Rayshaun Hammonds (206-C-1998, college: Georgia) is a 24 year old 206cm center that is playing his third professional season and first in Germany with BG Goettingen averaging 9,3ppg, 5,1rpg, 1,2apg and 1,2spg. He has scored in double figures in 5 games including 23 points against Bamberg and 18 against Rostock. Last season he played with VEF Riga (Latvia-LBL) averaging 11.1ppg, Reb-4 (6.1rpg), 1.1apg, FGP: 62.1%, FT: 68.0%; and in the BCL averaged 9.4ppg, 2.2rpg, FGP: 71.4%, FT: 71.4%; and in the EstLatBL averaged 10.5ppg, 7.0rpg, FGP: 62.1%, 3PT: 21.1%, FT: 74.2%. As a rookie he played with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (NBA G League) averaging 6.1ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 80.0%. He began his professional career with Norcross High School and then played at the University of Georgia (NCAA) averaging 12.9ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 65.2% as a senior. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Rayshaun for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?
I’m in Germany now and basketball life is treating me good at the moment.
Congrats on signing with German easyCredit BBl team BG Goettingen. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it’s basketball?
Thanks and I heard Germany is a good and fun country. The basketball in Germany is good competition.
How did the talks go with coach Roel Moers? He appreciates your inside out game. What did you like from his basketball philosophy?
The talk with coach went very good we had a great conversation and yes he appreciates my inside and outside game. He played professional basketball so his basketball philosophy is very high.
The easyCredit BBL is a top 5 league in Europe.How confident are you that your game will translate over from Latvia where you had a decent first season overseas?
I’m very confident in my game to translate over in this league.
Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 206cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
I would compare it to a Lamar Odom and a Chris Bosh.
Is it fair to say that you are a modern day forward? Would you call your inside or outside game more defined?
Yes I would say that because I can guard 1 thru the 5, shoot the ball very well and handle the ball. I would call my game both.
You can score and rebound, but what other strengths does your game incorporate?
Being able to guard every position and being consistent.
One thing that really stands out for me is your efficiency. It really improved last season. Your doing more in your minutes than what you did in the NCAA. How do you explain that?
Just slowing the game down more when I play and picking my spot where I want to score at on the court.
Would it be fair to say that your defense is still developing and your raw? What kind of defender are you now and what kind of defender do you want to become?
Yes I would say that. I’m better defender now because this summer that one was my mean focus was to get better at that and I want be a lock down defender.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so that you can continue to improve your game?
I really working on everything in my game.
Last season you played VEF Riga (Latvia-LBL) winning 2 titles. There are guys that play 10+ seasons and never win a chip. How special was last season for you?
That was very special because it was my first year and I see how it feel to win 2 titles.
The finals against Ventspils was very exciting. You had a monster 25/10 game in game 3 giving your team the 2-1 series lead. What will you always remember from this game?
Yes I always remember that game because we needed that win and that series.
What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas in Latvia where you knew that you were very far away from home?
I just had to embrace it and be ready for it and being far home didn’t bother me at all.
In the summer of 2021 you played NBA Summer League with the Toronto Raptors where you were teammates with Freddie Gillespie who you will face this season in the BBL. When you see a guy like that who played in the NBA and yourself, is there so much missing from your game to reach that level?
It’s just timing and the right opportunity with the right time.
You began your rookie season with the Indiana Pacers. What kind of experience was that and what do you remember their coaching staff giving you on advice besides the usual blab la like keep working hard?
That experience was fun because I learn so much every guy on that time and saw how it was to be a good pro.
You played your rookie season in the G-League averaging 6/4 in 11 minutes and being pretty efficient again. What do you believe did you learn most from this experience?
Just work hard and stay locked in with the game.
How difficult was it playing only 11 minutes per game? Did you feel like you were only a body to fill the roster? Were NBA fringe guys treated differently than you?
The minutes that was given to me I just work with them.
What was the best example that you saw in the G-League where the NBA is always a business first?
There where a lot of good examples I saw form the g league and I do and don’t believe the nba is a business first.
You played at Georgia (NCAA) from 2017-2020. In your freshman year you played Kentucky for the first time losing 66-61 and had 12 points and held your own against future NBA guys like Knox, Diallo, Washington and Gilgeous-Alexander. What do you remember from that game and what Wild Cat stood out the most?
That game was very fun and it was very loud in the arena and remember I played against all them in high school so it was just another game for me.
You had many great games at Georgia but was your 31 points in the win over Illinois State one of your most fondest?
Yea that was game was fun because I was just playing my game.
How did head coach Mark Fox groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?
Just showed me how be a man and a professional.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Yante Maten?
That would be a good game in I would say me.
Who was the toughest guy besides your brother that you have faced on the court that reached the NBA?
Miles Bridges
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Dalvin White, Nick Claxton, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Riley, Ron Curry
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?
Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, joe Johnson, Paul George, Michael Jordan
Where do you rank Steph Curry now in the best point guards of all-time?
He is top 5
What is your opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?
I would say Lebron James
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?
Yea I did and they should never made the sequel.
Thanks Rayshaun for the chat.
German Hoops 