Maxwell Dongmo (196-PF-2003) is a 21 year old 196cm guard played his second season with TSV Oberhaching Tropics Deisenhofen (ProB) averaging 11,6ppg, 6.9rpg, 1,1apg, and 1,3bpg. Last season with TSV Oberhaching Tropics Deisenhofen (ProB), he averaged 10.9ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 52.6%. He began his basketball career with FC Bayern Munich where he played for their youth teams and farm team FC Bayern Munich 2 (Pro B). He spoke to germanhoops.com in Feb 2025 about basketball.

Thanks Maxwell for talking to germanhoops.com. A new adventure in Asia is approaching. What will you do there and will you be able to play basketball?

I could practice with a few teams, but to play games will be tough with getting a license in the short time of 4 months when I will be there. My first priority is my studies computer science. I will be in Peking. I might join the university team.

Your now in your second season with the TSV Oberhaching Tropics Deisenhofen (ProB). What have you enjoyed most about the experience?

The main reason I came to the Tropics was that I was able to combine my studies and play basketball. That was a big benefit especially since I can play at a high level still.

Your only 21, but played with the FC Bayern Munich youth. Are the Tropics just a stopover to get to higher leagues?

That is a good question. I think about that a lot. On one hand I can see myself giving gas for the pro career, but on the other hand I can see myself concentrating on my masters and focusing on my job career. At the moment I´m leaning towards concentrating on computer science.

The team have a very special team chemistry. How quickly did you notice upon arriving in 2023 that this is a very special team?

It is all so family like which I like. There is a big difference between the young and older guys. You learn a lot form the older guys. They are all so cool and have so much experience. They are very open and fun to be around off the court.

The last weeks haven´t been easy as there were many sicknesses, but still the team stayed together and won games. What is this team´s biggest strength?

I think that the biggest thing is the experience. We have learned to win tough games despite having adversary. Guys like Know, Koegler and Zeis have a lot of experience. We know how to be successful with short rotations, because we are used to it. We always prepare like that. We are never surprised if we may get down fast, but just stay competitive the whole time. We always believe that we will have a chance even with a 6-7 man rotation.

It is a tight fight for the playoffs as from 5-11, only one win is the difference. The goal is the playoffs, but does this team have title mentality?

We want to win each game. Even when teams underestimate us, we show that we can stick with anyone. We know that winning the title will be difficult, but even with a title moving up will be hard because of all the red tape. We want to reach the playoffs and then get as far as possible.

Let´s talk a little about your teammates. How special is Omari Knox? Is he like a mentor for you? He is 38 and still playing at a high level.

Yes he is, but moreover is an inspiration for me. The great thing about Omari is despite playing at a high level, he does it at both ends. He is a great offensive player, but will still play good defense and keep his guy in front of him. Age has nothing to do with how good he still is.

He has said for years each season is his last. Do you think he will retire after this season?

I´m not sure. Everybody already thought last season that he would retire. I would never say no.

What is it like playing with Janosch Kogler? Is he the ultimate teammate?

Whenever there are tough times on the court, he always brings us up. He is the first guy to motivate you. He always fights to the end. He is a great offensive player. He also has a knack of being able to get points in tough situations.

Fynn Fischer is a player that played in the BBL and Pro B, but has accepted having a Pro B career now. How special is he as a teammate for you?

It is so easy to play with him. Last season, he was at times our best shooter. He spreads the floor so well, but can also be a presence inside. It is a real pleasure to paly with him.

Another real experienced player is Peter Zeis. He is a school teacher. What has he taught you about life?

He taught me that you need to enjoy life and not always take everything so serious.

How important has head coach Mario Matic been for your career in Oberaching. How has your game grown since leaving Munich?

Mario helped me gain a lot of self-confidence when I arrived. I didn´t have that before. He let me play my game and believed in my game.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 196cm player. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would bets fit the description?

Charles Barkley who was an undersized big man.

You’re a great defensive player but have showed your offensive game with the Tropics. What is your biggest strength on the court?

My aggressiveness on offense and defense. I´m a good offensive rebounder and a defensive presence.

Your three pointer is still a work in progress. Talk a little about how you go about most to reaching the next level as a shooter?

I think that the more repetitions that you take the more self confidence that you get. I also think that you always have to put up shots at a consistent basis and never hesitate but just shoot.

I have heard the compliment that you’re the best defender in the Pro B. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I feel that at the moment I have let up a bit. I have to find my old shape and athleticism again. I want my fitness again.

On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to climb the basketball ladder?

I want to become a better on ball defender and be more active.

You began your career with FC Bayern Munich. What kind of an experience was it? How challenging was it?

I arrived when I was 14. I had only played 1-2 years. I was nowhere near the level of the other kids. It was a big challenge competing with talented kids and reaching their level.

The youth teams always has the best young players. How difficult was it to work hard and develop as a player while fighting for the most minutes possible?

I just gave my all in practice. The coaches helped me a lot. I always had the opportunity to practice and took the chance to work a lot on my game. I was able to develop and improve and earn minutes.

Andreas Wagner, Moris Hadzija uad Paolo Prestes were massive in your development. Talk a little how each guy helped you most?

Andreas was the reason that I played Pro B. I wasn´t supposed to play Pro B, but then I got the word that I could. I also was lucky that Mo Silah got injured which helped me increase my minutes. I showed that I could play at that level. Andreas gave me a lot of self-confidence that I could play at that level. Moris always told me to stay hungry, win each game, give 100% and never give up. Paulo is responsible for me being the offensive player that I am today. He helped me gain certain moves.

Corona halted the development of young players everywhere. But you had an advantage playing Pro B. That opportunity was huge, but despite not playing as much NBBL as possible, could you have become a different player today?

That is a good question. I had more offensive responsibility in the NBBL. Playing Pro B helped my game a lot. I think that if I had also been able to play NBBL during Corona then my game may be at a higher level today.

You reached the 2022 NBBL top 4. How tough was the loss to Vechta? Did that take long to digest?

That was my last NBBL year. It was my last chance to win. I really felt like we had the team to win it all that year. Not reaching the final was very frustrating.

Would Munich have won with a healthy Ivan Kharchenkov?

That is hard to say. We had to have won the title with the roster that we had. Vechta simply played better than we did. They won fair and square.

What was the coolest moment you had off the court? Did you meat any famous basketball or soccer players over the years?

I remember seeing Miro Klose a lot. He would be at the training facility. I also had car pools with the youth soccer players. It was cool to hear about their experiences. I really enjoyed my time with the JBBL team. We won the title. I will always remember the great times with my teammates and going on trips to tournaments in Barcelona and Prague. We would all chill in 1 hotel room- It was great times. We all understood each other so well.

What dreams do you still have with basketball?

My dream is to be a pro player. However I have the dilemma of how far can I go and will it be worth it? Your pro career ends sometime and the question then is what do I do next?

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

Vladimir Lucic when I practiced with the BBL team. Just when you thought you defended well, he still was able to score. That was frustrating.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Michael Rataj, Tristan Da Silva, Omari Knox, Erol Ersek, Matej Rudan

Please name your NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore?

Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, Russell Westbrook

Jokic, Doncic, Wemby, Tony Parker

Dirk Nowitzki, Detlef Schrempf, Dennis Schroeder, Franz Wagner

Who is your GOAT

Michael Jordan.

Thanks Maxwell for the chat.