Lincoln Rosebush (208-F-1999, agency: BIG) is a 25 year old 208 cm from Guelph, Ontario playing his second pro season overseas and first with SC Rist Wedel. Last season he played with Alianca Sangalhos (Portugal-Proliga) averaging 12.1ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT-2 (41.8%), FT: 73.8%. He got his first pro experience with Brampton Honey Badgers (CEBL) averaging 3.7ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.0apg. He began his basketball career with Lincoln Prep and then played 3 seasons with the University of British Columbia (U Sports). He then played 2 seasons with Toronto Metropolitan University (U Sports) averaging 9.4ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 68.4%and 9.2ppg, 6.8rpg, 4.6apg, 1.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 61.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a game against the Dragons Rhondorf.

Thanks Lincoln for talking to germanhoops.com. After playing pro in Canada and Portugal, now your in Germany with SC Rist Wedel. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

Well, first of all, I know it’s developed into one of the best basketball countries in the world, winning the World Cup a few years ago and most recently EuroBasket. I know its a very multicultural place and generally very sports-oriented.

Have you ever had ex teammates or opponents play in Germany?

Quite a few. From the CEBL, Callum Baker played Pro-A last year following our summer on the Honey Badgers. I played AAU with Abu Kigab, who spent some time here recently. I spent a lot of time this past summer with Jahlin Smith, who just finished here. And the newest coach of the UBC Thunderbirds, Phil Jalalpoor, played in Germany for much of his pro career after his time at UBC.

Why did you choose this club for your second pro season overseas? What do you appreciate most about the organization?

Rist Wedel and the Towers provided the best opportunity to improve my game and also push my career forward. The coaches really understood my game from the first time they saw me and I felt like it was the best opportunity to be successful in both the short term and long term.

How has the working relationship been with head coach Hamed Attarbashi? What have you appreciated most about his basketball philosophy?

Coach Hamed has been very welcoming from the day I arrived. He is an excellent teacher and communicator, and gives me the chance to lead the young guys and find my voice as one of oldest guys on the team. His players play so hard for him and that establishes the standard.

Your playing on a very young team where you’re the oldest. Is that weird since your only in your second pro season? Do you see yourself being that leader?

I was in a similar situation in college, where I was one of the oldest players by far on a very young team. I feel as a leader it is important to meet each person where they are at and I’m lucky enough to have some experience in that realm. While it might be different because now I am a pro and before I wasn’t, having 6 years in school does have some advantages when it comes to leadership.

What has it been like playing with Tomas Bjarkason? How do you guys compliment each other best?

I’ve never played with another passing big like Tomas, and it makes my life on the floor so much easier with how well he sees the floor. We’ve spent a lot of time together so far and I feel that theres a natural chemistry that will really show in Pro-B games. We both can create and play inside and out which makes us dangerous as a unit.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm forward/center. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would fit the description best?

I think I’m kind of in the Kelly Olynyk mold. I can shoot the ball well, pass, post up, and put the ball on the floor a bit.

You have been described as a Swiss Army knife. Did you always have these qualities or were they were more developed at Toronto Metropolitan University (U Sports)?

I think I’ve been developing them my whole life. At TMU we had a lot of really talented scorers, like Aaron Rhooms and David Walker, so we really needed someone to do the other stuff like rebounding, passing, and blocking shots. At TMU we would be best when I was focused on those things. Now as a pro it helps me a lot because I can adjust my game to what is needed to win.

You have shot the ball really well since going to Toronto Metropolitan University (U Sports). What steps do you want to make with your three pointer this season?

I want to stay as confident as I can in my shooting and hopefully attempt more 3s a game than I have before.

Do you still see yourself somewhat as raw as a defender? How would you classify your defensive game now in your third pro season?

I think I can always be better as a defender, but my goal is to be excellent positionally and on the glass.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now as you continue to improve your game?

I would say my biggest focus for this season is rebounding.

You played your rookie season overseas with Alianca Sangalhos (Portugal-Proliga) averaging 12.1ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT-2 (41.8%), FT: 73.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?

Probably Christmas, when I was all by myself in the house. But I really enjoyed being overseas as well, Portugal was a beautiful country to explore.

How valuable was it having fellow Canadian James Woods on the team in Portugal? You knew him from school. He was a rookie like you and knew what you were going through. Did you become like brothers?

Yeah, definitely. It was crazy how it worked out, the club didn’t know we knew each other and we just happened to get offered to the same team. We spent so much time together through the ups and the downs and he really helped me during the hard times. He’s a hell of a player as well and I’m excited to see what his career brings.

You had many great games in Portugal like scoring 23 points against Vasco de Gama. What was your fondest moment on the court?

Beating Vasco was huge, each time we played them it always came down to the wire and they ended up winning the league. My favourite moment would probably be beating Illiabum at home near the end of the season, because it was the club’s biggest rival and we ended their season.

You got your first experience with Brampton Honey Badgers (CEBL), averaging 3.7ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.0apg. What positives could you get from this experience?

That was my first experience with pro basketball. I saw how established pros worked, how the flow of the game was different, and also how cutthroat of a business it is. I also realized I had the potential to play at a high level and got some vision of how to get there.

After playing at Lincoln Prep, you played at the University of British Columbia (U Sports) for 4 years. You never averaged more than 5,2ppg. What positives could you get from these years with your basketball development?

I had to work so hard to even get on the floor at UBC. There was a lot of talent on our roster, with many guys that went on to play pro at various levels. Having to fight for every minute ended up being a blessing because I was forced to dramatically improve my game and it served me well after I had moved on from UBC.

You won the Canada West title in 2020 over Western. What memories do you have winning that title and then little time later Covid coming? – note we won the national bronze medal over Western, and the Canada West title over Calgary.

Well I remember Manroop Clair had 39 and an all-time interview after the game. We wanted to win the whole thing so we were still reeling from the loss the night before. And the next weekend COVID shut the world down and I flew back home to Ontario.

You had some good games against TWU, TRU and Victoria. What was your fondest moment at the University Of British Columbia?

The game against Victoria was probably my favourite, I played the entire second half and that was their only loss during the regular season, I had a big putback dunk and a few threes.

You then played at Toronto Metropolitan University (U Sports) averaging 9.4ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 68.4% and 9.2ppg, 6.8rpg, 4.6apg, 1.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 61.9%. Your minutes rose from 13 to 23. How did your game grow in those 2 years?

Well that was where all the work I put in for 4 years at UBC really helped me. I was given an opportunity and was lucky enough that what I did really helped the team on the floor. I was also willing to do whatever it took to get on the floor and win games, and Coach DeAveiro recognized my value.

You had many great games like against York and Toronto. What was your fondest moment on the court at Toronto Metropolitan University?

I had a triple double and 9 points in the last 2 minutes in a rivalry game against Toronto with my Grandparents in attendance – that was the first time they had ever seen me play, and my grandfather passed 9 months later. It was special as an athlete and as a grandson.

How did David DeAveiro groom and prepare you best for a pro career?

Coach DeAveiro never sugarcoated anything. He coaches players hard and tells them the truth. It gave me thick skin and resilience, and he also really opened my eyes to seeing the game differently in terms of Xs and Os.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Aiden Wilson?

Back then, I just had to throw a shot fake up there and he would jump to the moon. Maybe now he stays down though.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life on the court that reached the NBA?

I played AAU with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s pretty good at basketball.

Chris Boucher also routinely makes my life tough for like 3 summers in a row now. His wingspan makes him so hard to guard.

Honourable mention to Isiaha Mike, formally Partizan now on Bayern. He’s also super tough. He just always does the right thing in each situation.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time

Give me James Woods, Aaron Rhooms, Zack Moore, Simon Chamberlain, and Jadon Cohee.

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

LeBron, Kobe, Dirk and Larry Bird are my favourites.

Who is your GOAT and why?

2018 LeBron was the best player to ever touch a basketball. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Game 1 of the Finals was probably the best basketball game I ever saw someone play.

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

Didn’t see it. Probably not a good plan to wait 30 years.

Thanks Lincoln for the chat.