David Krämer in an interview about DBB and Tenerife

After the Golden Herbert era, the German national team is starting a new cycle with the new national coach Alex Mumbru. David Krämer will play a big role in the first international window. In the interview, the winger talks about his season in the Spanish ACB near Tenerife.

basketball.de: You probably know the game “Start, Bench, Cut”. If I now name three NBA players, you have to rank them: who starts, who is on the bench, who gets cut. I would like to play a DBB literary edition “Start, Bench, Cut” with you: “The boys gave me my life back” by Gordon Herbert. “Shining in her eyes” by Beate Wagner, the mother of Franz and Moritz. “Bessermacher” by Arne Greskowiak.

David Krämer: Start, Bench, Cut… (thinks) I still have to read all the books. But cut: definitely Arne. (laughs) The thing with Franz and Moritz is a really cool story – that’s why it starts: “Shining in their eyes.” And then Gordie’s book: Bench.

In this international window you are one of the few world champions or players who have taken part in one of the last three major tournaments. Is this now an opportunity for you to take on even more responsibility? What role does Coach Mumbru expect you to play specifically in this window?

Naturally. As you say, Johannes Thiemann and I are the only ones from the world champion team, which is why Coach Mumbru gave me the role of being a leader together with JT, on and off the floor. I really appreciate that. I will try to play my game as always, having a positive mindset and bringing energy at the same time, but also pulling the younger players along. We have Tibor Pleiß with us, I think Dylan Osetkowski is also a player who will lead the way. We are a new team and have a new coach, so not everything will be perfect. We have to train a lot and build up a lot first.

“Mumbru’s approach of trying to finish early in the shot clock has a Spanish element”

You play in the Spanish league. You will now play under a Spanish national coach. After the first conversations and training sessions: Is there something that sets Coach Mumbru apart that you might also know from the Spanish league?

Yes, like Mumbru’s approach of trying to finish early in the shot clock, that’s a Spanish element. Only Dylan and I play in the ACB, so it might not be easy to incorporate that into our game with the national team. At the same time, we have to preserve our identity as the German national team because that has worked very well in recent years. Mumbru tried the best to install a hybrid of Spanish and German basketball. I think that could work well.

Can you already identify things that he wants to take over from Gordon Herbert and do differently?

It’s hard to say after the second training session. Plus, a lot of the guys who are with the national team this window haven’t worked with Gordie that much, especially in tournaments. That only applies to JT, Chris Sengfelder and me.

What are the biggest differences between the Spanish league and the BBL?

The Spanish is clearly the best domestic league in Europe, if not the second best in the world. It’s already difficult to play in this league, when I moved from Germany to the ACB I thought it would be a little easier. It had taken me longer to adjust. It’s a very fast league with a lot of quality, every team has a very good bench. The BBL is also a good league, but the difference in quality is like night and day.

“In the ACB it’s like chess, in the BBL it’s more like freestyle”

When I spoke to Andi Obst before he moved to Spain, he said that in the Spanish league they play “very tactically, they have very good technicians” there. Johannes Voigtmann said during his time at Baskonia: Basketball in the ACB is like chess. Can you understand that?

Yes, absolutely. Preparing for each game is completely different, just like how common teams prepare for you. Here in Germany I knew how to get into every game and how a game would play out. But it’s tough here in Spain, every game is different. There a player scores 22 points in one game and only five in the next – it’s difficult to estimate, the opponents simply scout well. Every move on offense is thought about. Jo put it very well: In the ACB it’s like chess, in the BBL it’s more like freestyle (smiles).

In the Spanish league there is a relatively new rule that you don’t have to hand the ball to the referee if the ball goes out of touch…

I think that’s really nice. This makes the game extremely fast and embodies a “next play mentality”: If you lose the ball and it goes out of bounds, for example, you often get annoyed – but in the ACB you don’t have any time for that. Do you lose the ball? No matter, next game, you have to continue playing straight away, you always have to keep your head in the game. I like that.

With Tenerife you have a record of 4-0 in the Champions League and 6-1 in the Spanish league. The only defeat was against Barcelona with -4. What are the reasons for your good start to the season?

First of all, we have a good squad and very good team chemistry, we all get along very well. There are guys who have been playing together for four or five years: Marcelinho Huertas, Bruno Fitipaldo, Aaron Doornekamp, ​​Tim Abromaitis, Giorgi Shermadini… We have so many quality players who make it really easy. Our scoring is usually very balanced, the ball runs all the time. With Txus Vidorreta we have a very good coach who also knows very well how to let his team run.

For me personally: I’m the youngest player in the rotation, I learn a lot from my teammates and can get better every day. It’s really fun to play there. Plus the quality of life of living on an island… I can’t complain. (grins)