Zane Waterman (203-F-1995, college: Manhattan) is a 30 year old 203cm forward from North Carolina playing his 8th professional season and second with Neptunas Klaipeda (Lithuania-LKL). He began his basketball career at / Fayetteville Academy and then played at Manhattan College (NCAA) from 2014-2018 playing a total of 121 games. He began his professional career in 2018 with Lapuan Korikobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) and since then has balled in countries like Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, New Zealand, Portugal, Canada, Cyprus and Lithuania. He spoke togermanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against the Hamburg Towers.

Thanks Zane for talking to germanhoops.com. You have played the last 4 years year round in Europe and Canada. Is the best description for you basketball workaholic or simply a basketball lover?

I would say a basketball lover. Before I began playing year round, I was always bugging my agent to find me a job. I was playing New York street ball anyway and that was almost a game a day. I was always working out or playing at my college over the summer to stay in shape, so why not play for a team. I can make money playing for a team.

Your playing your second season with Neptunas Klaipeda (Lithuania-LKL). Your playing your second season with Neptunas Klaipeda (Lithuania-LKL) and third straight in Lithuania. Has Lithuania become like a second home to you?

Yes it has. My wife, son and dog are in Lithuania for our third year. My wife got pregnant my first year and son was born just a year ago. It has a special place in our hearts and we really love it here. We love the culture and people and have really gotten a good routine here. Who knows what the future holds. The only complaint are the harsh winters. We live in New York off season so there isn’t too much of a difference with the weather in the winter time.

You always have been a very good 3 point shooter dating back to the NCAA and held that consistency as a pro. Recently you shot an incredible 52% from outside in the CEBL. How big is your confidence going into the Eurocup season and did you do any thing difference with preparation during the CEBL season?

As a basketball player you always have to have big confidence and belief in yourself. Even if you miss a shot, you have to think that the next one will go in. I always try to have a big confidence in my shooting. Sometimes it’s hard when you go through slumps. I have been working out a bit differently and that has been helping me a lot. My change of work ethic has maybe correlated to better shooting.

In your first 2 seasons in Lithuania, your 0-9 against top team Zalgiris. Last season you lost in the playoffs to them. How big is your desire to not only get that first win against them, but also to win the Lithuanian title?

You want to win every game, but the goal is big to beat them. That is the only team that I haven’t beat in Lithuania. I definitely want to beat them this season.

2 seasons ago you played with Kedainiu Nevezis-Optibet (Lithuania-LKL) averaging 16.8ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 57.0%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 77.5%. You had an incredible 31 points on 12/14 shooting against Zalgiris. The only thing missing was the win. Despite the loss, is that a game you remember in your career simply because you had a great shooting day?

That was a good game for me. Having such a great game against a great team is a big accomplishment. But of course I want that win badly.

You split the 2022-2023 season with the Helsinki Seagulls (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 13.4ppg, 4.4rpg, 2FGP: 70.5%, 3FGP: 40.0%, FT: 72.0%, in Jan.’23 moved to BC Apollon Limassol (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) averaging 16.1ppg, RPG-5 (9.4), 1.6apg, FGP-3 (67.7%), 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 73.8%. After a short stay in Finland, you finished strong in Cyprus. How do you remember that season going from the cold of Finland to the beautiful warmth of Cyprus?

I went to Finland as an injury replacement. I filled in for the injured Rene Rougeau for a few months. It was a big climate change going from the snow to the warm weather. Cyprus felt like a vacation sitting in the sun. You couldn’t do that in Finland.

You played the 2021-2022 season with U.D. Oliveirense (Portugal-Liga Betclic) averaging 13.6ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 78.6%. You won a hard fought playoff series against CAB Madeira and then lost to Benfica. What memories do you have of that season?

Portugal is definitely one of my favorite countries that I have played in. I really enjoyed my time there and met some really good people there and people I still communicate with today. It is an amazing country. Oliveirense was very small, but around Porto. It’s a small country and many don’t see it as a top league, but it is run very well. We had a beautiful apartment. It was a great country.

In the 20-21 season you got further experience in 2 places with BK Nova Hut Ostrava (Czech Republic-NBL) averaging 18.5ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 54.2%, 3FGP: 41.6%, FT: 80.0%, in Jan.’21 moved to Enea Astoria Bydgoszcz (Poland-EBL) averaging 7.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 63.3%, 3PT: 57.1%, FT: 59.3%. After averaging 30 minutes in Ostrava, your minutes went down to 16 in Poland. What did you learn about this season especially on the business side?

That was an interesting time right after Covid. It was a very different season. We started off with fans in the Czech Republic and then it was changed to no fans. There were breaks during Covid and the league even shut down for a few weeks. But when I moved to Poland. I came with the promise of the coach that I would play 4-5 positions, but I ended up being the back up 5. I played behind polish big man Adrian Bogucki who was really big. He was about 100 kilos. It helped me develop my game better and learn to play the 5 better. I also got stronger. It wasn’t what I expected, but it worked out to be beneficial for me.

You played the 2019-2020 season with Ferrocarril Oeste (Argentina-La Liga): 5 games: 9.0ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 66.7%. You lived in the giant city Buenos Aires. It was only a short time, but you were there in the dog days of summer. What one thing will you always remember from the city? Perhaps the crazy traffic? It seems every driver is on his own there. Lol

I didn’t have a great experience in Buenos Aires. I’ll leave at that.

You played your rookie season with Lapuan Korikobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 14.2ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 83.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?

Lapuan was very small. I think it was the most north town in Finland that had a basketball team. It was some dark times during the winter. I remember we would go into our first practice at 10:00am and it would be dark. You get out of practice and the sun was up. The sun went down again at 2.00 and the next practice was at 6:00 and it was dark again. It was very different. I had never experienced something like that before. Lapuan treated you like family. It was a really great atmosphere. After games you would into a trailer and eat Lasagna. It was a great atmosphere. I really enjoyed it and really learned a lot as a pro there.

You also had a tour of duty in New Zealand with the Franklin Bulls (New Zealand) averaging 21.4ppg, 11.3rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 90.3%. Despite only playing 7 games you reached the 90/50/40 plateau. Was that the most consistent month in your career?

I guess it was consistent. I also enjoyed my time there. They were great to me and my wife. It was right after Covid. It was fun there. New Zealand is a lot different from what I had ever experienced before. The nature is amazing there. Unfortunately I broke my wrist and had to get surgery.

You played the last 4 summers in the Canadian CEBL with Hamilton, Brampton and Ottawa. How vital has this experience been for your development? How do you feel are you a different player with this experience?

It is a very athletic league in Canada. There is a lot of running up and down the court and very guard dominant. I have to play a different style than in Europe. But I also try to bring in my European style. In Europe the game is slower and more tactical and enjoy it more. I can you both styles that of Europe and USA in both places. I just use the best of both worlds when I’m playing.

You won the CEBL title in 2022 with Hamilton. What was so special about this team with guys like Aaron Best and Christian Vital that came together during the summer to win a chip?

That was an amazing team. We had 10 guys that could start any game. Every guy could score 20 points and was a star. Starters on any other team were role players on this team. Coach Ryan Schmidt did a great job having everyone buy in to his system. We were all focused on winning. One night you may score 20 points and the next 2 points. It didn’t matter as long as we won.

You played at Manhatten College from 2014-2018. You reached the Big Dance as a freshman losing to Hampton. What memories do you have of that game?

Growing up as an American you always dream of reaching the Big Dance. That was very special. I wish that we could have had a better game. I really enjoyed my time there.

You had many great games at Manhatten including twice against Marist and also against Monmouth and a double double in a triple OT win over Siena. What was your favorite own game in the NCAA?

I would say my 35 point game against Rider. It was over the winter intermission. All the students are on break. The basketball teams stay at school working out and playing games. That was a different time during college. You could really lock in. Your out of school for a month and just practicing and hanging out with your teammates. That is a lot of fun that brings a different comradery to the team. You come closer with your teammates. The gym was empty, but the game was on ESPN. I had a lot of fun.

How did head coach Steve Masiello groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Masiello groomed me into a man. He is very hard on you, but also very loving. He was like a big brother to me. He put a lot of us through adversary, but helped me out tremendously. He prepared me for playing overseas, because it is a big adjustment.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Pauly Paulicap?

We never actually played. He was a 5 and I a 4. We definitely had some battles. He is a great player. He is very energetic and athletic. He fights hard every game. It was fun to have him on your side.

Who is the toughest player that you faced on the court in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

There wasn’t one specific player. We played against West Virginia and they were tough. We weren’t ready for their full court pressure. We also played a tough Florida State team that had many future NBA players like Terence Mann. They were really stacked. We gave a good fight and played a good first half, but lost it in the second half.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Tyler Wilson, Emmy Andujar, Nikola Djogo, Keevan Veinot, Pauly Paulicap

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Shaq

Who is your GOAT?

Kobe Bryant

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I didn’t see it. I liked the first one.

Thanks Zane for the chat.