The quest for the 2019 easyCredit BBL playoffs are still as alive for the Fraport Skyliners just as it is for the Florida neighbors Miami Heat and Orlando Magic who are battling for that last eighth spot in the East. The 2016 Fiba Europe Cup winner Fraport Skyliners have understood the severity of their current position as they have to win very many games until the end of the regular season if they want to book one of the last tickets for the playoffs. They have played a lot better in the last weeks having won three of their last four games and currently were riding a two game winning streak. They also have found back to their old ways of defending consistently as they have averaged giving up only 70 points per game in the last two. But their path didn´t get any easier as many tough games awaited them like Rasta Vechta who have little experience in the BBL, but this season have surprised everyone as they have turned into the little darlings of the league as they have played brilliantly resting in fourth place with an 18-7 record. Their success can be credited to Spanish head coach Pedro Calles who has put his own stamp on the success in which he has led a club of no superstars, but hungry players that play for each other and defend with passion something that BBL clubs have moved away from in the last years. The Fraport Skyliners were lucky that they caught Rasta Vechta early in the season as they hadn´t found their rhythm or chemistry yet and beat them 87-83 for their third straight loss. Since that loss the club turned it around winning 18 of 22 games. In that game Frankfurt rebounded very well, but despite coughing up the ball 18 times played smarter in crunch-time to escape the Rasta Dome with the win. The Fraport Skyliners have a new face as some players have departed and went into the game living off the momentum of their two game winning streak while Rasta Vechta was reeling off their shoot out loss to Bamberg. Rasta Vechta came into Frankfurt with a lot of self-confidence and gave an offensive clinic while playing aggressive defense for 40 minutes with heart that tore apart the Fraport Skyliners in the second half winning 100-80. After the big victory veteran TJ Bray who finished with 14 points and 9 dimes explained why his team was able to win another game in their Cinderella season. “We played with a lot of intensity and hard for 40 minutes. We play 24 seconds at a time. We might not be able to have everything come together at once, but if we keep grinding then we are confident that we will come out on top. It was a real team effort and our defense was on the same page. Our success starts each day with coach Calles and filters down to every player”, stated ex Princeton(NCAA) guard TJ Bray. It was another tough loss for the Fraport Skyliners as each loss puts a huger dent in their playoff hopes. After the disappointing loss, Jason Clark tried to dissect the loss as best as he could. “We were down by 8 at half-time, but they stepped up their defense in the second half and we had too many turnovers. We got good shots, but they didn´t fall. Turnovers really hurt us and they did a good job scoring off them”, explained ex Georgetown guard Jason Clark.

3,500 fans came out to witness a rare Friday night game and also see the return of German talent Niklas Kiel who last strapped on a Skyliner jersey 315 days ago. He was still a bit rusty getting 2 boards, a steal and a turnover in 12,41 minutes, but it was good to see him back and getting the trust of head coach Gordon Herbert. Both teams offenses got rolling from the get go as lead changes were as abundant as the amount of baskets that Clint Chapman and Leon Kratzer were sharing in the first quarter. Both teams wanted to get both involved and they didn´t hesitate to produce. Chapman had 10 points while Kratzer had 6 points, 3 boards and a block after 10 minutes. “Kratzer´s put backs and dirty work that he did also helped keep Frankfurt in the game”, added TV Lich guard Jermale Jones. The other Frankfurt bright spot was Jason Clark who netted 7 points and had two dimes as he kept Frankfurt competitive. “He was aggressive and put his team on his back and put them in a position to win. He made shots and free throws”, stated TV Lich guard Jermale Jones. Rasta Vechta was playing solid team basketball on offense and totally perplexing Frankfurt with their defense with the ball pressure and help often getting them to make bad passes which led to turnovers. BBL veteran Josh Young who played three season´s in Tuebingen had a huge first quarter off the bench netting 6 points and getting three steals. “He gave a lot of energy and hit big shots. He is an older guy, but the way he can still move for his age is very good. He played tough defense and read the passing lanes well”, added Alabama native Jermale Jones. Frankfurt hit some big shots at the tail end of the first quarter as ex Auburn(NCAA) standout Quantez Robertson and ex Arizona State(NCAA) guard Tra Holder connected. After 10 minutes and 9 lead changes Rasta Vechta led 25-24. “It was a solid performance from both teams. Chapman started very well, but Frankfurt then got going. Frankfurt stayed together and got fast break points to stay in the game”, added Jermale Jones. Rasta Vechta shot 53% from the field and 50% from outside and had 6 rebounds and 2 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 50% form the field and 38% from outside and had 11 rebounds and 5 turnovers.

In the second quarter Rasta Vechta began with a 9-0 run to set the tone and get away from the Fraport Skyliners, but they couldn´t shake them off yet as they led only by 8 points at the break. Rasta Vechta broke away on a lethal 9-0 run to extend their lead to 34-24. In the run they got a lay in from ex Giessen 46er Austin Hollins, two buckets from ex Alba Berlin center Clint Chapman and a trey from TJ Bray. Bray was playing the way a point guard should looking to get his team involved first a she was getting little looks and then executing himself when he had a good opportunity. “I just took what the defense gave me. There are so many guys that can score on the team. One day I will be scoring while on the other day it will be passing. I don´t care about how much I score, but just that we win”, added TJ Bray. On defense the guests were playing hard nosed rattling Frankfurt´s offense as they were switching a lot with their defensive formations always keeping them off guard leading to turnovers or forced shots. The Fraport Skyliners had little offensive options as only Jason Clark and Quantez Robertson had the hot hands. Robertson nailed a trey while Jason Clark used his speed to get two baskets inside. Rasta Vechta had numerous offensive options and guys that hit their shots. MVP candidate Hollins dropped a three and snuck back door for two while Chapman drowned a 20 footer and Josh Young connected on a tough off balance shot in the corner. Rasta Vechtá offense was calm and patient and just worked hard for the best shot while Frankfurt didn´t have the same luxury as they couldn´t do that because of the Vechta unpredictable defense. Rasta Vechta led 43-35 at half-time. “Vechta did a good job trying to slow down Frankfurt. Even when Frankfurt started scoring after the Vechta run, they also kept scoring so Frankfurt couldn´t get closer. Vechta continued to do a good job to get Frankfurt to turnover the ball and got their bigs in foul trouble”, added Jermale Jones. Rasta Vechta shot 55% form the field and 42% from the three point line and had 14 rebounds and 7 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 41% from the field and 27% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

The third quarter was an offensive fest as a total of 56 points fell, but Rasta Vechta could finally break away as they rattled home 33 points to lead by 18 points after 30 minutes. Frankfurt never gave up and had good offensive moments with a Shawn Huff turn around shot and Clark trey, but they couldn´t play consistent defense which haunted them all night long. Every time Frankfurt got within 7-10 points, Rasta Vechta would hit big shots. Chapman continued to be a rude menace for Frankfurt as he hit from wherever he wanted. He made a floater, alley op tap in and a three. TJ Bray who had been kept in check well in the first half scoring wise became more aggressive and began to attack the rim more. He made a finger tip roll in for the 57-44 advantage, but Rasta Vechta was never home free as Frankfurt had enough energy to rally back. The cold Tyler Larson who scored only 7 points on 3/10 shooting nailed a trey that was followed by a Clark trey and suddenly Frankfurt was down only 57-50. Little mini runs would accompany each team. Rasta Vechta countered with Hollins and Bray baskets while Frankfurt got a Jonas Wolfarth-Bottermann tip in and Shawn Huff three to trail Vechta 63-55. Rasta Vechta then went on a back breaking 10-0 run as the clock work offense of Rasta Vechta continued to flourish as many guys produced. Bray scored in traffic again, Hinrichs made free throws, Young nailed a trey and ex Braunschweig forward Tyrone Nash made a lay in off a Hinrichs steal who fed him the shovel pass for the easy basket and 73-55 advantage. Rasta Vechta´s intensity never let up as their variable defense gave Frankfurt´s offense fits as they couldn´t establish a sound rhythm. Robertson closed out the third quarter with a trey, but Rasta Vechta led 76-58 after three quarters. “We didn´t play good defense in the first quarter. It got better in the second quarter and in the third we jumped on them with our defense. We didn´t let our offense dictate our defense. We played hard defense and our offense came”, stated TJ Bray. “We had too many turnovers and they hit tough shots. They went on another run and we couldn´t recover. We had too much mis communication on defense which led to open shots for them”, stressed Jason Clark. Rasta Vechta shot 61% from the field and 47% from the parking lot and had 20 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 43% from the field and 38% from the parking lot and had 26 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter Rasta Vechta would lead by as much as 25 points, but they let up a bit on offense, but Frankfurt couldn´t catch them in 10 minutes. After German Robin Christen connected on a 20 footer, both teams then relied on the long ball. Robertson dropped two trey´s and Rasta Vechta countered with a trey from Bray and Hollins as Frankfurt trailed by 84-64. After another Hollins three pointer and Nash lay in, Frankfurt trailed 91-66 and it seemed like they had called it a night, but they still had energy for a come back attempt. They found some added intensity and broke out on a 8-0 run to trail only 92-74. In the Frankfurt run, they got production from a Clark pull up jumper, Huff trey and Clarance lay in and free throw. Time was running out for Frankfurt as they simply had had to big of a deficit to be able to make any kind of serious dent in the Vechta lead. In the last minutes Rasta Vechta head coach Pedro Calles gave big talent 16 year old Luc Van Slooten extended minutes as he got aggressive and visited the free throw line three times. Rasta Vechta was able to get the 100 points on the last possession as German Robin Christen´s lay up was blocked, but ruled as goaltending ending the game 100-80 for Rasta Vechta. The ambitious Vechta team didn´t close out the game well and the team wasn´t pleased with it. “We weren´t happy with how we played the fourth quarter giving up that 8-0 run. It was good seeing Luc Van Slooten get minutes at the end. We got learning points in the fourth quarter, but it was important that we played hard for the entire 40 minutes”, warned TJ Bray. “We had a little run, but it wasn´t enough to get back. We got a little tired with their tough pressure for 40 minutes. We had to many turnovers. We have to learn to play better when we are tired”, warned Jason Clark. Rasta Vechta continue to live out their Cinderella season and they are the best example that you can be successful not having the best players. “They were clicking as a team. They played well on offense and defense and Bray was their engine. He infected his teammates to play hard for 40 minutes. They might not be the most talented team, but they play hard for 40 minutes and out work you”, stressed ex Georgetown(NCAA) guard Jason Clark. Rasta Vechta was led by Clint Chapman with 28 points Austin Hollins added 24 points. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Jason Clark with 27 points. Quantez Robertson added 17 points. Rasta Vechta shot 60% form the field and 48% from outside and got 29 rebounds and had 14 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 42% from the field and 35% from outside and got 35 rebounds and had 18 turnovers.

Quadir Welton is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Philadelphia that is playing his second professional season and first with SSV Lokomotive Bernau (Germany-ProB). Last season as a rookie he played with Centro Deportivo Rivadavia de Mendoza (Argentina-TNA) playing 43 games averaging 13.3ppg, Reb-5 (9.6rpg), 1.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 52.9%, FT: 44.8%.He began his basketball career at Math Civics and Sciences Charter High School. He played at St.Peter’s (NCAA) from 2013-2017 playing a total of 129 NCAA games and as a senior played 35 games averaging 12.0ppg, 8.2rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 46.7%, FT: 58.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball before begin of the playoffs.

Quadir thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Congrats on a good season with Lok Bernau. What kind of an experience has it been for you playing your second professional season in Germany?

This season for me has been a great experience for me on and off the court. My teammates are great guys and made the transition very easy for me coming to the team after they already played 6 games especially since I was the only American. I also like living out here in Berlin there is a lot of fun things to do and a lot of history here to see and good food haha. 

The team was a bit up and down when you came in, but strolled into the playoffs with a positive 9 game winning streak. What were the main reasons for the club going on this roll?

I think once we found our rhythm and the guys figured out how I played and I figured out how they played we clicked fast and I fit right in the system of how our coach wants us to play. Also everybody is unselfish and doesn’t care about scoring so that helps our offensive game and makes it easier for us to play good defense and now we found out how we want to play and we just are rolling right now. 

How much credit is seriously due for the success when one has to factor in that guys are moving in and out of lineups on account of the many BBL license players.

I think there should be a lot of credit due because we had to get used to not having a full team every game and relying on others to step up at certain times and we showed we could do that by winning games with only 6-7 players. I think it showed how tough and how much talent we have on our ball club and I want to give my teammates and coaches a lot of credit for that. 

What kind of experience has it been for you being able to practice and play with these very talented young German players. How do you feel did your game profit most from having these players around? 

The experience was great. These young guys are really talented and have bright futures ahead of them and from me playing against them I think it benefited both of us because we challenge each other everyday in practice and it only makes me and them better as players and as teammates. 

You start the Pro B playoffs against ratiopharm Ulm farm team Orange Academy and then the Fraport Skyliners farm team could be awaiting you. It could be a fest of young German talent for the next two rounds. How exciting is this for you to try to see if Lok Bernau is possibly the best farm team in the Pro B?

It’s extremely exciting one because it’s the start of the playoffs and two because I know they will bring their A game just like we will. I can’t wait to get on the court and see us go against this other young team it should be a fun game for both teams and we will soon be able to see who is the better farm team. 

Let’s talk about your teammates. You played 5 regular season games with Mo Wagner’s brother Franz. Is he the real deal? How good is he and how have you seen him develop this season? 

Yes Franz is the real deal. He is very talented and has a high basketball IQ at so young of an age and he is also a very good shooter and knows how to finish around the rim. I only played 5 games with him and practiced with him a couple times so I can’t say I really seen him develop but I can say when me and him play together we play well and have a good connection on the court.

Another guard who has made big strides is Jonas Mattisek who has gotten better BBL minutes this season. How good is the Lok Bernau offense when he is on board? 

When we have Jonas we are a better team no doubt. He brings that energy and defense to our team when he plays and when he gets it going from 3 it’s hard to guard us. 

The club has many young Germans, then there is you as the lone import and then there are the two ex BBL veterans Nicolai Simon and Robert Kulawick. How important has it been having this balance on the team for success?


I think our team balances out well with Nico and Kula being our veterans with a young team I think you always need some veterans who can guide and help the team in certain situations and also bring some leadership. 

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

I would say I play like an old school power forward so probably my uncle Rasheed Wallace or Chris Webber. 

How influential has a guy like Rasheed Wallace been for you growing up as a basketball player? Are there any special tips he gave you that you feel really helped your game? 

My uncle has been a big influence on my life growing up and seeing him going to the NBA inspired me to play basketball and get better. Yes he gave me a few tips that he said I should worry about when becoming a pro and showed me some moves and few ways to guard my defenders on defense. I also worked out with him for a little bit during the summer and that helped improve my game

You’re a player that can score and rebound the ball well. What other strengths does your game have? 

Another strength some people may not know is my passing. I’m a really good passer and passer out of the post. Also I’m good at getting steals with my quick hands and long arms 

You don’t shoot the three ball. Is this something that you will incorporate more into your game in the next years as you continue to develop at the professional level? 

Yes I will work hard on my jump shot and incorporating the 3 in my game so I can become a better player and so I can play at the next level. 

You are a consistent and efficient offensive player this season. Is this something that you were able to grow at St.Peter’s (NCAA)? 

Yes I grew into that type of player my junior year of college when my coach gave me the chance to be a leader for my team and make decisions either passing or scoring the ball.

How much pride do you take on defense? You have proven in school and as a professional that you can be that reliable shot blocker. Is playing defense like second nature to you?

I take pride on defense and I want to become a better on ball defender so I can guard multiple positions and blocking shots was always a second nature to me and I think I can become a better shot blocker 

What do you feel is a hidden strength in your game that is off the radar for many on the court to see? 

My passing I think is off the radar. I don’t think people really notice it.

You began the season with the Worcester Wolves (United Kingdom-BBL) but left in October. What lessons did you learn from this short experience being in the UK? 

Unfortunately I never actually got to play or go to the UK because of my visa not making it on time.

Last season you played with Centro Deportivo Rivadavia de Mendoza (Argentina-TNA) playing 43 games averaging 13.3ppg, Reb-5 (9.6rpg), 1.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 52.9%, FT: 44.8%. Usually Americans go there at the ending stages of their careers and one don’t see guys going there as rookies. What kind of experience was it playing and living in Argentina?

For my first season I think it was good. It’s a lot different from Germany but I feel like it prepared me for Germany also. Playing there was a lot of fun. The fans are really into the games and show a lot of support, and I also got to play against a lot of very good and older Americans and that made me step my game up. Living there was great because it was summer time so I had two summers for the year. 

What was your wake up call to being a rookie in Argentina where you knew that you were very far away from home? 

I didn’t have my wake up call there, but I had it my first week in Serbia where I first started. It was tough for me there especially being alone my first time out of the country but when I was in Argentina I had another American and it made it easier for me. 

Sometimes Americans are the lone player on a team, but you had two Americans. How vital was it having a guy like rookie Casey Jones as your teammate? Did each other’s presence make the whole rookie experience a lot easier? 

It played a big part, because me and Casey became really good friends and it helped us on the court and allowed us to play better. Also it made it easier living there because you have someone to talk to and do different activities when you get bored. We had a fun rookie year. 

You played at St.Peter’s (NCAA) from 2013-2017 playing a 129 games. What were your fondest memories there playing in the NCAA? 

One of my best memories in college was playing against some high major colleges such as Seton Hall, Notre Dame and Maryland. But I would have to say the best memory is when we won the CIT tournament and I got MVP to finish my last college game. 

You had many memorable games at St Peter’s, but would the wins against Niagra and Fairfield rank as some of your best there? 

Yes those games are some of my best but my best game to me was against Boston University where I scored 11 straight when we was down 11-0 

You played three seasons together with Elias Desport. What were your fondest memories with him at St Peter’s and did you keep tabs on his play in Germany this season?


My fondest memories with Elias was my freshman and sophomore year where he helped me out a lot in the weight room and on the court and also in the summer time where we stayed together for offseason workouts and we did a lot of stuff working on our games and having fun going to NYC and other fun places around our college. Me and Elias still keep in contact and we both keep tabs on our season here in Germany and talk to each other about the games. 

How did head coach John Dunne groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career at St Peter’s (NCAA)? 

He prepared me best by allowing me to lead my team my last two years and that allowed me to embrace a bigger role and improve my game on the offensive end. Coach Dunne also helped me with my emotions and telling me things I can do to become a be leader vocally and become a better leader vocally and by leading by example. Those are characteristics I think many professionals have’

Who won a one on one in practice you or Samuel Idowu?

In practice I would win the matchup but Sam is a very good player and got better every day from us battling against each other 

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that’s in the NBA now ?

Angel Delgado was the toughest matchup.

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

PG. Trevis Wyche SG. Desi Washington SF. Casey Jones PF. Marvin Dominique C. Myself 

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

Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant 

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

I think Michael Jordan is still greater than Lebron because of the titles. Lebron in the end of his career will probably have the better stats but if he doesn’t win it doesn’t mean nothing to me. 

What was the last movie that you saw? 

Creed 2

Thanks Quadir for the chat.

is a 30 year old 203cm forward from Queens, New York playing his eighth professional season and first with Rasta Vechta currently averaging 10,5ppg, 5,4rpg and 1,4apg. He began the season with Prienu Skycop (Lithuania-LKL). It is his third stop in Germany after having played in Tuebingen and Braunschweig. He started his basketball career with Notre Dame (NCAA) in 2007 and played 118 NCAA games until 2011 and as a senior played 34 games averaging 9.5ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 68.9%. He started his professional career in 2011 with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen where he played for three seasons playing 99 BBL games and in his last season there played 33 games averaging 10.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 68.4%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for SPO Rouen Basket (France-ProA) playing 11 games averaging 8.3ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 55.1%, FT: 50.0%. In 2016-2017 he returned back to Germany in 2015-2016 to play for the Basketball Loewen Braunschweig (Germany-BBL) playing 34 games averaging 10.9ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 24.0%, FT: 66.7%. He played the last two years in Israel and last season with Ironi Nahariya (Israel-Winner League) playing 28 games averaging 8.7ppg, 6.5rpg, FGP: 59.5%, FT: 61.8%He spoke to germanhoops.com after returning back to Germany.

Tyrone thanks for talking to germanhoops.com It has been almost been two years since our last interview. How basketball time flown in the last two years for you?

A lot! I have played in 4 different countries in the past two years. Crazy to think about.

How good is basketball life for you now coming from Lithuania to Germany where your playing for one of the hottest teams in the easyCredit BBL?

Life is real good. Anytime you are able to come into a positive, winning environment it is a blessing. The intensity and passion from the organization, to the players is contagious and great to be a part of.

How tough were the last two seasons for you. Last season you began in Turkey and went back to your old club in Israel and this season had a very short stay in Lithuania and had to leave again. How do you explain the massive fluctuations in the last two seasons when you look at your first five professional seasons where you played with one team per season?

Honestly, Turkey started out really well. We had a preseason cup where I played really well and helped my team reach the next stage of the cup. And then I’ll never forget the first game of the season, I go into halftime with 20 points and 5 rebounds. And, the first play out of halftime, I get a steal and race towards our basket. I go up for a dunk and I guess I was going so fast that my momentum took me past the rim. I slipped off the rim and came down on my back and head and boom, lights out! I wake up some minutes later with everyone standing around and I’m confused as to why they were standing around me in the middle of a game. I wanted to get back up and play but then I saw all the blood and everyone cautioned me to stay down. I got stretchered off and went to the hospital with a concussion and broken finger. I rested for a week, and then came back to practice. The team definitely rushed me back too fast. Understandably with a broken finger on my shooting hand, I wasn’t able to perform like I was before my injury and the team let me go. Fortunately, I was able to go back to my former team in Israel. And this year, in Lithuania, it wasn’t the right fit for me. I barely received a chance to prove myself at all. But it was a blessing, because I got to back come here to Germany into a much better situation. Moral of the story is that injuries are tough and if you as a player don’t heal fast enough to be able to perform at a high level, teams more than likely will quickly find a replacement.

You began the season with Prienu Skycop (Lithuania-LKL). It seemed like you and other American Austin Arians didn’t get a real chance. What went wrong with this situation?

Yeah, I am not sure what were the organizational/team goals for this season in Prienu. It was one of the weirdest situations I have ever been in, not really being given a chance to play and not being paid. I was lucky enough to always have been paid pretty much on time prior to Lithuania but I guess just add that to list of ‘overseas experiences’. 

Arians followed you to Germany and is playing in the Pro A with FC Schalke. Did you guys get a special bond in the short time you were teammates. The situation surely must have been more difficult for him since he was a rookie.

We were able to talk some but I could tell it was a tough situation for him. All I could really tell him was to not let this one experience keep him down and to remain positive.

Congrats on the great season your having with Vechta. You have a 9-1 record sicne you arrived. Can you remember ever being so successful so quickly with a team in your career?

Never! Haha. And let me tell you, it’s a way better feeling when you are winning consistently.

Does it feel like a real Cinderella story or do you feel like as competitors you would be selling yourself short knowing the potential the team had. 

Yeah, everyone calls us the ‘Cinderella’ team and I don’t know if we really like that title. We have believed in ourselves the entire time, even if others did not since Vechta’s track-record in the BBL wasn’t always great. You ‘reap what you sow’ and this is just a testament to all the hard work each player has put in day in and day out.

You have found ways of wining in so many ways if it was through defensive battles, scoring shootouts or close wins which occurred three times. Half way through the season what do you feel is the teams biggest strength?

Definitely our intensity and defense. Some days, shots won’t fall but we can always rely on our defense to either keep us in a game or bring us back into a game. I feel it’s tough for teams to compete with us for a full 40 minutes, intensity wise. I think it’s great that we are winning in a variety of ways, that only bodes well for us later in the season.

Years ago winning in Bamberg would have been unheard of, but even now it’s no easy task. I won’t even do research and check if you won there with Tuebingen, because I know you didn’t win there then, What did it feel like winning in Freak City? How big was this win for the team? 

Besides Ulm, I believe Bamberg was the only team I had not beat in the BBL. With all the history of great teams they have had it felt good to go in there and win. That win was big for our confidence level as a group and is something we use to constantly build from.

How vital do you feel was the pick up of you? Do you feel the added experience and added depth at the forward position could be the difference between winning one and possibly two playoff series?

Yeah, I am trying to help this team in any way possible using my abilities and experience. When I arrived here, I could see they had a good thing going and I just wanted to come in a nd keep things moving forward. If playoffs are in our future, then I hope I can use my experience to help the team when as much as possible.

Vechta averages 83 points per game and allows only 77 points per game which is third best. What has been the secret to the success on the defensive end? 

Intensity! We compete so hard in practice that in games it comes as second nature to not let our opponent score. Each player really takes pride in trying to stop their man on defense and that is a great quality to have. It’s contagious too.

How vital has head coach coach of the year candidate Pedro Calles been? What has impressed you most about his coaching style?

For being a ‘young’ coach and with this being his first head coaching position, his intensity, passion and knowledge of the game is remarkable to me as a player. He pushes each of us to get the best out of each individual player. As long as we play hard, he gives us the freedom to play our game. As players, we really appreciate that.

There are no real super stars on the team. How key has the fact been that everybody has played for each other and that whole ego thing has been put aside? 

I think it is great having a TEAM. It really makes us dynamic as a group having so many weapons. You can only take away so much. And with the quality of players we have, we are smart enough to pick and choose our spots to attack.

Let’s talk about your teammates. TJ Bray brought experience and a special fire that really capitulated his game to another level. He was always a solid professional player, but he really made the next step with Vechta. What do you believe has been the biggest reason for his success? 

TJ really controls the game out there on the floor and picks defenses apart with his exceptional passing skills. Add that to his ability to shoot, attack the basket and defend that is the recipe of a confident, great player.

Even if there no super stars, American Austin Hollins has been that type of go to guy that has carried the team in his own way. How important has his leadership qualities been?

Austin can really shoot the ball! Once he gets hot, he is tough to stop. Add that to his great athletic ability to play above the rim and defensive skills especially to get in the passing lanes. Austin has a bright future ahead of him.

How important has Seth Hinrichs been for the success of the team. How valuable is his versatility and is he the classic example of the team glue guy?

Coming off of Pro A MVP honors Seth continues to impress me. I don’t think there is anything he can’t do on the court. He is a tough matchup for anyone and has motor that not many players can keep up with. Bright future ahead of him!

How important was the pick up of Max DiLeo for the Vechta defense? How has he made an impact on the defensive end most that has helped the team most?

DiLeo sets the tone for us on the defensive end. He works so hard on every possession which is contagious to everyone else. You have to match his intensity on the court or you will stick out like a sore thumb. And it’s something I can really appreciate.

How cool is it being reunited again with Josh Young. You guys were teammates in Tuebingen from 2011-2014. How has his game developed further since then?


It’s been great to be back with my homie Josh. The biggest thing I notice about Josh is that he appears to have that swagger/ confidence back in his game. Similar to what I saw during our first two years together in Tubingen. It’s good to see because when he plays with that swagger, he is hard to stop.

Let’s talk about your game. You have come in and gotten integrated very well with the team. How would you define your role with Vechta?

Like I said before, I am just trying to come in and not mess up what the team had going. Add my talents and abilities wherever necessary and help the team win. It’s been a different role for me playing the ‘5’ because I am not really a ‘5 man’. But I have been trying my best to play the position to the best of my ability.

How would you in general describe how difficult it is not only coming into a new situation, but into a big time winning situation?. How tough is it mentally having to deal with not stepping on any players feet and just trying to find your own role without disrupting the winning culture?

Integrating yourself on a new team is a process. I was lucky and blessed enough to come into a situation where the guys welcomed me with open arms and made the whole integration process very easy. While also giving me the confidence to play my game and showcase my talents.

You are averaging in double figures and averaging more than five rebounds per game. How content have you been with your play so far?

Ehhh, I’m my own toughest critic so I’m playing ok. I can always play better and I will continue to get better.

How do you feel has your game developed further in the last two years since you last were in the easyCredit BBL with Braunschweig?

I think poise and of of course experience. I finally got a chance to taste the playoff atmosphere while in the Israeli Winner League and also in FIBA competition. Those experiences you never forget and I am able to apply what I learn then to now.

You last played in the easyCredit in the 2015-2016 season. How has the league continued to develop in the last few years?

I feel like the whole marketing of the league appears to have got better. Using social media continues to be a big asset for the German BBL. In a country where soccer/football rules supreme, basketball is becoming more and more popular.

Your ex team Braunschweig is playing a great season. How excited are you to be playing them again this season and will you be extra motivated to win?

Yeah I see Braunschweig is playing great this year. Anytime you get to go up against your former it is great. I can’t wait!

Do you think that when all is said and done that Luka Doncic could possibly be one of the greatest Europeans to play in the NBA?

Yes, I believe if Luka continues to get better then the sky will be the limit for him. He is a remarkable talent, a once in a generation type of talent. It’s great to see.

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

Shocking! I am a Lebron fan and I would consider him, for the most part, to be a humble superstar. One who lets his numbers and game speak for itself and for him to say that out loud was a bit shocking. But hey, he is entitled to his own opinion.

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

Charles and his brash statements! I think Brady is the GOAT for his respective sport and Jordan is the GOAT for his. I am lucky to have been able to witness their greatness in my lifetime.

What was the last movie that you saw? 

Bohemian Rhapsody.

Thanks Tyrone for the chat.

Skyler Bowlin is a 29 year old 190cm guard who is playing his eighth professional season and fourth in Germany and first with s.Oliver Wurzburg. The ex Missouri So (NCAA2) began his professional basketball career with BG Topstar Leitershofen/Stadtbergen (Germany-ProA) and then played three seasons in Denmark with Horsens IC and a year in Sweden with the Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan). He played the last two seasons in Germany with the Giessen 46ers and last season with Science City Jena (Germany-BBL) playing 32 games averaging 11.7ppg, 2.9rpg, 5.1apg, Steals-5 (1.6spg), FGP: 38.1%, 3PT: 40.9%, FT: 80.9%. germanhoops.com has interviewed Skyler over the years from his time in Sweden to his BBL days in Giessen and did it again before the Fiba Europe Cup game in Wurzburg against the Bakken Bears.

Skyler thanks for talking to germanhoops.com How is basketball life treating you at the moment? You have some big games coming up?

Basketball life is good. We have really turned it around since early in the season and at the moment we are in a good rhythm so hopefully we can continue this the rest of the season. 

It has been 26 months since our last interview. I checked and it was when you were with the Giessen 46ers. How has time flown by in this time and has Germany become a second home for you now? 

Germany has been very good to me. I have been very fortunate to be able to play for 3 very professional clubs and have had a great experience for each one. 

In the last years you had a chance in January to rest during the easycredit BBL allstar break, but not this year. You have a huge BBL game Monday at home against FC Bayern Munich and on Wednesday a huge Fiba Europe Cup do or die game. Are the next days more stressful for you or more exciting?

I wouldn’t say the upcoming days would be stressful. I look at them as being exciting. Playing against Bayern Munich is always special because they are one of the better teams in all of Europe and we are right in the middle of the playoff race in the BBL The game against Bakken is also very exciting for many reasons as well. The opportunity to advance another round in the FIBA Europe Cup is very important to us and we are looking forward to the challenge.

Before we get to your current season let’s talk about the Fiba Europe Cup. You played at the Bakken Bears last week and lost a close battle 76-75. Despite playing two seasons in Denmark with Horsens IC and never with Bakken you were greeted very nicely there. Was that more because of the friendliness of Danish people or their memories of the two playoff series that you had against them?

It was actually 3 seasons in Denmark and battling against Bakken. I made a lot of great memories in Denmark and the basketball community there is relatively small so maybe it was a bit of both. My fiance is from there so we had a lot of family there as well as quite a few fans from my former club who came to support me and the team. 

If you had to guess what kind of a record that you have against the Bakken Bears what would it be? 

Thats a good question. Unfortunately I think they beat my teams more than we won. 

If I am not mistaken it’s 10-11. You had some real exciting games especially that first season in Denmark. You always had very good games and scored in double figures in 19 of the 21 games. How special were those games and going back last week to play them? 

The games against Bakken were always special. They are normally by far the best team from Denmark so it was always a big challenge playing against them. Thankfully my last year in Horsenswe were able to knock them out in the finals. 

Was there a game against the Bakken Bears that is most memorable from your playing days in Denmark? Possibly the 70-69win or 79-78 win with Horsens IC?

I think the most memorable game would be the game where we won the finals at home. I believe it was game 6 and we clinched the series after 2 years in a row of falling to them in the semi finals. 

Despite losing 76-75, s.Oliver Wurzburg are in the driver’s seat for the return game. I can imagine that the return game will be another very close battle. What do you feel will be key to getting the win? 

We definitely are expecting a tough battle again in the game back in Wurzburg. Hopefully we can make some adjustments and come out on top. Their biggest strength is their length and athleticism so we really need to box out and control the rebounds in order to win the game.

Was it difficult playing against the Bakken Bears and not having that kind of more central offensive role that you had with Horsens IC? Obviously s.Oliver Wurzburg have very much talent and with the big guard rotation you don’t get the minutes you once got in Denmark.

I wouldn’t say it is difficult in the role that I have now. We have a team here in Wurzburg where everything is spread out offensively and production can come from anyone on any given night. If anything, it takes pressure off of all of us because not one person has to carry the load. 

Let’s talk about the current Wurzburg season. The club had a tough start with a 4-8 record in 2018, but have picked it up in 2019 having a 8-3 record. What have been the reasons for the turnaround? 

We are really gelling together on both ends of the floor right now. We lost a lot of close games early on that maybe hurt our confidence and put us in a bad position. We seemed to have learned from our mistakes and found a good rhythm on both ends that has helped us be more successful.

s.Oliver Wurzburg have very exciting months ahead with the Fiba Europe Cup and BBL. The BBL schedule isn’t easy down the stretch, but no game is in this league. Is defending more consistently one of the biggest things the team will be working on to tweak? 

Yes, defensively is where we have really tightened up. We have to be tough on the defensive end if we want to win any game in the BBL.

How enjoyable and beneficial has it been for you being teammates with other guards Cameron Wells and Jordan Hulls and Brad Loesing. These four guys are a big reason for how successful the team will be every game. Talk a little about playing this aggressive style on the court? 

Playing with those guys has been a great experience. Each one of us has different strengths and can impact the game in different ways. I think we all work really well with each other. Any one of us can bring the ball up or play off the ball so it really gives the team a lot of options and takes the pressure off of one guy to take care of the ball.

Let’s talk about your teammates. What has been your impression of Jordan Hulls? Is he one of the best shooters you have ever seen in Germany? 

Jordy is a great guy. I have so much respect for how he works and handles himself on and off the court (Also, he just had his second child!! Congrats buddy!) His shooting ability is out of this world. I have never seen a guy be more consistent game by game. I would put him as a favorite in ANY shooting competition against anyone on this planet if I can be honest with you. I am that confident in him. 

Perry Ellis left and the team got Devin Oliver. How crucial will his play be for the success of the team down the stretch? He seems to have been integrated very well the last weeks?

Yeah, we definitely miss Perry because he was a heck of a player for us and a great person as well. Unfortunately, changes happen and we were lucky enough to bring in Devin which has been huge for us. He gives us a ton of energy and can play both sides of the floor at a high level. We are happy he is with us!

You have been reunited with ex Citadel (NCAA) standout Cameron Wells who was your teammate with Giessen. He played in Italy last season. How do you feel has his game developed since Giessen? 

It’s been great being back playing alongside Cam. Again, I think he and I really play well off of each other. We both can play on or off the ball and run the team if we need to. He has really progressed his overall game, but his reads off the pick and roll this year have been very, very good. 

How raw is young German Joshua Obiesie? He has popped up on a NBA Mock draft. What have you appreciated most about his talent?

Josh is going to be a great player. It has been a lot of fun having him on the team and seeing how he works and has been progressing from playing NBBL to the BBL. He is a big time athlete who can really get to the basket. He is working hard on all parts of his game and has a chance to be a big time player.

Let’s talk about your game. Your getting a few minutes less than you did in Giessen and Jena and your stats are down. How would you describe your role this season with Wurzburg? 

My role here in Wurzburg is very similar to how it was in Giessen. The system we have here doesn’t focus on one person. We really move the ball well and have guys at every position that can make plays and score. Each game is different for me. Some games I maybe need to score a bit and some games I need to be a distributor and focus on defense. 

You had a very strong season with Science City Jena last season. How do you feel has your game overall continued to develop in the BBL over the years?

I think my time in Jena really showed that I can run a BBL level team as a PG. I was the main ball handler there and I feel like I showed that I can lead a team in this league. Defensively is also where I think I have progressed. Each night in the BBL if you don’t defend you will lose and I have had to step up my game on that end as well. 

Your playing with very many talented guards this season and guys that can score. Is playmaking an aspect of your game that the Wurzburg playing style has brought more focus to than having to score the ball this season?

As I said earlier, each game is different here and some games being a distributor is what the team needs and that’s what I try to do. I just try to do whatever is necessary for us to be successful. 

Your turning 30 this summer. On what things are you working on most now during the season on your game that will help continue to improve your game?

Each summer is always fun because you get to work on your weaknesses and evaluate your game. I think just focusing on my jumper and really watching film and working on reads out of the PnR is something I can continue to work on as well as continuing to work on my body.

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

That is difficult.. I have been fortunate to have some GREAT teammates. My all time favorite would have to be one of my college teammates, Chris Scruggs. Whether he got 25 mins or 0 mins he was the most positive person out there and I learned a lot from him in that aspect. 

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? 

I hope he is. I am a big fan and hope that he continues to play well in the NBA. 

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

I like Lebron and think that he is probably the greatest. I don’t think that he had to tell the world himself that he is though not a big fan of that. 

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

Whatever Charles Barkley says has to be true, right?! Haha

What was the last movie that you saw? 

‘A Star is Born’

Thanks Skyler for the chat.

Tobin Carberry  is a 27 year old 193cm guard from Hamden, Connecticut that is playing his fifth professional season and first with Bakken Bears (Denmark-BasketLigaen). He played his first three professional seasons in Iceland with Hottur Egilsstadir (Iceland-D1) where he led the league ins coring with 31,0ppg and also played with Thor Thorl (Iceland-Dominos League). Last season he played with Salon Vilpas Vikings (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 54 games averaging 14.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 49.9%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 80.7%. He began his basketball career with S.Connecticut (NCAA2) and then finished at C.W. Post (NCAA2) and as a senior played 27 games averaging 18.6ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 45.7%, 3PT: 39.9%, FT: 76.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball before a Fiba Europe Cup game in Wurzburg, Germany.

Tobin thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Welcome to Germany. Is this your first time in Germany or did you make a visit the last years when you were balling in Europe?

You’re welcome and thanks for having me. We had a preseason game in Germany earlier this year in Rostock. We drove from Denmark. Rostock is in northern Germany so I haven’t seen too much yet.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it’s basketball? Do you have any friends or ex teammates that play here or have in the past?
Every country we have to go to through the Europecup I get on youtube and research the history and the sites the country has. My favorite part of playing internationally is traveling and taking pictures so I would say I know a good amount. I know Lamonte Ulmer who actually played for Wurzburg for two years. We are both from Hamden Connecticut so I know him pretty well.

Your playing your first season in Denmark with top club Bakken Bears (Denmark-BasketLigaen). What kind of experience has it been playing with a club that has won 15 league titles and 9 cups? What have you appreciated the most about having the opportunity to play for this top organization?
It has been a good experience so far. I hear a lot about top clubs being so focused on winning that the enjoyment of playing basketball is lost. Here you are treated good, it is very easy going and at the same time we win.

The Bakken Bears (Denmark-BasketLigaen) are a scoring machine averaging 102 points in the Danish league and 99 points in the Fiba Europe Cup. You have always been used to scoring which you demonstrated in Iceland. How special has this season been in terms of scoring and does it remind you a bit of the high scoring NBA atmosphere?

Before the season Coach Wich brought me in to play point guard and speed up the game. I have always been a good high paced player. Here we play twelve guys each game. I have not played a team yet who plays as many as us. Well Wurzburg has a big rotation and we meet them next round of playoffs. I hear a lot of the NBA comparison with us but we share the ball a lot more with different players averaging more and everyone playing lower minutes. 

Usually teams have 5-7 Americans, but the Bakken Bears (Denmark-BasketLigaen) have only three Americans, talented guys from other countries and especially talented Danish players. How important has this special mix of nationalities been for the success of the team?
I forget about this a lot because we have Ryan Martin from Great Britain. Michel Diouf from Senegal, and Tylor Ongwae from Kenya. For me I love learning about different cultures. They probably are sick of me asking questions about their cultures, countries and so on. But I am glad I have had a chance to be around them. I am looking forward to visiting Ryan in England and Tylor in Kenya.

Let’s talk about your teammates. How important has it been for the club having such a versatile forward like Ryan Evans on the team? What have you appreciated most about his play and him off the court?

Yes Ryan Evans is balanced player. Out of everyone on the team his game can be compared to mine when it comes to ‘getting you a bucket’. If it’s a one on one situation he can score it. Since we have a lot of guys that are good on our team we often move the ball around a lot and he can succeed in that too. 

How impressed have you been with rookie American Hayden Dalton? He had a great career at Wyoming (NCAA) and played NBA Summer League. Do you see him playing in higher leagues in the future?
Ahhhhhhhh man don’t get me started on Hayden Dalton. That’s my rookie lol. I can be a very quiet person until I really get to know someone but then when that person and me become friends, I don’t shut up. This describes our relationship. We talk junk to each other soon as we see each other. Some guys like playing basketball, then there are the guys who just fall in love with the process of becoming better. We always are in the gym together. If I came from second league in Iceland and worked my way up, without a doubt the sky is the limit for him. I would never say it to him though lol. Just like me he has been raised by two great parents and is a good person.

Two very vital players are Thomas Laerke and Adama Darboe. Please talk a bit about their importance especially their leadership qualities and how you have profited from their presence?

Of course everyone wants to win to better their own careers, but when you are around guys like Adama and Thomas and even Darko you want to win more. Denmark is home to these guys. They have pride. They want to win that sixteenth league title. They want to do something special in Europecup. So out of respect for them I work even harder to win.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 193cm guard that is a lethal scorer. If you had to describe your game to an NBA player who would best fit that description?

That’s a good question. I always try to find someone who I play like. It is hard because sometimes I don’t even know my own game. I guess it can be a good thing that other teams have to respect everything guarding me. 

You’re a guy that can really fill up the stat sheet. You have averaged double figures stats in scoring and rebounding and post high assist stats. What other strengths does your game possess?
Yes I try to do it all. I can have a bad game in one aspect but make up for it in another. I take pride in doing something to help the team. It’s funny because I hear a lot about someone needing an easy basket to get them going. For me sometimes a good assist or a strong rebound can get my wheels going just as much as a basket. One thing I do want to get better at is talking. I am excellent in small settings but what’s going to really make a jump in my career being a PG is being talkative. By next season it will be much improved.

Your also a very good defender. How much pride do you take in defending and could one say that your defense can spark your offense on nights where you started slow?
My team last year in Finland was my best defensive year. In college and the pro am back at home I always defended the best player but last year that was actually my best part of my game. My team in Finland had some great scorers and ball handlers. I told the team don’t worry about me Ill just run around and find a way to be successful and help the team. My coach Joonas Iisalo was one of the tough coaches who you just wanted to win for. I learned a lot about being a team player that year and the way I help win games was to be the defensive stopper. This year we have Tylor Ongwae. Man he has taken that role and ran with it. We can score but having the ability to play defense when we really need it is key.

You were a big scorer in the NCAA 2, but exploded even more in Iceland. How do you feel has your offensive game improved since your Iceland days?
Yes My college coach wanted me to score even more. He used to bench me for not shooting more. I know everyone wishes they had a coach like that. Now I am a lot more efficient. I haven’t really been pulling out my step backs and dribble moves too much but rather playing more team basketball. I make a lot more winning plays. Knowing time and possession and knowing when to slow up and when we really need a basket.

In the Basketball Champions League you scored 21 points against Nes Ziona and led all scorers with 21 points. Does a game like this give you confidence when you realize that you outdueled a guy like ex NBA player Daequan Cook? Could you classify your self as a late bloomer. A guy that will continue to rise up the basketball ladder in the next years?
Ill start of by saying Daequan Cook is one tough basketball player. All of his shots were difficult and he still played under control and hit tough ones. He had Tylor Ongwae on him both games all game. Tylor did a great job and future teams should really be interested in him for the work he did in that series. Its always good to play against players like Cook though. I didn’t play aau and was six feet and one hundred thirty pounds my senior year in high school. I had an excellent senior year but was small and went division two. Had a great division career and was supposed to go to Hungary my rookie season. I wound up sitting out and having to start from the bottom in Iceland. My story has given me a chip on my shoulder to be able to look back on my life and say man I really worked hard for what I have. I am ready to succeed on a higher level as well.

Last season you played with the Salon Vilpas Vikings (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 54 games averaging 14.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 49.9%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 80.7%. After three crazy scoring years in Iceland, was it difficult getting used to a different style in Finland and not scoring as much as in Iceland?


Yes last year was the hardest year of my life. It’s was a big step up in competition. That year in Finland there were some really good players and teams. Our team won the regular season by a good margin too. You might say why was that the hardest year of my life. I didn’t talk too much about it but my left knee basically just died out on my after the first month there. We practiced hard and we had a lot of pressure to win. Plus it was cold and dark lol. I was away from my fiance, so all these factors came into play. What got me through that year were the Americans Salon Vilpas hired with me. Javontae Hawkins, Aaron Jones, and Jaylon Brown. Man we were so close. We all helped each other through our struggle. I am not a person to call many people bro or brother but this is an exception. We really became family after those nine months together. It was a tough year but I learned the most out of any season that year. Coach Joonas Iisalo has one of the best basketball minds I have ever been around and I loved how he runs his team. Then also Teemu Rannikko, I would always watch him and study him. He knew what was happening on the court before it even happened. In my summer workouts and open gyms I found my self mimicking him and it has made me a better point guard this year.

Last season you reached the Finish final losing 4-2 to Kauhajoki. Did the game six loss 99-96 where you scored 24 points take long to digest last summer? What memories do you have of that series and last game?

Yes only if you knew what we were going through at that time. With losing Teemu for the playoffs and some other unfortunate things we were really playing hard for each other. We had a crazy comeback. Jaylon Brown fouled out and he was upset so I told him don’t worry I got you. It almost happened as I played some of my best couple minutes at the end of that game. I think about that game and series probably two times a week still. I also wanted to be a part of Coach Iisalo’s first championship.

Last season you had Mikko Koivisto as a teammate who has played for great teams and played for the Finish national team. How important was his shooting for the success last season?

Man he can shoot the ball. We also had the team clown Juho who could shoot the ball. Me and Juho had a funny relationship. But having guys like that to make the court open up makes it so much easier. Mikko may not know it but I always watched him as well. I tend to sometimes have different shooting motions through out the season. Watching him have the same shot every time and perfecting it was key and it showed. That was the first year I was over fourty percent from three. Now this year it’s the same. I think it will be like that for the rest of my career.

You played your first two professional seasons with Hottur Egilsstadir (Iceland-D1). What was your wake up call to being a rookie in Iceland where you knew that you were very far away from home?

I didn’t have any wake up call at Hottur. I was a little upset that my first year out I should have been in a higher league but I would never take back playing for Hottur. Every organization should be more like them. It was my favorite place to be. I had one teammate from Hottur in my wedding and some others attending it. I loved it. Coach Viar Hafsteinsson was so passionate about his team. I loved winning for them. 

Both seasons you were the only American playing with Hottur Egilsstadir (Iceland-D1). Was that a bit a blessing in disguise as you could concentrate 100% on basketball or did you miss having that American teammate on certain days?

I fit in more with Icelandic people than any other kind of people. Like I said before I can be quiet and non talkative if I don’t know you. In Iceland they don’t let you stay in your shell. I am more than basketball. My passion besides basketball is in psychology and children. My dream job would be a Child Psychologist. In Iceland everyone is like family. Just because I wanted to, I took up coaching kids in my free time in Iceland. I loved it. Iceland was also good to my fiance. They made it home for her as well. 

In your third season in Iceland you played with Thor Thorl (Iceland-Dominos League) playing 27 games: Score-3 (27.7ppg), 10.4rpg, 4.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 83.3%. You won the Super Cup and reached the final. What memories do you have of this season and winning your first professional title?

This year was about playing for more than stats. We didn’t have that much talent but we were winners. We beat the powerhouse KR in the first cup and then lost in the second one. This is what made the Vilpas want me. Winning takes you up the ladder. Then I had to hit some big shots or big plays to win games. So my focus is just to win as much as possible. 

You had some crazy games in Iceland. You scored 50 points in a game, had a 38 point 24 rebound game and four triple doubles. What do you believe was your strongest personal game there?

Probably the 38 point 24 rebound and 8 assists. I did not know I was playing that well. When I get in the rhythm and start going I can really fill it up quickly. This game meant the most because people who are not in your organization or town can really put pressure on you in Iceland. If you lose or play bad it’s your fault no matter what in Iceland. I remember the first four games we won and the TV show was saying I was one of the greatest players to ever play in Iceland. The next two we lost and I didn’t even play that bad, they said maybe I should be fired. Then I go and do this the next game. My coach came in and said man I knew you would show them.

Often players will play one season in Iceland to get a feel of the European game and move on. You stayed three seasons and had massive stats. How important do you believe was it being three years there and do you ever wonder where you might be today had you only been there one season?

Well I almost had to because I was in the second league and we got a promotion to the top league. Not too many European teams would take a player out of second league Iceland so I came back. Our team could not win much in the top league so I had to come back the third year to win to move on and that’s what happened. I am not a person who has anything bad to say about a player staying in Iceland. It is a great place. You can be treated nicely and some teams can pay decent. Like I said I loved it.

You began your college career at S.Connecticut (NCAA2) playing 26 games averaging 19.1ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP; 43.5%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 81.7%. What memories do you have of that freshman season and why did you only stay one season?

My brother who played overseas was the assistant there. He is a big reason why I play basketball. He coaches at Yale now. I am forever grateful for that one year there to be with my brother and the head coach Marc Rybczyk. Rybczyk became one of the most influential people in my life. He made me much stronger physically and mentally. You only have a handful of people who believe in you the way you believe in yourself and he was one of them for me. Man he was always tough on me. To this day if I ever feel my self complaining whether a foul call or life in general I think of him and fight through it. This year he was diagnosed with cancer and had to take time off from coaching at Niagara. This hit me pretty hard this season but I have been talking to him and he is strong.

You then transferred to C.W. Post (NCAA2) and had a stellar career winning the ECC Tournament in 2011 and 2012. Which title was sweeter?

2012 was. That was such a good team. We played St. Johns in the big east and lost to them down the stretch and also beat some lower division one teams in preseason. 

How did head coach Chris Casey groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career at C.W. Post

Chris Casey was a family man. I spoke about the story about how he wanted me to shoot more and benched me for it. But what I learned most from him was off the court. I changed so much as a person under him. I was already respectful coming from two great parents but man to see him interact with others and caring for his wife and children showed all of us how to be life after basketball.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Billy Butler?

Billy was hurt much of my time in college. He had an unfortunate ACL injury. 

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA or in camps before turning professional that is in the NBA now?

I live in Hamden Connecticut and not to far is the Hartford Pro am which I love. It’s the most fun basketball. Talking junk with all your boys, and playing good competition. Kemba Walker was at UCONN and first couple Years in the NBA he would play in the pro am. The gym would get so packed. My teammates would be like put Tobin on him, he will shut him down. Man I would be trying my hardest to run full speed to stay with him but he would just be gliding. Shifty, fast, quick, IQ, pull up game, handle. He has it all

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

This is my favorite question by far. I think of this all the time. I would play me and Jaylon Brown at the one and two. Javontae Hawkins at the three. Aaron Jones at the five. And probably Ken Horton at the four. Kenny plays for Astana, he plays on my pro am team in the summers. Funny that three of my picks come from Vilpas but you could not have put together four Americans who gelled better than us on the court and off the court. We would beat everyone and have so much fun doing it.

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

I stay out of these in lockeroom conversations because I like to enjoy each players greatness and not compare generations. The four players I youtube the most are. MJ, Shaq, Magic, and Kevin Garnett 

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

Again I hate to compare what we could never see but I would have to choose MJ.

You saw first hand how much talent Luka Doncic has last season. When all is said and done, could be on of the greatest European players that ever played in the NBA?


Yes he is a great player. When I was in Finland last year and they had the European games in the beginning of the year I went to some of the games. Luka played and so did Lauri Markkanen. Lauri is very skilled as well. He looked like a guard in a seven foot body.

What was the last movie that you saw?


Creed two. I watch it like very other week. It is so good lol. Michael B. Jordan is my favorite actor.

Thanks Tobin for the chat.

The first months seemed to be more of a cake walk for the wiha Panthers as they needed no adjustment period coming from the Regionalliga to the German Pro B as they were mixing it up in the top of the Pro B standings as they were in a sense the little darlings of the season. But then in February the season took a sudden swing as the club ended the season with a very disappointing five game losing streak. “We all just weren’t playing well as a team. We were playing well defensively but offensively we were in a drought. We just couldn’t find ways to score and when we did have open shots we were struggling to make them but now we finally broke through and are finding ways to score“, stressed Wilkes-Barre native Rasheed Moore. Many felt like they would falter in a tough three game series against SC Rist Wedel where they didn´t have home court advantage and where long bus rides and 2000 kilometers of stress could end their season.  Not only did it come to a three game series, but they were able to overcome the obstacles and win a nail biting third game. “The keys in the fourth quarter for us was to just stick together and trust one another while leaving everything we had in us on the court. Even when we were down by double digits we never panicked and knew we would find a way to come back.  We just trusted in one another to go and make the plays that we have all year long. With that trust in one another we were able to make the plays we needed to make”, warned Rasheed Moore. The wiha Panthers now had a tough basketball date with the Giessen 46ers Rackelos who had an amazing season considering how badly they started losing seven of their first nine games, but then made a rapid 180 degree turn winning 12 of their last 13 games. Once again the wiha Panthers had no home court advantage and had to win on the road again. The good news for game one was that they had a lot shorter bus ride with 345 kilometers, but also knew that they would be in for a battle. Both teams put up an offensive show for 40 minutes, but the wiha Panthers had the better nerves in the last few minutes as Rasheed Moore was in clutch mode and executed properly on offense and got big stops on defense to secure the game one win on the road 92-86. After the win Rasheed Moore reflected on another tough victory. “We feel really great after this win. We knew that we had to get one on the road. Luckily it was game one. Now we can return home and close out the series. Key for the win was our energy and getting defensive stops when we needed them. Big was also scoring so many points which was the most we have gotten”, stressed wiha Panthers forward Rasheed Moore. Giessen played a very good game, but couldn´t play their game at the end the way that they wanted to. “We fought well after being down early. We had good ball movement and played as a team. But it was the small things that made the difference and cost us the game”, stressed Giessen German Tim Uhlemann.

The Ost gym in Giessen was filled nicely for a Pro B game and the atmosphere had a special feeling from the about 50 wiha Panthers fans who had gotten a chartered bus to catch the action in Giessen. There was no feeling each other out at the start as both teams connected on their first possessions as ex Rostock forward Bill Borekambi who was a menace last season against Giessen scored as did Giessen forward Thomas Tshikaya. But then came a radical change as the wiha Panthers played their game and really turned up the aggressive lever while Giessen had little intensity and watched get hit with a 15-1 run to trail 17-3. In the run the 2018 Regionalliga champion got 6 defensive stops and valuable production from Borekambi who supplied 6 points. The club also got support from ex Winterthur forward Hannes Osterwalder who used his whole athleticism on a transition basket, got a trey from 37 year old Lithianian Darius Pakamanis and a lay in from Moore. The wiha Panthers didn´t get overwhelmed by the Giessen atmosphere, but were totally awake and were aggressive at both ends of the court. They preferred to go inside and play transition than rely on the three ball. Giessen finally got on the board at the 5,11 minute mark as ex German national player Johannes Lischka scored and made the three point play. The game was one sided up to this point, but Giessen then did find their offensive rhythm and the game became an offensive slug fest. At first the guests could keep the double digit lead, but Giessen would get it to under ten points. Giessen spread the ball around nicely getting a three from American Jestin Lewis as well as from young German Tim Kopple. They also got key baskets from young German Tim Uhleman and two baskets from ex Surrey Scorchers forward Jordan Williams who would be a pain in the neck for the Panthers all night long as Giessen trailed only 31-25 after one quarter. “Our goal coming in was to play good defense, but a total of 56 points was a lot for the two teams. Sometimes the offense is just better than the defense. Both teams were making shots”, stressed Rasheed Moore. The wiha Panthers shot 71% from the field and 100% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 4 turnovers while Giessen shot 44% from the field and 27% from outside and had 4 rebounds and 2 turnovers.

The second quarter was a tight battle with three lead changes, but no team could escape from the other and develop a good lead. In the first few minutes, Giessen had top players Lischka and Bjarne Kraushaar on the bench and the wiha Panthers couldn´t take advantage of it, but rather had an offensive lull and allowed Giessen to come back as they relied on their three ball. Young 21 year old Germans Leon Okpara hit two while Alen Pjanic who lives on the rim and had 2 monster blocks hit a trey cutting the Panthers lead to 39-36. Williams continued to do what he wanted in the paint getting baskets while ex ScanPlus Basket Anell Alexis gave his team some energy with two baskets keeping the guests ahead 41-39. After a few lead changes, the wiha Panthers were able to recapture the lead as ex Trier guard Kosta Karamatskos nailed a trey and Borekambi scored inside for the 46-42 advantage. But the game was a severe game of runs as Giessen was able at almost any time shift up some gears on offense as they blasted off on a 8-0 run to gain the lead back 50-46. In the run Giessen continued to dominate in the paint as Williams scored twice, Kraushaar scored on a drive and Lishka dropped free throws. In the last few minutes the wiha Panthers came back getting big production from Moore and a jumper from German Leon Friederici who was aggressive from the get go as he had 8 points at the break as the score was deadlocked at 54-54. “They did a good job coming back. Williams got going and did a good job getting easy touches and baskets. We will have to do a better job on him in game two”, warned Rasheed Moore. The wiha Panthers shot 58% form the field and 50% from the three point line and got 19 rebounds and 7 turnovers while Giessen shot 54% from the field and 35% the three point line and got 11 rebounds and had 6 turnovers.

After the wiha Panthers had the lead back in the first few minutes, Giessen stole the lead back and kept it until the fourth quarter. Moore and Lischka traded baskets in the first few possessions as both scored twice while Osterwalder made a tip in for the 60-58 advantage. Giessen then retrieved the lead back going on a 10-2 run to achieve their biggest lead of the contest at 70-63. In the run Giessen played solid inside out basketball and got to the free throw line as Okpara added 5 points and a trey, Williams scored again inside and Kraushaar dropped free throws. The two main sour area´s in the wiha Panthers game in this phase was their inability to capitalize on their numerous offensive rebounds. It almost seemed like the basketball God was on Giessen´s side as the number of easy misses was a bit too much to handle and one couldn´t believe the misfortune. They were playing with such passion on the boards and wanted it more than Giessen, but they just couldn´t execute. The other big flaw was their inability to stop anybody in the paint. The number of easy buckets that Giessen got was also difficult to believe. The wiha Panthers didn´t lose their composure at the end, but actually hammered Giessen with a timely 6-2 run to trail only 72-69 after 30 minutes. The wiha Panthers got four points from German Friederici who has had a tough season, but he would step it up even more in the fourth quarter while Borekambi remained aggressive and sunk two free throws. “The third quarter was a game of runs. We did a good job countering their runs as well as possible”, stressed Rasheed Moore. Giessen shot 52% from the field and 32% from the parking lot and grabbed 23 rebounds and had 11 turnovers while the wiha Panthers shot 43% from the field and 21% from the parking lot and grabbed 34 rebounds and had 11 turnovers.

The fourth quarter remained a tight battle until Rasheed Moore took over in crunch time. Giessen got important production from Lischka with a running hook shot and a trey from Lewis, but Giessen couldn´t shake the guests. German Leon Friederici came up big remaining aggressive and scoring 5 points including a beautiful reverse lay up in traffic tying the game at 77-77. Friederici finished with 20 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists while shooting 60% from the field. It hasn´t been the easiest of seasons for him, but he has saved his best for last in the playoffs. “He showed aggressiveness at the start of the season and tonight he showed it again. We need that third scoring option so badly”, stated Rasheed Moore. On the next three possessions of both teams the scoring went back and forth as Giessen got the lead only to see the Panthers tie the game again. A Lewis floater was countered by a beautiful Borekambi turnaround shot to tie the game at 79-79. Williams then hit a runner and Karamatskos made a tip in to deadlock the game at 81-81. Lewis then scored again totally catching the Panthers off guard with his brilliant speed with a lay in while Moore began his mini crunch time show with a lay in to tie the game at 83-83. Moore had been 0/5 from outside, but finally drilled his first trey at the 1,22 minute mark for the 86-83 advantage. But that didn´t last long as Kraushaar released a high rainbow to tie the game at 86-86. After an Okpara miss, Moore scored in the paint and hit a free throw for the 89-86 advantage. “Coach called a play for me, but then we had a high low for Borekambi, but instead he saw me and I made the basket”, smiled Rasheed Moore. Lischka then had a wide open trey to tie the game, but he missed and Friederici sealed the win with free throws. “We were patient at the end. We forced nothing, but let the game come to us. We got key stops, stressed Rasheed Moore. It was bitter letting Moore get that basket after we had to come back and had the lead”, added Tim Uhlemann. The wiha Panthers were led by Bill Borekambi with 26 points. Rasheed Moore had 25 points and 10 rebounds and Leon Friederici added 20 points. Giessen was led by Jordan Williams with 19 points. Johannes Lischka added 18 points and Jestin Lewis had 14 points. The wiha Panthers shot 44% from the field and 25% from outside and got 50 rebounds and 13 turnovers while Giessen shot 48% from the field and 30% from outside and got 28 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

Last weekend when the Dragons Rhondorf needed it badly, they came up big with their biggest win of the season keeping their Pro B chances alive. A big problem this season for the ex Pro A team has been their inability to get the much needed production from their German role players. Two weeks ago, the club stunk up the gym in Cologne as they got only 9 points from their role players. Last weekend, it was a totally different story against tg s.Oliver Wurzburg as they got another very consistent effort from their two best players Riauka and Waller combining for 51 points, but also got sufficient help from their German role players as they notched 47 points and Bo Meister was reborn with a career high 21 points. The Dragons Rhondorf definitely needed this type of consistent performance again against BBC Coburg in their third playdown game. This season both clubs split the season series and the Dragons Rhondorf won the home encounter against the Bavarian organization 86-78 getting a healthy portion of points from Riauka and Waller combining for 42 points and German Yannick Kneesch stepped up with 16 points. Rhondorf also had a strong hold on the boards. The Dragons Rhondorf wanted to keep their winning streak alive and halt BBC Coburgs´s two game winning streak and did registering their first two game winning streak of the season stifling BBC Coburg in all the right moments with their zone 84-71. After the win, Lithuanian double double beast Zygimantas Riauka gave giving autographs a new dimension as a hord of little kids were waiting for him and he made himself comfortable laying on his stomach and signing all the jerseys. As the kids had all been happy with the autographs the big man reflected on the victory. “We all played together and contributed well. I didn´t play well in the first half, but others stepped up. Our zone was key as they didn´t hit their three´s. The last time we played them they shot lights out. It was important also that they had a short rotation”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf big man Zygimantas Riauka. BBC Coburg had no pressure as they had been saved in the playdowns early and will compete in the Pro B next season. After the loss a disappointed Chase Adams described why his team was unable to pull out the win. “We had a slim rotation and we really missed Chris Wolf. We missed a lot of shots and didn´t control the boards. We were rusty and didn´t attack. When they play zone we digress and didn´t get the best shots. We were unable to respond to their runs”, warned ex Uni Basket guard Chase Adams. The Dragons Rhondorf are a changed team from some weeks ago. “All know their roles now. We needed to have our backs to the wall to finally start playing. Everybody has stepped up especially the German players”, warned Zygimantas Riauka.

The first quarter was a real old fashioned slug fest as fans witnessed eight lead changes as no team could escape from the other. Waller scored early, but he would only add seven points on the evening on a dismal 2/11 shooting, but it didn´t matter since the German role players were able to come through again like last week. Last week the German role players scored combined 47 points and against BBC Coburg it was even better with 55 points. Riauka did score 7 points in the first quarter, but his four turnovers hurt. He did step it up getting three blocks in the first minutes. BBC Coburg went inside a lot to ex Dresden center Max Von Der Wippel. Ex Phoenix Hagen forward Julian Jasinski was back after missing last weeks game and nailed a trey for the 12-11 advantage. But BBC Coburg pounced on the miserable ball handling of the Dragons Rhondorf and forced turnovers and got baskets from French guard Kevin Franceschi and Von Der Wippel for the 19-15 advantage. Rhondorf had little intensity on defense and always allowed easy scores. Franceschi was hot and consistent and scored four more points in the last minute. But Rhondorf got some key buckets from David Falkenstein and Julian Jasinski to trail only 23-19. “Both teams battled in the first quarter. Everybody was sacrificing for the other. Even if you didn´t score, everybody did what was best for the team”, stressed Zygimantas Riauka. BBC Coburg shot 44% from the field and 50% from outside and had eight rebounds and four turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 44% form the field and 20% from outside and got 11 rebounds and had 6 turnovers.

The second quarter also remained tight, but the Dragons Rhondorf found some daylight and were able to capture the slim and lead and hold it until halftime. The Dragons Rhondorf finally upped their defensive intensity and pulled out a zone which paid dividends. The Dragons Rhondorf stopped BBC Coburg on their first seven possessions and were able to execute on offense going on a vital 12-0 run to extend their lead to 31-23. In the Dragons run, they got all their points from their German players. Big man Alex Moeller was like reborn as he scored six points in a row as he made an offensive rebound and put back, scored on transition and got the perfect lob pass from 36 year old guard Anish Sharda. Moeller would finish with 19 points and was this games Bo Meister who gave the team that German spark last weekend against Wurzburg. Moeller was 9/10 from the field and Riauka had a hard time refraining for the Moeller compliments. “He is such a hard worker. He is young and it doesn´t always translate to the game, but tonight he had a fantastic game. He is a work horse in practice and often kicks my butt. I am glad his  hard work is paying off now”, warned Zygimantas Riauka. Rhondorf also got a transition basket from ex Telekom Baskets Bonn 2 guard David Falkenstein and a step back shot from captain Joe Koschahde. Rhondorf was playing unselfish team basketball and was getting out on transition. BBC Coburg finally got their first field goal at the 4,56 minute mark as Franceschi connected for two points. BBC Coburg started to come back getting to the free throw line, but captain Joe Koschade stepped it up a notch scoring seven points and keeping Rhondorf on top. Ex Gotha guard Dino Dizdarevic hit a three at the end as Chase Adams made the kick out pass staying on Rhondorf´s tail trailing only 41-37 at the break. “We did a good job going to zone and getting many stops. We executed on offense and were all locked in. The secret to our zone was that they missed”, smiled Zygimantas Riauka. The Dragons Rhondorf shotb 51% form the field and 22% from the three point line and had 23 rebounds and 7 turnovers while BBC Coburg shot 36% from the field and 30% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 6 turnovers.

The Dragons Rhondorf kept the lead in the third quarter never leading by more than six points as they couldn´t shake BBC Coburg. In the first few minutes each team´s big man were battling and getting baskets in the paint as Von Der Wippel and Riauka scored twice as the Dragons Rhondorf had the slim 45-43 advantage. After a long time BBC Coburg would get the lead back on a Adams pull up jumper 47-46, but that wouldn´t last for long. The Dragons Rhondorf had a deeper rotation which featured better rested players and production resting on many shoulders. Rhondorf went on a quick 8-2 run to extend their lead to 55-49. Riauka made one of many offensive rebounds and put backs and then made a great play on the next possession. Riauka has listed his outlet pass as a hidden strength despite showing it on so many occasions this season. After a BBC Coburg miss he grabbed the rebound and turned around quickly making a football bomb touchdown pass to Bo Meister as a Brady to Edelman connection wouldn´t have looked better. ”I love the outlet pass. I always look up after the rebound like Jocic. I love his game and want to play like him”, warned Zygimantas Riauka. Jasinski also dropped a trey in the run. Despite a Von der Wippel lay in, Rhondorf continued to get good support from Meister who hit a three and Riauka made free throws for the 60-52 lead. However the Dragons Rhondorf closed out the third quarter in ugly fashion. They allowed an unwanted 6-0 run in a matter of 30-40 seconds and Rhondorf coughed up the ball twice which led to two baskets from Franceschi and one from Adams as Rhondorf´s lead shrunk to 60-58. “We had bad turnovers at the end and was pushing to much wanting to make the home run play instead of slowing down the play. Despite being up only two points, we were there mentally and wanted to win”, stressed Zygimantas Riauka. “We wanted to put up a good fight, because we wanted to show everyone that we didn´t belong in the playdowns. We fought back and came back at the end”, added Chase Adams. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 44% from the field and 24% from the parking lot and got 39 rebounds and had 12 turnovers while BBC Coburg shot 38% form the field and 21% from the parking lot and got 24 rebounds and had 8 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf had another super start as their zone continued to annoy BBC Coburg not letting them find a rhythm. BBC Coburg was stopped on their first six possessions rushing their offense too much while the Dragons Rhondorf were able to take advantage of that getting six points and extending their lead to 66-58. In the run, the Dragons Rhondorf got a steal and coast to coast sprint from the 36 year old fountain of youth Anish Sharda, Alex Moeller hit a 20 footer and Riauka made another offensive rebound and put back. BBC Coburg finally got on the board in the fourth quarter with their first field goal at the 6,40 minute mark as Adams connected on a pull up jumper to cut Rhondorf´s lead to 66-60. Rhondorf had the momentum after that quick start and then made the next attack on BBC Coburg going on a 9-2 run to lead 75-62. In the run, Alex Moeller continued to be a force scoring five points, Falkenstein scored inside and Riauka made another offensive rebound and put back. Despite having a seven man rotation, BBC Coburg had some energy left for a small 5-2 run to cut Rhondorf´s lead to 75-67 as BBC Coburg got to the free throw line. With time running down the Dragons Rhondorf could keep the healthy lead as Alex Moeller never let up, but played hard until the end scoring too more buckets and Waller also scored. “Our zone continued to be great as they struggled and we continued to get good looks”, warned Zygiantas Riauka. “When Von Der Wippel.  fouled out, it messed us up as we had to go small. We didn´t have enough big guys to compete on the boards”, stressed Chase Adams. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Zygimantas Riauka with 22 points and 27 boards and Alex Moeller added 19 points while BBC Coburg was led by Kevin Franceschi with 22 points. Chase Adams added 13 points and 10 assists while Max Von Der Wippel had 12 points. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 47% form the field and 19% from outside and hauled down 53 rebounds and had 15 turnovers while BBC Coburg shot 38% from the field and 14% form outside and hauled down 31 rebounds and had 11 turnovers.

In the last two months with the Fraport Skyliners Jason Clark has racked up new amazing experiences in his basketball career that will most likely stay with him for the rest of his life, but no matter how bitter, dramatic or terrifying each experience was, nothing can rattle a Jason Clark anymore. In January he suffered a tough loss to the Crailsheim Merlins and witnessed undersized point guard Dewayne Russel go off on the Fraport Skyliners in the third quarter scoring 10 unanswered points while he himself added five points showing that he can score in bunches like one of his role models Jamal Crawford. But the 10 unanswered points in the third quarter by Russell set the tone for Crailsheim having a firm grip on the game and winning in the end. After the loss, Clark the true professional he is didn´t let his nerves get to him, but remained the true basketball gentleman when describing the Russell show. ““He is an aggressive good scorer. He has a good handle on the ball, is quick and has a good pull up jumper. He is a real competitor and should have a hell of a career”, warned Jason Clark. In February, Clark witnessed the amazing buzzer beater by his teammate Quantez Robertson who got the quick pass from Tyler Larson and drilled the ball home leaving Oldenburg legend Rickey Paulding thinking “Hmmm I better latch on another season, I have to get revenge on Tez next season”. And in March, he took part in a training camp in Mallorca and jumped off cliffs into the Mediterranean Sea with no regrets. These are all examples of the numerous overwhelming experiences he has seen, but nothing gets him off guard these days. Being able to be calm in all basketball situations and having success in his career can be traced back to his Georgetown days, because he was confronted with such amazing meetings and experiences that he could charge his young teammates like Garai Zeeb, Trae Holder or Elijah Clarance and would probably make good money as well. Clark could hold his own public speaking sessions with his teammates and even some of the older guys might get big eyes when he tells him of his encounters when he was in school at Georgetown. For the younger guys hearing about the NBA legends he had dealings with would be just as enlightening for young girls today meeting a Storm Reid. “One of the great things about having been able to have gone to Georgetown was just being able to see so many athletes and stars in my time there. The Thompson coaching staff knew so many people. I remember playing in front of and shaking Barack Obama´s hand during the Duke game. I didn´t really talk to him, but meeting him was huge. Dwayne Wade hung out with us. He sat with us for two hours and told us about the NBA and stressed to us to always be focused in school. The guy was so down to earth. Chris Paul gave us private sessions on the court. Demarkus Couins visited us. I remember meeting Allen Iverson in the summer. I remember being in the gym and seeing Iverson walk in. Pound for pound he was one of the greatest to play. Just watching him when I grow up and then having him in front of me was unbelievable”, stressed Jason Clark. Jason Clark is in his seventh professional season and after meeting so many stars in school, nothing rattles him anymore these days after being served up a Barack, AI and Dwade on a platter in school.

                Jason Clark was born on January 16^th in Arlington, Virginia and got his first basketball training at Bishop O´Connell high school where he made a name for himself along other guys that would have stellar career´s like Marcus Ginyard, Melo Trimble and Kendall Marshall. The American then proceeded to go to the well known Georgetown(NCAA) in 2018 and had an enriching four year career winning the All-Big East Sportsmanship Award in 2012. He was able to develop his game there at his own pace and was able to improve his scoring average each season as well as rebounds. He not only met the NBA stars, but had numerous teammates that would later go on to reach the NBA. As a freshman he shared a locker room with Dajuan Summers and Greg Monroe. In his sophomore season guys like Henry Sims, Hollis Thompson and Jerrelle Benimon followed. In his senior year guys like Otto Porter, and Greg Whittington came In his senior year, it was no uncommon occurence for him to be in the starting five with players like  Hollis Thompson, Otto Porter, Henry Sims and Greg Whittington. The big mystery about his four year stay was why the school didn´t get any farther than reaching the 2010 Big East tournament final? “ I don’t really know and it is hard to point out a reason. We had all the pieces and talent, but just couldn´t get over the hump. We had some tough games and some teams that got hot. However Georgetown will always have good players and success“, stressed Jason Clark. In his senior season at Georgetown he played  33 games averaging 14.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT: 32.2%, FT: 75.0%. He scored in double figures in 26 games. Some of his most memorable games was gunning Depaul for 31 points, hitting Memphis for 26 points in a 91-88 win, netting 26 points in the 73-70 victory over Marquette and getting close to a triple double in the 69-49 win against St Johns where he produced 15 points, 8 rebounds and 8 dimes. He will never forget John Thompson the third for helping him get groomed for the pro ranks. “The most important thing that I learned from him was that you must be a professional with everything on and off the court. When you are young, you don’t always want to listen, but just play, but he was able to get the message to me. He taught us to be great people. That was important for me going overseas to be prepared for diversity and up and downs“, added Jason Clark.

        Clark began his professional basketball career in 2012, but before making the trek overseas to Belgium he took part at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft) averaging 11.0ppg, 5.3rpg, 4.0apg, 2.0spg. He then signed with Generali Okapi Aalstar (Belgium-Ethias League) playing 9 games averaging 15.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 69.7%; and played 6 EuroChallenge games averaging 15.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.8apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 86.2%. He needed no adjustment period and quickly found his rhythm becoming a central scorer for the club in Belgium where he hit Liege for 22 points and in the Eurochallenge scored 25 points against M Hainaut. The American had the unbelievable luck as a rookie to be teammates with top guard Demond Mallet who had a stellar career in Europe winning the ULEB Cup with Badalona and the BBL title with Bamberg and has the distinction of being a cousin to Shaq. Having had the opportunity to be teammates with Mallet and soak up as much as possible is something that is still very important to him today. “Demond is a veteran and I learned so much from him especially about the business side. He taught me that as an American, you have to pay attention to yourself and your body. Often teams try to rush you back from an injury before you are 100%. He taught me that you have to come back when you are ready. On the court he was a scorer. He was MVP, won titles and did it all. I was a big fan of him. He didn’t tell so many Shaq stories”, smiled Jason Clark. The American figured out quickly that the style of basketball in Belgium suited him very well at an early juncture in his career and returned playing for Belgacom Spirou Charleroi (Belgium-Ethias League). His second season turned out to be a sort of a sophomore jinx as he averaged only 8.2ppg, 2.7rpg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 26.9%, FT: 65.6%. But his injury wasn´t so easy to get around as it effected his play. “That was tough for me coming back from a long injury. I was just blessed to get back on the court after rehabbing a whole year. My stats weren’t that great, but I just wanted to get my feet wet again. It seemed like it was a set back, but it was a great step”, warned Jason Clark. There wasn´t too much memorable from the scoring front, but he did hit Antwerpen for 11 points on two occasions in the playoffs.

        The American has mostly been a guy that has consistently been on one club per season, but in the 2014-2015 season, he saw what it was like living out of a suitcase as he played in Germany, Belgium and Turkey. He began the season in Germany with BG Goettingen helping out for injured players having a 8 week contract and played 4 games averaging 11.5ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.3apg. It was a new experience playing in the more skilled BBL and even today he raves about his ex coach Johan Roijakkers. “He is a very intense coach and he knew how to motivate his players to be locked in at all times. You thought that he was playing himself. That is what I liked most about him”, stressed Jason Clark. In 2014, he looked very fondly back on his two month stay in Goettingen and being teammates with ex NBA and NCAA champion Khalid El-Amin. There was one thing he learned from him that he has shown this season in the BBL in terms of knowing how to take control of a game. “I remember watching him at UCONN winning the NCAA title. When I heard he was playing with BG Goettingen my first reaction was “Is he still playing”? He has had a great career in Europe. It was a great experience for me playing behind him in Goettingen and just learning how he can take over a game and I hope I could take some of his competitiveness with me. Learning from him is vital because everyone wants to reach the next level and get to the Euroleague or NBA“, warned Jason Clark. He quickly found a team after BG Goettingen and returned back to his old stomping ground Belgium and played with Okapi Aalstar (Belgium-Scooore League) playing 5 games averaging 13.2ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.6apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 64.5%, 3FGP: 15.4%, FT: 74.1%; and played 6 EuroChallenge games averaging 16.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.5apg, 2FGP: 53.0%, 3FGP: 18.2%, FT: 80.8%. Gordon Herbert probably still had his 20 point game against Frankfurt on his mind as he decided in reeling in the American last summer. This was another short stay and he then moved on to Mamak Belediye Ankara D.S.I. (Turkey-TB2L) playing 22 games: Score-5(22.0ppg), 4.1rpg, 3.3apg, Steals-2(2.3spg), FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 83.8%. Despite moving around so much and not showing that team consistency, he did display consistency in his stats and remembers this season with fondness. “I was moving around a lot during that season because my first two jobs I was there on an injury replacement for two players until they were healthy to play. But that year was really special for me. I stayed consistent with my play and it helped me because all three leagues were different styles of play so it was good for me to experience all of that in a short amount of time. It helped me grow as a player“, added Jason Clark.

        In his fourth professional season he decided to hang on another season with Mamak Belediye Ankara D.S.I. (Turkey-TBL) playing 12 games averaging  20.0ppg, 5.1rpg, 3.7apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 64.3%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 82.2%. It was another very positive offensive season for the American and he set the tone on the defensive end being a real lock down defender. It was a season where he could experience a new culture, but somehow his heart was still in Belgium, a league where he was always at home.  A year ago he commented on why he always kept returning back to Belgium to play the game he loves. “Traveling to many different countries and playing so many games is a blessing. I think the Belgian league is a great fit for me but I also know other countries are also. I love the Belgian league and I felt like I had a lot to prove especially after being one of the best players my rookie season and having it cut short by a season ending injury”, stressed Jason Clark. He had his best professional season in fifth professional season with  Port of Antwerp Giants (Belgium-Euromillions League, starting five) as he played 40 games: Score-2(15.9ppg), 3.6rpg, Assists-5(4.5apg), Steals-4(1.5spg), FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 82.0%;and played 11 FIBA Europe Cup games averaging 14.8ppg, 3.4rpg, 3.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 58.7%, 3PT: 44.0%, FT: 92.0%. This was the season where he shifted to point guard and showed his leadership qualities leading the team to a Super cup title, reaching the semi-finals and grabbing the MVP trophy. He reflected on that season before the 2017-2018 season when he played an exhibition game in Frankfurt. “That was my first full season in Belgium and I was in the perfect position. Playing under a great coach that believed in me and put his trust in me to play the PG position. It wasn’t an easy road but I learned the position pretty fast. We won the super cup (2nd time winning it) I also won with my team my rookie season in Aalst. Our team last year finished 2nd in the rankings and made it to the semifinals. With those great accomplishments also came with a league MVP trophy for me. But it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the great coaches and great players I had around me”, warned Jason Clark. The American obviously couldn´t have done everything by himself and he never forgot to laud his teammates. “Playing with Mike Smith was a great experience for me. I’ve also been on the other side when it came to seeing him on the court and he is a fierce competitor that gives his all and is always willing to do whatever the team needs done. His leadership for our team was huge and it was also huge for me to have that kind of experience helping me grow as a Player. Playing with Ryan was great! His one of the best rebounders I’ve seen in a lot of years. He has an instinct for find a way to collect boards and get easy points for the team. What I saw most improve for him was his jump shot. He developed a 3 pointer that can definitely help prolong his career. He’s also a great guy off the court probably one of the funniest guys I’ve been around also. A great locker room guy“, stressed Jason Clark. Last season the American remained with Telenet Giants Antwerp (Belgium-Euromillions League) and he helped lead the team to the Belgium final. His stats in the Belgium league were average at 8.8ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 88.5%, but his game took off in the international club play in 6 BCL games averaging 14.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.2apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 68.8%; and played 6 FIBA Europe Cup games averaging 14.7ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.3apg, FGP: 67.9%, 3PT: 45.0%, FT: 85.2%

                The American came to the Fraport Skyliners in 2018 and it was his last two solid seasons and his shift to playing point guard that had him on Gordon Herbert´s shopping list. Before the season started, the club looked promising on paper having new players like him, Brady Heslip and Erik Murphy added to the experienced core of players like Quantez Robertson and Shawn Huff. The team didn´t find their rhythm at the start mostly due to the fact that they didn´t defend as a team. In between injuries always plagued the team and later Heslip and Murphy went and new players Tyler Larson and Tra Holder came in. This all had a big effect on the team development of a team chemistry. It wasn´t easy for Clark who was not playing his natural position at point guard. He had a rough start. It was his first full season in the easyCredit BBL and he had to figure out the league and how to run the team. He got criticism for not being a real point guard. He had some very good games at the point guard position where he displayed his leadership in the wins over Rasta Vechta, Telekom Baskets Bonn and MBC. At the end of the day, he understood that a point guard is mostly measured by the amount of wins. He agreed that in a way that his point guard play was overshadowed by the play of the team that didn´t always help him. “You could say that my point guard play was effected a bit by the team play. But at the end of the day, no matter how you look at it, if you win they love you and if you lose, you get blamed. I thought I played well as point guard. I tried not to get discouraged, but just stay locked in and do whatever I could do to be successful”, warned Jason Clark. Since the arrival of Tyler Larson, Clark has moved back to his natural position shooting guard and can focus now on scoring and credits the pick up of Larson as helping his game immensely. “I feel like I´m not necessarily more comfortable now than at the point guard position. The point guard position is the hardest position in basketball. We compliment each other well. He draws attention and finds me and I do the same for him”, stressed Jason Clark.

            With less than two months to go in the easyCredit BBL regular season, it is a up hill battle for the Fraport Skyliners as they will have to win way many more games than they lose to secure a playoff spot. One of the reasons why the Fraport Skyliners were in no mans land of the standings was because of their defense. Team defense, communication, rotations and one on one defense had been huge sore spots in the defense something that surely had head coach Gordon Herbert tossing and turning on some nights in the last months. The 2000 BBL cup winner will have to make drastic improvements on defense in the last two months, if they want to secure one of the last 8 spots. The team has the defensive potential and with Quantez Robertson as the anchor, BBL cup winner Akeem Vargas covering the wing and Jason Clark covering the passing lanes and everything in between. Clark has been more of an offensive gem, but whereas his defense was a hidden strength in 2014, now it seems to have caught on more. He prides his defense after top NBA player Kwani Leonard as he adores how he covers so much ground and his passion and energy on the floor for 48 minutes as if he was still a 17 year old. Even if his defense hasn´t gotten the credit it should have this season based on the unsatisfactory team defense, he is very thankful for having had Gordon Herbert around and learning from him. “Coming into a very talented league, he always pushed me to be a lock down defender. He never questioned my offense, but always stressed to be locked in on defense on every possession. The biggest thing that coach did this season was lighting a fire in me in my defense. He got on me a lot this season, but it was for my best. He knew that I was capable of being a very good defender”, added Jason Clark. But it hasn´t been just Herbert that has helped him grow on the defensive end, but also captain Quantez Robertson. Tez´s age and presence has been more than half the rent for Clark being that lock down defender this season. “Tez has been one of the best defenders I have played with and against. So often he looks out of position, but then there he is getting a loose ball that you never thought he could of gotten. He is always looking ahead and he sees so much. Tez outsmarts people and I pay attention to that. He is a great communicator and stressed always that you have to bring it each day. When you see a guy at that age giving his all each day, you have no choice but to give your all each day”, warned Jason Clark. He has really taken defense to heart this season and wants to become that complete player with the Fraport Skyliners. “At this point in my career, I want to continue to move forward and to be able to that, I want to become a better defender. I have shown everywhere that I can be a scorer. Now I want to be that lock down defender that a team can count on. I want to take that step this season with Frankfurt”, warned Jason Clark.

            With the season in jeopardy with the playoffs being a reach, the Fraport Skyliners returned after an ugly tough win with a big win in Goettingen, the ex team of Clark. Ok on a night where the team rattled home 18 three´s, Clark led quietly with 12 points and 4 assists in 22 minutes of play as he had four other teammates scoring in double figures. Even if the team experienced a huge win in Goettingen, the season still has been a tough one for the Fraport Skyliners and Jason Clark, the American is still able to be comical at times and remembers no matter how tough times have been nothing can rattle him anymore. When asked if a Garai Zeeb, Tra Holder and Elijah Clarance are the young bucks and Quantez Robertson is the old buck, then who is he? Clark took a short sigh, but had the perfect punch line and as usual had the fitting words for the importance of the Skyliner lifer Tez. “I would be the older cousin. We both have experience and the young bucks look up to us, but even if I have experience, Tez is five years older than me and I also look up to him. Even if Tez and I have seen a lot in our career´s, he is still a mentor to me. If I have questions about anything, I still go to him, because he always knows what is happening”, smiled Jason Clark. He can be earnest and despite not being rattled by anything anymore, he has seen so much and can be very direct with his words, but Quantez Robertson and he think alike and most likely would have said the same thing after the loss to Alba Berlin. ““This loss will push us harder. We know that we have a tough road ahead, but we all believe that we can reach the playoffs. We will take it one game at a time and push as hard as we can to reach the playoffs”, warned Jason Clark. At Georgetown, he was a young buck and was soaking in unending advice, but now at age 29, he can also take firm praise and not only criticism about the point guard position. Clark might have thought that he had seen it all at Georgetown, but nothing gets to him anymore. At the beginning of the season in only his second game in a Skyliners jersey, he was a central figure in the team´s first Eurocup win in seemingly ages as they nipped Fiat Torino 88-85 as he dropped 16 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, dished out 6 assists and scooped away 2 steals and filled up the stat sheet like a mini Westbrook. After the game an elderly gentleman of 78 years approached and it wasn´t a lost old man on the court, but Larry Brown who had just coached one of his first games in Europe. Clark most likely was expecting a quick shake of the hands and the old man mutter nice game, a normal occurrence after the game, but so much more came. “Larry Brown told me I was a great player. Coming from him who has coached so many great players, it meant a lot to me. It was a great feeling. Obviously it was cool meeting so many great players at Georgetown, but my Brown meeting in Frankfurt is on my check list of greatest meetings. I shock his hand and I will always remember that moment”, stressed Jason Clark. He was able to master that unforgettable moment, because he has seen that so often in his career If the Fraport Skyliners produce a great stretch run now in the last months, that won´t rattle Clark either, because he has been served up too many amazing experiences in his basketball life.

is a 28 year old 190cm guard that is playing his sixth professional season and sixth in Germany. He played his first two professional seasons in the Pro A with the Giessen 46ers and then helped the team move to the BBL in 2015. He then moved to the Telekom Baskets Bonn where he is in his third season. Currently he has played 115 easyCredit BBL games and 29 Basketball Champions League games and 18 Fiba Europe Cuo games. He began his basketball career at Cinnaminson High School and played at Temple (NCAA) from 2008-2013 playing a total of 126 NCAA games. He was invited to play for team Germany at the 2019 easyCredit BBL allstar game and spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball

TJ thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Before we talk 2019 Allstar game, let’s talk about your Telekom Baskets Bonn season. How tough was leaving the Basketball Champions League and Fiba Europe Cup stage? Do you feel like this disappointment could spark the club the rest of the way?

It was tough and we were disappointed. But we learned a valuable lesson that we must be ready to go each and every game. We cannot take anyone lightly. 

The Telekom Baskets Bonn have really turned their season around. You had a tough stretch in December 2018, but have a strong 8-2 record in 2019. What has been the secret to the current success? 

There have been various things that have contributed to the recent success. Too many to list. But one broad goal in the last few months was to have better communication as a team. 

The Telekom Baskets Bonn score a lot of points, but also allow a lot of points. What has been the biggest challenge on defense this season and what does the team need to clean up to have a better chance of having success in the last months?

I feel like we have taken steps defensively in the past months as well. We have to be more consistent throughout the game and we need to rebound better. Guards have to do a better job helping the bigs on the boards. 

How has the whole Telekom Baskets Bonn culture changed with the departure of Predrag Krunic and arrival of Chris O’Shea? What adjustments has the new coach done? 

There has been a few adjustments, but I guess our opponents will have to scout that themselves haha.

Let’s talk about your teammates. Can some one tell me why Josh Mayo wasn’t added to team International. He is having a great season shooting 53% from outside. How has he developed the last two seasons? 

I’m not sure, but he’s deserving. It seems like he can’t miss this season. He’s always been a great leader and given the team whatever we need. 

Ex NBA player James Webb hasn’t been the crushing scorer, but he has been valuable in other area’s of the Bonn game. Please talk about those area’s where he has excelled most and what do you appreciate most about his game? 

Webb is so versatile. He can grab a rebound, push the ball up the floor, go coast to coast, and finish. He’s also a guy that can get hot at any time during the game. 

Martin Breunig has had his BBL breakout season this year. Could one say he has been a late bloomer and how is he a different player this season in comparison to last season? 

We saw glimpses of what Martin can do at the end of last season. I’m glad he’s taken the next step and I’ve really enjoyed playing with him. 

Recently the Telekom Baskets Bonn picked up versatile ex Euroleague player Nate Linhart. He hasn’t had the massive stats, but do you see him playing more of a role in the stretch run? 

Nate is an experienced player and everyone who knows the league is aware of how valuable he is. He’s helped us a lot so far, and I think it will continue even more down the stretch. 

Let’s talk about your game. Your BBL experience has been a valuable learning experience. After your first season with Bonn you were locked in reading situations and knowing when to be a playmaker. How much has Josh Mayo continued to help you develop as a combo guard? 

Playing alongside of Josh has really helped me out in a few ways. Other teams are so worried about him shooting (rightfully so) that it opens up a lot for me and allows me to create. Also, watching him play with the confidence he does has really taught me a lot in that aspect. He has no fear out on the court, and I’ve really learned from that. 

You have improved your stats each season in Bonn. How do you feel has your game continued to develop in your time with the Telekom Baskets Bonn?

I think I have developed into more of a point guard during my time in Bonn. 

You had very solid assist averages in all three competitions. What do you feel was a big challenge as a playmaker in your first Bonn season and how are you a different playmaker now in season three? 

Being confident in myself and looking for my own shot or drive to the basket. The more of a threat you are to score, the easier it is to get assists. 

You will be turning 29 this year. As a four year BBL guy now on what things are you focusing most on continuing to improve on the floor?

My basketball IQ and shooting ability. Will have to rely on those things when the athleticism starts to decline. 

You will be representing Team National this season at the 2019 BBL allstar game. Is it a strange feeling playing for Germany and what do you appreciate most about this experience?

It’s not too strange to me. I’ve been looked at as a German for my whole professional career, so its normal now. I just appreciate being able to take part in a fun event with some of the top talent in the league.

How special is it being together with Bonn teammate Yorman Polas on Team National. Many say he is the best defender in the BBL. How much have you benefited from him on the defensive end in the last three years?

Yorman can change the whole game. He can make the other team’s best offensive player look like they weren’t even on the court. It’s amazing. 

What do you like most about the format team Team National vs Team international. Do you feel like you and John Bryant have a special motivation playing against the other Americans? 

The format is cool, and I like it. I think John will just be out there trying to have fun like the rest of us. 

Team National have a lot of talented players playing, but also some big time veterans in Euroleague player Danilo Barthel and Per Guenter. What are your earliest memories of playing against these guys when you came up with Giessen? 

They both played on great teams that year when I was with Giessen. I just remember getting our butts kicked by both teams haha 

Team international is stocked with many great players. You have had the pleasure of playing against Mr Oldenburg Rickey Paulding the last four years. If you could only pick one basketball trait that you would love to pick up from him what would it be? 

Agelessness. The guy never takes a step back performance wise. 

Obviously the Allstar game is all about fun and not playing defense. Since the rules are a bit lax, could we await to see you releasing something from your trick basket or will you be sticking to basics mostly? 


My trick basket is rather empty at the moment. Probably just the basics.

What kind of game can we await? It will probably be a high scoring game to entertain the fans. What is your prediction of the score? 

134-130 for Team National

What is your list of five all-time best teammates you have had in your career? 

Josh mayo Juan Fernandez Yorman polas Bartolo Benni Lischka Julian Gamble Eric Palm (6th man) 

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? 

I believe he can be. He seems like he has the right mindset and mentality. And obviously he has the talent 

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

i don’t mind the confidence at all. Not sure I agree, but it doesn’t bother me that he said that. He is definitely very close. 

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

I don’t like the cross sports GOAT debates. You can’t compare. What about Floyd Mayweather? Usain bolt? Wayne Gretzky? 

What was the last movie that you saw? 

Captain Marvel

Thanks TJ for the chat.