John Bynum is a 35 year old 191 cm guard from Visalia California that will play for  New Energie Elephants Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) this season. Last season he played for  BV Chemnitz 99 (Germany-ProA): 21 games: 11.8ppg, 5.2rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 15.4%, FT: 62.2%. with TBB Trier playing  32 games: 6.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 63.6%. He played college basketball at College of the Sequoias Junior College:from 1996-1998 and then transferred to Metropolitan St. (NCAA2): and played there from 1998-2000. He started his professional basketball career in 2001 in the Uk for the Solent Stars (United Kingdom-NBLConf): 31 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assist. In 2002-2003, came his first tour of duty in Germany for BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga): 24.7ppg, 9.2rpg, 6.7apg, 3.5spg. In 2003-2004, he played for the Ulriken Eagles (Norway-BNLO): Regular Season: 14 games: 20,1ppg, 8,1rpg, 2,5apg, 2,9spg, 0,4bpg.In 2004-2005, he was back in Germany playing for BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-2. can Bundesliga): 30 games: Score-5(26.0ppg), 7.7rpg, Ast-4(5.4apg), 1.7spg, 2FGP: 55.5%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 63.6%. In 2005-2006, he played for InterCollege Etha Engomis (Cyprus-A1): only pre-season, then joined COOCOON Baskets Weiden (Germany-2.Bundesliga, starting five): 8 games: 15.6ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.0apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 51%, left in Jan.’06 and later that month signed at Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 21 games: 7.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 56.5%. In 2006-2007, he played for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 31 games: 5.7ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.2apg, 2FGP: 43.1%, 3FGP: 25.0%, FT: 55.9%. In 2007-2008, he played for USC Heidelberg (Germany-ProA, starting five): 14 games: 14.4ppg, 4.4rpg, Assists-5(4.6apg), 2.3spg, 2FGP: 54%, 3FGP: 27.3%, FT: 58.5%, left in Jan.’08 due to shoulder injury, in Feb.’08 moved to Digibu Baskets Paderborn (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 13 games: 6.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.4apg, 2FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 70.0%. In 2009-2010, he played in the PRO A for Proveo Merlins Crailsheim (Germany-ProA, starting five): 27 games: 16.9ppg, 7.1rpg, Assists-3(5.4apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 62.8%. He played for TBB Trier from 2010-2012. He spoke to German Hoops after taking part in a special exhibition game against the current Eisbaeren Bremerhaven roster with the  ex Bremerhaven players.

You were in Bremerhaven twice during the 2010-2012 seasons to play with TBB Trier against your old team Eisbaeren Bremerhaven, but last night you returned to play in the Allstar game. What kind of a feeling was it returning to an event like that was more for fun than for fighting for Beko BBL points?

For me it was good to see everyone who I have not seen in a while. We had two special seasons while I was there and it felt good seeing the guys who I had some great memories with. It was a lot easier playing for fun though rather than fighting for points. But overall it was a great experience and it was an honor to be a part of something like this.

What was your impression of this unique idea by the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Are you surprised that there haven’t been more games like this hosted by Beko BBL teams?

I think it was a great idea for the club to do something like this and it wouldn’t suprise me to see more clubs around the country to do it more. Like I said it was an honor to be a part of it.

It was a very spectacular game where the current Eisbaeren team won 102-94. What was it like seeing old teammates like Nick Jacobson?

Seeing Nick was great. I mean to this day he is one of the best shooters I played on the court with and off the court it was good to see him as well. I’m happy he played and even better was the performance he put on during the game.

Were you able to get some coaching tips from Saurunas Sakalaukas??? How important was he in general for the club lifting them from a second league team to a Beko BBL playoff team?

It was great catching up with Sarunas as well. As far as coaching tips we didnt discuss anythjng but I do know If it wasnt for him I would have never got the chance in the BBL. I mean what he did for the club you can’t describe, I mean there are a lot of teams that haven’t been to the playoffs in years and he led our team to the playoffs in our first season in the BBL, and I don’t think anything like that has been done since that season.

You had 14 points in the game and presented yourself well. Did this performance give you a good feeling that you still has what it takes to compete against high level Beko BBL talent?

I think I did well but I also know my limitations as well. I mean if the younger guys wanted to turn it up they could have, but at the same time I know I could still play at a higher level without any disrespect to my new team but I am happy where I am at by all means but very disappointed in how things turned out last season.

What was your favorite play of the game? Torrell Martin and Darius Adams had great spectacular plays getting the ohhhhs and ahhhhs of the fans.

I think Darius Adams is a great player and he has great athletic ability. The highlight for me was his steal and dunk off the backboard.

Darius Adams had a monster game with 27 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds. What was your impression of him and could he be a dominant player in the Beko BBL this season?

I think he is going to have a great season. He is athletic sees the floor well and defends well too. He will have a good season and I’m looking forward to see how he develops and leads Bremerhaven this season.

Where do you rate Derrick Allen with the power forwards in the Beko BBL in the last 10 years? You played against him with numerous Beko BBL teams?

DA has to be near the top of the list. I admire his work ethic and that is why he will be successful because he knows how to play and he has a nonstop motor and I’m looking forward to seeing how he helps out Bremerhaven as well this season.

You have played in numerous places in Germany in your career, but where would your time in Bremerhaven stack up with all the places that you have played in in Germany?

Bremerhaven is near the top of the list if not at the top without disrespecting any former teams but when you have success like we did and win as much as we did, how can you not enjoy it. The fans are amazing, the coaching staff was excellent, and it was very classy playing there and it also helps when you are able to play with some great teammates like I had.

What is your fondest memory of when you slipped on the Eisbaeren jersey?

I think one of my best memories had to be my first game against Bonn. I really didnt expect to get into the game and I was just nervous, I think I played about 6 minutes and had three fouls lol

How excited are you about returning back to Grevenbrocih where you played more than 10 years ago? Is this a team that could go places this season?

Grevenbroich always had a special place in my heart because it is where my career started in Germany. Without coach Wilder I wouldn’t have got the opportunities to showcase my skills, but this time around I have a different mind set and understand a lot of things differently. I am just looking to help out the team in anyway and just thankful they gave me a chance to comeback and looking to win as many games as we can.

Are the Los Angeles Lakers capable of doing anything this season and will Kobe Bryant return to form?

The Los Angeles with or without kobe bryant stink lol.. Next question.

Will Lebron James win a third NBA title this season and are his haters starting to accept that he can win?

Lebron may have trouble winning his third because it will rely on a couple of other people. Lebron will have his haters but he has accomplished himself as the best in the game and I’m looking forward to this NBA season.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

The last DVD was get rich or die trying.

Thanks John for the chat.