Tanner Omlid (196-F-1993, college: WOU) is a 32 year old 196cm forward from Idenpendence, Oregon playing his 8th professional season and 7th in Portugal and third with FC Porto. He also played 2 seasons with Imortal BC Albufeira and 2 seasons with Sporting Clube de Portugal Lisboa. He played his rookie season with Aceitunas Fragata Moron (Spain-LEB Silver) averaging 9.3ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.3apg, SPG-1 (2.4), FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 70.6%. He began his basketball career with Central High School and then played 2 seasons with the U.S. Military Academy (NCAA) averaging 5.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.5apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 58.0%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 63.0% and 6.6ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.2apg, 2.2spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 10.0%, FT: 50.0%. He then finished at Western Oregon University (NCAA2) averaging 10.5ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.3apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 33.8%, FT: 59.3% and in his second season 16.3ppg, 7.7rpg, 3.2apg, 3.1spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 65.6% and in his last season averaged 13.6ppg, 6.5rpg, 3.3apg, 2.7spg, 1.8bpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 30.2%, FT: 69.2%He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Euro Cup game against German team Rostock.

Thanks Tanner for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your 8th professional season in Europe and 7th in Portugal. Is it fair to say that Portugal has become like your second home?

Most definitely Portugal is my second home. I have made some great friends whom I consider family. This country and the people have been very good to me and especially my family. My son is even Portuguese.

Your playing your third season with FC Porto (Portugal-Liga Betclic). You have won 3 titles with them. What makes this organization so special?

This organization had confidence in me after coming back from my ACL injury. It is a club that puts in the same amount of trust and respect that I give to them.

The team won the last 2 cups, but haven´t won the league since 2016. Does this season´s team have the talent for the double?

I believe that if we are all healthy at the end of the season then we have a great chance to win the championship this season.

Unfortunately you are inactive at the moment- You had shoulder surgery. How is the rehab going and when are you expected back?

Rehab for the shoulder is so much different than the knee. I’m so used to working through the pain, but with this recovery I’m not supposed to feel pain. I’ve really had to be patient and trust the process. I’m finally able to start doing basketball moves and shooting, which has not only been good physically but has helped me mentally as well.

You won 2 cups with FC Porto. Was one more memorable than the other one?

I would say the last Portugal Cup; we beat Benfica in the semis where I had a great game. Then we went on to beat Sporting in the finals and got to celebrate with all of our fans.

Last season you played with ex NBA player Toney Douglas and 2 years ago lost to him in the final. What memories will you always have of him as a teammate and opponent?

Toney is a player with a tremendous IQ of the game. He can score on all three levels and plays defense with physicality and precise angles. As an opponent, I remember him making big shots in the finals that were very crucial. As a teammate, I will remember his competitiveness and will to win. It was a pleasure to play alongside him.

In your first season at FC Porto, you lost the last game to Benfica despite scoring 24 points. What memories will you always have of that 2 game series?

I will remember how I gave everything I had and still came up short. After that series I could look at myself in the mirror and honestly say I gave it my all.

You’re a player that fills the stat sheet great, but how valuable is your defensive game? You had 7 steals twice in a game in the Fiba Europe Cup. What NBA defender is your role model?

I try and take tid bits from the best defenders of all time. My hustle comes from Dennis Rodman. My exterior on ball defense is from Gary Payton. Then I try to work angles like Tony Allen. But if I’m being honest, my role model as a defender is Brian Dawkins from the Philadelphia Eagles. He had the ability to strike fear into people before even playing them. Not that people should be afraid of me, but I try to come into the game being fearless. We are all on the same court.

You played 2 seasons with Sporting Clube de Portugal Lisboa (Portugal-Liga Betclic). What memories do you have of this great organization? What did you enjoy most about the 2 years?

My first season was a very fun season. We were a historic team for being the first Portuguese team to make it to the Quarterfinals of FibaEurocup. We won 3 cups. I ended up tearing my ACL at the end of the season. It was a great group of guys and a pleasure to compete with them. My second season was a rehab season for my ACL. I tried to come back after 10 months, but I wasn’t even close to where I was before or where I am now. I learned a lot that season because I watched every practice and analyzed the game. I enjoyed playing with Travante Williams because we are both from the GNAC (NCAA D2). We both had a chip on our shoulder and still feel like we have something to prove. He’s a winner. I miss competing with that man.

You had some really good games that first season, but none better than against Pova where you scored 32 points. Was this possibly your best game in Portugal besides your 40 points against Braga??

Those were some good games, but I’d say my best game was in the semi finals of the Portugal Cup against Benfica last season. I think I finished with 29 points and made some tough 3’s. The games against Povoa and Braga were great games, but when it is a rival on a big stage it makes the game a little more special.

You played 2 seasons with Imortal BC Albufeira (Portugal-Proliga) and helped the team move up to the first division. What was so special about that team?

That team was special because we all bought in. Coach Modesto had a coaching philosophy that matched well with all of the players. We worked hard and that same group of guys all signed for the next season.

In your second season there you were teammates with veteran DJ Fenner. What was it like battling him on a daily basis in practice? What could you soak up from his game?

DJ was and still is a very hard worker. We battled throughout the season and helped each other get better. I really enjoyed getting to know him as a person and basketball player. His footwork on offense was really good. His ability to turn his hips and square up to take shots (on balance) off of all types of screens was impressive.

In the 3 game playoff series against Lusitania you averaged 24,0ppg and 11,0rpg and shot an amazing 23/26 from the 2%. Was this the best basketball you played in a week´s time in the first division Portugal?

I never really thought of my best week’s but those stats speak for themselves. I can’t think of any other time in the top league that I’ve played that good.

You played your rookie season with Aceitunas Fragata Moron (Spain-LEB Silver) averaging 9.3ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.3apg, SPG-1 (2.4), FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 70.6%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

That was a tough year for me because I spent half the season away from my wife. I remember walking down the street and people would stop eating and talking to just look at me. I didn’t speak the language that well until about February. When I flew back to the US, I knew I was back when I could understand everybody. I was so accustomed to walking through town and hearing people talk and it would be like a white noise because I couldn’t understand. Then I got back home and I kind of missed the innocence of not understanding what was being said.

You played 2 seasons at the U.S. Military Academy (NCAA) averaging 5.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.5apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 58.0%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 63.0% and 6.6ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.2apg, 2.2spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 10.0%, FT: 50.0% What memories do you have of playing for Zac Spiker?

My entire time West Point was kind of a blur. I was so sleep deprived and just trying to get through the day and pass my classes. My escape was the 3-4 hours a day when we were “up the hill” at the basketball arena and weight room. Coach Spiker was the person who taught me how to win offensive rebounds on free throws.

You then played at Western Oregon University (NCAA2) from 2015-2018 winning the GNAC title twice. What title was sweeter?

On championship teams everybody has a role and every role is equally important. The first title was sweet because we were a team that was surrounded by hoopers. We were a D1 team disguised as a D2 team. If any of those guys wanted to go pro they could have come to Europe and had good careers. The second title is different because that was my team. I was the only starter from that previous team that was on this team. We were special because we all had a chip on our shoulder and bought into Coach Shaw’s system.

In your second season you had an amazing 18/15/11steals triple double in a win over Seattle Pacific. What memories do you have of that game?

The main memory I have of that game is having a reverse dunk and it was alumni night so the gym was packed. After the game, I met Robert Day who let me know that I could have a good professional career. It planted the seed.

In the same season in another game you had 34 points in a 76-74 win over Seattle Pacific. In your senior year you exploded for 32 points. You seemed to have their number?

I don’t think it was Seattle Pacific, but more Kegan Bone’s. He was an assistant coach on that first WOU team that won the title. He left us and to quote Michael Jordan, “I took that personally”. Looking back now, if I was in his shoes I would have done the same thing because at the time that was his dream job, but at the time it was personal.

How did head coach Jim Shaw groom and prepare you best for a pro career?

I only have good things to say about Coach Shaw. From day 1, he treated us like professionals. He had standards on the court. He instilled the 4 pillars that I still live by on and off the court. Attitude: Be positive and grateful Work Ethic: Don’t allow someone else outwork you physically and mentally Leadership: To be able to lead someone else, you must first be able to lead yourself Team: Nothing great in life comes from selfishness. His system was built on his 4 pillars, but he had the ability to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of a team early on and he would change the entire offensive/defensive schemes to get the maximum potential out of his players and win. He wasn’t hubris in his philosophy and would listen to input and would have serious conversations about anything.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Ali Farouq-Bey?

I think we only played 1v1 a few times because they would last forever. At the time, I was not a great offensive player and Ali could hold his own defensively. But he had a hard time scoring on me, so it came down to whoever could make the harder shots that day. He is one of my favorite teammates of all time, and now he is a middle school teacher and I’m proud of him.

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

I played against Kyrie Irving in an open gym. I remember I had him locked in the corner after chesting him twice, then he drove left towards the free throw line and made a left-handed runner going parallel to the baseline. He went on to use the same exact move the following season to hit a game winner against the Denver Nuggets.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

1: Abdul Gaddy (Crawsover-pro-am) 2: Marcus Lovett (Sporting) 3: Travante Williams (Sporting) 4: Andy Avgi (WOU) 5: Robert Upshaw (Crawsover-pro-am) P

Please list your NBA Mount Rushmore?

MJ, LeBron, Steph, 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?

No I haven’t.

Thanks Tanner for the chat