Jordan Giles (198-F-1998, college: UMKC, agency: One Motive Sports) is a 25 year old 198cm forward fromTuscaloosa, Alabama playing his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Last season he played with KTP Basket Kotka (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 12.3ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 80.5%. He played his first 2 pro seasons with Racing Luxembourg (Luxembourg-Total League) averaging 19.7ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 72.8% and with the Koping Stars (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 17.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 60.5%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 79.9%. He began his basketball career at Holy Spirit Catholic and played a season at Tennessee Preparatory Academy. He played at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (NCAA) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 117 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the start of the season about basketball.

Congrats Jordan on signing with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. This is your fourth professional season and fourth country. What do you enjoy most about the globetrotter life overseas?

The globetrotter life is beneficial for me because of where I come from (Tuscaloosa, Alabama). I don’t find my hometown a place where I’d like to spend my entire life especially my young adult life. Ever since I was young my dad always told me that home will always be home and the main reason to come back if I was to leave was family and friends.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? I´m sure you have guys that you know that have balled in Germany?

The main things I know about Germany and it’s basketball is that Germany is one of the best countries in Europe when it comes to basketball, I know some German players that have played and/or play in the NBA, and I know of a few teams in BBL/ProA because I know people that have played for them. I also played in Luxembourg my rookie year and in the preseason we played against EPG in Koblenz back when they were in Pro B.

You had positive talks with head coach Steven Key. What impressed you most about his basketball philosophy?

Me and Coach Key didn’t talk too much on basketball philosophy, but what impressed me is that he is an American coach and what he saw in me on some of the possible things I can do for the club. It sounds like he puts in a lot of work into his strategy and game planning and he has a good infrastructure within the club, and that’s what matters the most.

You had solid seasons in Luxemburg, Sweden and Finland. You moved up a level in league every season. How confident do you feel like you can be an impact player in the Pro A?

I´m very confident that I can be an impact player in ProA. I’ve been an impact player pretty much all of my life it’s all about giving me the opportunity and being put in a position to succeed. Some places I haven’t been put in the best position to succeed but staying positive, putting work in, and playing aggressive will take care of that.

Let´s talk a little about your game. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I feel like it’s very hard to compare my game to an NBA player because I’ve heard so many different players because I have different parts to my game that I show at different times. For example I have people that know me as being a 4/5 compared to me knowing people that think I’m a guard/wing. But I will name some of the ones people say the most: Michael Beasley, James Harden, Lebron James, Draymond Green, Aaron Gordon and Kyle Kuzma.

Your an all-around strong power forward that can fill the stat sheet well. How vital is versatility in your game?

Versatility is very vital in my game. I feel like one of my biggest strengths on the court is my brain/IQ so being versatile allows me to think about what I should do in certain situations. My versatility makes me unguardable in a sense because either someone can’t stay in front of me or someone can’t defend me on the block because of my strength. On defense I’m able to guard virtually anyone, can hedge and switch with bigs and guards.

After down years in shooting the three in Luxemburg and Sweden, you were at 38% last season in Finland. What is key for you being able to hit the 40% mark in Germany?

Last year I feel like I got to 38% from 3 because I noticed that catch and shoot 3s/pick and pop 3s were one of my only efficient ways to score within the offense that we were running and I started taking more of those as the season went along. My key of shooting 40 from 3 in Germany will be accomplished simply by just staying aggressive, staying in the gym getting reps up, and staying confident and shooting them in game.

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

Like I said earlier defensively I’m able to guard a lot of guys. I have foot speed for shuffling and running to spots, combined with a fairly strong body and decent length on the wingspan. The one or two things that I’d like to add to my defensive repertoire would be being able to pick up full court and keep constant pressure better, and I’d like to become a better shot blocker which just comes from me becoming more athletic.

On what areas of your game are you working on most this summer so you can continue to improve you game?

The areas I work on my game the most to improve will always be shooting and ball handling. I’ve been on teams to where I only get to show those skills a certain amount playing different positions but I try to showcase it when need be. You can never be too good of a shooter or ball handler!

Last season you played with KTP Basket Kotka (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 12.3ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 80.5%. How tough was losing that 5 game playoff series against Kataja? What did you learn from that series?

The Kataja series was tough because at home they were like a 30 point difference as a team and the ride back and forth for 5 games was 5 hours. What I learned from that series was that’s why you take care of business in the regular season!

In 21-22 you played for Koping Stars (Sweden-Basketliga) averaging 17.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 60.5%, 3PT: 30.1%, FT: 79.9%. What kind of an experience was Sweden? You lost another tough playoff series this time against Jamtland?

Sweden was a great experience basketball wise, if I had never been hurt for 2 months I would’ve had even a better year than that! The playoff series vs Jamtland was one of my worst for a few reasons, one or two of them I couldn’t control so we weren’t in the best position to win that series.

What was it like sharing the court with Evan Mcgaughey who has since retired, but played many years in Germany? I can imagine you had some nice battles in practice?

I really liked playing with Evan McGaughey! One of the guys who made my job on the floor easier when on the court together because of his skillset, and also a very nice guy off the court. Yes we definitely had some nice battles in practice and I wish that we would’ve played more games with each other that year.

You played your rookie season with Racing Luxembourg (Luxembourg-Total League) averaging 19.7ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 72.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew you were far away from home?

My wake up call to being an overseas rookie knowing I’m far away was one of my first days in Luxembourg. I had some fish for lunch that I had never ate before and I knew something was weird about it. By the time practice came that night I was on the court literally holding my stomach in pain because of the lunch I had and also me trying to get in the best shape before the season.

You played at UMKC (NCAA) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 117 NCAA games. How do you feel did your game grow there in the 4 years?

I felt like my game grew in 4 years at UMKC because of me being in a program that took basketball more serious than I was used to. When I got to college I started lifting weights, I realized the importance of getting in extra work, and I also got accustomed to playing with better players than I had played with in the past.

In your senior year you had 2 stellar back to back games against South Dakota and Seattle. Was that some of the best basketball that you played in the NCAA?

The SeattleU and South Dakota games from my senior are definitely some of my best games of college. I have more but those games were very important for my senior campaign.

How excited are you to be playing against former teammate Marvin Nesbitt this season? What is something that not many people know about this great player?

I am super excited to play Marvin this year! I watched Marvin come into school as a freshman and he was my teammate for 3 more years until I graduated so he’s one of the guys from school that I consider a brother. Something that people don’t know about Marvin is that he is very quiet to people he doesn’t know, but if he is comfortable around you he’s hilarious.

How did head coach Kareem Richardson help groom and prepare you for a professional career in your first 3 years and Billy Donlon in your senior year?

KRich took me from a boy to a man in 3 years of work and I’ll forever be grateful for him putting his belief into me from the start! Donlon helped me senior year by polishing what I had and pushing me to another level of success and I’m thankful for him teaching me his knowledge of the game.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Brandon Suggs?

1 on 1 in practice me or Brandon Suggs? Suggs is my guy but I definitely was winning. Usually teams have me doing skill work with the bigs and it’s kind of unfair because I’m just a strong as them but I play like a guard so I’m hitting them with moves that are unexpected.

Who has been your toughest opponent so far in your career to face?

My toughest opponent I’ve ever faced in my professional career had to be my rookie year. My guy Henry Pwono at the time played for a team in Luxembourg called Etzella. He went off on us that day for I think 30 and by the time I had to guard him it was too late. Everything he put up was going in.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore/Euro Mount Rushmore?

My personal NBA Mt Rushmore I have to go with: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson. My Euro/International Mt Rushmore probably is: Manu Ginobli, Dirk Nowitzki, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tony Parker

Who is your GOAT?

I don’t think I have a GOAT right now. If I had to say one I’d say Michael Jordan is the GOAT but once LeBron retires I think by that time I’ll be ready to say he is the GOAT. Right now they are neck and neck with each other.

How well will Germany and USA fair at the 2023 World Championships?

USA and Germany I feel like will do very well in the World Cup, hopefully one of them can win the whole thing.

Thanks Jordan for the chat.