Braydon Hobbs (196-PG-1989, college: Bellarmine) is a 33 year old 196cm guard that just finished his 10th professional season and first with Monbus Obradoiro CAB Santiago de Compostela (Spain ACB) averaging 7.2ppg, 3.1rpg, 4.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 39.6%. He played most of his career in Germany for teams like Nurnberg, Giessen, Ulm, FC Bayern Munich and was 2 years teammates with Rickey Paulding with the EWE Baskets. He also played in Australia and Hungry. He began his basketball career at 8: New Albany, IN / New Albany High School and then played 4 years at Bellarmine (NCAA2). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his memories of Rickey Paulding.

Thanks Braydon for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I am back home in the states. Basketball has been well for me lately. I just finished up my 10th season in Spain.

Your played this season with Monbus Obradoiro CAB Santiago de Compostela. What kind of an experience has it been playing Europe’s top league ACB? What is the biggest challenge for you as a point guard to be successful on the court?

The ACB is the best league in Europe. It was a great experience for me competing at that level. Any team could beat another team on any given night. The biggest challenge was just adapting to the physical level the ACB demands. There are no plays or games you can take off.

You have had a real easyCredit BBL reunion with the Scrubb brothers and Kassius Robertson. What has it like being teammates with Philipp Scrubb? Can you beat him in shooting drills?

It was cool playing with some guys that came from Germany like I did. Philipp was a great teammate and he helped us a lot when he came from Russia. We didn’t do any shooting drills but he can definitely fill it up.

What kind of a feeling was it holding your own against real Madrid with 17 points in a tough 89-88 loss? Did a performance give a veteran like you added confidence?

It was nice to play good against Real Madrid but a win would have been a lot better. Like I said before, any team can beat any other team in the ACB, so every night teams have to be ready to compete or they will lose.

Rickey Paulding is playing his farewell game on June 4. What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

The first thing I think about when I hear Rickey Paulding is Pauldingburg.

Have you ever seen a player who has been able to play so well at a high level at his age?

I have definitely not seen anyone with his physical ability at his age. He was still dunking and practicing every day when I was in Oldenburg. It was incredible.

What was your first impression when you met him? Was his smile and personality instantly infectious?

My first impression of Rickey was how humble he was. Just a laid back guy who was extremely humbled about life and basketball.

What was your first impression when you saw him on the court? What was the first thing that really stuck out?

The first time I saw him on the court, his Oldenburg team, beat us pretty well and I felt like he didn’t miss a shot. He was fun to play against but even better to watch.

You played two seasons with him. Is there anything specific that you feel you were able to take from his presence on the court?

Playing with him two seasons was an honor for sure. I will take away from him his leadership and how humble he stayed at all times. He always showed great leadership in the toughest times.

In your two seasons he had so many great games. For instance exploding for 36 points in a loss against Crailsheim or hitting Bamberg and Munich for 36 points or 28 points against Alba Berlin. What game will you most remember from him?

There are so many great games that I experienced with him so it’s hard to pick just one. The game against Crailsheim was crazy because I just remember giving him the ball and he would go get a bucket. It looked so effortless, yet nobody could stop him. It was fun to experience.

What is your fondest moment with him on and off the court that you will never forget?

Going to the cup championship, in Berlin, was probably my fondest moment. We lost the game but I just remember talking with Rickey on the court afterwards. He just gave me the Rickey smile and shrugged his shoulders. We were proud in that moment, even though we lost.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

In this day and age, I do not see another American with that kind of longevity on any team. I could be wrong, and I hope I am but it would be tough. It takes a special someone like Rickey for that to happen.

Please leave some closing words for Rickey Paulding.

Rickey was an awesome player but a much better dad and person. I got to experience some great times with him off the court and enjoyed those moments. He will be a legend in Oldenburg and the BBL will miss him dearly. Congrats on the amazing career and enjoy your family and retirement.

Marko Scekic (207-F/C-1981, agency: BeoBasket) is a 41 year old 207cm power forward that is a retired Serbian player. He began his career in 1998 with Drina osiguranje Zvornik and retired in 2015. He played many years in Serbia and Bosnia, but also in countries like Poland, Italy, Slovenia and Germany. In Germany he played 2 seasons with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg and was teammates with Rickey Paulding helping the team win the 2009 BBL title. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his memories of Rickey Paulding.

Thanks Marko for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I’m very happy you reached out to me. Right now I’m an assistant coach for my home town team in Bosnia. We play in the Adriatic league and this is my fourth year with the team as an assistant coach.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

The first thing that comes to mind is kindness. He was always a true friend. He has had an amazing career. He played at a high level for one team for a long time. I’m very happy to have been part of his career.

What was your first impression when you saw him on the court?

I didn’t expect him to be that athletic. When we began training camp, he was a little shy. Everyone had heavy legs at the start, but when the first friendly games began, he had so much athleticism.

He had so many amazing games in your two years, but was his play in games 3-5 against Bonn in the finals Rickey at his best?

He had so many great games when I was there and also so many more after I was gone. I remember watching a game some years ago where he sent a game into overtime with his three pointer. But yes those last games against Bonn were the toughest and best games from him. They had so much value.

How important has Rickey Paulding been for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in his 15 years? Where would they be without him?

He was so important for the organization. I hope they remain connected. Oldenburg is a nice city with very nice fans. I had two very good years there. It was like family for me there. Rickey is like family and that is why he and Oldenburg fit together so well. They match perfectly and are a great combination.

You played two seasons with him and helped win the 2009 BBL title. What was your fondest moment on the court with him?

I have many fond moments with him especially in those championship games. But I remember a play against Real Madrid where I passed the ball through the opponent and he missed the lay up. He ruined my assist That was my fondest moment (laughing)

What kind of a connection did you have with him? The guy was loved everywhere. Do you have a special Rickey story that shows exactly the kind of guy he was?

Rickey is a fun guy and likes to joke, but also shy. He is a very open guy and we had so much fun those two years. I can proudly say that he only dunked on me once in the two years in practice. I don’t even know why I tried to block him because he is so athletic.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

I don’t remember ever one player playing that long for one team. Plus he was loved on and off the court. Simply great.

Closing words for Rickey.

I wish nothing but love for Rickey and continued hard work off the court and now you will start a new chapter in your life.

It was 7.00 am the day after. The day after what? The magical Rickey Paulding (196-SF-1982, college: Missouri) farewell game in Oldenburg that chronicled his amazing and legendary career with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. I had to stay overnight in a suburb of Bremen about 75 kilometers away from Oldenburg, because all the hotels in Oldenburg were booked because of the German Harvest festival holiday named Pfingston. My family and I wanted to spend the Sunday, the day after in a beautiful amusement park with our son. I had only slept 5 hours, but wanted to get my running out of the way for the day. The weather was beautiful on Sunday morning, already 72 degrees with the sun already in full action and a soothing light breeze. When your jogging for an hour, I had a lot of time to reflect on the incredible Rickey Paulding evening and get new ideas for my farewell article. As I left the suburb called Oyten and was headed towards Bremen on my run, My mind momentarily shut off about Rickey Paulding and I focused on the word Oyten. Wait a minute, That name was familiar. A legendary name popped up from the German sports world Rudi Voeller.

So what do Voeller and Paulding have in common? Not much except that both are living legends. The man is a German football legend who helped win the 1990 World Cup with Germany and will always be remembered for scoring goals, getting spit on by Dutch player Frank Rijkaard and his legendary TV interview in 2003 with Waldemar Hartmann. Back in the 80’s German football magazine Kicker had a great campaign in that fans could send their autograph wishes to players. Every week there were new players featured on the last page of the magatine. As a kid who was a diehard autograph collector in the 80’s living in the States, I also collected German football players autographs when I was in Germany visiting relatives. I remember sending letters to countless players from the states then and getting responses and signed pictures sent back. The incredible thing was that as a novice kid, I didn’t check that you had to send a return envelope. I never did that, but it also would have been tough with American stamps. So many players sent me an autograph paying the stamp charge including then German national players like Harald Schumacher and Wolfgang Dremmler, but so did icon Rudi Voeller. I remember that I still had the envelope that Voeller had sent me. When I got home Sunday night from the weekend, I checked the envelope on the back, I read Oyten. Rudi Voeller must have lived in Oyten at the start of his legendary career in the early 80’s. To top off this look back and bring in some nostalgia, I have had dealings with his son Marco who is the manager of the Fraport Skyliners that I have covered for the last 15 years. I actually showed Marco the letter a few years ago.

So my thoughts about the Paulding evening were derailed for a moment. But for me this weekend belonged to Rickey Paulding not Rudi Voeller.

Let me back track 16 hours earlier. When you drive 4-5 hours to see Rickey Paulding why not combine it with another highlight off the court? Literally 2 hours before I entered the EWE Baskets big arena in Oldenburg, I was playing in the North Sea with my son Evan at Wilhelmshafen only 40 minutes away. The weather was great. So I went from the beach to the arena for the Rickey Paulding event. I don’t know how many times Rickey Paulding had to explain in the last 13 years after the magnificent 2009 BBL title why he never left Oldenburg, but it must have been very much. The normal bla bla of feeling comfortable there with my family is something he probably uttered just as much as the young folk of today taking a Lebron over Michael as the GOAT, but then again I could very well have understood that being so close to the water could also been a reason for the family to remain there. Leaving the very warm water wasn’t easy, but I finally wanted to taste the breathtaking atmosphere of the living room of Rickey Paulding. I arrived at 5.00 pm an hour before the festivities were to start and right away bumped into people I have met over the last 20 years. I remember visiting the small and big Oldenburg arena and actually was there for 12 games in that span calling games. I remember seeing Rickey Paulding for the first time in his first season in Oldenburg in the 2007-2008 season. It was actually only his second game in a EWE Baskets jersey against the Deutsche Bank Skyliners of Frankfurt. He contributed 12 points in a 76-65 win. I remember interviewing him after the game. Already there his million-dollar smile stood out and he had a full head of hair. I had other nice memories there seeing many great games including the playoff series against Frankfurt in 2009 as well having a very entertaining post game interview with Jacob Burtschi in 2013. Before I entered the big arena, I bumped into ex Player Dirk Madrich and Nigel Pruitt a guy I had recently covered in Frankfurt as well as some die hard fans that I had got to know over the years. Other people there that I recognized were head coach Mauro Parra, player Robert Drijencic son of ex Oldenburg coach Mladen, ex Oldenburg coach Sebastian Machowski, ex coach Ralph Held and legendary German referee Boris Schmidt. I also purchased a Rickey Paulding book that had been published about his 15 years in Oldenburg. Then I entered the big arena and was just overwhelmed. All fans in yellow wearing their yellow Rickey Paulding tee-shirts that had been produced for the evening.

They had added extra seating so as many fans could witness Paulding’s last farewell which would be 6,500 + fans. I wasn’t sitting long at my seat in the press area when a familiar colleague popped up with ex EWE Baskets press secretary Torben Rosenbohm who had been the press speaker for many years and had been there from the start of Paulding’s career in Oldenburg in 2007. I hadn’t seen him for ages. His place for the evening wasn’t next to me, but because there wasn’t an abundance of press people there which for me was not understandable, he decided to sit next to me and we talked all night about basketball. It was a lot of fun. He also was a part of the writing team for the Paulding book. It was very bad timing that the Oldenburg football team had moved up that afternoon to the third league so much of the buzz that day was around them. The local Oldenburg press had sent seemingly everyone to cover that event. There was hardly any press from outside Oldenburg there. I think I can almost say no one. That is absolutely a shame for me. When I heard some months ago that Rickey would be having a farewell game, I didn’t hesitate. I wanted to be there and also pay my last respects to the greatest American player to ever play in the easyCredit BBL.

The schedule for the evening was split up in two parts. The first part was the farewell game and the second part was the retirement ceremony and the hoisting of his #23 up to the rafters. Nobody knew beforehand which players would accompany Rickey on the court. It was supposed to be a surprise. The arena got dark and then all the players were introduced. One can only do so much in trying to get as many players from the last 15 years to be a part of the farewell game. The most notable ex players that came to support Rickey were ex top BBL players Julius Jenkins and Rasid Mahalbasic as well as ex BBL champion with Rickey Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje who was a legend at Georgetown and played a few years in the NBA. Other memorable players present were Marko Scekic, Milan Majstorovic, Robin Smeulders, Derrick Allen, Maxime De Zeeuw, Klemen Prepelic, Philipp Schwethelm and Jannik Freese. There were also other German players present like Harris Hujic, Kevin Smit, Dominik Lockhart, Jan Niklas Wimberg and Jacob Hollatz. It wasn’t a 40 minute game, but instead it was decided to have four five minute quarters. I had also gotten word that there would be a surprise player coming only for the fourth quarter. The teams were called team yellow and team blue. Paulding would play for both teams starting with team yellow for the first two quarters and then with team blue in the last two quarters.

If anyone had expected a hard fought battle, they would be in for a big surprise. This game was all for fun. Which is understandable. Defense was non-existent. You had some dudes in their 40’s who had played for years competing against guys in their early twenties who had just come off professional seasons. Rickey scored the first basket with an acrobatic lay in. The game was very slow and looked like a lazy Sunday at a rec center with middle aged guys huffing and puffing and the young bucks having mercy for their elders. Sniper Philipp Schwethelm who had played his first BBL game at age 16 with Cologne and never turned down a rim he didn’t like got hot nailing 4 three’s as he had never been so free in his basketball life with no defenders annoying him. The EWE Baskets ex big men Scekic and Majstorovic also got into the action scoring as they were a lot slower, but still had a good touch around the rim. Team Blue led 19-16 after one quarter. The second quarter remained tight with team blue having the slim lead for the most part, but team yellow fought back and led 35-33 at the break. In this quarter, ex Mr Ballerina as I called BBL legend Derrick Allen during his playing days because of his graceful, but sometimes hectic moves in the paint got many easy baskets. The only difference of now to then was that he made easy lay ups and had no slick ballerina moves because he didn’t have to out dance his aggressive defenders. 44 year old block master Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje also wanted a taste of the scoring cake and scored 3 buckets in a row. His last one was a hard one handed dunk on transition. Rickey was a dominant scorer in his career, but also a team player and even if his shots weren’t always falling, he allowed the others to shine on the scoring end. At the break Rickey had 9 points.

Even if there was no defense, this was not a high scoring game, but nobody cared as everyone wanted to see the ex Oldenburg players and everyone was having fun. In between shots, baskets and bricks, I had great conversations with Torben Rosenbohm about Rickey Paulding. I wanted to know from him if there was another reason besides the usual bla bla why a guy like him who could of played in the NBA and Euroleague never left Oldenburg. ‘I think what was really important for Rickey was that he was never afraid to be able to send out his kids in Oldenburg. He felt like his kids would be safe here. After he felt that, he never wanted to go. He just felt at home with his family in Oldenburg’, stressed Torben Rosenbohm. In the third quarter Rickey changed his jersey from yellow to blue, but yellow controlled the game. Ex Mr BBL triple double master Rasid Mahalbasic showed his versatility getting some baskets, but also offering up a few pretty alley-op bounce passes that were accepted with crushing dunks. Haris Hujic got going keeping team yellow at a distance with 7 points at 48-41. Mahalbasic served up another beautiful alley-op bounce pass to Rickey for the slam dunk. But team blue couldn’t make serious ground as Derrick Allen closed out the third quarter with back to back lay ins and the 52-43 team Yellow advantage. In the fourth quarter came the big surprise. Suddenly there wasn’t just one Paulding on the court, but two Pauldings. Rickey was joined by his 14 year old son Trey: He is supposed to be a gifted baseball player, but he showed he had some of that jump that his daddy had on the basketball court. In the first few minutes, it looked like Lebron or Jordan were on the court. Trey Paulding was a one man wrecking crew. Every play went to him. He scored 17 unanswered points. The first basket was a Paulding to Paulding combination as Rickey made the assist. After that Trey mostly made lay in’s, but also dropped a three pointer. After missing a dunk, he was helped by Mahalbasic to dunk the ball. Team yellow scored only one basket by Scekic. With 23 seconds to play team Yellow led 61-60 against Team Blue. It was the perfect scenario for a Paulding game winner, but that didn’t happen. Team blue called a time out, but that was it.The game simply ended. The two Paulding lost 61-60, but with 23 seconds to play, how fitting to end the game with the number that will never be worn again in Oldenburg.

Now there was a long break of about 30 minutes as the court was prepared for the farewell ceremony. A talented young orchestra was brought on the court. The young men and women were incredible. They played beautifully and two songs that really stuck out were the famous Africa by Toto and the legendary Bille Jean by Michael Jackson. Now the club had something very special prepared for Rickey as they had countless short interviews prepared with old teammates and opponents as well as 6 chapters showing the career of Rickey in Oldenburg on the video cube. My conversation with Rosenbohm was never dull. He gave me some fascinating insight about the Rickey years. I wanted to know from him when it will really sink in for fans that Rickey won’t be here anymore? ‘I think that first game next season will be very difficult. Nobody can predict how it will be without him. It will be a totally new dimension to what fans are used to. Nobody has ever experienced this before. It will be a new beginning. The club will need a new identity figure, but I think it will take a while before that happens. A situation with Rickey will never come again’, warned Torben Rosenbohm. Chapter one of the video tribute to Rickey was called Love and basketball. Here one learns how Rickey and his wife Kara met and how their love was born. A lot of chapter one has sweet back round information to their times at Missouri (NCAA) and you get great insight from their mothers. Chapter two is entitled from zero to hero. Here we learn about the first few years in Oldenburg how the start wasn’t easy, but with time he adjusted and was crowned in 2009 in only his second season with the BBL title. One guy that has to be commended is fellow BBL legend Alex King who also retired this season after 20 years. I covered him at the start of his career in Frankfurt and remember him being a young kid who had a lot to learn on and off the court. An ex coach there wasn’t the best influence and he left to go to Bonn and the rest is history. Who knows where he would be today had he not made that move. I haven’t seen a German player make such an incredible development on and off the court like Alex King. He won countless titles with Alba Berlin and FC Bayern Munich and became a solid German national player. Off the court he matured and became a part of the hand in hand basketball camp and is a guy you can have a conversation with. He has become such an eloquent speaker and in his interviews for Rickey showed incredible class and sportsmanship looking back at the 2009 finals series where Bonn was up 2-1 and chocked losing 3-2. In game 5. Every Oldenburg fan remembers the last seconds in game 5. Bonn up 70-67 with less than 20 seconds to go and Jason Gardner made a drive and lay in plus foul to tie the game at 70-70. Bonn had the game in their hands. But an Oldenburg free throw and Paulding steal sealed the club’s first title. Even in 2022 despite many titles, that loss didn’t sit well with King. King answered in his interview part with real grace and very fair. ‘I was so sure we would be champions’, said Alex King. Rosenbohm remembers that game 5 as if it was yesterday. ‘Everybody could rely on Rickey. When he got hot, he felt so free. Je Kel Foster was so important that season. He was that third element that had been missing with Rickey and Jason Gardner. With Foster there, Rickey had total freedom, but he also knew that he didn’t have to do everything. Knowing that helped him do everything right’, warned Torben Rosenbohm.

Chapter 3 was called Becoming a legend. Here the video on the video cub talks about Rickey helping win the 2015 BBL cup and his legendary buzzer beater in the playoff win over ratiopharm Ulm in 2017. It wasn’t Rickey’s best weekend during the cup win, but the club had a great supporting cast. His mother in law was at a wedding in Florida and was able to catch the game and went crazy half way across the world. His family often teased him that he never really was a guy that made the last shot as he had missed some, so making that shot against Ulm was a very sweet moment in the Paulding family. Another guy that also finished his legendary career this season with Rickey and Alex King was Ulm legend Per Gunther. He was a guy that was known for making the big shots, but that game against Oldenburg had to take a back seat to Rickey. ‘You always knew you had to watch Rickey Paulding. Even if he had 0 points at half-time, he could easily have 20 points in the second half’, remembered Per Gunther. Chapter 4 was called Oh Captain My Captain. This chapter had in depth analysis by ex teammates and opponents just how special Rickey was as a captain. Just hearing the tributes that these other players gave him is refreshing and very uniquel. ‘When you passed him the ball, you knew everything would be Ok’, said ex teammate Frantz Massenat. ‘Rickey was a great guy that helped everyone’, said Mladen Drijencic. ‘He always put the team first. He never spoke much. He always went forward. You didn’t have much choice but to follow’, stated ex Ludwigsburg guard David Mccray. ‘He never screamed, but when he spoke everyone listened. He led by example’, remembered Frantz Massenat. Chater 5 was entitled Pauldingburg. This chapter was about his standing in Oldenburg and what made him get that name Pauldingburg. When you have played 15 years in one place, it is obvious that his standing there is legendary. Rickey is Oldenburg. When you think of Oldenburg you think of him. If Rickey Paulding wanted to be mayor in Oldenburg he probably would win. I remember when Boris Becker won Wimbeldon in 1985, I read somewhere that the two things that people think of when they hear the word Germany is Beer and Boris Becker. In Oldenburg it is the same. Everybody in Oldenburg knows who Rickey Paulding is no matter what. The last chapter was Farewell my friend. Here were many many short farewell statement from ex teammates and opponents that were really emotional. It was very dark in the arena, but you knew there were tears flowing. ‘He was so competitive, but so fair. He was a role model on and off the court’, stated Bastian Doreth. ‘He had the complete package. He is at the top with the best guys that I ever played with’, said Frantz Massenat.

Now it was time for the final farewell. Before Rickey took the mic, it was time for EWE Baskets Oldenburg manager Herman Schuller to leave some lasting words. Everybody wanted to know if Rickey and his family would stay or head back to the states. It was made known that Rickey will return back home to the States, but on occasion return to Germany and helpt he EWE Baskets in some capacity in the organization. That was the best news of the night. I mean come on. Rickey lived in Oldenburg for 15 years. Oldenburg will always be his second home. Rickey is a Oldenburger. Schuller left some very impactful words, but something that is nothing new for any fan in the arena. Recently former Deutsche Bank CEO Jurgen Fitschen was in Oldenburg to meet with Schuller and was introduced to Rickey. He came in and said nothing. Then he just smiled. That is what Fitschen will always remember as well as everyone else whoever met Rickey. Then came the moment that everyone had dreaded. The hoisting of the immortal #23 of the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. 30 seconds of where hundred’s of Rickey moments were dancing in the heads of everyone. I wonder how many people in that gym were wondering ‘why not one more season Rickey’. I’m sure everyone was thinking that. As #23 was hoisted up to the other 3 EWE Baskets legends jerseys including Tyrone Mccoy and Daniel Strauch the applause was immense. Rickey then held a long 16 minute speech. Early in he spoke a few minutes in German, but for the majority he spoke his mother tongue. He talked in detail about Predrag Krunic who discovered him, Mladen Drijencic who was instrumental for him in the latter part of his career and his family. It was a heartfelt speech. And then he said thank you and left the court with his family and that was it. Rickey was gone. Unfortunately I didn’t see Rickey on this night. I had said my farewell to Rickey in Frankfurt and had him sign a few things. I had brought a few more things to sign on this night, but it just wasn’t meant to be, but I’m fine with it. I witnessed an incredible evening and saw how much love there was from a player to an organization and vice versa. From one legend to another ex CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said it best this same weekend after he announced he is leaving CSKA Moscow after winning many titles there. ‘I don’t say goodbye. Id say I’ll see you around’.

It won’t be any different with Rickey. He will be back in Oldenburg again and everyone will see him around. I know I will see Rickey again some day probably in an arena in Germany. Thank you Rickey for enriching my German basketball experience the last 15 years. Rickey you will never be forgotten.

Julius Jenkins (187-PG-1981, college: Georgia South) is a former professional player that had a 16 year career. He played in Belgium and Montenegro, but most of his career in Germany where he played 14 seasons for teams like Nurnberg, Alba Berlin, Brose Bamberg, EWE Baskets and Jena. In Germany he was a4 time BBL allstar and won 3 cups with 3 different teams, He also won 2 titles in Montenegro. He played college ball at Georgia Southern (NCAA). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his memories of Rickey Paulding who was his teammate for 3 years in Oldenburg.

Thanks Julius for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is life treating you?

I’m in Atlanta, Georgia and am an account manager. I have been doing this for 14 months.

You retired in 2019 at the age of 38. Do you feel like you could of physically played a few more years. In that time 3 BBL legends with you, Derrick Allen and Immanuel Mcelroy all seemed to retire.

I definitely feel like I could of played a few more years. There were a few perspectives I had about teams and Gm’s. But I had a great career. I have no regrets.

Are you still connected to basketball in some way?

I still talk to my guys and friends in the NBA. I know a lot of AAU guys in Atlanta. I think the time will come when I could go into coaching. But I needed a break from basketball.

Rickey Paulding is playing his farewell game on June 4. What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

Legend especially in Oldenburg. They call it Pauldingburg. It is just amazing everything that he accomplished there. He is an amazing person, husband, father and great friend.

What was your first impression when you met him? Was his smile and personality instantly infectious?

We were with the same agent so I knew who he was. I always knew that it would be a battle when I would go against him. He was a beast and I always knew that I couldn’t take it easy against him. I’m really glad that we could play together for 3 years. I always knew it would be a battle. We have great respect for each other.

You played three seasons with him. At that time you and him belonged to the top 5 players in a league. What did you always appreciate most about his game?

I always appreciated his professionalism, the way he approached the game and his knowledge. He always treated everyone with respect and was a calm spirit.

In your three seasons he had so many great games. Was the cup weekend in Oldenburg in 2015 your most memorable time with him?

The cup weekend was one of the most memorable times with him. I can’t recall all the great games. We played so much tag team. We would take turns having great games. It was really amazing what he could do on the court. He called me microwave. He would say let’s go microwave. It was fun times.

What is your fondest moment with him on and off the court that you will never forget?

The family and holiday time. I remember coming together and having cook outs and watching the NFL and NBA. This were the best times away from the game and seeing the kids grow.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

I would hope that somebody will come along like him and have a huge impact on a team for a long time and sustain the level that he had. But to do that is really tough. I had a great career, but I changed teams quite a few times. It is just really hard staying with one team. There will never be another Rickey Paulding.

Who won a one on one then in practice?

We never played 1-1 after practice. But in practice we went against each other. He got some and I got some. I don’t know who won more though. We always battled each other and pushed each other to get better.

Please leave some closing words for Rickey Paulding.

It was a real pleasure seeing your career and the impact that you had in Oldenburg and the Euro sports world. It is amazing to see everything that you accomplished. It inspires me to keep doing good in my daily life. To play that long for one club is unheard of. Now I wish you and your family all the best and that you will excel at everything you do now.

Maik Habelt has been connected to the EWE Baskets Oldenburg for 20 years. He has worked as a scouter for the easyCredit BBL team and also for their Pro B farm team. He has seen so many EWE Baskets games in his life and observed Rickey Paulding (196-SF-1982, college: Missouri) every weekend for the last 15 years. He shared his memories about Rickey Paulding

Thanks Maik for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I’m currently enjoying the summer break and following the BBL Playoffs . After my break, I want to go back to basketball, which is why I’m very happy to be working as a scouter again.

Talk a little about your history with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. When did you start to follow the team and you also worked for the farm team

My first contact was in 2002 when I went to a home game and since then I have fallen in love with the sport and this club. 2 years later there was the opportunity to start there as a scouter and to help out with the farm team. There, Thomas Glasauer and later Mladen Drijenic brought me closer to the team. I accompanied the team at away games and took on more and more responsibility at home games. It was an incredible time with many great stories. I’ve had the privilege of meeting great people on and off the court. I was allowed to celebrate the climb to the Pro B and two championships. And I also got the chance to be part of the German national A2 team and the U18s and U16s.

As a fan who has worked with the EWE Baskets Organization, how tough was this season? How grateful are the fans for all the hard work and effort with Ingo Freyer?

It wasn’t an easy season. Especially considering it was Rickey Paulding‘s final season. Why now, why in Rickey’s last year. Mladen tried a lot but couldn’t bring success anymore. Ingo tried to make things very easy and got the players on his side. I think with a bit of luck he would have gotten us into the playoffs as well.

5 months ago basketball life in Oldenburg looked very sad. Now you have super head coach Pedro Calles. How positive does the future of the EWE Baskets Oldenburg look now?

Pedro is rightly one of the best coaches in the BBL. I got to know him in Vechta and he has very clear ideas about basketball. Right now, in year one after Paulding, he can usher in a new era.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

His smile and coolness. He is always super friendly and polite when you meet him.

What was your first impression when you saw him on the court?

The boy can jump.

How important has Rickey Paulding been for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg? Where would they be without him?

That’s a very difficult question. All I know is that Rickey has played a big part in Oldenburg developing into a top 5 location over the past 20 years. He was important for the bond between fans and club. He showed some players that you can build something long-term in Oldenburg. No matter where you hear basketball and Oldenburg, you immediately think of Rickey Paulding.

The guy made so many incredible buzzer beaters especially against ratiopharm Ulm. What is your fondest moment with him on the court?


Final 2009 in game 4 against Bonn. He made this game. Brought the series back to Oldenburg and with it the chance for the championship.

Talk a little about his connection to the fans. I’m sure that you have a special story with him?

He was the fan favorite in Oldenburg, although that always made him uncomfortable. But at his last home game against Wuerzburg, he took his time and fulfilled every fan’s autograph request. He wanted to give something back to the fans and found it a great honor.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

He showed that something like this is possible. Rickey shaped the league in his own way. He was one of the most popular players in the league. He didn’t want to be a big star, he just wanted to play basketball and do his best.

Closing words for Rickey.

For me it was the greatest honor to meet Rickey. He was a role model for all of us. He made Baskets Oldenburg what it is today. No matter where you met him, whether in the EWE Arena or at his son’s games in the Haarenuferhalle, he was always polite and always smiling. Thanks Rickey

Jimmy McKinney (192-G-1983, college: Missouri) is a retired basketball player that had a 10 year professional career in Germany from 2006-2016. He played a total of 285 games for teams like the Fraport Skyliners, Wurzburg, Tuebingen and the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He began his basketball career at Vashon High School and then played at the University of Missouri (NCAA) from 2002-2006 playing a total of 123 NCAA games. He was teammates with Rickey Paulding at Missouri from 2002-2004. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his memories of his good friend Rickey Paulding.

Jimmy how have you been? Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I’m in St Louis, Missouri. Everything is good. I’m a high school basketball coach at Kirkwood high school.

You retired in 2016. I always hoped that you would of played longer. Could your body still have let you played a few more years?

Body wise yes but not mind wise. I just felt that at that time I couldn’t do it on the court the way I was accustomed to. I knew my time had passed by and I didn’t want to cheat the game and let it be a money thing. You should be playing the game for the love of it. When I lost it, I knew it was time to go.

Are you still connected to basketball in other ways besides being ahigh school coach?

Yes I am with my sons. I have an 18 year old who is more connected to football while my 13 year old is more connected to basketball.

Rickey Paulding is playing his farewell game on June 4. What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

A legend. He is a good friend of mine and I respect him a lot.

What was your first impression when you met him? Was his smile and personality instantly infectious already there at Missouri in the two years where you were teammates?

The first time I met him was on the campus of Missouri when I came in as a freshman. I remember that I was very small when I came to Missouri. I was something like 180 pounds. I talked to him about the college life. I wasn’t afraid, but I was weary of not being strong enough. He was very understanding and told me you will get stronger and that everything will be all right. I will never forget that.

What was your first impression when you saw him on the court? What was the first thing that really stuck out?

How he competed and what it took to win. He was the best offensive player, but also the best defensive player on the team. He always guarded the other teams best player. That really opened my eyes. He was an incredible athlete and was always number one in the sprints. But even more he was a great person that took me under his wing.

You played two seasons with him at the University of Missouri from 2002-2004. What was your fondest moment on the court with him?

It was my freshman year when we played Marquette and Dwayne Wade. He had something like 36 points. He only had something like one mistake in the game. I remember the game was on the line and I was open, but opted to take the last shot and missed. The game went into overtime. This is one of those games that I will never forget. It was on national tv and he hit 36 on Dwade.

If someone had told you in 2004 that he would have a professional career until 2022 what would you have thought? Was his work ethic already very good in school?

I would of definitely believed it. Especially with the way he took care of his body and how his conditioning was. He had a God’s gift and he wanted Rickey to be the kind of player that he would be.

Do you think your record against him in the BBL was above or below 500?

It is below 500.

That is correct.Your record against Jimmy was 6-11 not including cup games. What was it like playing against your ex teammate and friend?

It was always tough playing against him. He was the focal point and they always had a good team around him. It was bitter sweet. On one hand I was playing against a friend, but at the same time, I wanted to win. But I was always happy to see him do great things. But I always wanted to beat him.

Was there a specific game that you will never forget?

The first time we played against each other in Frankfurt.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

I don’t think it will ever happen again. It is like if someone would beat Steph Curry’s 3 point shooting records. I think that if someone could do it then Quantez Robertson. I don’t know if he can. He is close though. He needs 2-3 more years.

Please leave some closing words for Rickey Paulding.

I want to thank him for being a friend and being a positive role model. I want to thank him for taking a kid from St Louis and taking him under his wing and showing me the ropes. I also want to thank him for not cheating the game and playing it the right way at a high level. I also want applaud him and his family for opening their arms and accepting me. If they ever need anything, I will lay down the red carpet. I’m really proud of you and your a great role model and father. Now it’s time for your second life.

Tags : JIMMY MCKINNEY, TELEKOM BASKETS BONN, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Keith Hornsby (192-SG-1992, college: LSU) is a 30 year old 193cm shooting guard from Mouth Of Wilson, Virginia that is playing his sixth professional season with Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). Last season he played with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg averaging 14.4ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT-1 (50.9%), FT: 90.3%; BBL Cup: 2 games: 11.5ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.0apg. In the 2019-2020 season he played with Polski Cukier Torun (Poland-EBL) playing 19 games averaging 15.1ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 42.2%, FT: 75.7%. He played his first 3 professional seasons with the Texas Legends (D-League) playing 116 games and averaging 4.5ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.0apg in his first season, 10.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 78.3% in his second season and 12.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT-2 (49.1%), FT: 84.1% in his final season. He began his basketball career with Oak Hill Academy. He then split time with 2 schools with the University of North Carolina – Asheville (NCAA) and : Louisiana State University (NCAA) playing a total of 116 NCAA games. His best season with the: University of North Carolina – Asheville (NCAA) was his last season where he averaged: 15.0ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.1apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 92.5%. He put up very consistent stats with Louisiana State University (NCAA) in both years averaging 13.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 44.9%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 78.4% and in his senior year averaging 13.1ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.6apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 56.8%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 81.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about the incredible career of Rickey Paulding.

Thanks Keith for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

Hey Miles. I’m currently in Pau, France right now preparing to play the second game of quarterfinals. We lost the first game at home two days ago so our back is against the wall today. Our roster has some serious injury depletion, but we’ll still come out and compete hard of course.

Your playing this season with Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) and have reached the playoffs. Your having another great season. How would you compare the France Pro A with the easyCredit BBL? Which league would you say is the skill level better?

I would say the French league is a bit tougher. It’s more physical and athletic from what I’ve experienced, although the BBL might take the cake in the basketball IQ department. They’re similar levels, and I do think if I’d played last year in the BBL under normal circumstances with full fans and heightened emotional environments, the level of play may have been naturally higher.

Your once again shooting out the lights. Did some of your incredible accuracy from last season carry over to this season?

Haha I’d hope so. I never go into a season with the die hard goal of shooting an incredible percentage. It’s just kind of happened. I’ll say this year it’s more impressive , because many of my shots have been more difficult. A lot more pin downs and off the dribble threes as opposed to more catch and shoots last year in Oldenburg. I also adore the Spalding basketball the French league plays with much like the BBL.

Rickey Paulding is playing his farewell game on June 4. What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

Legend and genetic specimen! Haha Although Rickey would never like to be called a legend or anything so boast worthy becuase he’s so unbelievably humble.

Have you ever seen a player who has been able to play so well at a high level at his age?

No. Not even close. He turned 38 last season when I was with him and was doing things on the court that players 10-15 years younger couldn’t do. That’s why I call him a genetic specimen. Guys built like Rickey don’t come around too often.

What was your first impression when you met him? Was his smile and personality instantly infectious?

My first impression was that he was soft spoken and quiet. He can obviously be vocal, but I wouldn’t call him an extrovert who wears his emotions on his sleeve. He’s a kind soul, but on the court he has a killer instinct that’s engrained deep within him. Oh and his smile. Yes, it’s infectious. When Rickey laughs, it’s contagious.

What was your first impression when you saw him on the court? What was the first thing that really stuck out?

My first impression was that he has an incredible ability for making difficult shots. I suppose that comes with almost two decades of professional experience. I’d be matched up with him many times in practice , and I’d know exactly what he was about to do on offense, and he’d still find a way to score on me. I would contest the hell out of him, and it would still go in many times. He’d go down the court grinning at times, and me (in frustration) couldn’t help but do the same. Guarding him made me a stronger defender. He was also so nice. If he fouled you in practice he’d apologize if it seemed too rough

You played a whole season with him. Is there anything specific that you feel you were able to take from his presence on the court?

It was a successful season with him. One thing I can take away from him is the influence he can have on you during games and he wouldn’t even know it. There’d be times I’d be dead tired during games, and I’d glance at Rickey and see him still going full tilt 100%. I’d be thinking ‘if Rickey can find the energy right now , then I have no business succumbing to fatigue and being tired’

In your season he had so many great games. For instance exploding for 36 points in a loss against Crailsheim or hitting Bamberg and Munich for 36 points. What game will you most remember from him?

That Crailsheim game was unreal. We ended up losing, but we may have lost by 40 if Rickey wasn’t playing at god-like levels. Everything he threw up seemed to go in.

What is your fondest moment with him on and off the court that you will never forget?

His buzzer beater in Game 2 of the playoffs last year against Ulm was great. We all ran up to him and gave him the normal ‘buzzer beater’ treatment. Rickey is one of those guys where when he does great things, you can’t help but want to share the moment with him and make it even better.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

I think Rickey is one of a kind. A one and done. There will never be another American player like Rickey in the BBL. To have such loyalty to one club for fifteen seasons is incredible unique and I don’t see that happening again. Never say never of course, but the chances are slim. Maybe we’re experiencing the start of the next Rickey right now in the BBL and we just don’t know it yet

Please leave some closing words for Rickey Paulding.

He knows who the real Tiger are. Them LSU Tigahhs!!! Geaux Tigers baby!!

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber has been a basketball journalist and play by play commentator for nearly 20 years covering basketball in Germany. He began his career in Frankfurt for AFN (American Forces Network) and in the 2003-2004 season began to cover the Frankfurt Skyliners. He began his play by play career in the 2004-2005 season calling games for the Skyliners BBL team. He recently finished his 18th year calling games in some kind of a capacity for the organization and others. He began writing for eurobasket.com in 2008 and started to write for germanhoops.com in 2009. He has interviewed 1600 + players in his long career and has interviewed Rickey Paulding (196-SF-1982, college: Missouri) on occasion. A detailed chapter about Rickey Paulding will be in his upcoming book ‘The Real Deal’ set for release in the autumn of 2022. He also wanted to pay his respects and looked back on his memories of Rickey Paulding.

Rickey Paulding is playing his farewell game on June 4. What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

Ageless, competitor, BBL legend. There will never be an American like him again in the easyCredit BBL. It isn’t possible. An American with a character like his where he has family and Oldenburg before anything else happens once in 100 years if that. It just isn’t possible for an American to stay in one place for a long time.

Have you ever seen a player who has been able to play so well at a high level at his age?

There have been guys in the BBL in the past like Derrick Allen and Chris Ensminger who were able to play to 40 and still play at a high level. But stat wise I think Rickey could of continued playing and still been consistent. He may not have been on the same page defensively, but offensively could of still made an impact and played 2-3 more years.

What was your first encounter with Rickey Paulding?

I remember my first encounter with Ricky Paulding was in the 2007-2008 season. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners were playing a game in Oldenburg and after the game it was the perfect opportunity to interview him. It was our first interview and as I often did, I took a photo with him and I will never forget that huge smile that he had. It was also a photo that would be discussed in one of our interviews in 2015. There have been times in the last 15 years in loses against Frankfurt where he wasn’t his usual friendly self, but had that post game loss face on, but that is understandable. He is a big competitor that can’t just digest a loss after 10 minutes. As soon as he was home again and saw his small children, the loss was surely forgotten. I only interviewed him a few times for Eurobasket/German Hoops, but mostly would talk to him after games for my game articles.

How do you remember interviews with him?

I always enjoyed how he told it the way it was. There was no bla bla when we talked, but just honest facts about that game and I really respected him for that. He was another player that not only I, but many other fans in the easyCredit BBL would come to watch. A guy where any fan would mark their calendar when he was playing against their team. There has to be a reason why he was chosen as the BBL’s most likeable player three years in a row.

Favorite head to head battles with a player?

Without a doubt his friend Jimmy Mckinney. Both had been teammates at Missouri (NCAA). They always had intense battles on the court. After the game they were joking around like friends.

Please tell a special story that you had with him on the court? There was that story about copying a move and then doing it.

My nicest memory with him was in 2015 when I visited the BBL top 4 cup final in Oldenburg. I had made the trip with the Sport Eagle TV team from Munich who were filming interviews. This was the magical weekend run where the EWE Baskets Oldenburg won the cup over Brose Bamberg. I remember watching how Paulding and Co celebrated and even peeked into the dressing room after the win and saw what partying was really like Oldenburg style. My favorite interview with Paulding is what I did in front of the camera with Sport Eagle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXsuIZHuUPs). I will always enjoy my last 2 questions. First I asked him if he and Julius Jenkins ever look at old pictures because both started to sport the bald heads. Paulding commented saying he saw that picture from our first interview in 2007 on social media where he had a full head of hair. My last question was who would win a one on one not inside on the court, but outside where weather can always be a nasty obstacle him or his good friend Jimmy Mckinney. He was very fair and gave it to Mckinney. I thought that was another pure example of how charming and humble he was.

Did you ever have an embarrassing moment with him?

Yes I did and I still cringe to this day when I think of it. I mean if it was his wife or mother waking him up is normal, but me? Damm that was just cruel from me. I wanted to interview him again after a long time. It was during the exciting playoff series against medi Bayreuth in May 2017. I remember calling him in the morning in Bayreuth and waking him up. I think that was about as bad timing as I have ever had. We didn’t do it and I let him continue sleeping.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

Rickey Paulding as of now is the greatest American that ever played in the easyCredit BBL. He played 15 years for one team which is just unheard of. No disrespect to Americans, but it’s not uncommon to see these guys jumping from country to country every season taking the best contract available. I mean it’s a normal thing. Doing what’s best for my family a phrase I have heard hundreds of times in interviews. But not only his longevity and faithfulness to the EWE Baskets is incredible, but also his consistency on the court. There aren’t many guys that have put up the kind of stats that he has.

Please leave some closing words for Rickey Paulding.

Thanks Rickey for sticking around in the easyCredit BBL for 15 years when you knew you could of landed on a Euroleague team after the BBL title in 2009. You would of played at a higher level and made so much more money, but instead you did what was best in your heart. Seeing you play every season was an enrichment for every basketball fan in Germany. I always enjoyed watching you play. You are in my top 5 of favorite players in the BBL all-time. You will be missed on the court. I wish you all the best in your life after basketball.

Marco Buljevic (197-SG-1987) is a 35 year old 197cm shooting guard that recently finished his 18th professional season and first with the EN Baskets Schwelm. He began his career in Ehingen and played 4 years in the easyCredit BBL from 2006-2010 amassing 65 games with Giessen and the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. He then played 6 years in the second division Pro A with the ETB Wohnbau Baskets playing 182 games and averaged in double figures scoring in 5 of those 6 seasons. He then played the last 6 years in the Pro B with teams Schalke, Bochum and Schwelm totaling 84 games. He shared the court with Rickey Paulding form 2008-2010 and shares his memories.

Thanks Marco for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I’m in Greece on vacation with my wife and two sons. Lately I’ve been watching lots of basketball, NBA and Euroleague. I keep telling myself I need more sleep. Never works. Games are just too damn good.

You just finished your 18th professional season with the EN Baskets Schwelm. How do you feel? Will you continue next season?

Now that you say 18 seasons I definitely feel like I’m close or maybe even at the finish line. I feel fine. Will I continue? No clue right now.

Has some of that longevity that Rickey Paulding has shown rubbed off on you that has allowed you to play so long?

What’s allowed me to stay around is just not being able to live without basketball so far.

After your last season in the BBL in 2010, you played 6 Pro A seasons and 6 Pro B seasons. Why do you feel couldn’t you have a BBL career like others?

After my fourth BBL season where I was on a Euroleague team but didn’t get to play a lot, I wanted to be on the floor 35 minutes plus. I was able to get that in the Pro A. I enjoyed it, found a home, went to university, got married and became a two time father. I simply did not want to move around anymore. For the past five years I’ve been only a part-time basketball player as I’v received an offer for an exciting full-time job in sports business in 2017.However, had another promising BBL situation occurred, I would have considered it for sure. But it never came, so part of the truth as well is that I just must not have been quite good enough for a long BBL career which is ok. I’m happy with how life went.

Rickey Paulding is playing his farewell game on June 4. What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

Mayor of Oldenburg.

Have you ever seen a player who has been able to play so well at a high level at his age?

My Dad in Tennis, no joke. But Rickey is a freak, hats off to him.

What was your first impression when you met him? Was his smile and personality instantly infectious?

For sure, it was. Everyone will tell you that. I’ll tell you how nice and friendly he is: Day 1 my first year in Oldenburg, Coach Krunic has me playing 1on1 full court with him. Rickey is making sure I don’t look bad so I can make a good impression and feel good after just getting there.

You played two seasons with him. Is there anything specific that you feel you were able to take from his presence on the court?

Being pretty friendly with referees. I liked his demeanor with them.

In your two seasons he had so many great games. I can imagine his great play in the Bonn series that allowed you to win the BBL title is something that will always remain in your memories or was there one other particular game?

Yes, he was great in that finals series against Bonn, won MVP. But I don’t have a particular game in mind from those years. He made sure others got theirs too.

What is your fondest moment with him on and off the court that you will never forget?

2009, Slovenian Mountains (Rogla), pre-season, we’re in the cold tub post practice. I asked him about opportunities he had before extending his contract with Oldenburg. After learning what and who he turned down, I thought he’s crazy. But that’s what makes him special. And I can understand now as a father much better how valuable and beautiful a stable environment is.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

I believe he showed how beautiful loyalty to a place can be in a world where we often seem to feel like another place might be better. Jarvis Waker, Tez Robertson come to mind. But I believe Rickey would list above them. I think I might be old and grey before we see this again.

Please leave some closing words for Rickey Paulding.


Rickey, you had an amazing career.It was an honor to be a witness for two seasons, especially in 2009, when that most special trophy was lifted. All the best to you and your family!