Garai Zeeb (187-PG-1997) is a 27 year old 187cm point guard that was born in Leimen, Germany and is playing his 5th season for the Frankfurt Skyliners. Last season he helped PS Karlsruhe win the Pro A title averaging 10.7ppg, 1.9rpg, 3.7apg, Steals-5 (1.7spg), FGP: 44.9%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 68.7%;He began his career with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven and played his first easyCredit BBL game at 17 against FC Bayern Munich. He played parts of 7 seasons in the BBL with the Eisberen, Fraport Skyliners and Basketball Lowen Braunschweig amassing 107 games and also played 87 Pro B games. He also has played 108 Pro A games with the Romerstrom Gladiators and PS Karlsruhe. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 77-69 win ove rteh MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.

Congrats Garai on the 77-69 win over the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. How big was this win? You came off a 4 game losing streak in the easyCredit BBL?

This was a big win for us after a coaching change. It was good for the soul and helped us get some more distance away from BG Goettingen. We showed that we could win against a high quality team and showed that we could stick to our game plan.

The MHP Riesen had also been on a losing streak. Their Fiba Europe Cup season ended against Dijon. Do you feel like mentality that loss was still in their heads? They were a team that should have gone far in the competition.

Yes that could be. They also haven´t been playing their best basketball as of late and were also missing some guys. It was the perfect time to catch them on the wrong foot. We took advantage of that chance.

The MHP Riesen are a team that defend with passion, but offensively not a high scoring team. How proud were you with the team defensive performance keeping them to only 69 points?

I´m very proud how well we defended against them. We had a clear game plan. It is known that they aren´t the best three point shooting team. We took away the drive and tried to force them to shoot three´s. Even when they had good shooting phases, we never doubted our game plan, but stuck to it.

Ludwigsburg had a rapid start and Frankfurt didn´t get their first field goal until the 5,10 minute mark. Was the team still in thoughts of the Mallorca stay?

I wouldn´t say that. We did have a slow start, but so much more important that in the second half, we continued to stick to our game plan and execute well.

Frankfurt came back strong especially with your energy. You gave the team exactly what it needed. You don´t get more efficient than that in the first few minutes of a game do you?

Yes thank you. I could of made a lay up more, but I believe I was able to make an impact and help in deciding moments.

Is being aggressive for you as normal as swimming in the ocean?

Yes of course. I´m athletic, bring energy and am aggressive. One can always make mistakes or miss some shots, But I will always bring leadership, energy and my athleticism.

The MHP Riesen took control in the second quarter. How much did the Joel Scott alley oop dunk spark them in their run?

Yes it did. That dunk helped give them momentum. They did lead by 10 points, but we always fought back and later took the momentum back.

Frankfurt could have trailed in double figures at the break, but Jordan Theodore made back to back buckets as you trailed only 39-32. Do you personally have that sense of 100% comfort when he has the ball knowing he will deliver when the team needs it most?

Yes of course. He gave us stability in that moment. He is so experienced and always stays cool in those moments. He has been doing it his whole career and will keep doing it for us.

In the third quarter Ludwigsburg controlled the game, but Frankfurt always kept punching back. Marcus Domask gave valuable input in the second and third quarter. What do you appreciate most about his game?

Important for him was that he remained aggressive even after a tough start. Even when he risks something, he still plays with control. Even when he is playing 1-1, he remains under control.

The team continued to fight back and trailed only by 4 points after 30 minutes. How vital is it in general for the team to be successful when a Malik Parsons is being controlled well?

Being able to know that we can win games like this and Malik isn´t scoring a lot is good for our future. We showed that we stay together and support each other. We have other guys that step up and will help stay in the game.

In the fourth quarter the Patrick brothers were a one man show in the first minutes. It isn´t normal to see 2 sons and the dad as coach. How have you seen the development of the brothers over the years?

They have developed very well in the last years. They play very well in the minutes that they get. They are allowed to play in key moments of the game. They are always aggressive and allowed to make mistakes. They are always playing with full gas.

The game was dead locked 63-63 at the 5,37 minute mark. Frankfurt then closed out the game with a 16-6 run. Was that the best 5 minutes of play at the end of a game this season?

I would say so and if not then at least top 3 this season. We didn´t play mistake free, but we ended the game with control and didn´t risk anything or play totally foolish.

Do you believe that the back to back three´s by Parsons and Theodore broke Ludwigsburg´s back?

In a way yes even if it was still a 2 possesion game. Those three´s gave us momentum, confidence, and got the arena loud. They were tough shots, but we wanted to take them.

The team buckled down on defense in the last minutes. Was that defense that would have made a Gordon Herbert proud?

If you can win at the end, then any coach will be happy. The most important thing was that the win mace Klaus and the team happy. We held them to under 70 points.

Stat wise Frankfurt lost the turnovers and offensive rebounds. Where was the game won?

Winning the rebounds and forcing them to shoot the three was the key to the win.

You scored 8 points and had 2 rebounds in 19 minutes. How content were you with your game?

I´m happy that I was able to help the team. I could of done a few things better like hit a few more shots. But Being able to give my team energy was more important than making a few more baskets.

What was your favorite play of the game? Maybe the crazy Theodore three pointer in crunch-time?

I had 2 favorite plays. I enjoyed the offensive rebound from Marcus Domask off the missed free throw. Guards don’t usually make an offensive rebound in that situation. It was a crucial play. I also liked the three pointer by Kamaka Hepa. We got by the Ludwigsburg press and Klaus wanted a quick shot off the press. That play worked perfectly.

The Frankfurt Skyliners next battle ratiopharm Ulm. The next game is against ratiopharm Ulm. Will you win it for Booker Coplin or will he be back? There are rumors he may be back?

I don´t know anymore than you. I really have no idea. Of course we will play to win for Booker.

The first game was spectacular as you won it on a buzzer beater. What will be ´key to getting win?

We can´t allow Ulm to present a scoring fire work. They are a top team and we will have to be ready. They have many offensive weapons. We will have to find a way to slow them down. We want to give a defensive battle.

The team was in Mallorca for a week. What kind of a team was it going there and what kind of a team was it when it left?

It is hard to say after a short period of time. We came back and showed great will and fighting qualities against Ulm. We showed that we could win a tough game. We are more together now than before.

Has Klaus Perwas implemented anything drastically new to the overall game plan since the departure of Denis Wucherer?

We changed a few things. We changed our press break a bit and changed a few things in our offensive plays. We were better prepared against Ludwigsburg against the hand offs in comparison to the first game.

How did you like the dunk by Mac McClung at the 2025 NBA slam dunk contest. Where do you rate it all-time?

It is hard to say. It is hard to compare that to the legendary Aaron Gordon-Zach Levine contest. I would rank McClung´s dunk in the top 10 if not top5.

The Dallas Mavericks only have 8 guys. How crazy is their injury problems? Has the basketball God jinxed them?

They look bad now. It looked good having Kyrie and Davis together, but now they are out. You can´t control injuries. They were simply very unlucky. I think that they will be a strong team in the next 2-3 years. The Lakers won the Doncic trade.

Thanks Garai for the chat.