Malcolm Delpeche is a 23 year old 203cm forward that was born in Wilmington, Delaware, but also has the British citizenship and completed his second professional season with the WWW Baskets Muenster averaging 12,1ppg and 6,5rpg. He played at Bates (NCAA3) from 2013-2017 playing a total of 100 games. In his senior year at Bates, he played 24 games averaging 13.2ppg, 8.8rpg, 1.5apg, 3.1bpg, FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 63.1%. Last season as a rookie he played with BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 24 games averaging 13.9ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.2bpg, 2FGP: 51.7%, 3FGP: 37.5%, FT: 64.0%, in Mar.’18 moved to Bristol Academy Flyers (United Kingdom-BBL) playing 12 games averaging 6.2ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 54.5%, FT: 70.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com at the end of his season in Germany.

Malcolm thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I am currently in Grevenbroich at the home of my German ‘adoptive’ family. These guys have fully supported me since my Grevenbroich Elephant days and have traveled to almost all of my home games in Muenster this season. Paying them a visit and spending time with them is the least I can do. With our season ending just last week, at the moment, my basketball life has been really slow. I’m taking a short little break from basketball so I allow my body the necessary recovery and attack the training in the off-season with full force. 

Congrats on an amazing season with Munster. How long was the disappointment after being crushed in Leverkusen? Did the club realize that despite the loss, it was an amazing season and one where one can say the club overachieved a bit as the expectations weren’t that high to automatically move up to the Pro A in one season.I believe that I can speak for almost everyone on my team when I say that the disappointment of defeat was a generally short-lived experience. Obviously we’re competitors first, and hate to lose (especially given THE WAY we lost) but you’re exactly right in that we had an amazing season, overcame unlikely odds, beat expectations, and have nothing to be ashamed of. 

Munster played the Bayer Giants Leverkusen tough in the first game, but got destroyed in the last game. What were the main factors for the club not being able to give them more of a game at their arena? 

I think that the overwhelming success that Leverkusen was able to find in their home gym against us other was simply a result of their home court advantage and momentum that they carried from their first away game win against us. They were playing in front of hundreds of their own fans and shooting on the same hoops that they have all season. Add this to the energy and magic that the playoffs often brings out of players/fans and in this case I believe that it gave Leverkusen a certain edge that we, ourselves unfortunately were not able to take advantage of. 

Did the mental side and fatigue play bit of a role in the last game in Leverkusen? The season was long and then you had to face that never ending deep rotation of Leverkusen? 

I don’t believe that mental or physical fatigue played a role in our struggles against Leverkusen. Our amazing coaching staff and trainers have done an amazing job of keeping the team conditioned and fit for every game. Mentally our team was fully engaged and locked in for every game this season. Playing throughout the playoffs only made us dig deeper and brought the best out of everyone. Despite what the score of the last game might indicate, at the end of the day it really just came down to Leverkusen just playing consistently better, and capitalizing when it mattered most. I don’t believe our mental or physical fatigue from a lengthy season played that big of a effect in the outcome of these games. 

Munster was so close to reaching the finals. What will you always treasure most about having this great opportunity of winning the title? Can you describe the feeling of playing Leverkusen at home in a final game and how you felt? 

The thing that I will treasure the most about this great opportunity that we had was the community that came together behind us in support for our team’s success. At the beginning of the regular season, our home games at Halle Berg Fidel were not packed and we were only bringing in probably 1500 fans per games. Fast-forward to our championship playoff series, we were having our 5th or 6th consecutive sell-out game at home. Not only this, but in our away game at Leverkusen we had around 200-300 Muenster fans who traveled with us to the final championship playoff game. This type of support is something that shouldn’t be taken for granted, and something that I love and appreciate about the Muenster community. Playing in Leverkusen for that final championship game was probably the closest thing to a Euroleague Basketball game in my eyes. The energy from the fans (from BOTH Leverkusen and Muenster) created an atmosphere that I’ve never experienced in my athletic career. Warming up in that gym and listening to our Munster fans go back in forth with the Leverkusen fans gave me an unbelievable rush. I even told one of my teammates, ‘this is what I imagine what war sounds like.’ 

Let’s talk about the team’s season. Would it be fair to say that Munster had a fairytale season or do you see it as having a season where you expected to have this much success? 

I think that our season can definitely be considered a ‘fairytale season’, but I’m choosing these words very carefully as I say them. I call our season a fairytale not in the sense that it was all luck or anything, but rather in the sense that seasons like the one we’ve had given our circumstances, are extremely rare. The most important circumstance being, this was our FIRST season in the Pro B league. We were not supposed to nor expected to be here. Some teams have been in the Pro B league for years, or have invested a lot of money into players, gyms, and coaches in hopes for finally making it to the championship. One would think that the new underdogs in the league would have to wait their turn and wait a couple seasons before making it to the Pro B Playoff Championships. If you look at how our season initially started you would most definitely have thought that we would have to wait a couple of seasons before we would eventually find success. But eventually we righted our ship and found the victories that we knew were attainable. Even though no one else believed in us, we believed in ourselves and we knew what we were capable of. Not sure if I or anyone expected us to go as far as we did, but at the same time it not something that we thought was crazy or unbelievable either. We had all the tools, we just had to make it work. 

The team began slow losing five of it’s first seven games. What were the main reasons for the bad start? Was it the usual blab la that the roles and chemistry weren’t there yet? 

I believe that you’re exactly right in that, our chemistry just wasn’t there yet. We still had to get over the normal issues of learning to trust each other, getting used to each others playing styles, and for the new imports (me included) getting used to playing under this new system in Muenster. Adding the fact that we weren’t where we should of been because of some injuries in the pre season and I think it resulted in the type start of season that you saw from us. 

But the club then made an amazing turnaround winning the last 14 of 15 regular season games. What adjustments were made and what was the secret to the team success?

I think ultimately we just got fed up with losing. A lot of our games were close or we were winning up until the 3rd quarter. But then we ruining our lead and letting the game slip away. Something clicked for us and we never looked back. 

The team did a good job getting by Erfurt and Munich before meeting Schwenningen. When was the point that the club believed that they could reach the Pro B final?

I believed that after our first win against Schwenningen we finally saw the championship as a real possibility. But up until that win we were really just taking these games, one game at a time and never looking beyond the game in front of us.

How important were the characters of the players for the success? Was this one of those season’s where you felt each guy played for the other to gain success? 

The character of each teammate here was nothing short of critical for the success we had this season. Everyone sacrificed, everyone stepped up when we needed, and everyone did whatever it took. This was definitely one of the seasons where I felt that everyone played for each other, there were no selfish characters on our team. 

Would it be fair to say that Munster was a team that didn’t have the most talent, but the most heart in the Pro B? 

No, I wouldn’t say that all. I actually believe that we were definitely a talented team and it was our heart that allowed us to have the successful season that we’ve had. 

What was most special about strapping on the jersey of Munster? What did you cherish most about having the opportunity to play for this organization? 

The most special part about playing for Muenster was playing in Halle Berg Fidel with the amazing fan support that we experienced every game. Win or lose, our fans never stopped supporting us. Their support made or successful season that much more meaningful. The thing, i’ll cherish the most about having the opportunity to play for this Muenster organization would be the support I’ve had from my German Family who have been unbelievably supportive of me and have come to almost all of my games this season. Daniel Dahmen, Nicola Dahmen, Feli Dahmen, and Simon Dahmen are an amazing family! 

I can imagine the team season highlight was the game three win against Schwenningen or was there another game that stands out more? 

Yes this Game 3 win against Schwennigen was crazy for us! That’s when it finally hit us, that we were going to the championship! 

Let’s talk about your teammates. How vital was the play of point guard Jo Jo Cooper for the success? How impressed were you with his immense leadership qualities as a rookie in Germany?

Jojo had an unbelievable rookie season, and his role nothing short of critical for our team’s success this past season. Jojo instantly became a leader on our team and his impact could be felt on both ends of the floor as well as on and off the court. To do all that and have that impact as a rookie is admirable and extremely impressive. 

How vital was it for your game having another big guy like Kai Haenig around. How important was his presence on and off the court for your development?

Kai Haenig was great teammate to have as a sparring partner. He is by far is the hardest guy to play against on both ends of the floor because he’s so big and unbelievably strong. There’s no other player like that in the Pro B League and playing against Kai every day at practice definitely made facing match ups in the real game a lot easier. He makes me have to think outside of the box offensively as well because obviously trying to back him down is something that isn’t going to be easy to accomplish. Kai has also given countless tips and criticisms throughout our games and off the court that has helped me improve my game. 

The team had many Germans, but how key was experienced player Stefan Wess? What special feature did he bring to the table that wasn’t seen from anyone else on the court? 

Wessi is a pure scorer, when he’s hot he’s almost impossible to guard. We saw a prime example of this in the first quarter of our championship game against Leverkusen. A special feature that Wessi has is his upmost confidence in his shot. There aren’t a lot of shots that he’s uncomfortable taking and his height and length make his shots unstoppable at times.

The club had many many talented Germans on the squad. Which player do you feel made the biggest strides on the court this season?

I think that Jan Konig made huge strides this season on the court. He’s an offensive super weapon and I believe that he will only get better after getting one year in the Pro B in Muenster under his belt. 

How did you come to appreciate the presence of head coach Phillip Kappenstein the most ?What do you feel was his absolute biggest quality that allowed the team to have the success in the Pro B coming from the Regionalliga?

First off before I continue I’d like to say that Coach Phillip is a front runner for Coach of the Year in the Pro B. Something that I’ve appreciated about Coach Philip has been his poise as we’ve approached every game. I’ve never seen the man rattled, or overanalyze any team, or stress out in a counter-productive fashion. I think the biggest quality that he has that has helped push the team to the success that we’ve found this season has been his diligence. Coach Phillip and the coaching staff do an amazing job breaking down every team that we played as well as our own games. Come game time, we’re fully prepared and have all the tools we need to beat and compete against every team we face. This diligence ultimately plays a part in his poise that he’s demonstrated this whole season because at the end of the day he knows that he’s prepared us and has given us everything that need to compete. 

Let’s talk about your game? You averaged 12,1ppg and 6,5rpg in 25 minutes per game. How content were you with your game this season? 

I’m happy for the most part especially given my impact in the overall success of our team this season. But I also know that I could contribute more as far as what shows up in the statistics paper. 

How do you feel were you able to develop your game further in an exciting winning culture like Munster this season?

I think that playing with Muenster made me develop my game in a way where I needed to look for a way to move without the ball in order to be effective. In playing for Grevenbroich last year a lot of my contributions were predicated on getting more touches and FGA, but playing here in Muenster was a little bit different. We have a lot of scorers and options on this team so some of the things that I needed to added to my game was being more aggressive in chasing rebounds, looking to make moves off the ball, and looking to make the right reads in the offense. 

What was your personal season highlight with your game? I would imagine your 23 and 13 effort in the fascinating 86-83 victory in game three against Schwenningen. 

Yes, that 23 and 13 performance would definitely be a personal highlight for me. 

What is the next step for you? Could you imagine remaining in Munster or would you consider going to a new country and culture? 

I could definitely see myself doing either of the options. I’ve really enjoyed my season playing for Muenster both on and off the court and see myself potentially coming back here. We will see what the summer will bring. 

On what things will you continue to work on in the lab this summer as you continue to improve as a player?

I will definitely need to focus on developing a consistent short range and mid range jump shot. As well as a 3pt shot so I can also help spread the floor and diversify my attack. I would also need to work on being able to score more consistently with my back to the basket. 

Please list your all-time best starting five of teammates 

Malcolm Delpeche Jojo Cooper Jan Koenig Marco Porcher Stefan Wess 

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Pro B this season?

The toughest player that I’ve battled consistently with this season in Pro B has been Kai Hannig from WWU Baskets 

The toughest player that I’ve battled all season would probably be The toughest player that I’ve battled with all season would probably be Kai Hannig from WWU Baskets 

What was your reaction when you heard that Lebron James named himself the greatest of all-time? 

I think it might of been a bad move to publicly name himself the ‘GOAT’ but at the same time I totally agree with his statement. 

Charles Barkley proclaimed that Tom Brady Is more of a GOAT than Michael Jordan. Do you share his opinion?

I think that they’re both GOATs in their own rights and aren’t really comparable because they play two totally different sports and have had two totally different effects on their respective sports. 

What was the last movie that you saw? 

The last movie that I’ve seen was Avengers Endgame.

Thanks Malcolm for the chat.

Jordan Williams is a 23 year old 203cm forward from England that completed his second season in Germany playing with the Giessen 46ers II (Germany-ProB) playing 18 games averaging 9.1ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 42.0% after starting the season with the Surrey Scorchers (BBL) playing 9 games averaging 11.0ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.9apg, 2FGP: 50.6%, FT: 37.9%. He also has gained experience in Belgium and Germany with the Eisbaren (Regionalliga). He spoke to germanhoops.com after his season in Germany with Giessen

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Jordan Williams in Giessen in 2019 after a loss to the wiha Panthers

Thanks Jordan for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how have you digested the end of your season?

I’m back in the UK for the moment. Just getting back on the court and started my workouts to get ready for the upcoming season. I hoped we could have won the pro B but it didn’t work out that way but we have a lot of positives to take away from the season.

Congrats on a marvelous season with Giessen. You had a tough loss against the wiha Panthers Schwenningen. If someone had told you before the series that you would lose both games at home what would you have thought?

Since I joined in November we haven’t lost at home and we played extremely well at home but Schwenningen has a great team and was able to get two Crucial wins.

The wiha Panthers rebounded the ball well and in game three others guys helped step up to secure the win. Both teams fought hard. Did they maybe want it a bit more at the end?

Throughout the series the main goal was to out rebound them and take away their main scorers but in the final game other guys stepped up and hit some big shots to secure the win. 

Let’s talk about the Giessen season. The team lost seven of it’s first nine games, but then turned it around winning 12 of 13 games. You came in December and saw the team turning their season around. What were the main reasons for the huge turnaround?

Since I joined in end of November we only ended up loosing 1 game away to Leverkusen. Each and every day we was invested and came to play hard everyday
As a team it wasn’t because of any individual, we played team basketball sharing the ball and not relying on just one or two individuals.

The team had some serious memorable games like the 76-75 win against Orange Academy, 88-86 win against Wurzburg or the 70-69 victory over the Scanplus Baskets. What do you feel was your most memorable moment with this team?

My most memorable moment with the team was the win over Orange Academy with the game winner on the buzzer. 

Let’s talk about your teammates. How much of a pleasure was it being teammates with ex German national player Johannes Lischka. You probably heard of his basketball story. What did you appreciate most about him and what did you learn from him?

Playing with Johannes was a pleasure, it would have to be his professionalism everyday he was in the gym before everyone else and has a great work ethic. I learned a few things on court he plays hard which made myself play harder and just how much of an impact he has on games and also what it takes to be a professional.

The power forward position was stocked with many guys like Lischka, Tim Uhlemann and Thomas Tshikaya. What kind of a presence did the French player give the team that none of the other players did?

Thomas was a close friend of mine on the team. No matter what Thomas always came to play hard every day even if it was shoot around in the mornings he would practice like it was the game with made me raise my level of play.

How important was highly talented German point guard Bjarne Kraushaar for your success on the court? How good is his court vision and IQ for a 19 year old?

Bjarne is super talented, he isn’t one of the fastest or athletic guys on the floor but his IQ and court vision for a 19 year old is rare and to see a young guy control the tempo of the game and not force a lot of situations. Also he knows how to find guys in right positions.

There were many young talented Germans on the court like Okpara, Pjanic, Uhlemann and Koepple. Which player do you feel made the biggest strides with their game this season?

I can’t name just one. Each of them stepped up this season and since November matured immensely as players. Pjanic has made a transition into the BBL squad and you can see what sort of talent he is and also the other young guys made big shots played consistent and improved throughout the season.

Let’s talk about your game? You’re a 203cm forward from Great Britain. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would fit the best?

I watch a lot of Julius Randle who is left handed and plays aggressive.

You’re a guy that could be described as a walking bucket like Bill Borekambi of Schwenningen. Do you tend to watch and follow a guy like Borekambi more mainly because he is also a walking bucket?

Haha I wouldn’t call myself a walking bucket. Borekambi is in a system where he plays a lot of minutes and the ball is in his hands a lot. His games is built a little different to mine as he’s very active with how he plays and gets a lot of points by just second attempts.

Did you always have the abilities to score in bunches or has that been something that you have continued to develop further as you have your game?

I still have a lot to learn about scoring the basketball. I came to the game late. I started at 16 so everyday I’m still trying to become a better versatile scorer wheather that be from outside or inside. 

You don’t shoot many three’s. Is this something that you will try to incorporate into your game and what are other area’s in your game that you are continuing to work on?

The system I was in didn’t really allow me to shoot 3s as my coach wanted me inside because of my physicality, but definitely something I need to work on and show that’s something I can do which will allow me to become an all rounded player.

What is the next step for you? You had a very productive Pro B season. Will you look for new opportunities in Germany or other countries or are you homesick to England and would prefer to return home?

I’m not to sure yet, its still pretty early. I like Germany a lot. I also have some offers in other countries but I’ll sit down with my agent and see what the best situation will be for next season.

You started the season with the Surrey Scorchers (BBL) playing 9 games averaging 11.0ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.9apg. After playing there for two seasons prior to this season why did you leave after a few months?

My goal has always been to play overseas and the opportunity presented itself so I couldn’t say no.

How would you compare the BBL in England to the Pro B in Germany? How much more skilled are the players in the BBL and how much better is the play?

The BBL in the U.K. I would say is a lot more athletic. Your allowed 3 Americans with so in that sense it’s very competitive on the guard spots. Germany is a lot more about structure and team basketball not as athletic but makes up in IQ.

Last season you had your first experience in Germany with BG Eisbaeren (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 4 games averaging 13.0ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.3apg. It was a short experience. How did you like the first time in Germany and why was this stay so short?

For me going from the BBL in the U.K to Regionalliga was to try and get into a pro b/a team and some unforeseen circumstances the best move to go back to the UK and finish the season in the BBL.

With Surrey you played with very talented American Tony Hicks who is dominating the German Pro A this season. How talented is this guy and could you see him playing in the German BBL and be a guy who can make an impact?

I’ve spoken with Tony throughout the season and he’s very talented and could definitely see him playing BBL. He has a natural ability to score the basketball.

How disappointed were you this season that you couldn’t compete against former teammate Elias Desport who played in the German Pro B this season with Schwelm. Is he a guy that you followed this season?

I spoke also with him throughout the season. We both thought we would play each other first round of playoffs but it didn’t work out that way. I know a lot of guys that I saw that I didn’t know played in the Pro B.

How much of a pleasure was it being teammates with American Alex Owumi who was a top player in the British BBL for years. He came out with a very interesting book. Was he like a type of role model for you and what did you appreciate most about him on and off the court?

Myself and Alex had a lot of conversations throughout the season and being able to pick his brain and listen to some of the situations and life lessons was amazing. Every team I have been on I have always had a older guy that may see things that I don’t see that helps my game or helps me be a better professional and Alex was one of them.

Your from England but played a few years in Belgium as a youngster. What kind of experience was this for you and why did you choose to go this route?

Being in Belgium is what made me the player I am today. I was lucky to have a great coach that wanted me to succeed everyday and gave me his time. It also taught me how to look after myself. I was young in a different country and had to look after myself. As I said before I started basketball late and didn’t really know about the American route and ended up in Oostende.

Have you ever wondered how your career might have gone and where you would be today had you played college ball in the states?

I think about that everyday it’s too late now but I would have seen myself in a D1 school for sure.

Who was the toughest player you ever battled on any court anywhere that made it to the NBA?

I’ve played on the court with a few NBA guys but one that I was able to see day in day out would have to be Malik Beasley.

If you had to construct your very own NBA mount Rushmore which 4 heads would you pick?

Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Magic Johnson, Shaq 

What is your personal opinion about the never ending debate of who is the greatest between Michael Jordan and Lebron James?

Michael Jordan will always be the greatest basketball player of all time just purely on his legacy but Lebron is a better all round athlete on and of the court.

When all is said and done, could Luka Doncic be one of the greatest European players that ever played in the NBA?

Yes definitely he’s 20 doing the things he’s doing as a rookie. His future is bright.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Avengers:endgame best movie so far.

Thanks Jordan for the chat

Andrew Barham is a 28 year old 198cm forward from Memphis, Tennessee that completed his fifth professional season and first in Germany with the Hamburg Towers (Germany-ProA) averaging 14,3ppg, 3,9rpg and 1,6apg. He was an instrumental player in the club winning the 2019 Pro A title. Last season he played with the Maine Red Claws (NBA G-League) playing 37 games averaging 4.9ppg, 2.8rpg. In his previous four professional seasons he gathered experience in Japan, Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary. He began his basketball career with Christian Brothers High School and then played two seasons at Memphis (NCAA) playing 49 NCAA games. He finished his NCAA career at Gonzaga playing two seasons from 2012-2014 amassing a total of 65 NCAA games and as a senior played 36 games averaging 6.3ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 48%, FT: 64.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com at the end of the season.

Andrew thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I am currently in the Hamburg airport, waiting on my flight to board to Tel Aviv for a quick vacation before I head home to the USA. Basketball is treated me well this year. My father always said, ‘Use the game of basketball, but don’t let it use you.’ I think I have used it well this year and met great people in the process.

Congrats on winning the Pro A title with the Hamburg Towers. How blessed do you feel now having made the right step and going to the Hamburg Towers organization?

I am extremely blessed to not only have been in a great environment but to have a great coach that believed in me all year. I’m just trying to live in this great moment and be thankful for all these experiences!

How quickly did you know that you had arrived in a special place in Hamburg? From the top with Marvin Willoughby and head coach Mie Taylor going all the way down the ladder with your teammates, fans and city how special was the basketball culture with the Hamburg Towers?

I knew instantly. You can feel the passion the organization has for their city and their team. Coach and Marvin did a fabulous job in signing great players and high character guys that will do whatever it takes for the team to win. It was a special season. 

The Hamburg Towers played an unforgettable and exciting final series with Nurnberg. After losing the first game by three points, you won the deciding game by five points and title. How intense was the whole atmosphere leading up between games?

It was so much fun! Not many players ever get the chance to play for a Championship. The fans brought the energy and passion and the buzz was unparalleled. It was one for the history books in Hamburg Basketball. 

What kind of self confidence and mentality did the team have going into the last game? How sure were you that you would win the title as a club?

We had confidence in ourselves and belief that we were the best team in the league all year long. We had some ups and downs, but I believe that gave us valuable experience down the stretch. Coach told us every practice that he believed in us and we were the best team, just have to go out and prove it! 

The Hamburg Towers were very tough in the final game and never allowed Nurnberg over the hump in the fourth quarter. What was key for winning the game?

Yes, we were resilient all year long and even more so in that final game. We had players step up and make huge plays for us down the stretch that sealed the deal. 

The Nurnberg Falcons played an amazing and unforgettable season. Nobody had them on the list to move up to the easyCredit BBL. What did you appreciate most about their play?

They played as a team! Great post play and good guards that knew the game. Regardless of how the game was going they never quit playing hard.

Let’s talk about the Hamburg Towers season. At the start of 2019, the club lost three of five games. If someone had told you then that the club would win the Pro A title four months later what would you have thought?

I would have believed them. We did hit a rough patch, things weren’t clicking, we had some big injuries, but we went back into practice and just started to work harder! 

From then on the club had two three game winning streaks and two two game losing streaks. Why was the club a bit up and down in the last months?

We were figuring it out, plus injuries and many different factors. But great teams peak at the right time. 

The Hamburg Towers lost the last two regular season games to Chemnitz and Tuebingen. With what kind of mind set did the club go into the playoffs. Did Mike Taylor do anything special or different that got the team mentally ready for tough series against Rostock and Chemnitz?

Yeah, we were really bummed after the Tuebingen and Chemnitz losses. We believed we gave both of those games away by just making easy mistakes. Instead of going crazy, coach came up with an unreal game plan for the playoffs. We had a whole book to prepare us for what was to come. He refocused us. And had us believing that to be the best, you have to beat the best (which was Chemnitz at the time).

How big was the spectacular game four 98-96 win over Chemnitz? Was that the turning point of the playoffs which helped the team make the last push to the title?

I think it was. It was a do or die game for us and we came out to play. It gave us a chance to play game 5! After that win, I think the momentum shifted to us in the series. They had come ready to celebrate, and we ruined the Chemnitz party. 

What did you appreciate most about having the opportunity to strap on the Hamburg Towers jersey? 

I appreciated the opportunity to play the game in front of people that truly cared about our team and me. I enjoyed the positive atmosphere and it made the game enjoyable! 

Was there one experience in your time that you will for always hold on tight to?

I’ll always hold on to the belief and confidence that Coach Mike had in me. Regardless if I shot it well and had 30 or bad and had 4 points, he always believed I could explode offensively. I want to keep that confidence and positivity the rest of my career and into whatever I do in life.

How special was it playing for Mike Taylor. Was he a coach that gave even when it looked most bleak could get some positively to any difficult situation? How key was his unbelievable emotion that he gives during tough times?

He is one of my favorite coaches I have ever played for. He just gets it. I am blessed to have been able to cross paths and learn from him. His passion and positivity rubs off on everyone. To me, he was the MVP of these playoffs. 

Let’s talk about your teammates. You had some physical big men with Germans Freese and Raffington, but describe a bit how important the versatility of Beau Beech was and how his presence on the floor made a huge difference?

Beau was great for us all season. He was always a matchup problem the way he could space the floor and really shoot it. His sneaky athleticism helped us all year. He really played well for us all playoffs! 

How much of a pleasure was it playing with American guards Tevonn Walker and Carlton Guyton. Obviously their shooting was a big part of their games, but what other traits made them stand out from the opponents that they had to battle against?

Tevonn is an elite defender! I’m not sure anyone could score on him. He brought that toughness and scrappy mentality we needed every game. Carlton aka Scootie is a walking bucket getter! He can score anyway you like. Threes, pull-ups, floaters, post ups. When are backs were against the wall and the lights were the brightest, he shined the most!! Both were great teammates to play along side. 

How did you see the development of young German Justus Hollatz? What kind of interactions did you have with him and how did you help him best with his game?

Justus is going to be one of the top Germans in BBL before you know it. He understands the game, and can fit in seamlessly despite his young age. He has all of the tools, I just encouraged him to go out and not be scared to use them! Watch out for him in the future.

Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 14,3ppg, 3,9rpg, 1,6apg and 1,1spg while shooting 32% from outside. How content were you with your season?

I thought I had a great overall season. I hit a little slump towards the playoffs but anytime you can be leading scorer of a Championship team, you have to be happy! I’m very critical of my game, so there are many things I want to improve on and sharpen up over the summer, but in retrospect it’s been a good season! 

The last two seasons you have been around 32% from outside down from pervious seasons. You stated in our last interview that ‘I shoot when I’m hot, and shoot to get hot. A lot of the %’s has to do with the quality of the shots and the difficulty of them. But shooters shoot, so I don’t concentrate too much on the % but trying to get the best shot up and in to help my team’. How do you rate the season with Hamburg in terms of your shooting season?

I followed my motto, let it fly!! Shoot to get hot and shoot when I’m hot! Obviously before the playoffs I was way up around 38% and would have liked to have kept it there to finish the year but things happen and I learn from them, move on, and most importantly keep shooting! The next shot is going in.

You helped lead the Hamburg Towers to their first title and your first title. How do you feel did you develop further this season in a growing winning culture as the season went on?

Winning is very difficult, regardless of the level or stage you are on. And creating a winning culture is even more difficult. But we all achieved what we set out to do when we originally signed with Hamburg. The goal was win a Championship and move the team to BBL – mission accomplished! 

You had many great personal games on the court. What was your best game this season? Possibly your 28 point effort in the win over Kirchheim?

For me, the greatest games I had were the ones where I hit dagger threes or buckets to help seal or give my team a win. This are the moments I’ll remember and keep with me. 

What is the next step for you? Could you imagine remaining in Hamburg or would you consider going to a new country and culture?

At the moment, I’m not sure what the next step for me is. I am just living in the moment, enjoying this championship and looking forward to seeing my family and girlfriend this summer. I will see what offers I have come though and weigh my options when that time comes. 

On what things will you continue to work on in the lab this summer as you continue to improve as a player?

I will focus on finishing around the rim through contact. Leg strength to have that lift on my shot late in the game and season. And just refine what I already do well, shooting off the move.

Please list your all-time best starting five of teammates.

Kevin Pangos Will Barton Me Tarik Black Kelly Olynyk 

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Pro A this season?

Shy Eli 

What was your reaction when you heard that Lebron James named himself the greatest of all-time?

Anyone who has to name themselves as greatest of all time, isn’t greatest of all time. I feel that is a title that is given not self proclaimed. Plus I’m a big MJ guy.

Charles Barkley proclaimed that Tom Brady Is more of a GOAT than Michael Jordan. Do you share his opinion?

I don’t, Michael Jordan changed the sport he played completely. His shoes and style are still selling out worldwide. He changed the way basketball is played now. Brady might had better numbers statistics, but I’m siding with MJ in this argument.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The Greatest Showman – the soundtrack to this movie is fire by the way lol.

Thanks Drew for the chat.

Alexander Blessig is a 25 year old 188cm guard from Berlin that completed his third professional season with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen (ProB) averaging 8,7ppg, 2,8rpg and 3,4apg and shot 44,4% from outside. He began his basketball career with FC Bayern Muenchen (ProA) and also played with Alba Berlin 2. He then played a season with Florida Gulf Coast (NCAA) helping the team win the A-Sun tournament and reaching the NCAA Sweet16. He then moved to Rollins (NCAA2) and played three seasons totaling 66 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com at the end of the season.

Of course, thank you for having me on – I appreciate it. Probably my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Cologne, yum!

It is such an overwhelming and relieving feeling, we still cannot fully grasp what we have accomplished this year. Being ProB champion is a reward not only for the team but also the entire staff, volunteers and management, which fully supported us along the way. All the hard work that we put in together as a team over the course of the season has finally paid off. This season is definitely up there along with the Sweet16 run at FGCU.

How were the celebrations? Did the team do something special afterwards? Was there anything you learned about certain teammates in the celebration that you never would have dreamed of?
The celebrations were exciting! We stayed in the gym after our win to celebrate together with all our fans and the staff, we had a great time. Unfortunately, I was not able to participate until the end, because I caught a fever a few days earlier – needed to get some rest!

The atmosphere was something for the ages. As a player, I have never experienced something like that in a basketball arena. A huge thank you goes out to the Nordkurve12 soccer fans, who brought candles and flags to create a unique spirit during the game. I thought it was second to none, especially for the ProB. The last 5 minutes of the game felt like ages but when the buzzer finally sounded, I experienced pure joy.

After Munster played you tough in game one, the Bayer Giants Leverkusen came home and destroyed them. Was there anything special that head coach Hansi Gnad stressed before the game or was it pretty clear after a 28-2 season what had to be done?

Coming into game one, Coach wanted us to defend hard and take their 3 Point shooters out of the game. We have to give Muenster credit for totally crushing us from three and thus ripping our game plan apart. In our Thursday practice after game one, we focused on our Pick and Roll defense and on not overhelping on their shooters. I think we executed that well in the second game as we only gave up 60 points in total as opposed to 86 in the first matchup. We also knew that Muenster was not going to shoot 50% from three again and that we would not lose our first home game of the season. I want to congratulate Muenster on an amazing season. It is truly remarkable what they have been able to build over there, especially coming from 1. Regionalliga. Bringing 3,000 fans into the gym for a ProB game is second to none in the league, it highlights what their team has been able to accomplish on the court.

The atmosphere and the stakes of the game created a special environment. It was a perfect finals matchup, the first of the north against the first of the south clashing. Having the second game at home to close the series out was a big advantage for us as we are undefeated at home this season. The finals were definitely a great advertisement for basketball in Germany.

Apart from the FGCU team 2012/13 and Bayern Munich season in 2010/11, which I did not really play minutes on, this was the greatest season and team of my career. In terms of chemistry and team play this was by far the ultimate roster! I was never really in doubt that we would achieve the goals we set ourselves. Even with multiple key players being out because of injuries during the course of the season, we always managed to compensate as a team.

Over the course of the year, one could feel how we were growing closer together each week, not just certain players but the entire team. We all get along and that visibly translated onto the court. I think our team defense as well as ball movement on offense has benefitted from that. This is what made us strong as a team and gave us a team identity, a sense of togetherness.

I don’t think we viewed our success as pressure but rather as a motivation. The team was constantly hungry, we were never satisfied with what we had achieved up to a certain point in the season. This is why we were able to continue winning in the important Playoff games, stepping up our game when we needed to.

I think we handled the pressure of being the number one team after the regular season appropriately. I wouldn’t say that anyone in particular grew in character, but we as a team definitely improved in that area. Especially in the playoffs, we managed to perform at our best when it counted the most.

Our defense and ball-movement on offense has drastically improved over the course of the season. Our team chemistry became so good, that we would always find the right people at the right time. We basically had a different top-scorer every game, which made our offense so versatile and really hard to scout us for the opponent.

My favorite game was the win in Bernau. Coming back from a 21-point deficit in the second half is very rare and shows the character as well as the fighting spirit of the team. After we beat a decimated but great Bernau team we knew that we moved up to ProA, which was our ultimate goal this season.

Coming in as a head coach I think Hansi did an amazing job. He is a coach, who listens to his players and involved them in his decision making. He is open to advice and makes all his players feel like they are part of something bigger. Being a former standout player, he was able to transfer his energy and winning mentality onto the team. You could tell how he got more confident and experienced as a coach during the season.

I wouldn’t pick out a special moment with my Coach, but there were many instances in which we had 1-on-1 talks. Those helped me understand what he required of me as a player and made me feel like he really cares about his players and their comfort.

Going into the season, we knew that Nick would be one of our key players. Looking back at the season now, I believe he even exceeded those expectations on the court but also off the court. Apart from his endless skillset with the ball, he is also a great person. Nick doesn’t care about his own statistics, he wants to make his teammates better and did so very successfully – I personally scored many points of his passes (he has such good court vision and awareness). He also developed as a vocal leader this season, for example in the Bernau game, when Nick carried the team at a point when we needed it the most. If you ask me, he is he league’s best player and MVP – he leads the championship team, which only lost 2 games all year and won all its home games.

It was awesome playing together with Nino. As the season progressed, we played more minutes together on the court. That way, I was able to learn so much from his experience and skillset. Nino is a special player for our league as he reads the game extremely well, passes the ball like a true point guard and makes the crowd ‘awe’ every once in a while. We shared the starting PG position this year and the great thing about us was, that as soon as one of us exited the game while the other one entered, there was absolutely no drop-off in the game. We were able to play on a high level for 40 minutes.

For sure, Tim was one of our most consistent weapons on the court. He really leads by example as he works hard at all times while staying humble. He is such a good three-point shooter that he opened up the lane for drives from guards and post-up plays for our big men. Whenever I passed the ball to Tim, I knew the ball was going in. I was able to feed off Tim’s desire to win during tough games, which gave the team a huge lift.

I think both of them made huge strides during the season. Coming into the year, they were both kids – mentally and physically. Today I can proudly say that they formed into young men. I think playing with an experienced pro team all season and having a big role on the NBBL team fostered their development as players. I am very proud of both guys and am sure that they have prosperous careers ahead of them!

That’s right. I actually was more efficient than the past two seasons, although I played less minutes. This is a testament to the depth and strength of our team. Almost all of our players played less minutes and had smaller roles than they could have had on other teams in the same league. However, all of us were able to put their egos behind and sacrifice for the team – in the end that paid off big time. Winning above all was the mindset not only for myself this year, but for the entire team.

Over the summer, I really focused on improving my shot by changing a few small things on my technique and getting a lot of repetitions in. Together with Jacob Engelhardt and Valentin Blass, we worked very hard on our game. During the season I made sure to always get shots up after practice or go shooting in the morning if my class schedule allowed me to. Those repetitions made me feel very comfortable shooting threes in the game. I still believe that I can be more aggressive, and look to form my shot a bit more, especially shooting at a high percentage.

I think my leadership abilities have improved the most. This season was my first as the team captain, leading very experienced guys like Tim, Dennis or Marian. I constantly tried to improve team chemistry by talking to players a lot and knowing what was going on in their life. I focused on keeping a positive mindset every day in practice and motivating my teammates so that they can perform at their highest level. With some many good players it was important to keep everyone happy during the year so that no one would get frustrated because of their playing time.

Sure, statistically that was my best game. With Nino not playing that day, I knew I would have to carry a much heavier load. It turned out well as I got into the zone and felt like I couldn’t miss a shot in the second half. The best part was though that we got the close win over a tough Giessen team.

There were many tough opponents we faced. On my position it was probably Niklas Geske, his drives were extremely hard to stop, and he also shot the ball well from deep against us – a very tough cover.

This really depends on the job I will pursue. In about two months I will be done with my Masters so I am currently looking for job opportunities. Once I have figured out my job situation, I will make a decision regarding basketball.

I would like to continue improving my shot, especially off the dribble and in Pick and Roll situations. Additionally, I want to work on my floater and high off the glass finishes. Lastly, I am looking to gain some strength and athleticism during the course of the off-season.

Getting up at night – although having school the next morning – to watch the Mavericks sweep Kobe and the Lakers in 2011. I will never forget that and hope that my mom doesn’t read this!

I am not a huge LeBron fan and I believe that the debate between him and Jordan is a waste of time.

I can’t really answer that as I don’t follow American Football at all. However, to me, there is only one GOAT and that is MJ!

Euroleague-Playoffs or books. I don’t really watch movies.

Thanks Alex for the chat.

Juwan Parker is a 24 year old 193cm guard form Tulsa, Oklahoma that completed his rookie season in Germany with Pro A team Nurnberg Falcons helping them move up to the easyCredit BBL averaging 6,3ppg and 2,6rpg.. He began his basketball career at Booker T. Washington High School and moved to Georgia (NCAA) in 2013 and played a stellar four year career playing a total of 116 games.In his junior season he played 32 games averaging 9.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 15.7%, FT: 85.6% and as a senior at Georgia (NCAA) played 33 games averaging 8.2ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 40.1%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 85.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com at the end of his rookie season.

Juwon thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how good is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I’m currently in Nurnberg and basketball is treating me amazingly. I’m enjoying my last couple of days over here with friends and teammates I met during this great season, so live is amazing.

Congrats on the amazing season with the Nurnberg Falcons. With everything that you have achieved in your basketball career, where does this magical season rank?

Man Honestly, it’s up there as one of the best. The guys on the team, the coaches, the fans, everything was amazing. I honestly don’t know if I’d ever have that much fun day-in and day-out with a group like this. It’s definitely one of those seasons I know I’ll look back on in 5-10 years with super fond memories.

Most of basketball Germany never thought it would be possible for Nurnberg to achieve moving up. Did the fact that the club overachieved a bit lessen the disappointment a bit not being able to win it all over the Hamburg Towers?
Yes and no. As a competitor you definitely want to win every time you step on the court. At the same time you have to realize everything we had accomplished this season and still feel good about it.

It was a very exciting final series against the Hamburg Towers. You won the first game by three points and lost the second game. Will that last three by German Justus Hollatz be one of those shots that will always creep back into your memories when look back on this final series?
It was a great shot he hit, but no I don’t think it’ll creep back into my memories. Like I said, we had accomplished so much up to that point and I enjoyed everything so I’ll remember the good times way before I’ll remember that shot.

Let’s talk about the season. If someone had told you on January 26 after having an 8-11 record and having lost 6 of the last 7 games that the club would reach the final and move up to the easyCredit BBL what would you have said?
I honestly wouldn’t have known what to say. January was a hectic month for us playing an unusual amount of games, I had been injured and didn’t play in a lot of them. Basti wasn’t back yet. So we really didn’t have our full team the whole season, but we were just trying to stay afloat at that time.

After that the club went on a furious 11 game winning streak to end the regular season. What were the main reasons for the amazing turnaround?

The main reasons were defense, communication and a belief in the individuals as well as the group. Our team became better because different guys stepped up each game. We were playing really well defensively and taking teams out of their comfort zones.

How was the team different going into the playoffs where you swept Trier and beat Heidelberg 3-1. Did it feel invincible?
We were confident. We knew what are strengths and weaknesses were and we stuck to them. I wouldn’t say we felt invincible, but personally I didn’t think a team was going to beat us, let alone in a 5 game series. Even games where we were behind, I still felt like the team was calm and never wavered.

What did you appreciate most about this club this season? What made it so special to strap on a Nurnberg Falcons jersey?
Everything. Getting the chance to continue to play basketball first and foremost. Then when you’re going out every game playing for such a passionate fan base and then you are really close with your teammates, it’s like going out and playing with family every game. So I appreciate how my teammates and the fans welcomed me, especially a guy coming in the middle of the year that they probably knew nothing about, the love I’ve received here has been humbling.

The club had so many season highlights this season. If you had to pick one which would you chose?

There’s a couple that come to mind. All of Ish’s pindown blocks. A few of Marvin’s dunks, Jackson’s game winner in Chemnitz.

How vital was head coach Ralph Junge for the success and how did you see his development grow. He has been known for years for developing young Germans which he did in Ehingen and kept doing in Nurnberg. Now he had his first huge success on the men’s level

Coach was awesome the entire year. Really keeping us focused on our energy and intensity levels at all times and making sure we were playing with pride.

Let’s talk about your teammates. How vital was Ishmail Wainright for the success of the team? What did you appreciate most about his game and what will be your most long lasting memory of him?

Ish was MVP of our team for me. His unselfishness was key. Whether he scored 20 points or 2 points he was always locked in defensively, rebounding, assisting. He brought whatever we needed to each game. The memory will be just his personality. He’s goofy and very easy going and just enjoys life.

In our last interview you stated that American Jackson Kent had helped you with certain tricks. What were some of those tricks and how did he develop further?

Jackson helped me a lot teaching me about angles and attacking in certain situations. Defenses started keying in on Jackson and he developed by always trying to make the right play or pass. He’s much more than just a shooter and it showed later in the season.

You worked closely with talented Germans Moritz Sanders, Ben Gahlert, and Matthew Meredith. How did they develop further and which guy do you feel made the biggest strides?
Ben was injured when I arrived but you could tell his confidence in his game grew. Same with Mo and Matthew. They’re all very skilled but as the season went on you could see their confidence growing and growing.

How vital was the leadership and energy of German veteran Basti Schroeder? What one experience will you never forget with him that truly showed what kind of guy he is?

Man when Basti came back it brought new life to the team, he truly is The Captain. There’s not just one experience, but he definitely is a great guy. He always looked out for me and the other guys and made me feel welcome and apart of the team. So for that, to him, I’m very thankful.

Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 6,3ppg and 2,6rpg in 14 minutes per game. How content were you with your season?

I believe I had a very solid first season. Definitely have some things to work on, like all players. I need to get my percentages up amongst other things. I am content, but ready to get back to work on it.

You played only 20 minutes or more four times. How difficult was it for you having 14 minutes on average? What positives did you get out of it? Possibly having that continued motivation to prove yourself in practice?
As a player and competitor you want to play every minute, especially when you feel like you should be out there. Positives that I got out of it was just having a hunger every time you go out to prove you can play and produce at this level. Also, it was learning a role, my role was to come off the bench and bring energy, so I believe I excelled at that. But really it’s given me huge motivation for this summer, I want to be a guy that plays most of the game so it’s inspired me to work even harder.

You stated this in our last interview. ‘I think I can do a little bit of everything. I think coming out of college my ability to handle the ball and defend were questioned but I think I can hold my own with anybody’. How do you feel did your game develop despite the playing time?
My game developed a lot. It’s not easy to go from playing college basketball, not playing for 9 months, then coming to play Pro in Europe. It’s a different type of game, and coming in the middle of the season you’re learning everything on the fly. I believe I proved I could guard anybody on the perimeter. Also, I feel my ballhandling and passing got better because Coach allowed me to play the 1 in practice quite a bit. In college I never really came off ball screens or got to bring the ball up, so being allowed to do that in practice helped a lot. I also developed in my ability to read the game, read what defenders were doing.

How did head coach Ralph Junge help you develop further) Talk a little about your relationship to him and how each other’s characters were involved?
He helped me by giving me some tricks of the trade, allowing me to play PG in practice and in some games. He’s a great guy. Very encouraging and he helps instill and build confidence in me how he speaks to you and shows and teaches.

What was your personal season highlight on the court? Possibly the 24 point 9 rebound explosion in the big win against PS Karlsruhe?

I think the Karlsruhe game is up there, as well as Game 2 vs Trier in the playoffs. I think they were just really solid games that were able to show what I could do on the court.

What is the next step for you? Could you imagine remaining in Nurnberg or would you consider going to a new country and culture?

That’s up to God man. My job is to take a little rest and then get back to the court trying to improve every day. I would love to return to Nurnberg, it’ll forever have a special place in my heart, especially with the move to the BBL. But I’m open to just about whatever, I get to play basketball, I have the best job on earth.

On what things will you continue to work on in the lab this summer as you continue to improve as a player?

I want to get in elite shape and conditioning, you can tell the guys who are in elite shape and I think that’ll help me tremendously. Skill wise of course ballhandling and shooting, being able to create shots for myself and teammates at a higher level.

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Pro A this season?

That’s hard to say, there’s so many good players and each team has a unique challenge or threat.

What was your reaction when you heard that Lebron James named himself the greatest of all-time?

That man’s entitled to his opinion and as a guy who is an All-timer and an competitor I hope he does feel that he’s the GOAT. Doesn’t mean he’s right, but he could be.

Charles Barkley proclaimed that Tom Brady Is more of a GOAT than Michael Jordan. Do you share his opinion?

I don’t. Tom Brady is the GOAT of football, but in football you play one side of the ball and especially quarterbacks, they don’t have to be athletic or anything besides have a mind and an arm. Jordan is the GOAT because he’s on the greatest offensive and defensive players ever.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last movie I saw was cold pursuit.

Thanks Juwan for the chat.

Dan Oppland is a 35 year old 203cm forward that completed his 13 professional season and first season with the MLP Academics averaging 10,7ppg, 4,9rpg and 1,6 apg. He started his basketball career with Valparaiso (NCAA) in 2002 where he played until 2006. He started his professional basketball career in 2006 for Hanzevast Capitals Groningen (Holland). He then played in countries like Poland and Sweden before coming to Bayreuth in 2008. He then played for seasons four Allianz Swans Gmunden (Austria-A Bundesliga) where he won three titles. He also played for Namika Lahti (Finland-Korisliiga) in the 2013-2014 season playing 47 games averaging 15.7ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 72.0%. He played 119 games with Nurnberg from 2014-2018 and was able to improve his scoring average each season. germanhoops.com spoke to him after the end of the 2018-2019 season.

Dan thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball treating you at the moment?

Hey Miles. I am still in Heidelberg at the moment. Season just ended on Monday after a tough loss to Nuernberg in the playoffs.

What was the first eatery that you visited first upon arrival back home in the States?

Well I haven’t gone home yet, I won’t be going until the end of June, early July. But if I had to choose an eatery to visit as soon as I touchdown in the states, it would have to be Chipotle.

Congrats on the great season in Heidelberg. You were semi retired last summer, but latched on another season with Heidelberg. How special was this season for you?

It was a very special for me because I never thought I would be playing another season. It was a great experience and great season. Plus, my daughter was born here as well, which made it most special.

What kind of experience was it playing against your ex team Nurnberg Falcons and having to bow your hat to them? I can imagine that despite losing to them, it was one of the only times in your career where you were truly happy about the opponent winning.


It was an amazing experience to play against Nuernberg. The loss still hurts and will stay with me for a long time. I can’t sit here and say I’m happy they won, but I am very happy for Basti Schroeder, Ralph Junge and the rest of the organization for getting the opportunity to move up to the BBL. I wish them nothing but the best.

With what emotions did you say farewell to the season? On the one hand the team achieved so much, but on the other hand just missed reaching the final.

I am still very disappointed we didn’t get it done this year because I feel like we had the team to get it done, but that’s life sometimes. It doesn’t always go the way you want it.

You split the season series with Nurnberg and lost 3-1 in the playoffs. What is your semi-final playoff summary? I believe this is a series that many in Heidelberg will remember as being one where the Academics didn’t take advantage off enough

I felt like Nuernberg took advantage of our mistakes better than we did of theirs. We also didn’t protect our homecourt which is something you have to do if you want to win in the playoffs. Overall, I didn’t feel like we played a good series, and a lot of that had to with Nuernberg, so give them credit

I believe the turning point was game three. Heidelberg let that game get away. What do you feel really cost you this game the most?

After we took the ten point lead in the middle of the third quarter, we really should have put the game away there, but we didn’t. We let Nuernberg hang around and a few costly mistakes at the end of that quarter gave them the momentum they needed for the fourth. We also didn’t protect the three point line in the second half which really was key for them.

What did you respect the most about the Nurnberg Falcons this season? This is a team that nobody except people in Nurnberg would have had the audacity to proclaim months ago that they would move up.

I respect the way they fought and played together. You could tell this team had great chemistry. I credit a lot of that to Basti Schroeder, who is an amazing leader and captain. I’m sure he set the tone early in the season, which made it easier for Ralph and Vytautas to coach this group. Plus, the development of the young players was huge for this team.

Let’s talk about the whole season. The MLP Academics were 7-6 at the start of December. How vital was it closing out 2018 with that three game winning streak that included a big win against Hamburg. 

It was very important because we seemed to find our identity during that stretch before the break. 

You had two tough crunch-time loses to Trier and PS Karlsruhe at the end of the regular season. Were those losses like a blessing in disguise letting the team know that there was playoff business coming up. You easily disposed of pesky Ehingen by an average of 14 points in the three game series.

Those two losses were definite wake-up calls for us, and I think we really did a job of regrouping after that. We went into the Ehingen series with right mindset, knowing that their team was ready to play. 

What really impressed me about the MLP Academics this season was their consistency despite not having a deep rotation like many other Pro A teams. What was the secret to the success and was there a special mentality that continued to grow during the season that allowed the team to be so successful?

Our team chemistry was instrumental to our success this season. We have a great group of guys who came in every day with the same goal in mind, and that was to get better. No one ever complained, it was always about business.

What made it so special to play for the MLP Academics Heidelberg for a second season? Did you notice that that the basketball culture is continuing to grow in there and that something special is happening?

I think here in Heidelberg is growing especially after the success of this year. Hopefully the momentum from this year can push the club to new heights next season and future seasons to come.k the culture

The MLP Academics had many season highlights. Was it possibly sweeping the Hamburg Towers or beating Chemnitz or was it something else?

Sweeping Hamburg and beating Chemnitz were probably two of the biggest highs in my book. Advancing to the semis was also a big deal since it had never been done in Heidelberg before. 

One of the real great and seemingly underrated coaches in Germany is coach Frenki. Please talk about how important he has been to the new winning culture in Heidelberg?

Frenki set the tone for our season on the very first day of training camp. He has done a great job in Heidelberg and it was an honor to play for him this season. I wish him continued success in the future.

Let’s talk about your teammates. For many in Heidelberg Shy Ely was an MVP candidate. Most of the Pro A players I interviewed after this season stated as him being their toughest cover. How vital was he for the success of the team?

Shy was our guy this season. We relied on him heavily throughout the entire season. It was a pleasure to watch his approach to the game. He always brought it with a ferocious intensity and focus that you don’t see all the time.

Last year your teammate Jaleen Smith said this about Niklas Wurzner after being his teammate. ‘Nikki turned himself into the floor general of our team. If you watched our games, you can just see it. He’s going be really good in a year or 2 so be on the lookout for him. He just has a great feel for the game. He plays at his own pace and doesn’t let the defense dictate how the game going to be played. I feel his passing got more and more better as the season went on. More like his vision on the court was through the roof. He could see everything in front of him or behind him’. How did you see his development continue in your second year? How did you see his development grow this season?

Since this is my first year with the team, I can only say that Niki really developed throughout the entire year. That was evident in the passion he played with in the playoffs. I wish him nothing but the best in the future.

How vital was it having Jaleen Smith on the team for the success? In a very guard orientated league, he seems to get lost in the shuffle a bit. How vital was he for the success of the team?

Shy might have been our best player but I felt like Jaleen was our most important player because he did everything for us. It was amazing to watch his improvement throughout this season and to see the steps he made from last year. He has turned himself into a great player and it will be exciting to see where he ends up in the future.

Last season Jaleen Smith stated this about veteran Eric Palm. ‘It was great having Eric, he taught me a lot of stuff that I will carry with me for a long time. He didn’t just teach me shooting tips but more importantly he taught me how to move without the ball. Just learning when to cut on offense. Having him come in was such a joy and a great pick up for the team’. What new things could you soak up from him in your second season as teammates? What was it like having that second real experienced guy on the team? What special qualities were you able to detect in his game?

Eric and I really jelled from the onset. His knowledge and basketball IQ is as good as it gets. I really enjoyed discussing the game with him. You could see that on the court because we really played well together. He is a student of the game and l loved being his teammate this year. 

How key was it having that added German veteran Philipp Heyden on the team. How did his 9 years of BBL experience show on the court best?

Phil is a beast, and he was huge for us this season. It is tough to find a player of his size and skillset, especially in the Pro A, so we were lucky to have him. I am happy he will continue his career in Heidelberg.

In our last interview you stated that you hoped people would remember how hard you worked and that you did everything you could to win. Did you know last summer that you would miss the game and day to day grind if you had really retired?

I didn’t know that but I think no matter when I stop, I will always miss those things, but like I have said before, you can’t play forever.

You turned 35 during the last season played lofty minutes and had solid stats. Did some of the older guys in the BBL like Ricky Paulding or the Jena trio of Mccelroy, Jenkins and Allen motivate you to continue? You are in your mid 30’S and still play like a 28 year old.

Haha, I appreciate that. When you see guys like that playing at such a high level, it does motivate you because if they can do it, why can’t I do it too? I never have looked at my age as a determinant of my playing because I still feel good. If I feel young, that is all the matters.

You averaged 10,7pp, 4,9rpg and 1,6apg. How content were you with your game this season?

I’m always content with my game because my approach has always been the same. As long as I am giving all that I can, that’s all I can ask of myself. I was happy with how my best play came in the playoffs this season. I tried to leave all out on the floor, so I was happy with that.

Obviously your experience is very key, but was there anything you did differently that helped Heidelberg this season achieve success that you didn’t have to do with Nurnberg the last seasons?

Not really. I feel like my approach was the same as it was in Nuernberg. 

You had many great games during the regular season like your 16 point effort in the win over Chemnitz, but I can imagine your personal season highlight was giving your all and stepping up your game in the Nurnberg series. 

Yeah, like I already said, I felt like I left it all on the line in that series, so I can be happy with that. But the frustration will stay with me for a while. I’m too competitive to forget about that series. It just hurts too much.

What is the next step for you? Are we going to do another retirement interview and then see you come back to play another season or do you see yourself really retiring?

I really don’t know at the moment what the next step is. I’m not going to give a retirement interview just yet, because I still need to sit down with my wife and decide what’s best for our family.

On what things will you be working on the lab this summer to continue to improve your game if you happen to decide to return for another season?

Like always, my 3 point shooting needs to get better. I will also continue to work on my athleticism and quickness. 

Please name your five all-time best teammates in college and pro’s

Wow, that’s really tough. I’ve been privileged to have some great teammates over the years. My obvious number one answer would be my brother, Mike, but excluding him, here it goes:
Sebastian Schroeder, Braydon Hobbs, Jaivon Harris, Josh Young, Virgil Matthews.

It’s still so early, but when all is said and done could Luka Doncic be one of the greatest Europeans that ever played in the NBA? 

After what he did in his rookie season, he’s on track to do some special things that we have never seen before.

What was your reaction when you heard that Lebron James named himself the greatest of all-time? 

I understand where he is coming from, but I don’t agree on him saying that since no one before him as ever done that. To me, Mike is the greatest, but that’s just my opinion. 

Charles Barkley recently proclaimed that Tom Brady Is more of a GOAT than Michael Jordan. Do you share his opinion?

Wow, that’s tough to say. They both are killers. I don’t know if I can say that. Can I put them both on the same level???

Tom Brady won sixth Super Bowl. Where will he be if he wins a seventh next season?

He will where he has been for the past few years, at the top of the mountain looking down at everyone else. 

What was the last movie that you saw? 

Bohemian Rhapsody

Thanks Dan for the chat.

Rayshawn Simmons is a 25 year old 192cm guard from St louis, Missouri, that completed his fourth professional season and first in Germany with Team Ehingen averaging 11,5ppg, 3,4rpg and 9,4apg. Last season he played with the Logan Thunder (Australia-QBL) playing 18 games averaging 12.6ppg, 4.1rpg, Assists-1 (8.4apg), FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 76.2%. As a rookie he played with Orli Prostejov (Czech Republic-NBL) playing 15 games averaging 11.9ppg, 4.5rpg, Assists-4 (5.3apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 26.1%, FT: 71.2%. He began his basketball career with Moberly Area CC and then finished at Central Michigan (NCAA) playing 95 NCAA games over the course of three seasons and as a senior played 33 game averaging 12.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 5.0apg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 28.3%, FT: 64.1%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the 2018-2019 season.

Thanks Rayshawn for talking to germanhoops.com Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I’m currently in my hometown Saint Louis, Missouri (USA) spending some time with family. 

It has been some months since our last interview. How has basketball time flown by in this time? 

Basketball has been good. Took a tough first round loss in playoffs not long ago, so now I’ve just been relaxing spending time with family. 

Congrats on helping Ehingen reach the Pro A playoffs. The team had a massive turn around from the season before. What was the secret to the success this season? 

Thank you. The secret to the success was just a group of guys willing to do whatever it takes to win and having a group of guys that enjoyed playing together. 

After remembering the season with Ehingen last season reaching position 15, what would you have said if somebody had told you in preseason that the club would finish in seventh place?

I was a guy that came in from day one and told the GM we would be going to the playoffs this year and emphasizing it to guys on the team until everyone believed it. The team last year had nothing to do with our group of guys. 

Ehingen didn’t have an easy playoff foe with Heidelberg who swept you. After getting swept do you feel like the team underachieved a bit in the playoffs and should have given them a better fight? 

No, I don’t feel like we underachieved at all. We had a team that could’ve advanced but after having two starters (one German and one American) go down with 4 games left in the season before the playoffs we knew we’d have our hands full. We were one of the youngest 3 teams in the league and had one of the lower budgets in the league, so making playoffs or even not finishing bottom two we couldn’t underachieve. 

You came into the playoffs with the third best offense averaging 83 points per game, but against Heidelberg averaged only 69 points. Do you feel like the offense let you down or did Heidelberg defend better than what you expected? 

Hat off to Heidelberg. They did a terrific job with their defensive scheme but the biggest difference in the scoring was Seger Bonifant and Tim Harsbargen being injured. Those were our two best shooters and Seger was the leagues best shooter. Those two combined average 24-26ppg. 

Ehingen played with a slim rotation in the playoffs. How much of an effect did that have on your success? 

That had a huge affect but we were forced to ride a slim rotation because of injuries. 

Seger Bonifant missed a game and in the other two games couldn’t explode. Do you feel like the lethal Seger Bonifant was missing and if present would have turned the series into a different one?

The series would’ve definitely been different if he was able to play. I’m not saying we’d have won the series but for sure would’ve won a game. 

It was a very special season for Team Ehingen. How vital was the team ability to always get up and being successful in certain down times of the season? 

It was vital that we all maintained our relationships with each other because we all had a respect for each other and genuinely cared about each other.

The team played it’s best basketball in January and February winning 8 of 9 games. What was the team doing so well in this time that they couldn’t always do in other stretches of the season?

We just had it rolling then had some injuries and stuff going on in the month of March and cooled off. 

The team had many big wins, but what was the team’s biggest win of the season? Possibly the two exciting back to back two point wins against Artland and Phoenix Hagen?

I would say the Paderborn game because it was a point in our season where it would turn into a couple straight wins or losses. I would probably say the win at Nuremberg in January as well.

You have seen many very talented shooters in your career with Seger Bonifant. Do you believe he has what it takes to get a chance to play in the BBL? Wouldn’t be a delight if you and him were in the BBL next season?

I believe there’s no real ceiling for him as a player and can play anywhere in Europe at the rate he shoots the ball. It would be nice for sure. 

Another guy that has made huge strides is German Kevin Yebo. In our last interview you stated about him. Kevin Yebo is one of the best players in the league. He has no real ceiling & I’m excited to see him continue to improve this year & in his career. He’s a special player with athleticism you just can’t coach or teach. He’s extremely coachable with a eagerness to learn & improve daily. I really appreciate his natural feel for the game. He knows when to cut, pop, screen & fill the lane with me on the break in transition. We work & play off of each other extremely well. He’s a special talent who works hard & is also a testament to Coach Dom’s track record of improving players.’. Is he another guy ready for the BBL? 

Yes, Kevin for sure is ready for the BBL, he’s a rare talent and only been playing basketball for about 6 years. HE’s only going to get better. 

What kind of experience was it playing with versatile forward Tanner Leissner? How did his game make your game easier?

Tanner made my game easier just simply because I could always depend on him to be where he is supposed to be and if I saw something he would try it or challenge me to be better daily. 

Talk a little about the development of German Dom Uhl and Gianni Otto. What strides did they make and what did you appreciate most about their games? 

They both got a lot better from game 1 to the end but I feel we all did. I appreciate the fact that I knew no matter what I could count on them to make an impact in every game and never complain about minutes or touches.

Let’s talk about your game. You had very good stats in your first season in the German Pro A averaging 11,5ppg, 3,4rpg and 9,4apg in 30 minutes. How content were you with your personal season on the court? 

I wasn’t content honestly because I feel I could’ve done more. I’m one of my toughest critics. 

What do you believe your stats would have been had you played 36-37 minutes which are always possible in the Pro A? 

I think my scoring would’ve been higher for sure and I probably would’ve averaged the double double. The season wasn’t about that though so I was never concerned. Wins and durability was more important to me.

In our last interview you stated that ‘. I think I can lead with the best of leaders in the world & have the ability to make every single guy around me better’. You didn’t lie because you led Ehingen into the playoffs a team that had been fighting against staying in the league the previous years. How do you feel did you grow as a leader with Ehingen? 

Thank you. I think I grew as a leader and better at communicating or finding how to get certain people going or comfortable. 

You showed that you are a very strong playmaker always finding your teammates and almost averaged 10apg. Was it just a few minutes that was missing for you to attain double double stats in points and assists?

I’m not going to blame it on minutes but even with minutes played it was attainable. 

You stated in our last interview that your defensive qualities often go unnoticed on the court. Do you feel like area’s in your defensive game grew in the Ehingen system?

I think I learned how to be more active with my hands and being disruptive. 

There are so many talented guards all over the world, but BBL teams get a closer look at the guys in Germany. Do you feel like possibly some BBL teams took notice? Do you feel like you could be an impact player in the BBL?

I hope so. I think I could impact a team for sure. 

What was your personal best and favorite game with Ehingen? Possibly the wins against Heidelberg, Rostock or Trier? 

My favorite game was the one at Rostock. 

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the Pro A this season? 

There was a lot of good guys. It’s tough to say just one. 

What is the next step for you? Could you imagine remaining in Germany or would you like to give a new country and culture and basketball style a chance? 

My next step is to continue getting better and I’ll discuss teams with my agent here soon.

On what things will you be working on this summer to continue to keep improving as a player and keep moving up the basketball ladder?

I will be working on getting my shot better along with becoming more flexible.

If you had to pick your personal favorite starting five of teammates over the years which players would you chose?

Chris Fowler Braylon Rayson Seger Bonifant Kevin Yebo Tanner Leissner 

What is your personal opinion about the never ending debate of who is the greatest between Michael Jordan and Lebron James? 

Two different eras and can’t compare. 

What is your early opinion where Luka Doncic will end one day in the NBA? Could he be one of the greatest Europeans that ever played in the NBA when all is said and done? 

He should win rookie of the year in my opinion and for sure. 

What was the last movie that you saw? 

Us. The new Jordan Peele movie.

Thanks Rayshawn for the chat.

Abdul Gaddy is a 27 year old 193cm guard from Tacoma, Washington that completed his 6th professional season with the Oklahoma City Blue (NBA G League) playing 51 games averaging 9.7ppg, 3.2rpg, 6.6apg, FGP: 60.2%, 3PT: 46.3%, FT: 55.0%. Two seasons ago he played with s.Oliver Wuerzburg (Germany-BBL) playing 34 games averaging 8.0ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.6apg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 26.8%, FT: 65.7%. In 2016-2017 he played with VEF Riga (Latvia-LBL) playing 26 VTB United League games averaging 5.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 4.5apg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 27.5%, FT: 52.4%; In the Latvian LBL, he played 25 game averaging 9.7ppg, 3.5rpg, 5.4apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 50.0%. He played two seasons in Italy with Granarolo Bologna (Italy-Serie A) and as a rookie played with the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA), then moved to Maine Red Claws (D-League) playing 46 games averaging 9.0ppg, 3.2rpg, 5.0apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT: 57.6%. He played at Washington (NCAA) from 2009-2013 and as a senior played 34 games averaging 10.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 4.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 65.9%. He is playing at the 2019 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with The Orlando Magic. He spoke to germanhoops.com about the NBA Summer League before playing his first game tonight.

Abdul thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. It has already been more than a year since you last played in Germany for s.Oliver Wurzburg. What memories do you have of that time and how do you feel did your game progress in that league?


I remember having great teammates and an amazing coaching staff. Playing for s.Oliver Wurzburg was one of the best times in my life. I feel that my game progressed greatly under coach Bauermann and from learning from the vets. I think that you always learn something new each season and with every new team you play with. Learning how to build a winning team was important as we got better as the season went on. Coach Bauermann was an energetic coach who was always on us on playing good defense. We had the best defender in the league with Cliff Hammonds and it was beneficial playing with him for everyone. 
I

After a few years in Europe in Italy, Latvia and Germany, you returned last season to the States and played in the G-league for the Oklahoma City Blue (NBA G League) It is isn’t to strange for guys to go to the NBA after many years in Europe. Guys Like Brad Wanamaker did it. Was one of your feelings of having returned last season with the hopes that your game had progressed well in Europe and was ready for a better shot for the NBA?

No I didn’t come home because of that, but moreover wanting to be around my family. I had some family issues and just wanted to be around them and let them have the chance to see me play more. The NBA is the NBA, but I respect all of basketball. There are so many great leagues and players all over the world. I just want to be part of a great team and be able to play the game that I love.

Last season with the Oklahoma City Blue (NBA G League) you played 51 games averaging 9.7ppg, 3.2rpg, 6.6apg, FGP: 60.2%, 3PT: 46.3%, FT: 55.0%. How content were you with your season?

I thought that I had a solid season, but as a team we could of done better. I really wanted to win a title. I was lucky playing with and against many high level athletes where I was able to learn a lot from. We had a great coaching staff that helped me get better.

You averaged 6,6apg in the G-league the highest assist mark in your career? What do you feel were the main reasons for having your best assist average in your career?

I was lucky to be able to find guys in great position to score. The way the team was run, there was a lot of trust in guys making shots. For me it has never been about playing for stats, but generating good shots for my teammates. My main job is generating the best shot for my teammates. 

You were teammates last season with Bryce Alford who recently signed with medi Bayreuth. What was your impression of him and will he be an impact player this season in the easyCredit BBL?

Bryce is a monster and as tough as nails. He can really shoot the ball and isn’t afraid of the moment. He will be a great player and have a long career. I loved playing with him and I can’t wait to see how he will continue to grow as a player.

You will be playing NBA Summer League with the Orlando Magic. The last time that you played was in 2013 and 2014. What memories do you have of those two times? What players do you remember playing against then that might have made it big in the league?

The memories I had was that we had ok teams, but it was tough not winning. I was fortunate to be ABle to play against great players. Two guys that come to mind were Russ Smith and Patrick Young

With what kind of expectations are you going into your third NBA Summer League? Your 27 years old. Would you say that your in your prime now after a very good G-league season with Oklahoma?

In the NBA Summer League you see so many great players that will play in the NBA or Euroleague that it is tough to name just one. I’m not really going into it with any expectations except knowing it is a great opportunity where I can compete against great players and try to win a title. I think that I have been improving and keep learning being able to make adjustments in certain situations.

You have been practicing all week with the NBA Summer League team of the Orlando Magic. Has there been any guys that have impressed you most?

Mo Bamba is huge and very athletic and a great shot blocker. The guys are all so young. They are all good people and come from good families and school programs. All are super humble and working very hard. I feel we have all been learning from each other. 

The majority of the players are rookies and guys with 1-2 years of experience. Rarely do you see older guys like yourself. How thankful are you to Worldwide SM agency for getting you this gig?

I am very thankful to them. They are a great group and I consider them like family. I am really grateful that they have helped me come this far and let me play at this stage. Not every player gets a chance like this. I will just continue to enjoy the moment as best I can.

As one of the older fellows on the squad, do you feel like it’s a given for you to be like a mentor to younger players or are you going in 100% aggressive just concentrating on your game?


I’m going into the NBA Summer League games to lead and help win a title. I’m not focusing on me. Basketball was invented for 5 players and not for 1-1 play. Regardless of what my stats are, my focus is on winning. I am helping the young guys, but they also have the chance to help me. If they have any insight about how we could have a better chance of winning, I’m all for it.

The NBA Summer League is seen as a playground for players playing for stats. How difficult is this type of scenario for a guy like yourself that likes to find his teammates and is used to being a playmaker?

Yes it can be tough at times, but that is part of the gig. Having guys play for their stats is all over the place. The trick is of figuring out a way to win games regardless of how players are thinking. That happens in any job. There will always be guys with different ego’s. I personally want every guy to be successful and help them accomplish their dream. I just want to win. That should be the goal in any organization.

Your season ended on March 29TH. You have had some months to get ready for another chance of wooing NBA coaches and bosses. On what areas of your game have you been working on most to be best prepared for this years NBA Summer League?

I have been working on my body and to be in the best shape possible. I have been working on parts of my game as well at both ends of the court. I also have been working on my footwork and knowing how to perform at my best from game to game at the highest level. 

On what are you looking forward to most in this years NBA Summer League? Any battles your excited about or any coaches you want to talk basketball with or is there that specific teammate that your looking forward to be playing with?

I am really looking forward to playing with every teammate. All are great guys and I have been picking everyone’s brains so far. I also can learn from my coaches who have experienced a lot and have shown how they have contributed to winning organizations.

Last season you had dealings with Russell Westbrook on the court. He is often seen as a tough person, but on the court a very aggressive player who hates to lose. How did you experience him last season and what did you find out about him that little people know?

Russ is an amazing teammate and one of the best you can be around. He is team first. Many criticize him for wanting to always get triple doubles, but he really is team first. His teammates absolutely love him. He is a freak athlete and one of the best athletes at the point guard position. He is something special. You see him on TV and I see him on the court. I picked his brain a lot. He is always super focused and avoids the noise. He is the ultimate competitor. The way he acts isn’t in disrespect, but it’s his focus of getting the task done.

Thanks Abdul for the chat.