Introduction to Germany’s Basketball Era
After Germany beat Turkey to win the Eurobasket Crown, there is no doubt that the country enjoys its greatest era in basketball. Just two years after winning the World Cup and a year after Germany’s women won gold at the Olympic Games in Paris, the glorious days continued when Franz Wagner, Dennis Schröder, and Maodo Lo took the Eurobasket.
Domestic Basketball in Germany
While players like Wagner and Schröder play in the NBA, domestic basketball in Germany has become a strength in recent years. The basketball Bundesliga (BBL) has become one of the most stable and exciting domestic leagues on the continent, and German teams are slowly working their way up in European competitions.
The Effects of NIL on European Basketball
However, there are concerns that four years after the introduction of the NIL provision in US universities, the landscape for European basketball teams is changing quickly. After a long-term resistance to student athletes benefiting from their own image, the dam was broken in 2021 when NIL was introduced. The guideline enables college athletes to earn money through sponsorship, notes, and social media without influencing their status as amateurs.
Changes in US College Sports
However, amateurism is no longer a concept in US college sports, after the settlement of the house against NCAA in June this year, with which colleges can pay their athletes directly. And the money that is offered at many of the best sports universities in the USA is similar in a basketball context to the salaries of the Euroleague, the top club competition of the continent. This changes the entire structure of basketball development across Europe and poses serious challenges for the future of German basketball.
The 6+6 Regulation in the BBL
The BBL has the 6+6 regulation, in which at least six German players are on the 12-man squad. Robert Wintermantel, sport and financing of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), was instrumental in implementing the rule and remains a convinced supporter, even in view of a changing landscape. "Of course, some talented players currently left clubs to join the NCAA. This will be a transition phase. Because many of them will come back," Wintermantel said.
Talented Players Leaving for the USA
Hannes Steinbach is a good example. Just seven months after his Bundesliga debut for the Würzburg baskets, the 19-year-old announced that he would follow in Detlef Schrempf’s footsteps and decided on Washington University. One of the most promising players in the country will not be the face of the new Bundesliga season, but will improve his craft on the other side of the world.
The Impact of the NIL Provision
Wintermantel recognizes that talent leaving for the USA offers young players a positive chance of playing, studying, and learning more about American basketball mentality. "I think these are all very positive things for the individual players, and as a league, we shouldn’t try to get obstacles in the way," said Wintermantel.
FIBA’s Role in Finding a Solution
FIBA, the global governing body of basketball, is reportedly trying to sit down with the NCAA to try to achieve a deal, but whether this is possible and how it could look remains unclear. "Our clubs need remuneration for this training. These players were excellently trained by the clubs, and the league also made an important contribution to this development by introducing standards in the youth sector," said Wintermantel. "In the NCAA system, there is so much money that a solution for training compensation now has to be found together with FIBA."
Domestic Basketball in Danger?
Wintermantel described the development of basketball as "unbelievable" and said that the BBL has been growing steadily for decades. He admits that it is not ideal for the league to lose a talent like Steinbach, but that will not change the solid basis that German basketball has built up for itself. "I think we have a very good time ahead of us, as there are already many other extraordinary talents that will follow in the footsteps of this golden generation. It is important for us that we are now a basketball nation that has to be taken very seriously," he said.
Future Prospects for German Basketball
Wintermantel hopes that the current boom will lead to increased reporting on German basketball in the media, which in turn would lead to more sponsorship and more money. Then the BBL could offer more to either keep the players at home a little longer or bring them back earlier. "Basketball deserves it," he said.
