The Local Germany

'Cursed' north German sports club mourns two shock deaths

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 11:12:36 +0200

A sports club is mourning the deaths of two amateur sportsmen who suffered heart attacks on successive days, leaving team-mates wondering if the club is cursed.

Turkish fans brawl at wheelchair match in Germany

Sun, 08 May 2016 17:01:29 +0200

A mass brawl at a wheelchair basketball match in Germany between supporters of Turkish clubs Galatasaray and Besiktas left seven fans needing hospital treatment, police have confirmed.

Berlin hotel extends beds for basketball giants

Thu, 03 Sep 2015 17:24:20 +0200

The Berlin hotel hosting the international basketball teams playing in the 2015 European championships matches here have extended their beds to 2.50 metres in order to accomodate the giant players.

German teen basketball star moves to NBA

Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:09:00 +0200

Another tall German has followed Dirk Nowitzki to the top rank of the American basketball - this time 19-year-old Dennis Schröder has been signed by the Atlanta Hawks.

Nowitzki puts basketball on hold for family

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:12:00 +0200

Germany’s basketball superstar Dirk Nowitzki may not be making headlines in the current NBA playoffs, but back home on a visit he announced that his first child will be a girl – and she’ll be playing tennis not hoops.

Basketball star's sausage advert is the 'Wurst'

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:56:00 +0100

One of Germany’s biggest banks has appealed for calm from vegetarians after an advertising spot featuring Dirk Nowitzki eating a peace of meat unleashed a furore on Facebook.

Nowitzki, Neuner named top German athletes

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:12:00 +0100

Basketball superstar Dirk Nowitzki and biathlon powerhouse Magdalena Neuner have been named Germany’s “Athletes of the Year,” the country’s top sporting honour.

Home championship dream dashed for Nowitzki

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0100

Germany and three other European countries have pulled their joint application to host the 2015 European basketball championships, citing “irreconcilable differences” with international basketball federation FIBA.

Nowitzki sparks speculation of European return

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:52:00 +0200

Basketball star Dirk Nowitzki gave German team recruiters reason to hope at the weekend, after remarking that he might be forced to look back to Europe in the event of a long NBA lockout in North America.

NBA's Kaman, Nowitzki targetted by Bayern Munich

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:46:00 +0200

Bayern Munich's pro basketball team is hoping to lure German stars Chris Kaman and Dirk Nowitzki to Bavaria should the NBA season be wiped out following a 100-day lockout of players.

Nowitzki unable to keep European basketball dream alive

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:06:00 +0200

Even the supreme skills of superstar Dirk Nowitzki could not save Germany from defeat at the hands of hosts Lithuania in the European basketball championships on Sunday. The 84:75 loss means Germany are out of next year‘s Olympic Games.

Nowitzki hoping to lead Germany to glory at EuroBasket

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:53:00 +0200

The pressure is on. Fans expect Dirk Nowitzki to propel Germany to victory at the FIBA European Basketball Championship starting this week, but the NBA star sees the tournament more as a chance for team development.

Nowitzki joins Germany for Euro championships

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:42:00 +0200

Dirk Nowitzki, whose MVP heroics helped Dallas Mavericks win the NBA title, will play for Germany at the European championships, hoping to lead his country to the 2012 Olympics.

Nowitzki cheered by thousands upon return home

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:28:00 +0200

German basketball star Dirk Nowitzki received a hero's welcome upon his return home to Würzburg, Bavaria on Tuesday. Dirk got the cheers, but one super-fan earned a seat of honour for helping to galvanize thousands to attend the lavish event.

Nowitzki crowns career with NBA championship

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:43:00 +0200

Dirk Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA basketball championship on Sunday night, contributing 21 points to their 105–95 victory over Miami Heat. The German forward was named the most valuable player of the Finals.

Nowitzki's drive for NBA glory inspires German basketball dreams

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:41:00 +0200

As German basketball superstar Dirk Nowitzki nears the pinnacle of his sport – winning an NBA title – thousands of fans over the Atlantic are glued to their TV screens and cheering him on. Moises Mendoza explores Nowitzki's impact on the game in Germany.

Nowitzki pulls out of world basketball championships

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0200

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki has opted out of playing for Germany in next month's world championships in Turkey in order to focus on preparing with his club for the new NBA season.

Football scandal spills over to tennis, basketball

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:05:00 +0100

The football match-fixing scandal grew to engulf tennis and basketball on Saturday, with Der Spiegel magazine reporting prosecutors had expanded their investigations to include the other sports.

Dennis Rodman arrested after failing to pay for boozy party

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:33:00 +0100

Flamboyant US basketball star Dennis Rodman was temporarily retained on Monday for not paying his sky-high hotel bill after a boozy party in the western German city of Trier.

Giving German hoop dreams a helping hand

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:07:00 +0200

Germany’s professional basketball league might be popular, but it isn’t very German. David Hein looks at a new rule intended to nurture homegrown talent at the expense of American interlopers.