Jordan Barnes (178-PG-1997, college: Indiana St.) is a 26 year old 178cm guard from St Louis, Missouri that played his third professional season and third in Germany and first with the Romerstrom Gladiators Trier averaging14.3ppg, 2.2rpg, 4.5apg, 1.0spg FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 88.2%. He began the season with Real Betis Sevilla (Spain-LEB Gold) averaging 9.6ppg, 2.1rpg, 4.2apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 41.4%, 3FGP: 40.0%, FT: 81.3%. Last season he played with the JobStairs Giessen 46ers (Germany-BBL) averaging 17.0ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-5 (5.6apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 44.1%, FT: 84.8%. He played his rookie season with the Uni Baskets Paderborn (Germany-ProA averaging 17.9ppg, 4.1rpg, Assists-5 (6.5apg), 1.2spg, FGP: 42.0%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 85.8%. He began his basketball career at Christian Brothers high school and then played at Indiana State (NCAA) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 121 games. His bests coring season was his second one where he averaged 17.4ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 85.3%. He spoke to germanhoo about basketball.

Thanks Jordan for talking to germanhoops.comcom. You last played with with the Romerstrom Gladiators Trier. What have you enjoyed most about playing for this organization?

Of course, thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I have enjoyed the fans support and how they pride themselves on taking care of their players. I have also enjoyed how close everybody is in this organization from the coaches, to the players, to management. They have made my transition here very easy.

The team was one of the favorites to move back up to the easyCredit BBL.Did you feel that extreme winning culture there in the early going?

I definitely felt the winning culture here. As soon as I got here I was able to see how hard everybody works before practice, during and after as well. The coaches do a great job of working and getting us prepared for the games as well.

After 2 really potent pro A seasons, your desire to play in a top league like the easyCredit BBL must be big. What do you feel stands out most with your game right now that separates you from so many other guards overseas?

Of course my goal is to play at the highest level possible. I feel like as a guard in the BBL you need to have quickness, toughness, ability to run a team, and be able to make shots. I feel like I have those things and that is what makes my game stand out.

What was it like being teammates with the versatile Behnam Yakhchali. How did your game profit in the long run from a guy like that?

Being able to play alongside a guy like Behnam has made my transition very easy. He knows the game of basketball very well, he can score really well and he can handle the ball as well. I think this will help my game because the talent I will play with will only continue to get better and he gives me a lot of knowledge as well as confidence on the court.

You began the season with Real Betis Sevilla (Spain-LEB Gold) averaging 9.6ppg, 2.1rpg, 4.2apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 41.4%, 3FGP: 40.0%, FT: 81.3%. Your stats weren’t as potent as in the German pro A. Is the Leb Gold a stronger league than the pro A? What are the major differences from your perspective?

I think LEB Gold is a good league, I think the basketball is different from Pro A Germany, I think in Spain it is more systematic basketball, while here in Pro A, it is more guard oriented and gives more freedom for the guards to run the show and control the game.

You lost 4 really tight games in your short stay there. How valuable was your short stay in Spain. What do you feel could you take from your time there in terms of your game?

I learned a lot from my time in Spain. I learned a lot about myself as a player as well as about the basketball culture in general. I learned how to play more without the ball in Spain as well as being more efficient with the time and shots that are given to me. All is all it was a good experience for me.

Last season you played with the JobStairs Giessen 46ers (Germany-BBL) playing 41 games: Score-2 (17.0ppg), 3.1rpg, Assists-5 (5.6apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 44.1%, FT: 84.8%. What memories do you have of the exciting series against Vechta? Did their experience get the best out of Giessen?

I enjoyed the series against Vechta, it was a tough series because they were a really good team. My favorite memory was playing against my former teammate Chip Flannigan in the semifinals. As well as guys like Tajuan Agee. It was a lot of talking back and forward but that is what makes the game fun. It made us take our game to another level, although I still wish we could have won that series.

You played your rookie season with the Uni Baskets Paderborn (Germany-ProA) averaging 17.9ppg, 4.1rpg, Assists-5 (6.5apg), 1.2spg, FGP: 42.0%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 85.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My first year in Paderborn was a good year for me and it helped pave the way for my career going forward. My wake up call being a rookie overseas was being away from home on the holidays. Missing Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays while being overseas. Also trying to stay up and watch some NBA games and realizing they don’t come on till 1 or 2 am.

You really needed no adjustment coming from the NCAA. You were close a few times to a triple double. How do you feel did your game grow as a rookie and what kind of a player do you still want to become at the Eurolevel?

I think my game grew well, I was able to kind of have the keys to the team my rookie year. With that being said, I had some growing pains and learning experiences but I always like learning more about myself as a player and about the game and learning new tricks and ways to succeed. I want to become the best possible player that I can become, not putting any limitations on myself and be able to play at the highest level.

Head coach Steve Esterkamp pretty much gave you the keys to the team. How key was getting this major role as a rookie for your game?

Steve put a lot of trust in me to run the team as a rookie. It helped me grow as a player. Coming out of college, the game is different overseas than college, so being able to have a coach that believes in me and wanted me to succeed was very helpful in my early stages in my career.

You played at Indiana State (NCAA) from 2016-2020 and your game really took off in your second year. How did your game grow in those last 3 years?

My sophomore year in college, I believe my game went to another level. After the school year, I didn’t go home over the season, I stayed in Terre Haute and just worked on my game, was in the gym everyday and I feel like that is when my game went to another level. Instead of going home to be with family for the summer, I was able to stay in Terre Haute and have access to the gym whenever I needed to, so by time everybody else came for summer school I was already in full swing.

You set many school records and had so many memorable games. What one game will always standout for you at Indiana State?

My standout game at Indiana State was playing in Hawaii at the Diamond Head Classic. We played UNLV in the semi-final to go to the championship on ESPN. It was a good atmosphere, it was Christmas time, and we were able to come out on top with a win.

How did head coach Greg Lansing groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I always appreciate Coach Lansing because he helped me become a professional. He always preached things like ‘showing up early, staying late’. Putting the work in so you can see results. Those types of things always stuck with me. He has coached professionals and coached against them so he knows what it takes to be a professional.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Tyreke Key?
I don’t think me and Tyreke ever actually played 1 on 1 in practice, but I always thought I would beat everybody in 1 on 1.

Who was the toughest player that you ever played against on a court that reached the NBA?
The toughest player I’ve ever played against was Jayson Tatum

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My 5 best teammates all time are, Jayson Tatum, Xavier Sneed, Tyreke Key, Tyler Cook, and Justin Martin

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Steph Curry

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 have not, so I can’t say.

Thanks Jordan for the chat.es