Basketball: Alba Berlin secures Kayil until 2031, NBA remains the goal

Alba Berlin has secured the services of Jake Kayil through the 2030/31 season, allowing the reigning German basketball champions to pursue their title defense with the young point guard. Kayil, a native Berliner and six-time national player, averaged 12.4 points for Alba last season.

Despite being drafted by the New York Knicks in the summer, Kayil did not receive a guaranteed contract. His previous season saw him on loan from Serbian club KK Mega Basket, where he remained under contract. This necessitated lengthy negotiations for Alba's sports director, Himar Ojeda, to bring Kayil back to Berlin, likely involving a significant transfer fee.

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Alba offers Jack the best conditions to continue his strong individual development. We want to build on last season's successes together and simultaneously support him in his goal of becoming the third Berliner, after Franz and Moritz, to make the leap from ALBA youth to the NBA.

Ojeda hailed Kayil's extended contract as a major success for the program. "Alba offers Jack the best conditions to continue his strong individual development," Ojeda stated. "We want to build on last season's successes together and simultaneously support him in his goal of becoming the third Berliner, after Franz and Moritz, to make the leap from ALBA youth to the NBA."

Kayil shares the ambition to play in the NBA, viewing it as his ultimate dream. "The NBA is and remains my big dream - and for me, ALBA is exactly the right place to continue on this path," he said. The Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz, have been playing in the American professional league for years, serving as inspiration for Kayil.

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The NBA is and remains my big dream - and for me, ALBA is exactly the right place to continue on this path.