Teams are currently starting to prepare the 2020/21 season. While some clubs already practiced over the last week(s), other clubs start this week.
In the men’s Total League, there have been a lot of roster-moves over the summer, but compared to some previous years, the number of changes can be considered average.
20
Like nearly every year, a lot of clubs decided to take 2 new professional players. In total, there will be 20 new professional players in the men’s first league next season. In total, 22 or 23 professional players will start the season in the Total League depending on Etzella’s final decision to play with 1 or 2 professional players.
9
9 head-coaches remain with their team: Alexis Kreps (Résidence), Gabor Boros (Telstar), Daniel Brandao (Heffingen), Gavin Love (Contern), Kresimir Basic (Etzella), Ken Diederich (T71), Etienne Louvrier (Amicale), Pascal Meurs (Sparta) and Sylvain Lautié (Esch).
3
In total, 3 new coaches will start the season: Christophe Ney (Arantia), John Dieckelman (Musel Pikes), Torbjörn Gehrke (Racing). All 3 coaches have not been head-coach in the Total League before, Gehrke and Dieckelman are new in Luxembourg.
Never change a winning team
Champion Basket Esch is the only team that will enter the season with the same professional players: Clancy Rugg and Miles Jackson-Cartwright. All luxembourgish players will stay with the team except BEN KOVAC, who will become a professional player in the Netherlands (Den Helder Suns).
3
Only 3 professional players will stay with their team. As mentionned above, both pros from Basket Esch will stay and the third player is Denell Stephens from US Heffingen.
Off-season winner: Racing Luxembourg
The come-back of Bob Melcher can be classified as the biggest off-season move this summer. The former national team player lastly played in Steinsel before spending time abroad because of his studies. Furthermore, Max Hilger, Chris Scholtes and Sam Ney give the team a lot of depth. Not only did the team manage to add these players, but they also set the tone for the league by playing with only 1 professional player.
Toughest challenge ahead: Amicale Steinsel
Amicale lost its 3 luxembourgish starters from last season: Yann Wolff, Max Schmit and Jo Hoeser. The team of head-coach Etienne Louvrier is facing a huge challenge to build a young team and be competitive in the Total League.
On this overview, you can see all off-season-changes team by team! –> Overview of all off-season-changes (team by team)
Picture: Robert Straus
