FICYMIs October 22, 2021: Sananda Fru, international NBA, No. 77 and Luka, Munich SAP Garden delay, Squid Game
FICYMIs October 22, 2021: Sananda Fru, international NBA, No. 77 and Luka, Munich SAP Garden delay, Squid Game
Friday In Case You Missed Its: Sananda Fru & Jamil Hyangho with great starts to the NBBL; the NBA is very international at 75; No. 77 and Luka Doncic; Munich SAP Garden delay; Squid Game numbers.
Every week we put together some of the things on the internet that may have gone unnoticed by you with our Friday In Case You Missed Its. This week we look at two German 2003-born players, the NBA’s international look at 75; if Luka Doncic is having an impact on how many players were No. 77; a delay in the Munich SAP Garden opening; and impressive numbers about the Squid Game series.
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2003-born duo Sananda Fru and Jamil Hyangho excelling for Braunschweig’s NBBL team
Basketball Löwen Braunschweig’s pro team is drawing a lot of attention for major contributions by their German players - both more experienced ones (Robin Amaize, David Krämer and Benedikt Turudic) and youngsters (2002-born Luc van Slooten and the 2000-born Tischler twins Brandon and Nicholas). But the next wave of German talent is not far from joining that group.
The 2003-born duo of Sananda Fru and Jamil Hyangho have both starred for the club at the U19 NBBL level in delivering two comfortable victories in the first two weeks. The 2.08 meter big man Fru has been downright dominant. In the season opening 91-81 victory at Eisbären Bremerhaven, Fru tallied 29 points on 14-of-19 shooting and 1-of-5 free throws to go with 21 rebounds - 8 of them from the offensive glass. He also picked up 1 assist, 1 steal, 5 blocks and 6 turnovers in 34 minutes. Fru matched his scoring output in Braunschweig’s second game - an 83-58 blowout of EWE Baskets Oldenburg. He scored 29 points on 12-of-14 shots and 5-of-7 free throws while picking up 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 1 turnover in 33 minutes.
Here is a link to the Braunschweig - Oldenburg game
Fru knows all about massive production against Bremerhaven after he collected 35 points, 21 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks against them last season in the NBBL before the league was shut down due to the pandemic. In three games last season, the big man averaged 26.7 points on 65.9% 2-point shooting, 17.3 rebounds, 1.0 asissts, 2.3 steals and 3.0 blocks.
The 1.84 meter point guard Hyangho meanwhile has been outstanding this season as well. He collected 8 points, 2 rebounds, 9 assists and 1 turnover in 22 minutes against Bremerhaven. He followed that up with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 6 steals and 7 turnovers against Oldenburg. He averaged 8.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 7.7 turnovers in three NBBL games last season.
NBA looking very, very international on 75th birthday
The NBA turning 75 years old has been a well-documented event - especially with the great commercial (above) about the league and so many of its past and current greats. But the National Basketball Association announced that there are 109 international players from 39 countries on opening-night rosters for the 2021-22 season. Canada have a record number of players (18) as do Germany (seven) and Bahamas (three) while Nigeria tied a mark wtih five. The Toronto Raptors were the front-runners in terms of teams with a record-tying 10 international players from a record nine countries. The Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder are second with seven players each.
A possible by product of Luka Doncic wearing No. 77
The most famous player wearing No. 77 right now in basketball? Of course: Luka Doncic. But the Dallas Mavericks and Slovenian national team star is not the only one who wears the number. And this article actually looks into how much impact Doncic might have on others who choose No. 77.
Opening of Munich SAP Garden delayed until end of 2023
It appears that the opening of the SAP Garden in Munich - the new home for FC Bayern Munich’s basketball team and the ice hockey team of EHC Red Bull Munich - will be delayed. According to the German Press Agency dpa, the arena which will seat up to 11,500 spectators will not open until the end of 2023. The multifunctional facility was originally due to open its doors in the second half of 2022. Among the reasons for the change in plans are delay shortages and shortage of skilled workers due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Squid Game with crazy numbers
Okay, one non-basketball item this week. There is so much talk about the South Korean survival drama Squid Game, which is definitely worth watching (if you just mentally look past the single shots … don’t want to give any spoilers). Here are some numbers about the series according to the Huddle Up substack.
“Squid Game … has already been viewed by roughly 150 million households, or roughly 70% of all Netflix subscribers.
The series cost Netflix $21 million to produce, but they estimate it has provided nearly $1 billion in “economic value” already. That’s insane.”