
After Mohamed Diakité, who left for the NCAA this summer, several French players have joined or become part of the project this season.
Arriving from ASVEL, Adam Atamna has shown in stretches that he can make an impact at the highest level despite limited playing time. He notably chose Ulm over several NCAA offers. In a club accustomed to developing its young players, he has a favorable environment to continue his development.
Another young French player already at the club, Meissa Faye took advantage of preseason to stand out. Having not been used with the first team last season, he notably scored 22 points against Rome. A performance that could earn him more responsibility this season.
Armel Traoré, also a former ASVEL player, arrives after a season in EuroLeague. His physique and ability to stretch the floor are interesting assets, even if he'll need to gain consistency to establish himself at the highest European level.
Finally, Lucas Fisher will split time between the first team and the reserve squad coached by Mehdy Mary. After several seasons in the French championship, notably at Le Portel last season, his aggressiveness toward the basket and explosiveness will be his main assets for earning minutes.
But Ulm doesn't just want to develop its young French players. The club also wants to progress in EuroCup and has strengthened its roster with several of last season's best performers in Germany.
Ibi Watson is coming off an excellent season with Bamberg, where he was one of the offensive leaders averaging 16 points. He will make his EuroCup debut.
Simisola Shittu also arrives with solid credentials. The Canadian big man had a very good season in Germany with 14.9 points and 8.4 rebounds on average.
Finally, Devin Schmidt is coming off a big season in the German second division, with 16 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on average.
On paper, the positions seem balanced and Ulm has enough talent to aim for the EuroCup playoffs. The main question will be team chemistry. The roster has changed a lot and the early preseason games, particularly defensively, haven't always been convincing.
If you're interested in French players in the German championship, Hamburg also has two: Nicolas Pavrette, who arrived from Aix-Maurienne, and Mathys Kangudia, coming off a big season at Nantes.
Also worth noting is the presence of Anthony Polite, a Swiss player who came through ASVEL, at Phoenix Hagen.
Chemnitz, Rostock, and Frankfurt in EuroCup
Ulm will be joined by the Frankfurt Skyliners and NINERS Chemnitz in EuroCup.
After a disappointing season in the championship, Chemnitz has largely rebuilt its roster with eleven new players. The club combines experienced profiles on the European stage with players who have potential.
Among the backcourt players is Yohan Choupas. The French-German player arrives from Chalon after two seasons in France and will return to EuroCup, a competition he had already experienced with Monaco in 2021.
Former Nancy player Phlandrous Fleming and Stefan Smith are both coming off very interesting individual seasons. The same goes for Cobe Williams, who arrives from Bamberg after averaging 14.6 points and 4 assists in 23.9 minutes.
On the wing, Ben Burnham arrives with big ambitions after an impressive season in the German second division: 19.3 points and 10 rebounds on average. He notably scored 46 points in his last playoff game and was named Player of the Year in his division.
Inside, Darion Atkins and Nighael Ceaser also have interesting profiles for EuroCup.
With so many changes, it's difficult to gauge Chemnitz before the season starts. The individual potential is real, but building team chemistry will be the main unknown. In the championship, the club will nonetheless need to quickly find momentum to avoid missing the playoffs again.
Frankfurt, meanwhile, approaches EuroCup with a more stable roster. After a difficult season, the Skyliners kept several key players while adding reinforcements like Ryan Arcidiacono, an NBA veteran with plenty of experience, and Judah Mintz, who arrives from Turkey after a season averaging 15.1 points.
Isaiah Swope, already on the team last season, will remain one of the main playmakers after averaging 15.7 points and 4.5 assists in the BBL. Thomas Klepeisz, William Christmas, and Nahiem Alleyne also bring experience to the backcourt.
Inside, Race Thompson arrives from Poland averaging 12.4 points and 6.3 rebounds. Roman Bedime, already seen in EuroCup with Chemnitz, also joins the frontcourt.
With a core kept intact and several targeted reinforcements, Frankfurt has an interesting group. The main unknown will be its ability to handle the extra schedule imposed by EuroCup. After two difficult seasons, in this competitive league, the goal will also be to reach the playoffs.
Ninth in the BBL last season, Rostock retains a solid core while renewing part of its roster, built by sporting director Kevin Anstett. TJ Crockett remains one of the main offensive weapons, while former SIG Strasbourg captain DeAndre Lansdowne will bring his experience and versatility.
On the wings, the arrivals of Johnathan Stove, Artur Konontsuk, and Todd Withers offer more options, while Owen Klassen remains a paint presence. With this deeper roster, the Seawolves can aim for a few more places in the standings while also making their EuroCup debut.
Bonn wants to reach the top in BCL again
Since the 2022-2023 run, Bonn has been better known for the players who pass through than for its results. Among them: TJ Shorts, Glynn Watson Jr., Jeremy Morgan, Tyson Ward, Sebastian Herrera, Collin Malcolm, and Darius McGhee.
In the BBL, the club has struggled to find real stability at the top of the standings. Last season was nonetheless a success, with a fourth-place finish in the regular season. Bonn managed to keep a significant part of its roster, notably Tylan Birts, Alijah Comithier, Joel Aminu, Jeff Garrett, and Grayson Murphy, players capable of scoring from the perimeter.
The club has also strengthened its frontcourt with a player well known to the French championship: Leon Kratzer. He rejoins Michael Kessens in the paint. Their physical and defensive impact could be valuable both in the BBL and on the European stage.
At point guard, Bonn is notably banking on John Michael Wright, who largely carried his team's offense in the Croatian championship last season, as well as Aleksa Kovacevic, who had an interesting season in the German second division.
With a retained core, an experienced frontcourt, and several players capable of creating offensively, Bonn seems to have the tools to compete for the top of the standings again.
The main area of concern could be outside shooting at the wing positions, which could become an issue in certain matchups against defenses that close down space well.
Bamberg must rebuild after a successful season
Bamberg will also play in the BCL after an excellent season that ended in third place in the regular season.
But the club lost several important players during the offseason. The rebuilding process therefore makes the team difficult to assess before the season starts, especially since it will also have to manage a European campaign.
The backcourt, however, offers several reasons for optimism, with players who have shown their talent in various European championships. It remains to be seen whether they'll be able to translate these performances to the BBL level.
Bamberg will also need to quickly re-establish a hierarchy and cohesion following the departure of Anton Gavel, now at the helm of Bayern Munich.
Bamberg gegen München – das ist ein Duell, das schon immer für ganz besondere Spiele stand.
— Bamberg Baskets (@Bamberg_Baskets) September 18, 2026
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Vechta, between BCL and FIBA Europe Cup
Vechta still has to play the BCL qualifiers. If eliminated, the club will drop into the FIBA Europe Cup.
With numerous changes, Vechta has nonetheless built a balanced roster between experience, creation, and scoring. Tommy Kuhsen, point guard, returns for another season after an interesting stint.
In the backcourt, he will be notably joined by Nelson Weidemann, a German international who arrived from Ulm and averaged more than 10 points in EuroCup last season, as well as Armaan Franklin, a former Limoges player who averaged more than 10 points last season.
The signing of Justin Edler-Davis is also interesting. The forward is coming off a season averaging 20 points in Israel and immediately showed his offensive potential in Vechta's first BCL qualifying game, scoring 26 points on 7-of-9 shooting from three.
But the name that inevitably draws attention is Tibor Pleiss. A figure of German basketball and EuroLeague, the 2.20m center returns to his home country at 37 years old. In his first qualifying game with Vechta, he scored 25 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, including an impressive 5-of-7 from three.
The main question will be his ability to keep up the pace over a full season with the accumulation of games. An additional frontcourt option would have allowed for a better distribution of minutes and preserved the German veteran.
Trier and Würzburg in FIBA Europe Cup
Should Vechta drop into the FIBA Europe Cup, two other German clubs are already expected there: Trier and Würzburg.
Promoted last season, Trier exceeded expectations by reaching the playoffs. The club has therefore chosen to, and managed to, keep a large part of its group.
Jordan Roland, a point guard who broke out last season, notably averaged 18 points. He will be joined by Austin Crowley, who averaged more than 10 points per game with Bamberg, and Eli Brooks, who returned to the club after starting last season at Trier before joining Manresa in Spain.
In other areas of the game, there's a lot of continuity with a few reinforcements. This could give Trier a significant advantage in building team chemistry. The challenge now will be to maintain their level while adding a European Cup to the schedule.
On paper, the club has enough to aim for the playoffs again in the championship.
Würzburg, meanwhile, missed out on BCL qualification and will therefore play in the FIBA Europe Cup. Accustomed to finishing around fifth place in the championship, the club nonetheless returns with a largely overhauled roster.
Among the new recruits, Samuel Griffin immediately made a name for himself in BCL qualifying with 26 points in 26 minutes. He was coming off a season averaging 12 points in Turkey, with 44% shooting from three.
Other players such as Kenny Dye, Calvin Wishart, and Max Jones will need to confirm the performances they achieved in lower-level European championships.
The frontcourt, meanwhile, relies on athletic and powerful profiles. As with several German teams competing in European competitions, the ability to quickly find team chemistry will be decisive.
Between championship goals and European commitments, many German clubs have strengthened their rosters this summer. In a competitive BBL where every win counts, 11 teams will have to manage a busy European schedule. The season will show whether this massive presence on the continental stage can help more German clubs reach the final phases of European competitions.
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