Ok so Tyseem Lyles (185-SG-1992, college: Mercy) didn´t decide to pull a lifer in Erfurt with the Basketball Lowen, but one could say that he has become a German lifer for his job of professional basketball player. His Pro B colleagues of Omari Knox and DJ Woodmore have played most of their career in Oberaching and Speyer while Lyles played in Erfurt for 4 years. All in all he is currently in his 8th professional season after having played in Hamburg and Karlsruhe as well and currently is calling south Germany home in Fellbach. It is no surprise that a lot of these American ballers overseas come from large families. Christmas´s in the States was always a very important part of their lives and that continues even when your overseas. The whole experience gives him special power. “Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year for many reasons, but my number one reason is gathering together with my family and loved ones. This seemed like the one time of the year no one had to work or do any kind of work. Everyone just being together. Christmas to me is love because it is cold, it is dark a lot earlier and on this day or leading to this day the warmth of togetherness from everyone gives you the bit of energy to you may need to push through the year or for guys like me make a stronger push through the second half of the season”, stressed Tyseem Lyles.

Especially in big familes, the whole Xmas experience is a massive production. For Tyseem his Christmas´s were always spent at his grand parents apartment in Brooklyn, New York. “Decorating the tree together a couple weeks before, decorating the big socks, watching a ton of Christmas movies and of course pretending not to see my mom carry in bags of toys. This was always the build up to Christmas Day as a kid”, remembered Tyseem Lyles. His grand ma made delicious food for all with sweet potato pie, baked macaroni, baked honey glazed ham, and stuffing. “It was always a time for good food, sharing gifts, playing games and telling stories. All of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents cramped in one 3 bedroom apartment for this holiday but for some reason it never felt crowded as a kid”, smiled Tyseem Lyles. However the most exciting time for him was Christmas Eve. “It was always extremely hard to go to sleep with all my cousins. All of us full of laughter during bed time, or even trying to “catch” Santa Claus eating the cookies but always being caught by our parents in the act. During the day we played board games or just went outside to play”, said Tyseem Lyles. It is no surprise that his favorite Xmas gift had to do with the game that he loves. “My favorite present I received as a kid was this game called NBA Streets for a game system called game cube. If I was not playing basketball outside I was watching or playing a game that had to do with the sport. I was also a big gamer as a kid so these were my two things. Basketball and games”, added Tyseem Lyles. Even if receiving a pretty gift is exciting, there is nothing better than giving something unique to your loved ones. “I have two favorite moments because I was really proud of both of these moments I remember saving a bunch of money for them. I bought my mom and my grandmother matching necklaces. I sold candy from the last Christmas to the next Christmas in high school just for this moment”, said Tyseem Lyles who lists Elf starring Will Ferrell, and Home Alone 2 as his favorite Xmas movie and his favorite Christmas song is Its beginning to look a lot like christmas or Feliz Navidad.

Even if guys playing in the Pro B have a 2 week break for Xmas, many don´t go home simply because they have established new family type relationships overseas and it isn´t any different with him. “I wish I was going back home for Christmas it’s been a while. But it is okay because it will still be a special day I am around love and great people. I will spend the Christmas with my girlfriend and her family. Also I will spend a great amount of time on FaceTime to talk with everyone from my family so I can see everyone and we can still share this day together”, expressed Tyseem Lyles. He has been overseas for almost a decade, but doesn´t see too much difference between what happens in the pre Xmas time in Germany and USA. “Christmas is a bit different for me these days only because I am older and currently living in another country. The only huge difference is the traditional foods for this day but are really good. For example the potato dumplings, red cabbage and with some I have had roasted duck. Knowing Santa does not exist is the only difference because the love is there we play games, and always have a great time”, commented Tyseem Lyles. A favotite place to hang out and mingle is at the famous German Xmas markets and it isn´t any different for him either. “My favorite Christmas market is the one in Hamburg. I experienced the christmas market in Stuttgart, Augsburg, and Erfurt so far”, said Tyseem Lyles. So how does he go about opening presents in Germany. Does he do it the German way or keep the American tradition? “I wish I had known this as a kid I would have been extremely happy because the amount of times I begged my mom to open them the night before. So as an adult I do it for that kid inside me, at least one present”, smiled Tyseem Lyles. With so much sadness going on in the world, he also has that special wish for the world. “My Christmas wish for the world is for everyone have all their needs and wants fulfilled without having to ever harm another person place or thing ever again”, warned Tyseem Lyles. 2026 is just around the corner and as always he wants to go into the new year remembering those very special people in his life. “My New Years Resolution is at the end of each day write at least 2 sentences or more about 5 things or people I am grateful for”, stressed Tyseem lyles.