For many Americans coming overseas there is always that first wake up call to being in a totally foreign place. That first experience for a guy from say New York or Los Angeles when they come to live in a town in the deepest part of Bavaria 100 kilometers away from Munich. Not every player can have the luxury of a Serge Ibaka and play for Euroleague team FC Bayern Munich. That American reaches his town and that first shock is that not everyone knows English. Another one may be not having a Mcdonalds or Burger King anywhere in the area. A third could be getting to the tiny apartment and not having Wlan for a few days. The first days can be depressing. But what about that first Christmas in Germany? Guys in higher leagues don’t have the luxury of flying home to be with loved ones and celebrate X-mas in their own living room and being able to enjoy the smell of mom´s home cooking with that delectable turkey and mashed potatos and ginger bread to finish it off. Guys in higher leagues play through the holiday period as there is no off time in that time. But in lower leagues like the German Regionalliga, there is a 2 week break. Guys usually go home and come back refreshed for the second half of the season. For athletic BG Hagen guard Shawn Scott (185-G-1996, college: SW Christian), there is always time for a first. “This will be my first year spending Christmas in Germany and for sure it will be tough not seeing my family because this time I always expect to go home. But I’m excited to be able to spend with my German family and the ones close to me”, stressed Shawn Scott. He played his first 2 pro seasons overseas with TVO Biggesee and BG 2000 Berlin and never got into the German Christmas spirit simply because he never witnessed it. “I always went home for Christmas but back then I had much more time but now it’s a little difficult to go there and come back with such short time”, stated Shawn Scott.

Shawn Scott was born January 30th, 1996 in Jenks Oklahoma and has very traditional values concerning Christmas. “Christmas for me means being with your family or the ones closest to you and being blessed to have each other and celebrating the birth of Christ. I’m definitely a family guy and look forward to being with family especially being overseas and not seeing them so often”, said Shawn Scott. As a German-American that grew up in Boston to German parents, we celebrated Christmas the German way. I remember celebrating Christmas in Florida at Boca Raton and teasing my friends days before Christmas saying I would be all dressed up in a festive style and could already open presents in the evening as opposed to them opening presents the next morning in their pajamas. At the age of 27, Scott also isn´t that old that he can´t recall his earliest X-mas memory. “My earliest X-mas memory is when I was much younger so I think just making cookies and decorating the Christmas tree and then watching a movie on Christmas Eve. Not being able to sleep because I was so excited to wake up and open gifts”, added Shawn Scott. I think my fondest childhood X-mas present was my first bike whereas for Scott, it was something that was related to sports, but not basketball. “ Hmm that’s a tough one. I think when I was like 10 years old, my parents have a video of me going crazy when I got a Ladainian Tomlinson jersey. This was my absolute favorite American football player back then when I only played football and basketball was never in the picture”, remembered Shawn Scott.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber with his mom and little brother in Boca Raton, Florida celebrating Christmas

Some guys are so locked into the game and perfecting their craft that even the biggest holiday in the world doesn´t get locked into their thoughts like maybe for others. Despite being in Germany the last few December´s, X-mas hasn´t been on his radar. “Since this will be my first time spending Christmas in Germany, I think I will finally learn everything and how Germans celebrate Christmas. I know the main difference is that you guys have 3 days where you celebrate Christmas whereas Americans only really spend it on the 25th. I’m excited to be here and celebrate in a new way and I’m sure it won’t be the last time”, warned Shawn Scott. In Germany one of the most loved Christmas dishes are German hot dogs with Potato salad or Duck or Fondue. He is more than ready to have his first go of tasting the traditional Deutsch cuisine. “I actually have no clue what the traditional German cuisine is but I can’t wait to try everything”, smiled Shawn Scott. The question is with whom will the second leading scorer of the German Regionalliga be spending X-mas with in Germany? “I will spend part of it with my girlfriend and the other part with my first coach in Germany and his family. They are like my second family and I always go see them when I can”, expressed Shawn Scott. Ok so he never really has spent time informing himself about Christmas eve in Germany over the last years, but he was surprised to learn that he won´t be waking up in the morning with the same kind of excitement as in the states concerning presents. “I actually didn’t know that you open presents at night here but it will different for sure because I’m so used to opening in the morning. When I have a family I honestly don’t know which way I will use I’ll have to talk about that with my lady”, smiled Shawn Scott. Everyone has their Christmas wish as a present. Mine is health as always, but if I had to chose what I want, I will keep it a secret, but my lady knows what I want. If Scott had a basketball present wish then it would be a very special one. “I would want Ja Morant shoes for sure”, said Shawn Scott. Before he knows it and has properly digested all the yummy food over the holidays, it will be time to lace up his sneakers again for the first game back against Hagen Haspe. He obviously will want a potent second half form his team and self. “I think just to continue to find ways to be unpredictable and not let anyone think that they have me figured out. It’s always hard playing a team the second time because they know your every move but I want to be in a position where you still will never know what I do the next time around”, warned Shawn Scott. His new year resolution isn´t any different either. “My New Year’s resolution is to continue to play to the best of my ability and making it to where I want and see myself being at”, warned Shawn Scott. It will be interesting to learn how he enjoys Christmas and if he will celebrate a second X-mas in Germany. But then again if he continues make massive strides in his game, then who knows where he could be in 12 months, but possibly in another country and learn to cherish their Christmas there.