World champion Thiemann's sky-high confidence helping ALBA develop

The veteran center is off to a fast start for ALBA in his fifth EuroLeague season.

It should be no surprise that Johannes Thiemann played a major role in ALBA Berlin securing its first win of the EuroLeague season. Not only does the center know the club’s system but he is coming into the season with sky-high confidence as a freshly-crowned world champion.

Thiemann poured in 22 points on 6-of-9 field-goal shooting and 7-of-9 on free throws to go with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in ALBA’s come-from-behind 85-82 win over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan.

Thiemann was coming off his worst EuroLeague game of the season, with just 7 points and 7 rebounds in Round 4 after having averaged 12.7 points and 8.3 rebounds with two double-doubles in the first three games.

The 29-year-old stepped up for ALBA on Thursday when it mattered most against Milan. In the final 6:27 minutes of the game, Thiemann scored 10 points including a three-pointer and a three-point play following his third offensive rebound of the quarter to knot the game at 82-82 with a minute left. Thiemann added a free throw with 7.0 seconds left to provide the final scoreline.

"We kept [the energy] a little lower in practice this week so we had the energy for the game. We just wanted it more," Thiemann said. "It’s so important especially for us as a young team. We still need time to build, to grow. But to get some wins along the way is amazing."

Thiemann enters the season after the high of winning the FIBA Basketball World Cup with Germany. He averaged 7.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 18 minutes per game at the tournament.

There is not only that confidence but also his experience in the EuroLeague as well as in ALBA’s system. Thiemann is playing his sixth season with ALBA and fifth in the EuroLeague, and he played three seasons with the EuroCup with Bamberg Basket and ALBA. He is a five-time German champion - 2015 and 2016 with Bamberg and the ALBA three-peat from 2020 to 2022.

"JT is taking advantage of his knowledge of the team and the game and his confidence from the World Cup," ALBA coach Israel Gonzalez said. “I hope he will play like this all season, but we know this is not possible, that he will have some moments like he is playing now. But there will also be moments where he needs to rest or take a step back to recover."

Until then, it wouldn’t be a surprise if ALBA is carried by Thiemann to a few more wins.