A great question for any baller that is grinding overseas would be when they knew that they wanted to be a professional baller. I can imagine close to 100% wanted to be an NBA player. There is no accurate stat what percentage of NBA players dreamed of an NBA career when they were young, but it has to be somewhere around 90-95% according to AI. For overseas baller Toru Dean (183-PG, college: Langston), his route to the NBA is still a long one, but most likely for him always realistic. You simply have to be confident in one´s ability and that is something American professional players always have no matter what level they are at overseas. For Toru Dean who played at the NCAA 2 and NAIA level, he currently is playing in Germany for Regionalliga (4th division) team TSV Bargteheide Bees as they are in second place and he is destroying the competition averaging 19/5/7/3 stats. He already had dreams of playing professionally when he was a kid. Getting that perfect Christmas gift helped solidify his dream. “My favorite present as a kid was my first real pair of basketball shoes. That made me feel like my dreams mattered”, stressed Toru Dean. Xmas has a very special meaning to the overseas baller. “Family, gratitude, and slowing down. It’s about being together and remembering how far we’ve come”, said Toru Dean.

When your from New England like I am, you can´t imagine Xmas ever without there not being snow. The white has become less in Boston in the last 30 years with global warming, but how do kids in Florida experience Xmas without snow. I actually spent 3-4 Christmas´s as a kid in Florida so I remember playing touch football on the beach before opening presents the German way on Christmas Eve in the hotel. For Miami native Toru Dean, he didn´t see snow as a kid in Miami, but he still experienced Xmas in his special own way as family was a huge focus. “Christmas was simple but warm. Nothing fancy, but the house was full. Parents made sure we felt loved even if money was tight”, stressed Toru Dean. Christmas Eve was for him just like it was for any other American kid. A long night of waiting to open presents the next morning, but being able to be with family was something that he cherished. “ Christmas Eve for me was all about Food, music, and TV on in the background. We stayed up late”, remembered Toru Dean. Every kid can remember giving a present to a family member and remembering the feeling one got seeing the reaction of the person after getting the present. “My favorite present I gave was buying my mom something with my own money. Didn’t matter what it was—seeing her smile meant everything”, expressed Toru Dean.

If the ex Langston, OK (NAIA) guard will go home for Xmas is still unknown as he has a game only 2 days after opening presents on the 25th. He does know though if he had to spend Xmas in Germany, he could change the tradition with opening presents “ If I can, I’m going home. There’s no place like where you started. Yeah, I could adjust to opening presents at night. It’s different, but the meaning stays the same. ”, said Toru Dean. As a rookie overseas, it was the first time in his life that he could witness the holiday season in a different culture. He definitely has seen a difference to how it is overseas to back home in Florida. “ It feels calmer and more traditional. Less rushed, more about atmosphere. In the States it’s louder and more commercial”, commented Toru Dean. Community is a word that I have heard quite a bit this holiday season when asking American ballers about how they witnessed the classic German Xmas markets. “They’re special—lights, food, people just enjoying the moment. Feels like community”, stated Toru Dean. There are so many special Xmas foods in Germany especially at the Christmas markets, but for him there is nothing the same as what he grew up with. Tasty home made cooking from mama. “ My favorite Xmas food is Mac and cheese, baked chicken, and sweet potatoes. That’s home”, warned Toru Dean. So wherever he is this Xmas, what will be glaring from the TV and what will be loud to the ears? “My favorite movie is the The Polar Express and my favorite Song is This Christmas by Donny Hathaway”, expressed Toru Dean. Times were tough for him as a kid and it is only logical that he has a lot of compassion for the world and it´s problems. His wish is simple and would take care of everyone. “My Christmas wish for the world is less hate, more understanding. And people taking care of each other”, warned Toru Dean. With 2026 also just around the corner, he has strict New Years resolutions for himself. “I want to stay disciplined, help my family more, and keep pushing toward something bigger than myself”, stressed Toru Dean.