By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nick Weiler-Babb receiving his naturalization certificate has an immediate impact on Germany’s training camp heading to the 2022 EuroBasket.
Weiler-Babb, 26, officially became a German citizen Friday and is expected to join the Germany senior national team Saturday, as announced by FC Bayern Munich and the German Basketball Federation. One more option for national team selector Gordon Herbert.
Coming from a family with German roots, the Kansas-born swingman has spent his entire professional career in the country’s top-tier easyCredit BBL. After splitting his NCAA career between Arkansas and Iowa State, he had a brilliant rookie campaign at MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. In 2020, he joined Bayern and this offseason penned a two-year contract extension.
“Of course, this is a very important, a very personal and carefully considered decision that I made some time ago,” he said on obtaining German citizenship, “I am very grateful and happy about the initiative of the German federation and the support from many sides. I have a special relationship with Germany and German basketball and feel very comfortable here with my wife. After the great experience with Bayern in the EuroLeague, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to prove myself now at the highest level of the national teams. The long-term perspective with a European Championship in Germany, hopefully with a World Cup, Olympic Games with the German national team and some more, that is really exciting. From now on, a very exciting time is waiting for me and I hope that we will be successful.”
Making his way to 62 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games the last couple of seasons, the defensive specialist tallied 6.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks for the team coached by Italian mastermind Andrea Trinchieri.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net