Nicolas Buchholz (200-PG-2001) is a 21 year old 200cm guard playing his second season with the Dragons Rhondorf currently averaging 13,0ppg, 2,0rpg and 2,0apg.Last season he averaged 17.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 81.8%. He began his basketball career with the Rostock Seawolves playing 9 Pro A games and was a 2019 NBBL allstar. He spoke to germanhoops about basketball before the start of the 2022-2023 season.

Welcome back to the Dragons Rhondorf. Was the decision to return difficult? You must have had offers from Pro A teams?

Not really, I had very good talks with Coach Julius about a second season here in Rhoendorf and I’m glad everything worked out to make another big step in the right direction.

Was knowing having a big role and being a big scoring option with the Dragons was more important than going up a level this season and having possibly less minutes?

It was not really about that, I think in every other team I would have less minutes than the past season. Dragons Rhoendorf was the best overall option at the end.

Some guys would of gone to the Pro A after the season you had with Rhondorf. How confident are you that this season will be bigger for you in terms of stats and winning?

We have a great team with good personalities and even better talent and hunger to get ourselves in the best position possible this season.

How vital was returning and playing for Julius Thomas? How do you feel did your game grow under him last season?

Julius had a very big impact from when I came here until now, basically in every aspect and that’s a big part of why I’m staying for another year. He’s a great coach who knows what I need to get to the next level.

The team had some leader types last season with Paul Albrecht and Viktor Frankl-Maus. How important was last season for your leadership skills to grow being able to watch them?

It was very important, Pauli has great leadership and I was glad to watch him past year, plus I’m happy that he stayed too.

How important is a guy like Paul Albrecht on and off the court? What have you enjoyed most about his presence?

Very important to the whole team, he has great leadership & great skills. He’s also a guy with whom you can chill off the court, it is pretty enjoyable, we have had great times so far.

This years team looks very competitive. Does it look even stronger on paper than last year?

Our team is pretty good, definitely more experienced than last year. We will see in season how we will perform compared to last year.

What was it like playing with the Senegal sensation Ousmane Ndiaje? What is the most incredible thing you saw him do on the court?

Never played with someone that tall with that kind of playing style, but I wouldn’t say it’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever saw.

He has popped up on some 2023 NBA Mock Drafts. Do you feel like he will get lucky?

Maybe, I would be very happy for him, we’ll see how it works out.

Let’s talk a little about your game. You’re a 201cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player as well as a German BBL player who would best fit the bill?

I don’t compare myself to any NBA or BBL player.

Talk a little about how you would describe yourself as a defender today and what type of defender you want to become in the next years?

Had a hard time last year as a defender, but it’s going be better for the upcoming one.
Looking forward to be a better 1on1 defender over the next years.

How much of a priority is it for you in general to raise your rebounds and assists per game? Is doing this more difficult when your always looked upon to score?

It always depends on the role in the team. I will try my best to get my teammates in great positions and grab as most rebounds as possible.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can make steady progress in your game?

Mostly in defense, but also to be a more versatile scorer.

You began your career with Rostock. How vital was being in this organization for your early development? Which coach had the biggest influence and impact on you?

It was great to always get help and support from the club, their office and my coaches.
Stanley Witt has had the biggest impact, he was my coach around my JBBL years and helped me a lot in every aspect on and off the court.

From 2019-2021 you played only 9 pro A games and played regularly for EBC Rostock Talents (2.Regionalliga). Do you sometimes wonder how you may have developed had you played Pro B? Do you feel like the 2 years practicing with the Pro A team helped you?

I don’t know how it would’ve worked out going earlier to ProB. I still had great times in Rostock, but it was definitely the right step last year to move to Dragons Rhoendorf.

Were you influenced in any way by Chris Carter? He has led 3 different teams to the BBL from Pro A. What memories do you have of him?

I had great times with Chris in Rostock, always a guy that does a lot of extra stuff with young players and I’m grateful for it. Had a lot of good memories with him, hard to pick a specific one.

What memories do you have of your first pro A game against Nurnberg in 2019 when you scored 5 points in 2 minutes? Was your adrenaline working overtime?

It was overwhelming, felt great to play and even score points in my hometown with my first minutes in ProA.

You belonged to the top players in the NBBL, but you have never played for a German national team at a Euro. Do you believe like you have been overlooked a bit?

I don’t think I got overlooked, there are a lot of great players in my age and maybe some players had a better fit in the team

In 2019 you played Addias Next generation with FC Bayern Munich. What did it feel like playing with Bayern players. How do you remember guys like Jason George and Sasha Grant treating you?

It was a great experience in Munich. Everyone was welcoming us very well, it was a good time playing with them

In that game you saw Deni Avdija who had a triple double and is in the NBA since some years. How sure were you then that he would reach the NBA one day?

I think he was a big prospect for the NBA a couple years before the draft. I was pretty sure that he will get picked to play in the NBA

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the Pro A and Pro B on the court

Can’t say a lot about ProA, in ProB I would say Booker Coplin gave me the hardest time.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Tyler Nelson, Toni Nickel, Tony Hicks, Chris Carter, Marek Mboya

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

LeBron, MJ, Kobe, Shaq

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

There will never be an official decision about that, everybody has his own opinion.

Where do you currently see Steph Curry in debate of the greatest point guards ever?

He’s definitely in the top 3 already.

Thanks Nicolas for the chat.

Tags : NICOLAS BUCHHOLZ, DRAGONS RHOENDORF, GERMAN BASKETBALL