pic credit; Unicaja Malaga

Chase Audige (193-G-1999, college: Northwestern, agency: Octagon Europe) is a 26 year old 193cm guard from Pennsylvania playing his third pro season and first with Unicaja Malaga (ACB) after starting the season with KK Bosna Meridianbet Sarajevo (Bosnia-Division I). Last season he played with Filou Oostende averaging 14.8ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.1apg, SPG-1 (2.2), FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 79.3%; in the BCL and in the BNXT League averaged 12.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.8apg, SPG-5 (1.8), FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 72.8%. He played his rookie season with the Capital City Go-Go (NBA G League) averaging 4.3ppg, 1.9rpg, and also played with the Windy City Bulls (NBA G League) averaging 5.7ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 50.0%. He began his basketball career at The Hill School and then played a season at the College Of William And Mary and then played 3 seasons at Northwestern University (NCAA) playing 82 games and as a senior averaged 14.1ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.9apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 83.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions league game against Alba Berlin.

Thanks Chase for talking to germanhoops.com. After starting the season with KK Bosna Meridianbet Sarajevo (Bosnia-Division I), you then moved to Unicaja Malaga (Spain-Liga ACB). What of an experience has it been? The ACB is one of the top leagues in Europe. How have you come to terms with the adjustment having played in Belgium and Bosnia?

The overall experience has been a blessing and has challenged me while also allowing me to grow in many different aspects. The adjustment coming from Belgium and Bosnia has been difficult at times especially transferring mid season to a winning and stacked team as Unicaja. I embraced a different role and the standard that Malaga has as an organization.

The team is fighting for a playoff spot and also for a title in the BCL. The team has a lot of experience, but how has your experience having won the double last year in Belgium helped the team having another guy who has winning traits?

I believe that my experience being on a winning team in Belgium and also coming from a successful early season in Bosnia has helped my adjustment a ton. I have been in winning cultures all my career even throughout high school and my last year in college. I understand the sacrifice and team-first environment that has to be prioritized everyday. Oostende was a team that had won 13 straight championships before I even got there. It was very similar in the sense that everyone was on the same page to win and there was also a target on our back every game because of the success the team had earned through the years. Every game mattered and no team we played against was ever overlooked or underestimated. So winning the cup and the championship was almost expected in Oostende, in the same way competing and winning championships is expected here in Malaga.

The team is stacked and your minutes were shaved in half to what you were seeing in Bosnia. How have you come to terms with less minutes and what exactly is your role on the team?

I understood the environment I was coming to before I signed here in Malaga so the cut in minutes and opportunity wasn’t a surprise. Coach Ibon explained the role he wanted me to have was a guy who can be a spark and impact the game through my defense being able to guard 1-3 and switch onto bigger 4s if need be. Also be able to play within his system offensively and understand that every game will be a different person to step up offensively but I just have to stay prepared and ready for when my moments come. It has for sure been an adjustment because I’m coming from teams who signed me and expected me to be the main offensive threat or one of the top options. Coming here has been a much different role and expectation but I know when I get on the court my job is to keep things simple in being the best defender on the court and being efficient as possible in my offensive opportunities with letting the game come to me.

You have always been an outstanding defender, but also a versatile offensive player. Would you
classify yourself as a 2-way player now at this stage of your career?

Yes. I would definitely describe myself as a two way player. I have proved my offensive ability at the pro level through my play in Belgium, team Jamaica, and Bosnia with being expected to lead teams with the ball in my hands. I have been able to lead those teams in winning ways at all those different levels. My role here isn’t to be a main offensive weapon but when opportunities come to self create or create for others through pick n roll or Iso I am capable to do that effectively. However, I will always hang my hat on the defensive end being an elite defender and creating havoc with deflections, steals, and on ball defense.

Justin Cobbs like yourself hasn´t been on the team very long. He is a veteran and has played in top leagues overseas for more than a decade. How is your relationship with him and do you try to pick up certain things on the court from his vast experience?

Justin is a great player and has been a great teammate and friend for me. He along with multiple others on the team have really been open with me and taught me many things to help improve my game and overall life on and off the court. Guys like James Webb III and Augustin Rubit have been instrumental for me navigating, adjusting to the team, style of play, and with many things off the court as well. Kendrick Perry has been awesome since I first got here as well with welcoming me to the team and lifestyle and always being a great resource and someone who I can always lean on. Chris Duarte as well has been a great sparring partner in practices with helping each other get better through live play and always trying to help fine tune each other’s games and smack talk.

In January you were the hero in a 76-70 win over Valencia scoring 20 points. Despite your mom dying 2 days before, you played that game. What were you feeling inside when the buzzer sounded?

That game and those couple days were very intense for me and there were so many feelings that I really can’t even put into words.. It was and still is very tough on me everyday having to live with the struggles of losing both of my parents so abruptly. Honestly, basketball was the last thing on my mind that day and as I stated in my interview after that game I give all praise and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ for keeping me and my family strong through these very tough times. There’s not a day or hour that goes by that I don’t think about my parents and I’m grateful to the team and teammates I have here in Malaga who have supported me.

You began the season with KK Bosna Meridianbet Sarajevo (Bosnia-Division I). You had really strong gamesin the Fiba Europe Cup. What positives could you take with you for your time there?

Bosna was a great opportunity for me and I’m super glad for their success that they have had even after I left with them making the top 8 in ABA league and also the playoffs in FIBA Europe Cup.Bosna allowed me to showcase my ability on a great stage while being able to play winning basketball. I have a lot of respect for the culture and love of basketball the people in Bosnia and the Balkan area have and I wish them good health and many more wins until the end of the season.

Last season you played with Filou Oostende (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 10.6ppg, 1.6rpg, SPG-3 (1.5), FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 30.4%, FT: 87.8%; and in the Basketball Champions League averaged 14.8ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.1apg, SPG-1 (2.2), FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 79.3%; and in the BNXT League averaged 12.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.8apg, SPG-5 (1.8), FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 72.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas for the first time where you knew that you were far away from home?

I came to Belgium with a mission to prove myself as a player and professional. I didn’t even know where Belgium was on the map before I came over to Europe. But I am extremely grateful for the opportunity Ooostende gave me to showcase my overall abilities in Champions League and being able to win the Belgium League as well. I know the type of player I am and the potential player that I can become. My wake up call was the moment I landed in Belgium on August 5th 2024 and it was time to hoop and get better.

In Belgium you won the double. What do you remember being so special about that team?

The team and coaching staff never underestimated any opponent no matter what team we played. There was a humble dominance there in Oostende because there was no cockiness from the past years of championships. Every game was important and we came to work everyday from the start of preseason to the final championship game. Preseason we were running miles in the woods at 6 am multiple times a week and had two practices a day for the entire season. We definitely earned those championships from the work the whole team put in everyday.

After playing NBA Summer League with the Chicago Bulls in 2023, you then played your rookie season with the Capital City Go-Go (NBA G League) averaging 4.3ppg, 1.9rpg, and played also at Windy City Bulls (NBA G League) averaging 5.7ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 50.0%. How tough was your rookie season. What did you learn about that first pro experience?

My rookie year was a learning experience and adjustment coming from college for sure. I had to learn what it means to be a pro and what it takes to become a player of value on whatever team I was on. I had to develop a routine on and off the court that allowed me the best success. I had a lot of ups and downs my first year mentalland physically. Multiple game stretches with DNPs and also good moments like great summer league games and G league performances. I also learned so much from my training camp experience with the wizards and having guys like Anthony Gill and Taj Gibson take me under their wing and help me through trying to navigate the NBA atmosphere. Also a lot of growth and learning from guarding guys like Jordan Poole, Tyus Jones, and Kyle Kuzma everyday and trying to prove myself and earn value through my abilities.

How tough is it in general to be able to show your game and be spotted in the G-League when every is playing to be noticed? You had some really good teammates with Buter, Diallo, Dotson and Baldwin. What was your focus that season with your game development?

It is very tough and it takes a lot of mental determination and patience. Also you must develop a dog mentality to be
able to really lock in on what you have to do to find a niche and show yourself to be the most valuable to your G league team and whatever NBA teams are watching. Some of those guys you mentioned really lead the way with showing how you earn NBA opportunities and the way you need to carry yourself on and off the court to put yourself in the best position. I’m still very great friends with Devon Dotson and while I was in DC me and Jared Butler spent a good amount of time together either going to church, talking about our faith or just locker room talk and banter. My focus was to get better in every way possible and learn the NBA game and what it takes to be on a roster. A lot of the success in the G league depends on situation and opportunity but I am grateful for what my first year there taught me.

You were teammates for a short time at Windy City with NBA veteran Derreck Favors. What was it like being teammates with him? Did he tell any meaningful NBA stories?

Derrick Favors was an amazing guy and teammate to me. He was a quiet presence when I got to the team but had so much knowledge to give whenever you talked to him. He was the locker next to me so we talked a good amount about a lot of basketball related things. It was very interesting hearing his perspective of his career being a number 3 pick the draft to having a 13 year NBA career. He told me the things he focused on every season to be able to bring value and sign multiple contracts and also about his stories of playing against guys like Kobe.

You began your NCAA career at College of William & Mary (NCAA) averaging 9.6ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.4apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 67.7% What kind of an experience was that season? You had some memorable games against Drexel, Towson and St Joseph´s. What was your fondest moment there?

My fondest moments at W&M was definitely hanging out with teammates and the games my mom came to which were the St. Josephs game where I had 20 for the first time in College and the Drexel game where I had my first double double

You played 3 seasons at Northwestern University (NCAA) averaging 12.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 54.4%, 9.8ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.9apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 40.1%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 71.7% and 14.1ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.9apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 83.2%. You reached March Madness in 2023. You had great games against Boise State and UCLA. What will you always remember most from that experience?

My best memories from Northwestern was how we built the team from being the last in the big ten my first year to finishing second in the big ten my last year (first was Purdue who was Number 1 in the country). That last year I had there was the best year in school history with beating #1 Purdue at home and having the court stormed and making it to the tournament and losing a very tough game against UCLA. The relationships and people I met there are very special to me and some will be lifelong connections. There too much to name from what I will remember from my experience but I am extremely grateful for Northwestern and super proud to be a Northwestern Alumni. Go Cats!

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

Coach Collins helped me with giving me the freedom to learn and make mistakes. He held me
accountable and allowed me to grow as a player and person through hard times and see it through to get to the great moments we had as a team. Very grateful for Coach Collins and his whole staff for the way they took me in and believed in me.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Boo Buie?

We honestly didn’t play one on one that much during our time there. We both are super competitive and have a massive chip on our shoulder as players because we both have been overlooked many times and I feel like that´s what made us a great backcourt. Boo is a great friend and he is my brother for life. He has a great family and support as well that I have a ton of respect and love for. But I would definitely win in 1 on 1 for sure lol. If you ask him though he would probably take himself in that battle but I wouldn’t expect it to be any different because we both feel like we can and should beat anyone in 1 on 1.

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

Too many to name one honestly. A lot of really good players I have matched up with like the Murray twins, Jaime Jacquez, Aaron Wiggins, Jaden Ivey, Ayo Dosumnu. I played with guys like Pat Spencer, Pete Nance, Brooks Barnhizer. There are many that played in the big ten that are having great NBA careers and also played with and against many great players who are having awesome European careers as well.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Lol I don’t think I can do that I’ve had way too many talented dudes to only name 5

Who is your GOAT?

Kobe Bryant

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

No I haven’t seen it

Thanks Chase for the chat.