Pic credit Chicago Bulls

It is hard to believe it has been 6 years since I remember checking the 2018 NBA Mock drafts and seeing where Luka Doncic and Isaac Bonga were standing while they were into their final season overseas before reaching the big show. But checking on these 2 players and seeing where their game worth was as kids wasn´t the only thing that was grabbing my attention, but also something else. At that time, I also remember reading the fascinating story about a player that at that time was living the total Cinderella dream having began his professional career in the second division in Luxemburg and then via the G-League with the Windy City Bulls, returned in his third season and cracked the Toronto Raptors lineup and a season later became a vital role player for the Golden State Warriors who would reach the NBA final. The player that I´m referring to is Alfonzo McKinnie (203-F-1992, college: Green Bay). I love these Cinderella stories of guys who are talented but for whatever reasons had to begin at the bottom. Ever since that I had been following his career and when I learned that he had signed back in Europe to play in Italy, I told myself, I have to interview him. So I checked his work of employment which was Dinamo BDS Sassari to see if there were any players that I knew and bang there was Stanley Whittaker, a guy that I have loved covering and seen move up the basketball ladder from low leagues in Serbia and Austria to reaching a top 5 league in Europe in Germany with the easyCredit BBL and this season in Seria A Italy. Whittaker is a player that I featured time in and time out again the last 3 years and shown him the kind of media love that many would dream of having. He was a true gentleman and helped set up the interview with Alfonso Mckinnie. But the funny thing is that many observers in Europe don´t even know that he played his rookie season in Luxemburg. “Some people don’t have that on their radar. A lot of people see NBA and skip over Luxembourg but the Eastside Pirates was the first professional club I played for”, stressed Alfonso Mckinnie. It is only fitting that a guy like Whittaker help me out. Guys with chip on their shoulders and who have come from the bottom to the top stick to each other. “I sense that chip in Stanley every day whether it’s practice or a game. He’s the first person to the gym everyday. He’s a hard worker and brings it everyday. He’s been a guy on this team that I’ve talked to a lot to help me with my transition to playing here in Italy. The chip will always be on my shoulder. Not to prove anybody wrong but just to keep learning and trying to be the best version of myself. I’ve played at the highest level and even though I’m not in the NBA right now, I’m still that caliber player”, said Alfonzo McKinnie. Even if the American isn´t sure if he is a role model for Americans overseas dreaming of playing in the NBA, his story is definitely inspiring. “I don’t know if I’m their role model but I definitely think guys look at my story and it gives them some kind of inspiration. Inspiration to never settle and that anything is possible”, warned Alfonzo McKinnie. Alfonzo McKinnie (Dinamo BDS Sassari) lived the Cinderella dream going from Luxemburg to the NBA and was near tears when Steve Kerr told him about getting roster spot.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Stanley Whittaker in Frankfurt Germany in 2023

Alfonzo McKinnie who has future NBA player Kenneth Faried being his toughest foe in the NCAA as a guy who had an unmatched motor who was literally dunking on everyone on every possession and never got tired was born on September 17th, 1992 in Chicago, Illinois and grew up on the west side. He began his basketball career at Curie Metropolitan High School and then finished at Marshall Metropolitan High School where he earned All-Red West Conference honors averaging 11,2ppg and 8,5rpg. He then played 2 years and 54 NCAA games at Eastern Illinois University making a big jump in his second season averaging 10.2ppg, 7.0rpg, FGP: 56.7%, FT: 72.2% after only averaging 3,6ppg and 3,6rpg as a freshman. He scored in double figures 13 times in his sophomore season including having Maine´s number scoring 24 and 20 points. “My two years at EIU were some of my best times in college. I had a lot of fun at that school. My freshman year I didn’t really play and my sophomore year I got a lot more minutes. Watching and learning the system from the previous year had me ready for my sophomore season. I had some pretty good games that year. I ended up transferring though because of a coaching change. When that happened I had an opportunity at UWGB to team up with my best friend and former HS teammate Keifer Sykes. Also Coach Chrys Cornelius who had recruited me to EIU in the first place before leaving for UWGB”, remembered Alfonzo McKinnie. He then transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Greenbay (NCAA). “The biggest positive I took to UWGB was that I could play Division 1 basketball and that I could be an impactful player. Just having big games my sophomore year at EIU gave me that confidence”, said Alfonzo McKinnie. He played 43 games with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, but he had to battle injury woes tearing his meniscus twice. “I redshirted my first year at UWGB. I was looking to get big minutes that next year because we had some seniors graduating. I had a good redshirt year and towards the end I tore my meniscus. I had surgery and then right at the beginning of the following season I tore it again. One of the roughest times mentally for me because I was so excited to play and then one move on the court and I was sidelined again. This made realize that I have to cherish the game everyday that I´m able to play because it could be taken away so easy”, warned Alfonzo McKinnie. He had some great games scoring 23 points in a win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee and 16 points in a win against UALR and also reached the NIT tournament. “Looking at the bigger picture the NIT was a highlight for the program because we qualified to play in a post season tournament. Not everyone gets to play post season. Our personal goal was to make The Big Dance (NCAA) so we as players weren’t so excited for the NIT”, said Alfonzo McKinnie. He was fortunate to have been able to play for the right coach in Brian Wardle where he could flourish. “The biggest thing I took from Coach Wardle was on how to focus on being a star in my role. That was very beneficial for me because every year no matter what team i was on. I was able to identify my role and do that to the best of my abilities”, stated Alfonzo McKinnie who doesn´t remember having played former teammate Greg Mays, but if he did probably won.

The forward who lists MJ, Lebron, Kobe, and Steph on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore came overseas in 2015 and played his rookie season in Luxemburg with The East Side Pirates in the second division. It was only logical that coming from Chicago to Luxemburg was like night and day and an experience that was hard to get adjusted to. “I went to Luxembourg I didn’t know what to expect. For one I’ve never heard of Luxembourg until my agent at the time mentioned it to me. When I mentioned Luxembourg to everybody else they would say “Germany” lol. Everything about Luxembourg was a complete 360. Completely different everything. It was a culture shock for me. I was so used to being around family and not being far away from home and now I’m in Luxembourg isolated. I couldn’t understand the language. I didn’t know how to drive a manual car so I pretty much stayed in the house majority of the time. That year taught me a lot about mental health and how powerful it is. Mentally I was going through it because I felt out of place. But thanks to my family and friends and some teammates just keeping me motivated I was able to make it thru the year”, remembered Alfonzo McKinnie. He finished his rookie season in Mexico with Rayos de Hermosillo (Mexico-CIBACOPA) averaging 15.3ppg, 7.5rpg, FGP: 62.7%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 63.2% and scored 30 points in his first game. “I enjoyed playing in Mexico. The competition was higher than Luxembourg. The Rayos were #1 in the league when I arrived. I literally remember talking to the Rayos on like a Tuesday/Wednsday and I was in Hermosillo playing my first game like Friday. Atmosphere was crazy. My teammates were cool. The city showed me a lot of love. After being in Luxembourg for 8 months and pretty much losing every game. Mexico sort of rejuvenated me in a sense, upped my spirits because we were winning. We fell short in the finals but overall I enjoyed Mexico”, commented Alfonzo McKinnie. He scored in double figures in 19 of 24 games. In his second pro season he played with the Windy City Bulls (D-League) averaging 14.9ppg, 9.2rpg, FGP: 56.8%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 70.6%. There he was reunited with Alex Brown from Wisconsin and was teammates with many talented guys like current NBA player Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets. He was very consistent especially in the middle of the season. Unfortunately he never got an NBA call up. “My year with Windy City was special. I was able to be close to home and my family could attend all my games. That was the biggest plus for me. I ended up making the D league All star team that year as well. I felt like I should of got a call up but it didn’t happen so that kind of added fuel to the fire. That year took my confidence to another level. I felt like I was good enough to make a NBA Roster because I had performed well against a lot of NBA guys who was down in d league playing on assignment. Guys who were at my position. So after that year was over, my goal was to go to whatever mini camp I could go to and then get to summer league and sign to a team”, expressed Alfonzo McKinnie. He scored in double figures in 41 of 50 games including netting 29 points against Sioux Falls and 26 points against Greensboro.

The Chicago native who lists Keifer Sykes, Draymond Green, Demarcus Cousins • Lorenzo Brown and Demar Derozan as his 5 best teammates of all-time finally reached the NBA in his third season playing 12 NBA games with the Toronto Raptors and also played with the Raptors 905 Missisauga (NBA G League) averaging 13.3ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 69.3%. He made his NBA debut against Portland and in his second game scored 9 points in 9 minutes against Denver. “I remember checking in that game and just looking around in somewhat of Awe. It was the first real game I got to play in. I just wanted to go out and not mess up honestly. I ended up getting a few buckets. I can’t remember if we won or lost but I was just happy I got to play”, expressed Alfonzo McKinnie. When you’re a rookie in the NBA, there is usually no way about getting around having certain duties for the veterans. “My rookie year I had some rookie duties. I had to carry this little girly pink book bag with the letter A on it haha. I had to take that thing everywhere with Me. Other little rookie duties were just having to go get the team breakfast before a flight or something or making sure the vets bags got to the room on a road trip. Nothing too crazy. I had some cool vets”, remembered Alfonzo McKinnie. He was teammates with so many incredible players during his NBA time including Serge Ibaka who has come overseas this year and is playing in Germany for FC Bayern Munich and is easily the greatest ex NBA player to ever play in Germany. “I remember Serge being a cool dude. Down to earth guy. Probably the most fashionable guy on the team. He was a hard worker and it showed on the court. He was one of our best players. Glad to see him back playing and getting do what he loves”, stressed Alfonzo McKinnie.

In his fourth season he made the roster of the Golden State Warriors. He was able to play 94 NBA games and helped the club together with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson reach the NBA final. This was like a dream where he felt like a little kid locked in a candy store. “My year in Golden State is probably the most memorable. I signed with them for training camp for no money. I had the chance to secure a two way spot but I ended up getting a roster spot after pre season. I remember Steve Kerr telling me I was going to get my exhibit 10 converted to a two way and then the day after it was going to get converted to a roster spot. I was speechless. Honestly could have dropped a tear because it took me back to my rookie season in Luxembourg. Just seeing where I started out at and where I was now. I was with the back to back defending champs. Steve Kerr gave me an opportunity early in the year and I took advantage of it and I was able to be crack the rotation that year. Playing and then finishing #1 in the west and making it to the NBA finals. Huge accomplishment for me to be a part of”, remembered Alfonzo McKinnie. He lost the final to his former team Toronto Raptors and despite not winning will forever cherish that time. “The finals I remember the atmosphere being next level. Everything about it, on and off the court was next level. Nothing I’ve seen before. The overall experience was bittersweet though for me because we lost but at the same time I was able to experience that. Alot of guys don’t get to experience that. I’ll always cherish that experience. I remember flying my family to Oakland and setting everything up for them to come watch me in the Finals. I wanted them to apart of that experience too”, added Alfonzo McKinnie. He scored in double figures in 7 games including netting 19 points and hauling down 10 rebounds against his home town team Chicago Bulls. He had the special opportunity to play with the NBA´s greatest three point shooter Steph Curry, a guy who is on many of the younger generation NBA Mount Rushmore. “Steph was a genuine dude. I watched him work day in day out and go showcase his game at the highest level every night. Something he’s done for a long time now. A story I tell people is Steph was the first person to congratulate me on making the team and the day I got cut he called me and we talked for a little bit about what had happened. That there showed how genuine and how good of a guy he was. I honestly don’t think I’ve met anybody who doesn’t like Steph though”, stressed Alfonso Mckinnie who believes the original Coming to America is funnier than the sequel.

The scoring forward who has Lebron James as his goat next suited up for the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) averaging 4.7ppg, 2.9rpg. This was a very young team and he had one of his best games scoring 15 points in a victory over the Detroit Pistons. “My year in Cleveland was a roller coaster to say the least. We were a young cored team. Had a few vets. I didn’t really play to start but as the year went on I was able to get more oppurtunity and then we had a coaching change. Coach JB gave me more opportunity and I had kind of made myself a rotational player. Crazy thing in Cleveland was I got cut then ended up signing a 10 day then getting cut then signing a another ten day then ended up signing a deal with the Cavs. Crazy right. Unfortunately, covid happened and our season got shut down when we’re kind of finding our way”, said Alfonzo McKinnie. He scored in double figures in 5 games including 14 points against the New York Knicks. Covid hit the world and he actually was able to remain in the NBA in such an uncertain time in the world. He was able to lace up his sneakers with the Los Angeles Lakers and call Lebron James his teammate. “I got traded to the Lakers right when it was time for camp. I got covid so I had to miss training camp pretty much. That whole year covid played a big role in everything. Guys would have to miss games because they tested positive for covid. There weren’t any fans allowed in the arenas to start. As time went on some were allowed back. That year was pretty crazy when you really think about it. We were a part of a global shut down and then came back to play still not really knowing everything about Covid”, stated Alfonzo McKinnie. He played 41 games and scored in double figures in 4 games including 11 points against Sacramento. Any player would die to be able to be Lebron James´s teammate or battle against him. It´s no wonder that Lebron James had a positive influence on him during his time there. “I’ve watched Lebron since his HS Days. Arguably the greatest player to play the game. It was interesting to see how he carried himself. How he approached every practice, every game. Probably the smartest IQ wise that. As far as stories, I mean I got to see him go off in a lot of games so a lot of them would basketball stories”, expressed Alfonzo McKinnie. In the 21-22 season he experienced playing in the G-League and NBA with Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico-NBA G League) averaging 24.1ppg, 9.8rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 46.3%, 3FGP: 43.3%, FT: 86.2%, and Chicago Bulls (NBA) averaging 3.5ppg, 1.9rpg. “Getting called up to Chicago was a dream of mine. I knew I was going to get a call up. It was a matter of when and to what team. I was blessed to get called up to the home team. Also was blessed to be the first guy to sign for the full season out of the G league. I always wanted to play for the Bulls since a kid. One of the dopest moments of my career. My family being able to come to all the games. You would think I had a lot of tickets.l but I got 4 tickets every game and I gave them to my mom and she decided who got the other 3. Made it easy for me”, smiled Alfonzo McKinnie. He played 17 NBA games for the Bulls and scored 16 points against Houston while in the G-League scored 32 points against Rio Grande and 30 points a piece against Birmingham and Memphis. Last season he played with Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico (NBA G League) averaging 14.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 72.2% and lived in the giant city Mexico City and had no complaints. “Mexico City was dope. One of the best food scenes I’ve seen. Living situation was nice, nice arena, we had a great fan base. I enjoyed living in Mexico City. MC is a place I’ll go back and visit for sure. Beautiful City. Traffic was crazy, hell it’s 23 million people living there so I wouldn’t expect it to be any different. Thank god I didn’t have to drive out there though”, said Alfonzo McKinnie. Hes cored in double figures in 29 of 41 games including scoring 33 points against Iowa and 31 points against Memphis.

Now 7 years since his Luxemburg rookie season, Alfonzo McKinnie is back in Europe balling in Italy. The differences of the 2 countries in terms of the basketball is like day and night. “Luxembourg D2 and Italy Serie A two completely different leagues. The level of completion being the main factor. Also a lot of guys on my Luxembourg team had regular jobs while I was the only American and professional on my team. In Dinamo everybody is a professional”, added Alfonzo McKinnie. When you played so many years in the States, it it isn´t a cake walk to come back overseas and score 20 points every night and win games. “The experience playing in Italy so far has been an adjustment for me. On and off the court. Just being in a different country and not speaking the language is the biggest challenge off the court. On the court it’s a different style of play and different rules from what I’ve been used to the last 7 years. I’m learning more and more each day though. Coming in everyday and competing and just finding a rhythm and where I fit into the system here. Overall though Italy is a beautiful country and I’m interested in exploring it more and seeing what it has to offer”, stated Alfonzo McKinnie. The club has started off slow in the Serie A currently at 1-5 and 0-2 in the Basketball Champions League. There is a lot of room for improvement. “We haven’t had a great start but that’s expected with everything that has gone on in the club with injuries. I mean I had a few days of practice before playing my first game. But the more we practice the more we get to learn each other and find out what works best for us as a unit. As far as my role, I think I’m here to help on both ends of the floor. Be able to run the floor and create some opportunities,space the floor on offense and make shots and then to be a defensive presence on the other end”, warned Alfonzo McKinnie. “He is 31 years old now and is the NBA still reality for him? “If the right oppurtunity presents itself for me to get back to the NBA. It’s definitely something worth looking into but now I’m focused on the right now and just enjoying the journey. Wherever it may lead me. I´m 31, but still got a lot left to give this game”, warned Alfonzo McKinnie. It will be interesting to see if he can get back to the NBA? Guys have done it with PJ Tucker. Why not Alfonzo McKinnie. His massive chip on his shoulder definitely will continue to drive him to get back to the NBA a place he deserves to be at.

.