12 teams will compete in the men’s LBBL this season. National team head coach and FLBB head of basketball, Ken Diederich, shares his thoughts about the upcoming season.
Which teams are the favorites entering the season?
Amicale Steinsel is the first team that I want to name. They have a deep roster after adding Lou Demuth. Champion Basket Esch is another favorite, the team was able to win a title last season after many years of working towards that goal. Etzella Ettelbruck could also have a very strong team. A lot will obviously come down to the number and strength of every team’s professional players.
Which teams will have a difficult time staying in the league?
Mambra Mamer and the Kordall Steelers promoted to the LBBL and I expect both teams to fight against relegation at the end of the season. Furthermore, Gréngewald Hueschtert and the Musel Pikes are teams that could face a difficult challenge this season. Those teams need to have the right professional players as soon as possible in order to find a rhythm.
Which players will be in the JICL MVP discussion?
Last year’s MVP Philippe Gutenkauf will be a strong candidate once again as well as Bob Melcher, both guards have a big influence on the playing style of their team and therefore have plenty of assists and points which is important in such a ranking. Thomas Grün is another guard who is clearly in the discussion. Oliver Vujakovic can put up big numbers so that he will also be a main candidate. It also depends on how strong their teams will perform over the course of the season.
Dorian Grosber is one of Luxembourg’s top talents in basketball over the last years, what do you expect from him?
Dorian has been named into the extended roster of Alba Berlin, that says a lot about his talent and potential. He is a versatile and clever basketball player who is very strong mentally. I expect a lot of him in the future, we will have a lot of fun with him.
Interview with Dorian Grosber –> Interview: Dorian Grosber is eager to play at a high level
The first game day of the men’s LBBL will be played on September 23rd and 24th. League champion Basket Esch and vice champion Amicale Steinsel will meet immediately.
The game mode:
Amicale Steinsel (Daniel Brandao), Arantia Larochette (Chris Wulff), Musel Pikes (Philip Dejworek), Résidence Walfer (Dragan Stipanovich) and Gréngewald Hueschtert (Amadeo Dias) start the season with a new coach. Most teams start the season with new professional players, only a few players (Clancy Rugg and Jordan Hicks / Esch, Jarvis Williams / Amicale, Lavone Holland / Sparta) have extended their contract in Luxembourg. Several key players decided to end their careers, Pit Biever (Esch), Jean Kox (Musel Pikes), René Wolzfeld (Contern), Kevin Moura and Mihailo Andjelkovic (both T71) will not be part of the highest basketball league. Malcolm Kreps leaves Résidence to start his professional career in the Netherlands (Den Helder Suns) while Alex Laurent has not made his decision yet if he continues to play abroad or if he returs to Luxembourg.
