Robert Zinn (197-PG-1995) is a 28 year old 197cm guard that has the German/Swiss citizenship and is currently playing his sixth season in Switzerland and second with the Lions de Geneve (Switzerland-SBL) averaging 9,7ppg, 4,4rpg and 6,8apg. He began his career in Germany for the MHP Riesen organization. He also played for teams in Germany like Kirchheim, Baunach, Breitengussbach, MBC, Sixers Sandersdorf, Herzogenaurach, Nurnberg and Tuebingen. He played parts of 4 BBL seasons a massing a total of 64 games. In Switzerland he also has played with BC Boncourt, Fribourg and Lugano and won 7 titles. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Robert Zinn for talking to germanhoops.com. You left Germany in 2018 and just finished your 5th season in Switzerland and have won 7 titles in that span. Was that the best decision in your basketball life?

Yes to go to Switzerland and play here was definitely the best decision. I made a lot of good memories and met great people in the years since I am here. I can say that Switzerland is my new home.

You played 4 seasons in the BBL and 64 games. Did you ever get a fair chance?

It is a difficult question for a young German guard guard to answer. It is always difficult to get playing time. Silvano Poropat gave me for sure a fair chance and a lot of confidence. I was just really young and physically not ready to compete on this level.

Do you feel like in Germany especially in the BBL, it is very difficult for young Germans to get a fair chance? Of course it can be done, but still it´s difficult.

Yes I still think it is difficult for young Germans and it might be better to go to the pro A where the value for a German player is higher and the game is less physical. So they have more time to develop.

Maybe your game wasn´t as developed back with MBC and Tuebingen. Do you feel like you were just there at the wrong time? I´m sure you would get more of a chance in the BBL now?

I think especially at my position teams prefer American point guards and if they sign a German point guard most of the time they are fast and really physical. This is not really my style of play.

Do you think like you could ever return to Germany or are you having too much fun winning in Switzerland?

I would have liked to go back to Germany but there was not the right situation for me on the market. But indeed it is really fun to play in Switzerland and to have a lot of responsibility and to take important descisions on the court.

Last season with the Lugano Tigers (Switzerland-SBL) you made a big jump averaging 15.9ppg, 5.9rpg, Assists-1 (11.0apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 29.9%, FT: 76.7%. Was this your best season as a professional skill wise?

Yes I think it was my best season. I had a lot of freedom and my teammates trusted me a lot to create for everyone.

You had 2 triple doubles. How did that feel? That is so rare.

Yes this was really special and in both games we won so I am really happy I could contribute something to the win.

You had never averaged more than 4 assists in a season and then you average 11. What changed in your playmaking?

I think I learned so much under my coach in Fribourg Petar Aleksic to read and control the game. I was way calmer this year when I played pick and roll and so I found a lot of good solutions.

Do you feel like you could do it again this season with the Lions de Geneve (Switzerland-SBL)

Geneva will be a different situation then Lugano. The most important thing is that we win a title and then I will see how I personally I can contribute but I think coach Dragan knows how he can use me.

You won 5 titles with Fribourg Olympic (SBL). Was there a title that was most special to you?

Yes for me the SBL cup was really special. We were down 10 2 minutes to go and still one. This was definitely the craziest game I played.

Your last season in Germany was with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen (BBL) where you averaged 2.8ppg, 1.1rpg, 1.5apg. What memories do you have being part of a sinking ship?

It was a frustrating season. Especially for me where Tübingen is my hometown and my favorite city in Germany. We couldn’t figure out how to win games. I am happy that they are back in BBL now.

Your best game that season was scoring 16 points in a loss against FC Bayern Munich. Despite the loss is that a game your proud of?

Yes to play against Bayern is always special. They had amazing players so this was a good experience in the very difficult season.

You were teammates with Jared Jordan. Did some of his fancy passes rub off on you?

Yes for sure Jared Jordan was a great leader and the way he was reading the game, he was always ahead and I give hima lot of respect for that. I think I am a similar player type.

You played a season with the Nuernberg Falcons BC (ProA) averaging 4.0ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.6apg. What memories do you have of this season? I can imagine you were expecting to play more of a role coming from the BBL?

Yes I had an American point guard Dianne Watkins in front of me so I didn’t have a big role.

You played with MBC from 2014-2016. What memories do you have from that time? I can imagine that it was very demanding playing for Predrag Krunic?

MBC was a great time. The people there really appreciate you if you play for the club. I liked the atmosphere and met great people. We had great team chemistry in MBC and Pedrag Krunic is a fantastic coach. He always brought the same energy everyday to practice.

You had many veterans as teammates. What was it like being teammates with veteran Marcus Hatten? I can imagine you were able to learn a lot from his game?

Marcus was one of the most hardworking teammates I had. He was by far the oldest but always in the weight room. Amazing guy and great leader.

You began your career in the Ludwigsburg organization. Do you ever wonder how your career may have gone then had you had John Patrick earlier on?

I don´t think I don’t have the profile for what John Patrick is looking for so I think it would have been difficult for me to get minutes if I would have stayed in Ludwigsburg

You scored your first 2 BBL points in a 20 point loss to Bamberg playing against legends like Casey Jacobsen and Bostjan Nachbar. What memories do you have of that game?

Yes I appreciated that John Patrick threw me in there with 17. it was an amazing experience playing in Bamberg in front of 6000.

Who is the toughest player you played against in the easyCredit BBL?

The toughest player was the point guard from Alba Berlin back then Cliff Hammonds. Every time when we played against Alba he played full court pressure. I felt like I couldn´t move. His defense was on another level.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

1.Jonathan Kazadi 2. Diante Watkins 3.Christian Standhardinger 4.Johannes Thiemann 5. Arnauld Cotture

Who is your GOAT and why?

My Goat is Dirk because he’s German and because his championship run is for me the greatest championship run ever.

Thanks Robert for the chat.