Hilmar Henningsson (195-G-2000) is a 24 year old 195cm guard form Iceland that is playing his first season in Germany for Pro A team Eisbaren Bremerhaven currently averaging 12,8ppg, 2,6rpg and 2,1apg. He began his basketball career with Haukar Hafnarfjordur where he palyed 4 seasons. He also played 2 seasons for Valencia Baskets Second Team (EBA: He also played a season with Stjarnan in Iceland. The ex youth Icelandic national player spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Hilmar for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Your 24 and have much experience in Iceland, national team and Spain. How excited are you for a new challenge?

I’m very excited for sure. I had some good talks with coach Key over the summer and everything he said matched the things I was looking for as a next step in my career.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Some Icelandic players have played in Germany over the years like Jon Axel Gudmundsson.

I don’t know a lot about the country as of how it is to live there but everyone I have talked to has really liked living there so I’m not stressed at all and I’m sure I will fit in to their culture pretty easily.

The German Pro A is a very challenging league. How confident are you that you can be an impact player?

Very confident. I know I have what it takes to make an impact for our team this season, I think I am in a good spot on the team so that I will be able to play my game naturally.

You played many years in Iceland´s first division. Is it fair to say that this league is on the rise? Has the quality of Americans grown?

For sure. I think the Icelandic league is pretty underrated with both the quality of Icelandic players that have come out of that league and also the quality of foreign players that come to Iceland.

Let´s talk a little about your game. You’re a 195cm guard/forward. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

I would probably say Devin Booker. The way he can both shoot the ball and attack the rim is something I pride my game on.

You can fill the stat sheet with ease. How important is versatility in your game?

Versatility is very important for me. You never know what each game will have in store for you, sometimes the points come to you naturally and other games the pass to the next player is a better decision, I’m not one to look to fill up the stat sheet I just try to be aggressive and see where that leads me every game.

Your three pointer continues to be a work in progress. How focused have you been in making this ability in your game more present?

Shooting is very important especially in today´s game, I’m confident in my shot but I think the combo of having a good shot and also the ability to get to the rim can be very hard to guard.

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

I’m a good defender now but I want to become a great defender.

On what area´s of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game?

I work on a lot of different stuff. I never just focus on one thing at a time, that makes training fun and different everyday.

You began your career with Haukar Hafnarfjordur (Subway League) and after 3 years away returned last season averaging 19.3ppg, 5.0rpg, 4.6apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 79.1%. How did your game grow in the last years?

For sure my game grew a lot, my body got more ready and mature of course, I became more explosive, quicker and more versatile.

How tough was losing the playoffs series against Thorl Thorl? You were up 2-1 and lost 3-2 including game 5 95-93 where you produced 23 points. What will you always remember from this dramatic series?

It was very tough for sure, we believed we were the better team and to lose it the way we did was heartbreaking, this is just something you learn from and take as a lesson. Playing in front of a packed gym with people standing the whole game because there were no more seats was a great feeling.

Last season you played with Stjarnan (Subway League) averaging 12.4ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.6apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 45.7%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 71.6%. You won the Icelandic Cup. What memories will you always have from the cup title and what was special about that team?

It´s always a good feeling to accomplish something like winning the cup and I was really happy to be a part of the group that year, the whole group just got on well with each other so when we were able to translate that onto the court as well it was very hard to stop us.

Your teammates Robert Turner was one of those exceptional Americans. Did you have many wow memories with his game?

Rob is a phenomenal player and can create a shot out of absolutely nothing. His confidence and aura on the court was always pretty special to me.

After beginning your career with Haukar Hafnarfjordur (Dominos League) you spent 2 seasons with Valencia Basket Second team playing in their fourth division called EBA. How valuable were these 2 years having to deal with Covid and playing in Spain?

Very valuable, I was pretty young at this point and I got to train 2 or 3 times a day for two years straight in one of the best clubs in Europe so it is something that I will always treasure.

Were you able to practice with ACB team Valencia? At that time Martin Hermannsson was on the team. Is he one of those guys that has helped you over the years when possible like a mentor?

Yes every of season and when they had injuries I would practice with them. Martin funnily enough is my cousin so yes he has helped me a lot over the years with some bigger decisions and just overall getting pointers and opinion from him is very special to me.

You exploded for 43 points against against Puerto Sagunto. Was that one of your best games as a professional? You shot 16/19 from the field.

No I don’t think so, the level in EBA was not the best so I don’t consider that to be one of my best performances even though it is a memory I will never forget.

You began your career with Haukar Hafnarfjordur (Dominos League) and broke out in 2018-2019. How key was head coach Ivan Asgrimsson in your early basketball development?

Ivan had a big part, even before that he used to coach me in the youth teams of the club so I spent a lot of time under his coaching and he gave me the space and opportunity to have a big role at a young age and let me make mistakes and learn from them and I will always be grateful to him for that.

You were a very consistent youth national player. How important was this time for your overall basketball development. What part of your game grew most?

Very important. At a young age in Iceland not a lot of coaches from other countries will look at your games but the national team was an opportunity for me and my teammates to be seen on a bigger scale.

Who is the toughest player that you have ever faced that reached the NBA?

Deni Avdija

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Stephen Curry Kobe Bryant Michael Jordan Steve Nash Lebron James

Who is your GOAT and why?

MJ right now but I think I can’t even deny it will be Lebron James when he retires. Undeniable!!

Thanks Hillmar for the chat.