.jpg "TJ Bamba to Vechta: Rasta’s New Signing")
All photos: University of Oregon
(9.9.2025) Rasta Vechta increased with another American almost two weeks before the first competitive game of the new season. TJ Bamba, 24 years old, comes from the US college league NCAA, in which he most recently played with the Oregon Ducks. The shooting Guard, which can also act as a small forward, signed a one-year contract with the Easycredit Bundesliga club.
In the big ten Conference to be assessed, in which the University of Oregon is represented with its Ducks, TJ Bamba was a regular and top performer last season. The 1,95 -meter swingman was used in 35 games, was on average 28 minutes on the floor and used them for 10.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals. In view of the high number of balls, it is therefore not surprising that Bamba was appointed to the “All Big Ten Defensive Team” and was a finalist for the “Lefty Driesell Award” with which the best defender of Division I is awarded.
“You can influence the game in defense as well as in attack. Stops are just as important and not only give new energy to the team. I took it to heart and get involved. Just being a two-way player, a strong defender that brought me a lot of good,” said Bamba at the end of June to the online portal of the Sports Illustrated.
On Monday afternoon, the American, who grew up in New York, landed in Bremen, then met Rastas Coaching Staff and completed a first, mandatory medical check. “TJ should help us find our stability in the defense. This is his main task. In addition, it can be an option for us in the offense so that we are a little wider on the Guard and wing positions,” explains Rasta’s head coach Christian Held.
The rookie played for five years in the NCAA, only three years for the Washington State Cougars, then a season for the Villanova Wildcats. In total, Rastas played new #5 in the division 1 154 games (25:12 minutes) – with an average of 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals. After his college degree, Bamba showed himself at the “NBA 2K26 Las Vegas Summer League” in five games (16:06 minutes) in the jersey of the Brooklyn Nets, came to 4.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.0 steals.
Rasta’s sports director Gerrit Kersten-Thiele had seen TJ Bamba in Nevada and had already had on the radar. In the Vechtaern, the American foreigner number six and player number 16 in the EasyCredit BBL squad, which was expanded by six U21 talents. “We took the time to look at our squad over a few weeks. The idea that it can make sense to sign another variable professional, which can be used both in the defense and in the offense, came early,” said Kersten-Thiele.
TJ Bamba in the short portrait
Birthday: January 6, 2001
Nation: USA
Himmatstadt: New York (USA)
Size: 1.95 meters
Weight: 95 kilograms
Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Stationn: Rasta Vechta (Sit 9/2025), Oregon Ducks (2024/25, NCAA), Villanova Wildcats (2023/24, NCA), Washington State Cougars (2020 Bis 2023, NCAA)
Stats 2024-25: 35 Sp. / 28:00 Min. / 10.5 Pkt. / 3.0 Ass. / 3.4 Reb. / 1.8 St.
Rasta Vechta – 2025/2026 – The squad
Player: TJ Bamba (Guard/Forward, 24, USA), Tevin Brown (Guard/Forward, 26, USA), Malcolm Dandridge (Center, 25, USA), Dominik Dolic (Guard, 18, HRV/D), Joschka Ferner (29, D), Philipp Herkenhoff (FORWARD, 26, Guard, Guard, 18, D), Tommy Kuhse (Guard, 27, USA), Fynn Lastring (Center, 18, D), Elijah Ndi (Forward, 20, D), Lloyd Pandi (Guard, 25, Can), Linus Ruf (Center, 19, D), Luc van Sloote (Forward, 23, D), Lars Thiemann (Center, 25, D), Linus Trettin (Forward, 20, D), Alonzo Verge (Guard, 26, USA). Head Coach: Christian Held (37, D). Assistant Coaches: Miguel Zapata (44, ESP) and Marius Graf (33, D).
