German Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings

Eurobasket had pleasure to talk with the well known face in German basketball Vladimir Bogojevic and we are happy to publish this exclusive interview.

Vladimir Bogojevic played for the German National Team for almost six years from 1996 to 2001, participated with them at European Championships in 1997 and 1999. In his second EC appearance he was No.1 assistant of the championship, playing together with the German NBA superstar Dirk Nowitzki. In the past, Vladimir Bogojevic also played for the German youth National Teams and was one of the top prospects at that time. His pro basketball career started in 1994 in Giessen and later he spent 3 wonderful years with ALBA Berlin winning 3 German league titles and 1 Cup trophy. After ALBA Berlin, Vladimir Bogojevic played for the Serbian powerhouse Partizan Belgrade, Spanish Caja San Fernando Seville, Rhein Energy Cologne, Greek MENT, Italian Messina, Czech Prostejov and finished playing career in 2007 with Duesseldorf Magics. He won another Cup trophy in 2004 with Cologne and appeared several times at the German League All-Star Game.

Immediately after he ended playing career, Vladimir Bogojevic got an opportunity to take a role as the Head Coach at team Kaiserslautern Braves (2. Bundesliga). In his first Head Coaching job Vladimir Bogojevic managed to win the third place in 2. Bundesliga (now ProA), what was considered as big success. In 2008 the award came and his former team Giessen offered Vladimir Bogojevic Sports Director job, where he served several months, before taking over the team as Head Coach in January of 2009. The team had poor start of the season and it was year of financial consolidation at Giessen, the team was relegated, but managed to get the wild card to stay in the Bundesliga. In 2009/10 season the team still had the lowest budget in the league, but under Vladimir Bogojevic managed to end as No.14 team, what was the best result for the club since 2005/06. Unfortunately, the financial situation continued to be very unstable also in 2010/11 and Vladimir Bogojevic made a decision to leave, giving a chance to the team to bring in two new players and save the season somehow. Only the people which were involved to situation in Giessen over those years know very well how difficult was working there with many crucial issues on daily basis.

Vladimir how you would describe these few years at Giessen as their Head Coach?
First of all would like to say hello to all Eurobasket visitors. Well, I am wondering from where to start. It was my second Head Coaching job and a very unique experience. It was the team where I grew up, so lot of emotions were there. The team struggled financially, but we managed to make good results there on the court. Have to say that I am proud on my years in Giessen, it was never easy working there but we were fighting constantly and in one entire season which I spent there we ended as No.14 in the league, what was have to say pretty unexpected due to budget we had. Our defense was maybe the best one in the league that year and our focus was on that, what is natural due to club limitations. I was doing many different things there, what most of the coaches would never do, but as I said there were lot of emotions and we gave the best under of all of those circumstances. Have to underline once again that working in Giessen was huge experience for me and I feel much stronger than before that.

And what about your first Head Coaching job, it was Kaiserslautern braves in 2. Bundesliga?
As you mentioned, it was my first job as a Head Coach and it was a very successful one. I wasnt too much involved in 2. Bundesliga basketball until that time and with the players in that league, so it was a great experience and my team managed to take third place in the league. Was very nice working there and if I can choose again what would be my first HC experience, it would be this team and this league. Doesnt matter how successful player you were, you have to start from lower level as Head Coach as thats the only way how you will have complete knowledge which becomes necessary sooner or later.

Just to make a summary, you played professionally more than 10 years in German top division and won five trophies. You was point guard, how you compare playing and coaching, is it easier for you to coach because you was general on the floor while you was playing?
As I expected, start coaching was much different than playing and I needed some time to switch. After every month it was easier and easier and I was enjoying in these coaching jobs, despite it wasnt easy due to club budgets, but at least in two years I managed to create what I wanted and I am proud on that. There were many distractions for me and for the players, especially in Giessen, but hard work pays off and thats my motto.

Its about two years now from your latest Head Coaching employment, how do you feel and whats your plan for the future?
Have to say that I needed a break after working about 3 years in Giessen and now I am definitely looking forward to the new challenge. You know when I was a player I was winning trophies and I kept that mentality, that is important in every segment of life, so in coaching as well. I miss hard work, I miss devotion on the court and over these two years I was involved to our league a lot. Also when we talk about the league, I have to support this 6-German players rule in the BBL as last season results were already obvious. Most of those guys would never get a chance to show what they can do under the old rule. So having 6 domestic players in the team is really very positive thing as you are working not only for the team, but for the country and basketball in Germany. I like that a lot.

Over the past several days the people connect you more and more to Adriatic league teams as you are coming from that region, can you comment on this please?
Unfortunately I cannot comment you this one, but I do understand you had to ask. I am originally from Serbia, my father was well respected coach who created former NBA star Vlade Divac, so I am well informed about all basketball happenings there and I am glad Serbia will have two Euroleague teams next season, Partizan and Crvena Zvezda, as that never happened before. This is not a surprise to me as great basketball is playing there. Serbia had 3 teams in Adriatic league Final 4 this season, while also top Croatian, Slovenian and Bosnian teams are on very high level, what is good for basketball.

What are your predictions, who in your opinion has the most chances to win the BBL title this season?
Have to say it is a very exciting season, not only about who will win the title, but I would say even more at the middle of the standings where was big battle who will go to the Playoffs and who will be relegated. I am not happy that my former team Giessen had disappointing year. Most of the other teams were pretty leveled and it was exciting to watch and analyze teams, to play more attention on details and on the players and young players as well. Also, I had time to focus on other top European leagues, NBA Summer Leagues and NCAA basketball, that's something what you cant do while working. I feel I needed that time and used it very well. Now to get back to the question, I dont have a favorite. All four semifinalists showed they are very strong and ready to put a great fight, so from me its 25% chance for each team, despite home court advantages.

At the end as we were catching Vladimir between two flights, we would have way more questions for you, but managed to get answers at least about these important things. Vladimir thank you very much for your time and we honestly wish you all the best and at least those several trophies more which you won as a player, to take them as Head Coach as well!
Thanks a lot for your wishes and all the best to you as well.

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BBL Standings

1. Brose Bask.		26-8
2. EWE Baskets		25-9
3. Ratiopharm		24-10
4. B.Muenchen		21-13
5. ALBA		20-14
6. Art.Dragons		20-14
7. Telekom Baskets		18-16
8. Phoenix Hagen		18-16
9. s.Oliver Baskets		17-17
10. Walter Tigers		16-18
11. Bremerhaven		15-19
12. TBB Trier		15-19
13. NY Phantoms		14-20
14. Fraport SKY		14-20
15. Bayreuth		14-20
16. MBC		13-21
17. Neckar Lburg		12-22
18. LTi 46ers		4-30

ProA Standings

1. Vechta		23-7
2. Goettingen		22-8
3. Duesseldorf		20-10
4. Karlsruhe		18-12
5. Cuxhaven		17-13
6. NBC		16-14
7. Jena		15-15
8. Ehingen		15-15
9. Heidelberg		14-16
10. Chemnitz		14-16
11. Crailsheim		13-17
12. ETB Wohnbau		12-18
13. Finke Baskets		12-18
14. Gotha		11-19
15. Kirchheim		10-20
16. Leipzig		8-22

ProB Standings

Group North
1. Schwelm		17-5
2. Rist Wedel		15-7
3. Herten Lions		13-9
4. Oldenburg		12-10
5. Recklinghausen		11-11
6. SU Medien		11-11
7. MTV Wolfenbuettel		10-12
8. BSW Sixers		10-12
9. Hannover		9-13
10. Dorsten		9-13
11. Wulfen		9-13
12. Stahnsdorf		6-16
Group South
1. Dragons		19-3
2. Langen		14-8
3. Weissenhorn		14-8
4. Noerdlingen		13-9
5. Bayer Giants		13-9
6. Licher Baeren		12-10
7. Fraport SKY II		11-11
8. Leitershofen		10-12
9. Hanau		10-12
10. Dresden		8-14
11. Konstanz		5-17
12. TSV Troester		3-19

Regionalliga Standings

North
1. Stade		19-3
2. Magdeburg		19-3
3. Rostock EBC		13-9
4. ALBA Berlin II		12-10
5. Bodfeld Baskets		12-10
6. Bernau		11-11
7. Aschersleben		11-11
8. Itzehoe		11-11
9. Charlottenburg		8-14
10. Goetting.ASC		7-15
11. Wolfenbuettel		6-16
12. Halstenbek/Pin.		3-19
South-East
1. Baunach		19-4
2. Deisenhofen		18-5
3. Muenchen B. II		18-5
4. Muenchen		14-9
5. Ansbach		13-10
6. Vilsbiburg		13-10
7. Weiden		11-12
8. Wuerzburg		11-12
9. Herzogenaur.		10-13
10. Zwickau		9-14
11. Treuchtlingen		8-15
12. Dachau		7-16
13. Regnitztal		7-16
14. Rattelsdorf		4-19
South-West
1. Stuttgart		17-6
2. Mainz		16-7
3. Speyer		16-7
4. Karlsruhe		16-7
5. Giessen		15-8
6. Saarlouis		15-8
7. Treis-Karden		13-10
8. Tuebingen II		12-11
9. Crailsheim II		12-11
10. Limburg		9-14
11. Trier MJC		8-15
12. Volklingen		8-15
13. Freiburg		2-21
14. Heidelberg II		2-21
West
1. Bochum		23-1
2. Iserlohn		20-4
3. Salzkotten		17-7
4. Schalke		15-9
5. Hagen BG		14-10
6. Grevenbroich		14-10
7. Muenster		14-10
8. Sechtem SG		13-11
9. Herford		7-17
10. Bonn II		7-17
11. Giants		7-17
12. Bonn-MTuS		5-19
13. Essen ETB SW		0-24

2.Regionalliga Standings

North-East
1. Berlin Baskets		0-0
2. Berlin SSC		0-0
3. Berlin SV		0-0
4. Berliner B.		0-0
5. Bernau II		0-0
6. Bitt.-Sand.-W.		0-0
7. Charlottenb.2		0-0
8. Cottbus		0-0
9. Hermsdorf		0-0
10. Spandau		0-0
11. Stahnsdorf 2		0-0
12. Wusterhausen		0-0
13. Zehlendorf		0-0
North-North
1. Bad Bevensen		0-0
2. Bergedorf		0-0
3. Bramfelder		0-0
4. Bremerhaven		0-0
5. Einfeld		0-0
6. Hamburg		0-0
7. Luebecker		0-0
8. Rendsburg		0-0
9. Rist Wedel 2		0-0
10. Rotenburg/S.		0-0
11. Uetersen		0-0
North-West
1. Bramsche TuS		0-0
2. Braunschweig 2		0-0
3. Buergerfelder TB		0-0
4. Goetting.BG II		0-0
5. Hameln		0-0
6. Hannover Korb.		0-0
7. Hannover TK		0-0
8. Neustadt		0-0
9. Oldenburg II		0-0
10. Schandelah-G.		0-0
11. Westerstede		0-0
Southeast-North
1. Bamberg		0-0
2. Bamberg D.B.		0-0
3. Bayreuth 2		0-0
4. Breitenguss.3		0-0
5. Chemnitz II		0-0
6. Erfurt		0-0
7. Gotha II		0-0
8. Heuchelhof		0-0
9. Jena II		0-0
10. Leipzig II		0-0
11. Nuernberger 2		0-0
12. Stauf		0-0
Southeast-South
1. Jahn Freising		0-0
2. Landsberg		0-0
3. Leitershofen/S.		0-0
4. Mil Baskets		0-0
5. Muenchen Bsk2		0-0
6. Muenchen DJK		0-0
7. Muenchen Ost		0-0
8. Olching		0-0
9. Regensburg		0-0
10. Rosenheim		0-0
11. Schwabing		0-0
12. Slama Jama		0-0
Southwest-North
1. Bad Kreuznach		0-0
2. Bergstrasse		0-0
3. Frankfurt E.		0-0
4. Frankfurt Makk.		0-0
5. Gelnhausen		0-0
6. Giessen II		0-0
7. Horchheim		0-0
8. Kaiserslautern		0-0
9. Kassel		0-0
10. Kronberg		0-0
11. Nieder-Olm		0-0
Southwest-South
1. Berghausen		0-0
2. Fellbach		0-0
3. Haiterbach		0-0
4. Heidelberg		0-0
5. Heidelberg-Kir.		0-0
6. Leimen		0-0
7. Ludwigsb.BSG		0-0
8. Mannheim		0-0
9. Oberelchingen		0-0
10. Schwaebisch H.		0-0
11. Schwenningen		0-0
12. Stuttgart ESV		0-0
13. Ulm B-ballakad.		0-0
14. Urspring		0-0
West 1
1. Aachen		0-0
2. Barmer		0-0
3. Duesseldorf ART		0-0
4. Duesseldorf SV		0-0
5. Kamp-Lintfort		0-0
6. Koeln DJK		0-0
7. Koeln MTV		0-0
8. Leichlinger TV		0-0
9. Opladen		0-0
10. Rhoendorfer II		0-0
11. Ronsdorf		0-0
12. Uerdingen		0-0
West 2
1. Biggesse		0-0
2. Borchen		0-0
3. Bottrop		0-0
4. Dortmund		0-0
5. Hagen BG 2		0-0
6. Hagen TSV		0-0
7. Hagen-Haspe		0-0
8. Ibbenbuehren		0-0
9. Ludenscheid		0-0
10. Muenster 2		0-0
11. Paderborn II		0-0
12. Werne		0-0

German Basketball (Men)