Former giant Nick Weiler-Babb plays for Germany

Ludwigsburg/Munich. Now Nick Weiler-Babb too: after Jonah Radebaugh and Jaleen Smith, another former player of the MHP giants Ludwigsburg will play for a European national team. As the German Basketball Association announced on Friday, the 26-year-old FC Bayern Munich guard will strengthen the German team in the future. Weiler-Babb, who made his breakthrough in the Bundesliga in the 2019/20 season under coach John Patrick in the jersey of the giants, is scheduled to join the European Championship squad in Cologne on Saturday. Weiler-Babb has already received the necessary naturalization certificate. “It’s a great thing for us as DBB as well as for him. He’s a great guy who will fit well into the national team,” said national coach Gordon Herbert, according to the announcement.

Fiba rules make it easier for foreign players to switch

Weiler-Babb has German roots and has been playing for Bayern Munich since 2020, where he recently extended his contract until 2024. “After the great experience with Bayern in the Euroleague, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to prove myself at the high level of the national teams. The sustainable perspective with a European Championship in Germany, hopefully with a World Cup, Olympic Games with the German national team and a lot more, that appeals to me immensely,” said Weiler-Babb. The European Championship kicks off for the Germans on September 1 against co-favorite France.

Before Weiler-Babb, the ex-giants Jaleen Smith (Alba Berlin) and Jonah Radebaugh (Valencia Basket) had already caused a stir. Radebaugh made his debut for the Montenegro national team just over a month ago. Smith recently announced that he is playing for the Croatia national team.

The rules of the world association Fiba make this possible. According to this, teams may use one player per tournament who was only naturalized after his 16th birthday. The Germans are now making use of this rule and are strengthening themselves in Weiler-Babb with a top-class and versatile guard. Previously, the DBB had strengthened in 2008 with the native American Chris Kaman, who had stated that he was descended from German ancestors.

Handball World Cup 2015 as a cautionary example

Such naturalizations are a double-edged sword in professional sports and are not always well received. In 2017, Wolfgang Brenscheidt, Secretary General of the German Basketball Federation, told Deutschlandfunk that one could live with the rules of Fiba because only one player was allowed to play. Cases like handball, where Qatar spent millions for the 2015 home World Cup to buy quick sporting success with players from all over Europe, are ruled out in basketball.

However, such naturalizations do not always cause joy. “I don’t think the decision to naturalize a player who has no connection to our country is right,” said Spanish basketball star Rudy Fernández at a press conference in July. Former NBA professional Lorenzo Brown had previously been naturalized and nominated for the Spanish national team.

NBA star Joel Embiid will soon be on the floor for France

Most recently, NBA star Joel Embiid also made headlines. The native of Cameroon from the Philadelphia 76ers also received French citizenship in an urgent procedure a good month ago. It is still unclear whether the 2.13 meter tall center will also compete for France at the European Championships – and meet Weiler-Babb and the German team there at the start.