Kris Douse is a 30 year old 198cm forward from Toronto, Canada that is playing for for the Westfalen Mustangs (Germany-2.Regionalliga) this season. He played at Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute while Fraport Skyliner Quantez Robertson also played at Laurinburg (N.C.) prep. He started his college career at  Nebraska (NCAA) and then played two seasons at Delaware State. As a senior he played at Point Park (NAIA) playing  27 games: 20.1ppg, 12.6rpg. In 2011-2012 he started his professional basketball career at Liverpool Mersey Tigers (United Kingdom-BBL, starting five): 18 games: 15.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 13.6%, FT: 54.6%; then agreed terms with Keflavik (Iceland-Express League): 6 games: 9.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 44.7%, FT: 69%.In the 2012-2013 season he played for Turi Svitavy (Czech Republic-NBL): 2 games: 0pts, left in Oct.’12, in Nov.’12 moved to BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 17 games: 14.1ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.6%, 3Pts: 10.0%, FT: 50.4%. In the 2013-2014 seaosn he played for EVL-Baskets Limburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing  25 games: 26.2ppg, 11.6rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 58.4%, 3Pts: 32.1%, FT: 59.1%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for the Plymouth University Raiders (United Kingdom-BBL): 3 games: 5.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3bpg, in Nov.’15 moved to Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus-Division A): 6 games: 1.5ppg, 1.7rpg, in Jan.’15 signed at SG ErftBaskets Euskirchen (Germany-Regionalliga): 9 games: 21.8ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.7spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 62.9%. Last season he played for  Rot-Weiss Cuxhaven (Germany-Regionalliga). He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Kris thanks for talking to German Hoops again. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your fifth season in Germany as a professional?

Hello Miles I am currently playing for Westfalen Mustangs which is located in Wiedenbruck. So far it has been a great start to the season being undefeated and excited to build on the franchise winning streak of 112 straight wins.

You are playing your first season with the Westfalen Mustangs (Germany-2.Regionalliga). What kind of overall experience has it been playing with them?

It has been a great experience for me, it’s a very ambitious organization that has huge goals moving towards the future and I’m happy to be a part of the building blocks towards elevating the club into the higher leagues

You have played in the first divisions in Iceland, UK and Cyprus and numerous years in the German regionaliga and now your playing with Westfalen Mustangs (Germany-2.Regionalliga). Isn´t this skill wise a step back for you? What was your motivation in going there?

I don’t think of it as a step back because of the teams goals going into the future and that’s what motivates me, and I believe in the vision that one day this club will be a household name throughout Germany and to be a part of that and help create is something I feel truly appreciative of. As far as looking further down the road I see myself being a part of the journey far into the future and being a part of the club’s success

You are 30 years old now. You are most likely in your prime now or not? Where do you honestly feel like you could have played this season in Germany given the chance?

I always felt like I can match up anywhere in Germany just depending on the situation, and your right I do feel like I am in my prime now but I still continue to grow as a player mentally and physically. I guess me and Benjamin Button have a little bit in common

Last season you played with Rot-Weiss Cuxhaven (Germany-Regionalliga). You had a massive game against BBL team Bremerhaven in pre season. Do you ever think about what you could do in higher leagues?

Yes of course given the opportunity in a good situation I think anyone who plays basketball wonders about things like that but at the same time I’m also happy with using what I have to help build a club up and win. I want to win leagues here with the Mustangs and be a part of something special

After a monster season with Limburg in 2013-2014, you had that chance to prove yourself in the UK and Cyprus, but ended the season in the German regionaliga with Euskirchen. Are you more a destined Regionaliga player than anything else?

Yes coach Danny Stallbohn let me showcase my ability in Limburg and that definitely opened doors for me. As for as playing at a higher level The opportunities have always been there but as I get older I was looking for a place I can build with and call home in terms of basketball and I believe I have found that here.

Let´s talk about the Mustangs. Before I talk about the season I have to ask you point blank. Are you getting paid? I have heard numerous stories over the years that Americans played there and had a negative experience in terms of pay?

Got to laugh at that question Miles but I guess it’s something people may wonder from some of the backlash the club may have taken but my personal experience I can honestly say the club has been nothing short of honorable and has lived up to the terms we agreed on before coming here and in some cases even surpassing certain expectations. I consider myself lucky to be here

The club is 7-0 at the moment. What has been the secret to the success so far this season?

We have one heck of a team the management has put together here. We are loaded with talent and everyone is on the same page when it comes to the ultimate goal of winning, like any club we have our bumps and bruises at times during game play but the one thing we all have in common is we all want to be known as winners and that kind of character is contagious and builds team unity

The club moved to the second Regionaliga from the Oberliga. How urgent is the club about taking the next step to the pro B this season?

The goal is to not lose any games and we don’t even look into the future in terms of losing we want to ride this wave as long as we can and it be amazing to get into Pro B with say 160 straight wins and even though that is extremely ambitious that’s the character this club has we strive to win every game we play

The club has some serious talent with guys like ex BBL player German Robert Huelswede or Sasha Cuic who had some serious good years with Oregon State, won a cup in Cyprus and reached the Fiba Europe Cup semi´s. How do you fit into this team? What role do you have?

 Yes those two guys are definitely huge parts of the program there experienced and true professionals that have an understanding and passion for the game and has been nothing less than an absolute pleasure to team up with such high caliber players as well as people and I consider it a true blessing. As far as my role on this team it’s pretty much the same role I’ve always had which is do a bit of everything and being high energy to the game, that’s the role that comes most natural to me

Is it refreshing to know that you don´t have so much responsibility on your shoulders like 3 years ago with Limburg?

In Limburg it helped me build a lot of tools to my arsenal so I’m definitely fortunate I got to build from that experience and at the time we were extremely young but if you look now a few of those guys are still there and there able to blossom as well as win which is great because they deserve it. Here it’s a different situation we got a bit of everything we got age experience young talent so my job is bit easier because I can pick and choose when I really need to assert myself offensively and focus on other aspects of the game where I can use my energy

What are your personal goals? Is this a club you could imagine staying with for years and build continuity as the club moves up?

 For sure I’m here because after talking to management and seeing what they want moving forward and how they see me in the future here it made a lot of sense I believe that over the years people will see that this decision was a good one well into the future I have a lot of trust and faith in the management here.

What was your fondest memory with Justin Stallbohm with Limburg? Just with his cheeky smiles, he came over as a guy that was a jokester.

Justin is one of my good friends and while in Limburg we spent a lot of time on and off the court so the Memories are endless but I think the most enjoyable part of that season was definitely the start of season going 3-0 the early success brought us close from day one

You played at the well known Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute in North Carolina. If you had the chance to ask Chris Washburn one question what would it be?

Well when I was at Laurinburg my coach was Kenneth Gordon and he was an incredible person who taught a lot of us young men that went through him how to be more than just basketball players but men. But if I could ask him anything right now my question would be “how did you do such a good job with all us knuckleheads back then” he really was a huge influence in my life and if he happens to come across this I’d like to publicly say thank you for everything

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

 MJ shaq, magic, Duncan

Lebron finally brought an NBA title to the Cavs. Where does he stand at the moment in the never ending debate with where he stands as the best of all-time?

Lebron to me is a hybrid of magic he is something out of this world to be that size and do what he does it doesn’t make any sense. I think he is a top 3 talent ever to play but his career isn’t done yet so it’s hard to put him in my top 4 but when it’s all said and done I believe he will be in my top 2

Where do you rank Kevin Garnett with the best power forwards that ever played the game?

I think KG is a top 3 pf he was a handful to guard, tough as nails and on top of that a champion

Klay Thompson recently hit 60 points in 29 minutes touching the ball for only 90 seconds. Where does this performance rank with you?

To score 60 points in less then 3 quarters all off his jump shot I don’t think I ever seen anything like that before it’s definitely in a class of its own

One always talks about Lebron and Curry, but one has to mention Russell Westbrook. He is averaging triple double stats at the moment. Is he stat wise the best player in the world right now?

I enjoy watching Westbrook the most out of anyone in the NBA and he is the most exciting player in the game and he is able to sustain that high energy for 48 minutes while doing everything stat wise nobody comes even close

What was the last movie that you saw?

Rush Hour 2.

Thanks Kris for the chat.