Koen Sapwell (193-G-1999, college: CS Monterey) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Adelaide, Australia playing his first season in Europe in Germany with pro A team Dresden Titans currently averaging 15,8ppg, 3,8rpg and 2,0apg while shooting 42% from outside. He began his basketball career with the Central District Lions. He also has gained experience down under with teams Hobart Chargers, South east Melbourne Phoenix, Ballarat Miners, Brisbane Bullets and last played with the Southern Districts Spartans (NBL1 North) averaging 25.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.0apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 58.7%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT: 66.2%. He also played 3 years with the California State University Monterey Bay (NCAA2) playing a total of 60 games. He spoke to eurobasket about basketball. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Thanks Koen for talking to germanhoops.com. How does it feel for an Australian boy to be living in historic Dresden? What have you appreciated most about the city so far?

Dresden is an awesome city! I’ve loved being able to get out and experience everything. I love the history side of the city and find it super interesting. I’ve definitely been the tourist taking photos of everything so far.

An important aspect for you coming to the Dresden Titans was the fact that many guys remained. Do you feel that family like atmosphere with this club?

Absolutely. From an international perspective, it´s always hard to get a real gauge on the culture from the outside looking in, but when I was able to talk to fab over the phone and talk about so many guys returning, it´s pretty obvious that people like Fabo and head office have made a culture and family environment at the Titans. It also speaks to the character of the other guys on the team, no one has any hidden agenda and just wants the best for the guy next to them. Makes a winning culture.

What have you learned to appreciate most about the basketball philosophy of Fabian Krauss? Is he a coach that will help you make the next step?

I think the biggest thing which is hard to find in many head coaches, is that we’re humans first. He understands that at the end of the day, we’re going to be better basketball players, teammates, partners, husbands and son’s if we’re all happy off the court. He sees his players as humans and that’s something I really like, and it makes you want to play for him more, and I think this naturally helps me get to the next level.

What has it been like being teammates with Tanner Graham and Grant Teichmann? What have you appreciated most about their games?

Tanner and Grant are great guys, makes it really easy to get integrated quick when you have other guys that are natural English speakers. It helped me early with bridging the gap with the other local guys on the roster. I’m at the point now were I’m really comfortable with all the guys and enjoy any time spent with them, on or off the court. As far as basketball goes it’s pretty clear that they’re great players, it makes my life easy when they have the ball, I know they’re always going to make the right decisions. I back them 100%

This is your first time in Europe. How would you rate the level of play in Germany compared to what you witnessed in Australia and NCAA 2?

Playing in the NBL the last 2 years has been really fulfilling and something that I will forever be grateful for, as it’s a top 3 league in the world. Being able to come from a league with so many great players I think has prepared me really well for this next chapter of basketball in Europe. The league here is really good, and I think our close game to Hamburg last weekend speaks for itself. We’re a good team, and when were at our best we’re going to be a tough team to beat.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 193cm combo guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

It’s always hard to answer this type of question because I think the NBA is a league that’s very 1v1 based and rely on too many individual pieces to succeed. I’ve always prided myself on being a team guy and want to play the right way. If I had to choose I would love to say someone like Devin Booker, CJ McCollum or Klay Thompson. Someone that doesn’t really need the ball to succeed, and someone that can create for himself and others when I need to. I’ve always been someone that can shoot, so I’d love to think I play like these guys. Obviously just not as good LOL.

You’re a guy that can score very well and fill the stat sheet well. What is your biggest strength on the court?

I think my biggest strength is my ability to create plays and read defenses. I’ve played this game for a very long time and grown up in a household where my father and brother played and talk basketball 24/7, so I like to think I have a high basketball IQ. I trust myself to make the right plays at the right time, whether it’s scoring, assisting or defending.

What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

Defense is something I pride myself on. Something that I’ve worked on really my whole life. Being touted as a defender and getting the best defensive assignment every night is something that I look forward to and something I take personally. As an Australian playing international basketball I want to make sure I represent that well by being a hard-nosed defender, and someone that can change the game regardless of how I’m playing offensively. Moving forward I want the narrative around me to be that I’m an elite defender and someone that other teams don’t want to play against.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to climb the basketball ladder?

Becoming a better rebounder is something that I would love to improve on, and I think I’m going to have an opportunity this year to do so. We’re a relatively small team, so we’re going to have to rely on people like myself, Grayson, Grant and Daniel to being good rebounding guards.

You played the last few years down under since playing in the NCAA2. How has your game grown most in the last few years?

If I was to compare myself now to what I was when I was in college it would seem though I were two different people. While college is a great stepping stone and something that prepared me for professional basketball, it is still very, very different. I was able to work in a professional environment where my only obligations were to improve as a basketball player. I have become someone that isn’t just a shooter and someone that would only play if I was shooting well/not, to a player that is slowly becoming a more well rounded player. I would say that I’ve gotten better at almost every aspect of basketball since I started college.

You played at California State University Monterey Bay (NCAA2) from 2017-2020 playing 60 games. Talk a little about your time there. What was your fondest moment there?

College for me was more about becoming a man more so than anything else. I think moving away from home when you’re 17 is a really big life choice, and to allows you to really take care of yourself. Some of my greatest memories are things that were not involved with basketball, but meeting best friends, eating the same $2 ramen meals with your roommate who is just as broke as you are. At the end of the day I was able to make lifelong friends and have stories that I will tell my future kids about, and they mean more to me than any stat line I had over my 3 years.

You had many great games but where do you rate your 22 points in the exciting 78-76 win over California-San Diego?

I rate it very highly! It was something that no one thought we would be able to do, and something that made us all come together closer as a team. They were nationally ranked, and it was one of our few good team wins that season, so it made it all the more sweet.

How tough was your last season at California State University Monterey Bay (NCAA2) Your season ended on November 30th and then COVID came. How do you remember that season?

´2020 as we all know was a pretty tough time in everyone´s lives. I think the scariest part of it all at that point was just the uncertainty of everything. We didn’t know if we were going to finish our season, or even how deadly Covid actually was. I actually left college and went back to Australia a little bit early, and luckily missed a lot of the COVID protocols that were rolling through California at the time.

How did Isaac Williams groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Isaac was helpful for me in a way that he challenged me each day and gave me a coaching style and perspective that I would never have gotten if I stayed in Australia. He helped me improve as a professional, and allowed me to learn how to really hold myself accountable for each day I was playing for him. Something I am very thankful for to this day.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jahvon Johnson?

I’m going to go with me, but surprisingly enough we didn’t play that many 1-1 games.

Who is the best player that you ever faced on the court that reached the NBA?

Playing in the NBL there are a lot of players who have played NBA minutes. Some people I got to know really well and see their work ethic daily were Mitch Creek and Ryan Broekhoff. Ryan played a number of years in the NBA and both guys were always open to having me pick their brains about basketball. Another guy I played against a lot was Bryce Cotton. He’s a player that has won 4 out of the last 6 MVP’s in the NBL.

Please list your 5 best teammates of all-time? Best basketball players

Tyler Johnson 2. Nathan Sobey 3. Mitch Creek 4. Aron Baynes 5. AK Gak Best teammates 1. Josh Kollman 2. Brent Hank 3. Chevy Spurr 4. Matt Johns 5. Ambros Eugster

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron James Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant Wilt Chamberlain

Who is your GOAT and why?

Michael Jordan He is just the GOAT.

Thanks Koen for the chat.