Joe Asberry (196-F-1965, college: SF State) is an American ex professional basketball player that really has seen it all from crime to drugs, but also played against legends like David Robinson (215-C-65, college: Navy), Gary Payton, Jason Kidd and Brian Shaw and was teammates with German legendary player Christian Welp. He had a 11 year professional career that saw him toil around in the minor leagues of Germany, but he belonged to the best in his day at that level. Since retiring from the game, he has been a spokesperson for young kids and drug prevention, guest speaker, worked in the Alba Berlin organization, been a master of ceremonies for UBC Hannover and been a mentor for young Americans coming overseas trying to live the dream of being a professional basketball player. Currently he works with an agent and with young inspiring basketball kids and has his own podcast. He spoke to germanhoops.comabout the 2024 NBA finals.

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

What´s up Miles? I´m in Quackenbruck,catching up with my guy Pat Elzie, the new AD for the Artland Dragons. What he has done for me, I could never repay him, so I came to make him laugh, thank him for helping me get paid to Dunk on people, and also to help him release a bit of the stress that comes with life and Pro Hoops in Germany. I´m blessed, because the basketball life is treating me very well.

It´s summer time. How much do you enjoy this time of the year with so many new Americans coming overseas chasing the dream?

I love this time of year. I know that brand new American´s will reach out to me to see if I can help their Pro Hoop Dream overseas come true and i´ll do my best to make it happen, if they have the proper mindset and PRO Game, it can happen. It feels good that “Big Willy´s in the Pro Hoop scene here,always send these guys my way. That means a lot to me. That´s all I ever wanted, in my playing days, and now when I help Americans that I don´t even know, RESPECT IN THE PRO BASKETBALL WORLD OVERSEAS! Now I have that and it´s a blessing. Plenty of Delusional Ballaz, don´t respect the help I GAVE them or that other´s gave them. Let´s be clear, Pro Hoops in Germany and overseas is a cut throat business. It can chew up players and drop them inside of a Garbage can without missing a beat. I can easily charge guys Consultant fee´s, but I don´t. I know all about being the Hungry Elite Athlete chasing around my tail in a Circle biting at AIR and chasing the hoop dream at the same time! LOL

We have to talk basketball. The Boston Celtics finally won a title again since their last in 2008. How good is this for the NBA in general to have the Celtics back on the map?

It´s great for the NBA that the Celtics have won the Title again. They`re one of the best teams in the history of that league. Of course I´m a lifelong Golden State Warriors fan so I´m upset that Kuminga wasn´t the Finals MVP!

Critics have said for years that Boston just isn´t ready to win the title yet. Did the win surprise you?

I knew that sooner or later, Brown and Tatum would lead their team to a title. They just had to go through the fire like all of the great players before them did.
What was different this year? Was it just another year of experience for Tatum and Brown?

I think the biggest difference was adding Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingas.KP is an Elite Underrated Stud. Holiday, is a proven winner.

What was your prediction going into the finals? Did you have Dallas or Boston winning it all?

Come on Miles baby, we both picked Boston truth be told, I picked them because you´re my guy: I had to ride with you: I thought GSW would win the Title and Draymond Green would average a triple double. LOL!

Both teams had 2 superstars a piece. If you had to rate the 2 against each other, which team would have the better complete package? Wouldn´t Dallas have the edge?

I would always give the edge to Boston. Tatum and Brown are much more athletic and better defenders then Irving and Doncic, but let´s not get that twisted, guarding those two dudes, is ANYONE´S nightmare!

Boston had the better supporting cast, but seriously would the Boston Celtics have won the title without Jrue Holiday?

Boston doesn´t win that title without Holiday,but the guys that impressed me the most were Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. It´s not easy to sit, then come in and just get buckets off the bench. Pritchard was hitting buzzer beaters with Ease. And White has inside of him what a coach can´t teach, he is the definition of DOG!

Does this title run make Jrue Holiday a top 5 point guard?

I wouldn´t say Holiday is a top 5 Point Guard, but I would say he is the number 1 Swiss Army Knife in the NBA without a doubt!

What is your perception of Luka Doncic not playing defense? Is it fair for his teammates that he plays so much and has to do so much offensively that he can take plays off on defense?

Doncic is a Great Scorer. I don´t think that a guy can get buckets the way he does, carry that team like he has,and also,ball out as a elite defender. I think he will be a decent defender, if he takes it serious. Let´s be REAL,NOBODY in the World can guard Tatum and Brown when they get going.

If you had to pick an unsung hero of the Boston Celtics who would it be? Would Derrick White be a good candidate?

Derrick White for SURE! Anybody that balls with a chipped tooth, is the type of ball player that is a beast!

Is Jayson Tatum a top 5 NBA player now with this title?

Jayson Tatum is a top 5 NBA player without a doubt.

Could the Boston Celtics be a dynasty in the making? If you could add one piece who would it be?

The Boston Celtics could be a dynasty for sure. If I could add 1 piece, I would add my Little Brother Kevin Yebo. He has that Dog Mentality, so he would fit right in with Pritchard and White and let´s not forget,OG Al Horford! Thanks Miles, always good to catch up with you.

No problem Joe.