pic credit: Tennessee Tech

Courtney Alexander (203-F/C-1997, college: Tenn Tech) is a 26 year old 203cm forward playing his fourth professional season and first in Germany with the Nurnberg Flacons (Pro A) averaging 10,2ppg and 6,8rpg. His last team was the Cockburn Cougars (Australia-NBL One West) averaging 18.2ppg, 10.5rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 53.6%, FT: 47.2%. Two seasons ago he balled with the Tundja Yambol (Bulgaria-NBL) averaging 19.2ppg, 10.8rpg, 1.0apg, 2.2spg, 1.6bpg, FGP: 52.1%, FT: 50.0%. he played his rookie season with the Oklahoma City Blue (NBA G League) playing 5 games. He began his basketball career at Whitefield academy and then played at Tennessee Tech University (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 120 games and improved hiss coring average each season averaging 7.4ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 41.6%, FT: 53.1% in his senior year. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Courtney for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season in Germany with Pro A team Nurnberg. What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about the country Germany?

It has been a really good experience so far for me. My teammates and club have been great with helping me get accustomed to Germany. I don’t think there is just one thing that I enjoy most but the city of Nuremberg has been amazing and very welcoming

You only played 10 games in your first 2 seasons and last season 20 games. How blessed do you feel to be playing? You missed a season during Covid and didn´t sign with a team at the start of the 22-23 season, but went to Australia this year?

For sure I am extremely blessed to still be playing, I missed the Covid season for health reasons then the start of the 22-23 season for family reasons so my agent and I thought that Australia would be a good opportunity to get my career back on the track.

You had 2 very strong seasons in Bulgaria and Australia, but the German pro A league is stronger than the latter. What do you credit your early season success to having this consistency?

I definitely have a lot of room for improvement and believe that I can play better than I have been but a lot of credit goes to my teammates and I just want to have another strong season to prove to everyone that I can play at a high level.

What has it like been playing with German player Bastian Doreth? He is a former German national player. Could the team have a better captain than him?

Playing with Basti has been amazing! I am very lucky to just be able to play alongside with him everyday and being able to learn from him daily. He has played at levels that I hope one day to reach so just soaking in all the knowledge that he has definitely has been a blessing.

What has it been like playing for head coach Virgil Matthews who is in his first year. Despite having been a former guard, how well does he relate to your game?

I love being able to play for Coach Virgil. He is a big believer in me and my game and pushes me everyday to be at my best. Despite being a former guard he has played with and coached players similar to me so he knows all the ways that I can improve my game.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 203cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I would have to say Kenyon Martin Jr. We are both around the same height and really athletic.

You had double double seasons in Bulgaria and Australia. What other strengths do you have besides scoring and rebounding?

I think one of my biggest other strengths is my defending. With my athleticism and height it gives me the ability to guard multiple positions.

You don´t shoot the three. Is that an aspect of your game that you still might be adding to your game?

The three is such a huge part of the game nowadays that I am for sure still trying to add it my game and if I am to add it fully to my game hopefully it can make me an even better player.

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

I think that I am a very good defender and I want to take the next couple seasons to really prove that.

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

I am working on my shooting most to help improve my game.

Last season you played with the Cockburn Cougars (Australia-NBL One West) averaging 18.2ppg, 10.5rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 53.6%, FT: 47.2%. What kind of an experience was living there? What was your fondest moment off the court?

I loved everything about Australia. The country is beautiful. The people are amazing. But the beaches were definitely my favorite thing off the court.

You played your first season overseas with Tundja Yambol (Bulgaria-NBL) averaging 19.2ppg, 10.8rpg, 1.0apg, 2.2spg, 1.6bpg, FGP: 52.1%, FT: 50.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I think my first wake up call to being so far from home was when I opened my Google Maps app and it said that the distance back home was nearly 5000 miles.

How tough was it for your season to end in October. Talk a little what you went through mentally the next months and how you coped?

That experience was definitely hard on me mentally with playing so well then for my season to be cut short because of injury. I think seeing how well I was playing was the hardest part because in my mind I was thinking that if I kept those numbers up for the whole season then hopefully the following season I would be able to take a step forward in my career. But the next months while rehabbing my injury I would just put all my thought and energy to getting back fully healthy so that wherever my next opportunity is to play that I will try to produce the way I did in Bulgaria.

You were drafted by the Oklahoma Blue but as a rookie played only 5 games. Talk a little about this season. Could you get anything positive out of the season?

My rookie season was definitely hard because of only being able to play in those 5 games. But I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. I became a completely different player because of my time in Oklahoma. From learning so much daily from teammates and coaches to practicing everyday and training with teammates that have played in the NBA and knows what it takes to get there and to play at the highest levels across the world. Playing there was great for me in the sense of preparing me both mentally and physically to be a better professional.

You had some well known guys on the team like Kadeem Jack. Was he a guy you could bond with in your stay there?

Kadeem Jack and I actually lived together that season. I actually consider like a big brother to me. The countless conversations and times we spent together just talking about basketball and life is something that was great for me. I have taken so many things from his game and his approach and tried to add it to mine. Jack has played high level basketball his entire career and he was a big believer in my ability and he always used to say that there is no reason that I shouldn’t be a big time player and that was always a huge confidence boost for me.

You played at Tennessee Tech from 2015-2019. You improved your scoring average each season. How did your game grow in those 4 years?

My college career definitely did not go the way that I wanted but I am grateful to still be playing professionally. But each year I just tried to get stronger in the weight room and improve my game and be a great teammate.

You had 7/4/3/1/2 stats in a 50 point loss to NCAA powerhouse North Carolina. What memories do you have of the game and what NC player stood out most?

We lost really bad that game but just playing in an arena that you grow up watching on TV is such a surreal feeling and playing in front of all those people is something that you never forget.

How did head coach Steve Payne groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Payne saw the versatility that my game has and he actually played me at point guard for some of my senior year. And I think seeing the game from a point guard’s perspective is something that just overall helps your game. He also always used to tell me to never get tired of dunking and dunking on people and that it will get paid a lot of money one day so still trying to listen to him with that.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Micaiah Henry?

Micaiah Henry and I actually played together in high school too and I can say that for the 10+ years that we have known each other and played together he has never beat me 1 on 1.

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

I would have to say Ja Morant. Him and his school were in our conference and he was my match up every time that we played and yes he looks fast on TV but trust me its a 100 times faster when guarding him.

Please list your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Lu Dort, Abdul Gaddy, Devaughn Akoon-Purcel, Kadeem Jack, Malik Martin

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Russell Westbrook, Michael Jordan

Who is your GOAT and why?

Lebron James. There is nothing that he can’t do. Just look at all of his career numbers and they speak for themselves.

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

Don’t even ask me about that question! They should have 100% left it alone!

Thanks Courtney for the chat.