By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
In recent years, Ulm has emerged as the place to be in Europe for young talents aiming to make a name for themselves as NBA prospects. And this success is matched by good results on the court.
It’s an ideal scenario for many clubs, yet very few have managed to achieve it. Ulm provides an ideal blueprint.
The average fan, of course, focuses on results and trophies – and that’s no small matter for any club.
Ulm, with a 3-0 start in the BKT EuroCup, delivers on that front, and it offers much more than that.
More than just a basketball team
Considering that Ulm was founded in 2001 in a city of just 120,000 people, becoming one of Europe’s basketball hubs once seemed like a far-fetched dream.
But as the saying goes: if you build it, they will come. Ulm built the Orange Campus, and by the start of the 2020-21 season, it had become the destination in Europe for young prospects looking to make it big.
The $25 million development complex is more than just a modern training facility – one that GM Thorsten Leibenath, a former coach, envisioned and that could rival even EuroLeague teams. It’s also a way for the team to be fully integrated in the city, as it features a conference center, restaurants, and a state-of-the-art gym that is used not only by players but also by fans.
On the shores of the Danube, a true basketball community has been created. And despite the limitations of a small market, Ulm’s model is working miracles.
The club’s philosophy is reflected even in the design of its facilities, as the senior and junior team locker rooms are interconnected, creating a seamless link between the present and the future.
Enter Hartenstein
That’s how Ulm managed to bring NBA player Isaiah Hartenstein on board as an investor, joining its ownership group in December 2024. The reigning NBA champion with the Oklahoma City Thunder never played for Ulm while growing up in Germany, but the project was enough to convince him.
So, starting the season at 3-0 is a bonus for the 2023 German champions and the only end goal.
Still, Ulm’s example can prove that if you do things the right way on the court and the results are not your only priority, success on the court will eventually follow. The upcoming game against the EuroCup’s top contender may just show that Ulm’s time has already arrived.