Basketball Supercup before the start of the European Championship: What role does Tristan da Silva play in the DBB team?

The national coach raves, saying superstar Franz Wagner sees "great potential" in him. Tristan da Silva is one of the newcomers to the German national basketball team. The Munich native has been playing in the world's best basketball league for about a year. Along with fellow German basketball player Franz Wagner and his brother Moritz, he plays for the Orlando Magic in the NBA.

A few days ago, he made his debut for the national team in a 103-89 victory against Slovenia. He is firmly in the lineup for the European Championship, which begins in just under two weeks. The Spaniard has high hopes for his 24-year-old protégé. "He's a very important player for us. I'm happy to have him. He plays with a lot of energy and he's a good shooter," Mumbru said at a DBB media training session.

Da Silva mostly plays as a small forward (outside player). He scored 20 points in the NBA for the first time last December, and in March, he scored 25. His form is on the rise, although the brother of Oscar da Silva, also a member of the German Basketball Federation (DBB), may have imagined his debut for the national team differently. Against Slovenia, he was only on the court for just over five minutes. He picked up five fouls during that time. In basketball, that means taking a shower. That didn't happen to him once last NBA season.

One reason for the ejection is the transition from NBA to European basketball. The playing court in Europe is somewhat smaller. "The game is also generally different. I still have to get used to it. There's more activity in the area under the basket. That goes back to the three-second rule," da Silva explained in response to an inquiry from RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND). In the NBA, a defender is not allowed to remain in the free-throw zone without an opponent for more than three seconds. In so-called FIBA basketball, however, this is permitted.

Tristan da Silva has shone several times in the NBA wearing the Orlando Magic jersey.

Source: IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire

"There are a few things that we can still tweak a bit. But I thought it was okay," said da Silva, looking back on his first two appearances in the DBB jersey. In the second test against Slovenia (80:70), the Munich native was on the court for around 21 minutes and scored seven points. He didn't commit a single foul this time – a quick learning curve. In any case, da Silva sees his "understanding of the game" as one of his greatest strengths. "We have a lot of players with a high basketball IQ. I think I fit in well there," he said. In addition, his shot and the ability to "defend in multiple positions" are skills that will help the team.

He's being "pushed" by "every single person on the team. I'm really happy to be here. The guys are making sure I show what I can do and don't take steps back. It's just fun," said da Silva, who only played in the regional league in Germany and made the move to the USA five years ago. There, he played college for the Colorado Buffaloes. He was then selected by the Orlando Magic in the NBA Draft last year.

"Friends and family" will "all be there" this Friday (6 p.m., MagentaSport) when da Silva and the German Basketball Federation (DBB) team play against Turkey in the Supercup in his hometown of Munich for a place in the final of the European Championship preparation tournament with four participating nations. "It's going to be a fantastic event," he knows, "and hopefully Munich will create a bit of a buzz."