Sidney Brown (177-PG-1999, college: Albright) is a 25 year old 177cm point guard from New Jersey that just completed his first season overseas with SG MTV/BG Wolfenbuettel (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 25/5/5/4. He began his basketball career with Winslow Township High School. He then played at Albright College (NCAA3) from 2017 to 2022 playing a total of 99 games and as a senior averaged 15.3ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.2apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 41.1%, 3PT: 37.4%, FT: 85.3%. He then got experience playing semi pro ball in the States with the Atlantic City Gambits (TBL), Albany Patroons (TBL) and Tri-State Admirals (TBL). He spoke to germanhoops.com after finishing his first season overseas in Germany.

You just completed your first pro season overseas with the SG MTV/BG Wolfenbuettel (Germany-Regionalliga). What kind of an overall experience was it for you? What did you enjoy most from it?

It was definitely a great experience, learning to be independent living on my own and providing for myself on a daily life scale, being able to travel on my own to different locations of Germany, and being accompanied by great teammates, staff, and fans made the entire season here warm and welcoming. I am glad to have been able to experience a great city.

It was a solid season for SG MTV/BG Wolfenbuettel (Germany-Regionalliga). The team began well winning 6 of it´s first 7 games. Then came a 6 game losing streak which turned the season around. What happened in that losing phase?

We kind of lost our identity, losing two teammates who were crucial to our success, and just getting the new young guys accustomed to a new level of playing that they haven’t quite experienced yet.

The team then rebounded and had a 5 game winning streak and then lost 4 of 5 games to finish the season. What was your summary of the season?

If we were able to keep our full team for the whole season we would have been able to crack the top 4 for sure, we had a great group of guys but losing important teammates and some games not everyone being able to play messes with the flow of the team. I’m sure the top 4 teams had the same roster throughout the season and for winning teams that’s crucial to have. Besides that the guys who were around had competed and played every game with all we had and left it out there on the court win or loss.

How much of a factor was age for the season? The team was very young? Was the team missing a few experienced guys?

Yes, both our 4 men left in different parts of the season, one due to injury early in the season around October, and another for studying abroad in mid February. Missing those guys gave us a different look in size and experience, but this game waits for no one, the next guy just has to step up, But over time I do believe our young guys matured very well over the season and in the next steps of their careers I definitely feel you should look out for them because they will be making impacts wherever they play in the future.

You had a great first season overseas averaging 23/5/5/4. What was your personal summary of your season?

I could have been better and I will be better, I don’t ever get complacent with myself. There is always a new level to acquire and I will strive to get there. As a primary ball handler and playmaker, my points and assists should be up way more in this league.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 177cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description. You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet with ease. What is your biggest strength on the court?

It’s hard to compare to one person in the NBA, if I had to stay it’d be DeAaron Fox, mixed with some Kemba Walker offensively, and Jose Alvarado defensively. My coach compared me to TJ Shorts’ variant with just a better 3 point shot. I feel my biggest strength is my quickness and shooting skills. Every team plays full court man, so a lot of time the games are 5 versus 4 in my favor because as I was taught that man in front of me is already beat, it’s about reading what the other 4 people are doing and make the best read I can whether that’s shooting or creating for a teammate. And adding shooting with that quickness means you have to play me up so in most games defenses are at my mercy on the court.

You have always been a great three point shooter. This season you shot 37% in Germany. What is missing from becoming a 40% shooter?

Taking more efficient 3 point shots. Understanding if I miss 2-3 three’s that it’s time to get below the 3 point line and get into my pull up, floater, or layup which I do just as well if not better than my 3 point shot.

You’re an aggressive and very ambitious defender. Do you feel that opponents underestimate you at times because of your height?

No not at all, most times after a couple minutes guards usually pass the ball up to get it away from me which lets me know I am disrupting their flow of the game and makes me more hungry defensively, it’s been happening since high school.

You had 9 and 8 steals in a game this season. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I am just a crafty defender, I know if someone is in a pivot and tries to play with the basketball in my face I am quick enough to swipe the ball away, or like Jose Alvarado getting the chase down sneaky steals. Now the next step is truly just understanding the flow of the game, especially in help defense, seeing what the opposing players are seeing and being one step ahead.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player?

To be a better rim finisher and attacking players bodies to draw fouls. Players with fouls play differently in foul trouble and if I can make players have to play conservative it becomes more in my favor.

It took you 2 seasons of grinding in the States to come overseas. How tough were these few years? Did you ever lose faith in the basketball process?

Those years were definitely the biggest test of my faith to achieve my dreams. I gave myself two years to make it overseas, and if I didn’t I would have given up and just got a regular job, so the timing of it all was really remarkable. Some nights I would just stay up thinking is all this hard work that I am putting in even worth it but my trainer and close friends and family told me to just keep at it, stick to my script and you will be rewarded for it and I am glad to say they were right.

How much of an issue has your height been for you your whole career? The chip has to be extremely enormous for you. How have you dealt with it on a daily basis?

The saying goes that guards come a dime a dozen and in my case for undersized guards like me those odds are multiplied by 100. There is a me in every city, or town wanting to be where I am or higher, and the question people tell me all the time is what will I do to be different to get there. The chip used to weigh me down for how heavy it was,but I began to understand that just being yourself is the key, and either they like you or they don’t. There is no faking who you are on this journey either the opportunity comes to you or it doesn’t, and that is life. This game doesn’t dictate your life and you shouldn’t give it the power to either.

You played for 3 TBL teams with Atlantic City Gambits , Albany Patroons and Tri-State Admirals. What memories do you have of these years? How big was the grind and how did it make you stronger?

These were the toughest years mentally, not playing a lot if at all tested if I wanted to really do this but I never wanted to be a TBL player I wanted to be a overseas player. It was just an extra step to keep me in shape while I waited for my opportunity to come to leave. It did make me stronger playing with people who have been where I wanted to be and it showed me the next level.

You played at Albright (NCAA3) from 2017-2022. How did your game grow in these years?

My game grew tremendously, honestly because this was the first time that I had access to a gym and the more consistent I stayed in the gym the more my confidence grew, from my freshman year of not playing at all, to my sophomore year through my fifth year being a 4 year starter and being a big contributor to our teams success. It was a great experience to grow and be able to turn myself into more of the pro I always aim and inspire to be. The more I stayed in the gym my shot making abilities improved tremendously, and I have always been able to defend so it began to give me more of a bigger role as the years went on.

In 2021 you helped win the MAC title. What memories do you have of this run?

It was a covid championship so it really was a different experience, having games with no one in the crowd. It felt like condensed open runs and definitely memorable because if someone were to have caught covid during those times, more likely than not your season was over. But everyone bought in for the limited games we had and through that we were able to come out on top.

How did Rick Ferry groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He gave me the confidence to shoot without fear, not many shots I took did he really ever tell me were bad shots but that also came from him seeing me constantly in the gym and seeing that I was doing what it took to be better so I imagined it was just his way of rewarding me for my hard work put in.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Troy Smoot?

Me and him would go back and forth, definitely had battles playing each other for sure.

Who the toughest player you battled that reached the NBA?

I played against Dejuan Wagner in open gym workouts, JR Smith in a summer league, and Precious Achiuwa in a high school showcase game..

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My 5 best teammates of all time I can say are my college teammates Samuel Majekodunmi, a true bucket getter, and DeLascio Dancy, a great floor general, Michael Cubbage, a great two way basketball player and pro who I played in high school with, and two of my Atlantic City Gambits teammates Frank Turner, a true point guard and well experienced overseas veteran who could break down any defense thrown at him and knew the game like the back of his hand, and Brandon Taylor a powerful 4-5 that could do literally anything he wanted on the court at all times throughout the game.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

My NBA Mt Rushmore is LeBron James, Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, and Nikola Jokic

Who is your GOAT?

My GOAT is LeBron James, he is leaving his mark on this game unlike any other, and he is still playing better than most of the players in the league even at the age of 40, we will never witness anyone with the longevity and greatness of a career he has ever had.

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

No I did not, I have learned that outdated sequels are unnecessary, film directors just need to make new films and leave some masterpieces alone because it taints the legacy of movies in my opinion.

Thanks Sidney for the chat.