George Conditt IV (208-C-2000, college: Iowa St.) is a 22 year old 208cm from Chicago that completed his rookie season in Greece for ASP Promitheas Patras (Greece-GBL) averaging 7.6ppg, 4.2rpg, 2FGP: 63.4%, FT: 61.8%; in the Eurocup and in the GBL averaged: 9.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.1bpg, 2FGP: 69.2%, FT: 62.1%, . He began his basketball career at Corliss high school. He then played at Iowa State University from2018.2022 playing a total of 117 NCAA games. In the summer of 2022 he played :NBA Summer League with the Minnesota Timberwolves averaging 2.5ppg, 3.0rpg. He then got his first pro experience with Gigantes de Carolina (BSN) averaging 11.8ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.4apg, Blocks-3 (1.6bpg), FGP: 57.0%, 3PT: 25.5%, FT: 62.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com during the Eurocup season before a game against the Hamburg Towers.

Thanks George for talking to germanhoops.com. You played a Eurocup against the Hamburg Towers. What do you know in general about Germany and it’s country? Have you had any ex teammates play in Germany?

I don’t know much about Germany. I’ve never been to Germany, so this is my first time entering the country, other than going through its different airports. I do have a few ex-teammates that do play in Germany currently, one being Nick Weiler-Babb and the other being Solomon Young. They both are doing really well with their prospective teams and I root for them and cheer for them every time I can!

You must always have good memories of Germany because you had your breakout game in the Eurocup with 22 points?

I did have a very good game against Hamburg and I guess you can consider it a breakout game for me but I felt like this game was just me going out there and trying to show everyone that I can play!

You played your rookie season overseas for ASP Promitheas Patras (Greece-GBL). What kind of an experience was it playing in Greece? I can imagine it’s the warmest winter that you have had in years?

Playing in this league in Greece I have already learned a lot. This is a very physical league but a very intellectual league as well so I feel like this is really helping me as a rookie overseas learn and develop my game a little bit faster and it definitely is one of the warmest winters I’ve had in a very long time.

What was it like being teammates with so many nationalities? Was there been one player that really helped you out most getting adjusted to overseas ball?

It’s different because everybody has their own background, but I feel like playing fiba international basketball has helped me because I have friends on other national teams and their cultures are completely different from mine. As far as there being one player, I would say the coaches help me the most. They help me understand the game more so watching films and breaking down the game.

What memories will you always have from playing your first game against an Euroleague team with Olympiacos? You lost by 28 points but held your own with 10/9 stats. Did a game like this prove you could play with the best?

I would say I tried my best. That team is a really really good team and that’s why they play Euroleague, but I feel like it was just one step to proving to myself that I can but I still have a lot to learn and get better at before I will play at that level.

Let’s talk a bit about your game. You’re a 208cm center. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would it be?

I don’t really like to compare myself to other players, but if you would have to say what similarities do I have to a current NBA player? It would have to be a younger version of Domantas Sabonis! Because now his game is more polished. It’s more crisp, but the younger version of him was still learning a lot and trying to polish those parts of his game!

You can score, rebound and block shots well. What other strengths does your game have?

I can pass the ball. I did quite well at doing that at Iowa State my last year being one of the highest assisting big men in the nation.

Your shot blocking really takes center stage. What kind of defender are you now and what kind of defender do you want to become in the next few years?

I want to be a defender that is able to guard one through five. I want to be able to switch. I want to be able to hold my own on the perimeter. Obviously I need to get stronger so I can be more physically defensively down low but I guess as of right now you can call me a rim protector.

What has been the biggest adjustment for you on the court and what was your wake up call to being a rookie in Greece where you knew that you were far away from home?

My biggest adjustment was the style of play. It’s completely different from the way Basketball is played in the states so that is something I really had to adjust to and I’m still learning right now, but I’m gradually getting better at it. And a wake up, call was one of the games I had to sit on the bench because I just wasn’t in tune with the game. So I realize that I needed to learn and develop to this playing style.

What do you believe is a hidden strength in your game that doesn’t get noticed right away?

A big thing that people don’t notice about me is that I can stretch the floor unfortunately I’m not stretching the floor with my team right now and I haven’t been shooting in practice so it’s been more centered around the rim but if you go back and watch any of my time with the Puerto Rican national team you will see I can obviously shoot the ball.

What area of your game are you working on most now as a rookie so you can continue to improve your game?

I could say that spacing the floor is something I’m working on the most but like I said right now I’m not working on that. I am working on becoming comfortable on the court with this playing style.

Last summer you had the experience to play in your home land Puerto Rico for Gigantes de Carolina (BSN, starting five): 25 games: 11.8ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.4apg, Blocks-3 (1.6bpg), FGP: 57.0%, 3PT: 25.5%, FT: 62.3%. What kind of an experience was it? What did you cherish most about this time?

Being able to play, there was an amazing experience, and it kind of helped me adjust to overseas life, living alone, taking care of yourself as a professional athlete, making sure you were eating the right things and doing enough to keep your body healthy.

What kind of an experience was it being teammates with Tremont Waters. I can imagine you guys hooked up on many occasions for buckets?

Having a teammate like Tremont Waters was the best thing I could’ve asked for coming out of college. He is a person that has so much experience within this game at a young age. I consider Tre like one of my brothers. I still check up on him and what he’s doing in Paris and vice versa.

After Puerto Rico, you played NBA Summer League with the Minnesota Timberwolves playing 4 games averaging 2.5ppg, 3.0rpg. How tough was it not playing much? There seems to be huge competition between the guys who aren’t really on the radar of the NBA team for minutes?

It definitely was tough not being able to play as much as I wanted to, but I took this as a learning step, and tried to learn as much as I could from this organization. I tried to become a sponge taking in as much knowledge as I could!

You played at Iowa State from 2018-2022. How tough was it coming from Corliss where you had incredible stats to never averaging more than 16 minutes in a season?

I love Iowa State. I will never speak badly of Iowa State unfortunate that I was never able to play to my full potential but man I had some great years some bad years looking back I wish I would’ve been able to play to my full potential!

What memories do you have from that freshman team that won the Big 12 title? You had future NBA players with Tyrese Haliburton, Marial Shayok, Talen Horton -Tucker and Lindell Wiggington not to mention Nick Weiler Babb. What player from this group made the biggest impression on you?

My freshman year was amazing. We had a great team and one of the most talented teams at Iowa State. Unfortunately it was cut short. You know we weren’t able to make a good run in the tournament but being around those guys I learned a lot from all of them, and all of those names that you just listed are etched in the memories of cyclone fans for being able to accomplish what we accomplished!

You had many great games in the NCAA but where does your 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks in the win over Seton Hall rank for you?

Seton Hall was definitely one of my favorite games but if I had to say my favorite game it would be my very last game and Iowa State jersey in the sweet 16 in my hometown of Chicago that right there that night it sucked losing but being able to play in front of my family, all of them was an amazing experience.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Tristan Enaruna?

Who would win one on one between me and him would definitely have to say me. I don’t care what Tristan says. That’s my boy for life but Smoove, (his nickname) knows!!

You also play for the Puerto Rican national team. How is the state of basketball in Puerto Rico? In 2021 you reached the Olympic qualifying tournament

The state of Basketball and Puerto Rico is on an all time high. I personally believe there’s so much Puerto Rican talent that we are going to continue to climb and climb! And yes, I did get the opportunity to compete in the Olympic qualifying tournament in 2021. Unfortunately we fell short at qualifying, but at that time I was 20 years old, playing against some of the best talent in the world learning so much at a young age I felt like that was the best thing for me and I had some of the best games in that tournament!

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

I would have to say Jericho Sims of the New York Knicks definitely battled with him. I remember my freshman year. I played really really well against him but my sophomore year he got me good so he would have to be the best person matchup wise I played against that is currently in the NBA.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Tyrese Haliburton , Tremont Waters, Tre Jackson Solomon Young, Talen Horton-Tucker Honorable mention, Sheldon Mac

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

Jordan Kobe Shaq Kareem

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron and why isn’t Kobe mentioned more?

It’s going to forever be a never ending debate, and personally I believe Kobe should be mentioned more but it’s hard to debate about the greatest of all time with a player who is not playing anymore and a player who is currently playing still because the current player still adding more accolades, still adding more stuff while the player that is not playing anymore is already set in stone. So personally, I believe that the debate won’t end until LeBron is done.

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

The sequel to coming to America was more of a comedy sequel. I feel like it was a cool movie! It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t a movie that can live up to its prequel.

Thanks George for the chat.