Get ready for the Slam Dunk Season: The NBA’s German Takeover!
Oh dear, it’s that time again, folks! The NBA season is upon us, and what a fine day it is for basketball aficionados. Picture this: the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, vs. the New York Knicks in a game that’ll make you reach for the popcorn faster than you can say “triple-double!” (1:30 a.m. for all those sensible folks wanting to sleep before work—what a life choice!)
But hey, it’s not just another season; it’s a Great German Basketball Renaissance, or as I like to put it, “Wunderbar Basketball!” Germany has stepped up its game after the World Cup victory and an impressive fourth place at the Olympics. We’re talking basketball glory here, people!
The Big German Pigeon: Franz Wagner!
Leading the charge is none other than Franz Wagner. The young fella has just signed a five-year deal with the Orlando Magic for a whopping $224 million! That’s enough cash for a lifetime supply of bratwurst and beer, or, as his ex-national coach Gordon Herbert put it, “It’s a nice contract; he absolutely deserves it!” Well, of course he does! Since when does anyone object to being paid more than the GDP of a small country?
You’ve got to hand it to the guy, making over 40 million euros per year! And for once, that’s not just a footnote in a tax evasion scandal—it’s actual earnings! If only my bank account looked like that… sigh.
The Wagner Brothers: Not Just a Pair of Sneakers!
Now, let’s talk family. Moritz Wagner is also making waves over there at Orlando Magic, probably being the quieter brother who’s saying, “I’ll just take my pay and sit back.” Moritz may not be the star player, but hey, someone’s got to collect the towels, right? And let’s not forget the new kid on the block—Tristan da Silva! Drafted at pick 18, which, let’s be honest, is lower than a limbo stick at a German party. But here’s hoping he can rise through the ranks like yeast in a good pretzel!
Dennis Schröder: The Optimistic Little Dynamo
Switching coasts, we’ve got Dennis Schröder pulling off his seventh NBA stop with the Brooklyn Nets! Who knew being size-challenged (1.88m… that’s just slightly taller than my coffee table) could be so glamorous? And let’s give him some credit; he’s aiming for the playoffs while most of us are still trying to figure out if we spoiled the milk in our cereal. “If you don’t go to the playoffs, then you’re not competitive,” says Schröder, showcasing a winning mentality. I mean, why settle for being just good when you could aim for “NBA Champion,” right?
The Freshman: Ariel Hukporti—The Giant from Stralsund!
Now, let’s chat about Ariel Hukporti, who’s like the new kid in school armed with a two-way contract! The 2.13-meter giant has ended up with the Knicks looking to hone his skills mostly in the G-League. “58th pick? That’s the last pick, right?!” Yes, Ariel, but that just means you’ve got nowhere to go but up!
Veterans and Title Contenders: Kleber and Hartenstein!
In the Western Conference, we’ve got basketball veterans Daniel Theis and Maxi Kleber. I’d say they go together like schnitzel and fries! Theis, with a one-year contract at the New Orleans Pelicans, is looking to offer experience galore—400 games in, he’s practically an ancient artifact! Meanwhile, Kleber is flying high with the Dallas Mavericks after nearly securing the finals last year.
But wait—suffering injuries seems to be the trend! Isaiah Hartenstein, who’s probably regretting his life choices post-fractured hand, just signed for the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s like getting a shiny new toy then finding out the batteries are dead! Poor guy.
In Conclusion…
As we gear up for this season, it’s safe to say that German stars are more prominent than ever in the NBA. Whether you’re rooting for the Celtics or embracing the Magic, just remember, there’s a little bit of Deutschland in every dribble and dunk this season!
So, grab your basketball jersey, maybe throw in a pretzel or two, and let’s enjoy the beautiful chaos that is the NBA season. Because when it comes to basketball, it’s not just about the trophies; it’s about the journey, the laughter, and, of course, the occasional eye-rolling comment about someone’s hairstyle—because that’s what makes it truly entertaining!
Let’s do it, folks! The court awaits! 🏀
It’s that time again: the new NBA season begins on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday (German time). It starts with the game between defending champions Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks (1.30 a.m./ProSieben). This year’s season is a very special one for German fans. On the one hand, because basketball in Germany is booming more than it has been in a long time after the 2023 World Cup title and fourth place at the Olympics this summer. On the other hand, because there are more Germans there than ever before. The majority of German stars have been firmly rooted in the North American league for years, but there is also a debutant this season. An overview.
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The figurehead is natural Franz Wagner. In the summer, the small forward signed a five-year contract with the Orlando Magic that will bring him a total of at least $224 million (around €206 million). Wagner now earns more than 40 million euros per year – making the 23-year-old the highest-earning German athlete in one fell swoop. Ideally, his total salary could reportedly rise to as much as $270 million. “I am very happy for him. “It’s a nice contract, he absolutely deserves it,” ex-national coach Gordon Herbert said happily for Wagner, whose performances made him one of the most important players on his team last season. The XXL contract will only further increase the focus on Wagner (inter)nationally.
Three Germans at Orlando Magic
Brother is also standing next to Franz Moritz Wagner under contract with Orlando. Unlike Franz, Moritz will not take a leading position in the team, but he too could play an important role in the stated goal of reaching the play-offs. In addition to the Wagner brothers, who played a crucial role in winning the World Cup with the national team in 2023, the Munich native will also be there this year Tristan da Silva play for Magic. The 23-year-old power forward, who previously played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes, took part in this year’s NBA draft process and was selected by Orlando at position 18.
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In addition to the Wagner brothers and da Silva, two other Germans play in the Eastern Conference. Dennis Schrödercaptain of the German national basketball team, has been playing for the Brooklyn Nets since February of this year. The New York-based team is already the seventh NBA stop for the point guard, who is small by basketball standards at 1.88 meters, and is not generally considered a play-off contender. However, Schröder doesn’t want to know anything about it: “If you don’t go to the playoffs, then you’re not competitive in my eyes. Of course you always want to achieve the big goal and the big goal is a championship,” said the 31-year-old from Braunschweig confidently.
A newcomer from Germany has significantly less experience than Schröder: he hopes to be equipped with a two-way contract Ariel Hukporti for his first appearances in the NBA. The 2.13 meter giant from Stralsund was selected 58th (and last) in the draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki’s former team then gave Hukporti to the New York Knicks, who now want to use Hukporti as a two-way player. The center, who came from the MHP giants Ludwigsburg, will probably play mainly for the Westchester Knicks farm team in the NBA G-League.
Kleber and Hartenstein have the best chances of winning the title
In Daniel Theis Another basketball world champion plays in the Western Conference for the New Orleans Pelicans. The 32-year-old center forward from Salzgitter signed a one-year contract with the Pelicans in the summer. Similar to Schröder, Theis is a real veteran, having played more than 400 NBA games for five different clubs so far. He was runner-up with the Boston Celtics two years ago, but a similar feat is unlikely to be achieved with the Pelicans.
In the spotlight once again Maxi glue. The center forward of the Dallas Mavericks made headlines in Germany in the 2023 World Cup year when he did not want to play for the later victorious national team due to difficulties with captain Dennis Schröder. With the Mavericks, Kleber has a good chance of making it into the play-offs again and playing for the title. Last season, the “Mavs” lost the NBA Finals in five games (4-1) against the Boston Celtics, who are once again considered the top favorites. Kleber played below his potential in the decisive games of the best-of-seven final series.
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Probably the best chances for the title next to Kleber Isaiah Hartenstein calculate. After a strong season with the Knicks, the 26-year-old signed a three-year contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the summer that will pay him an impressive $87 million. However, the German-American suffered a fracture in his left hand in the preseason against the Denver Nuggets, which is expected to keep him out of action for another five to six weeks.
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