David Taylor is a 22 year old 190cm guard that was born in Bayreuth and grew up in Eckersdorf, Germany. He started his basketball career with the BBC Bayreuth 2 (2.Regionalliga) team in 2009. He then played two seasons with the  Nuernberger Basketball Club from 2010-2012 getting his first taste of pro B ball at age 15 and pro A ball at age 16. He then moved to TSV Troester Breitenguessbach (ProB) in 2013 where he played 16 games averaging 6.9ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 73.7%, played also at Troester Cybex Breitenguessbach U19 team (NBBL). He moved to the United States in 2013 to Pacific(NCAA) where he played until 2017 playing a total of 104 NCAA games. His most productive season was his second where he played  31 games averaging 7.9ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 40.9%, 3PT: 35.9%, FT: 80.6%. he spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

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

I am still in Stockton California right now working on my individual skill work and body. It’s been a productive summer so far getting my body ready for this up coming season.

Your last NCAA game was on Feb 25^th and you got signed on June 13^th by BBL team Gotha. You had a lot of time from then until now. How was the whole transfer period for you? Was going to a BBL team one of your big goals?

After the NCAA season I talked to a lot of people who wanted to help me in the process of finding the right opportunity for me. It took a while because I wanted to make sure it was the right option for me and I found a good fit with Gotha. Yes playing in the BBL was always a goal of mine. Now that I am part of a first league team I will work even harder to help my team succeed.

How important was it that a Wolfgang Heyder is with Gotha and the team is going in a very youth direction wanting to develop German talent?

I think it is great that Wolfgang is a part of the team. I have known him for a long time now and he is one of the people I respect a lot.

You dad played with Bamberg 12 years ago and won the BBL title. When do you remember having that first encounter with Wolfgang Heyder? Did he already come over as a dominant and intelligent basketball mind when you were a kid?

Yes since my dad first played for Bamberg I met Wolfgang Heyder he was always one of the smartest basketball minds in Germany and it will be an honor playing in his organization.

You come into a situation with Gotha coming from the NCAA where you didn´t put up the huge stats, but showed signs of brilliance when you had the minutes. What kind of role do you see yourself having and do you think that you could become an impact player down the road?

I know I will have to prove myself. I am ready for a challenge and hope can have a good and positive impact on the teams success.

You’re a guard that can fill up the stat sheet. What is your biggest strength and if you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would you compare yourself too?

I know I’m an athletic player who can use my body to my advantage offensively and defensively, while having developed a consistent shot. I would compare myself with a CJ McCollum or Monta Ellis.

How much of a role model is your father Derrick? Has he been more a help on the basketball side or the mental side and how has he helped you most?

My dad was always my greatest role model. I always looked up to him. But he’s also my biggest supporter on and off the court. He helps me more on the mental aspect of the game.

You played your first Pro B game at age 15 in 2010 for your father Derrick who was head coach. Back then you played with veterans Will Chavis and ex NBA player of the Denver Nuggets Eric Washington. You played three minutes and scored a bucket. What do you remember from this game and that first basket?

My first pro b game is a faint memory but I can imagine I was excited. It was fun playing against and with my German colleagues. And I would hope my game improved a lot in those past 7 years lol

In that season you also lost in a 3 game playoff series to Ehingen. Ehingen is known for being able to develop young German talent. In that game you faced off against young Germans like Mario Blessing, Malik Mueller, Akeem Vargas and Kevin Bright. When you look back to then and see how your game has developed in the last 7 years are you happy?

It was a great experience playing with the older guys learning from them. I think it helped me learn the importance of competing and that working hard alone isn’t always enough.

The next season you played for TSV Troester Breitenguessbach (ProB) playing 16 games averaging 6.9ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 73.7%. You played with two very talented big men with Johanes Richter and Johannes Thiemann. Both didn’t get a chance with Bamberg and left. Richter was never to fully be able to make his break through in Frankfurt and Bonn while Thiemann did in Ludwigsburg. How surprised are you that Richter is still looking for his break through and how confident are you that he will make it now in Gotha?

Johannes Richter as well as Thiemann are two very talented players with a lot of potential. I’m positive that Richter will be able to make his break through in Gotha with a great coaching staff behind us.

You had a 4 year career at Pacific(NCAA) playing 109 games. When you look back at your career what do you feel was most beneficial in your 4 year career that made you a better player?

Going to the USA playing college basketball helped me see the game from a different perspective learning a different style of play which I can incorporate into the European style.

In 2015 I interviewed your ex teammate at Pacific(NCAA) Andrew Bock and he said this about you. “David Taylor is very talented and is getting that feel for the NCAA. He is very fast and this year is learning to control his speed. He is very humble and he also has a big future”. How did he help your game as you came in as a freshman at the guard position and he was finishing as a senior?

Andrew is a great guy, we are both still in contact today. He helped me a lot adjusting to the new playing style and system.

You had head coach Ron Verlin for your first three years, but in your last year had ex NBA player Damon Stoudamire. This was his first job as a head coach after being an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis(NCAA) and Arizona(NCAA). How was he able to give you that last key touch in grooming and preparing you best for a professional career?

Damon Stoudamire did a great job for it being his first year at the head coach position. His knowledge of the game especially of the guard position really helped and I wish I had more time to learn more.

You battled TJ Wallace for 4 years at Pacific in practice. How did he help make you better as a player and how bright is his future? Could you see him playing in Germany?

Me and TJ battled everyday over the last four years. He also is a great guy and teammate. I think his future is bright if he sets his mind to it and would be fun playing against him on opposing teams for a twist.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that is in the NBA now?

I think the Cameron Payne from the Thunders was one of the toughest match ups I had, but I gave him a good fight.

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

I would want to play with LeBron, KD, Deandre Jordan, and CP3.

If Lebron wins a fourth NBA title, where will he stand at the moment in the never ending debate with the best of all-time?

LeBron is one of the greatest ever as of right now but if he wins another championship he could take MJs crown for being the best.

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

KG is really good I would rank him under the top 7 best power forwards ever.

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

Klay is one of the best shooters and displayed one of the best shooting performances ever.

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?

Stat wise you can arguably say that he is the best but you can never count out James Harden’s stat lines either.

Is Lonzo Ball the real thing? Do you feel like he will be able to develop further despite the antics of his father on social media?

Lonzo Ball is a good hooper. I don’t know how well his game will translate in the NBA. I’m curious to find out though.

There has been criticism of Russell Westbrook to be focusing more on rebounding to help inflate his stats and possibilities of getting triple doubles instead of focusing on his defensive assignments. Do you feel that this is a fair assessment to the player Russell.

I think at times Russell Westbrook was a little to focused on getting his stat line instead of playing the right way.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last movie I watched was Wonder Woman.

Thanks David for the chat.