Chris Barton (190-G-1996, college: Niagara) is a 29 year old 190cm guard from Michigan who played his fifth professional season and first with Delta Gurjaani (Georgia-Superleague) averaging 21.2ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 75.7%. He has pro experience having played in the TBL in the States and overseas in countries like Finland, Luxemburg, Belgium, and Azerbaijan. He began his basketball career with Avondale High School and then played 4 seasons with Niagara University (NCAA) playing a total of 122 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

Your played your fifth pro season and in your fifth country. You have had to pay your dues in lower leagues but actually made it to a higher league in Belgium, but couldn´t show your total talent. Has your drive to get better and get back to a higher league risen since your experience in Belgium?

Yes, definitely! Belgium showed me how to be a complete professional and set a standard for me personally that I will always keep with me.

Your playing your first season with Delta Gurjaani (Georgia-Superleague) after playing 3 games in Luxemburg and putting up big stats as usual. How would you compare the Georgia league to other leagues that you have played in overseas in terms of competition and player level?

I’d say that the Georgian league is competitive, especially since you can have 3 Americans on the court at the same time. I would say that I wish players were able to be a bit more physical on the court because I feel like that creates quite a bit of separation from other leagues, as far as competitiveness.

The team began on a winning streak and since have lost. How tough has the season become?

Even though I’ve only been here for a few months. it seems like we’ve been on a rollercoaster of a season. I feel like it’s been a rough season because of the injuries that we suffered right after our winning streak. Those types of things are always difficult because you have no control over it.

Last season you played a few months with Sheki BK (Azerbaijan-ABL) averaging 20.8ppg, 6.0rpg, 4.0apg. What kind of an experience was that? What positives could you get from it?

It was a tough experience just because I dealt with a shoulder injury while there and of course tearing my achilles. When I was healthy everything was good though. A major positive that I gained while in Sheki was just being able to not be distracted by outside noise because Sheki is such a small town. I really focused on what’s important and got big into my faith while I was there.

In 2023-2024 you played with Amicale Steinsel (Luxembourg-LBBL) averaging 17.6ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.8apg, 1.9spg, 2FGP: 58.5%, 3FGP: 58.1%, FT: 84.0%, in Dec.’23 moved to Belfius Mons-Hainaut averaging 2.6ppg, 1.8rpg in the BNXT. It was your second time in Luxemburg. What have you learned to appreciate most about the country?

Luxembourg will forever be one of my favorite countries because of how beautiful it is, how friendly the people are, and some of the friendships I’ve built out there.

You finished in Belgium and averaged 7 minutes per game. Did you feel like you got a fair chance there? You had some good guards there like Kyle Catlin?

I feel like it was a tough situation just coming into the club halfway through the season and being expected to produce as soon as you get there without really knowing anyone. Nonetheless I’m expected to do my job at the best of my abilities. Kyle is an amazing player and an even better person. I wish we could’ve got a chance to play a bit more together, but everything happens for a reason.

In 2022-2023 you played with BBC Bascharage Hedgehogs (Luxembourg-Nationale 2) averaging 25.3ppg, 10.0rpg, 3.5apg, 3.6spg, 2FGP: 54.3%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 79.7%. Knowing that a guy like Alfonso Mckinnie also played in that league and reached the NBA give you hope for luck in higher leagues in the future?

I always knew, even back then, that I could play in higher leagues. That’s just the type of self confidence I’ve always had in myself. My coach at the time Daniel Brandao and me actually had numerous conversations about what it would take for me to reach the next level, so I give a lot of credit to him as well why I am where I am today, and will be.

How enjoyable was that season for you? What was your fondest moment that season?

That season was honestly fun when I look back on it. We had a young group, so we always had energy in practice and good vibes through the season. Also, I coached the 14u team which brought out my passion for coaching basketball as well.

You played your rookie season overseas with Hyvinkaan Ponteva (Finland-1st Division) averaging 28.6), RPG-4 (11.8), 4.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 71.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

Having to drive a manual car was definitely my wake up call being overseas. I can’t remember how many times I stalled in the middle of the road.

You reached the final in Finland. What was so special about the team? You were the only American on that team.

That team was unique because everyone played their role to the best of their abilities and when the team needed more from certain players, they stood up to the plate. I thoroughly enjoyed playing with that Hyvinkaa team.

From 2019-2021 you were in the states and toiled in the TBL with the Flint United) averaging11.8ppg, 4.6rpg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 47.1%, FT: 73.3%. How tough were these 2 years? Did you ever lose faith in the game?

The year that I played for Flint United was actually a positive process for me because I started off not getting a lot of minutes, but when I started to excel at my role I became the go to guy towards the end of the season. It taught me to fall in love with the process instead of the finish line. I could never lose faith in this game, I love it too much.

How tough was playing in the TBL where every guy is seemingly playing for their stats in order to be noticed. A few I have interviewed have reported they tried to play team basketball. How did you present your game in the TBL?

I’ve always been the type of player to make the correct basketball play, so I get the team basketball concept, but sometimes the correct basketball play is to call your own number.

You played at Niagara University (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 122 games. What kind of an experience was it for you? What kind of a player did you become there?

It was a great experience for me. Taught me a lot and helped me to mature not only as a basketball player, but as a person as well. I feel like I became a blue collar, lunch pail type of player player while I was there. My work ethic was never questioned. I felt in some ways like I was the Josh Hart of the team.

You never averaged more than 7,2ppg in a season in the NCAA. Did you have a special role at Niagara?

Most of my years at Niagara my role was more of a glue guy, that could do anything that the team needed on a specific night. Also, a primary defender as well.

You played many great games at Niagara like scoring 22 points against Monmouth or 14 points against Quinnipiac. What was your fondest moment on the court there?

My fondest memory was probably when my assistant coach Kareem Brown told me to hit the offensive glass a bit more and it led to me having a career high in rebounds that night.

How did head coach Chris Casey prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Casey gave me the opportunity to play this game at a high level and I’ll never take that for granted. He also brought in a great group of assistant coaches to help players develop. Mark Rybczyk was always the coach that pushed me to be better and got the most out of me on that court.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kahlil Dukes?

I would say Kahlil probably won the most of the 1 on 1 matchups, and probably would’ve shot a lot of free throws if we had a referee out there.

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

Deandre Bembary

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Kahlil Dukes, Marvin Prochet, Greg King, Dom Robb, Matt Scott

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson

Who is your Goat?

LeBron James

How do you rate the historical 83 points from Bam Adebayo? I´m sure the very least would have ever thought Bam could do that?

I would give him a pretty high rating just because getting fouled is a skill in today’s NBA and sometimes when people foul you that much it’s because they can’t guard you. It was definitely unexpected though because Bam has never even averaged 25 PPG.

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

I’m ashamed to say that I have seen the sequel. I think that all classics should be left alone because remaking them just puts a bad taste in people’s mouths.

Thanks Chris for the chat.