Since the historic World Cup triumph in Manila, Andreas Obst has no longer been able to keep up with the deadlines. Festive basketball reception in Frankfurt, guest at a wedding in Bamberg, visiting Harry Kane and Co., honored by Prime Minister Markus Söder, in between partying wildly in the tent at the Munich Oktoberfest and tuning in to ZDF’s “Aktuelle Sportstudio”.
When the new basketball star was asked immediately before Bayern’s start of the season where he was currently, Bayern professional Obst answered quite trivially: “I’m currently in Munich.”
That’s not a given, because the 27-year-old has had a very wild few weeks. When Germany won its first World Cup title in the Philippines, Obst became the celebrated match winner with 24 points against the USA in the semifinals. Commentators compared the three-point specialist directly – and somewhat exaggeratedly – to star player Stephen Curry, who has four NBA championships to his name.
Opening against the MBC
After the astonishing defeat of his US team with twelve NBA professionals, his club coach Steve Kerr frankly admitted: “I think that fruit was the key to victory for the Germans.” At the side of soccer star Kane and highly praised by Michael Jordan’s former teammate Kerr: This is Andreas Obst’s new basketball world before the Bundesliga opener against Syntainics MBC on Friday (8 p.m. / Dyn).
Accordingly, rumors quickly arose as to whether the 1.91 meter tall winger with these skills might not be one for the NBA. “A few years ago he could only throw. Now he has the complete package,” said team captain Dennis Schröder about Obst, who quickly brushed off any speculation. Obst answered even adventurous questions (does he need a new bank account for the impending salary payments?) soberly and referred to his contract in Munich, which is valid until 2026. He goes into the new season as one of four world champions alongside Isaac Bonga, Niels Giffey (both Bayern) and Johannes Thiemann (Alba Berlin).
Obst made a name for himself in the basketball world this summer. Bayern’s managing director Marko Pesic recently said with a laugh about the motives for the surprising signing of ex-NBA champion Serge Ibaka: “He really wanted to play with Andi.” While official Pesic was more likely to joke, the new Bayern coach Pablo Laso talked about the past weekend: “The other day in Athens we were having coffee and suddenly someone came and said: Mr. Obst, I have your game against the USA seen.” This is not only good for fruit, but also for the whole team.
Euroleague always the main goal
In Germany, Obst has already played for Giessen, Bamberg, Gotha, Ulm, among others – and now in Munich. He’s not particularly drawn to the big world. When asked about the NBA, he said on “Bayerischer Rundfunk”: “Of course it’s a dream for every basketball player. But for me it never played that role. I always wanted to play at the top European level. The Euroleague was always the main goal for me . NBA is not what I’m talking about right now.”
After the World Cup tournament, the German basketball hero had virtually no break. And now the next season awaits with 34 Bundesliga games and 34 Euroleague games before the playoffs begin in both competitions. “I try not to look too far ahead. Of course you know that everything is a real burden,” said Obst. When the upcoming season with around 80 competitive games is over, the Olympic Games in Paris await. “The Olympics” is “all a problem for tomorrow,” said Obst calmly. He was initially “euphoric and optimistic” about being able to start again with FC Bayern.
