Kyle Rode (201-F, college: Liberty) is a 201cm forward from Lexington, Kentucky that is playing his rookie season in Germany with easyCredit BBL team EWE Baskets Oldenburg. He began his basketball career at Lexington Christian Academy and also played with AAU team Indiana Elite. He then played at Liberty (NCAA) from 2019-2024 playing a total of 161 games. He played at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft) averaging 11.7ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.3apg. He spoke to germanhoops.com earlier in the summer about basketball.

Thanks Kyle for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Germany. You will start your rookie season in Germany with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. What do you know in general about the country and it´s basketball? “

Thanks for having me! I am super grateful to have the opportunity to play for the baskets this season and start my professional career! I have nothing but great respect for Germany as a country, for its basketball history, and have been welcomed by everyone so far since I’ve been here! I know Germany has a great reputation on and off the basketball court and I have learned so much already about the history and culture of the country and its basketball.

You signed very early in the 2024-2025 transfer period after a strong Portsmouth tournament. You interviewed with NBA teams and were on some of their radars, but still opted to go overseas. Often Americans get overwelmed by the word NBA, but you seemed to stay very grounded and understood reality?

I had a great experience at the Portsmouth tournament and that led into me having a handful of NBA workouts. I’ve learned so much throughout the NBA process and still ultimately have a dream of making it to the NBA, but felt for my rookie season It was best and I came over to Europe and played for the EWE baskets this season and continue to grow and develop my game.

What made the EWE Baskets the perfect choice so early in the summer? Obviously they are a first class organization, but I´m sure there were other clubs interested in your services?

Yeah once I got the opportunity to play for an organization like this, I knew as a rookie that an opportunity is highly valuable which ultimately led me to the decision to come play for the Baskets. To play in the BBL for a competitive team and a highly respected head coach and organization is a great way to start my career.

How was your first talk with head coach Pedro Calles? He is known as one of the top coaches in the easyCredit BBL. What impressed you most about him?

My first impression of Coach Pedro was how important the game of basketball is to him and how he values the right players within his organization. I’ve had a former teammate play for him when he coached Hamburg, Caleb Homesley, and he told me about how impactful Coach Pedro was for him and his transition to the European game. Another aspect that I really respect about Coach is his level of detail and competitive spirit, I think we will be really successful together because we value similar things on the court and off the court. I want to come and help the team in anyway that I can and learn from him as much as I can as well.

You are also known as being a high character guy something teams are always putting high on their priority list. You helped train a sick young man by the name of Brogan Parsons. How do you feel did your relationship with him help you grow as a young man during your Liberty time?

Thank you for the kind words. I try to live out my faith and serve people as much as I can. I believe we are all given gifts from God to impact this world and I try to do that with my basketball platform. Brogan is just one example, but him and his amazing family have become like family to me and I’m so grateful the last couple years I’ve got to train, do life, and see him grow on and off the court. That relationship will last a lifetime and I’m so grateful that my time at Liberty brought me closer to him.

You’re a guy that can flat out shoot the ball and have a high basketball Iq. First guy that stands out would be Larry Bird. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Thank you for that compliment, I tried to bring value by shooting the ball then playing with a high basketball IQ and there’s tons of amazing players in the NBA that I enjoy to watch. I think some players positionally that I really like to learn from our guys like John Konchar, Bogdonavic, Klay Thompson, Alex Peters, and some others! I tried to take little pieces from all of their games and implement them in my own.

You can shoot the ball and have a high IQ, but are also a very good passer. Talk a little about where your playmaking is at the moment and where you would like to take it in the next years?

Yeah, I think this season we have three amazing playmakers with Geno, Eli, and Justin, as well as a guy like Seth that can make plays at the forward spot too! I am super confident in my ability to make the right play in a versatile way, but making the right play in whatever role I’m given is what I’ll do! I feel like I can add value to us by shooting the ball, making quick decisions, and making the right play in closeouts, and in coach Pedro’s offense this is super important.

You eclipsed the 40% twice in the NCAA. Where are you now as a shooter and what do you need to do to become an elite shooter?

Yeah I feel like I’m a guy that is continually working and fine-tuning their game so my professional career I’ll try to grow my three-point shooting and all around game even more. But I feel like especially an area I can continue to grow and get opportunities is flying off screens to shoot and to make contested shots when needed.

What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I’ve learned a lot defensively from Coach Pedro on the three weeks that I’ve been here and try to be tough on the defensive end and be in the right spots. You have to be very versatile to play in the system defensively because of any given moment you can be matched up one through four so I’m continuing to work on the right coverages and aspects of the defense. I will continue to grow on this area because of my film study and preparation so that I’ll be prepared when we face talented teams like the BBL has.

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

Since coming to Europe, I feel like my game has grown all around. I’ve seen a big difference and closeout decision making, shooting on the move and just learning the spacing and play style of European basketball. I’d like to continue to grow in my ability to play at the rim and also, the pace that Coach Pedro wants

”You played at Liberty (NCAA) from 2019-2014. You won 2 A-sun tournaments. I can imagine the win over N Alabama where you had a 15/6/5 game was your sweetest title. What memories do you have of that win?

Yeah, obviously anytime you get to win a championship that’s going to have special memories, but that season was particularly challenging with everything that COVID-19 presented for us just to play basketball games. When I committed to Liberty, it was one of the dreams I had, and seeing if it filled after that Win was amazing. I was so grateful God and allowed me to play at a school like Liberty and the championship that year to qualify for March Madness was amazing.

As a freshman you were teammates with Caleb Homesley who has had a great overseas career. How do you remember his game and how did he push you in practice best?

Caleb was an amazing senior leader for me to be able to play with and learn from. I remember going into my freshman year he just scored 30 points to win a game in March Madness and I got to workout with him my first workout at Liberty. And that was my welcome to college basketball moment because he won every drill that day. Throughout the years we’ve built a great relationship, and I have the utmost respect about how he handles his career and family life. We talk or text at least once a week just about life overseas or little things. He has been amazing for any questions I’ve had about Coach Pedro, Basketball or seas, or just life in general.

You had so many great games in the NCAA like hitting WKU for 31 points and others. What was your most memorable game in the NCAA?

That was an amazing game for sure on senior night and to have all my family there and attendance as well was awesome. Playing against Oklahoma St in March madness is a memorable game, the UNA championship, my first college game was special, all our wins against Power 5 schools, and others come to mind as well!

How did head coach Richie McKay groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I can’t say enough good things about how Coach Mckay has prepared me for basketball and for life as a man. He was more than a coach to me and has exemplified what a man of God looks like. He has an unbelievable passion and knowledge for the game of basketball but also cares for his players on a personal level. He taught me so many things in life and on the Court and I feel like I am prepared for this journey as a professional largely because of things he taught me

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Shiloh Robinson?

Surprisingly me and Shiloh never really played one on one, but we definitely had our fair share of matchups throughout the course of our five years together in practice, and I can’t say enough good things about Shiloh as a player and a person. I’m so excited to see what he does as a professional in his first year in Portugal.

Who was the toughest player that you played against in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I think two players are come to mine are Brandon Miller, who was a number two pick in the NBA draft, and Cade Cunningham who was the number one overall pick and draft, but guys like Jaden Ivy, Zach Edey, and others also stick out.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I don’t know if I could give you just five to be honest. I’ve had so many great teammates over the years not only has players but also as people.

What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Michael Jordan, LeBron, Kobe, and the fourth to me could be a variety of guys.

Who is your GOAT?

MJ

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

I have not, my free time in Europe I’ll try to watch it

Thanks Kyle for the chat.