Justin Jaworski (190-G-1999, college: Lafayette) is a 25 year old 190cm guard from Collegeville, Pennsylvania that will play his fourth professional season and second in Germany with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg Last season he began with Gevi Napoli Basket (Italy-Serie A) averaging 9.3ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 69.6%, 3FGP: 33.8%, FT: 88.9% and then moved to the MLP Academics Heidelberg averaging 19.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 5.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 28.4%, FT: 88.7%. In 2022-2023 he played with Acunsa Gipuzkoa BC San Sebastian (Spain-LEB Gold) averaging 19.4ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT-8 (92.2%). He played his rookie season with the Oklahoma City Blue (NBA G League) averaging 8.1ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 91.3%. He began his basketball career with Perkiomen Valley High School and then played at Lafayette College (NCAA) from 2017-2021 playing a total of 98 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball last season when he was with the MLP Academics.

Thanks Justin for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Germany. As a guy coming from small Schwenksville, Pennsylvania that has it´s own notable history with William Penn, the Indians and Perkiomen creek, but now your in historic Germany and Heidelberg. What does it feel like living in Heidelberg? Is the castle a place that you could imagine visiting more than once?

It has been a crazy 4 days, getting off the plane and going straight to practice, getting everything ready for my apartment, so I haven’t been able to experience much of the city yet. My first impression is a good one though and I think I will enjoy my time experiencing the city.

You began the season with Gevi Napoli Basket (Italy-Serie A) and now have a new challenge with easyCredit BBL team MLP Academics. Your playing for the last placed team. What do you believe will be your biggest challenge coming in late and just being able to perform well right away?

It’s always a challenge joining an already established group late, but I think my game translates well to playing with others so I’m just going to come in and be myself and see if I can help turn their season around.

A big problem of the MLP Academics is finding a true identity on defense as it allows way to many points. You have been a scorer and three point sniper your whole career, but also an ambitious defender. Do believe like you could be an impact defender for the team?

For sure. I think my defense is an underrated part of my game, and I’m excited to show that.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 190cm guard that can score very well. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player, who would best fit the bill?

It is hard to compare myself to just 1 player, because I have tried to take qualities from a lot of different players. For example Steph curry or JJ Reddick’s ability to move without the basketball is something important to me. Someone like Patty Mills who is a great defender and shooter, but also able to play with the ball in his hands is another player I enjoy watching.

You’re a great scorer and three point shooter, but what other strengths does your game incorporate?

I feel that I am an underrated defended, and also have the ability to have the ball in my hands, creating for myself and others. I think in Heidelberg I will have the opportuinty to showcase this.

You shot over 40% twice in the NCAA, but haven´t since turning pro, but you have been close. How would you describe your momentary development as a three point shooter and could you become a consistent three point shooter?

Respectfully, I am one of the best shooters at any level, in any part of the world. Obviously I am always working to become better, but I would stack myself up with just about anyone when it comes to shooting the basketball.

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

Shooting the ball and scoring will always be one of the most important parts of my game, but I am always working on trying to improve making decisions with the ball in my hands; whether that is creating for myself or others.

You began the season with Gevi Napoli Basket (Italy-Serie A): 12 games: 9.3ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 69.6%, 3FGP: 33.8%, FT: 88.9%. What kind of an experience was Italy? You put up good stats but had to go. What positives could you take from the Serie A?

Italy was a good experience for me. It was a bit of a different role than I expected to play, but I think being in Napoli improved me specifically as a defender, and I got to contribute to a successful rebuild of a team; which is something I am looking to do here too.

How worthwhile was being teammates with big time veterans Jacob Pullen and Tyler Ennis? I´m sure you tried to soak up as much as possible from them?

Jacob and Tyler were great. Both are people I would consider close friends of mine now, and it was good to compete with them every day, and steal some things from their games to add to mine.

You played last season with Acunsa HYPERLINK “https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Guuk-Gipuzkoa-Basket-San-Sebastian/6645?Page=1&Year=2022-2023” Gipuzkoa BC San Sebastian (Spain-LEB Gold) averaging 19.4ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT-8 (92.2%). What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

The second I got off the plane and they took me to my apartment I knew everything was very different from home. I loved my teammates and the city of Gipuzkoa, but don’t want to go into further detail about my time with GBC.

After your rookie season in the G-League you were second best scorer in the Leb Gold. This was your break out season overseas. You netted 36 points against Coruna. How did your game grow most this season?

I think my year with GBC was definitely a good start for my career, but I still have so much more in front of me, and have ambition to play at much higher levels. Spending that season with many players who had established European careers at that time, like Mike Carlson, was very important for me learning the European style of play.

After the NCAA you began your pro career playing NBA Summer League with the Atlanta Hawks. You played only 2 games but saved your best for last scoring 16 points against the New York Knicks. That team had many respectable NBA guys with Quickly, Sims, Mcbride, Toppin and Grimes. What memories do you have of that game? I´m sure you felt like you could belong in the NBA?

All I really remember is how fun it was to compete with the best players with an NBA jersey on my back. I had a lot of family and friends there watching, so it was a good experience for everyone. I did, and still do, believe I belong at an NBA level, and I’m working every day to get there.

You played your rookie season with the Oklahoma City Blue (NBA G League) averaging 8.1ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 91.3%. What kind of an experience was the G-League and how tough was it for you getting minutes and the kind of shots you were used to in the NCAA?

The hardest part of the G is the mental battle of staying ready, when you don’t know exactly what the roster will look like game to game. There were some games, especially early on where I would only play a few minutes, but still had to find a way to be effective. I think as my minutes increased, so did my confidence and think I finished my rookie season strong. Obviously you’re playing with some of the best athletes in the world in the G, so that is always a step up in speed and physicality from college to the G.

What was it like being teammates with the peeper Anthony Roberson the ultimate journeyman who was already in the NBA when you were only 6 years old. Were you able to form a special bond with him?

I think you may be thinking of a different Anthony Roberson, or maybe his brother Andre. But I love Ant that I played with.

You played at Lafayette College (NCAA) from 2017-2021 and was able to improve your scoring each season. How did your game grow in your 4 years there?

I think I just improved every aspect of my game in my time at Lafayette, and I owe a lot of that to my coaches there that were in the gym with me working every day. I think I made the biggest jump in my understanding of the game in my later years there, and that’s what happens when you’re around someone like Coach O.

You had so many great games in the NCAA, but what was your personal favorite? You scored 33 points in a win 97-94 win over Loyola MD.

My favorite was actually the first game against Colgate my freshman year. I hit the game winner on the road, just a few months after I visited Colgate and did not get an offer from them. So I felt pretty vindicated winning the game that way.

How did head coach Fran O´Hanlon groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach O is an offensive genius when it comes to basketball, and I feel like I just learned so much about how to play the right way, especially when the ball isn’t in my hands. Coach O definitely got the best out of me at Lafayette.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or EJ Stephens?

I love my boy EJ, but I’m taking myself in that matchup.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your career that reached the NBA?

My first game as a college freshman was against Jalen Brunson as a senior, and he’s gone on to have a pretty great career, so it’s hard to not say him.

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I’ve got too many to name on my list going all the way back to high school, so I don’t think I could give you just 5. Also I don’t want any of my guys to be mad at me if I left them off.

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron, MJ, Kareem, Kobe

Who is your Goat and why?

Lebron is the best overall basketball player at doing everything on the court, and I don’t think it is that close.

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

Can’t say I have seen the original or the sequel, but I will take your word for it.

Thanks Justin for the chat.