By Eurohoops / info@eurohoops.net
The impact of Álex Mumbrú’s work has not gone unnoticed across the Atlantic. In the NBA, several respected voices have praised the Catalan coach’s achievements last summer, guiding Germany to the EuroBasket title and solidifying a highly recognizable playing style.
As Toni Canyameras recounts in Mundo Deportivo, one of those who experienced it most acutely from within was Franz Wagner, star of the Orlando Magic and a key player for the German team, who won the gold medal as one of the tournament’s standout players and was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
“I think we played a different style of basketball than in previous years, much faster. And I think that after a couple of weeks of training, getting used to it, we all liked it and saw how it can help us as players, to showcase our abilities even better than before.”
Beyond the title, the American league also highlights the difficulty of maintaining the level of a world champion team, as Germany was after 2023. Mumbrú not only maintained that standard, but he did so by introducing his own nuances and overcoming significant setbacks, such as the health problems he suffered during the tournament.
“I think we played a different style, and I think he’s obviously a different guy than Herbert. He brought a lot of energy and found a way to connect with the guys, and that’s all you can ask for. I think he likes to innovate. I’ve never played that style of basketball before. I think we’re obviously not the only team that plays like this. But that’s kind of the way basketball is evolving—playing super fast. You know, if you have a good shot early in the attack, you should take it, and I think offensive rebounding was a big part of our game as well. All of those things are driven by more stats and analytics and that kind of thing.”
But his players aren’t the only ones who speak highly of Álex Mumbrú; his counterparts in the NBA have also praised his work on the sidelines. Jamahl Mosley, coach of the Magic, closely followed Germany’s performance, partly due to the presence of several of his players on the national team.
The American coach particularly valued the pace, fluidity, and confidence that Mumbrú’s system instilled in key players of the team. “I think it was remarkable; they played fluidly, attacked the basket, played fast, and at times slowed things down to read the game. But I simply liked the way they played with such a high tempo, the freedom and aggressiveness it gave to Dennis (Schröder), Franz, and those guys. The way they played also helped a lot in building Tristan’s confidence. I think those were key factors for us as well.”
Even during difficult times, such as the coach’s illness during the championship, the group maintained its cohesion, something Wagner also reflected on when recalling how that situation strengthened the bonds within the team.
“It was definitely tough for all of us. Obviously, we tried to focus on the matches, but I made sure he knew we were playing for him and that we still felt his presence out there. It was tough, but I think it brought us closer together as a group, even with the coaching staff. I obviously felt bad for him; he basically couldn’t really train in the tournament. I know he was really looking forward to it, and I could sense how frustrated he was about that. But these are some of the things you can’t control, and I think the most important thing is that he’s okay now.”