Talented Young Basketball Players Leave Germany for Opportunities in the USA

Despite being regarded as the next Dirk Nowitzki, Hannes Steinbach remains remarkably humble as he prepares to embark on a new chapter in his basketball career. The 18-year-old resides in a shared apartment in Würzburg and cycles to the training center located on the outskirts of the city.

With a bakery bag in hand, the budding basketball star greets teammates and staff. However, as he makes his way to the gym, he is reminded of the legacy he is about to follow, with images of former NBA champion Nowitzki and Maximilian Kleber adorning the walls. Both are from Würzburg and have successfully navigated the challenging journey to the world’s premier basketball league.

Exodus of Talent

Steinbach will soon leave his tranquil life in Franconia to attend college in Washington this summer. This decision is driven not only by athletic prospects but also by financial considerations. „This is very difficult for the Bundesliga because there are abnormal sums of money in college,“ Steinbach told the German Press Agency.

These „abnormal sums“ could soon pose a significant challenge for the Bundesliga. When young talents can try out for the best league in the world in the USA while earning considerably more than they would in European professional sports, it becomes increasingly difficult to retain these players.

Stefan Holz, managing director of the league, remarked, „This is a real exodus. As the BBL alone, we cannot really do anything about it. This is an international problem, which is why we have addressed it with the global federation FIBA.“

NIL Regulations Affecting Players

The issue is linked to the letters N, I, and L, which stand for „name,“ „image,“ and „likeness.“ Since July 2021, college athletes have been able to profit from their name and image. Consequently, the USA has become a comprehensive support system for basketball development.

Holz demanded, „A solution must be found where the NCAA college league is financially responsible during transfers, just as it is between individual clubs.“ Currently, players‘ contracts are virtually worthless if athletes can freely transition to college. Besides Steinbach, other players like Braunschweig’s Sanana Fru and Ludwigsburg’s Jacob Patrick are also heading to college.

While players can return after their education, Holz noted, „For now, we have lost them.“ This affects players trained nationally who could have become faces of the league.

Steinbach’s Journey Ahead

Steinbach is certainly one of those players. The U18 European champion has already proven himself among Bundesliga professionals and is preparing for greater challenges. He will attend the University of Washington, where other Germans like Chris Welp, Patrick Femerling, and Detlef Schrempf have previously been educated. Schrempf still visits occasionally and could serve as a mentor for Steinbach.

Steinbach’s father, Burkhard, known as the „Colossus of Moos,“ played with Nowitzki in Germany, giving the young talent a unique connection to the country’s most successful player. Steinbach takes the comparisons to Nowitzki in stride, saying, „The comparisons come very early and quickly. I take them with humor.“ He acknowledges that he still has a long way to go to follow in the footsteps of the national icon.

Standing at 2.04 meters, Steinbach is a few centimeters shorter than Nowitzki at 2.13 meters. He also lacks the three-point shooting ability that is almost essential in today’s NBA. The hard work he put in as a youth on his family farm for his first pocket money awaits him at college as he develops his game.

Hartenstein’s Advice

Isaiah Hartenstein, a German who made the leap to the NBA without attending college, has established himself in the league for seven years and could become the first German champion since Nowitzki with the Oklahoma City Thunder this year. Hartenstein warns against rushing into a college switch. „Now with college, German players need to consider whether they want short-term money or long-term money,“ said the 26-year-old. Many young athletes find themselves stagnant in college sports. „In Europe, you can get to the NBA faster and reach that level sooner,“ he added. Compared to top NBA contracts, college salaries are minimal.