Ty Nichols (190-G-1996, college: Keene St.) is a 28 year old 190cm guard that was born in Springfield, Mass that is playing his 6th professional season and first with German team EWE Baskets Oldenburg. He began the season with Patrioti Levice (Slovakia-Tipos SBL). He has experience having played in Kosovo, Albania and the Czech Republic. He began his basketball career with Putnam Vo-Tech high school and then played at Keene State College (NCAA3) from 2015-2019 and as a senior averaged : 27.4ppg, 7.2rpg, 4.9apg, 2.6spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 39.2%, FT: 82.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before his easyCredit BBL debut against the Telekom Baskets Bonn.

Thanks Ty for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with German easyCredit BBL team EWE Baskets. After 5 seasons of paying your dues, you have reached a top league in Europe. Will the chip on your shoulder remain now?

100%. This what every guy wants. Being able to perform on a high stage. I put myself in good position with my play in the Fiba Europe Cup. I had a few offers, but felt that the EWE Baskets was the best situation.

You dominated as usual in Slovakia, BCL and Fiba Europe Cup, but left your team to join the EWE Baskets. Did you have a clause in your contract?

My agent negotiated a buy out in my contract. We missed out on advancing to the next round of the Fiba Europe Cup by 1 point. That allowed me to go.

You must be so excited to join the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. What do you believe was most vital in the last 6 years in you being able to get this far in your career?

I feel like it has been a combination of how I have played the last 2 seasons. I won MVP of the Czech league and helped my team win their first ever chip. Also my good play in the Fiba Europe Cup helping beat big budget teams like Zaragoza helped

You have never averaged less than 15,0ppg in a season since 2016. That is brutal consistency. What do you attribute this consistency to?

I got a trainer in the summer of 2016 and we have worked together until this day. He has helped me take my game to the next level. I´m still not content with my game and will continue to work hard. Every team that I have played with allowed me to play my game and just let me be myself. That has helped me be consistent.

You now have reached a top team with many other guys that can really score the ball. Will that be a tough adjustment for you not necessarily always having the ball in your hands or being that go to guy?

I´m not going to lie. It will be an adjustment. That is what happens when you reach a high league and top team, there will be very talented players. I have to see what my role will be and just realize that I don´t need to score 25 points to win. I just have to realize that I may have to score 10 points on some nights to win.

What do you feel will be the biggest challenge for you competing in the BBL?

I think mainly just the load of talent from team to team.

Your scoring may stand out, but you can really fill the stat sheet like no other. You have been close to achieving triple doubles. How big is versatility in your game?

It is huge. I have been a scorer my whole career, but also been asked to do other things like get my teammates involved. I was just fortunate that I was always able to pick and chose and do a bit of everything where ever I have played.

You never shot 40% or better from outside until this season. In Slovakia you shot a crazy 51% and 48% in the Fiba Europe Cup. Did you get secret tips from Steph Curry?

No, no I don´t speak to Steph. I wish. I think it has been confidence and just putting in the work all those summers. Now the work is paying off.

You have always been a feisty defender. What kind of defender will people see in the easyCredit BBL?

I´m a pesky defender. I try to make it as uncomfortable as possible for opponents with my long reach. I always try to find the weaknesses and just pick at it. I´m aggressive on ball and like to get into passing lanes. I gamble a lot. That is something that I have to live with.

Last season you played with SLUNETA Usti nad Labem (Czech Republic-NBL) averaging (20.8ppg), 3.9rpg, Assists-5 (5.5apg), Steals-1 (2.3spg), FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 73.0%. You led the league in scoring after being second the season before. How did your game grow in these years in the NBL?

My game definitely grew a lot. I came from a weaker league in Kosovo and played in a fast paced league in the Czech Republic. I had to make quicker decisions and reads. I was the number #1 option and was able to take my game to the next level.

Two seasons ago you played with BK Armex Decin (Czech Republic-NBL) averaging 18.7ppg), 3.7rpg, 4.5apg, Steals-2 (2.5spg), FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 67.2%. In this season and the season after you were involved in 6 exciting and long playoff series. How much did your killer mentality grow in these last 2 seasons?

I love to play in the big games. I was on teams that hadn´t won, so I tried all I could to win. I was fortunate to play high level basketball in the playoffs.

In the 2021-2022 season you spent time in Albania and Kosovo and then finished in the Czech Republic. How tough was this season living out of a suitcase? What did you learn about yourself?

That season was weird. I began in Albania and lasted 5-6 days. I left because the conditions just weren´t good there. Then I went to Kosovo and was there for 2 weeks. I had been familiar with Kosovo because I had played there before. Decin from the Czech Republic bought me out. I thank them for taking a chance on me.

You played your first 2 pro seasons with KB Ponte Prizren (Kosovo-Superliga) averaging 19.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 5.3apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 26.9%, FT: 71.3% and 15.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 7.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 66.0%. 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 will never forget getting there on November 16th and playing my first game on November 18th. We were beating a team in their gym and at the end they started throwing things at us. That was my wake up call.

You played at Keene State College (NCAA3) from 2015-2019 winning 2 LEC titles. Which one was sweeter?

The last one was. We weren´t predicted to win. We won on our own home court that was sold out. We beat our rival Eastern Conn.

You improved your scoring and rebound average each season and really exploded as a senior averaging 27.4ppg, 7.2rpg, 4.9apg, 2.6spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 39.2%, FT: 82.3%, How did your game grow there?

I couldn´t shoot the ball in my freshman year. I made something like 4-5 three´s. Then in the summer of 2016 I got a trainer. My shot got better. We played a more fast paced tempo in my senior year where I got many more shots. I was supposed to score 20 points a game. I did better scoring 27 points a game.

You left as the school´s all-time leading scorer and had so many incredible games. What was your best personal game?

In my senior year I scored 42 points against Albertus Magnus, but my best all around game was against Ramapo where I had 32 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.

How did head coach Ryan Cain groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

We had similar ideas about the game. He had also been the all-time leading scorer at his school when he played. He taught me how to play a smoother game.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Dizel Wright?

He couldn´t beat me ever. But he was one of the most athletic players that I ever played against.

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

I played against Jordan Crawford in a summer league game.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Jonathan Garcia, Tyronne Malone, David Abraham, Marcus Azor, Sam Sessoms

Your NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron James, Derrick Rose, Tracey McGrady, Kevin Garnet

Your Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James

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

Yes for sure. I don´t know why they did that.

Thanks Ty for the chat.