Lukas Milner (208-C-2000, college: Boise St., agency: One Motive Sports) is a 25y ear old 208cm forward from Kansas playing his third professional season and first with the Tigers Tuebingen (Germany-ProA) averaging 8,6ppg, 4,9rpg and 1,3apg.. Last season he played with Boras Basket (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 9.0ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 55.4%. He played his rookie season with BC Prievidza (Slovakia-Nike SBL) averaging 11.8ppg, Reb-2 (8.2rpg), 1.3apg, Blocks-3 (1.8bpg), FGP-1 (71.5%), 3PT: 23.7%, FT: 53.1%. He also has experience playing twice with East Perth Eagles (Australia-NBL One) averaging 12.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 54.5%, FT: 50.0% and 11.0ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 63.5%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 50.0%. he began his basketball career at Olathe North high school and then played 2 seasons with Johnson County Community College (JUCO) averaging 4.2ppg, 3.0rpg and 12.0ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 71.4%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 57.0%. He then played 3 seasons and 81 NCAA games with Boise State University (NCAA). He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.

Thanks Lukas for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with the Tigers Tuebingen. How blessed do you feel playing in Germany in your third pro season?

Thank you! I feel very blessed to continue playing the game I love as a job & I’m extremely blessed to get to do it abroad in a beautiful country. Very happy for the opportunity!

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

I know that Germany is quite strong in basketball, recently the national team has won some big tournaments & I know the German leagues are always strong. I’m interested to see if their style of play is different than elsewhere, & I’m interested to steal any ideas on how to play the game better.

Have you known any former teammates or opponents that have balled in Germany?

I’ve known a few guys from my college team who have played in Germany, they’ve seemed to report back that it’s good all around.

How much of a role did head coach Henrik Sonko play in your decision to come to the Tigers? He was your coach last season in Sweden with Boras

It was the main reason why I decided to come play for the tigers.

What do you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy? How did he help your game most last season?

I think to put it simply, the biggest thing I respect about him is that he’s going work as hard as he can to be the best coach he can be. I know it doesn’t sound like basketball philosophy, but as a player a hardworking coach is important to me. He and his staff helped me tremendously last year with really understanding the chess match that goes on in European basketball. I almost feel like a kid again learning such a fun game.

How blessed do you feel to playing more again? At Boise State you had limited minutes, but in Slovakia and Sweden it´s been more. How has your game grown?

I’m too happy to be playing basketball all the time. I’m thankful for the limited minutes because that frustration made me appreciate what I have now much more. My game has grown a lot in every direction, physically, mentally, skillfully, etc etc. I think now my main goal is to really hone in on what I’m really good at and learn how to use my advantages to beat the opponents consistently.

You learned sign language because you needed it for your family. How much a part of your life has sign language become overseas? Do you use it overseas?

Yes American Sign Language (ASL) is my first language, I used it at home growing up and even minored in it at college. I didn’t think it would be of use overseas because sign languages are different everywhere, but on my first stop in Slovakia I met a group of fans who were so welcoming and supportive. They taught me some of their Slovak sign language and they picked up quickly on ASL and we were quickly able to communicate. So now I try to make contact with the deaf communities in other countries to be exposed to different cultures. I hope to do the same in Germany.

Let´s talk about your game. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

This is always a hard question for me, as a kid I always liked Tim Duncan but I don’t think my game is like his. I’ve been compared to Maxi Kleber before, also a German guy I think.

You’re a physical big that likes the post up and pick and role game. What other strengths does your game have?

I think my biggest strength is my ability to run the floor against the big heavy guys. Also I hope to keep my voice as a strength on the defensive side of the floor, to help keep the other guys informed about things they can’t see. I hope to show that I can also stretch the floor this year.

You took little three´s in Sweden but in your rookie season took 76 three´s in Slovakia. Is the three pointer something you would like to develop further in Germany or could this be a season again where you don´t incorporate it much into your game?

Haha yes like I said in my previous comment I would definitely like to add that to my arsenal, I think it would be very huge if I was able to get that going consistently.

Talk a little about your defensive game. You’re a classic shot blocker. What kind of a defender do you still want to become in the future?

I would really like to be a guy who can guard everywhere on the floor, when I watch basketball the guys who catch my eye are the guys who just come up with stops after stops on defense. I think I’ve lacked lateral quickness in the past, I hope to improve that and also make up for it with my growing iq.

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

Offensively for sure working on the 3 point shot and of course free throws. I have to get that % up, can’t leave easy points on the table. Defensively I’m working on getting back some lost athleticism and growing my iq of the floor, I believe if I can better understand where pieces will be I can defend better.

Last season you played with Boras Basket (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 9.0ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 55.4%. You played 15 playoff games. You went the distance in 7 games winning against BC Lulea, but lost in 5 games against Norrkoping. How tough was losing game 4 and 5 combined by only 3 points? What did you learn from that series?

It was very tough losing those tight games, for sure the biggest lesson is that in playoff basketball every possession matters throughout the game. Also just building playoff experience and understanding the grind of it was huge.

You also played twice with the East Perth Eagles (Australia-NBL) averaging 12.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 54.5%, FT: 50.0% and 11.0ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 63.5%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 50.0%.What kind of an experience was that? Do you already have your ticket booked for a third time in 2026?

It was an interesting experience, the club and style of play wasn’t like most European teams but I will say I had a lot of fun. The people who had me come took good care of me and were very kind. Also being in Perth was really cool, definitely some of the best beaches I’ve ever seen.

You played your rookie season with #BC Prievidza (Slovakia-Nike SBL) averaging 11.8ppg, Reb-2 (8.2rpg), 1.3apg, Blocks-3 (1.8bpg), FGP-1 (71.5%), 3PT: 23.7%, FT: 53.1%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I didn’t have too much of a negative shock that other guys have, but I think being in a new culture was really cool to experience. I will say having the people around you speak a different language was interesting to get used to as an American. We definitely never experienced stuff like that growing up too much.

You won an exciting playoff series against Inter Bratislava, but then lost to Spisski Rytieri. What will you always remember from your first pro playoff series?

I think the game winner we had in game 7 of that inter game was an awesome experience. To have the home crowd go crazy was awesome.

You played 2 seasons at Johnson County Community College (JUCO) averaging 4.2ppg, 3.0rpg
and 12.0ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 71.4%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 57.0%. Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO have stated that it was a real grind, but one they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it for you?

It was for sure a grind. I’m very glad I started at the juco level and worked my way up. Taught me a lot of life lessons.

How vital was head coach Mike Jeffers for your early basketball development. What did you soak up most form him?

He was a good coach to me, I’m glad I caught him right before he retired. I was like most lanky kids coming out of high school and I was soft. I hated how he set up his practices at the time but now I’m very happy with the toughness that was instilled in me. A lot of physicality and he never called fouls.

You played 3 seasons at Boise State University (NCAA). What memories do you have of reaching the NIT Elite 8 in 2021? You lost a tough battle to Memphis 59-56.

I mainly just remember it being covid times and being isolated throughout various times that year.

You won the 2022 MWC title against Wyoming, but then lost to Memphis again at March madness. Is Memphis one of those schools that you won´t ever forget?

Honestly I didn’t play much haha so not really.

How did head coach Leon Rice groom and prepare you best for a pro career?

I’m very happy for the opportunity I was given at Boise State. I learned a lot and it made me a better man. Extremely thankful for the struggles and lessons I learned over there. Don’t think I’d be me without that time there.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Mladen Armas?

Haha at Boise he’d crush me with his strength for sure. I think I got a bit stronger, I’d be curious who’d win now.

Who were the few toughest player that you ever faced that reached the NBA or Euroleague

Daeqwon Plowden

Please name your NBA, Euro and Spanish Mount Rushmore (4 best players of all-time)

LeBron, Jordan, Wilt, Steph

Who is your GOAT?

LeBron

Thanks Luke for the chat.