European Prospects

In the third part of our NBBL Top 4 Preview, we spoke with Johannes Thiemann from TSV Tröster Breitengüssbach about their surprising win against Jena and his personal situation before the Top 4.

Breitenguüssbach has reached the Top 4 this year by beating the big favorites from Science City Jena. How can you explain this success?

I think we were prepared better and wanted the win more than Jena. Also, the practices during the weeks before the series were very intensive and having lost two times against them was a big motivation for us. I think we really worked hard for this victory.

Tomorrow, you will play against Urspring, the other team from the South. What do you have to do to beat the defending champion?

We have to go to this game with the right attitude and play constantly good defense. We are well prepared and the most important thing is that we do not give any room to their shooters and block out well to avoid their offensive rebounding.

Personally, your season was marked by several injuries. How are you now and how satisfied are you with your season?

Yes, I had several injury problems during the season but I think that in the end it was a good season. Of course, the injuries were going on my nerves and stopped my development but they gave me the possibility to work on my shot. But now, we are in the Top 4 and I am ready to play.

Breitengüssbach and Bamberg are more and more becoming a good alternative for young players in Germany. Daniel Schmidt and Phil Neumann see minutes on a regular basis in the professional team. How do you see this development?

Yes, I see it the same way. The ProB team in Breitengüssbach is a good option for young players to develop. And for the younger ones, there is even the 1st and 2nd Regionalliga teams. The 6+6 rule that will arrive in the Bundesliga will of course have a positive effect as well.

How do you see the next steps in your career? Do you think getting a spot on the professional team of Brose Baskets is something that can happen in a short time?

Next season, I will mainly play NBBL and ProB. I think, I might practice here and there with the professional team though. But to play with the pros is still far away for me. I can’t say more when this will happen at the moment.

How do you see your chances to make the German U18 National Team this summer?

I think I have a realistic chance to make the team this year. In a few weeks, I will participate to the Training Camp and I hope to make the team at that moment. We will see if that will happen.

Johannes Thiemann is a 2m03 tall forward born in 1994. He averaged 12.5ppg (62.5% 2FGs), 8.2rpg and 0.8bpg this season in the NBBL.