Antonio Bivins (199-F-1992, college: UMass Lowell) is a 33 year old 199cm forward from Florida playing his 10th professional season and second with Racing Luxemburg. Last season he averaged 25.6ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.7apg, SPG-3 (2.5), FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 26.8%, FT: 67.8%. He has played most of his career in Luxemburg amassing 7 seasons there. But he also played in countries like Finland, Columbia, Bolivia and Uruguay. He began his basketball career at American high school and then played at UMass-Lowell from 2010-2014. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a test game against the Dragons Rhondorf.

Thanks Antonio for talking togermanhoops.com. Your playing a test game in Germany. You played most of your career in Luxemburg. Why didn´t you ever land in Germany and play for a team?

To be completely honest I’m not sure why I never played in Germany. I’ve played a few different German teams in different preseasons while being here in Luxembourg and competing against those guys has always been fun, but I guess I never just got the right opportunity to land a contract.

Your in your 11th season as a professional overseas. You have played in South American and Finland as well. What do you enjoy most about the basketball globetrotter life?

Traveling the world and seeing many different cultures has been a fun experience I enjoy most trying the different cultural food and comparing to the food that I’m used to and also to the other countries I’ve played in.

You have been a walking bucket your whole life. Do you have a chip on your shoulder? You could surely play at higher levels than where you have been?

I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder just something my dad instilled in me just playing hard and trying to play the right way. I’ve never really had the opportunity to go other places I am super grateful though for all of my opportunities up until this point.

You have had countless 20, 30 and 40 point games as pro. You once had a 52/24 game in Luxemburg. What do you remember from that game? Do you have a video of that game?

That 52/24 was amazing! I truly just remember being in a great zone mentally and everything was just moving in slow motion and of course I was making almost every shot I took that night! Unfortunately I do not have any film from that game but it will always be a great memory for me.

Your 33 years old. How good do you feel? Could you be a guy playing until your 40?

My body feels great honestly I have to stretch and warm up longer than usual but once I get the body warm I feel amazing. I don’t see myself playing until 40 I truly believe my body would shut down before then that would be entirely too much basketball I believe.

You have played most of your overseas career in Luxemburg. What do you enjoy most about the lifestyle?

I love the culture here in Luxembourg and the people have always been welcoming and it’s more Americanized than most people think. I’ve also started a family here so of course I love that the most!

Your playing your second season with Racing Luxemburg. What kind of an experience has it been playing for this organization?

Playing for Racing has been amazing up until now. From top to bottom from coaches, owners, and fans! They’ve been welcoming to and my family from day 1 and I will forever love them for that!

Last season you helped the club move back to the first league. What was so special about this team?

Yes last season we were able to achieve our team goal and reach promotion, we had a great group of guys and great coaches who pushed us everyday in practice and held us accountable. Our captain Max came in from the first practice and was our leader.

You played 2 seasons with Union Atletica Montevideo (Uruguay-Metropolitan) What kind of an experience was playing and living in Uruguay? What was your coolest experience off the court?

Playing in Uruguay for Union was amazing! The fans there welcomed and they love their basketball team. My favorite part about being in Uruguay playing for Union was living directly across the street from the beach and the food there was amazing!

You also played a season with Club Deportivo y Cultural La Salle de Tarija (Bolivia-Libobasquet) averaging 13.4ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 68.3%, 3FGP: 26.3%, FT: 52.6%. What was it like living in Bolivia? Did you ever visit La Paz and get infected by soccer?

Living in Bolivia was nice. But I never got a chance to fully embrace the culture there because I didn’t play there for a full season. I also wasn’t able to visit La Paz.

You also played a season with Kipina Aanekoski (Finland-1st Division) averaging 25.5 ppg 10.2rpg, 1.7apg, SPG-2 (4.0), 1.0bpg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 81.8%. Your game didn´t suffer despite Covid. Did all you do was focus on basketball?

Yes playing in Finland during the height of Covid made it super easy to just focus on basketball and my body!

You won 2 playoff series that season, but lost a tough 3 game series to Huima losing the last game 91-90. What memories do you have of that tough loss?

The only bad thing about that season was losing in the finals. All the games were played closed and to be honest that loss in the finals still sticks with me!!

You only played 4 games with Residence Walferdange (Luxembourg-Nationale 2) averaging 28.8ppg, 12.3rpg, 1.8apg, 4.0spg, 1.0bpg. What was it like being teammates with Marcus Neal? You were reunited with him again after playing with him with Kordall. Do you still have contact to him today?

I love Marcus Neal! He was like a big brother for me in Kordall and for Residence Walferdange. I still keep contact with him we speak practically everyday! Playing with him I learned so much about how to be a pro how to train and prepare for games.

You played your first 3 pro seasons with the Kordall Steelers (Luxembourg-Total League) averaging 27,0ppg and 10,0 rpg. Was this the best basketball that you played in your career?

Statistically I think that was the best basketball of my career, but my time in Uruguay I believe was my best basketball in my career!

How vital was German head coach Kevin Magdowski for you? He gave you your break in Luxemburg and then coached you again in Columbia.

Coach Kevin was a key part of me learning different ways to score the basketball. He put the ball in my hands from the first practice and always challenged me to do more on offense and defense. So much he asked me to go to Colombia with him. That being my first time in South America at that point him and I became closer there also because of our relationship in Luxembourg.

You played with Aguilas de Tunja (Colombia-Liga DirecTV) averaging 14.8ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.6apg, SPG-1 (2.7), FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 16.3%, FT: 59.3%. What memories do you have of Columbia? Was that league the strongest that you played in in South America?

My memories of Colombia were amazing and the basketball was great the fans were amazing and the country has so many different beautiful cities! The strongest league I played in while in South America was the LUB in Uruguay.

What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My first memory being overseas was going to the gas station and pumping gas first and paying. Still to this day that blows my mind every single time!

You played at UMass Lowell from 2010-2014. You reached the Northwest tournament final in 2012. What memories do you have of that season?

I will forever LOVE Umass Lowell!

You had many great games at UMass including 25 and 24 point games against Maine. What was your fondest moment on the court there?

My fondest memory was my senior night my last two college points was a poster dunk in front of all of our fans and students thinking about it right now brings a smile to my face.

How did head coach Pat Duquette groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Duquette instilled a lot of good practice habits in me he taught me how to watch film and most of all he and his entire staff held me accountable for everything I did good and bad and I’ll forever be thankful for them for that.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kerry Weldon?

I won every 1on1 against Kerry I can give you his number so you can ask him. I love Kerry though he’s still my best friend!

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

Toughest player I played against was Shabazz Napier at UConn

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Donald Robinson, Brendan Temple, Marlin Mason, Marcus Neal, Dj Foreman

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore (5 best players ever)?

LeBron James, MJ, Kobe, KD, Shaq

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 I saw the sequel and I wholeheartedly agree they should’ve left it alone!

Thanks Antonio for the chat.