The Basketball Bundesliga final series between FC Bayern and ratiopharm Ulm may overlap with the NBA Draft. Two players from Ulm are questionable for potential final games four and five due to the draft. The club is angry – also at Bayern.
Ratiopharm Ulm has vented considerable frustration over the controversial scheduling of the BBL final series, sharply criticizing the league and opponent FC Bayern Basketball.
“Due to the inflexibility of the easyCredit BBL and our final opponent FC Bayern Basketball, not only are two of Ulm’s top talents torn between their dreams and the sporting value of the final series is being called into question, but from our perspective, a fatal signal is being sent to the outside world,” the club wrote on Sunday in a statement with the headline: “BBL decision casts a shadow on the final series.”
Noa Essengue and Ben Saraf want to get to the NBA via Ulm
Background: The Basketball Bundesliga had definitively rejected an application from Ulm to adjust the schedule for the final round of the German Championship.
NBA Draft Overlaps BBL Finals
With talents Noa Essengue and Ben Saraf, two players in the Ulm squad will participate in the NBA Draft on June 26. 18-year-old Essengue is even being touted as a Top 10 pick, and the selection of Ben Saraf is also considered certain.
The problem: The draft (June 26, from 2 a.m. German time) falls exactly in the period between a possible game four (June 24) and five (June 26) of the final series between Bayern and Ulm, which is why both players are questionable for participating in the games.
Ulm’s Anger: NBA Draft is an “Important Reason”
“The management of the Bundesliga and FC Bayern Basketball show neither understanding for the special situation of the two young Ulm top talents nor for the far-reaching sporting consequences for the crucial games 4 and 5 of the final series for the German Championship. The – in the end – casually formal justification: participation in the NBA Draft is not an ‘important reason’,” Ulm complains.
It continues: “This has summarily dismissed weeks of discussions that began well before the start of the playoffs and our intensive efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution.”
Ulm Sees “Significant Weakening”
Ulm further states that Essengue and Saraf would definitely be missing for a possible game four and five should the duo fly to New York City for the draft.
Should they forego this great experience to stay with the team, they would of course still follow the draft in Germany, where their future will be decided.
According to Ulm, this would have the consequence that the duo is “at least without sufficient sleep and adequate preparation at the decisive game 5”: “Not only a significant weakening of the Ulm team, but also a sporting devaluation of the then final game for the German Championship.”
Ulm’s Criticism of Extending the Schedule
The club also underpinned its criticism of the extension of the Bundesliga season. Compared to previous seasons, the BBL switched back to the system in the playoffs where the home rights between two clubs alternate after each game per series (ABAB system).
Just two years ago, when Ulm became champion, teams played their home games in a row and only changed venues after game 2 (AABB system).
This now has the consequence that the teams get an extra day off between games to reduce possible travel stress. This is also why the BBL season lasts longer than usual.
Ulm drew a comparison: ratiopharm secured the German championship on June 17, 2023 after game four of the final series. This time, only the first game has been played.
The series between Bayern and Ulm begins on Sunday evening in Munich’s SAP Garden at 6 p.m. with game one.