Joe Asberry is a legend. He is an American ex professional basketball player that really has seen it all from crime to drugs, but also played against legends like David Robinson (215-C-65, college: Navy), Gary Payton, Jason Kidd and Brian Shaw and was teammates with German legendary player Christian Welp. He had a 11 year professional career that saw him toil around in the minor leagues of Germany, but he belonged to the best in his day at that level. Since retiring from the game, he has been a spokesperson for young kids and drug prevention, guest speaker, worked in the Alba Berlin organization, been a master of ceremonies for UBC Hannover and been a mentor for young Americans coming overseas trying to live the dream of being a professional basketball player.Currently he is in his second season with the Artland Dragons organization coaching girls U-14 and U-16 and boys U-18. A big focus in his basketball life in Germany has been working with kids. Not only keeping them out of trouble and being an excellent role model, but also teaching them the game. He sees joy in a young German kid having success on the court just as much as he does seeing Steph Curry bury a three pointer for his home town team Golden State Warriors. There is probably no other American in Germany now that has worked as long with kids as he has. He has been following and been involved with the rise of German basketball just as much as German coaches who have worked endless hours helping kids develop. But all in all, it isn´t only Germans and Joe Asberry who have contributed to the youth development but so many other Americans. How often do you see an American from the BBL to the Oberliga help coach youth teams? It is everywhere especially with lower level teams where Americans have so much free time on their hands, why not give a hand with guiding the kids? “Guys like Elijah Allen (194-PF-1989, college: NW Missouri St.), Omari Knox, Levi Levine, Ronny Weihmann, Andrew Jones, Coach Omar Sylla (just to name a few) have been training youth here for YEARS! Teaching them how to be shifty,and play like PRO´S, instead of ROBOTS, who CAN´T create their own shot. My guy Misan Nikagbate, (yes,the same beast who played for the National Team) has been training kids daily since 2017! Everytime I call Misan,I say,”Can I speak to the Gentleman, that Dunked on Yao Ming Please”? So yes, I saw this coming, that Germans were on the Road to Success”, laughed Joe Asberry.

Of course Joe Asberry followed the magical run of Germany the last weeks and even if he will always root for his home land USA, he is proud of the success of German basketball.

“As an American, I´m thrilled that Germany won the Euro Chip. It means more kids will fall in love with the sport. I´ll give myself credit for helping a Gang of kids here in Germany, fall in Love with Basketball. When the National Team wins ANY American,doing basketball business in Germany WINS”, warned Joe Asberry.

Joe Asberry has seen his share of titles in USA and Europe and has a very special connection to Germany´s surprising win in 1993 over Russia.

Back in 1993, I got a shot at Pro Basketball in the Second Division in Finland. So when my dawg,Big Chris Welp won his chip, it was a special feeling. I was so happy for him. When he played for the Golden State Warriors he gave me money to take back to my hood in the Bay to get everyone hammered, and that´s exactly what I did. I flew from Tampere to San Francisco, and told my dawgs, the big fella won a chip, CHEERS! “, stressed Joe Asberry.

Would it have been crazy to have predicted a Gold medal before the tournament started? With the success of German basketball in the last years, would it have been Ok to predict a Gold or been more unrealistic?

“I´m sure all German Fan´s thought their Team was going to win Gold. Dennis Schroeder is a Beast! Mo and Franz Wagner are REAL LIVE Dogs. Daniel Theis plays basketball like a Grown ass Man! Bonga was the X factor. He doesn´t get enough credit for his Defense. With that wingspan, he can guard 1 thru 5. Those are the stars, but that team is Stacked”, said Joe Asberry.

It was the 2 best teams in the tournament with Germany and Turkey at 8-0. Was this the top final compared to the 1993 final vs Russia and 2023 final vs Serbia?

“1993 has special meaning for me, because of my Boy,Big Welp, but this Team is unreal. On that last shot, I knew Schroeder would get to his spot and cook, he is so quick and shifty, at that moment, he would have cooked,ANYBODY,in the WORLD”, warned Joe Asberry. Big words from him, but Asberry has seen it all and Schroeder would even have cookeda Victor Wembanyama. And why not his killer instinct would have also gotten him over that tree of a player.

The final game was a real dog fight with Turkey leading by as much as 11 points and being very strong. Germany´s key to winning the chip was one that every team dreams of having.

“Germany won that Gold Medal because of their Team Chemistry! They put away their ego´s to WIN together”, added Joe Asberry.

There has always been talk about the intense mentality, great team character and togetherness of Germany the last years. How does one keep developing it and not losing it over time?

“The best way to keep that Chemistry, is to keep them all together, now they just have to add one more piece, my Boy,Kevin Yebo, another Real Live Dog”, stressed Joe Asberry. The love for Kevin Yebo will always be there from Asberry. Asberry discovered him and watched him move from the Regionalliga to the Euroleague.

There was a time in the 80s and 90s where you said in German football and after 90 minutes Germany always wins. I feel like there is this mentality now in German basketball. I personally was never fearing a loss in the fourth quarter even when Turkey was up by 6 points.

“Osman and Bona are Elite. Sengun is on his way to becoming a Superstar. Shane Larkin is ELITE ELITE. I was just praying Schroeder and Wagner save the day, and Schroeder saved the day”, smiled Joe Asberry.

What was key down the stretch that Germany could win the game. How much of a factor was the deep bench of Germany?

Germany´s bench is deep, but to me the key down the stretch was Schroeder and Wagner. Dennis Schroeder just looks so comfortable with that ball in his hands, and he won´t just chunk up a wild shot to be a hero, he makes the winning plays for his Team”, stated Joe Asberry. I would always give Larry Bird the ball any day and for Germany it´s simply Dennis Schroeder. That´s a fact.

But not only was Dennis Schroeder a massive factor for the success, but also Franz Wagner. The Berlin native was already incredible 2 years ago in the World Cup win, but he is on his way to becoming extra special.

“Franz Wagner is unreal. At that size,with his skillset,the sky is the Limit. When you learn hoops from a Legend like Juwan Howard, you CAN´T GO WRONG! He´s already a star in Orlando, and he is getting better by the minute. Humble Superstar”, warned Joe Asberry.

Joe Asberry dunking back in the day!

Isaac Bonga continues to grow as a player since coming back from the NBA? Shouldn´t a tournament like this and especially how his game has developed the last 3 years give him another NBA opportunity?

“Issac Bonga is qualified to play on ANY NBA ROSTER! That man is a BEAST”, added Joe Asberry. I´m sure he will be in the NBA in 2026 and latest in 2027 when He and Germany win the Gold Medal at the Olympics.

You either like or dislike Dennis Schroeder, but he came up big in the second half after being closed down well in the first half. How does one explain his unbelievable ability to be able to turn around the lever and play like a winner when his team needs it most?

Dennis Schroeder is one of the best players in the World! With success comes Hate. People judge that Man, and they have ZERO Clue who he is. They have never had a conversation with him. I have inside info though. My man Big Dia, my boy Dami,Ant Watkins, Yebo, all told me he is a good dude. Last but not Least, Coach Livio Calin, (who let me get 1000 makes in,when everyone else was afraid of me, and calling me crazy) gave Schroeder a chance in Braunschweig, and believed in him. Coach Livio told me DS is a good dude, so DS,is a GOOD DUDE! So I´m one of the Fans that LOVES HIM TOO”, warned Joe Asberry.

I have never understood that despite showing the last years what an incredible leader he is for Germany, he gets overlooked by NBA teams and has been a journeyman? Do NBA bosses have the wrong perception of him?

Yes, NBA bosses have this perception that he´s arrogant. I heard that from a reliable source. The thing is, when they cut you, or trade you, its all good. But when Dennis Schroeder turned down the Laker deal, they all probably got in their feelings. What they DON´T UNDERSTAND is that Schroeder can NEVER LOSE! He represents Alte Waage! Nobody wants to talk about the Racism he went through in that town. Again, THANK YOU COACH LIVIO”, stressed Joe Asberry. Braunschweig will always be home for Dennis Schroeder and he is giving back by helping the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig continue to make strides as an organization.

Dirk Nowitzki has been the GOAT of German basketball for more than 15 years. With the World and Euro won, Is Dennis Schroeder at Nowitzki´s level in terms of being in the same category as him?

“You can´t compare Dirk Nowitzki and Dennis Schroeder, they´re two different breeds of beasts! It´s always a matter of Opinion. Big Dirk is my Goat, but I´m biased. I´ve had conversations with him, and I´ve never met a guy who was at one time, the best basketball player in the World, and can yet be so nice, and so Humble. He put a NBA Team on his back, and won a Chip. 7 Footer with a Sweet Jay, and we all know that the World has copied his fadeaway off one leg. When my WNBA All star Big Leni masters the “Fall Away Dirky” she will be the next superstar in Germany, no pressure though! LOL”, laughed Joe Asberry.

One of the big winners for Germany and the tournament was Alan Ibrahimagic who went from assistant coach to Euro head coach winner. Even if he allowed a winning combination bunch of guys play their game, he still had to make key decisions on the sideline.

Salute to Coach Alan. It´s not easy to deal with basketball stars, and their ego´s so to get them all on the same page, is the sign of a Great Coach”, commented Joe Asberry.

There were some nice plays in the final like Isaac Bonga´s dunk or Franz Wagner´s mega block. It was no surprise to me what Joe Asberry´s favorite play was.

“My favorite play was Dennis Schroeders Dagger Middy. I made a living off of Dunks and Middy´s so I was thrilled, watching that sweet jay, splash through the net”, said Joe Asberry.

“Can one compare Germany´s success now with Spain from 2006-2011 where it won a World Cup and 2 Euro championships. Does Germany have a dynasty?

“German Basketball is HOT! If they beat the Americans and win a Gold Medal in the Olympics, I`ll cry and Dive head first into the Rhine River, please, Pray for me Miles LOL”, stressed Joe Asberry. I definitely will pray for you, but I wouldn´t mind seeing you jump into the Rhine River. It definitely is cleaner than 30 years ago.

Will the dynasty go on. The future still looks good with a nucleus of the Wagner brothers, Tristan Da Silva, Andi Obst, Isaac Bonga and Isaiah Hartenstein plus the new wave of guys like Ivan Kharchenkov, Hannes Steinbach, Johan Grunloh, Christian Anderson and others. Does Germany have the mentality to keep it going with the new wave of players that you have seen the last years?

Germany has the chance to keep getting better, if the young guys continue to put in the Work”, warned Joe Asberry.

You coach young men and are right there seeing the work and effort. Often now adays the talk is young players aren´t as hungry as back in the day. In other words players today aren´t challenged enough with too many outside influences. What makes young German players different than young players from other countries in this generation? Does the typical German discipline play a role?

“I think the biggest challenge for young German players is Gym time. If a Club doesn´t have constant access to the Gym, then the players will spend way too much time, playing with their phones, instead of Hooping. I can´t speak for other country´s but I know for a fact, American players have access to a Gym,24/7 All of my guys who are Coaches and Trainers stateside, hold all of their players accountable, if they don´t LISTEN, they get CUT”, warned Joe Asberrys.

Is there perhaps a different mentality in Germany? USA always have talented young kids, but how do you see the general mentality and hunger of young American players in 2025?

“The Mentality of American players is different a lot of times, because of the Conditions. That dawg Mentality comes from not having anything, and you want something out of your life, so Basketball becomes the ticket, to have a better life. That´s not something you can Coach. That gives players a slight advantage for sure. On the other hand, kids growing up here in Germany also have an advantage. They can focus on hoops, without a lot of the extra shenanigens in their neighborhoods. It´s just different”, warned Joe Asberry.

So does this Euro title scare team USA? I guess the big showdown will be in 2027 at the Olympics. Germany will be looking to win, but USA will have different players than at the 2024 Olympics. Will Team USA win their next Gold medal?

I´m sure that Team USA will win Gold Again. There are just too many Elite athletes,

with size, incredible skillsets, dawgs, I could go on and on. Then again, I`m a Proud American, who balled in the Michael Jordan era, if Team USA loses, they should all be cut from their teams, and have to start their Career´s over in Helsinki Finland, so they can learn to appreciate NBA Basketball. Shout out to Helsinki though, I loved it,but then again, I`m a Pro Hoop Misfit, who´s claim to fame, is DUNKS, and saving kids LIVES! LOL! I appreciate you Miles”, stressed Joe Asberry. Well I´m sure Finland would love to have some NBA stars in Finland, but honestly the Olympics is USA´s cup of tea. They won´t allow Germany to spoil their party.