Martinis Woody is a 33 year old 201cm forward from South Carolina that recently completed his sixth professional season and third with TV Langen. He played at Benedict(NCAA2) and turned professional in 2009 and played for  NOMA Iserlohn Kangaroos (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 12 games: 20.8ppg, 11.8rpg, 2.2bpg, 1.6spg, 1.5apg, FGP: 60.9%, FT: 64.9%. In 2010-2011 he played for CRE Eagles Itzehoe (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 21 games: 18.5ppg. In 2011-2012 he played for SSV Lokomotive Bernau (Germany-ProB) playing 27 games: 16.3ppg, Reb-3(10.6rpg), 1.4apg, 1.3spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 72.6. He moved to TV Langen in 2012-2013 and has been a top forward in the Pro B for the last three seasons. Last season with TV Langen he played 27 games averaging 13.0ppg, 9.1rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 68.4%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball

Martinis thanks for talking to German Hoops Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been going?

I’m currently home in Greenville SC. 

It is fast approaching August and the new season is quickly approaching, but you still are unsigned. Are you getting nervous about still not being signed?

Not nervous God has a plan just waiting to see who need a great big man down low.

 

You played the last three seasons for TV Langen and in your first two seasons you had great stats and easily got resigned. Was that a luxury for you not having to need to have an agent?

Yes it was luxury since they already knew what they was getting. 

When you compare your stats at TV Langen the last three seasons, your scoring was down  from 18 to 13, but in your first season you averaged 14ppg. You averaged 9,1rpg which was excellent and only your field goal percentage was down from 57% to 50%. Do you feel like your were unjustly made an escape goat by the club TV Langen for getting sent down to the Regionaliga?

I wouldn’t put it like that but a lot of coaches know if you take me out the game it would be hard for the team to win especially since we had lost Filmore but at the end of the day it’s going to be my fault cause I’m the import. 

All in all how would you rate your season last year with TV Langen? You obviously didn´t score as much, but were still a force in the paint?

It’s was a down season for me especially knowing what I can do on the court. 

TV Langen had many injuries lost Filmore Beck early for the whole season and only had you as a real scoring option. You were often double teamed and triple teamed, but Jogi Barth stated in a newspaper article that you came into the season out of shape. Is this an unfair assessment? Were you 100% fit last season?

I wasnt 100% in shape but that wasn’t the reason we lost. You saw plenty of games last season and being in shape wasn’t the reason because I left it all on the court. I know how to read the game and make the right pass out of the double team. 

You played three seasons for TV Langen. What were your highs and lows in this time?

Highs was making it to the semi finals my first season and meeting great people the lows was losing last season and getting the finger pointed at. 

There was a span in December where you had monster double double games against Saarlouis, Speyer and Karlsruhe and scored in double figures in 13 of 15 games. This was the Martinis Woody that everyone knew. You then had some poor games against Rhondorf and Speyer on the last game day where you put up the big goose egg. Some consistency was missing at times. Did you feel that consistency was missing at times?

I didn’t feel that the consistency was missing but if you look at them games I had those monster games I was the main option and worked the ball inside out and at other times I wasn’t the main option 

Players don´t get any faster with age, but tend to slow down. You are 33. Finding a team doesn´t get any  easier, but maybe you could explain in a few sentences as to why you can still be a force in the German Pro B this season?

Because I can play with back to the basket I can shoot the mid range I can shoot the 3 ball block shots rebound and have a very good basketball IQ and it’s hard to stop me 

How does a normal summer work out day look like for you in the summer of 2015?

Well during the day I work with kids at basket camps all day we run do drills put up shots but I run at 5:30 hills and the track along with the steps then I go play pick up games but I have access to gym all day to put up shots and work on moves 

Do you have to work even harder now in the off season with age, or do you rest your body more?

Work my body but I also give it rest but mainly I have to continue to eat right 

You ex teammate Jan Moritz OVerdick has made the jump to Lich. Do you see him having a bright future? Can he make the next jump there?

Big Mo is a good young player who wants to learn and if he gains a little weight he will be a real threat down low 

How happy are you that Filmore Beck has found a team for the upcoming season? How did you follow the news of his dealings off the court? Do you feel like he can be a stronger and better player with this experience?

Me and Filmore always kept contact, I am very happy for him and I know he will be unstoppable the person that can stop him from doing what he wants to do is his self but while he was going through his appeal he was staying positive and working out 

Your friend Jermale Jones is also looking for a team. Maybe it is time for you guys to play on the same team. What have you appreciated most from his game in the past three years where you have been competitors?

That would be good if I could play with him but in the last three years we also talk text before every game and tell each other to get that win but if you notice one thing about Jones he always fights for 40 minutes winning and losing and he tries to motivate his team every second that clock is running 

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? What does he still have to do to be mentioned in the same breath with Michael Jordan?

 King James can’t be in the breath with MJ. Two different eras back then MJ had real defense and now these day the NBA does not 

What was the last movie that you saw?

Jurassic world.

Thanks Martinis for the chat.