Larry Gordon is a 28 year old 196cm forward that recently finished his first season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven playing 33 games averaging 10.1ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 84.3% This season he will take his talent east to South Korea. The American played a total of 101 games for Phoenix Hagen from 2012-2015 leading them into the playoffs once  He played at  Cal Poly Pomona (NCAA2) from 2005 to 2009 playing a total of  116 NCAA2 games. In his senior year, he played 33 games: 15.7ppg, 10.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7apg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 75.7%. He was a CCAA Player of the Year and NCAA D2 Finalist in 2009. In 2009-2010, he came to Europe as a rookie and played for Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie) playing  36 games and averaging 14.0ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 75.8%. He played for ECE Bulls Kapfenberg (Austria-A Bundesliga) from 2010-2012 before coming to Phoenix Hagen in 2012. Larry Gordon has been a regular for German Hoops as he gave his 39th interview for the website recently from South Korea.

Larry thanks for talking to German Hoops Where are you at the moment and how was your summer?

No problem sir it’s always a pleasure man. At the moment I’m in South Korea, preparing for my upcoming season in the KBL. I had an incredible summer, took a vacation, traveled a lot and of course worked on my game.

After 7 years in Europe and four in Germany, you are headed east to South Korea to play for KT Sonic Boom. How excited are you about this new adventure?

Man I’m real excited, it’s a new situation for me and my career. The league is a bit different than leagues in Europe, but I’m adjusting so far and just want to make big impact here my first year.

Do you feel like at age 29 that this is the right career path? Are you in your prime now?

I’m all about opportunities, and when great opportunities present themselves it’s only right that I take advantage of it. I’m definitely reaching the prime of my career but I still have a lot to give to any team whether it be in Europe or Asia, I stay hungry. And I thank God for blessing me with the ability to continue playing basketball around the world.

You had very strong seasons with Phoenix Hagen, but last season a season to forget with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. When looking back did you regret making this move?

I don’t regret any decisions that I make, it was a tough situation in Bremerhaven. I had high hopes that I would be able to make the next step with them but it didn’t turn out that way. But I just took it as a learning experience, the season may not have gone the way I wanted individually but I took a lot of good from it.

You had played very well under Ingo Freyer, but how much of a role did the new coach Muli Katzurin play in any discomfort you felt with your new situation?

Muli was a great coach as you know. Our situation was just a misunderstanding on how I was to be utilized in the beginning of season to help the Win. We had really good players in Kyle Fogg, Jeremy Smith, Brandyn Curry and myself, so it caused if bit of conflict but I took a step back and just played my role and did whatever it took to help the team Win, whether it was rebounding, guarding the best player on the other team or looking to score. I think giving the circumstances I had a decent efficient season. I feel that I’m way more valuable than what the stats show. My feel and knowledge of the game is higher than people think.

It was a season to forget as the team underachieved despite having so much talent. Was team chemistry the biggest weak point of the team?

For sure, team chemistry on the court was a problem. Our comradery off the court was great, just need to transfer that on to the court and I think by the time we figured it out it was a bit too late.

It was your lowest totals in scoring in rebounding in Germany. Do you feel like last season was a step backwards in your career?

No I don’t at all, like I said given the situation I think I had decent season. I was very efficient from the field and I did a lot of good things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. I may not have taken a step forward by I honestly feel I didn’t take a step back either. I’m a competitor, I’m going to work hard and get after it no matter the situation. I think If I was given the keys and was the “go to guy” for Bremerhaven and put the stats I had last season, then I can say I took a step back but that wasn’t the case. I was 3rd option on the team and sometimes 4th, so I think I did pretty good in my situation.

A nice consolation was that you shot 42% which was your highest in Germany since your first season with Phoenix Hagen. Is that one of the positives that you could take from last season?

Definitely a positive, I took very good shots. Didn’t force a lot, and like I said I have a really good feel for the game.

Now you will play for KT Sonic Boom. With what kind of expectations are you going into with your new team?

Expectations are high for me here with KT, they rely heavily on the imports to produce and have impact to help the team Win. I am one of the “Go To Guys” which is going to be interesting challenge for me but I have faith that God put me here for a reason and I know that I will have a successful year. I definitely have a chip on my shoulder and that´s the way I will play this season.

The KBL is a league where there is a lot of scoring. At the moment you are the only import on the team. Are you prepared to put up crazy stats?

Well I’m not the only import, I have experienced big man Chris Daniels on my team as well. And I think we are going to be a great pair in this league. But I still have to put up crazy stats to help the team Win as many games as possible and make the playoffs.

What were you working on last summer on the court to get you physically and mentally prepared for this season?

I worked on everything this summer, but I focused on my ball handling and one on one skills, so that I can be more effective at creating my own shot. And now that I’m in Korea it is definitely paying off.

Is having a great stat season a goal for you to garner greater interest next summer from bigger teams in Europe?

As a basketball player I want to have great stats but I want to WIN just as bad. WINNING is the goal for me this season. And one thing I’ve learned is that the stats will follow with winning. I feel that I shouldn’t have to put up crazy numbers to get interest from teams. I think with my resume, experience and the potential I have, I think that should suffice.

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

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Shaq

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?

Doesn’t change anything, he is a great player but He is still second to Mike

What was the last movie that you saw?

Jason Bourne

Thanks Larry for the chat.