Jordan Burris is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Bakersfield, California that will start his professional career in Europe with the BBC Coburg (Germany-Regionalliga). He started his basketball career in 2010 with Nevada (NCAA) where he played until 2013 playing 92 NCAA games. As a senior he moved on to CS San Bernar. (NCAA 2) playing 25 games: 14.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 72.0%. He turned professional in 2014 and played for teams like the Santa Monica Jump (IBL),  Reno Bighorns (D-League) and  Indiana Diesels (PBL). He spoke to German Hoops eralier in the summer about basketball.

 

 

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

Summer has been good just lots of workouts and preparation.

Despite having played 3 D-league games and also having had experience with teams like the Santa Monica Jump (IBL) and the Indiana Diesels (PBL) plus playing in the Drew League, how would you summarize your professional career up to now?

Pro career has been a bit rocky to start but I’m hoping that BBC will be the start of a brilliant and bright future!

Congrats on signing with German Regionaliga team BBC Coburg. They are very thankful to be getting a player of your caliber, but how thankful are you about starting your professional career in Germany?

I’m forever thankful to them and can’t wait to get started. Germany is a place where I wanted to play anyways, but it really meant a lot to me that Coburg picked me and I just want to go out and prove that they made the right decision.

What do you know about the country Germany and it´s basketball in general?Did you ask your friend Theorn Laudermill for advice who played in Germany a few years back and also has been interviewed by me in the past?

Haven’t talked to Theron in a while but I’ll definitely have to reach out to him.

What was the deciding point that made you want to sign with Regionaliga team BBC Coburg?

BBC Coburg just seemed like a good fit. After talking to some of the coaches and hearing about the direction of the team and the area it felt right for both sides.

With what kind of expectations are you coming to Germany? Do you feel pressure that you have to perform in a league where you only have to excel?

I think there is a lot of expectations but at the end of the day it’s basketball. I’ve been playing this game for 20 years so I’m pretty confident that we will make it work! As for the pressure, hey pressure forms diamonds lol

Let´s talk a bit about your game. You are a very athletic player that sets impulses at both ends of the court and can guard the positions 2-5. If you had to describe yourself to an NBA player that is similar to your game who would you choose?

I like to compare myself to a Klay Thompson. He’s a good shooter and overall playmaker that can play and defend multiple positions. He also can make plays with and without the ball which I think is a valuable asset to the team!

You’re a player that can fill up the stat sheet at ease, but what would you say is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the court from observers?

I think my communication is something that you might not see. I’m always talking to my teammates and feel that on each team I’ve been on I’ve been one of the “glue” guys on and off the court. That is, I bring the team together and make sure everyone has a good time.

After a solid college career at Nevada and senior year at CS San Bernar. (NCAA2) where you played 25 games averaging 14.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 72.0%, you were drafted by the Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League,5rd(89). However you played only three D-league games and in the IBL and PBL. Why do you feel did the D-League gig never really take off?

The D league is a very crazy league with people getting sent down from the NBA and pressure to put the right guys on the court and I think it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle.

You turned heads in the famous summer Drew League which is a place that is swarming with perfect contacts. How quickly did you learn that professional basketball is a real intense tough business and won´t always be kind to you?

Man pro basketball isn’t for the weak minded. You have to be strong physically and mentally and be able to fight through some adversity.

You had the amazing opportunity to film a commercial with NBA legend Kobe Bryant.After spending some time with him, what did you learn about him the person/player that you never would have expected?

Man Kobe is awesome! He’s been my favorite player since I can remember. So to meet him and be able to pick his brain was the experience of a lifetime. At one point he stopped the production of the commercial and gave me a personal lesson on his fade away. That’s a memory I will cherish forever. He’s also a big trash talker man. But I guess in 20 years of NBA basketball he’s heard it all.

You told him you would block one of his shots, but instead he nailed 10/10 shots. How did his shot, amazing career and meeting that day inspire you in your mentality about how you will continue to approach the game of basketball?

Yea so when he got there I told him “I’m Jordan I’m the guy that’s going to lock you down.” To that he said “that’s not what my 30,000+ points say.” After that I had nothing to say. But just being a huge fan of his, I admire his work ethic and tried to incorporate that into my game. Be the first one in and last one out as much as possible. A line that sticks with me from Kobe is “rest in the end; not in the middle.”

You played three seasons at Nevada(NCAA) before moving on. What do you feel was the most positive thing that you could get out of this experience in terms of your growth as a player?

It’s always tough going to a new place especially after being comfortable in one place. I think this adversity and learning to play a whole new team in a short amount of time benefited me for the start of my pro career.

As a senior you moved on to Cal State-Bernadino where you had the number of Chico State scoring 31 and 24 points. Did these games belong to your most memorable moments on the court there?

They were good individual games. But if I remember correctly we lost both. Some games I remember more than that are winning our 16th straight game against Humboldt State and beating Chaminade in the tourney!

 

Who won a one on one in practice you or Andrew Young?

Unfortunately me and Drew never played one on one, but I’m definitely taking that win easy!

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that moved on to the NBA?

Toughest player I ever played against personally was in high school actually against Ray McCollum. That dude was an unbelievable scorer.

If you had to construct your own NBA Rushmore which 4 NBA heads would you choose?

My Mount Rushmore would have to be Kobe, Jordan, Magic and Shaq! Wow I just realized how “new school” I sound!

Now that Lebron finally won a NBA title with the Cavs where does this title put him in the debate as the all-time best player in the world?

Lebron is great and I think he belongs in the conversation for sure. But I still think Kobe is the best! He scored 81 points in game. And just his hunger to be the best puts him above everyone in my eyes, but I’ll admit I’m pretty biased as a huge Laker fan and especially huge Kobe fan!

Thanks Jordan for the chat.