Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Deandre Lansdowne in Bonn in 2023

DeAndre Lansdowne (188-G-1989, college: Fort Lewis) is a 34 year old 188cm guard from New Mexico that is playing his 9th professional season and his fifth in Germany and first with the Niners Chemitz. He played at Fort Lewis College (NCAA2) from 2007-2011 and then began his professional career in Mexico. He played in Germany with teams like Herten (Pro B), Hamburg Towers (BBL and Basketball Lowen Braunschweig (BBL). He also gained experience in Italy with Germani Brescia Leonessa and 3 years with SIG Strasbourg. He spoke to germanhoops.com after winning the Fiba Europe Cup.

Thanks Deandre for taking some time for me. Congrats on winning the 2024 Fiba Europe Cup title. It´s your first chip. How did it feel when the buzzer sounded? Was it the best basketball feeling in your life?

It’s such an amazing feeling. It’s so surreal. For days you visualize how it might go, the game, the win, the celebration, even the loss and the feeling of losing. But then when it happens, you did none of those! I just wanted to celebrate with each of my teammates and staff, as well as thank my mom who’s watching over me.

As a guy that had to pay his dues in the pro B with Herten and has experienced so much in his career, what popped up in your mind first after that about your incredible grind in your basketball career?

In the words of KG: ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! But really, every season I hope to compete for a championship somehow, and to have the opportunity to play one, it’s a blessing, especially on the international stage.

You were in the Pro B with Herten in 2015-2016 when the Fraport Skyliners last won the Fiba Europe Cup as a German team. Do you remember hearing about that win? Would you have ever thought then that one day you might win an international title?

Sadly I didn’t, I was new to Europe basketball so I didn’t follow much going on except Herten.

How vital was playing in the BCL the last 3 seasons? Did the Niners get the best leadership from you that they could possibly get?

Possibly. Those 3 years advancing to the BCL playoffs each year and even to a Final 4 had helped me. But I also was experiencing my first final so I was a bit overwhelmed myself. I think we all taught and learned from one another all year.

The Niners Chemnitz won it in Istanbul. Did you get any shut eye or did the team party until sun rise?

We got to celebrate it just a little. With the team and people part of the club, which I think was even more special, because the club won it just as much of us.

It was such an exciting game and in the fourth it looked like Chemnitz had the title wrapped up, but Bahcesehir came back. Did the Niners get to comfortable in crunch-time?

That’s a good team, they kept fighting! We had many guys in foul trouble, and we were able to escape the well played game by them!

When Weley Van Beck missed that last three pointer, what was going through your mind? Possibly we can´t lose it in OT?

I believed we were in better shape than them. And without all big men, we could maybe increase gameplay speed and hopefully edge them out.

In OT the Turkish team held the momentum early leading by as much as 15 points. Jerry Boutsiele was really annoying. What was so tough to stop him?

Extremely, he’s a good center. He got to the line and got our bigs all out of the game. They really go inside to him, and even in the end he punished us in transition.

The Niners buckled down and got the last stop against Jerry Boutsiele. Talk about the last few seconds. Were you feeling the adrenaline?

Honestly I didn’t even recognize time anymore. The last few minutes I was just playing basketball. Kind of got lost in the game I guess. But I just remember seeing the shot go up, and I knew we had no bigs so I tried to go snatch the board and thankfully Kaza had such a great box out on him that he struggled to even get the rebound and it was the biggest stop of the season!

An interesting side fact. You and Philip Scrubb were both rookies in 2015-2016. He won the Fiba Europe Cup with Frankfurt as a rookie and was back but lost to you. Did you know this? Did you exchange any words after the game?

I did not know this. Cool fact. I do remember in Braunschwieg playing against him in Frankfurt.

Kaza Kajami-Keane was incredible with 29 points. What special words did you have for him after the win? He carried the team to the win.

I just told him he deserved this moment. From the season he had starting off really great and some injuries kept him out for some time, to getting back to playing at his great level again. He’s a HUGE piece to this team´s success and that shouldn’t be anything surprising he did.

The Niners Chemnitz dominated the Fiba Europe Cup like Frankfurt in 2016. How did the club grow that will help them make the next step in the easyCredit BBL playoffs?

Taking it one game at a time! And learning from being the hunters and underdogs to being the hunted! But still being humble and hungry no matter what.

You have played for many coaches but how special is Rodrigo Pastore? He is a coach that could be coaching for more known clubs in the Eurocup or Euroleague, but instead stays faithful to the Niners. What have you learned from him?

Maybe he believes he can bring the Niners to that higher level himself. The club “ trusts in the process”, which is rare these days, and look how it’s paid off! But I’ve learned a lot, and it’s been extremely special to play for him. Everyday he’s learning to get better and grow as a coach, adapting to today’s game and style and I think that’s a special trait!

Your 34 and had a great Fiba Europe Cup season and as usual playing consistently in the BBL. Are you in your prime or where are you now with your game? You seem to be aging nicely with your game?

I don’t know what I’m in. I just try to take care of my body best I can to be able to help the team every game. I try to watch as much basketball and talk to as many guys and absorb as much information. Transitioning to PG has been really fun, because deep down I always think I was mentally a point guard. But it’s something I take serious trying to always learn game to game, defense to defense. But Rodrigo has given me the keys to the car, I’m just trying to do my best leading it to the right place. I couldn’t be this player today without my teammates and the coaching staff and the Physio/medical staff.

How excited are you for the end of the BBL season. Will you be able to heighten your game a tad more to possibly win the double?

Well not about heightening, just about adapting, teams will take away your strengths, and it’s about how to counter or punish them in different ways, adapting on the fly I would call it. We have to be very disciplined as a team defensively and confident on offense, and all that start with me, my vocalness, my body language and energy from the tip ball.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Basketball Champions League (FIBA EUROPE CUP) this season?

I think I would have to say Oliver Hanlen or Tyler Cavanaugh in the finals. Those are some tough skilled players.

Thanks Deandre for the chat.