Mike Davis Jr. (193-G-1996, college: Queens, NC) is a 28 year old 193cm guard from Georgia playing his seventh season overseas and playing his first season with FIT/One Wuerzburg Baskets (Germany-BBL). He has gathered valuable experience in countries like Ireland, Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Greece, Russia and Turkey. He began his basketball career at Brunswick high school and then played 2 seasons with Francis Marion University (NCAA2) averaging 11.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.2apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 69.4% and 17.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.7apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 43.9%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 68.3% and then played 2 seasons at Queens University (NCAA2) averaging 13.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.3apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 44.0%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 74.4% and 12.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.8apg, 1.9spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 76.5%. He spoke togermanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Mike for talking to germanhoops.com Your playing your first season in Germany after having played in Ireland, Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Greece, Russia and Turkey. Is it fair to say that you’re a basketball globetrotter?

I would say so. I have made my way around Europe and seen many countries and cities. Germany is just another one on my check list.

It took you some years to reach higher leagues but all in all 7 years to reach a top 5 league in Europe with the easyCredit BBL. Did you always believe in yourself especially when your were paying your dues in Ireland?

I always believed in myself. I actually had had the option to go to Wurzburg at the end of year 5, but twice went to other clubs. This season it all worked out with Wurzburg.

How special is it playing for the Wurzburg organization? Did you know that that is where Dirk Nowitzki began his pro career there.

Yes I knew that. There is a big mural of him in the gym. The culture is very good here. It is a nice program. I really like playing here.

He actually was back in Wurzburg last week. Did he visit the club? I saw that he visited a farm club game.

I was told on the bus that he was there. I didn´t see him.

What have you learned to appreciate most about the organization?

I like how you come to practice each day to work. You come to practice, go home and rest and then come back the next day. I know that all the hard work will continue to pay off.

Wurzburg is playing very well in the BBL and BCL. What has been the secret to the success so far?

We play hard and play good defense. We also have many offensive weapons. You never know who´s night it will be. That keeps us unpredictable.

Head coach Saso Filipovski has really made a difference in a short time. What is so unique about his basketball philosophy?

He really loves and studies the game. He really knows the game and watches a lot of it. He implements the little details that matter. Plus he has a lot of experience.

What has it been being teammates with very talented Zac Selfaass? What is your special Zac story?

He is a good guy, teammate and person. When I first met him, I had no idea that he was a Mormon. He already had 2 kids. I asked him how many kids do you want to have and he said 5 kids.

What has it been like being teammates with high scoring point guard Jhivvan Jackson. How has he helped you make your game better this season?

He is a great shot maker and creator. He takes so much pressure off the other guards. It has been a lot of fun playing with him.

You have always been a high scoring guard in lower leagues, but this season have many great scorers. What is exactly your role on the team?

My role is to score here, but not as much as in other years. I also was asked to play better defense than in other years. I have been able to take on that challenge.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 193cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would bets fit the description?

I would say a CJ McCullum.

Even though your scoring may stand out, you fill the stat sheet very well. How visible is versatility in your game?

I think that my versatility is very visible. I was asked to play point guard in pre-season. I feel like I showcase my versatility as a player.

Your shooting 37% in the BCL but only 26% in the BBL. Why is your three point shooting still a work in progress?

I´m not too fond of my BBL percentages or accustomed to it. I think there are many factors. I just have to try to keep working on my shot.

Talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you in year 7 and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I feel like that I´m a good help defender and a pretty good 1-1 defender. I´m capable of getting sneaky chase down blocks.

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

I have to improve on creating for others, being better off the bounce and just being more efficient.

Last season you played with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 2nd team (Turkey-TBL) averaging 25.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 5.4apg, Steals-5 (1.8spg), FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 79.5%. What was it like playing for the Euroleague farm team? I´m sure you practiced with them. What could you soak up from guys like Scottie Wilbekin and Nick Calathes?

Playing in Turkey was a great experience. I saw Euroleague games and practiced with them. I saw how professional everything was and how much work is needed to be done to be successful.

How did your game grow in the TBL? That is a potent second league in Europe, Did it feel at times like being a man with children?

I wouldn´t say that. I was touted to do more, because we had many young guys. I had to carry more of the load than other imports in that league.

In 2022-2023 you played with Runa Basket Moscow (Russia-Superleague) averaging 17.0ppg), 4.2rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 48.2%, 3PT: 41.3%, FT: 85.4%. What kind of an experience was it living in Moscow? That was at a time where Russia was at war in the Ukraine

I really enjoyed my time in Moscow. It was nothing that I expected. We had a great year as a team and I had a great year. The Russian people were very nice.

Did you visit any CSKA Moscow games?

I saw 1 game. We scrimmaged them twice. We lost the first game, but won the second where they had all players present. It was a great experience.

In 21-22 you split time with Kharkivski Sokoly (Ukraine-Superleague) averaging 19.7ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.5apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 48.1%, 3FGP: 42.2%, FT: 65.0%, in Mar.’22 moved to HydroTruck Radom (Poland-EBL) averaging 19.6ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.9apg, 2.3spg, 2FGP: 46.7%, 3FGP: 41.8%, FT: 76.5%, in Apr.’22 signed at Hellenic Coin Ionikos Basketball (Greece-A1) averaging 4.5ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.0spg. How tough was this season especially with the war breaking out in the Ukraine?

That was a sticky season. Some of the owners and coaches in the Ukraine didn´t accept the war. I had to leave. Poland was nice. I got injured in Greece in the second game

How tough was your short stay in Poland. You had great stats but mostly lost games. What positives could you take from that experience?

Poland is a good mid tier league. Many guys go to top leagues after. Poland was a good way to test my skills.

In 20-21 you played with BC Rustavi 1991 (Georgia-Superleague) averaging 19.1ppg, 8.0rpg, 4.7apg, Steals-2 (2.7spg), FGP: 53.1%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 70.4%. You won the Georgian title. You won every playoff game and swept Tskhum-Abkhazeti in the final. What was so special about this team?

We were connected a lot. We played really good defense and got on transition. Our coach gave us the freedom to use our skills.

In the 19-20 season you played a short season with BC Cactus Tbilisi (Georgia-Superleague)n averaging 25.4ppg, 6.2rpg, 3.6apg, 3.0spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 46.8%, FT: 67.6%. How valuable was your 2 years in Georgia for your game coming from Ireland?

My second season was most valuable. It was my coming out season. I won the title and MVP.

You played your rookie season with Belfast Star (Ireland-Super League) averaging 29.4ppg, 5.5rpg, 3.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 61.6%, 3PT-2 (46.6%), FT: 76.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I was a young guy. We didn´t have a trainer. A player would tape us up. That was definitely different.

You played at Francis Marion University (NCAA2) from 2014-2016 averaging 11.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.2apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 69.4% and 17.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.7apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 43.9%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 68.3% in your second season. You made a big jump in your game in your second season. How did your game grow under Gary Edwards?

He allowed me to play my game. We worked very hard on offense. After my freshman year, I worked hard all summer and then I came back and everything clicked and then it was off to the races.

You had so many great games in the NCAA 2, but many in losing causes. What was your fondest moment? Possibly your 32 points against South Wesleyan?

That was a great game. I was near a triple double.

You then finished at Queens University (NCAA2) averaging 13.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.3apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 44.0%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 74.4% and 12.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.8apg, 1.9spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 76.5%. You won the SAC title in 2017. What memories do you have of reaching the NCAA 2 Final 4 in 2018?

That Final 4 team was the best team that I ever played on. We were so connected. We had a great coach and had so much fun each day. We were together nonstop for 2 years.

What kind of a relationship did you have with Shaun Willett? He has had a stellar pro career and had good seasons in Germany.

Shaun is my boy. I talk to him 2-3 times a week. He was at my wedding. Our kids are born 1 week apart.

How did head coach Grant Leonard groom and prepare you best for a professional career

He is my guy. I talk to him and see him whenever I´m in Charlotte. He helped me how to know what shots to take and how to get to my spots. He knows exactly what the upper level is looking for.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Shaun Willett?

I would say that we split a lot. We won our last battle. We had good back and forth battles.

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

Emmanuel Terry and Todd Withers

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Ike Agassi, Shaun Willett, Detrek Browning, Daniel Carr, Dajuan Graf

Your NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Shaq, Tim Duncan, Bill Russell

Your Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan

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

That weas definitely one of the movies that you don´t remake.

Thanks Mike for the chat.