4 years ago as I heard that an American guy by the name of Sam Griesel that had German roots was going to play on the German U-20 national team. I rapidly got on the ball and interviewed the 19 year old kid and banged out a portrait about him. In the last years, I continued following his progress in the NCAA and once again was impressed when I heard he was signed by the Telekom Baskets Bonn and would play for the Boston Celtics at the 2023 NBA Summer League. 4 years after our first interview he is part of the Boston Celtics and in one of the world’s flashiest cities and seeing basketball legends on a daily basis there. The American who has a German father and German mother is a country boy who grew up in the cornfields of Nebraska and was born in the state capital Lincoln, so it was no surprise that the glitz in Las Vegas off the court wasn’t necessarily his cup of tea. ‘I honestly didn’t like Vegas off the court. It is very overwhelming with all the people. I’m really not intrigued by it. I’m more of a calm person. But don’t get me wrong, I loved the basketball and am really grateful that I had this experience’, warned Sam Griesel (198-G-2000, college: Nebraska) 4 years ago he was a member of the German U-20 national team and was teammates with up and coming players like 2023 BBL champion Philipp Herkenhoff, multiple BBL champion Jonas Mattisseck and Fraport Skyliners Bruno Vrcic and Joshua Obiesie just to name a few, but in 2023 he was teammates with NBA players and rising young players like a Jordan Walsh or Jay Scrubb and had wow moments seemingly every few minutes. ‘I didn’t see Victor Wembanyama, but Carmelo Anthony was at one of our games and Jayson Tatum was on the flight to Las Vegas. He gave brotherly Nuck greetings to all the players. I also saw Paul Pierce. It was also cool talking to a guy like Brad Stevens. He is such a normal dude. I could have normal conversations with him. I’m so grateful to the Boston Celtics organization for giving me this opportunity’, stressed Sam Griesel

But before we get into the meat of the basketball Las Vegas, one has to understand that he had a long road to get to the NBA Summer League and the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He began his basketball career at Lincoln East High school in Lincoln, Nebraska and in his career over 50 games averaged 15,2ppg, 5,3rpg, and 1,8apg. In his senior year he averaged 17/6/2 stats and received Super-State honors from the Lincoln Journal Star. He then went on to have a stellar career at North Dakota State University where he played 99 NCAA games. In his first 2 seasons he didn’t become that scorer yet averaging 6.1ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 58.1% and 6.6ppg, 5.5rpg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 67.5%. But he did show spurts of scoring talent scoring in double figures in 9 games and scored 20 points in a 76-73 win over Western Illinois. He helped win the Summit League title in both years. The first win was by 10 points over Omaha and the second one by 36 points over rival North Dakota. He didn’t have a sweeter one. ‘Both were different. We weren’t expected to win the first one and we won the second one in a dominant way’, remembered Sam Griesel He also got a taste of March Madness losing to Duke by 23 points. He broke out in his junior year averaging 14.3ppg, 6.6rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 75.6% and in his senior year averaged 12.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 68.3%. Head coach David Richman played a massive role in him becoming the player he is today. ‘He is still a big part of my life today. He helped me grow from a boy to a man. He is a huge role model for me and we still speak on a regular basis’, said Sam Griesel In his last 2 seasons he played 53 games and scored in double figures in 31 games. Some of his best scoring games included 26 points apiece against ORU and South Dakota, and 25 points against South Dakota State and Indiana State. He reached the Summit League final’s in his last 2 years. Instead of turning pro, he was able to play a fifth year at the University of Nebraska averaging 12.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 68.3%. Here he played in a higher conference against better competition and totally proved he could be a potent player. ‘It was great having that feeling of being at home. It was very important playing in a system where we were treated like pro’s. That helped my development a lot and me moving ahead playing against top competition’, added Sam Griesel He scored in double figures in 19 of 30 games including netting 22 points against Maine and 21 points against Illinois. His game grew immensely in 5 years. He will be more than ready to test the easyCredit BBL.’The biggest thing that grew was my confidence. I also became stronger and just learned to slow down the game. I also learned you don’t have to always take the game so serious. The game is supposed to be fun. You should never lose the joy’, warned Sam Griesel He also had well known head coach Fred Hoiberg at the helm giving him the last needed spices for a professional career. ‘He really helped me a lot with my shot. I was in the gym a lot getting up many reps and just adding confidence. He also had me watching film. I really learned a lot from him’, remembered Sam Griesel

The 23 year old 198cm guard who remembers beating Cale Jacobsen at 1-1 at Nebraska just finished playing for the Boston Celtics at the NBA Summer League. The funny thing is I had thought that the NBA Summer league ended Friday, but it didn’t. I had wanted to interview him and figured it might take days for him to answer as is sometimes the case with ballers. I was amazed how quickly he replied back and said hey I’m free in an hour. It had been 4 years since we last spoke, but his voice and the way he spoke quickly got me very comfortable. I asked him if he was still in Vegas thinking the Summer League was over, and he replied yes I am. I actually have a game in 2 hours. Despite that he still took 30 minutes of his time to talk basketball. ‘Time really has flown by since we last talked. There has been a lot of change for me and much has happened in my life. All is good. I have had ups and downs, but cool life experiences. I look forward to the future’, stated Sam Griesel So many guys dream to play NBA Summer League and for him, he was lucky that he didn’t just land in Las Vegas and went on the floor, but had a little introduction to the Boston Celtics. ‘I was in Boston for a 5-6 day training camp so that was really good for me. It was good being a sponge and being around the Celtics culture. I was able to learn from pro’s and just playing my role and getting better each day. These days helped me get comfortable. I came to Vegas not expecting to play, but then did. I think I surprised some people in my first 2 games getting good10-15 minutes per game. I had mistakes, but also made good plays. For me the most important thing was learning’, warned Sam Griesel Playing that first season overseas always Americans a wake up call, but what about guys playing in the NBA? It’s the same. ‘My wake up call was the physicality and athleticism. There were some dudes who have played in the NBA for 4-5 years. It’s not all rookies. It was a real adjustment. You have to do the little things to help you stay on the floor’, stressed Sam Griesel But he already had his WOW moment before coming to Las Vegas. ‘I had workouts with Utah, Boston and Chicago. Each was a wow moment. I went into the summer not expecting that. It was the greatest thing to have this opportunity’, said Sam Griesel

The ex German U-20 national player who averaged 5.9ppg, 5.3rpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 62.5% at the European Championships in 2019 winning a Bronze medal would play 4 of 5 Celtics Summer League games having a 2-2 record. He averaged 3/3/1 stats in 13 minutes per game. He had his best game in game 5 having 8/3/2/2 stats in 21 minutes in a 94-77 victory over the Miami Heat. ‘I wasn’t phenomenal, but I wasn’t bad either. I’m happy I could play. I just tried to control what I could control being a good teammate. I think it was a success, because I didn’t expect to play’, commented Sam Griesel So how did he like the playing style of the NBA Summer League? It is no secret that guys mostly play for their stats to impress the NBA teams. ‘This isn’t necessarily my style and I didn’t feel comfortable. I’m always a team guy that wants to win. It does feel like a showcase. I just tried to make plays and do the little things necessary to win. I think people appreciated my work. I try to help support those #1 draft pics and be the best teammate possible. What matters most for me is how you treat the person’, expressed Sam Griesel One guy he really tried to support was highly touted rookie Jordan Walsh out of the University of Arkansas. ‘He is really talented and a good kid. I can’t imagine what he went through as a 19 year old. When I was 19, I was in Germany playing with the U-20 national team. He did a good job and I think surprised many with his offensive abilities. He is a good wing defender and has insanely long arms’, stressed Sam Griesel One sees so many incredible dunks and that sems to be really what all want to see on the highlight video’s, but he had a different kind of favorite play. ‘I just love assisting guys and setting them up for success. I think my first assist to Davidson in the first game was my favorite’, remembered Sam Griesel

Tyson Ward who was college teammates with Sam Griesel will be teammates again with the Telekom Baskets Bonn

The German/American who is excited to follow Germany at the 2023 World Cup and believes USA have a chance to win the Gold Medal will commence his rookie season in Germany with the Telekom Baskets Bonn. The decision on signing on the dotted line was like a no brainer. How can you go wrong coming to the new sexy of the easyCredit BBL the Telkom Baskets Bonn, having ex NCAA teammate Tyson Ward on board, playing for one of the BBL’s top coaches Roel Moors and getting added positive words from Kamar Baldwin who was his Celtics teammate and played for Moers in Goettingen 2 years ago. ‘I talked a lot to Tyson Ward about the city. I really like the coach. It is a unique situation for me. I’m coming to a successful new team. I picked Tyson’s brain a lot. It is really good that I will be playing in the Basketball Champions League. Tyson and I aren’t super close, but he is a good dude. I really look up to him and we won titles together’, warned Sam Griesel He and Moors hit it off instantly. ‘We speak the same language. I appreciate his honesty most. He doesn´t beat around the bush. We have a good connection”, stated Sam Griesel. He has constructed an incredible roster and he really implemented the team very well with strong Germans. They could have a better mix this season of Germans and the question will be how good the imports will produce and mesh with the Germans. There can only be one TJ Shorts and to replace him won’t be easy.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and TJ Shorts in Bonn in 2022

I know Sam Griesel won’t just be a role player, but an impact player. ‘I will do what I have to do to help win games. I totally trust coach and will be the best teammate’, added Sam Griesel I have no doubt that he will shine on the court, but fans will also get to know a young man who isn’t just a baller, but a very special guy that simply is unique. ‘Basketball is important, but not most important. I want to be around good people. Basketball isn’t who I am’, warned Sam Griesel He is simply a guy who combines his basketball skill set and character to the fullest with the best not necessarily coming in that order.

Tags : SAM GRIESEL, BOSTON CELTICS, GERMAN BASKETBALL