EWE Baskets Oldenburg completed the most drastic roster overhaul in their history on September 24, 2024: only two players remain, new head coach Milenko Bogicevic takes over, and ten professionals depart.
What happened?
After a season where the Oldenburg side briefly hovered near relegation, sports director Srdjan Klaric announced on Wednesday the departure of coach Lazar Spasic and ten teammates. Spasic, 34, had been promoted from assistant to head coach in December and saved the team from dropping, but signed a contract in Azerbaijan. Bogicevic, 49, arrives from Syntainics MBC and will start with a completely new roster.
Why it matters for EWE Baskets Oldenburg
The move follows a period where the "Donnervögel" enjoyed the fourth‑highest attendance (average 6 256) and a budget of €9.08 million (fifth‑largest) yet failed to secure lasting success. They won the championship in 2007, the cup in 2015, but have missed playoff breakthroughs since 2020. The radical overhaul aims to push the team back into the playoffs and boost sponsor appeal.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average attendance | 6 256 |
| Budget (2024) | €9.08 million |
Who stays and who leaves?
Only national player Nicholas Tischler (25) and veteran Seth Hinrichs (33) receive new contracts – Tischler for another year, Hinrichs extended by two years. The remaining ten players – Dakarai Tucker (32), Michale Kyser (34), Kyle Lofton (27), Ralph Hounnou (24), Tomislav Zubcic (36), James Woodard (32), Filip Stanic (28), Chris Clemons (28), Brian Fobbs (28) and Colin Schroeder (19) – were released on Wednesday.
Clemons, former NBA pro, was the league's top scorer with 18.5 points per game and could not be retained. Stanic exercised his contract option early, and Schroeder heads to a U.S. university with a lucrative NIL deal.
What comes next?
First signings include Marcel Keßen (29) from the relegated MLP Academics Heidelberg and Zach Ensminger (25) from the BMA365 Bamberg Baskets. The rest of the roster will be assembled over the summer, with Bogicevic focusing on young perimeter players and seasoned big men.
The overhaul sends a clear signal: EWE Baskets Oldenburg intend to leave the mid‑table and fight for playoff spots again. Upcoming training camps will reveal whether the new system delivers the desired points, rebounds and assists.