Game Worn Steffen Kiese Hamburg Towers Jersey

This white Hamburg Towers jersey was game-worn by German guard Steffen Kiese during the club’s inaugural 2014–15 season in the 2. Basketball Bundesliga ProA. The size L jersey features the original Hamburg Towers crest, K1X branding, the German flag, the “MORE THAN BASKETBALL” slogan and the official 2. Basketball Bundesliga patch on the front. Kiese’s number 9 appears on both sides, while his surname is applied above the number on the back. Black piping and contrasting side elements complete the design of the Towers’ first-season uniform. The front bears a handwritten “Game worn Jersey” inscription together with a signature and “#9.” The jersey displays extensive evidence of on-court use, including pronounced staining and discoloration, surface marks, general fabric wear and a heavily deteriorated interior neck label. These characteristics give the jersey a distinctly used appearance and document its sustained use during the season. The jersey entered the collection through a direct jersey exchange following a game. This close, post-game provenance—combined with its inscription and substantial wear—makes it a particularly representative artifact from the earliest chapter of Hamburg Towers basketball.

The 2014–15 season marked the beginning of professional basketball for the newly formed Hamburg Towers. After receiving a wildcard for the ProA, the organization assembled its first professional roster under head coach Hamed Attarbashi. Steffen Kiese joined the Towers from VfL Stade and became one of the original players tasked with establishing the new club in Hamburg. The Oldenburg-born guard was known for his energetic and fearless style of play, his competitive attitude and his ability to operate at both guard positions. Kiese also provided a consistent threat from three-point range. During the Towers’ inaugural season, he averaged approximately 16 minutes and 5.2 points per game, establishing himself as a valuable member of the rotation. His commitment, fighting spirit and approachable personality also made him a fan favourite among Hamburg supporters. Hamburg immediately exceeded the expectations normally associated with a newly assembled team. The Towers won the first game in franchise history 66–65 on the road in Gießen and followed it with a 74–64 victory over Leverkusen in their first home game. They finished the regular season in eighth place and qualified for the ProA playoffs at the first attempt. Their historic debut campaign ended in the quarterfinals against the league-leading Würzburg Baskets, but reaching the postseason represented a significant achievement for a club that had not existed at the professional level one year earlier. Kiese remained with Hamburg for a second season and ultimately appeared in 63 games for the Towers before joining cooperation partner SC Rist Wedel in 2016. His role as a member of the original roster and his popularity with the fans make this number 9 jersey an important part of the club’s foundational history. The jersey was obtained through a direct post-game jersey exchange and shows heavy, unmistakable evidence of use. Its staining, fabric wear, damaged interior label and handwritten game-worn inscription preserve the physical history of the garment. More than an individual player jersey, it represents the Hamburg Towers’ first season, their immediate emergence as a competitive ProA team and the beginning of professional basketball’s lasting return to Hamburg.