Macio Teague (193-SG-1997, college: Baylor) is a 25 year old 193cm guard from Cincinnati, Ohio who is playing hi second professional season and first overseas in Germany with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Last season as a rookie he played with the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League) averaging 11.9ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 25.3%, FT: 89.7%. he began his basketball career at Walnut Hills High School averaging 26.4ppg, 7.5rpg; and broke the high school single game scoring record with a 51-point game. He then played at the University Od North Carolina-Ashville from 2016-2018 averaging 15.4ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.8%, 3PT: 45.5%, FT: 88.6% and 16.7ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.5apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 42.4%, FT: 87.1%. He then played Baylor University (NCAA) from 2019-2021 winning the NCAA title in 2021 averaging 13.6ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.9apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.9%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 82.2% and as a senior averaged 15.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 82.7%. He also played nBA Summer League with the Utah Jazz Blue (NBA Summer League in Salt Lake City) averaging 15.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 37.1%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 88.9% and at the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas) averaging 10.4ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 71.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a easyCredit BBL game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Foto credit EWE Baskets

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

I’m currently in Germany. Basketball life is treating me well. I’m trying to get 1% better each day.

Your playing your first season overseas in Germany with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. What kind of experience has it been playing in the BBL and what have you enjoyed most about playing for the EWE Baskets?

It has been a good experience. I think the best thing about overseas basketball is how the game is very team orientated. I’m really enjoying my time in Oldenburg.

Your averaging the least amount of minutes in your career with 19 currently averaging 7/3/1. What has been the biggest adjustment for you coming from the States to Germany?

The playing style has been the biggest adjustment so far. The game is more physical, is refed differently and the strategies are also different.

How vital has a guy like Max Di Leo been in practice for you getting better suited to the pace? He is a very annoying defender?

Max has been very important for the team success. He is a great player that is doing great things to help the team and me.

Have you met EWE Baskets legend Ricky Paulding? What kind of an impression has he left on you?

I have never met him. He seemed to have been a great player. He has a mural in the down town area which is cool. He seems to be a very prominent figure in Oldenburg.

What has it been working together with Bryce Taylor? He is a guy that played at the high levels overseas and last year was with the Indiana Pacers. What kind of interaction have you had?

I have had great interactions with Bryce. He has a phenomenal basketball mind. He has played at so many high levels and been in the NBA. His insight about the game is tremendous.

How much of a priority is it for you to get a more consistent three pointer? For some reasons your percentages have dropped since North Carolina Ashville.

It isn’t necessarily a priority of mine. I just go out and play and try to become 1% better each day.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to climb the basketball ladder with your game?

I’m working on becoming more vocal and becoming a better leader.

You played your rookie season with the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League) averaging 11.9ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 25.3%, FT: 89.7%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie in the NBA/G-League?

I didn’t really have a wake up call. Everything was very different in the G-League. It was just different to what I had been used to.

You had a solid G-League season, but probably not good enough to warrant a NBA call up. What were your highs in the season and how did your game grow from your NCAA senior year?

I think that I grew a lot in my rookie season. Being able to play with different combinations of skilled players and learning different concepts of the game was important.

How excited are you to battle your ex G-League teammate Derrick Alston JR this season? I’m sure it doesn’t surprise you he is leading the BBL in scoring? Do you believe that one of you too could be in the NBA in a few years?

Maybe so but I think he will be in the NBA next season. He is really talented and the typical type of wing the NBA is looking for.

After winning the 2021 NCAA tournament, I would of thought that all 3 Davion Mitchell, Jared Butler and you would get drafted. But your name wasn’t called. How quickly were you able to come to terms with that mentally?

It is the same way that I have to cope with other things. I had a call from the Utah Jazz and was able to play NBA Summer League and was invited to training camp. I just have to keep working

How much of a role model is ex Baylor (NCAA) player Ishmail Wainwright? He began in the second division in Germany and with in a few years was in the NBA. What do you appreciate most about his story?

I appreciated that he played football in school and then went back to basketball. I felt that was really unique. He is a very talented player. He came to Baylor when I was there. I had a few interactions with him. He is a really nice guy. I like him as a person.

You began your basketball career the University of North Carolina-Ashville. You put up very good stats in your 2 years there. Did you want more of a challenge after 2 years? Is that why you left for Baylor?

My coach there left to take a better paying job. I felt like I had the opportunity to transfer to a high major school and Baylor happened to be that school.

I can imagine you will never forget playing against Longwood. You had their number every game.

I don’t remember too much except that I had some really good games against them. I do remember having made 6 three’s at half-time.

You won the 2021 NCAA title with Baylor. How tough and how can one rate the title winning it during Covid? What do you remember being the biggest challenge?

It might have been a challenge but I honestly felt like we had a really good team. I thought it was really hard to lose. We really played defense. Even when we didn’t play particular well, we could still score 70 points. When we played really well, teams had no chance against us.

You scored 35 points against Texas Tech and had a school record 10 three’s. Did you have that incredible after that first made three where you knew it would be a great night?

I made my first 3 in the corner and my second one on the left wing. Then I didn’t take another three for something like 7 minutes. Then I made a deep three from the top of the key. Then I had an airball despite being fouled. I was still 3/3 at half-time. Then I made 2 more and I felt like it could be a good night. Then a graduate student kept yelling use it or lose. From then on I just kept shooting and my teammates kept finding me.

Baylor had an incredible NCAA run beating Gonzaga. What do you feel was the biggest hurdle during the run that the team was able to get by?

We began the run having Hartford under control. We then got by Wisconsin despite it not being pretty. The hardest hurdle was Villanova. We only had 20 points at the half. Coach told us we had to get stops. As soon as we did that we would blow them out. Mitchell was cooking and Harper came alive somewhat. Arkansas played fast like us, but their defense wasn’t as good as ours. We had a blow out in the semi’s and in the final it was lights out against Gonzaga.

In the NCAA final, you had to battle against Jalen Suggs. What do remember you remember from his game?

I remember him being a real good passer who could go downhill when he was aggressive and was a capable three point shooter. He also had the ability to get his team going on transition.

How did head coach Scott Drew groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I remember having an ok practice and our associate coach come up to me and say ‘Are you the best player’? and continued saying ‘The coach and best player can’t ever have bad practices’. ‘Have you ever seen him have a bad day’? ‘As the best player you can’t have a bad day’. That stuck with me. I never saw him have a bad day. He was never grumpy and never allowed anything off the court affect him as a coach on the court. He was a stand up guy.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Davion Mitchell?

It really depended where we played. In the post I would win and on the perimeter he would win.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

Cade Cunningham

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My Baylor teammates

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

I don’t like to rank players, because it takes away from how much they contribute to the game.

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

I never saw Jordan play. Lebron has impacted the game in so many ways. I can’t answer that.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

Yes they should of. I took the family DVD of Coming To America on a plane 10 years ago and forgot it. My family is still mad about it and let me know about it every year.

Thanks Macio for the chat.

Tags : MACIO TEAGUE, EWE BASKETS OLDENBURG, GERMAN BASKETBALL