Reggie Upshaw is a 22 year old 203cm forward from  Chattanooga, Tennessee that is starting his professional basketball career in Germany with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. He played at  Middle Tenn.St. (NCAA) from 2013-2017 playing a total of 139 games. As a senior at  Middle Tenn.St. (NCAA) he played 36 games averaging 14.5ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 60.4%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 72.4%. Before turning professional he played at the well known Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft) playing 3 games averaging 14.3ppg, 8.3rpg. He spoke to German Hoops earlier in the summer about Basketball.

Congrats Reggie on signing with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen in Germany. As a competitor who played a great  Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft): 3 games: 14.3ppg, 8.3rpg as well as playing NBA Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks are you a bit disappointed that the NBA dream didn´t continue on after Las Vegas?

No I’m not disappointed with how summer league went this past summer I felt like I learned a lot from the Bucks organization about what it takes to be a pro.

Now you will concentrate on your professional career. You have signed with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. How did you experience your first summer transfer period delving into the professional sector? What made the German offer the most interesting for you?

This summer going into my first year pro I’ve just tried to expand my game. Work as hard as I could on my game overall as far as shooting and ball handling. The deal in Germany was the most interesting because it’s in such a respected league where I could really see myself coming in and making an impact as soon as I got there.

You come over as a guy with a very good character. Just a week before you were battling NBA players every day and then you state how much it´s a dream of yours to play in Germany and for Tuebingen. How much of your good character has been rubbed off from your dad Reggie Sr?

He’s a big part of who I am today if it wasn’t for him I don’t think my character would be like it is now.

How did head coach Tyron McCoy sell his basketball philosophy best and what was the deciding factor that made you chose to become a Tiger in Germany?

He just told me that he would use me and my strengths the best way possible and in a way that I would be comfortable.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Did you get some advice from Stan brown who played in Germany with Essen some years ago or did Marcos Knight tell you how he ate up Tuebingen last season scoring 21 and 18 points? Lol

I’ve talked to Marcos about his experiences in Germany just a little he said it’s a tough league in a beautiful Country.

You had a very solid career at Middle Tennessee State and especially in your last two seasons really picked up your game. Do you feel like you can become an impact player in the German easyCredit BBL?

I definitely feel like I can be an impact player in the BBL especially if I come in with an open mind to work hard each day.

Let´s talk about your game. Your new head coach Tyrone Mccoy describes you as a very hard worker that is very versatile. What other strengths can you add to your game?

I feel like the other parts of my game that make me who I am are my IQ for the game and my ability to make others around me better.

You are a guy that demonstrated in school that you can score and rebound at ease. If you had to pick one NBA player that you could compare your game to who would you pick? Would you have the audacity to compare your game to your role model Draymond Green?

Yes, Draymond is who I feel like my game is similar to.

You are a guy that can fill the stat sheet at ease, but what do you feel is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the floor?

My ability to pass.

You are a guy that exceled not only at basketball in high school, but also at football. You had many offers from football schools until you got injured as a junior and then stayed with basketball. What do you feel has helped your basketball game most that you wouldn´t have had had you not had the chance to experience football?

The physicality of football getting hit every play makes it easier when I play against more physical guys in Basketball.

Recently you played NBA Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks. What kind of experience was that for you and what kind of advice did the coaching staff give you about improving your game and NBA chance?

They just told me to keep being who I was do the things that had gotten me to that point and to keep working.

Did you have a big chip on your shoulder playing against Syracuse forward Tyler Roberson who beat you in the NCAA tournament in your junior season? Was it extra competitive or was that loss something you had long erased from your mind?

It was definitely competitive. We went at each other a little when we could.

You played against many 2017 NBA Draft picks as well as guys that have played at that level. When you look how your game developed in the last two years in the NCAA, what do you feel is missing from some of those guy´s games?

Ability to take control of games and close games out in the final moments.

You played four years at  Middle Tenn.St. (NCAA) and as a senior played  36 games averaging 14.5ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 60.4%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 72.4%. How do you feel did your game develop in your last two seasons?

My shooting was what I was most focused on developing.

How did head coach Kermit Davis groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career at Middle Tennessee State?

Just by making sure I wasn’t taking plays off or reps off in practice and in games.

How important was Jacorey Williams in your senior year who recently was signed by the Golden State Warriors? He came from Arkansas(NCAA) where he played hardly a role and totally blossomed with Middle Tennessee State averaging 17.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 54.6%, 3PT: 13.3%, FT: 69.6%. How did you guys really profit from each other to having great senior years?

Having JaCorey on the team was great he made it easier knowing that I had another scoring threat on the floor. We made each other better.

Who won a one on one you or Jacorey Williams?

Haha I definitely win in 1 on 1!

You played against many great players in the NCAA, but who was the toughest that you played against that is in the NBA now?

Denzel Valentine!

How does your summer workout plan look like on and off the court in 2017?

Just 2 a days and then every other day I make sure to get a weight workout done as well.

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

Jordan, Magic, Chamberlain, Lebron.

Lebron James failed to win his fourth NBA title and is still three away from Michael Jordan. Where does Lebron stand right now in your opinion in the never ending debate of who is the best of all-time?

Second behind Jordan.

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 Westbrook?

No he goes out and gives his all each game.

How do you summarize the 2017 NBA Draft. What sleepers do you see playing a role in the NBA?

Donovan Mitchell and Bam Adebayo.

Where will the journey of the Houston Rockets go this season with Chris Paul and James Harden in the back court. Do they have enough to make a serious run at the title or is something missing? 

I feel like something is still missing.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Logan

Thanks Reggie for the chat.