Spencer Reaves (191-G-1995, college: Central Mo., agency: One Motive Sports) is a 26 year old 191cm guard from Newark, Arkansas that finsihed his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen averaging 14.5ppg, 1.9rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 43.9%, FT: 85.7%. He played his first three professional seasons in Spain with Azpeitia Juaristi Iraurgi Saski Baloia (Spain-LEB Silver) and UBU Tizona Burgos (Spain-LEB Gold). He began his basketball career with / Cedar Ridge High School and then played a season with North Greenville University (NCAA2). He then finished at the University of Central Missouri (NCAA2) from 2015-2018 playing a total of 85 games averaging 12.3ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 83.5% in his second season, 17.0ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 59.9%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 85.4% as a junior and17.0ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 44.2%, FT: 88.6% as a senior. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the completion of his fourth professional season.

Thanks Spencer for talking togermanhoops.com. Your first season in Germany with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen has ended. How tough was it being swept by the Tigers Tuebingen?

It’s never easy to lose a series, especially being swept, but you have to give a ton of credit to Tubingen. They have been the best team all year and it showed with the last 3 games.

Is this one of those series that will take longer to digest or have you been able to put it by you?

I try to put everything on a 24 hour rule. Be mad, upset, happy about something for 24 hours then throw all the emotions away. You can’t let emotions of something fog your thinking for that long.

The Bayer Giants Leverkusen were so pumped after the exciting Trier win. Did Leverkusen peak during the Trier series?

I wouldn’t say we peaked against Trier. We were able to put together 3 good games in a row, which is important in the playoffs. We played most of the Tuebingen series without a PG which is never easy.

How vital was it losing game one 85-83 to Tuebingen? Do you feel like that loss effected the team mentally?

It hurt. I felt like we made too many mistakes to win that game though. And we still had a shot at the end.

In game two and game three Leverkusen had combined 41 turnovers. Was that the biggest reason for not being able to turn it around?

We didn’t have a real PG the last two games. Both went out with injuries so it’s trying to piece different things together to try to find something that works. Unfortunately for us, it didn’t.

You had an ok series but was pretty much wrapped up well in game three. You had 8 turnovers combined in the last two games. You had had only 7 turnovers combined in the previous 10 games. How much of the blame do you take?

I of course will take blame for any losses we have. I consider myself a leader and when you don’t win a game, there has to be reasons. I’ll take blame and work to improve so it doesn’t happen again.

When looking back at the season is this one of those seasons where the club could of achieved more considering the talent that it had? What is your summary of the season?

I would say it was a successful season here in Leverkusen. I fully believe we give ourselves a chance to win this series without all the injuries that have happened recently. But we are a Top 4 team in the Pro A, 14 other teams can’t say that.

How much of a pleasure was it playing with German Luis Figge who has BBL experience? What did you learn to appreciate most about his game?

It was great. Team was built and constructed with a lot of great human beings as well as basketball players. I really enjoyed seeing Figge’s ability to affect the game on the defensive end.

You shared the back court with Quentin Goodin. How did you experience his hunger to keep moving up the basketball ladder? Is he a guy you see making the next step?

He’s great. He is definitely a guy I see making the next step up the ladder. He’s a competitor and will do everything he can for the team to win and be successful. He will make whatever team he signs for next better.

Who made the biggest strides in the development from the young German’s on the squad? It’s really hard to pick one guy.


I feel like each of our young guys improved in different ways. And were all about to help the team win games. Can’t wait to continue to watch them develop.

You averaged 14.5ppg, 1.9rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 43.9%, FT: 85.7%. How content were you with your first season in the German Pro A?

Numbers are one thing but those wouldn’t mean anything without the amount of winning we were able to do here in Leverkusen. This was my first playoff experiences in this format and I’m happy we got to win a lot of games.

You had had solid seasons in the Spanish third and second divisions. But would you agree that this season in Germany was your best season as a professional?


I would say so. I think I was able to show more than just scoring this season as a leader, teammate and playmaker than in years before.

You were a scorer and a leader on a successful team. How do you feel did your game grow this season in the German Pro A?

Well I had great guys and teammates around me. I got to have fun every single day with practice and then games where the pressure is extremely low. I got to only worry about basketball and not other things that might be distractions with this team. And for that I am very thankful and appreciative.

Despite having a massive 28 points game with 8 three’s against Artland early in the season, you had a slow start. From December until the end. You scored in double figures in 26 of 27 games. Do you feel that your ready for the next step?

I believe that I am. We will see what comes in the next weeks, especially passport wise for me. And then me and my agent Drew will discuss all of the options. But making the next step is definitely a goal of mine.

What is the next step for you? I can imagine you will get some offers from BBL teams. Is Germany a place you would like to remain in?

I’m not sure yet. It’s early as of now. Just want to take a little time off and see what kind of interests Roll in. I loved Germany this season though and would love to come back to play in this country.

On what area’s of your game will you be working on most this summer so you will be ready for another potent season in 2022-2023?

I know I’ll need to really work on certain movements because if I make the step up, the speed will be completely different. But also just continue to work on my overall game so I can do whatever a team needs from me.

You had many nice memories on the court, but what was your fondest moment off the court where you really got to know the culture of Germany?

Probably when I went to Karneval in Koeln. Crazy amount of people and the atmosphere was so different than anywhere I had been before.

Who will reach the NBA final and win it all?

I think it will be Bucks/Suns rematch. With the Suns winning it.

Thanks Spencer for the chat.