Janosch Koegler (190-SG-1993) is a 30 year old 190cm guard that has played 9 seasons for TSV Oberaching Tropics and has amassed more than 200 games with the club. Last season he averaged 11,0ppg, 3,0rpg and 1,8apg. He began his basketball career with SV Germering and then played 3 seasons with FC Bayern Munich 2. He spoke to eurobasket near the end of last season about his basketball career.

Thanks Janosch for talking to eurobasket.com. Your playing your 9th season for the TSV Tropics Oberaching. One could say you’re a Oberaching lifer. What has been so special about this team?

I really like the nice and positive atmosphere. Character is really big in this organization. I feel really comfortable on and off the court. Everything simply fits well. My real job is near Oberaching so being able to work and play so close is great.

How much of a reason has head coach Mario Matic been for you staying 9 seasons with this organization?

Mario has been huge. I came from FC Bayern Munich and didn´t play much. Mario supported me right away when I arrived and I had no pressure, but had freedom. I feel like I have learned a lot under Mario and developed well. Mario is a top coach and I feel very comfortable here.

In the last years the club has performed very well and reached the playoffs and will do so again this season. A big reason has been also been keeping guys for many seasons and having team chemistry. What else has been vital for the success?

I think the chemistry is the one thing and also that we always get 1-2 new players each season that perform well. We also haven´t had real injury problems this season. We want to end the season strong and be aggressive and fight until the end. I feel like this season we could get past the first round of the playoffs.

You played many years with Omari Knox. He is retiring after this season. How much of a pleasure was it playing with him?

Omari is a great guy and player. When he is really focused then he is unstoppable and a real joy to observe. He always supported me in practice. It is incredible how great he is playing at age 37 at this level.

You also have been teammates with big man Bernhard Benke for many years. He reached the pro A, but has settled in as a Pro B player. Has his talent not been recognized the way it should have?

He is a very good player. He is playing for Leitershofen now. I feel like he could be playing at a higher level. I´m not sure why he is in the Pro B, but he is talented enough to play higher.

You also have been teammates with ex BBL player Peter Zeis for many years. What was the most important thing that you learned from him?

Peter gives us so much experience. The most important thing with him was that you can always rely on him. I am instantly happy whenever he was on the floor. He is such a consistent player. He can always make the big three pointer.

You have been an explosive scorer for many years. If you had to compare yourself to an NBA player who would it be?

Mario always said Bogdan Bogdanovic.

What other strengths does your game have besides scoring?

I have a lot more experience now. I feel like now I can take more responsibility and control the game.

You made big strides as a scorer a few years ago. What happened in your game that made you go from a solid scorer into a dominant scorer?

I just felt more trust from coach Mario and was ready to take on that responsibility. I also felt that from my teammates. I realized that I could make mistakes and that allowed me to play more free. We have other guys like Omari Knox or Jorg Dippold that can score a lot. We just feed the guy who is hot.

Omari Knox told me that you’re a BBL player. Was your job as an engineer more important than trying to become a BBL player?

Yes that is right with my job. When I was in Munich, I had to make the decision between trying to become a BBL player or concentrate on my other job. I picked my job. In my youth, my goal was always to reach the pro B. I did that and I have no regrets. I have job security with my job and as an athlete there is always the danger of getting injured.

Do you sometimes wonder how your career may have gone had you had had more time to pursue the basketball career?

Sometimes I do, but not often. I am happy with how my career has gone in the Pro B.

In your first season in Oberaching you played for ex German national player Robert Maras. What was it like playing for him?

Robert was a great coach and person. He gave me trust right away and I was allowed to make mistakes. The worst thing for a player is to play with fear.

You played 3 seasons with veterans Moritz Wohlers and John Boyer. What did these 2 great players mean to you as teammates?

They meant a lot to me. When they were here, I was a lot younger and they were veterans. They both had so much experience and knew how to play together. John always knew how to find the right guy. I don´t think that we would have moved up to pro B without them.

A few years ago you were teammates with talented young German Benjamin Schroeder. Is sky the limit for him?

He is very talented. When he was with us he was 16 or 17 and already had great size and athleticism. He has developed well and now is playing college basketball. Sky is the limit for him. I feel like he can play BBL in the future.

In the past years you had so many great games in the Pro B. What was your best personal game in the Pro B?

There were so many great games. I remember a buzzer beater against Erfurt as being very memorable. I also remember a few years ago taking Duesseldorf to 3 games and losing game 3 by a close margin.

You played 3 seasons for FC Bayern Munich. What was that like? Which player had the biggest influence on you?

I don´t know who really influenced me but I remember being really impressed by Paul Zipser. I also spent a lot of time with Julius Wolf.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in your career in Germany?

A guy who really annoys me is Sven Lorber. He chases you all over the court.

Please name your five best teammates of all-time?

My top 3 are John Boyer, Peter Zeis and Omari Knox

Please name your NBA and Euro Mount Rushmore?

My NBA Mount Rushmore is Russell Westbrook, Anthony Edwards, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan while my Euro one is Bogdan Bogdanovic, Milos Teodosic, Nikola Jokic and Dirk Nowitzki

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan.

Thanks Janosch for the chat.