Playful: In addition to his strength in distance throws, Philip Hecker (on the ball) is mainly in demand because of his cool head. At 1.93 meters, he is one of the smallest in the new Hanauer Pro-B team.
© Scheiber / Göbel
A major change lies behind the Hanau White Wings. Philip Hecker is one of only two regulars who have remained with the third division basketball team from the Pro B. In the interview, the 19-year-old talks about the newly formed team, his role and the anticipation of duels with brother Felix.
The White Wings are repositioning themselves almost completely this season. What are your impressions of the team?
We have many different personalities. But it works well. Of course, there are still little things that are lacking in the field. But that’s normal. We also do a lot together outside of the training sessions and are well on the way to becoming one unit.
But such a major change is certainly not that easy to cope with …
Of course you start all over again. Last season we had a good group that did a lot together. We are still in contact with the two Spaniards Michael Acosta and Eduard Arquez as well as Omari Knox. But there is absolutely no point in comparing the two teams of characters.
What are the differences in the field?
With Till-Joscha Jönke and Josef Eichler, the old hands have left us. They always knew what to do and went ahead. Then there is my brother Felix, who already has a few Pro-B games under his belt. Now the tasks are distributed completely differently and we will certainly show a different face.
In what way?
We are younger, but also bigger. The defensive will play an even more central role. With my 1.93 meters, I am now one of the smallest in the team. It gets really tight when the others stretch out their arms. Last season we got a lot through positional attack, this time fast switching will be even more important besides defense. We certainly have less experience, but different qualities.
The American “JD” Tisdale came as the most prominent commitment from the G-League. Impressed?
He’s only boiling water for me (laughs). No, “JD” is a scary athlete with a very quick first step. He’s an open-minded guy, helpful and shows us a few tricks. After all, he has already trained with NBA professionals. You can only benefit from that.
How do you see your role?
Of course, I would like to recommend myself for even more playing time and take responsibility. One of my tasks will be to go ahead with a cool head and exude calm.
This season you will meet the Skyliners with their brother Felix. Do you very much regret his departure?
Of course it’s a shame, especially since we complemented each other well on the field. But Felix made that decision. It’s going to be a nice duel, I’m really excited. When we see each other, sayings are already being tapped.
How do you see your future as a basketball player?
For the next two or three years, my parents gave me the freedom to test myself out. I want to see where the basketball journey is going. Otherwise, I can also imagine studying or training.
The interview was conducted by Jörn Polzin
