Max Heidegger (191-PG-1997, college: UCSB) Is a 27 year old 191cm guard from California that will play his fifth professional season with Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey-BSL). Last season he played with Umana Reyer Venezia (Italy-Serie A) averaging 9.8ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 72.7%, 2.0rpg, 2.3apg. He began the season with the Windy City Bulls (NBA G League) averaging 12.9ppg, 1.5rpg, 3.6apg, 2FGP: 44.7%, 3FGP: 40.9%, FT: 71.4%. In 2022-2023 he split time with Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli Basket (Turkey-BSL) and with Bitci Baskonia Vitoria (Spain-Liga ACB) averaging 8.8ppg, 1.2rpg, 3.6apg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 69.2%. In the 2021-22 season he played with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg (Germany-BBL) averaging 18.3ppg), 2.2rpg, 4.5apg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 66.0%. He played his rookie season with Bnei Hertzeliya (Israel-Winner League) averaging 18.2ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.6apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 41.8%, FT: 79.6%. He began his basketball career with Oaks Christian high school. He then played at the University of California Santa Barbara from 2016-2020 playing a total of 96 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Max for talking to germanhoops.com. Your played your first season with Umana Reyer Venezia (Italy-Serie A). From a historical stand point, you couldn´t have picked a more beautiful place to live in. What does Venice mean to you now as you are living there as opposed to having visited there before?

Venice is such a beautiful and interesting place, there is truly nothing like it in the world, especially as we are starting to get into spring and the sun is out and it’s starting to get warmer. I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far as I’d never been for a game or vacation before so I’m looking forward to exploring the city more. Obviously living somewhere you start to maybe take certain things for granted maybe but I’m trying to absorb as much of Venice while I can.

You recently played in the G-League. Your stay was short. Did you get homesick to the Euro game? Usually guys will remain a lot longer in the G-League.

Not necessarily, in retrospect maybe I should have stayed a bit longer but you live and you learn but I did get a bit accustomed to Europe so it’s a hard adjustment both ways because the philosophy is completely different.

The team is in first place of Serie A. Since moving up in 2011the team has only won one title with a cup. The expectations seem high and the team is stacked with a lot of talent, depth and guys from the NBA. How did you expect to fit in?

I think I fit in fine, it’s definitely difficult to join a team midway through the season or even later like I did as roles are already understood and you are trying to learn how to fit in on the fly while other had a whole preseason to do that but I had experienced it a bit last year moving to Baskonia but I think I can fit a role they wanted where I can play both positions score a bit and take on some of the point guard duties.

You have always been a guy used to having the ball in your hands and taking a lot of shots. Will it be a very big adjustment for you having to possibly take less shots?

I’ve actually gotten a bit used to it at this point as my usage has gone down a lot since I left Turkey especially since I joined two teams midway through the year. I mean it’s obviously difficult as I played one way my whole life basically but it’s not necessarily a bad thing just a different mindset.

You were with the Chicago Bulls in training camp. What kind of an experience was it learning from Billy Donovan? What do you remember being the most vital of info that he gave you about your game?

I have a ton of respect for coach Donovan as he’s had success at every level and just seeing his work ethic and commitment to excellence was really impressive. He was always in the office watching film. I think the biggest thing was just the attention to detail especially for a guy like myself who was a fringe guy you have to do everything right.

How did you like the G-League style. Is it really all about guys only playing for their stats to get that NBA call up?

The G league is most definitely a fun style with the highest pace in the world. I wouldn’t say that every player in the G league is like that but I say it’s close to like AAU in the states when guys are trying to get recruited for college. If you don’t take advantage of your opportunities there’s no way for you to get what you want which is an NBA call up, but it’s not always necessarily with scoring a lot of guys get called up due to their versatility and athleticism but I’d be lying if there weren’t some guys just out there to purely score as many points as possible.

The G-League is getting younger and younger, but every now and then you see a known ex NBA player like Derrick Favors. What was it like sharing the court with him? What did you appreciate most about his game?

It was great, amazing person first of all but he’s obviously played at the highest levels possible, being able to learn from him and his experiences was really great. I mean a guy of his caliber to come back to the g league shows not only his love for the game but also what kind of person he is. Being around a guy that humble with that much success is always great. I just appreciated his IQ, obviously he didn’t quite have the same jumping ability he had in his prime but being able to shift his game to being more about IQ was really impressive to me.

What was the coolest moment that you had in the last 6 months in the NBA and G-League? You must of met some famous basketball figures?

Yeah of course I met a ton but being in basketball in the states you are around these guys relatively often so it’s not as crazy of an experience but learning from guys who have been there and done it is always a great experience. But for me personally my coolest moment was putting on an NBA a jersey even though it was only for preseason games it’s still what you dream about as a kid and being on the floor is something special.

Dou you ever see yourself going back in the G-League/NBA direction or is Europe your number one goal now?

I don’t exactly know what the future holds for the right situation I’d go anywhere but of course I think everyone playing basketball wants to play in the nba so that’s the dream but Europe is where I am.

Last season you began with Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli Basket (Turkey-BSL) and finished with Bitci Baskonia Vitoria (Spain-Liga Endesa) averaging 8.8ppg, 1.2rpg, 3.6apg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 69.2%, 2.0apg). You had huge games in Turkey. The Turkish league really seemed to fit your game. You outdueled many top guards there. What was your nicest memory on the court?

Yeah Turkey is the perfect country for my game. Especially since I finally played primarily the point position which really elevated my game. I think beating Turk Telekom and Fener back to back at home was a good memory.

In Spain you got to play Euroleague. How do you feel did your game grow during that period even if you didn´t get heavy minutes?

I mean it’s a great experience, of course I would have liked a bigger role but it’s always good learning how to fit in a team and seeing the best level of competition in Europe every day. I think I just learned a lot about how basketball should be played more tactically which I wasn’t used to as much as before that most teams I played in I was given a lot of freedom.

In the 21-22 season you played with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg (Germany-BBL) averaging 18.3ppg), 2.2rpg, 4.5apg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 66.0%. You had massive games against so many teams including FC Bayern Munich scoring 31 points in a 31 point win. How tough was playing so well, but not making the playoffs?

Obviously tough especially with how we ended the season, it was unfortunate that injuries and other circumstances caused us to start poorly I felt bad especially for Mladen and Rickey whom are legends of the club and I have immense respect for it just wasn’t working early in the season and I think coach Freyer his style fit our team more maybe especially me but it’s always difficult to have a disappointing season especially at a club like Oldenburg where they were super professional

You witnessed the farewell season of BBL legend Rickey Paulding. What did it mean to you to have him as a teammate?

Like I said before I think all of us as players felt a bit bad that we couldn’t give Rickey a proper send off with a great season but I think Rickey was the best teammate I’ve had in my life. Ofcourse he’s a legend of the bbl but it’s incredible that he had no ego and was one of the best people I’ve ever been around in basketball. It was insane to see the things he could still do at 40 he could have played a few more years at the same level if he wanted to, it’s cool to see how involved he still is in Oldenburg from afar.

You played your rookie season with Maccabi Playtika Tel-Aviv (Israel-Winner League) and Bnei Hertzeliya (Israel-Winner League) averaging 18.2ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.6apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 41.8%, FT: 79.6%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home even if you have Israeli roots?

My first year they had a series of missile attacks and that was kind of my wake up call if I’m not in California or the US anymore. I mean there’s nothing in the US that would really prepare you for missile attacks and just how calm the people in Israel were at the time was pretty confusing to my teammates and I at the time.

You were coached by Sharon Drucker a guy who was an assistant at Maccabi many years ago. How do you feel did he help you adjust from the NCAA to euro ball best?

I think the biggest thing is that he was patient with me and was more supportive than a disciplinarian which I think was massive in helping me adjust. The first year out of the NCAA is always so difficult not only on the court learning European basketball but also as a person being away from family and friends in a completely different culture and time zone so I think his support and patience with me honestly allowed me to get through the first year and build some momentum to start my career. Very grateful to him.

You played at UC-Santa Barbara from 2016-2020. You had many 30 plus games and once was close to a triple double against LBSU. What was your fondest game in the NCAA?

Probably senior night my last year, even though I was injured it was just a culmination of a lot of hard work being able to graduate and having played all 4 years having pushed through a lot of injuries and other things it was an important milestone for me.

You played 2 seasons with Gabe Vincent. That guy had to fight for everything to get to where he is today. How do you remember his work ethic? Could you soak something up from his presence?

He was always an incredibly hard worker and very mature but I think the biggest things that allowed him to do what he has done is his confidence and consistency. Obviously he worked hard to get where he is but even since college he lived as a professional and his mentality and attitude never changed in the face of success or adversity which I think is one of the main reasons he made it from basically the bottom to where he is now, it’s a great story.

You played 2 seasons against TJ Shorts who has been a terror overseas since he turned pro. You also played against him in Germany. How far is he from reaching the Euroleague?

I don’t think far at all, he’s going to get an opportunity in my opinion, I mean there’s not much else he can do to get that opportunity he’s excelled at every level and every place he’s been even if people doubted him. He was mvp of champions league last year and will most likely be mvp of eurocup this year so I mean if he doesn’t deserve the opportunity at this point nobody does.

How did head coach Joe Pasternack groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I think he installed some structure in my life when I desperately needed it. As a college kid I needed that structure to be successful in my life as a whole and he provided that which allowed me to grow as a player and person

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jaquori Mclaughlin?

I’m not sure if we actually ever played one on one but of course I’d bet on myself on that one but we used to go at it all the time in practice and it depended on the day who got the better of the other. I’m excited that he’s back on the court this year as he’s in Indonesia right now, looking forward to catching some of his games.

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

In college probably Lonzo Ball, I played against him in high school also but with that UCLA team there was nothing we could really do he just played with such command and confidence as a freshman he could dominate the game without scoring.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

PG: Alex OConnell

SG: Sander Raieste

SF: Rickey Paulding

PF: Leland King

C: Norris Agbakoko

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron, Kobe, Jordan, Allen Iverson

Who is your GOAT and why?

I think the best player ever is Lebron but my goat is Kobe, growing up in LA he was such a legend in the city and he meant so much to the city of LA he’s the person who got me to pick up a basketball even though no one in my family had ever played or had any interest in basketball. The impact he had on myself and the city of LA makes him my GOAT.

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

I did not see the sequel. Sometimes you should just leave the classics alone it’s hard to replicate a movie like that especially like 30 years later.

Thanks Max for the chat.