Timothy Burnett is an American guard that played at Fulton Montgomergy Community College. He is aspiring to become a professional player overseas. He is taking part at the 2021 Howard Hoops Combine in Germany in August 2021. He spoke to eurobasket about his basketball career.

Timothy thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

This ain’t a really good part of my life right now a lot of trials came with staying out of the basketball life and it’s been a bit hard but just staying focused on task of the goal to be a professional basketball player was never not a focus.

You finished school at Fulton Montgomery Community. How have you been keeping busy the last years outside of basketball? Did you get a 9-5 job to help pay the bills?

Yes I started to work with my uncle’s company in the construction business for a year and a half just to keep myself busy staying out the basketball life and most importantly helping my mom with the bills because I’m the oldest of 7 boys so it was a priority to take care of the bills in the house when needed.

Were you able to use your college degree to get into the job field that you wanted?

I majored in business and athletic training to pursue my associates degree but unfortunately because of COVID-19 I couldn’t finish out. But it didn’t stop me from getting the position I wanted in that job field.

How much desire do you have to become a professional athlete? And what do you think held you back from becoming a professional athlete thus far ?

My desire to be a professional athlete is everything it’s all I ever dreamed of as kid , It’s my biggest accomplishment in my life and would mean everything to achieve. I feel like what held me back from being a professional basketball athlete was myself honestly, not being fully focused and not taking advantages of great opportunities that came my way . I feel like not putting myself on that stage to being seen plays a big part and I’m taking full advantage of this opportunity.

Let’s talk a little about COVID-19. What were the biggest challenges for you during this time? Was it tougher keeping that normal work out routine?

One of the biggest challenges of COVID-19 was not being able to play basketball as much as I was in college and having daily routines so at first it was difficult. Then I learned to adjust keeping up to my daily routine as COVID-19 was going on working out at home , running doing a lot of calisthenics keeping my body in shape then I was getting back to normal workouts as it went on.

With everything that you have experienced during COVID-19 off the court how do you feel did it make you stronger as a man?

COVID-19 helped me a lot with mindset especially being off the court, it taught me if the world shut down right now how would you be able to do better for yourself and never take anything for granted. When your pursuing to be something you have to go 10000% at all times because you never know when it could be taken from you. As a man this COVID-19 structured me to better physically and mentally and to be more wise most importantly just staying focused on your goal in life be the best at it.

You will be taking part at the Howard Hoops Combine in Germany in August. How excited are you to show your abilities in front of GM’s and coaches?

It’s honestly an honor and a blessing for me to be able to show my talent and to even have these GMs and coaches even take time out of their busy schedule to see if I’m worthy. Because you don’t get opportunities like these so when these chances come knocking on your door your got to give it your all, I’m excited to just show my talent and show I’m ready and what type of player I am on and off the floor.

How excited are you to be playing in Germany? What do you know about the country and it’s basketball? Have you had friends or ex opponents or teammates play there?

I’ve never been out of the country in my whole entire life so this is a first I’m just humbled and blessed to get the opportunity to show my talents on the other side of the map. Germany is a tough country so I know they are competitive, so it’s going to be fun and interesting Brooklyn competitive and aggressive so I don’t expect nothing less.

How did you get in contact with CEO and founder Ronald Howard (181-PG-84, college: Mayville St.)? Did he find you or did you find him?

Coach Japhet McNeil posted on his Facebook at the time of the opportunity so when I saw it I sent him message hoping he would answer back and then we d numbers. From there I was introduced to coach Ronald Howard so I found him and then we exchanged numbers as well. He gave me more details on this event , how it can change my life if I come there and do what I got to do.

Ronald Howard is a legend. He is the voice for the unknown players wanting to get a job overseas. What kind of relationship do you have with him and what do you appreciate most about his character.

Coach Ronald Howard I don’t really have too much of a big relationship with him we spoke a couple times over the months ,but he’s a up standing guy , he tells you how it is more than tell you what you want to hear. I respect that in a person as far as how I go about things so to see a guy I don’t know from a whole in the world is the same way is an honor. The most I appreciate about Coach Ronald Howard‘s character is his honestly , he tells you straight up gives you both sides of this basketball stuff how it can go if you take the right steps and how it can go if you don’t work hard and he cares about his guys so when somebody cares about you they tell you the truth instead of telling you what you want to hear.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 175cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

I don’t like to compare myself to other NBA players I feel like I have my own playing style on both sides of the floor and I don’t take off plays. But if I had to compare myself or see glimpses I would say Kemba Walker. I’m crafty like to get to my spots, I can score, pass make others around me better and I’m aggressive and I want to win.

Talk a little about your game. Your ultimate strength is that you will do anything to win. Would it be correct to say that you have a heart of gold?

I wouldn’t say heart of gold I would put in my words as heart of a lion. I don’t fear no one and when I’m on that floor nothing is stopping me from putting that ball in the basket Anything my team and my coach needs I will do to get that win. Making others better and winning is my game.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most so you can continue to grow as a player?

My footwork being a lot more explosive and being more of a consistent shooter. Being a lot more crafty with the strong hand and the off hand.

You played at Fulton Montgomery Community College. Talk a little about your time there. How do you feel did you profit most from your time there?

Playing and being at Fulton Montgomery Community College really matured my game and my mindset as far as life and what I want to be in life. I feel like I profited the most of my time being there was structure and time balanced. College taught me to know what you want and not to waste no time on what your pursuing. I Matured when I went to college it helped me stay focused and know my main goal in life.

Who was the best player that you ever battled that went to the NBA?

Moses Brown from the Boston Celtics we’ve played AAU together played against each other , Future lottery pick (James Bouknight ) Cam Reddish , G league player Tremont Waters it’s couple more of those guys but these are the ones that stand out and that really compete.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My 3 brothers Marcus Burnett , James Burnett & Ezra Burnett and my uncle Kyle Giddings and my friend that passed away Theodore Senior

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Michael Jordan , Kobe Bryant ,Shaquille O’Neil , Allen Iverson definitely going to throw Kevin Durant in there. By the time he is finished he will one of if not the best ever and plus he’s my favorite player.

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Michael Jordan or Lebron James?

Michael Jordan for sure just because his approach of the game and how it came at it , just being so dominant at that time of basketball one and two as a basketball player and going three straight on both times before retiring and coming back. That’s legendary.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Space jam 2

Thanks Timothy for the chat.

T