Aug 29, 2010, 5:58 pm
This is really interesting. Not only have Bayern signed Demond Greene, they have also signed Steffen Hamann so they now have two of best German players signed up to play in the second division next season.
Once Bayern make it to the BBL, I'm keen to see their strategy. Historically, Alba Berlin has been the German basketball powerhouse and they've had some nice competition lately from Telekom Baskets Bonn and EWE Baskets Oldenburg. With that said, the German strategy tends to be to stock pile American players.
Alba had a fine run in the Eurocup last season but typically the German teams fail pretty miserably in European competition. In fact Steffen Hamann and fellow national team member Lucca Staiger were both on Alba last season and struggled to find playing time as at the end of the day they are less talented players than their American counterparts (Julius Jenkins, Rashad Wright, Immanuel McElroy, Derrick Byars).
If Bayern plan on building a powerhouse with German talent, it simply will not happen. They will struggle against the likes of Alba and Telekom Baskets. What Bayern an offer its brand name and potentially larger budget to recruit some of the better players in Europe. That will be the key to all of this, Alba has been able to recruit guys who do not come cheap, Hollis Price, Derrick Byars, Julius Jenkins. Bayern is going to need to take it to the next level if they want to become a European powerhouse like they are in football and that will all come down to funding.
They cannot utilize their football strategy of buying up all of the best domestic players from around the bundesliga each season, it won't work in basketball. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out and it will be especially interesting to see the reaction of Alba. If Bayern starts spending excessively, will Alba start to do the same? I cannot imagine they'll stand back and idly watch Bayern take over their league. This could be really good for basketball in Germany. Now they just need to figure out how to grow domestic talent.
Once Bayern make it to the BBL, I'm keen to see their strategy. Historically, Alba Berlin has been the German basketball powerhouse and they've had some nice competition lately from Telekom Baskets Bonn and EWE Baskets Oldenburg. With that said, the German strategy tends to be to stock pile American players.
Alba had a fine run in the Eurocup last season but typically the German teams fail pretty miserably in European competition. In fact Steffen Hamann and fellow national team member Lucca Staiger were both on Alba last season and struggled to find playing time as at the end of the day they are less talented players than their American counterparts (Julius Jenkins, Rashad Wright, Immanuel McElroy, Derrick Byars).
If Bayern plan on building a powerhouse with German talent, it simply will not happen. They will struggle against the likes of Alba and Telekom Baskets. What Bayern an offer its brand name and potentially larger budget to recruit some of the better players in Europe. That will be the key to all of this, Alba has been able to recruit guys who do not come cheap, Hollis Price, Derrick Byars, Julius Jenkins. Bayern is going to need to take it to the next level if they want to become a European powerhouse like they are in football and that will all come down to funding.
They cannot utilize their football strategy of buying up all of the best domestic players from around the bundesliga each season, it won't work in basketball. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out and it will be especially interesting to see the reaction of Alba. If Bayern starts spending excessively, will Alba start to do the same? I cannot imagine they'll stand back and idly watch Bayern take over their league. This could be really good for basketball in Germany. Now they just need to figure out how to grow domestic talent.