Marco Buljevic (197-SG-1987) is a 36 year old 197cm shooting guard that has enjoyed a 20 year professional career and currently is playing for Citybasket Recklinghausen (Germany-Regionalliga): He played parts of 4 easyCredit BBL seasons with Giessen and the EWE Baskets Oldenburg where he won the BBL title in 2009. He played 6 Pro A seasons with Essen and also played 4 Pro B seasons with Bochum and one season a piece with FC Schalke and Schwelm and also a Regionalliga season with Herten.His bones have endured more than 400 pro games in his career. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Marco for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I’ve been living in Essen for over a decade now with my wife and two sons who play basketball a well, of course. Next to playing myself I also coach my older one’s u10-team. I feel blessed with having children who have so much love for the game.

You had a wild OT game in Bonn. You lost the game 128-121, Did it feel like a NBA game with so much scoring?

It certainly did. We watch a lot of basketball in our house, mostly Euroleague and NBA. The number of possessions in NBA games is ridiculous. Our game in Bonn definitely felt like one of those type of games.

The game had 2 guys who almost hit 50 points apiece as Mychael Paulo went off for 45 points and Zach Hinton went off for 46 points. Did you feel a little in the shadow with your 11 three´s made?

Not at all, I am too old for these kind of feelings. Zach deserves as much love and credit as there is. Without the focus on him I get less open shots. Paulo played out of his mind as well.

Did you lose some of that good feeling of having made 11 three´s by having lost the game? What was key in OT for Bonn pulling out this crazy game?

The feeling could’ve been better, for sure. We were riding a five game win streak prior so it hurt being so close to six straight and not getting it over the finish line. I give all the credit to Bonn and their well-coached young team by Marko Zarkovic. In overtime we switched all ball screens. Paulo ran as many until he had the match up he felt comfortable with and made the crucial plays. End of story.

Talk a little how special Zach Hinton is as a player. Did you know before the game that he could be capable of a feat like that?

I knew, not even surprised a bit. Zach is a beast, a competitor, in excellent physical shape and can shoot. So he’s too good for this league. We hit the jackpot in every way getting him at the American spot. The coolest thing about him is that he puts up silly numbers every week but is an unhappy salty man if we’re not winning.

Recklinghausen is 7-6. What do you believe is possible with this team? Does it have the talent to pull out a massive winning streak?

Playoffs are possible and for sure the goal. As I’ve mentioned we recently had a win streak and won five straight. Overall we have our challenges athletically and therefore more on the defensive end. In this league though there are several teams with their own different strengths and weaknesses which has most of the squads leveled out on a similar level.

You have been a three point specialist your whole career. I presume this was the most you ever made. How did you feel going into the game? Did you have a special pre game meal?

The only thing special was the unorthodox 4:30 tip-off time. In Thursday’s internal scrimmage and the pre-game warm up I took lots of shots from 9-10 meters and rarely missed so I admit I was considering going nuts that afternoon.

Did you know after your first three that you would have a great game or did it take a few more to sink in?

Whoever has been in a zone like that is familiar with this: You don’t know, calculate, project, think about technique, a defender or anything. You just flow and do what you do. If they were too guard closer after a few makes, you just pull up from deeper. Using the counter to blow by aggressive defenders gets tougher at advanced age, at least for me.

How much does this game mean for you? As a shooter you know the frustration that shooters get during a season throwing the three. Not many shooters that have played in Germany can say they made 11 three´s?

It’ll be a nice one to remember. That’s what I love about having children while you’re still playing. Leo often compares my stats to those of NBA stars’ box score lines that he checks daily. So for his approval you have to go out and get buckets.

How much did your confidence grow with making 11 three´s. Does one think like now I can make 12 in the next game?

I expect to be face-guarded from half-court on next game so I doubt it. However, that will be a good thing for us because it will make room for Zach and the other snipers we have on the team.

At the moment your shooting 40% from outside. Are you getting better with age as a shooter?

Maybe, or I’m just more relaxed living with the results at this part of my life. That might be the secret. What helps is the unlimited green light I get from Coach Dhnesch basically anytime I pass half-court.

You are turning 37 next year and have played for 20 years. How much longer do you still want to play? Could you play until 40?

I have no clue. The love I have for the game in the purest way is still there like 30 years ago when I started bouncing a ball. Dribbling, shooting, having competition and being part of a locker room brings me so much joy, so why stop.

So many gyus that you played with 15 plus years ago in Oldenburg and Giessen have long retired. Do you keep in touch with certain guys from way back in the day?

I do keep in touch with a few. Nikita Khartchenkov and I are really close. He and I played on four different teams together in the past. He lives in Essen as well and we both coach our sons at ETB’s youth program. On top of that we compete on the court in the same league. Everyone who knows Nikita is familiar with his ridiculous sharp shooting ability. I hereby challenge my dear friend to make 12 threes in a game until the end of the season. If so, dinner on me at a restaurant of choice.

Another guy from your birth year and ex teammate Johannes Lischka is also still playing like you in the Regionalliga. He defyed all odds coming back from much misfortune and is still playing. Do you guys have bets going on as who will play longer?

No bets, just tremendously happy for my friend. I know how much he loves the game of basketball. I want him to play as long it makes him happy.

Franz Wagner has scored 30 plus points in 3 games in a row. Could he become the next German superstar in the NBA?

No doubt. I’m so impressed by him. The way he manipulates defenders with the timing of his footwork to get to the best spot for a bucket is amazing. I can’t name too many players who do it that way and that good.

Thanks Marco for the chat.