Alexander Lagerman (202-SG-2004) is a 20 year old 202cm shooting guard playing his first season with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. Last season he played with the wiha Panthers Schwenningen (ProB) playing16 games averaging 15.1ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 61.6%, 3PT: 27.1%, FT: 72.7%. He began his basketball career with the Fraport Skyliners in the JBBL (U-16) and also played 4 Pro B games and in 2022-2023 season in the NBBL averaged :21.2ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 78.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Alex for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I´m in Frankfurt now. I train 1-2 per day and work with a personal trainer. I will take a vacation to Venice as well.

Congrats on signing with the Dragons Rhondorf. What was so enticing in joining this organization?

It was a tough season last year losing so much with Schwenningen. I played well, but we simply lost too much as a team. The situation with the Dragons is the opposite. They win a lot. I wanted to be part of a winning team. I like how they give young players a chance and allow them to train with BBL team.

Did you search for any advice from Daniel Mayr who began his career there?

I didn´t speak to him about my situation.

How did the talks go with head coach Stephan Dohrn? What did you like most about his basketball philosophy?

We understood each other right off the bat. He told me they were looking for a big wing that gets aggressively to the rim. They want to play bigger this season and he preaches defense. He is definitely the right coach for me to develop further.

He really enjoys your aggressive way to play offense. How motivated are you to have a great season after your tough season in Schwenningen?

I´m very motivated to have success. I was motivated last season, but this season, I want to play with more intensity and play harder on defense.

The Dragons Rhondorf like to give young Germans minutes as they proved with Janne Muller as he had his break out year and almost averaged 10 points per game in the Pro B at age 17. How confident are you that you can follow in his foot steps?

I´m going calm into the season. I want to develop further and take it step by step. I don´t like to compare myself to others. I want to go step by step and play with high intensity and the rest will take care of it´s self.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 202cm shooting guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA or Euro player who would best fit the description?

My favorite Euroleague player is Mario Hezonja of Real Madrid. He is a 3 level scorer and doesn´t do anything fancy, but does many things very well. My favorite player in the NBA is Jayson Tatum who is a big wing that can shoot, is athletic, can defend 2-4 and is versatile.

You’re a player that score at ease, but also has great athleticism. What other strengths does your game have?

I feel like I´m an underrated decision maker. I can find teammates well and move the ball. I can do a bit of all. I´m not going with the mind set to become the top scorer of the Dragons, but play team orientated.

Your three pointer still seems to be a work in progress. Do you see yourself fitting in perfectly in the Dragons shooting system?

Yes I feel like I will. I was a bit inconsistent, but I shot better at the end of the season. I´m still streaky, but need to become more consistent.

Many see you as that scoring go to guy, but how defined is your playmaking at your age?

My decision making is in my back pocket. I showed last year that I can play pick and roll, not at the level of a point guard, but I obviously still want to develop further in that area.

Talk a little about your defense. How valuable is your athleticism and ability to use your height at the guard position?

This is very important for me. It gives me an advantage on the close out. I don´t need to come out as much, because of my long arms. I also can get in passing lanes and contest shots inside.

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

I´m working a lot on my three pointer to gain consistency. I´m also working on my left hand and working out more in the gym to get stronger.

Last season you played with the Black Forest Panthers. You missed many games and the team lost many games. Was this season a misunderstanding for you?

No not at all. It was the right step after Frankfurt. I had no perspective in Frankfurt. I needed a new start.

You had a serious problem with your digestive system. Are you healthy again?

I´m all right again. I had an Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It broke out and got worse during the season. I got treatment and it got better. It isn´t perfect, but ok now. I can train again.

How tough was this season being out so much and losing? What did you learn about yourself?

Last season tested my character. I was far from home which was also tough. A season like that can test you if you still want to play. But I still had that desire to play again.

I heard that you were suspended during the season. Was that true?

I wasn´t suspended. I missed all the games due to health.

You definitely showed no adjustment period coming from Frankfurt and being a go to guy in Schweiingen. How did your game grow last year?

I learned coming from the NBBL to play in a system. I had so much more freedom in the NBBL. I learned how to be effective and grow in my role. I was shocked how easy I got to the rim in the Pro B. I became more of a driver.

You began your basketball career with the Fraport Skyliners. How tough were the first 2 years as Covid was around. Do you sometimes think how your game could have developed without COVID?

Yes I do. I went to the United States before Covid after my JBBL season in Frankfurt. When I returned after a year at a high school, I didn´t get the support from Frankfurt. I couldn´t practice during Covid and had to do a lot by myself. I think that I could of played Pro B earlier with Frankfurt.

What are your memories of Len Schoormann. Were you able to soak up valuable skills from him?

I played some games with him in the JBBL.I know him personally and practiced with him some weeks ago in an open gym. He was always a role model for me. I remember him being a big prospect. Some talked about the NBA. I tried to take things from his drive. He drives hard to the rim. He was smaller than me, but more athletic. I always wanted to dunk like him.

You broke out in your last season averaging 21.2ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 78.3% in the NBBL. Did it sometimes feel like you were a man playing against boys?

I wouldn´t agree 100% to that statement, but you could see that there was a big age difference. There were only 2 2004 guys and the rest came from the JBBL. There was a big physicality difference and I could score easily.

After 3 years you chose to leave the Fraport Skyliners organization despite being a main player in the NBBL. Guys usually want to come to the Skyliners and not leave them.

I saw no perspective there. They offered me no new contract. No one even talked to me after the season. I was very disappointed, I think they didn´t like that I left for a year to the States. I went only because of Covid.

How good is your relationship with Nicolas Lagerman. How have you watched his development grow over the year

We have a very good relationship now, but that wasn´t the case in the past. We had many battles in the yard and were very competitive. He likes to shoot the ball and can be streaky as well. He also couldn´t make his mark in Frankfurt or Giessen. He s a very hard worker.

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

When I was in the States I played AAU ball against Patrick Baldwin. I also played against very good college players. I was teammates with Giannis brother Alex. In Germany the Munich players Kharchenkov, Kalu and Radoncic were tough. If I had to chosoe one of these 3 then I would say Kharchenkov.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Justin Onyejiaka, Alex Antentokoumpo, Patrick Baldwin, Don McHenry, Nolan Adekunle

Please list your personal NBA and Euro Mount Rushmore?

NBA is Steph Curry, Lebron James, Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant and my Euro would be Teodosic, Spannoulis, Hezonja and Mattias Lessort

Who is your GOAT and why?

Michael Jordan.

Will USA win the Gold or will Germany, Canada, France or Serbia get in the way?

I think USA and France will make the final. I´m waving in the direction of USA to win it all.

Thanks Alex for the chat.