Bryce Brown (190-SG-1996, college: Auburn) is a 26 year old 190cm shooting guard playing his 5th professional season and first with Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). Last season he split time with Besiktas Icrypex Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) and King Szczecin (Poland-EBL) averaging 12.3ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 67.0%. He played his first 3 pro seasons in the G-League with the Maine Red Claws (NBA G League) averaging 16.1ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 42.8%, FT: 72.5%, Westchester Knicks (NBA G League) averaging 5.4ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 35.7%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 66.7% and the Long Island Nets (NBA G League) averaging 13.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 75.0%. He began his basketball career at Columbia High School and finished at Tucker High School. He played at Auburn (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 130 games. In his last 2 seasons he averaged 15.9ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 44.0%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 77.5% and 15.9ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 80.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against ratiopharm Ulm.

Thanks Bryce for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your second season overseas and first with Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). After playing in Turkey and Poland last season, what kind of experience has it been playing in France?

So far, playing in France has been great. I find that the schedule is more demanding because we play more games during the week than we did in Poland. I also find that weekly competition is consistently better due to teams having deeper benches. In Poland, we had good teams and players, but the teams were not as deep as they are in France.

Many have the Turkish and France leagues in the top 5 of best leagues in Europe? Would you say the France Pro A league is all around a better league than the Turkish one?

For the time I was in Turkey, the teams I played against were very good. However, I did not play very long in Turkey, so I think it will be unfair of me to place one over the other. I still watch a lot of Turkish basketball and if I was forced to select one over the other as far as overall league quality, I would lean to France because France seems to have more good teams from top – to- bottom.

You have needed no real adjustment time overseas. You had a fine season in Poland and played well in France. How do you feel does your game translate best to the European style?

Thank you for your kind comments. However, I do feel I needed adjustment time in some areas of the European game. However, I had a great coach in Poland and have a great coach in France that teaches very well and I was able to pick up on things fairly well. Playing in Europe is very different than playing in America because Europe basketball is really focused on team play (offensively and defensively). My game translates because I have always been a team focused player. I strive not only to be a great shooter, but I also strive to be the best play maker that my role allows me to be.

Talk a little about your game. To what NBA player would you compare your game and what are your biggest strengths?

As stated above, I think I bring play making and shooting to the table along with knowing what it takes to win the big ones. I think it is important to play with courage and confidence, but not arrogance. I don’t really compare my game to any one NBA player. However, I try to take some things from games of Steph Curry, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker of the Suns. All these guys are great players and I admire many facets of their games that I try very hard to incorporate into my style of play. If I can achieve ¼ of a percent what these guys have achieved on the court, I would be more than satisfied with my career and accomplishments.

You have shown in the last years that you can be a very consistent shooter. What is the biggest challenge in becoming an elite shooter overseas?

The biggest challenge in becoming an elite shooter overseas is patience, taking smart and good shots, earning the trust of teammates by taking shots within the constraints of team play and not allowing success to inject complacency into my work ethic. I continue to work hard on my shooting and skills every day.

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

I am a good one-on-one defender, but I continue to work hard on my overall team defensive skill set. I want to become an elite defender because this will allow me to stay on the court where I can continue to contribute at a high level on both sides of the ball. For us to win big this year, I must continue to strive for elite play in this area of my game.

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

Now, I am aggressively focusing on ball handling and learning more about the point guard role. I don’t think I will ever be a true point guard, but incorporating more point guard skills in my game will improve my overall game play.

Last season you began with Besiktas Icrypex Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) but played only one game. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew you were far away from home? I’m sure living in Istanbul was a culture shock?

My experience in Istanbul was strange. They say timing is everything in life and I think being in Istanbul to start my career was the right place, but the wrong time. I loved the city, the food, the people. However, we had a very young team, and the players did not know each other, and instant success was required. With young players and no chemistry, success is hard to achieve, and I believe this was the main culprit for my short time in Istanbul. My wake-up call was not having my family around for the mentoring and support. Time zones were different, so the amount of game assessment time we had was very limited. Knowing that you can’t jump on the plane and go home over the weekend took a little time to sink in.

You then finished your rookie season strong with King Szczecin (Poland-EBL) averaging 12.3ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 50.7%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 67.0%. You won your first chip and went 3 playoff rounds and beat Slask in the final. What was special about this team and what was your fondest playoff moment?

The team was special because we grew as a team and around midseason, we started to realize that we were good. We had great pieces, great coaching and a great strength and condition regime. When we won our first play-off games with such ease; we thought something special could happen. My fondest moment had to be when we won the championship of course! Also, it was icing on the cake to win MVP.

You played your rookie season with the Maine Red Claws (NBA G League) averaging 16.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 46.2%, 3PT: 42.8%, FT: 72.5%. You had a strong stretch at the end of the season, but then Covid came. Do you feel like you might have got a NBA call up had Covid not come?

For sure, I was on the radar for a few teams and was expecting a call-up. Again, timing is everything.

You achieved a highlight right as a rookie scoring 43 points against Delaware shooting 11/11 from outside. That is a once in a life time thing. How do you remember that shooting game? Could you of hit shots blindfolded that night?

It is funny, I was in such a zone, I did not even realize that I had hit that many shots. I was just shooting and everything that left my hands seemed perfect. I did not realize that I had hit 10 in a row until someone from the official scoring table told me. I think I could have hit 15 threes that night. However, there nothing special about warm-ups. I did not make any more than my usual number of shots in warm-ups. I thank God for that night. I believe I still hold the Gleague record for the most consecutive 3s made in one game.

In your second season you played with the Westchester Knicks (NBA G League) averaging 5.4ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 35.7%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 66.7%. You averaged 12 less minutes than with Maine. How tough was this season for you and what did you learn from the experience?

I don’t think that most people knew that during that season I was playing with a severe ankle injury that I later had corrected after that season. I injured the ankle in Maine, and it became progressively worse over time. However, I thought I could play through it, but did not have much success doing so. After that season, I had surgery, went through rehab and have not looked back since. So, I write that year off as an injury year and don’t think much about it anymore.

In your third professional season you played with the Long Island Nets (NBA G League) averaging 13.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 75.0%. How do you remember this season? You had some strong stretches but overall how difficult is it to be consistent in the G-League when seemingly everyone is playing for their stats?

It’s true, it is very difficult to be consistent in the G League especially when the rosters can change daily and it did on that team. You have no time to create chemistry and trust among team members. It is also true that I had some great stretches during that season and the word was that I would get a call up opportunity after Christmas. As you know, that never happened. I remember that season as an up and down season for a lot of players because the organization was not committed to building a team and that perception impacted how players went into each game. The team concept never materialized.

Did you lose a little faith in the NBA process after that season?

It is true that I lost some faith in the NBA process after that season. I played very well in the beginning of the year where I saw call ups for players with less high-level performances than I had during that time. To this day, I can’t grasp it.

How big is your NBA goal?

I don’t focus on the NBA as much as I used to. However, playing in the NBA is still a goal for me. For now, I am in a very good situation in France, I am totally focused on helping my team win a championship.

Do you still have back door open should a NBA summer league spot come or training camp spot?

I am not a big fan of NBA summer league. Summer league is designed for the clubs to look at their rookies and unless a club is really interested in you, you become a roster fill piece on NBA summer league teams. Some players still believe that it is possible to break through in the summer league. However, a very small percentage of players are given enough opportunity to break through. Again, it has really become a showcase for the draft picks and not about finding quality players who can step in to help a club. However, I think the opposite of training camps. There are excellent opportunities to be seen at training camps and I always keep the door open for an invite.

What was the best example that you saw in those 3 years where you saw that the NBA will always be a business first?

During those three years, the best examples I saw the NBA executing as a business first is when Knicks, Rockets, Thunder, Pelicans, and Nets go through massive changes. The Rockets, Thunder and Pelicans doubled down on the youth movement and the Knicks and Nets completely overhauled to position themselves to win more. I think the answer is a good balance between youth and experience.

You played at Auburn (NCAA) from 2015-2019. Quantez Robertson played there from 2005-20o9 and then had a legendary 14 year career in Germany with 1 team. Is a guy like that a role model for you for being able to survive so long?

For sure, and that type of career is very possible in Europe.

What memories will you always have from winning the SEC title over Florida?

Well, one small correction. We won the championship against the Tennessee Vols. I will always cherish this moment because it was huge for Auburn Basketball. The team was built from players from my freshman year and sophomore years. We were a very close team and believed that we were the best team in the conference and the nation. It was also an awesome year because we overcame a lot of adversity.

You beat Kentucky as a junior where you had 18 points and held your own against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PJ Washington and as a senior lost 82-80 scoring 28 points and was the best player on the court with future NBA guys like Tyler Hero and Immanuel Quickly. Does a game like this still give you hope for the NBA?

Sure games like this give me hope and reason to believe that if I was afforded the opportunity, I could stick at the NBA level. I think all of those guys are good players, but as you said, I was the best player on some nights when I played against them. You just need for one team to like you!

You reached the NCAA final 4 in 2019 losing to Virgina 63-62. How tough was this loss and have you ever sat through the game again?

The loss was very tough because of the way we lost. You lose a game off free throws because the ref did not see the violation before that play! I will always remember hearing that whistle after the shot with hardly no time on the clock. I have only watched highlights from that game. I don’t think I can view the game again.

You beat North Carolina and Kentucky back in back within 48 hours. What do you remember being your biggest challenge in those 48 hours?

My biggest challenge during those 48 hours was staying focused on the task at hand (winning the championship). I was always taught that you don’t get too high on your success, and you don’t get too low on your failures! Excitement and popularity was building and it took a lot of focus to stay mentally ready and tuned in.

How did head coach Bruce Pearl groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Pearl believed in the full person. I mean, coach Pearl wanted us to be responsible adults, great students, men with good character as well as great basketball players. He believes in family, God, trust, and hard work. All of these elements have become a part of me and prepared me for a solid professional career.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jared Harper?

I would say we split 50/50 on 1-1 challenges. However, Jared and I usually worked on complementing techniques. We would work on things that I could do to help him in games, and he would do the same for me.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I would say Terence Davis from Ole Miss now plays with the Kings. Terence was a former football player. He could run, jump, was fast and strong. He worked on his outside game and has become a good NBA player.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jared Harper, Horace Spencer, Kaiser Gates, Samir Doughty, Chuma Okeke

What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron Curry Jordan Durant

Who is your GOAT and why?

There is always the argument between Lebron and Jordan. I identify with Lebron more because of my age I did not see a lot of MJ. So, I would have to say that Lebron is my modern-day Goat. The reason why he is my Goat is because of his consistent high level of play, his passion for the game and his neverending desire to be the best and getting the best out of his teammates.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I thought the first Coming To American was better. The 2nd one was entertaining, but the first one had a better story line.

Thanks Bryce for the chat.