Lorenzo Gordon is a 31 year old 201cm forward from St Louis that is playing his ninth professional season and first with Ramat Hasharon (Israel-National League). He started his basketball career at Mineral Area community college. He then played a season at Illinois State(NCAA) before finishing his college career at Oklahoma City (NAIA) where he played 27 games averaging 23.7ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.3spg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 18.6%, FT: 61.5%. In 2006 he started his professional basketball career with Gotha Basket (Sweden-Basketligan)22 games: 21.0ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 60.0%, in March ’07 signed at Entente Orleans 45 (France-ProA)3 games: 7.7ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.3apg. IN the 2007-2008 season he played for Kepez Bld Antalya (Turkey-TBL) playing 30 games: Score-3(21.3ppg), 8.6rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 58.2%, FT: 69.6%. IN the 2008-2009 season he played for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-1.Bundesliga) playing EuroChallenge: 4 games: 14.3ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.0apg; German League: 24 games: 12.8ppg, 7.0rpg, FGP: 60.9%, FT: 52.5%. In the 2009-2010 season he played for Aliaga Petkim (Turkey-TBL) playing 29 games: 14.0ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.2apg, FGP-2(66.9%), FT: 44.6%. In the 2010-2011 season he played for MarcoPoloShop.it Forli (Italy-Lega2) playing 21 games: Score-4(19.5ppg), 7.8rpg, 1.7spg, FGP: 58.6%, 3PT: 15.0%, FT: 77.9%, in Mar.’11 moved to Maccabi Ashdod (Israel-Premier League) playing 7 games: 11.0ppg, 5.4rpg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 64.0%. IN the 2011-2012 season he played for Ural Ekaterinburg (Russia-Superleague) playing 34 games: Score-2(15.6ppg), 6.2rpg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 62.7%. In the 2012-2013 season he played briefly for Royal Hali Gaziantep Buyuksehir Belediye (Turkey-TBL). Last season he played for Obras Sanitarias Buenos Aires (Argentina-LigaA): 10 games: 10.3ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 52.8%, FT: 60.0%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Lorenzo thanks for talking to German Hoops. You recently signed in Israel with Ramat Hasharon. You are turning 32 years in May. I thought that you had retired with all the stuff going on in the States with Basketball Wives?

Yes that is true I had much going on in the States and took a year off to support my wife on her show Basketball Wives L.A. I really noticed in the last year that I had missed the game of basketball and wanted to come back again.

How did you come about getting this job in Israel? I heard you had offers from BBL teams like the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven?

Yes I had some offers from German BBL teams, but they were a bit hesitant about what I could do after being away from the game so long. Many teams didn´t want to take a chance on me but Ramat Hasharon did and I am thankful they did. I have to prove myself all over again, but don´t be surprised if you see me in Germany again next season.

You are playing in the second division in Israel. A few years ago you played in their first division with Maccabi Ashdod. What is the biggest difference between both leagues?

There are fewer imports allowed in the second league. The game is more up and down in this league while the first league is more like the BBL. There are also less big men in the second league.

What is your role on the team?

My role is to come in and score and be that inside presence. I scored 22 points in the first game, but in the second game I was doubledand triple teamed. The league already got my attention after two games.

Your teammate is American Martin Samarco that played two seasons in Germany with Paderborn and BG Karlsruhe. Has the word Germany been mentioned much in your conversations?

Yes it has. We have talked about Germany a lot and he is a great guy. He is a great shooter and is a great asset on the team.

You are like a young pup at nearly 32 years of age compared to teammate and ex NBA player of the Chicago Bulls Corey Carr who is 39 years old. Does he remind you of your cousin Jimmy Mckinney as much as he does me with his facial expressions?

Yeh he does look a bit like Jimmy. He is great wisdom. I am always asking him how he has been able to play for such a long time. He has been telling me how vital it is too take care of your body when your getting older. I hope to play four more years. I know once I stop playing that I will really miss the game. He has told me Michael Jordan stories as they played a few months before he retired. Corey joked that he wish he would of come out early as a Sophomore instead as a senior from Texas Tech.

Has there been things that have changed with your game with age?

I was never a dunker, but had that jump hook which I still use today. I have that same power game. I think the game changes more for those jumpers who lose some of that with age.

In September 2013 you were brought back to your old team Frankfurt Skyliners, but you were released after a week. You looked very out of shape. Why was your second stay so short?

I was actually filming a show when I came to Frankfurt. I wasn´t focused at all and not fit. It was nice being back after many years away, but for me it was like a new organization. There were only a few people that I still knew. It had a totally different feeling.

After Frankfurt you played two months in Argentina for Obras Sanitarias Buenos Aires (Argentina-LigaA): 10 games: 10.3ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 52.8%, FT: 60.0%. Why was this stay so short and what experience could you take with you back home?

The team had money problems and that is why I left so soon. I loved the city Buenos Aires. I met a few Americans there that I had known. The only thing that I can say I took back home was that it had been my first time to South America.

How surprised were you that your cousin Jimmy Mckinney found a team so late into the season? He is back in his favorite stomping ground Germany playing for the Walter TIgers Tuebingen.

I was very confused. Jimmy had played his whole life in Germany and we had been teammates in Frankfurt. I really didn´t understand why no team wanted him. I am really happy that he found a team. We played together all summer and he still has it.

You are only about 10 minutes away from Tel Aviv. Do you ever go to Macabi Tel Aviv games?

Well I have been here a month now and still haven´t made it there. My friend from home Alex Tyus plays for Macabbi Tel Aviv and I wanted to go to the Euroleague game against Alba Belrin the other night, but we had practice and then I overslept.

You played one season in Frankfurt from 2008-2009. You had some amazing teammates there and none better than Derrick Allen. What is your fondest memory with him?

He was such a hard worker and great guy off the court. You can call D.A a great citizen. When every guy was long home, he was still on the court working on his game. I remember when I got to Frankfurt, he showed me around at the start.

You played with then rookie Anthony King that didn´t have an easy time in Frankfurt. Have you been surprised how well he has developed in the last five years?

I knew from the start that he had what it took to become a great player. He is a 6.9 player with long arms. Defense came first and now he has an offensive game. It really shocked me how well he can score now, but give him credit for going to Cyprus and doing a great job and coming back to Germany and doing great.

How has this whole TV series Basketball Wives been for you? Now it isn´t so much Lorenzo Gordon the basketball player for what people know you for?

Basketball Wives has been a great experience. I am a celebrity when I go home and get recognized in Miami or New York. Something like 40 million people watched the show.

What celebrities have you met since Basketball Wives has been on the air?

I have met Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, Kerry Washington and all the famous rappers. I also have met all the famous NBA players like Lebron, Carmelo, Kevin Garnett, Tyson Chandler or Nick Young.

Could you see yourself getting into the entertainment industry?

I am in the entertainment industry.

Or in other words getting into acting?

I could see myself acting. In Hollywood anything can happen.

Of all the nicknames you have heard over the years I am sure Babba will never be forgotten?

Yes we called Murat Didin Babba. That will always stick with me and I will never forget it.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw? 

Face Off.

Thanks Lorenzo for the chat.