Joe Asberry (196-F-1965, college: SF State) is an American ex professional basketball player that really has seen it all from crime to drugs, but also played against legends like David Robinson (215-C-65, college: Navy), Gary Payton, Jason Kidd and Brian Shaw and was teammates with German legendary player Christian Welp. He had a 11 year professional career that saw him toil around in the minor leagues of Germany, but he belonged to the best in his day at that level. Since retiring from the game, he has been a spokesperson for young kids and drug prevention, guest speaker, worked in the Alba Berlin organization, been a master of ceremonies for UBC Hannover and been a mentor for young Americans coming overseas trying to live the dream of being a professional basketball player. He works with an agent and with young inspiring basketball kids and has his own podcast. He also has a new job with the Artland Dragons and spoke to germanhoops.com about his new challenge.

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

What´s up Miles? Always good to tap in with you my guy. I´m in Hamburg at the moment chilling in my favorite hotel and watching Gerald Green Dunk on people on youtube Basketball life for me is Magnificent. It helps me keep my Sanity.

Before we talk about your new great job with the Artland Dragons, we have to talk Team USA. Did you watch the final and were you sweating in crunch-time?

I watched the Final for sure. I never doubted Team USA! I called it in our last interview that USA had too many weapons. King James is unreal. Durant is unguardable and since I´m a lifelong Golden State Warrior Fan respectfully, I pray to Curry before I play horse with Kids, He´s a Basketball GOD! LOL!

The world keeps getting closer to Team USA in basketball. In 4 years there will be no Lebron´s, Curry´s or Durant´s. Was that the last medal for Team USA?

There is no doubt that the World has caught up. Team USA will reload, and they will continue to win. I´m upset with Kerr as Coach though, I love what he does with the Warriors, but to not play Jason Tatum, is disrespectful quote me on this 1,he will give the Warriors a 50 Ball soon

Who do you see being the future of USA basketball at the next Olympics. Please mention some names who will be the next big names? Will a guy like Ja Morant be there?

Ja Morant is a great player. He should be there for sure. Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell,, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Suggs, Cooper Flagg so Team USA will be ok. It´s a team game, but when these dudes start to cook, nobody in the WORLD can stop them.

How disappointing was Germany not winning a medal? How did you observe the run of Team Germany?

I don´t think it was a disappointment that Germany didn´t win a medal. I think they put too much pressure on themselves and didn´t just relax and Hoop, That´s what I HATE about basketball in Europe sometimes. They pretend like you need 500 plays. My Basketball IQ is Low, so let´s run “Coach Joe´s play, get the ball to Franz Wagner and everyone else, GET OUT OF THE WAY” LOL

Congrats on getting a job with the Artland Dragons. It wasn´t always easy for you in Germany to be able to display your incredible basketball expertise. How blessed do you feel to get this incredible opportunity?

Thanks buddy. Nothing has ever been easy for me in Germany,I TOOK SUCCESS! I´m just a basketball entertainer and a hype man. So I appreciate the opportunity that my Dude Pat Elzie,and also Marius Kroeger gave me.

How exciting is it in general working in the Artland Dragons organization. How did you observe this club in the last 20 years? It began with Michael Hakim Jordan bringing the club to the easyCredit BBL in 2003, Chris Fleming winning the cup in 2008 and then the club moving to the Pro B in 2015.

My guys,Pierre Bland,Matt Reid,and Dimi Ward played here. They all told me they were treated well as Pro´s, so I knew it was a good club. I balled vs Chris Fleming back in the days in a tournament here in the North, he was a walking bucket, so the history here is Real. We know that the Flo Hartenstein´s put this place on the map for sure. I watch his son Isaiah Hartenstein play good in the G- League on youtube all the time. He´s living proof if you work, and have GAME, you´re going to shine

How big is this job for your career? Don´t get me wrong, you have done great things for German basketball in many capacities, but in my eyes not gotten the deserved credit that you should get. You have experienced so much crap in Germany and now get rewarded. I guess the saying better late than never holds true in your case.

Thanks for the compliment, but I don`t view it like that at all. It´s the same situation you´re in. EVERYONE knows you and should be calling BBL Games. But sometimes WEIRD People in position play WEIRDO GAMES! LOL! Germany gave me a chance to get paid to hoop and entertain with my Dunks. Now I get paid to talk crazy at streetball tournaments. I´m the same dude that was planning Armed Robberies with my brother Rikki back in those evil California streets; on my way to Prison, or a Graveyard, so I´m winning,all day,everyday. I tell guys just because you´re IGNORANT today, it doesn´t mean you have to be ignorant tomorrow,pick up a SPALDING! LOL!

Was it tough leaving your home base of Berlin for the small village Quackenbruck? Was it a tough adjustment at first?

Yes it was a very tough adjustment and it still is. but Berlin is my headquarters with my Gal, so I´ll go there often. I don´t miss the traffic at all. This little quiet town is cool

You have been a good friend of Pat Elzie for years. Now your working for him and with him. What have you learned to appreciate most about him as a man and basketball instructor?

Pat Elzie really cares about his players. That is RARE in this Pro Basketball Business. Guys get hurt, and they´re GONE! Pat is a all around good dude, I could never repay him for what he has done for me. He got me a Pro Basketball job when nobody else would touch me. And now I´m in a tiny village, repaying my debt. LOL!

In the press release, it states that you will be responsible for going to schools and recruiting kids for the game. You are a great motivator. How exciting is this new responsibility for you?

I love basketball so this is the easy part. I´ll be chunking up buzzer beaters, I´ll brick a few because of the weightroom, but hey,NO EXCUSES!

You love to motivate and just love basketball and have that special love that not many have. What do you believe is the biggest strength in how you can motivate young kids for basketball?

I think my biggest strength to motivate kids with basketball is to help them dream. So I tell them hey, if a dude like me from the Hood can do something with his life, you can too. I tell them NEVER LET Go of your dreams, when my Dawg Kevin Yebo signed in Munich. I literally cried like a baby! He got Pro Basketball out of the MUD for real. Tannenbusch is a Legit Hood in Germany, and they LOVE HIM! He never got too BIG for his hood. Now the young guys that play basketball there are dreaming too I´m going to ride off into the sunset, like a good cowboy, but 1st,I got to beat up on some kids in Horse in Quackenbruck! LOL

What other duties will you have? Will you also be coaching young kids?

I´ll Coach a u18/Men mix, a basketball after school program, and my main duty will be to try and keep the Pro´s from going insane. Pro Basketball is a pressure performance based business. A guy like me is always in good spirits carries much more weight than people think. Most people talk behind pro´s backs when they don´t play well! I say positive things to their face to help them forget about a bad game and move forward.

We both have seen Brandon Thomas play for more than 15 years in Germany. This guy has the perfect body and plays like 30 at age 40. For me he is like an identity figure for German basketball. What is it like working with him?

BT is that Dude. He is the definition of a Pro Hooper on and off the court. I love working with him. As soon as I see him I tell him how much I love his shooting DAILY!,That man has a Pistol hidden in a backpack! LOL!

How exciting is this years Pro A club with new coach Vincent Mcaulay and Pat Elzie. What is your feeling how well this team will do?

I enjoy working with Coach Vince! Everything is new here for him so I just add my two cents on the off the court dangers especially for the young American players! It´s crazy to be working with Big Pat again. The last time we worked together he moved a team up to the BBL! So I´m praying that history repeats itself. There isn´t any pressure.My motto is just stay in the League and push towards the playoffs.

Who wins a 1-1 now in 2024? You or Brandon Thomas?

I don´t want any parts of Brandon Thomas in 1´s. He will shoot my face off. All I would do is hold, foul, talk and l Lose. There are a few other people running around with big mouths though and I live in a weightroom so I like my chances vs ANY amatuer. I´ll bully them; get to my middy jumper and floater, all day,everyday! I already cooked 1 of my u18 dudes to close his big mouth so I got my 1st Dub.LOL!

Thanks Joe for the chat.