Javon Bess (198-PF-1996, college: St.Louis) is a 27 year old 198cm forward from Gahanna Ohio that just completed his third professional season with BG Goetingen averaging 9,3 ppg, 3,6rpg and 1,6apg. In 2021-2022 he played for U.M.F. Tindastoll Sauoarkrokur (Iceland-Subway League) averaging 19.7ppg) 6.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 80.3%. In his rookie season he played for Erie BayHawks (NBA G League, starting five): 35 games: 6.9ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 42.5%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 70.6%. He began his basketball career at Lincoln High School and then played 2 seasons at Michigan State averaging 2,7ppg and 3,0ppg. He finished his NCAA career at St Louis University averaging 13.5ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.1apg, 1.3spg and 15.3ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.8apg, 1.4spg. He will continue to remain in Germany next season and play for s.Oliver Wurzburg. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his career.
Thanks Javon for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?
I am currently back home in Columbus, OH. Basketball life is treating me good, I’m blessed that I am able to see the world and see new things because of basketball.
You played your third professional season for BG Goettingen. What kind of an experience was it for you? What did you enjoy most about the experience?
This year was a great experience for me. The biggest thing I enjoyed was being underdogs and exceeding all expectations that everybody had for us. We were projected 14 or 15 I think. We ended up finishing 6th and half a game out of 5th.
You lost a tough series to FC Bayern Munich. What do you believe was key for you not getting over the hump in the series?
We have to give them credit. They were a good team. I think game 2 hurt us a lot mentally. We felt we played good enough to win, and the game came down to the last couple seconds. If we win that game we go back home 1-1 instead of 0-2 and it’s a different series.
How was seeing your ex teammate Zylan Cheatham again? Did you have any special kind of bond to him as a rookie? What memories did you have of him?
It was great. I always like to see former teammates and where this basketball takes everybody. Yes, me and Z were close we have a lot of memories in the G league it was both our rookie seasons. Biggest memory when he jumped over a guy from the Atlanta team and caught an alley oop.
You had a solid BBL season averaging 9/3/1 and shot 37% from outside. How content were you with your season? You played very good minutes, but also the team had many scoring options.
It was solid. Kind of up and down, had really good games and have some games where I didn’t play good. I don’t really care too much about numbers honestly. My thing is always being on the floor to help my team win no matter what.
You played very well considering coming from Iceland.. How key was head coach Roel Moers for helping you get adjusted well and guiding you in becoming a good BBL player?
He was great. Coach Roel is definitely one of the best coaches I’ve played for. His whole thing is about winning and I think that’s why he trusted me to be on the floor so much because he knew my only goal of every game was to win no matter how we had to do it.
One of your best games was scoring 24 points in a tough shoot out loss to ratiopharm Ulm where you were the best on the court with ex NBA guys Brandon Paul and Bruno Caboclo. Even though you battled ex NBA guys in the G-League did this game show you belonged in a top league in Germany?
I think that game was good for me individually but we lost, so I didn’t really feel good after that game or think about that. I felt like I belonged in the league a lot earlier in the season and I think coach did a good job of giving confidence.
Would you consider continuing to play in Germany or would a another top league in another country be on your menu?
It just depends, that’s something me and my agent would have to talk about and figure out.
Last season you balled for U.M.F. Tindastoll Sauoarkrokur (Iceland-Subway League, starting five): 35 games: Score-5 (19.7ppg), 6.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 80.3%. What do you remember being your wake up call to be overseas for the first time where you knew that you were far away from home?
My wake up call was actually missing a whole season. My rookie season got ended due to Covid. The next season I did not play at all. I was still training and working out but I wasn’t able to play. So I took the first opportunity the following year. I’m forever grateful for my time in Iceland, met some good people and loved the town I was in.
You played in 3 playoff series losing the last to Valur. How important was this experience in general for your game?
It was huge. As I stated before my whole goal with playing basketball is to Win. I’m super competitive and want to win every game I play. We ended up coming up short but it just showed me that there is some good players in the Iceland league.
Not everyone can boast they have visited Iceland. What will you remember most from off the court? Did any of their landscape fascinate you?
The weather is the first thing that comes to mind. Also, the darkness in the winter months and the daylight in the other months. I lived in northern Iceland so the landscape was beautiful every time I walked outside. I also visited the blue lagoon.
You played your rookie season with the Erie BayHawks (NBA G League) averaging 6.9ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 42.5%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 70.6%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie in the G-League?
Always be a professional, things sometime don’t go your way but you can’t me mad and pout. You always have to be a professional and always have to be ready whenever your time is called.
You had connections to guys there like Aubrey Dawkins who had played with BG Goettingen and Germany with coach Ryan Pannone. Did any of these guys help you with making the decision to go to Goettingen easier?
Yea I talked to Aubrey before I signed, he told me about his experience there and how much he liked it.
How tough was the G-League grind? You had great games but overall didn’t score as much as you probably should have in the minutes you got for a NBA call up. How tough is seeing other guys be able to score more simply because that is what the coaching staff and NBA team want from them while other guys like yourself have to accept the role job?
I never worry too much about scoring to be honest. What ever my role is for the team I’m on at the time is what I will do. My role was more of a 3 and D guy in the G league, so I tried to focus on that as much as possible. Other seasons my role was to score and I was able to do that. I feel I’m a player I can play anywhere and have a role.
You played NBA Summer League with the New Orleans Pelicans. What kind of an experience was it being teammates with fellow rookie Zion Williamson. What wow moment did you have with him on the court?
It was fun. Seeing the amount of fans and people waiting at the hotel or waiting by the bus after games was crazy. He was a superstar before he even played an NBA game.
You began your career at Michigan State (NCAA) playing there from 2014-2016 averaging 2,7ppg and 3,0ppg. You reached the 2015 NCAA final 4, but had a shortend season because of injury. How tough was this first season mentally?
It was very tough. Probably one of my toughest seasons because I was starting as a freshman and then broke my foot. I tried to rush back and wasn’t listening to my body and ended up breaking my foot again the same season. I wanted to play so bad I wasn’t being honest with myself and taking the time to recover that I actually needed.
You were teammates with Denzel Valentine. What memories do you have of him and has he just missed getting the right opportunity in the NBA as he has bounced around the league the last years?
Denzel was great. That’s like my brother. He taught me a lot and showed me a lot. I think he will get another opportunity and he will take advantage of it when it comes.
Tom Izzo has to be considered to being one of the top 5 best coaches in the last decade. How much of a challenge was it lacing up your sneakers for him?
It was great. Me and Izzo still have a great relationship till this day. He is a coach that holds his players accountable and pushes you to be great. As a competitor that’s all you want in a coach.
You finished at St Louis (NCAA). Did you ever hear of ST Louis legend Maurice Jeffers. He played some years in Germany. Did you ever meet him?
I’ve heard of him but I never got to meet him or anything.
What memories do you have senior year of the NCAA run and losing to Virginia Tech?
Our conference tournament was the biggest memory. In order to make the NCAA tournament we had to win 4 games in 4 days. The crazy part about it was every team we played had beat us in the regular season. But we came together as a team and beat them all and won our conference tournament.
How did head coach Travis Ford groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
Coach Ford was great. A true players coach. Wants the best for you and pushes you to be the best that you can. He helped me because he showed me things in my game that I didn’t know I had and helped me put them on display.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jordan Goodwin?
Always me. Haha
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
Toughest player was probably Ja Morant.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Jordan Goodwin
Caris Levert
Denzel valentine
Jaesean Tate
Travis Trice
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?
Kevin Durant
Lebron James
Steph Curry
Kobe Bryant.
Who is your GOAT?
Kevin Durant
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?
Yeah I saw it. I think it was a good movie honestly. I don’t think it was better than the first one, but I do think it was a good movie.
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