In this role-playing game, the Fraport Skyliners team has kept calm under pressure.

In the previous week, the Frankfurt basketball professionals were locked in an escape room.

They solved the tasks set for them and made it outside in time.

George Daniels

Editor in the sports department

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Co-initiator of the exciting community experience was Lukas Wank, the new captain of the Bundesliga club, who only stayed in the league with a wildcard.

Wank, 25, replaces 37-year-old Quantez Robertson, the league's longest-serving player, in the lead.

era is coming to an end

The American, who has been under contract with the Skyliners since 2009 and has earned great merits in Main, is probably going into his last first division season - the loss of his post is a sign that Robertson's era in Frankfurt is drawing to a close.

At the first team dinner, new coach Geert Hammink asked Wank if he wanted to be captain.

The Dutchman gave Wank time to think it over, but the defender and winger said "very resolutely" (Hammink) immediately.

In the German league, the head coach wanted a German player in this role.

Without knowing what to expect, Wank had “wished” during the summer break to increase his role.

He thought about the role of "co-captain".

Now he has sole responsibility.

It was important to Wank that Robertson supported the decision.

Hammink had initiated the club's longtime figurehead into his plan in advance.

"For Tez, the choice was absolutely fine," reports the coach.

Lack of togetherness

Wank, who is starting the new season in Bayreuth with the Skyliners this Friday (8:30 p.m.), knows what went wrong in the relegation season.

A major shortcoming was apparently the lack of a sense of togetherness, and small groups formed.

The non-performance-enhancing team chemistry was caused by many personnel changes.

"Today the mood is much better on the floor and in the locker room," says Wank.

The players stayed together after practice and would talk to each other.

Wank likes the new team "very much".

For the first time since the 2003-2004 championship season, the Skyliners only employ two Americans, playmaker JJ Frazier is the other.

The three Lithuanians, guard Laurynas Beliauskas, center Martinas Lassen and winger Einaras Tubutis, as well as Dutch center Matt Haarms, who is currently injured, occupy the other foreign positions.

"This time we're more European in character, I like that a lot too, it's just a slightly different atmosphere," says Wank.

This feel-good atmosphere should help the Skyliners stay away from the relegation zones.

Those responsible would have given the team “no space requirement”.

"However, it is of course not an option not to keep the league," emphasizes managing director Yannick Binas.

The club had already "completely transferred" the EUR 700,000 billed for receiving the wildcard, and it could have split the amount over two seasons.

"The wild card will hurt for a long time," admits managing partner Gunnar Wöbke.

"Large parts of the wildcard fee" (Binas) repaid the Skyliners from their equity, which they now want to build up again "as soon as possible".

Nevertheless, the club managed "not to have to reduce our player budget and to maintain the level of the previous season," says Binas.

For Hammink's basketball philosophy of fast play according to the motto "Move, move, move", the squad is "excitingly put together".

Frankfurt's sports manager Marco Völler is "sure that we will play better and more successful basketball this season".

Wank (6.1 points per game in the previous season), who has 14 international matches but was not recently part of the German national team, can also improve.

The leadership role should inspire him.

"A good captain not only leads with words, but also with deeds," he says.