Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Tyrone Ellis in Frankfurt in 2004. Even almost 20 years later they form a professional ex player/journalist relationship

Tyrone Ellis (193-G-1977, college: S.Nazarene) is a former professional player from Dallas, Texas that has coaching experience in the G-League having been an assistant with Tulsa, Reno, Grand Rapids, and Bakersfield and was a head coach with Northern Arizona and Stockton. He also has been an assistant coach for Team USA. As a player he had a stellar career in Europe showing that a player can make a career coming from a NAIA school from Southern Nazarene playing in countries like Germany, Italy, Turkey and Spain. In 2004 he helped the Opel Skyliners win the BBL league title. He played for three Spanish teams Girona, Cajasol Sevilla and Asefa Estudiantes Madrid playing six seasons in the best league in Europe. He also played for teams like Eldo Basket Napoli and Besiktas ColaTurka Istanbul . He spoke to germanhoops.com about the 2023 World Cup and success of his ex coach Gordon Herbert.

Thanks Ty for talking to germanhoops.com. Last time we talked it was concerning new Fraport Skyliner Derek Cooke Jr and today it’s about Gordon Herbert. How incredible is this title for him? I can imagine you were beyond overjoyed?

I was texting Gordie through out the tournament. We have been keeping in touch periodically. I’m so freakin proud of him. The greatest compliment that you can give is that he is consistent. He is a great coach and leader.

You saw first hand what Gordie is capable of doing winning the 2004 BBL title. Was this a surprise or did you feel going into the 2023 World Cup that Germany could win a medal?

I wasn’t surprised at all. I know how good of a leader he is. The x’s and o’s is the easy part. You know drawing up a play to get a shot. The difference is his leadership. He has so much pride that that spills over to the players.

I know you have contact to him. Did you have any talks the last weeks or was it more just congrats after wins?

Just texting. I congratulated him after the big win over USA. I gave him a long text message telling him how proud I am of him. He really deserved it. I told him after German won the World Cup that now the whole world can see how good he is. There is really no difference between him and NBA coaches. He is one of the best coaches in the world. The world is seeing this now, but I already saw this 20 years ago in Germany and later with Georgia.

What does the win for Germany and Gordon Herbert mean to you as having been ex player?

Gordie has always been humble. Whenever I tell him how grateful I am for everything he has done for my career, he responds with no problem. Many don’t know this but when I was in Frankfurt, I was going through a divorce and wasn’t playing my best. Gordie took the criticism for my play. I hope this World Cup title will inspire Germany to keep fighting. Obviously football is #1 in Germany, but I hope basketball will create more positive energy in that country to keep developing that sport ahead. Germany is deservingly the best basketball country in the world.

I heard a story that Gordie took you aside and pretty much said this to you. Herbert told you should be yourself, but we will only win if we do it all together. He let that team be themselves and conducted them. How do you remember that time?

That is absolutely true. He gave Chris Williams and me so much freedom. That forced us to take responsibility and not take advantage of Gordie. Americans always have more pressure to perform, but we didn’t abuse that freedom. We respected Gordie so much and so did everyone else like Pascal Roller and Robert Garret.

How high can Germany rate this in your sports history? I believe it’s at the top with football world cups despite basketball not being the countries number sport.

I don’t know the history of German sports that well, but I think this World Cup title has to be rated as highly as those football titles. This title is so amazing. No one would of ever believed this could happen. German had the perfect coach as the leader and 12 guys who loved to represent their country.

How did you follow the World Cup. Was it just all around all teams or did you have more focus on USA and Germany?

I didn’t follow it that closely. I wanted Gordie to do well for personal reasons and also USA to do well. I mostly watched these 2 teams.

How did you witness USA-Germany. Despite being an American did Germany’s win still make you a little happy since you played there some years and for Gordie?

Of course I was happy for Germany and Gordie after they beat us. I’m a basketball fan. I was more upset how USA played. Gordie winning the title means so much to me. A coach always has a long lasting impression on their players. My coaching philosophy and who I am starts with Gordie. My fondest memories in Europe was playing with Chris Williams and winning the title with him and Gordie. I can’t not think about Gordie when I think of Chris and vice versa.

You’re a coach and was an ex player. How tough is it general to have younger less known players that USA had to really focus 100% on team basketball?

USA had more talented guys than any other team. When I came overseas as a player, I understood that I had to adapt to the euro game. The difference with USA was that they didn’t adapt to the Euro game. The better team always wins and not the most talented. It was evident other countries were embodying that team first mentality.

Was USA put together wrong? I mean how can use explain them not getting a medal? They had a coaching staff filled with coaches that won NBA titles?

No I don’t think so. Team USA had good enough players and great coaches. It is hard to win when you have young guys with no euro experience. When the Olympics come, then USA will have super talented players and more experience and that will count most. You have to have the total mind set to be successful. I think that USA had that palms up mentality. That is when you complain. The others will just keep playing. You can’t win with the palms up mentality in Europe.

Germany-Serbia was an exciting game. Of course Germany showed great team basketball and every guy 1-12 contributed, but let us be honest had Germany won without Dennis Schroder? His big bucket lay up at the end sealed the win?

Germany wouldn’t have been as successful without Dennis Schroeder. They wouldn’t have beat USA without Dennis Schroeder. They also wouldn’t have made the quarterfinal without him. He was the difference maker.

Germany has 5 players in the NBA. What German player impressed you most?

You saw how dominant Dennis Schroeder can be when he feels comfortable. Franz Wagner is also really good. Dennis stood out because he had the ball in his hands most of the time. The team just really impressed me. I loved that excitement on the bench. One can’t really understand that pure joy and excitement until you have represented your country. You saw the love of the game from Germany.

The biggest strength of Gordie is his communication skills and having everyone understanding their roles and executing to 100%. What else was vital for Germany’s success that people may not have realized, but you had as an ex player?

Gordie cares for each player from 1-15. If a player isn’t doing his job, he will tell you no matter if it’s the 1 or 15th player. A good example was when Gordie bumped heads with Dennis. That is what a good leader does. You saw that both respect each other. They understand the game and moved on. That is part of the game. I can remember Gordie getting on me, Chris or Mario. He never got on Pascal. Gordie is never afraid to do his job. That has to be commended. He isn’t afraid of that 1-1 talk or showing love. He isn’t fake but the real deal. I strive for that as a coach.

Last season Gordon Herbert led Germany to a Bronze at the Euro and now a World Cup title. Does he deserve a shot as an NBA coach now?

He doesn’t deserve a job as an assistant coach, but he should be an NBA head coach. There is going to be a point in time when NBA teams will want that leader and not just that players friend. Head coaches that have relationships don’t work. Gordie is a phenomenal leader that cares for his players.

Who would win a 7 game series between the German national team and the Denver Nuggets?

Denver 4-0 maybe 4-1.

Please leave some closing words for your ex coach Gordon Herbert.

I want to personally congratulate Gordie, his staff, players and Germany. Germany was very good to me. I hope Germany appreciates all the hard work that was put in from everyone involved with the German national team. I continue to pray for success for Gordie and that he will be a head coach in the NBA.

Thanks Ty for the chat.

Tags : TYRONE ELLIS, HLA ALICANTE, GEORGIAN BASKETBALL