3×3 basketball players from Hanover dream of Olympic gold – and the NBA | NDR.de – Sports

by Yasmin von Bargen

“MVP, MVP!” sounds deafeningly over the 3×3 court in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar. Fabian Giessmann stands on the field with his arms outstretched and a slightly disbelieving look. His teammates run towards him and jump on his back. The cheering is endless.

Giessmann has just landed the decisive two points in the final of the U23 World Cup against defending champions USA. Two points that lead to the World Cup title. And of course he becomes MVP of the tournament. “Who else? He is too strong for anyone in this tournament,” the commentator shouts enthusiastically into the microphone.

World champion! But this title should only be a milestone on the path of the 3×3 national team from Hanover. A path that has only really begun this year – and that no team has ever taken before.

The first professional contract

It is spring 2024, 19-year-old Fabian Giessmann and his teammate Denzel Agyeman, who is the same age, are waiting in a schoolyard in Hanover. Both seem older. With 2.05 and 2.07 m, wide cross and rastas, they stand out on the school grounds. “Linus is a fox, he’ll definitely be ready sooner,” implores Denzel. Linus Beikame completes the team. He has his last Abitur exam on this day.

School is on hold for Fabian and Denzel. At the beginning of the year, the young trio signed professional contracts. That means six days a week of training and a salary they can live on.

NBA is the goal of everyone’s dreams

An important step and a relief for players like Denzel: “I don’t know what else I would do afterwards. I would have done something with sports anyway. That’s why I was happy that I had the opportunity to be a professional athlete.”

Fabian Giessmann can also fully concentrate on his career and has big plans: “For me, the dream is the NBA – and that’s not possible without a professional career. I didn’t grow up with a lot of money, so a well-paid job was for me and also important to my mother.”

Taking teenagers to the top

He has the job in his pocket. Head national coach Matthias Weber and coach Robert Birkenhagen have been working closely with the boys at the Olympic base in Hanover for many years. The special thing: They are building a 3×3 team with teenagers with the long-term goal: gold at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“We have created something here that is unique not only in Germany, but in the world,” explains Birkenhagen to NDR. “Starting with such young players, playing 3×3 and being in the right place at exactly the right time, a lot came together.”

3×3 players are usually significantly older and are often career changers who come from classic basketball. In Hanover, those responsible are taking more steps, thinking long-term – and big. “We want to become one of the best 3×3 teams in the world,” says head coach Weber. Training takes place six days a week at the Olympic base in Hanover, with weight room, throwing sessions, individual or team training on the program at each one.

“We are really friends”

Linus comes out of the school building with a broad grin. Fabian and Denzel hug him warmly. Passed high school diploma. It goes without saying that they both stand by his side at such an important moment. The three are more than just teammates. “I couldn’t imagine a day without them both,” says Denzel. “We really are friends,” affirms Linus. “I would even describe us as brothers,” says Fabian, “we argue sometimes too.”

They have known each other since childhood. When they are not playing together in the national team, they compete together for their 3×3 club St. Pauli.

A long path that is slowly bearing fruit

And quite successfully. From now on they will play around 30 international tournaments a year. USA, China, Mongolia – that is their life now.

With St. Pauli, the friends have just won their first Challenger tournament in South Korea – in the men’s division, mind you. At the last second, at the age of 19, they missed the Olympic qualification in May and qualified for the men’s European Championships in Vienna.

The solidarity is a big plus

We take the subway to the first European Championship game at the Prater. There’s not much talking, instead there’s music for the ears, Rihanna and Afro beats. Full concentration. “We are young and motivated,” explains Linus, “and we are so cohesive as a team because the core has existed for so long. It is clear that we always stick together. And that is a big advantage over other teams. “

The average age of other teams is sometimes ten years older than their own. Seasoned men. This is about more than winning. “My heart opens when I see that we are here. We will survive. We will take something with us and be better than before,” enthuses Coach Birkenhagen.

Caught up in reality

They passed in the two group games against Spain and series European champions Serbia. But didn’t win. The end in the preliminary round.

Blank stares. Silence – which is only broken by Fabian’s angry punch against the fitness equipment. And in the words of head coach Matthias Weber: “We can’t say that everything is just cool. We got screwed twice,” he warns his players. “That doesn’t change the love for each other. But: Get your ass down, get into the weight room even more, dribble even better, keep going. You’re young, but we want to grow up now.”

Trainer of “one of the most important people in life”

Growing up – a long path that began for shooting star Fabian Giessmann in Hanover Linden. On a football field. And this is where the shared story of him and his coach Robert Birkenhagen, who also supports Fabian in private matters, began. “For me he is one of the most important people in my life,” explains the basketball player. “I feel like he’s my second father because he’s already done so much for me.”

For coach Birkenhagen, this is self-evident: “I don’t reduce my job to just standing on the court and saying: ‘Run that way or do the layup like that.’ There’s a lot more to it.”

From football to basketball and the NBA?

Among other things, discovering your talents yourself. The largest is called Fabian. Fabian played football for SV Linden until he was 13. Birkenhagen happened to see his protégé on the pitch, standing there and making throwing movements. When he asked him if he would like to come to basketball training, Fabian didn’t have to think twice.

“After a week of training, I said to myself: If I start playing basketball, then I want to go to the NBA,” he smiles. “I promised my mother and I would like to keep it.”

Support the family with the money

Fabian is at home with his mother. Almost 20 years ago she fled from South Sudan to Germany. Shortly afterwards her son was born. Fabian lives in a two-room apartment with his two brothers and his mother. His father died a few years ago.

“It was always a dream for me to support my family. We could never afford things that others could afford. That was a motivation for me as a child.” Fabian’s mother Susan Aguer is grateful for her son’s support: “In the last six months he has grown up. He tells me: ‘Don’t worry, everything will be fine. I also play basketball because of you.'”

Call from NBA star Dennis Schröder

He showed how hard Fabian fights for his dreams and goals at the U23 World Championships in Mongolia at the end of September. Germany dominated the tournament. The basketball world has now become aware of the German boys. Above all, Giessmann. Even NBA star Dennis Schröder calls. A conversation from world champion to world champion.

“He said that the performance was great, that I have a lot of potential and that he sees a lot in me. He said that I can ask him anything whenever I want,” reports Fabian. Not only players, NBA clubs are also knocking. “There is interest, there are inquiries about Fabian,” says Birkenhagen. “But it would be new territory for everyone in basketball.” Because no 3×3 player has ever moved to the NBA.

Whether Fabian’s big wish comes true or not – the big goals with his national team, with his “brothers” from Hanover, are no less valuable for him: triumph at the Olympic Games – also in the land of dreams.