Top 5 Americans to Watch in Basketball Bundesliga This Season

There's no doubt that everyone loves making early-season predictions, and we here at Ballers Abroad are no different. We don't know how these guys are going to do this season but, given their experience and play last season, here are five players to look out for this season in the Basketball Bundesliga, Germany's top division. Our list includes long-time German mainstays and a few newcomers, but all are worth watching as the BBL season kicks off September 28. Think we're missing someone? Let us know in the comments. And awaaaaaay we go!

1. Josh Mayo, Telekom Baskets Bonn

Mayo (via Wikipedia)

Mayo burst onto the BBL scene last year as the only player to be in the top six in both scoring and assists. The 30-year-old vet dropped 15.7 points and 5.1 assists per game in Basketball Bundesliga play and was named to Eurobasket.com's All-German Bundesliga First Team. He returns to Telekom Baskets Bonn for his second season in Germany, and will be looking to improve on his team's 18-14 record.

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2. Rickey Paulding, EWE Baskets Oldenburg

Paulding (via BBL)

A long-time veteran of the Germany hoops scene, Paulding was another name on Eurobasket.com's All-German Bundesliga First Team in his tenth season with Oldenburg, the only team he's played for in his professional career. Paulding was fourth in the BBL in scoring at 16.1 points per game while also averaging 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while leading his team to the BBL Finals, where they were swept by Brose Baskets 3-0. 

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3. Jared Jordan, Walter Tigers Tubingen

Jordan (via Walter Tigers Tubingen)

In the BBL, if you want assists you look to Jared Jordan. No stranger to the BBL (six of his past seven seasons have been spent in the Basketball Bundesliga), Jordan is the German league's all-time leader in assists and will only be looking to add to that tally this season. After leading the league in assists during the 2015-2016 season, Jordan finished second in the BBL last season with 7.8 assists per game while also scoring 9.5 points per game. 

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4. Ryan Anderson, s.Oliver Wuerzburg​

Anderson (via TIB.tv)

Anderson is one of the up-and-coming names to watch out for in the BBL this season. The second-year forward spent his rookie season in Belgium playing for the Antwerp Giants and was a steady contributor, putting up 11.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He will certainly breathe some new life into an s.Oliver Wuerzburg team that finished 11-21 last season.

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5. Lamont Jones, Mitteldeutscher BC

Jones (via BalkanLeague.net)

Rounding out our top five is another new face in the Basketball Bundesliga this season, Lamont Jones. Jones spent last season in Montenegro with Mornar Bar, where he put up 14.3 points and 3.7 assists per game across all competitions. He is part of a number of new players coming in for MBC, who were relegated to the second-division Pro A league last year after spending four seasons in the BBL. 

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