pic credit:  JL Bourg en Bresse 

Ricardo Lindo Jr. (203-F-2000, college: GWU) is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Washington DC that is playing his third pro season and first with JL Bourg en Bresse (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). Last season he played with Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona (Israel-Winner League) averaging 13.2ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, BPG-5 (1.1), FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 25.8%, FT: 72.0%. He played his rookie season with Kouvot Kouvola (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 17.6ppg, RPG-5 (10.2), 1.6apg, 1.6spg, BPG-4 (2.0), FGP: 60.7%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 77.2%. He began his basketball career at Woodrow Wilson High School and then played 2 seasons at the University of Maryland (NCAA) and then 3 years at George Washington University (NCAA) averaging 11.4ppg, 10.7rpg, 1.4apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 65.2%, 3PT: 17.6%, FT: 64.7%, 7.7ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.5spg, 1.6bpg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 60.% and : 10.6ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.2spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 71.0%, 3PT: 23.0%, FT: 71.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against the Niners Chemnitz

Thanks Ricardo for talking to germanhoop. com. You continue to climb the basketball ladder after paying your dues as a rookie in Finland and last season you were in the top league in Israel and this season in France. How blessed o you truly feel?

I feel really blessed, to be able to showcase my skills and versatility at a high level such as JL Bourgand it is something I won’t take for granted. Especially after climbing up the levels of overseas basketball!

Your playing your first season with JL Bourg en Bresse (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). And Your playing your first season in the very competitive Eurocup league. Do you feel like this league could take your game to another level?

I definitely do feel playing for this club in the Eurocup can take my game to a whole new level, being able to play not just the best competition in France but also to travel around the world and play other top level competition can only help me improve my game for the future.

Your playing against top teams in Europe including the Niners Chemnitz. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

Well from playing in the Heidelberg preseason tournament I’ve come to realize how physical German basketball can be and that’s something I need to experience if I want to continue play very high level basketball here in Europe

You fill the stat sheet like a 203cm Russel Westbrook. Is the Swiss army knife the perfect definition of you as a player?

I’m glad you mentioned Russell Westbrook because he is my favorite player, and I do think a Swiss army is the perfect way to explain my game. I believe that every great team needs a player that like that and I just want to prove that I can be that player every game.

You have been a great rebounder your whole life averaging 10 rebounds in a season in the NCAA and Europe. To what level as a rebounder can you still bring your game to now in your third pro season?

I think being an elite rebounder shows I’m not afraid to do the dirty work and get physical with the bigs here in Europe, which is something any great team needs to be successful

You are also an incredible defender. How would you describe your defensive game and what NBA player as a defender is your biggest role model?

My defensive game is more of a versatile defender. Being able to switch and guard multiple positions is something I take pride in. I think I try to model my defense game after guys like Paul George, kawhi Leonard, even role players like Royce O’Neal, Josh Okege, Dorian Finney Smith, Robert Covington and even a younger PJ Tucker. Hopefully if I make it to the NBA that’ll be the role I’ll mostly have, so I want to showcase it now.

As a guy that can do it all on the court, what area of your game do you feel is still a bit off the radar?

I feel like my offense live playmaking is still off the radar but playing with a great team I think I’ll be able to show case that without having to force anything.

Last season you played with Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona (Israel-Winner League) averaging 13.2ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, BPG-5 (1.1), FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 25.8%, FT: 72.0%. How key was this season in your pro career? Is it fair to say that that was your break through season in a top league?

I think it’s was key season for me because after playing in Finland and doing great out there I was able to take on a bigger role in Israel and play against top teams who play in European leagues like the BCL, Eurocup, and even Euroleague and to be able to play and showcase my skills against those teams is what I believe got me in the position I am in today.

Last season you battled 5 times against Euroleague team Maccabi Tel Aviv and lost a 3 game playoff series. What will you always remember from that series?

I’ll always remember how I can compete with those types of teams, even though I didn’t get a win I felt like I belonged and I wasn’t afraid of the name or the moment.

You played your rookie season with Kouvot Kouvola (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 17.6ppg, RPG-5 (10.2), 1.6apg, 1.6spg, BPG-4 (2.0), FGP: 60.7%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 77.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home?

That first week in Finland when I realized I had to figure everything out for myself. I couldn’t drive home to my parents and I was in a foreign country that I didn’t understand the language too. But staying in the gym and focusing on my goals is what got through that season

How valuable was it having a teammate like Thomas Gipson as a rookie? Was he like a mentor for you?

Thomas Gipson was a great Vet to have in my first season. Even thought he was there for half a season I learned a lot from him and he told a lot about how European basketball works.

In the summer of 2024 you played NBA Summer League with the Dallas Mavericks (NBA Summer League in Las Vegas) playing 3 games averaging 1.0ppg, 1.7rpg. What kind of an experience was that for you? What was the best piece of advice that you got there?

It was a great experience playing for an NBA team even if it was summer league. I was able to experience a lot of NBA level workouts and practices and being coached by coach Jared Dudley really helped as well. A piece of advice I still carry from the time is to always give 100% and no matter act like a professional, during the good times and especially during the hard times.

You played 2 seasons at the University of Maryland (NCAA) playing 63 NCAA games. You averaged 11 and 7 minutes and reached the NCAA tournament. What positives could you get from these 2 years and battling guys like Aaron Wiggins and Jalen Smith each day?

Playing against those guys my first 2 years of college really opened my eyes to what’s it’s like being around NBA level guys. Just watching how they worked to where they are right now. It was definitely great sharing the court with those guys.

You then played 3 seasons at The George Washington University (NCAA). How did your game grow in those 3 years?

Playing at GW I was able to showcase my basketball ability a lot more than I did at UMD, but it still wasn’t enough to go straight to the NBA. I learned a lot while playing for the GW.

You had many great games there including against SFU and Richmond in double OT. What was your fondest moment there?

My fondest moment would have to be beating South Carolina at home and also a top ranked Dayton team at home as well.

How did head coach Chris Caputo groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I feel like coach Caputo really emphasized the professionalism of basketball to me, making sure we stayed on top of our game and how to manage ourselves after college.

You also have represented the Panamanian national team on many occasions. How is the state of basketball Panama? Do you have some future stars on the horizon?

The state of basketball is getting brighter as the sport is becoming more and more popular with a lot more resources being put into basketball

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

I would have to say Lamar Stevens from Penn State

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

James Bishop, Brendan Adams, Noel Brown, Kyle Lofton, Bryce Brown.

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

Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?

I grew up watching LeBron James so I would have to say he is my goat

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

I did not watch the sequel, I don’t think I saw the first either lol

Thanks Ricky for the chat.