pic credit: Dennis Dudek

Christoph Philipps (203-SF-1998, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) is a 25 year old 203cm forward that will play his first season with the Fraport Skyliners. He began his basketball career with ratiopharm Ulm and played parts of 9 seasons there and 100 + easy credit BBL games. He then moved to the Veolia Towers Hamburg (BBL) averaging 3.0ppg, 1.8rpg and played 18 games Eurocup games averaging 6.1ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.1apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 65.6%, 3PT: 43.9%, FT: 86.7%. Last season he played with the Tigers Tuebingen (BBL) averaging 4.5ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.4apg. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

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

I´m in Tuebingen right now. I´m in the process of moving to my parents. I will then move to Frankfurt in August. At the moment all is good and I´m training for the next season.

Congrats on signing with the Fraport Skyliners. After Ulm, Hamburg and Tuebingen, now Frankfurt is your fourth organization. Your only 25 years old and have seen a lot in your young basketball career. How big is sky the limit for you still at age 25?

I hope so. I think that I still have a lot of potential. I couldn´t show it last year. I have to wonder where I would be today without all the injuries I have had.

After 9 seasons in the Ulm organization, you then played the last 2 seasons in Hamburg and Tuebingen. You got a 2 year deal. How important is it for you now to find consistency again with 1 organization?

Yes it is. The 2 year deal was important. Coach also wanted it. It is important that a team can grow. I also am happy that I can stay 2 years. I can feel comfortable and not have to worry about moving again after 1 season.

You had a 4-4 career balance against the Fraport Skyliners. How do you remember the battles over the years going against them?

I always remember Frankfurt as being an aggressive team and having defensive games. I also enjoyed playing against their young players. I also remember playing a Eurocup game against Frankfurt in the BCM. I played Frankfurt in all categories from youth, Pro B to BBL. I know the organization.

How big of a reason was it coming to Frankfurt to be able to play for Denis Wucherer. How did the talks go with him and what do you appreciate most about him?

Frankfurt already wanted to have me last season. I told him my focus was on the BBL and he understood totally. I had a 45 minute talk with him and it went very well. I really liked his defensive concept.

You were teammates with new Skyliner Timo Lanmueller. How important is it for you being teammates with him again now for a third organization?

I played with him in the Ulm youth and in Tuebingen. I´m happy to be teammates with him again. He is a real good team player. He is a very ambitious player who trains very hard. He is an aggressive defender who can hit the three pointer.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 203cm small forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA or Euro player who would best fit the bill?

I don´t know about NBA. But in the BBL, I have always liked watching Lucic of Munich. He is an allrounder that brings calmness, makes the right decisions, smart pass or clutch three pointer.

You have always been a player that fills the stat sheet. Would you call yourself a modern day forward?

I don´t know. I have always been most comfortable at the position 3. I can also play the 4 and defend 1-4.

What do you feel like is a hidden talent in your game that is still a bit off the radar at your age?

I think the way I can read the game is off the radar. I feel like I can see things that other can´t.

You’re a very talented and physical defender. Talk a little about your defense. What kind of a defender are you right now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I´m a flexible defender that can defend 1-4. Before I was injured, I could defend point guards. At the moment, I can´t, but I´m working on getting my quickness back again. I can play switch defense and make the smart foul on transition. I have to improve my closeout and be more aggressive on the defensive rebound.

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

I´m working a lot now on my body and physicality. I also am working on my ball handling and shot. I will be training in Sardinian, Italy at the end of July in preparation for Frankfurt

You began your career in the ratiopharm Ulm organization. You played JBBL in 2013. What are your memories from those days. Did you have a type of mentor them or was there a coach that really influenced your game?

Per Guenther helped me a lot in young years. I also have to mention Nils Mittman. He helped me a lot especially in the Pro B. I remember when he was 36 or 38 and he was still playing with such great intensity. He really pushed us showing that an old man can still practice with a lot of intensity. He told us If I can do it then you as well. He gave me a lot of self-confidence

You won the 2017 Pro B championship with David Kramer. He told me then his goal would be the NBA. That didn´t happen but he did beat USA and become world champion. Did you already notice his strong self-confidence already then?

David had a big advantage in that he trained like crazy. He was afraid of nothing. He just did his thing without thinking of the consequences. He was so ambitious to get better.

How challenging were these years playing and practicing with top young players. What young player had the biggest impact on you?

I think that Marius Stoll and Nicolas Bretzel had the biggest impact on me. We were together since day 1 in the U-10 all the way to the BBL. You don´t see that happening a lot except with guys from Alba Berlin.

In the17-18 season you made your BBL debut with ratiopharm Ulm. You were teammates with Per Guenther. What memorable story do you have with him?

I don´t have a specific story with Per. I just will never forget how he led us as captain. He always had the right words to say. He always picked up the team and we followed him. That was very impressive. He was a good captain.

You played your first BBL game against MBC making 2 free throws in 2 minutes. What memories do you have of that game?

It was crazy. I remember watching games in the Kuberg gym and then be able to play in a BBL game was hard to believe. I was so excited. It was one of the bets days for me.

You played with so many talented Americans players with Ulm. Who do you remember having the biggest influence on you`

Jaron Blossomgame, Christiano Feliciano, Archie Goodwin

You then played with Hamburg and averaged 3,0ppg. Do you feel like you got a fair chance there? What positives could you get out of this season?

I feel like I did get a fair chance there. I started games and played Eurocup. I loved to play Eurocup. That season was tough as there were coaching and player changes. There was a lot of turbulence. I just tried to go my way. I felt like I had a good season.

You then with the Tigers Tuebingen. You had injury woes, but still averaged 4/1/1 stats in 14 minutes. Despite the injuries, was this an ok season for you?

I began very well. It was tough getting an injury right after my best BBL games. We had a big roster of 15 players and when I came back, I didn´t have the explosiveness back and had to play some center as well. I got better and better at the end and then was happy with my game.

Do you think your season would have gone differently had you not gotten injured? You began with 10 points against Ulm and then exploded for 23 points against Bonn and then got injured after the third game.

You don´t know. I don´t want to worry about what I can´t control.

You were a German U-16 player. You were teammates with Isaiah Hartenstein. He always wanted and knew he would reach the NBA. Did you share his thoughts then?

I never played against him. I remember seeing games of him in the JBBL. What he was able to do with his size, athleticism and skills was amazing at that time. I thought that he could have a big career, but wouldn´t have thought he could be such a consistent NBA player.

Who was the best player you played against in your life that reached the NBA?

Chris Babb always played physical and no matter what could get his step back shot off. Zoran Dragic was also a tough cover in practice.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Thomas Klepeisz, Seth Hinrichs, Jaron Blossomgame, Andi Obst, Per Guenther

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Nowitzki, Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, Jokic

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan.

Thanks Christoph for the chat

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