Olympic Games: Gordon Herbert: The architect of the German basketball miracle

The triumph of the German basketball players at the 2023 World Cup in Manila by winning the gold medal is the greatest success in the history of German basket throwing. The photo of Canadian coach Gordon Herbert after the epic battle in the final against Serbia (83:77), sitting on the floor, leaning against a board and completely exhausted, went viral. The world fell in love with German basketball at this World Cup, something previously unimaginable. However, the title was not a sensation, just the logical consequence of a long development. A book by, with and about Herbert has been published by Next Level Verlag, which the “FAZ” somewhat incorrectly described as an “autobiography” and which provides insights into the inner life of the team as well as into Herbert’s methodology and values.

The first press conference in September 2021 was aimed at the players rather than the media. In it, Herbert announced his ambitious three-year plan: three medals in three years: there was then bronze at the home European Championships, followed by the sensational World Cup gold and not much is missing at the Olympics either. After a confident preliminary round, the German basketball players will meet Greece in the quarter-finals this Tuesday. For this success, Herbert visited around 40 players, presented them with his concept and demanded a three-year commitment to the national team. He had no desire to follow the stars as a supplicant. His ideas about journey, vision and goal made the German basketball players feel the national jersey again. His guiding principle as a player understanding: “In the long run, the burden of the journey should never be greater than the pleasure of the journey.”

Player understander and grinder

Herbert also benefited from the fact that the German talent pool has increased rapidly thanks to the 6+6 rule introduced in 2012, according to which Bundesliga clubs must employ at least six German players in their squad. Youth work has also improved significantly. The most recent example is the historic first European championship title for the German U18 basketball players on Sunday. There is competition again for places in the national team. Herbert nevertheless shortened the selection process, preferring to focus on team building and also giving replacement players the space they deserved. A clear distribution of roles was required.

He practiced offensive rebounds, positioning and passing games ad nauseam, while at the same time giving his players freedom and demanding initiative and independent thinking. Physicality, toughness and defensive stability became the trademark, and above all: shared responsibility. Herbert, who will take over the FC Bayern Munich basketball team after the Paris games, demanded that he be allowed to be honest and that the stars be open to being coached. Actually, it goes without saying, like investing in your own development. Modern basketball lingo, sorry. The man with a master’s degree in sports psychology demanded nothing less from his boys than to trigger the “intrinsic pull.” The motto: Failure as an opportunity.

With techno to gold

This certainly included the semi-final defeat at the home European Championship 2022 against Spain (91:96), after Greece was sensationally eliminated in the quarter-finals. Herbert forgot to put the euphoria brake on and pleaded guilty. At least, in the end, the first medal in 17 years came out with bronze. There was another defeat, without which the German team would never have become world champions. The last preparatory game before the World Cup in Abu Dhabi against the USA. The day before, Herbert’s boys had defeated the Greeks again and were now leading by 16 points in the third quarter. 32 fantastic minutes, at the end the score was 91:99. “If we see them again, then they are due,” remarked distance shooter Andreas Obst afterwards.

How the German basketball players experienced Davis Bertans’ failed three-pointer as the last action in the quarterfinals against Latvia is a highlight of the book. Everyone thought they were outside, but the throw missed. At the same time, Canada defeated the Slovenians. Instead of being eliminated, Germany suddenly qualified for the Olympics in Paris. Then the USA came, far too early, it was the best international game for Daniel Theis from Braunschweig, who became an insurmountable rock with 21 points and seven rebounds.

“Beating the USA was really surreal,” said development player Justus Hollatz after the success. The 113:111 was an offensive spectacle with breakneck speed, a crazy back and forth. The Americans were beaten at their own game in the early final. Obst hit four of his eight three-pointers en route to 24 points. Afterwards he said that he had “taught another full blast of techno 30 minutes before kick-off. It was like I was in a trance.”

All of these players’ memories are described in detail in the book. This is another reason why the title “The Boys Gave Me Back” is at least misleading. It was “invented” by Jonathan Sierck for sales tactics. There is a small chapter in the book in which Gordon Herbert advocates for mental health in high-performance sport and suggests “rethinking” support structures for those affected. That is laudable. As an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors in 2009, he collapsed along with his coaching chair and broke his spine. But he didn’t realize this and ended up in psychiatric treatment with acute depression due to a combination of pain, stress and emotional distress from his divorce process.

Against the heroes of childhood

His blind spot became a black hole. Alcohol for the pain. It still took a few years to slow down and escape the negative spiral. But Herbert managed it. It is unfortunate that this is presented online as the main topic of the book.

There are quite a few summer fairy tales floating around in Germany. Small forward Niels Giffey from FC Bayern put it this way shortly before the Olympics: “This summer we have the opportunity to beat the heroes of our childhood.” The USA came with everything they have after the disgrace of the last World Cup. But there would only be a direct duel in the final.

Gordon Herbert (with Jonathan Sierck): »The boys gave me my life back. The success story of German basketball”, Next-Level-Verlag, 244 pages, 22 €.