Malik Miller is a 26 year old 192cm guard from Washhington DC playing his second professional season and first with Donar Groningen(Holland-DBL). He played his rookie season with the Svendborg Rabbits (Denmark-BasketLigaen) averaging 12.0ppg, 7.1rpg, 3.4apg, SPG-4(2.4), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 69.0%. He began his basketball career at Friendship Tech Prep Academy. He then played at Morgan State University(NCAA) from 2018-2023 playing a total of 118 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against German team MBC.

Thanks Malik for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season with Donar Groningen (Holland-DBL). What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about the experience? 

It’s been really good. I love the city and culture. It’s really been fun to play here. My best experience has been the home games, the crowd is amazing!! They really are into the game as much as the players. 

Last season as a rookie you played in Denmark. What are the biggest differences between Denmark and Holland on and off the court? 

The biggest difference is the physicality on the court. The refs let you play a little more. And off the court it’s pretty much similar, the city just has more people and it’s more things to do. 

The club has won quite a few titles in the last 12 years, but last won a cup in 2022. How big is the hunger in the organization to win again? 

It’s extremely important, I have great teammates and coaches, none of us have egos and we all have one goal which is to win. We understand the history of this club and we want to help get back to where it once was. We have the team to do it! 

What has it been like playing for head coach Jason Dourisseau. I saw this guy play in Germany back in the day. He won 9 titles in Holland. As a guard how has he helped your game move forward this season? 

It’s been great, the fact that he is American makes it way better because we can relate to a lot of things. But the way he coaches and how he holds us accountable which is really huge for our morale. He’s been helping my game a lot which has been one of the biggest takeaways I have honestly, he always sends film on the moves he teaches me so I can study it and see how effective it is to use it. 

You’re a player that can do everything at both ends. What exactly is your  role on the team? 

My role is to impact the game on every level so that I can help my team get the win. 

Let´s talk more about your game. You’re a 192cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description? 

I would compare it to Jrue Holiday who is a really great defender, who can do a little bit of everything. 

You’re an incredible versatile player. Where was your versatility born as a player? 

I think it was born when I was around 8/9 years old and I played with all the older kids at the park. In order for me to get picked up I had to do whatever it took to impact my team winning and not be a liability. 

What stands out at first is your high rebound totals for a guard. You averaged 8,0rpg in your last 3 years at Morgan State and 7,0rpg as a rookie. What is the secret to your good rebounding and what are your goals with rebounding in the next seasons as you move up the basketball ladder? 

I wouldn’t say I have a secret, but I just have a knack for the ball. I’m also always in the right spot a lot of the time as well. My goal is to continue to keep being effective with being a rebounding guard especially since I know a lot of guards aren’t rebounding at this rate. 

Your also a guy that does it at both ends of the court. Would you classify yourself as a 2-way player now? 

Yes I would definitely consider myself that. I take pride in being that. 

How would you describe your defensive game? What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? 

I would describe it as being as being a safety on the football field, regarding to the fact that I have high anticipation skills and quick feet with good physicality. I am a good one-on-one defender and a very good off ball defender as well. However I would like to become a defender that knows how to use my physicality without fouling. 

On what areas of your game are you working on most now as you continue to want to improve your game? 

I’ve been really focusing on improving my 3pt shot and ball handling. Also becoming a better pick n roll player.  

You played your rookie season with the Svendborg Rabbits (Denmark-BasketLigaen) averaging 12.0ppg, 7.1rpg, 3.4apg, SPG-4(2.4), FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 69.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were far away from home? 

My wake up call was me not being able to see my daughter. That was and still is the toughest thing for me. 

You lost a tough final series against Bakken, but won a exciting series against Randers where the last 2 games weren´t decided by more than 4 points. What will you always remember from that series? 

I’ll always remember how one of their players posted something on instagram about us and we took that as the utmost disrespect. So we stuck together game by game, we never got too high or too low because we knew they had some good players but we also knew how good our team was. 
 

You played at Morgan State(NCAA) from 2018-2023. How valuable was playing that fifth season? How did your game grow that one last step there? 

It was extremely important that was my breakout season where I gained the most confidence from my game. It made me grow a lot. I had to step up big time for us. I worked on my weaknesses day in and day out and it showed. 

You had many incredible games in the NCAA like having a buzzer beater against Temple, having a triple double against PS Wilkes Barre, almost having a triple double against PS Gtr Allegh and having a 32/12 game against SC State. What was your fondest moment there on the court? 

Those were some great moments, however my best moment was when I scored my 1000th career point at home. 

How did head coach Kevin Broadus groom and prepare you best for a professional career? 

He always held me accountable and pushed me to be better. Coach Chretch really prepared me though, he did so many little things for that took my game to another level my senior year. He challenged me off the court as well and he always made me be  

Who won a 1-1 in practice, you or Isaiah Burke? 

Unfortunately we never really played with just us 2, we would do king of the court with a couple other teammates. 

Your biggest influence is Lebron James and you have a engineering degree. How would you like to give back to the community one day? 

I would love to do a lot for my community, I would like to host annual Christmas giveaways, thanksgiving food drives, back to school events, and free basketball camps. I pray I’m able to do those things in the future! 

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

I’m not sure if he made the NBA or not  but he was really tough, I’ll say Phil Booth from Villanova. 

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time? 

This a tough one I had a lot of great teammates but I have to go with the teammates I grew up with so I’m going with Derrick Love, Taron Oliver, Isaiah Burkes, Lagio Grantsaan, and De’Torrian Ware 

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? 

This is my Mount Rushmore in no specific order but Steph Curry, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Shaq 

Who is your GOAT? 

LeBron James 

Thanks Malik for the chat.