Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye (193-G-1996, college: Bradley) is a 29 year old 196cm guard that has the British/French citizenship and played his third season with UMFN Njardvik (Iceland-Subway League) averaging 24,2, 5,7rpg and 4,4apg. He also has experience having played in countries like Italy, France, Holland and Austria. He began his basketball career at the Bristol Flyers and then played at Bradley University (NCAA) and played a total of 129 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

You played your third season with UMFN Njardvik (Iceland-Subway League). Has Iceland become like a second home for you?

Playing at Njarkvik has been really nice yes. We’re kept the main core for my time here for been nice with the familiarity and I get along really well with my teammates, coaching staff and those working within the club.

Has the beauty of Iceland also played a role in you being in Iceland 3 years now or is it more the basketball that has kept you?

A combination of the two. I think coming here being part of a team that believes in me and gives me confidence as well as the peacefulness of playing here. And also being a short flight away from back home in London.

The nature is amazing there. What has been your coolest experience off the court?

I think the coolest experience is seeing the northern lights. Sometimes I will come out of practice and look up in the sky and you see these lights just dancing in the sky. It’s pretty remarkable. The waterfalls and lagoons out here are pretty nice too.

You won titles in Holland and Austria, but so far nothing in Iceland. How tough have the last years been for you in terms of being that ultimate competitor?

It’s been a little frustrating but I also know Rome wasn’t built in one day. When you win you want to keep winning, but we begin playoffs here in April so this will be when the fun part begins and I’ll have a chance to win another title.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 193cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I’ve always tried to model my game after Dwyane Wade, but the current player right now in the NBA I would say is Jalen Brunson. We’re tough, physical guards that can get to the rim, score in the mid range as well as 3. Whilst also getting team mates involved and making winning plays. He has a little bit more point guard responsibilities as I play a little more off the ball and we play a similar style

You have become an explosive scorer in Iceland. Would you classify as a 3 level scorer?

I would say I am a 3 level scorer, yes. I can get to the rim, score in the mid range as well as the 3. But it’s more about taking what the defense gives you. Taking your time, reading the defense and just trying to punish the different things they try to do to stop me.

You also fill the stat sheet really well. How valuable is versatility in your game?

Like I said before I’ve played different roles as a professional so ultimately it’s just about being the best version of myself, and doing whatever to give us the best chance to win. Whether that’s score, rebound or find guys and I just try to do that to the best of my abilities.

Talk about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I’m a physical, tough defender. I can switch 1-4 and have a lot of versatility in whatever is needed from me.

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

Just reading the game and keeping my reads simple is what I’m constantly working on the most. This helps me be consistent, become more efficient and cut down on turnovers.

You played the 2022-2023 season with Basket Swans Gmunden (Austria-BSL) averaging 11.4ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 69.7%. You won an incredible 3 titles. What was so special about that team?

We just clicked from preseason. Everyone was committed to the goal of winning and we were able to all sacrifice parts of our game to make the team better. We got along on and off the court and I’m still in contact with a lot of the guys from the team today. Winning 3 titles there isn’t an easy task and our names will be in history there forever.

You split the 2021-2022 season with Old Wild West Udine (Italy-Serie A2) averaging 10.0ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.3apg, in Nov.’21 moved to Benacquista Assicurazioni Latina Basket (Italy-Serie A2) averaging 9.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 3.3apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 13.3%, FT: 72.7%v, in Feb.’22 signed at Heroes Den Bosch (Holland-DBL) averaging 5.2ppg, 1.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 29.2%, 3PT: 45.5%, FT: 67.6%; How tough was this season? You moved around a lot but in the end won a chip with Den Bosch. What did you learn about that season?

Moving around is never easy, especially in season. Learning new plays, new team mates, different coaching philosophies, new cities and environment. But it taught me to embrace new challenges and control the controllable. I realized that I was meant to finish that season at Den Bosch because I was able to provide things that the team was missing and I was able to do my part and have an impact in our playoff run ultimately winning it all in a do or die game 5 in the finals.

You played the 2020-2021 season with Union Poitiers Basket 86 (France-ProB) averaging 9.4ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 29.5%, FT: 64.6%. You played in the Italian second division and also in France. How would you compare both leagues? Would you agree that the Italian second league is a tad better in skill level?

I think both leagues are better than people would expect both being 2nd leagues. The Italian league because of the rules of just 2 foreigners per team. I believe the quality of the foreigners were better in Italy and it’s very physical whereas the French league would be more up and down and a lot more athletic. But overall I would say the skill level was about the same in both.

After playing at Bradley (NCAA) for 4 years you came back and played at Bergamo Basket (Italy-Serie A2) averaging 14.9ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.1apg, FGP: 41.0%, 3PT: 24.3%, FT: 82.4%. It was your first time in Europe playing outside the UK. What do you remember being your wake up call to being in Italy where you knew that you were far away from home?

I think in the preseason when I realized, wait this is really my job. It was my first professional contract, everything was new. New teammates, new city. My coach used to only coach in Italian so the assistant used to translate for me and my American teammate. And just figuring it all out alone as I was beginning to live out my dream of being a professional basketball player.

You played at Bradley University (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 129 games. How vital was getting this NCAA experience then? How did it help your game? Now there is a massive influx of players from Europe going the NCAA route.

It helped me transition from a boy to a man. It was always a dream of mine to play NCAA College basketball and to go straight to a good mid-major program like Bradley straight from the UK, allowed me the opportunity to just grow and develop on a daily basis preparing me to be the player I am today. Yeah nowadays with the whole NIL movement lots of European players are taking the NCAA route and I don’t blame them. ( I wish it was around when I played) But the experience of playing in historic college arenas, playing in hostile atmospheres and on ESPN is second to none and I think all young players should get to experience that at some point in their lifetime.

What will you always remember from the March madness experience in 2019? You played against Michigan State and scored 14 points, but lost. What will you always remember from that game?

I just remember how loud the roar was from the crowd of 15,000 people when we came out during player announcements. When I looked out to the crowd I just saw a sea of red from our fans in full support and then you also have Reggie Miller and Kevin Harlan calling my game. It was kind of like I was living in a dream. It was my senior year so I knew this was my final go around and I had to make the game count and felt like we were destined to go on a Cinderella run but we came up just short in the end to a good Michigan State team.

How did head coach Brian Wardle prepare you best for a professional career?

Wardle’s a tough, demanding coach but he knows what he’s talking about and what he’s doing. He made sure everyday I was able to be comfortable being uncomfortable. That I could handle adversity and ultimately overcome it. But also let me know the ins & outs of what it is to be not just a professional but a good professional. My 4 years under him developed me to the point when I left, I knew I was ready.

Who won a 1-1 in practice back in the day you or JoJo Mcglaston?

Me, every time. I’m a competitor, I hate losing and I was always able to get into his head and find a way to win.

Before going to Bradley you spent some years with the Bristol Academy Flyers (BBL). How vital were these years and did you have a special mentor at that time?

My time at Bristol was my first experience living away from home and playing Men’s basketball. It was a massive change for me at 16 years and forced a lot of growing up quickly. But it was what I believe to have been the first major step I took in chasing my dream to become a professional basketball player. My special mentor during that time who I’m lucky to still have in my life today as a mentor and a friend would be my coach Andreas Kapoulas. He played a big part in me going to Bristol as well as giving me an opportunity to show what I could do against the best players in the best league we had in the UK. And just helping me everyday grow into the best player and best man that I could be.

You have had much experience with the UK youth national teams and men´s teams. What was your coolest experience so far wearing the British jersey?

I would say the coolest experience would be going to Eurobasket in 2022 with the senior Men’s. Getting to represent your country in a major European tournament playing against a bunch of NBA/Euroleague players in such a competitive environment where everyone wants to win.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I would say Malcolm Brogdon, We played against him and Virginia my freshman year at the ESPN Charleson Classic. He was a senior at the time and I realized I had a long way to go to be one of the top players in the NCAA ranks. He entered the draft at the end of the season and I think he ended up at the Bucks winning rookie of the year too.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Best 5 teammates of all time, Myles Hesson, Gabe Olaseni, Trevor Lacey, Jeffery Carroll, Akwasi Yeboah

Please list your NBA and UK Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?

NBA Mount Rushmore – Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Magic Johnson

UK Mount Rushmore – Luol Deng, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Myles Hesson, Steve Bucknell

Who is your GOAT?

Dwyane Wade

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

Yes I watched, sequels are never as good as the original but Coming to America 2 wasn’t that bad so I’m not mad at it. Just not as good as the original.

Thanks Dwayne for the chat.