Oldenburg calls for rejuvenation: Krunic and Fobbs bring a breath of fresh air!

Oldenburg calls for rejuvenation: Krunic and Fobbs bring a breath of fresh air!

German basketball has its own special charm, and you can see that so early in the new season. EWE Baskets Oldenburg, who are currently in a state of upheaval, have decided on some big changes to the team. Former coach Predrag Krunic returns to the easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga and takes over the reins in Oldenburg, where he previously worked successfully as head coach from 2001 to 2005 and from 2016 to 2019. His last stop in Japan with the Kobe Storks is now behind him, and so he returned to Oldenburg this summer, where he has won the German championship against the Telekom Baskets since 2009, among other things Telekom Baskets Bonn reported.

In this new season of the BBL team, Krunic will be actively supported by former Bonn players Brian Fobbs and Ralph Hounnou. As it turns out, Oldenburg is struggling with change this year: After a season analysis presented on Friday, managing director Hermann Schüller decided that it was time to focus more on athleticism and an aggressive defense, which was criticized as inadequate during the playoffs last year. Old hands had to give way, and so only Seth Hinrichs remained from last year's regular squad. The team has stocked up with fresh talent, including Kyle Lofton from Bamberg and James Woodard, who previously played for Hamburg, Ludwigsburg and Bayreuth.

Last Season: A Review

The last few years haven't exactly been a walk in the park for Oldenburg. In the past four seasons, the team has only made the playoffs once, which doesn't exactly make for the best prices among basketball fans. This season the focus is on strengthening the defense and generally becoming younger and more athletic. This is also reflected in the new signings the squad needs.

After a promising start with a win in the pre-season against Bremerhaven (97:75), setbacks followed in the first two league games, both of which were lost (75:89 against Frankfurt and 86:93 against Ulm). Despite the initial defeats, sporting director Srdjan Klaric remains optimistic and emphasizes the goal of reaching the playoffs every season.

Bonn on the rise

The situation looks somewhat more stable for the Telekom Baskets in Bonn. Coach Marko Stankovic already has Jeff Garrett back in training, while Jordan Harris has to sit out due to a thigh problem. Seth Hinrichs remains the last remaining player from the old squad, while newcomer Zach Cooks celebrated his first appearance after a ligament injury and supported the Baskets with nine points and five assists. The coach is positive about Cooks' return, although he speaks of an "adjustment period" before he is back in top form.

What happens next remains to be seen. The first matchdays have already shown that the league is fiercely competitive and every team has to work hard to establish themselves at the top. The next games will be crucial in determining whether Oldenburg can successfully implement the hoped-for squad restructuring. The spectators in the BBL can be excited to see what else is to come this season. Because one thing is certain: the tension is already palpable, as well World underlined.