More than a springboard to the EuroLeague: Inside Ludwigsburg's success story / News - Basketnews.com
Credit Credits: AP – Scanpix, Panagiotis Moschandreou, Andreas Gora - Getty Images | BasketNews illustration/E.Alšauskas Ludwigsburg is a city of about 88,000 inhabitants, situated in the north of Stuttgart in southern Germany.
Free throws this season
76%13,1Points made:13,1Accuracy:76,1%Place in standings:15Record max:20Record min:8Most made FTs:Justin SimonTeamBCLStatisticsScheduleIt's also the home of the basketball team under the same name, which has been competing in the BBL, Germany's top league, since 2002. The club's full name is MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg, where MHP stands for the Porsche Company, which is the club's main sponsor, and RIESEN is the German word for Giants.
Whether the team itself can resemble a race car or a mythical figure is up for debate. What cannot be argued upon is the club's progress over the last decade.
Although they haven't won any title in that span, Ludwigsburg has turned into a unique case that combines sports success and knowledgeable use of the financial resources and human capital at disposal.
BasketNews examines how and why a team whose name was more or less unknown until the mid-2010s has managed to not only change its own status but also shape many of its players' professional future.
The humble beginnings
MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg was founded in 1960, being a section of the city's sports club. It was first promoted to the BBL in 1979 and was a regular in the German first division up until 1997. The club's dark ages lasted five years when the team competed in Germany's second-tier.When the promotion was finally won, the Giants started to climb their way up, both in domestic competition and in Europe. The first major milestone came in 2008 when they qualified for the German Cup final, eventually losing out to Artland Dragons.Then came another period of stagnation. Over the years that followed, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg was never placed higher than 9th in the Bundesliga. The 2012-13 season marked a new low point, as the team finished next-to-bottom in the regular season standings, which meant that another relegation was imminent.What saved the day for them was a wild card, granted by the league at the cost of 250,000 euros. Although the team stayed in the first division, everyone in the club knew that there wouldn't be a second chance if things went south again.Thus, the main focus was to fortify the squad. On January 7, 2013, the German club announced its partnership with head coach John Patrick. The American tactician, 44 at the time of his hiring, couldn't change much in such a limited time. However, his contract included an option for the 2013-14 season.
The decision
Tremmell Darden
MIN:25.89PTS:10.14 (51.9%)REB:4.14As:1ST:0.43BL:0.57TO:1GM:7ProfileBCL2021/2022The club decided to keep Patrick on the bench, allowing him to assemble the roster to his liking. That turned out to be the single most successful call MHP Riesen have ever made, although it didn't pay off immediately.
"JP", as he's called by the ones closest to him, has revolutionized the team since his arrival, producing impressive results with manageable means.
Credit FIBA Media There are coaches in basketball who primarily try to find the best possible players and then tailor the style of play to their staff. Others have a very clear idea in their head of what their basketball should look like and commit their pieces based on this image.
John Patrick belongs to the latter species. In Goettingen, the father of five children established his ideas for the first time. Patrick reached the playoff round three times with a limited budget and won the EuroChallenge title in 2010. Subsequently, he earned consecutive Bundesliga Coach of the Year honors (2009, 2010).
"John Patrick is certainly a difficult character, but I have not yet experienced an easy-going coach who is successful." The assessment of Ludwigsburg's coach comes from the club's president, Alexander Reil, who has been working with JP for nine years.
The partnership will most likely extend for at least another year, as the two sides have agreed on a commitment that runs through 2023. That makes Patrick the longest-serving coach among all BBL teams.
"I'm in a really lucky situation," Patrick, now 54, tells BasketNews.
"Alexander Reil, owner-president of the club, is also the president of the BBL. He's a good, conservative businessman. We talk openly, but I don't need to worry about the finance stuff because he takes care of that.
I can focus on coaching, so I trust him and the people in our office to take care of business. It has always worked out," he points out. It has indeed worked out for both parts because since Patrick took over the position at the Swabians in 2013, the Ludwigsburg team has reached the playoffs seven times, with the only exception being in 2019. MHP Riesen were semi-finalists in 2017 finalists in 2020, in addition to making the FIBA Basketball Champions League Final Four in 2018.
"All of this is inevitably connected with John Patrick. We stand for commitment, passion, and willingness to fight. This has spread far beyond the city limits," says Alexander Reil.
"To be honest, being among the first 3-4 clubs in Germany is not something we set out to accomplish," the club's vice president Markus Buchmann confides in BasketNews.
"It's not a normal thing that we're playing at such a high level. There's a big difference between our budget and that of top clubs", he adds.
If Bayern Munich and ALBA Berlin are way ahead of the rest German clubs in terms of budget, Ludwigsburg operates on a more modest basis. "We're like 8th," Buchmann says. "Of course, we could win the championship, but it wouldn't be the normal thing to do."
Their estimated total budget usually oscillates between four and five million euros. Not small, but sizeable enough for a team that has always been looked down on as the underdog.
"We don't have the means to be the favorites, and in the playoffs, you're not allowed to change players. So, it can get especially difficult. But I like the challenge," John Patrick adds.
Buchmann joined MHP Riesen in 2018 after serving as marketing and operations manager in Stuttgart's football clubs (VfB and Heidenheim) for several years.
"In basketball, there's so much action going around the game. Football is more popular, but other than that, the work behind both sports is very similar," he argues.
The terms longevity, continuity, and sustainability are key in Ludwigsburg's plan. "We're working hard because we have to find players who haven't reached their high point of development," Buchmann contends.
The 2021-22 campaign is John Patrick's tenth with the team. The American coach says that he was lured by the opportunity to build something in a place where he saw a lot of potential.
"It's a nice city outside of Stuttgart, and the facilities are excellent by any European standard. I have been here for so many years because I felt that we kept getting better," he says.
An American in Europe
Patrick is a rare case, anyway. Being the only American coach in the BBL and one of the few in Europe, he has grown accustomed to living and working in the Old Continent. Besides, he's a real cosmopolitan by definition. "I grew up in Washington D.C., spent time in Japan. So, there are a lot of Japanese things about me too. I have a German passport, so I'm also European, and I love the lifestyle here. My best friend is Greek, from Thessaloniki," he says.
Of course, nationality has played an important part in his communication with American players and also in creating a network of coaches in the US to who he talks to regularly. Those discussions have brought numerous and largely unknown American players to Ludwigsburg.
Patrick has the ability to sign rough diamonds again and again. His level of expertise renders the presence of a sports director almost superfluous.
Two athletes he discovered, small forwards Royce O'Neale and Kelan Martin, became NBA players. O'Neale spent the 2015-16 season with MHP Riesen before moving via Gran Canaria to the Utah Jazz, where he plays until now, having an important role.
Martin was signed in 2018 straight out of college is currently on his third NBA season and second with the Indiana Pacers.
The list of players who have moved to the EuroLeague is a lot bigger. In the current season alone, ALBA Berlin have three of them in their ranks: center Johannes Thiemann, forward Oscar Da Silva, and guard Jaleen Smith.
Olympiacos Piraeus got Thomas Walkup, who had previously played in Zalgiris Kaunas (2018-2021). ASVEL Villeurbanne signed guard Marcos Knight mid-way through the 2021-22 season, while Nick Weiler-Babb was added to Bayern Munich's backcourt in 2020. "I don't get a dime if one of my players earns five times as much as before or if he goes to the NBA and gets a 40-million-dollar contract," John Patrick has said in the past. "But for me, it's the best reward."Markus Buchmann breaks down the club's policy when it comes to signings.
"We choose young and hungry players who see the chance to play under John Patrick and be in a good organization. Coach Patrick has to find the special guys for our team every year. We're having discussions all year long, looking at what other teams are doing."
The method
The American bench boss describes his method in as few words as possible. "It's all about the process," he utters.This process can certainly be painful when the team in question cannot afford to give a pay rise to its outstanding players.
"We get a new team each year," Patrick notes. "That's why we have to find new ways to win. I try to recruit players who want to get better."The pitfalls make the recruitment process tough, but at the same time, enjoyable, Patrick maintains.
"Now, it's much harder to find self-critical young players who have patience with themselves and put the work in to become EuroLeague or high-level players. It's a pleasure to work with those who know that they haven't made it yet but are willing to work," he notes.
But what does it take for a player to work with John Patrick?"You have to feel that you have something in common," the American coach responds. "For me, that's passion and love for the game. Sometimes, guys who are late bloomers and feel that they can improve and are hungry make me feel that I'm still picking up new things."
Credit FIBA Media Over the years, he has successfully found the right players that will adapt to his program, but he was also forced to make changes as others didn't come to terms with his system. "The guys that don't make it probably think they already learned everything they need to know," he comments.
In this vein, the biggest strength that a new Ludwigsburg player can possess is simply the ability to adjust to Patrick's system. Often teams falter with new roster building, and that's something that MHP RIESEN have also fallen victim to.
What JP will not negotiate is his team's fighting spirit. "If you don't enjoy the fight, this isn't the right place for you. Our fans enjoy having high-quality basketball here. As long as we can find the right players, it's going to be still fun. There's no relaxing, but that's OK with me," he explains. The feeling should definitely look familiar to Thomas Walkup. After a learning experience as a rookie in the D-league with the Windy City Bulls, where he was simply not ready to get an NBA chance, the guard from Texas came to Germany in 2017 to face a new challenge. It turned out to be a short-lived but wonderful marriage."The main reason I came to play for them was my agent being close with John Patrick," the 29-year-old reveals to BasketNews.
"They both said it would be a good fit - and it was," Walkup adds. "That was my first experience overseas, and I had no clue what to expect. I owe a lot of things to JP, and I'm happy I got to play one year for him."In his single season with MHP Riesen, Walkup led the team to the 2018 Basketball Champions League Final Four, where the German side fell to AS Monaco in the semifinal. Only 25 at the time, the SF Austin graduate brought his winning mentality and his versatile play, filling up the stat sheet.
If someone were to ask Patrick which of his ex-players has given him the most pride, the answer would be fairly predictable: "Walkup for sure."
The reason is no other than his unparalleled work ethic.
"He works so hard on his own. He would come after practice and ask to do defensive footwork drills.
I've asked some of the players I've had if they would do some pick n' roll stuff and reads. They were like: "Nah, coach, I'm good." And then, you have Thomas Walkup asking: "Can I do some extra stuff? Coordination, ball-handling... Can we work on the shot?".
Those that put in the extra work and care the most end up playing at the highest level," Patrick maintains.
Credit FIBA Media Former NBA forward John Brockman, who finished his career at Ludwigsburg (2014-16), was another telling example of the lengths a player is willing to improve.
"He would have someone shoot 3-pointers, and every shot that the other guy missed, he would be with his head at the rim, tap-dunking it. That's how he worked on offensive rebounds. It's exhausting to watch, but you see how committed guys are to getting better," Patrick recalls.
One hell of a defense
The experienced tactician is keen on using lineups with comparatively smaller, fast, agile players (small ball) whilst making frequent changes of players to keep the intensity high. All the players are constantly on the move defensively - and also constantly active, as Patrick instructs them to deploy full-court press, with double-teams on the ball handler.
This season alone, Ludwigsburg used full-court pressure defense on 32% of their defensive possessions in the Basketball Champions League. The next team in that respect is Oldenburg at 15.9%. This means that the Giants press twice as much as any other team in the BCL.
One of Patrick's main focal points is to take opponents out of their game.
"In Ludwigsburg, we were constantly denying stuff, forcing point guards to handle the ball for 94 feet (i.e. full court), making life difficult," Thomas Walkup recalls.
The point guard of Olympiacos Piraeus admits to taking a tremendous amount of pride in witnessing the results of his team's lockdown defense.
"You see them start to break a little bit, they're wearing out, you're killing them on the rebounds… To be honest, this is very fun whenever you see a team starting to crack," he further adds.
Patrick promises opposing teams what he calls "forty minutes of hell" in each game. Impressed players and coaches speak of "guard terror", which aims to wear teams down through endless pressing and relentless offensive rebounding.
The MHP Riesen add high intensity to their aggressive defense, resulting in more turnovers from their opponents, leading to easy transition baskets.
A breakdown of John Patrick's basic principles indicates the things Ludwigsburg and most EuroLeague teams have in common.
"The two things I tell guys when I'm recruiting is 'you have to take care of the ball and defend'. I don't tell them anything about shooting percentages or playing time," the American coach says.
"If you look at the top EuroLeague programs and coaches, they're all like that. They don't tolerate sloppy mistakes on offense or concentration lapses on defense. We're doing it at a little lower level.
So, after playing for Ludwigsburg, it's not a shock to go and play for any of the top EuroLeague teams. The level of talent is higher, but the demand for detail and concentration is the same," he contends.
In contrast to other teams, like ALBA Berlin, who emphasize playing their basketball style and don't care much about scouting or what opponents do, Ludwigsburg are very rigorous and meticulous in how they approach games.
Patrick notes that several teams, inside and outside of Germany, are trying to emulate the way his teams act on the court."There are some EuroLeague teams that closely emulate our style, and I've seen some very interesting variations that are close to what we do," he says, and further adds that he has stolen some plays from Zeljko Obradovic in the past, or what CSKA did on defense.
"It can be details or strategies."
"When I see wrinkles that we do that are implemented on higher levels or NBA coaches asking me what we're doing in the pick n' roll, it makes a lot of fun.
But what matters is whether your team can function. It's a dynamic process because the strategy changes from one season to another," Patrick underlines.
"There were a lot of American guys, our playing style was very Americanized," Thomas Walkup continues.
Credit FIBA Media "Our pressure-style of defense - turning people over, but also playing free on offense - was a good fit for me before I really knew and understood the European game. We had a good team and were successful. All of this made my first year in Europe, which is usually difficult for a lot of guys, really pleasurable."
EuroLeague calling
Another American player who has transitioned to the EuroLeague level, ALBA Berlin's guard Jaleen Smith, explains to BasketNews how the Ludwigsburg system facilitated his leap.
"It's a defensive-first team, and everybody has to play defense in the EuroLeague," the 2021 German League MVP says. "Everyone knows that a player who played in Ludwigsburg automatically gets a better reputation as a defender."
Last year, Smith led Ludwigsburg to a 30-4 record and the first seed of the playoffs, has been playing in Germany for his entire career so far. However, he admits that the only information he had on Ludwigsburg before he signed there was that John Patrick was coaching the squad.
"I only knew that John Patrick was there. I talked to a lot of guys that have played pro basketball in Germany. They told me that if I can make it there, I can make it anywhere."
Credit Scanpix Patrick's nationality was pivotal, as it definitely made all communication easier. In pointing out the differences between all the coaches he's had, Smith pulls no punches.
"I had a Serbian coach (editor's note: Branislav Ignjatovic) in my first year at Heidelberg (2017-18), and he was really hard to understand.
Now, I have a Spanish coach (editor's note: Israel Gonzalez at ALBA). He speaks little English, and sometimes you have to figure out what he's saying."
When current Bayern Munich guard Nick Weiler-Babb switched to the BBL in the summer of 2019 after his college time at Iowa State University, he became another player in Patrick's recruitment series who has taken Ludwigsburg as a springboard.
With his size and physique, Weiler-Babb came to fit perfectly into the switch-intensive defense of Bayern. Largely thanks to Patrick.
Describing his adjustment process to European basketball, Weiler-Babb has said it was pretty easy, especially because in Ludwigsburg, they had John Patrick, an American coach, and two American assistant coaches.
Other ALBA Berlin players, like German international center Johannes Thiemann and German-Brazilian forward Oscar Da Silva, further elaborate on how Patrick and Ludwigsburg prepared them to face the EuroLeague challenge.
"John Patrick helped me a lot with the aggressive hedges so that I could find the right defense with ALBA because it's kind of similar when it comes to the big men," Thiemann, who played for the Giants between 2016 and 2018, confides to BasketNews.
Credit FIBA Media "He also taught me to play aggressive, which is very important in the EuroLeague because it gives you confidence. It's in your own hands to succeed," he points out.Oscar Da Silva, who had an exceptional college stint with Stanford before moving overseas for Ludwigsburg in March 2021, calls Patrick's system really competitive and challenging.
"Playing for coach John Patrick is not easy, but if you're willing to learn and work, it can get you a lot better," he adds.
Credit Scanpix Turning defense into fun is, of course, only one aspect of MHP RIESEN's game under coach Patrick. As Walkup noted, on offense, things are considerably less structured.
Jaleen Smith concurs. "In Ludwigsburg, you can showcase your skills because it's such a free offense, and that's something most guys benefit from. John Patrick will let you play as long as you take your shot. If you're not being aggressive, he'll get on you about that."
In a similar vein, Da Silva recalls that he was particularly attracted to the up-tempo style of play, free offense, and rigorous defense before even signing with Ludwigsburg.
"The style is a little different than ALBA's, but it definitely prepared me well," he notes.
This season, in particular, the team's main offensive focus lies in spacing the court with four or five players spread out outside the 3-point arc and using lineups with players capable of putting the ball on the floor and attacking a closeout.
The recent addition of former Olympiacos big man Ethan Happ has been the only deviation from Patrick's small ball plan.
Markus Buchmann refers to Jaleen Smith as the player who has filled him with the most pride compared to other MHP Riesen standouts and highlights that the club has built a reputation of preparing players for the next step.
"Many of them come to us because they see a chance of reaching another level. That's why we have been able to sign them," Ludiwgsburg's vice president says.
Practice makes perfect
Describing John Patrick as a coach, Thomas Walkup notes that guys love playing for him.
"His playing style is really fun. He's not killing you in practice and makes sure that you're really getting after it during the game. He's also a good guy," says Walkup.
Patrick describes his method as a balancing act between individual practice, weights, and stretching.
"In competition, you can't kill your guys every day like it's the finals," he explains.
"It's a lot about feeling what your players need. Sometimes, they need a kick in the ass; coaches ask ourselves what went wrong, and it's just players getting tired."
Nowadays, teams' schedules don't allow much time for practice, but one of the main duties of a successful coach is to have his guys sharp.
"We can have a brawl in practice the day before a game, but it's easier for me to put on the breaks for competitive guys than to try to motivate someone who's naturally not competitive," Patrick holds.
"Coach Patrick is good at monitoring the intensity of each practice and keeping guys fresh," Tremmell Darden tells BasketNews.
Some age, others mature
A special case in his own right, the California-born guard-forward has played in Europe every year since completing his NCAA run at Niagara in 2004.
He has made his way to 88 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games and has also logged 20 appearances in the EuroCup before shifting to the BCL in a season that may also turn out to be his last one as a player.
Credit FIBA Media "Well, as of right now, this is my last year in my head, unless God wants me to continue to play at the level I've been playing this year," 40-year-old Darden reveals.
In his first season with MHP Riesen, he produced 7.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per appearance in the BBL. But this season, against all odds, the seasoned veteran has been playing some of his best basketball.
He's averaging 11.5 points, 4 rebounds in 26 minutes, over six BCL games.
His BBL performances also indicate that there's still a lot of gas in the tank. Quite recently, Darden poured a season-high 22 points, including the game-winning jump shot for his team in a road win against ALBA Berlin.
Some players don't lose their grip as time flies - and Darden seems to fall under that category.
However, age-based prejudice still holds sway in the realm of European basketball.
Darden recalls that after spending two seasons at SYNTAINICS MBC from 2018 through 2020, he expected to get a call from a team. If it hadn't been for John Patrick, he would probably have called it a career.
"I was sitting at home with no offers. Was it because I couldn't play? I don't think so. It's because I was 38.
I was coming off of my best seasons as a pro before COVID happened. But all that they saw was my age. Coach Patrick was the only person that didn't look at my age," he stresses.
"No matter how well I play, the only number one will see is '40'. It's a stigma like you can't do something because your age says so," he complainingly notes.
Darden thinks he could still be an important player on a high-level team.
"I still believe that I can play EuroLeague. Give me 15 minutes. I'll play some quality defense, catch-and-shoot threes, cut back-door, and cheer the team off. It's about the opportunities that you're given," Darden maintains.
The former EuroLeague finalist with Real Madrid fits the profile of the player who's always willing to learn. His current coach thinks he could make it anywhere and provides a rather audacious assessment.
"I think Tremmell could still make the NBA, honestly," Patrick firmly says.
"He's a well over-average athlete, an unbelievable worker, and I think he would help any team with his attitude, work ethic, and leadership. He's an outlier, he calls himself weird.
But I wouldn't call him that. He's an old-school guy because he believes that you have to work for everything you get.
He also believes that you're only as good as your last game. He's a great role model to have for my own kids. Every youth player on our program can spend about an hour watching him and feel refreshed."
It runs in the family
In fact, all three of John Patrick's sons are involved in MHP Riesen in some capacity. 17-year-old Jacob, the fourth-youngest player to debut in BBL history, as well as 19-year-old Johannes, are members of the roster.
Their elder brother Julian is a coaching staff member in the club's youth teams. The daughters Jessica and Judith are also part of the Patrick family, whose members' names start with the letter J.
If the Patricks are a real family, then Ludwigsburg should also have at least one father figure of their own.
"In practice, I have to be a coach, and at home, I shouldn't be one," Patrick concedes.
"I try to be a teacher as a coach. The role as a big brother to players like Tremmell or a father to some of the younger guys is appropriate sometimes, but once we start practice, it should be about business and winning. Before and after practice, I like to help guys with their private life," he says.
On the other hand, Darden underlines that being a mentor and a leader is part of a job description once you get to a certain age.
"I'm like an older brother, and teammates come to me for advice. I'm thankful for being able to share my experience to help them get to the highest level possible sooner than I have," he confesses.
Credit FIBA Media What do his teammates want to know first and foremost? Darden says the things he gets asked the most are "how is it at the big teams?" and "what's it like in terms of quality of life and culture?".
In this respect, the experienced forward singles out two European powerhouses.
"I tell them that Real Madrid is the elite of the elite, a first-class organization from top to bottom. They're one of the top three sports franchises in the world.
Olympiacos are a EuroLeague contender and want to win every competition they're in.
I tell people that the European game is difficult because, unlike the NBA, where they have one trophy at the end of the year, we're competing for multiple trophies throughout the year.
So, you go through emotional highs. You're so invested in winning a title, and the next day you're back, playing again," Darden observes.
Of all the bench bosses he's been with, John Patrick reminds him a lot of Giannis Sfairopoulos. The two spent one season together at Olympiacos in 2014-15.
"It's because his philosophy is rooted on the defensive end," he argues. "He likes physical, intense defense."
But the Greek tactician is not the only one who resembles Patrick.
"I played for Joan Plaza at Zalgiris, and he was a defensive-minded guy. Believe it or not, coach Pablo Laso knew that defense was going to win games.
So, Patrick reminds me of all those three guys because the defensive mentality was really important to them. If you want to win titles, you got to be solid defensively."
Credit Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but the Basketball Champions League provides the seasoned veteran with the opportunity to complete a cycle.
In contrast to Walkup and the three ALBA Berlin players, Tremmell Darden has gone the opposite direction - from the EuroLeague to the BCL, that is. In his case, coach Patrick's task is to make the most of his vast experience. "He knows that I can play at a high level, but that doesn't stop him from challenging me," Darden stresses.
"His attention to detail and the mental focus he requires are needed at the elite level in Europe. Patrick is going to hold you accountable. If you're not strong mentally, you won't be able to handle it.
I keep telling our young guys that on elite EuroLeague teams, players one to ten can play. So, if it's not your day, you have to understand that and make the most out of the minutes you get."As a future coach, Darden sees a lot of elements in John Patrick's coaching style that he would adopt.
"His active hands, his physicality, and closing in the airspace. Seeing where the ball is, you can make your reactions quicker. Deflections are part of showing activity on the defensive end and being physical. Defense is not a job that gets glorified," he concludes.
Make way for tomorrow
What does the future hold for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg? Markus Buchmann sets the tone, as well as the management's goals.
"We want to play well every year, qualify for the TOP 8 in the BBL and get a BCL spot. It's also important to develop a lot of young players in our youth academy, not only for us but also for other teams. We want to give them a good perspective for their own future, in order for them to be successful."
The German exec is quite optimistic about the potential growth and the status that basketball in Germany can have in the years to come.
"The situation, COVID aside, is very good. The league's strategy can make basketball more popular because it's a sport full of action and dynamic. Basketball can be the first sport after football," he firmly maintains.
The home games are played in the multifunction MHPArena right in the center of Ludwigsburg. It can host up to 4.129 fans. Over the last few years, the club has registered new attendance records.
In the 2019-2020 season, an average of 3.920 fans per game came to watch MHP RIESEN compete.
Credit Imago-Scanpix Club president Alexander Reil admits that the team wouldn't have been sustainable without state help, especially amidst the pandemic.
"If you take an average audience of 3.800 as the basis, we had a revenue loss of up to 1.3 million euros in ticketing and hospitality in the 2019-20 season. Of course, we were able to eliminate any deficits through state aid. The state aid was an important building block for all German clubs," Reil said in an interview in the summer of 2020.
In spite of football having very deep roots in the city of Stuttgart, Buchmann believes that the region around Ludwigsburg, up to a radius of 40 kilometers, is populated by many basketball-interested people.
Of course, there are still some limitations, mainly because of the size of the market.
"Interest can grow, but it's not easy past a certain point. Our city has 100.000 residents or maybe less, so it would be easier for basketball to grow in Stuttgart.
There are many first-league football clubs in the area, and it's difficult to get government or sponsor support," he points out.
And what if Ludwigsburg gets to win the BBL title?
"If we were to become German champions, it would not be bad to play in the EuroLeague for a year," Reil has said.
At the moment, the team that is crowned champion in Germany is not automatically allocated a EuroLeague spot.
"We'll have to see what happens if another club becomes champion. We, as the German league, will intervene and make it clear to the EuroLeague that the German champion belongs in this league from our point of view," he clarified.The final word belongs to John Patrick. For nearly a decade, the team's safe keeper admits that he was tempted to change the environment at times but ultimately decided against it.
"I've had offers in the US and Europe to coach national teams. For sure, I've been intrigued by other jobs, but it hasn't been the right time. I still feel like I'm improving, so who knows what will come along," he says.
Credit FIBA Media Patrick is also a professional who keeps monitoring his guys' progress even after they leave his team.
"I keep in touch with Thomas Walkup, Taylor Rochestie, Doron Perkins. Many guys leave, and 5-10 years later, they will come back and say what it meant to them playing here.
But most of them are so focused on making the next step that they don't realize it until much later. I coached Maxi Kleber when he was 19 years old, and he had never played anything more than the 4th league.
A lot of times, it's more about self-confidence than anything else. It's fantastic to see guys use the game and make a lot of money out of it," he utters with pride.
At least as long as John Patrick is still around, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg can rightfully feel they are the stuff that many EuroLeague players' dreams are made of.
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