Chris Carter is a 27 year old 195cm guard that was born in Brooklyn, New York and is from Port St. Lucie, Florida that is playing his fifth professional season and second with the Niners Chemnitz. He played the last two seasons playing with Rasta Vechta. Last season in the BBL he averaged 4.0ppg, 1.1rpg, 1.4apg. In his first season with Rasta Vechta he helped the club move from the Pro A to the easyCredit BBL winning the Pro A title averaging 11,0ppg,3,4rpg and 5,3apg and shot 40% from outside. In 2016-2017 he played for BV Chemnitz 99 (Germany-ProA) playing 40 games averaging 12.4ppg, 4.2rpg, Assists-4 (5.7apg), Steals-4 (2.1spg), FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 73.4%. As a rookie he played for Bipa Basket Odessa (Ukraine-SL Favorit Sport) playing 32 games averaging 14.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 5.0apg, Steals-1 (2.2spg), FGP: 44.1%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 77.3%. He started his basketball career at Air Force (NCAA) and then played the last three years of school at Florida Tech (NCAA2) and as a senior played 21 games averaging 14.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.8apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT: 75.8%. He gave a special tribute interview about Kobe Bryant who passed away recently.

Where were you and how did you find about the death of Kobe Bryant? 

I was on the bus back home from a game and heard about it on Instagram. 

When I heard about it, I thought it was a hoax. What were your first thoughts when you heard about it? 

I checked the dates to see if it was April fools day because there just wasn’t any way that was real. 

How much of your day the day after did you take informing yourself about his death and watching videos?

I watched a lot of videos on youtube and other social media outlets in disbelief. 

You were born in 1992. Can you remember about when you first knew about Kobe Bryant and what was your first impression of him as a kid? 

I remember Kobe when he was in Adidas with the afro. Him and Shaq were basically taking over the league and I knew that I wanted to be on television one day just like Kobe. 

How did your love for Kobe Bryant develop over time as you got through childhood and high school? You were very young for his first wave of titles with Shaq around the millennium, but you must have witnessed the 2010 title against my Boston Celtics.

I was raised in south Florida but my heart was in LA. I was a die hard Kobe fan and no disrespect would be tolerated around me. I wore all of his shoes, had his jerseys. I was serious about him. 

Kobe Bryant was for so many the greatest ever. What did you appreciate most about his game? Was he a guy that you pretended to be on the playgrounds? 

He was a guy that made it cool to countdown in your head ‘3..21..’ and then shoot and yell ‘KOBE’. I appreciated his sacrifice to the game more than anything. 

Kobe Bryant had so many amazing games like his 81 points and countless other games where it was lights out as well as winning 5 titles. What is your fondest memory of him of what he did on the court? 


My fondest memory is when he dunked on Dwight Howard! 

The outpouring of sadness was incredible in the last 24 hours. Guys were crying and leaving heart felt messages on Social Media. How long do you think it will take until the basketball world comes to terms with this tragedy?


I don’t think it really will. Things won’t really make sense in the basketball world. 

When you look back in 20 years on the career of Kobe Bryant how will you remember his legacy best? 

A winner, innovator, and a global icon. 

One of my last questions in my standard interviews is what is your opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Michael Jordan or Lebron James. Often players remind me that I left out Kobe Bryant.I have been thinking about this a lot in the last days. How worthy is a Kobe Bryant to be seen as the greatest of all-time?

He should be on everyone’s Mount Rushmore. 

My last question isn’t what is the last movie you saw, but what video of Kobe Bryant will you take a look again when you have some time to look back at his great career? 


The video when he discusses in depth about the Mamba Mentality.

Thanks Chris for the chat and giving your memories of Kobe Bryant.