A prominent returnee to Germany, a tournament critic, a club legend - and many more. You should pay particular attention to these professionals at the championship tournament of the basketball Bundesliga.
Munich (dpa) - The basketball Bundesliga starts its extraordinary championship tournament. Starting this Saturday, ten teams are looking for the champions - without spectators, with players in hotel quarantine. A selection of ten professionals who are particularly in focus.
Ismet Akpinar (FC Bayern Munich): The development player supports the title favorite as the most prominent signing. Each team was allowed to get a maximum of two players for the tournament. Bavaria struck at the 25-year-old German international from Besiktas Istanbul. Ulm was also interested in a commitment.
Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann (MHP giant Ludwigsburg): The second best team in the canceled main round had to cope with several failures. The center veteran (30) replaces Captain Konstantin Konga (injured) as a leader.
DeWayne Russell (Hakro Merlins Crailsheim): The fairytale season of the alleged relegation candidate is closely linked to the 26-year-old playmaker. The US professional scored 20 points or more in each of the last five games and put his teammates in the spotlight.
Niels Giffey (Alba Berlin): During the interruption in Corona, the captain of the cup winner expressed audible criticism of the tournament concept. The 28-year-old is also in Munich - and wants to lead the capital club to the first championship title since 2008. Before the break he was in top form.
Rickey Paulding (EWE Baskets Oldenburg): Even in his 13th Bundesliga season, Mr. Oldenburg experienced another novelty with the championship tournament. The 37-year-old delivers top performances even in old basketball and is the club's identification figure.
Philipp Herkenhoff (Rasta Vechta): The international is really up for the final tournament. Shortly before the Corona break, the 20-year-old Forward was still playing in the Rasta Dome for Germany, now he wants to surprise Vechta in Munich.
Jordan Crawford (Brose Bamberg): It was a real coup that Bamberg brought Crawford back for the tournament. In the two appearances before the break, the ex-NBA professional already indicated that he could put his stamp on the Bamberg game. He should also do that in Munich. A real scorer.
Alex Ruoff (BG Göttingen): seven wins, two losses. That is the balance since the American is back in Göttingen. While other top performers did not come back to the "Violets", Ruoff is back. And should lead Göttingen to the knockout stage.
Dylan Osetkowski (ratiopharm Ulm): Almost no one knew that the center with the freshly preserved German passport was only lent to Göttingen. He was a guarantee for the Göttingen soaring. Now he wants to annoy the favorites with Ulm. Preferably at the start Bayern.
Yorman Polas Bartolo (Fraport Skyliners): Defense is the trump card for Frankfurt - so where would Bartolo fit better? The 34-year-old ex-Bonn is considered one of the best defense players in the league. Because Bonn did without the tournament, he went to the Skyliners.
Information about the tournament on the BBL homepage
BBL concept
Tournament schedule
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