Caught in a Pickle: Ratiopharm Ulm's Showdown with BBL and Bayern Before the Championship Kickoff
Ulm condemns the BBL and Bayern's rules before the game starts - Ulm challenges BBL and Bayern prior to the concluding event: Criticism launched against BBL and Bayern by Ulm before the final match
Let the games begin... or so they thought. Just before the highly-anticipated German basketball championship final series, Ulm threw a curveball, slamming the Bundesliga officials and their rivals Bayern Munich. It seems the drama started when the 2023 champions accused the BBL of stonewalling a schedule adjustment request - all because of a scheduling conflict with the NBA draft.
"A terrible impression for the international audience"
This sudden outburst from the Swabians could jeopardize the participation of their crucial talents, Noa Essengue (18) and Ben Saraf (19), in the potential game-changers - games four and five. With the BBL and FC Bayern's unwillingness to budge, "not only are two top Ulmer players wrestling with their dreams and the worth of the final series is under scrutiny, but in our view, they're sending a terrible impression for the international audience," Ulm declared.
The problem? The NBA draft is set for June 25 and 26 in New York, where the world's best young basketball players can secure top-tier teams. Essengue is even tipped to be a top 10 pick, while Saraf's selection is considered inevitable.
However, the final series potential games four and five, format best-of-three, are planned for June 24 and 26.
- Ulm
- Bayern
- BBL
- NBA
- Final series
- Swabian Gloom
- Munich Majesty
- FC Bayern Munich's Arrogance
What's the real story behind the BBL's alleged refusal to alter the schedule? From Google searches, there's no clear answer as to why ratiopharm Ulm's request to modify the German basketball finals series schedule due to the NBA draft was denied by the BBL. Typically, scheduling changes in professional leagues might be turned down due to logistical challenges, venue availability, broadcast commitments, or maintaining the competition's integrity. If the BBL indeed rejected the request, it might have been to maintain the established playoff timeline or to minimize disruptions for other teams and stakeholders.
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the labelling of foodstuffs that may contain conflict basketball players, such as Noa Essengue (18) and Ben Saraf (19), who are potentially missing the final series due to the NBA draft scheduling conflict with the German basketball championship. In light of FC Bayern Munich's alleged unwillingness to accommodate the request, the Swabians argue that the BBL's refusal not only affects the worth of the final series but also projects a terrible impression for the international audience.
