Jarell Eddie (201-F-1993, college: Virginia Tech, agency: Octagon Europe) is a 32 year old 201cm forward playing his 10th professional season and first with U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca (Romania-Liga Nationala). He began his basketball career at Cannon high school and then played 4 years at Virginia Tech (NCAA) playing a total of 122 NCAA games. He played his first 4 pro years in the NBA and G-League. In the NBA he played a total of 34 games for teams like Washington, Phoenix, Boston and Chicago. He came overseas in 2018 and has played in countries like France, Spain, and Turkey. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against ratiopharm Ulm.

Thanks Jarell for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your 10th professional season and first in Romania. What kind of an experience has that been after seeing France, Spain and Turkey?

It´s been great. I like my club. The club is run well and it´s always nice to be a part of winning.

Your playing for your sixth organization in Europe. Do you feel like the classic basketball globetrotter? What have been the positives and negatives of this lifestyle personally for you?

It´s tough on my family. I think the goal is to find some kind of stability and find a home for more than a year. I have moved around a lot in my career and I would prefer that it wouldn´t be like that, but I accept that it´s a business. You just go where they want you to go.

You have always been consistent in your stats where ever you played in. How much credit do you give your days in the NCAA where you already showed it? You learned at a young age?

I found out in school that I wasn´t super athletic. So I decided to work on my shot and I embraced scoring the ball. I figured that if I could shoot from outside that I could be successful. I discovered shooting was my trademark in school and that has carried on through my pro career.

You played 4 years in the NBA and the 6 in Europe. What kind of player were you in 2018 coming to Europe and what kind of player are you in 2024?

I believe that I´m the same player that I was in school. When I was in the NBA, I wasn´t a stretch 4. When I came to Europe I became that stretch 4 player and had to adjust. That has been my role since coming overseas. I feel blessed to be able to have that role.

U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca have won 7 titles in Romania since 2020 and really making strides. Have you noticed this special atmosphere in the organization and tradition? What does it mean to you personally to play for an organization like this?

I feel like the organization has that standard of excellence. They are used to winning and I feel like I have a great opportunity to help the club add new titles. I´m still looking for my first overseas title.

The club is playing great ball. It is undefeated in Romania and near the top in Eurocup. It kept some, but also added 8 new guys and everything is clicking. What is the secret to the success?

We have a lot of great guys and we all like each other. The team was put together well and is well coached. We have our own style that meshes together well. That is a nice recipe for success.

What has it been like being teammates with ultra veteran Patrick Richard who has been on board since 2019. What kind of a bond have you been able to form with him?

We are roommates on the road. He is a great leader and player. He is always ready and so helpful. He was also was helpful for me in adjusting to the coach. We have gotten to know each other really well.

Last season you had your second tour of duty in Turkey and played with Buyuksehir Hastanesi Konyaspor Basketbol (Turkey-BSL) averaging 13.9ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 43.6%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 85.0%. You were teammates with German Gavin Schilling. He is one of few Germans playing abroad in high leagues. Can he make the next jump outside Germany?

Gavin is a high energy player that brings a lot of athleticism. I think that if he continues to work hard then he can make the next jump.

In 2020-2021 you played with top Euroleague team Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) averaging 13.2ppg, 3.4rpg, FGP: 67.9%, 3PT-2 (54.3%), FT: 80.0%; and in the Euroleague averaged 5.9ppg, 2.1rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 44.9%, FT: 90.5%. Did it feel strange being mostly inserted for Euroleague than for the BSL? Was it a tough adjustment?

I played some Turkish league games but the problem was our roster had 11 imports and only 5 can play. In the Euroleague there is no limit. It was an adjustment. I wasn´t used to playing during the week and not on the weekends. It´s a unique part of the business. That´s what happens when you play for a great club. I learned that season that you need to make sacrifices for the good of the team and always stay ready.

You had 2 great games against top team CSKA. After losing the first contest by a point, you won the second. Was that win one of the more memorable for you that season?

Yes for sure those games stuck out the most.

In the 2019-2020 season you played with Universidad Catolica de Murcia CB (Spain-Liga ACB) averaging 14.4ppg, 3.1rpg, FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 44.0%, FT: 89.2%. You had a 34 point explosion on 10 three´s against Joventut, but lost the game. Was that one of your best individual performances that you had overseas?

Yes it is. I like to go back and watch games and evaluate. That was my best game in Europe.

You played your first season overseas with SIG Strasbourg (France-Jeep ELITE ProA) averaging 11.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 46.4%, FT: 88.2%; BCL: 9 games: 10.3ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 39.1%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 85.7%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

There wasn´t a specific moment where I had a wake up call. I came in November and I remember that In December I finally had gotten used to the place. I had a feel for the rhythm of the game. At that point I understood what it meant to be a pro overseas.

You played your rookie season with the Austin Spurs (D-League) averaging 13.0ppg, 3.6rpg, FGP: 41.5%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 86.7%. You got a 10 day contract from the Atlanta Hawks. How do you remember your rookie season? What was your wake up call to being with the Hawks?

It was a grind. You go to work each day and just try to perfect your craft. The Hawks was a unique situation. I didn´t play in any games and just had my first intro to the NBA. I understood that the NBA is a business. It isn´t always about being the best player, but about timing and what the team needs.

How do you remember great veteran Elton Brand? Were you able to get in any meaningful conversations as a rookie?

He was a great veteran. To be honest, on a 10 day contract there is so little time to get the full effect of your teammates. He tried to give me confidence and told me I was there for a reason.

After a strong NBA Summer League with the Spurs in 2015 you finally reached the NBA with the Washington Wizards (NBA) averaging 2.5ppg, played also at Austin Spurs (D-League) averaging 14.1ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 55.3%, 3PT: 52.5%, FT: 94.4%. You scored 12 points in 14 minutes in your debut against Brooklyn. What memories do you have of that game and do you still remember how you scored your first NBA basket?

My favorite game ever is my first NBA game. I never forgot my first NBA basket. I remember going into the game near the end of the third quarter and throwing a last shot at the other teams free throw line as time expired and it was point on and I believe I hit the rim. I started in the fourth quarter and I got my first NBA basket off a screen, a shot I take a lot and it felt good and it went in. I felt good and felt hey I can do this. My second basket was a scramble shot where Otto Porter set a screen and I made it from the corner. My confidence continued to rise and the next play pick and roll with John Wall and I made my third shot in a row. Now I felt really good and was felt like I was tip toeing. Wall called the next play for me again and this time Marcin Gortat got me the ball and I made my fourth shot in a row. I knew guys were shouting who is this guy. I had just hit 4 three´s in a row in 3 minutes. That was when I knew that I was an NBA player.

You played twice against Lebron James that season losing. What memories do you have of him and how amazing is his ability to still be playing today at a high level?

What Lebron is doing at 39 at the NBA level is amazing. He is the first guy where you can say he is winning the fight against father time. We have never seen that before what Lebron is doing. To be able to play so consistent is incredible. I remember playing against Lebron the third game after my Brooklyn debut. I check in and as I reach the floor, I hear Lebron say to JR Smith you got Eddie. I was like Lebron knows who I am. I was impressed that he called my name. That just shows you how well he prepares for each game.

In the 2016-2017 season you split time with the Austin Spurs (D-League) averaging 11.1ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 87.5%, in Jan.’17 signed at Windy City Bulls (D-League) averaging 17.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 49.3%, FT: 84.6%, in Mar.’17 signed at Phoenix Suns (NBA) playing 5 games averaging 4.8ppg, 1.4rpg. How tough was this season having to bounce around in the G-League after having played 25 games the season before? What did you learn about yourself?

That was my third year with Austin. The Spurs are big on getting young guys developed in G-League. They passed on me and just moved on. I had a different role so I went to Windy City. My coach Nate helped me a lot there. That’s when everything changed. I remember my wife was pregnant and we were talking about spending the summer in Phoenix where my wife´s family was from. I remember my agent calling me at 12.30Am telling me the Suns may want to do something with me. A little bit later the Suns did call. Earl Watson was the assistant coach with the Suns and he had been my coach some years earlier in Austin. I went to Detroit where the Suns were playing and Earl came to me with a straight face and said we need you to shoot 15 three´s. Devin Booker was out with a ankle injury. I was on a team with guys like Tyler Ulis, Jared Dudley, TJ Warren and Ronnie Price. My first shot was an airball. Then I made a three and then 3 free throws after being fouled attempting a three. I finished with 13 points, but didn´t shoot well going 2/7. I got signed for a second 10 day contract, but I didn´t play. Booker had returned. I was at the game where Booker scored 70 points.

In the 2017-2018 season you played primarily for the Windy City Bulls (NBA G League) averaging 17.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.9%, 3PT: 44.0%, FT: 91.9%. You also played a game with Chicago and 2 with Boston. How did you think of the NBA after this season. Did it let you down or did you always have that it´s a business first in the back of your mind?

I was the victim of the business of the NBA too many times. I had a daughter and had to think of my family. I knew I was done with the NBA. I decided to come overseas. I wanted more stability. It was just tough having to go back to the G-League. I wanted to have a career overseas.

You were only a short time with the Boston Celtics. What did it mean to you playing in this organization being teammates with Kyrie Irving and a young Jayson Tatum. Can one even enjoy and realize what is happening when one is so brief with a organization?

There are so many talented guys in the G-League that work so hard nonstop just for that NBA call up. It´s so exciting when you get called up. It´s just hard to realize what has happened because your time is so short with a 10 day deal. It was difficult picking a number with the Celtics because so many legends are retired.You try to find a way to stay. Your situation is a lot different to a guy like Taytum lor Irving. The first 4 days is so exciting as you try to do everything possible to get into a game. Day 4-7 you try to get a wow moment in hopes of getting into a game if you haven´t already and 8-10 is stressful, because your thinking have I done enough to have impressed them.

You played at Virginia Tech from 2011-2014. The school didn´t make noise winning titles, but you did score 1000 points there. What does that achievement mean to you today?

It really doesn´t mean anything to me today. I feel I would still have gotten to where I got to even if I hadn´t scored 1,000 points. It really doesn´t matter where you come from, because at the end of the day, were all on the court. I would rather have won a conference title or reached the big dance.

You played a season with Dorian Finney-Smith who went on to Florida. What memories do you have of his freshman season. Would you have expected him to go on and be a NBA veteran?

We were told that when he got to Virginia that he would be an NBA player one day. He had those long arms and was a really good defender. I´m really amazed what he has done in the NBA and that he stayed so long with Dallas. I´m really happy for him.

Was beating Winthrop with your 34 points and ACC champion Miami 61-60 in OT your most fondest games at Virginia Tech?

I don´t really have so much fond memories of the Winthrop game, but I like the win over Miami. I made the winning shot. Another fond memory was also beating Duke my freshman year as they were ranked one. I didn´t play so much, but it was such a great win.

How did head coach Seth Greenberg groom you best for a professional career?

He taught me the value of getting to the next play. The game is so fast that you have no time to sulk.

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

Harrison Barnes. He didn´t have a good first half, but in the second half he showed that he was different. He went crazy on us.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jan Vesley, Bradly Beal, John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe, Jordan, Lebron, Shaq

Who is your GOAT?

Kobe Bryant

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

I think so.

Thanks Jarell for the chat.