Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Ivan Kharchenkov´s first meeting in Frankfurt in 2021

For some reason, it never interested me to do a google search to see what other famous people had their birthdays with me until now where names like Sophia Loren, Scarlet Johannson, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, David Hasselhoff, and Robert Downey Jr popped up. I actually found out at a young age which famous person shared the same birthday as me. When you buy Ice Hockey cards and studied stats as much as I did, it was no surprise that I learned somewhere around the age of 7 or 8 years old that legendary Montreal Canadian Guy Lafleur shared the same birthday with me on September 20th. I remember him being my favorite player as a kid even if I was a Boston Bruins fan, Peter McNabb was a close second. I remember wearing a Red like Canadians jersey and having written Lafleur on the back of his jersey. My favorite birthday memory as a young kid had to be when I met Franz Beckenbauer. My God father Aleko who was a Greek business man that lived in New York city and knew much of the high society including football legends Pele and Franz Beckenbauer who were at the end of their careers and were playing for the New York Cosmos. After school, My mom said let´s go we are taking the Eastern airlines shuttle to New York and there will be your birthday surprise. I was 11 and had no idea. We went to a high rise apartment building on 5th avenue and entered a room and there he was the “Kaiser”. In 1980, I knew little about world football, but knew that Germany had won the World Cup in 1974 and Beckenbauer was the best Libero in the world. He was very polite and signed many autographs and took pictures with me. It is definitely a moment I will never forget. It then took me many more years to discover that ex Georgetown guard Ashanti Cook also had the same birthday as me in 2006 when he played with Braunschweig and some years later after covering ex Fraport Skyliner and world cup champion Johannes Voigtmann that he also blew out the candles on the 20th of September. I found another person in 2021 that also shared my birthday and that is current FC Bayern Munich guard Ivan Kharchenkov (198-SG-2006). He is without a doubt one of the most talented and best German players from the birth year 2006. He recently won the Bronze medal at the Euro U-20 and last season became the youngest player to play in an easyCredit BBL game. I have watched his basketball journey since he turned 15 years old 2 years ago. He like me also has a favorite childhood memory around the same time as me. “I remember when I turned 10 that my parents got me a Steph Curry package that included a back pack, jersey, long sleeve and shorts”, said Ivan Kharchenkov.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Franz Beckenbauer in New York city in 1980

I reach Ivan Kharchenkov who is proud of Germany having won the World Cup, but wouldn´t necessarily have predicted they would win before the tournament started at 10:30 in the morning 2 days before his birthday and the day after FC Bayern Munich won the Magenta Cup having beat Euroleague teams Bologna and Belgrad. He is in a good mood and always prepared to talk basketball with me. The roster that FC Bayern Munich have produced this season is simply incredible. The pick ups of ex NBA players Carsen Edwards and Leandro Bolmaro as well as guys like Dino Radoncic has shown that they want to get back to their winning ways. Keeping guys like Andi Obst, Isaac Bonga, Freddie Gillespie and Nick Weiler-Babb demonstrates they want to keep some continuity and chemistry from last season. But the icing on the cake was hauling in ex NBA player Serge Ibaka. Is there a sense of urgency to win titles and blow everyone away in the easyCredit BBL? “I wouldn´t necessarily say urgency. I mean we always want to win. We have a great coach and great new players. We feel no pressure”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. Making crazy comparisons don´t always seem logical especially when you want to compare Germany´s chemistry that helped them win the World Cup to what FC Bayern Munich could develop this season, but in basketball anything is possible. “Germany had a great team, but why not develop a special chemistry like that? We have many good individual players. These new players are prepared to play for the team. We have unselfish players”, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov.

The young kid who once scored 84 points against Bamberg when he was 12 and is a 3 level scorer has had a remarkable pre-season. He scored 11 points against Real Madrid and got substantial minutes every time and played against many Euroleague teams. “My self-confidence continues to grow. Coach Laslo is testing a lot and also isn´t playing the main guys too much. That has allowed me and Martin Kalu to play more. I have realized that this is a lot different level than the Pro B”, stated Ivan Kharchenkov. Despite being out for 4 months last season, his game progressed. This season it would be beneficial if he could stay healthy. Already in pre-season he has realized that the Euroleague is tough, but one he will be able to adjust to with time. “I wanted to see where I stood at that level. I noticed that I don´t have the experience yet and can´t stand out yet, but it´s getting better. I feel like I will be good in the Euroleague in some years”, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov. Last weekend in the Magenta Cup, he battled against top Euroleague point guard Milos Teodosic and found out that his IQ is at an incredible level. “I played against him on pick and roll and he is still a good player despite not being the youngest anymore. He always had a high IQ, but it seems like with age it´s even better now. He doesn´t have many moves, but just uses what he needs to be successful with. It is difficult to stop him”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. He obviously has profited by having daily battles in practice with Carsen Edwards and Nick Weiler-Babb so he will be best prepared when the season commences. “They don´t care how old I am. They just treat me like a regular BBL player. They answer all my questions. Communication is important. They give me vital tips and tricks about how to defend and movement. It´s the little things”, added Ivan Kharchenkov. Soon when world champion Andi Obst is back from doing the promotion rounds, the young 17 year old will hear the constant swish of Obst three´s from the parking lot. Could that help give him added confidence with his own three? “We will see. Maybe I will get less confidence. When you see how much he hits, you realize that you still have to do a lot of work in the shooting department. But I do look forward to guarding him”, commented Ivan Kharchenkov.

Now that Ivan Kharchenkov is 17 how does he in general feel about getting a year older? “To tell you the truth, I´m not really as excited about getting presents despite my young age. I know it´s a special day for everyone, but for me it just means I´m a year older”, commented Ivan Kharchenkov. It is interesting to note that he can´t really remember any great birthday parties as a kid. I can remember so many. I can remember having horses in my back yard or going mini golfing and perhaps the highlight was inviting my friends to a Redsox game where a bigger kid stole the foul ball I had grabbed. It isn´t too surprising to note that he was instilled with that normal basketball routine already as a kid. “My birthday is during the pre-season. I have school and practice. It was difficult having a kid´s party during school and practice. I really don´t remember having a birthday party as a kid”, said Ivan Kharchenkov. He had many solid games as a 16 year old recently against Euroleague teams. Were those performances by him like a birthday gift for him? “No not really. If I didn´t play well, then I got no gift. I had to earn my gifts”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. I don´t really have any serious birthday wishes anymore. I mean if I would have to choose, I would ask for a life long supply of pop overs from my favorite Boston restaurant. It´s no surprise that for the young Bayern Phenom any gift have to do with basketball. “I would like to have a dinner or training with Michael Jordan or Steph Curry”, smiled Ivan Kharchenkov. One thing is for sure gifts or not, one thing that Ivan and I will forever be linked and share a birthday on the same day. And nobody can take that from us.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Braydon Hobbs during their first encounter in Giessen in 2015

Getting that first impression of someone can last a life time. I have covered thousands of professional ball players during the last 3 decades and some guys just stick in my mind forever especially that first time I met them. I definitely will never forget where I met Pau Gasol for the first time or even a Kevin McHale or a Malcolm Delaney, but there are also other less known players that I will never forget where I saw them for the first time. That special player is Braydon Hobbs (196-PG-1989, college: Bellarmine). A guy that never reached the NBA like the previous 3, but still made the Euroleague which many can´t say they ever did. The thing that makes Hobbs´s story so charming is that he had to pay his dues for many years already starting at division 2 school Bellarmine before making the big show overseas. I will never forget that first meeting in Giessen in 2015 when he was playing for Nurnberg and I interviewed him after a game I had done play by play for during the pro A playoffs. His smile and warm and comfortable way by which he presented himself was so positive. It felt like I had known him for years. Having that inviting and positive character surely helped him in his career and his chances with landing at top teams. “ Having a positive attitude was always a part of me. Even when I was younger, I would always try to stay positive. It was not always easy but that was just who I tried to be. I think that definitely played a part of why I was able to play so long. I wanted to have a positive effect on everyone I played with”, said Braydon Hobbs. He has decided to call it quits after a stellar 11 year career that saw him win titles with FC Bayern Munich and also reach the Euroleague and ACB, the best league overseas. For the first time in 11 years, he didn´t return back to overseas as the retired life has set in. “ It’s definitely been a bit strange being home this long. It’s the longest I have been home, in 12 years, so it’s a bit foreign in that regard. Playing for more than a decade sounds crazy. It goes fast. The main reason for stepping away from basketball was my family. I have three awesome kids and they are getting a bit older now. They are starting school so it felt right to hang it up and keep them in school stateside. I definitely could have played a couple more years. The shoulder surgery I had in March did not help my situation though. Contracts were hard to come by after that surgery. I am fully recovered from the surgery and my body feels great”, stressed Braydon Hobbs. One could politely say that after reaching the Euroleague and ACB, not bad for a guy coming from the NCCA 2 ? Even if he had a great NCAA 2 career, he would have had difficulty believing someone telling him in 2012 that he would play until 2023. “I would have never thought that I would have survived in Europe for 11 years. I was a homebody and never imagined living abroad for that long. I’m glad I did it but this was not my intentions. I just wanted to give it a shot and I ended up loving it. I accomplished several goals in my 11 year career. A goal was to win a championship overseas and to play in the best competitions that Europe has to offer. The best two leagues, to play in, are Euroleague and the ACB. It was a great experience and I wouldn’t change it for anything”, said Braydon Hobbs.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Pau Gasol in Boston in 2019

Braydon Hobbs was born on May 17 th , 1989 in New Albany, Indiana where he attended New Albany high school. He was coached by Jim Shannon and left the school as the all-time assists leader and also became the first player in school history to record a triple double. He then played at Bellarmine University from 2008-2012 playing every game with a total of 133 and winning 2 GLVC titles and the NCAA 2 title in 2011. He showed rapidly that you could of given him the middle name Mr consistency as he averaged 12,0ppg, 4,0rpg and 5,0apg in his 4 year career and shot over 40% from outside twice. Head coach Scott Davenport helped him get prepared for the pro grind. “Playing for Coach Davenport was a blessing. He showed me so much on the court but even more off the court. I grew up a bit in college and he was one of the main reasons. He showed me that hard work and preparation will have you ready for anything”, said Braydon Hobbs. He got his first professional experience with the Mackay Meteors (Australia-ABA) averaging 13.9ppg , 6.2rpg , 5.1apg , 1.9spg , 2FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 44.0%, FT: 84.2% and winning the league title. He played his rookie season with Caceres Basket (Spain-LEB Gold) averaging 7.1ppg , 2.8rpg , 1.9apg , 1.6spg , FGP: 41.9%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 87.9% and in his second season played with Alba Fehervar (Hungary-division) averaging 11.9ppg , 3.1rpg , 3.6apg , 1.7spg , FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 52.3% in the Eurocup and ; 9.1ppg , 4.2rpg , 3.4apg , Steals-2 ( 2.3spg ), FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 72.7% in the Hungarian league. The beginning is never easy for Americans and some make it and some don´t. He just stuck with it. ““ I had to grind out some seasons in the early stages of my career. It wasn’t easy but my wife and I made the most of it. I don’t remember a specific situation as a wake up call but I do remember struggling like crazy that first year in Spain. I had a couple chats with my agent about the situation we were in. They were great conversations and I never looked back from there”, remembered Braydon Hobbs. Perhaps his season in Hungary was one of his most important as it showed him that he could stick with top players in the Eurocup. “The season in Hungary was extremely valuable. It was so valuable because I got European competition exposure and I had a huge role on that team. I was comfortable there because I had the same coach as the year before in Spain. I think it was a huge confidence booster for me because I knew I could play at a high level in Europe after that”, stressed Braydon Hobbs. He was teammates with ex NCAA champion with Florida Lee Humphrey who also shot out the lights in Germany with ratiopharm Ulm and will never forget his shooting. “Having Lee Humphrey as a teammate was pretty cool. I loved following him in the NCAA tourney as well. Having him on my team, after that, made it that much better. He was one of the best shooters I have ever played with. We had some battles in practice but I know I beat him, at least once, at some stage”, smiled Braydon Hobbs.

The Indiana native who lists Sam Bartolo (Australia) Karsten Tadda (Germany) Dan Oppland (Germany) Nathan Boothe (Germany) and Rickey Paulding (Germany) as his 5 best teammates of all-time then made the trek to Germany in the season of 2014-2015 and would call Nurnberg his new home. Once again he had to pay his dues as he played in the second league called Pro A, but didn´t disappoint averaging 11.9ppg , 4.1rpg , Assists-4 ( 5.9apg ), Steals-2 ( 1.9spg ), FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 40.8%, FT: 82.4%. “ The season in Nurnberg was great. I knew we were going to have a good team with the roster they had together. I was hungry to open up a new market in Europe, so that is what was motivating me to new heights. I played well there and it helped me land a spot in the BBL”, remembered Braydon Hobbs. In the summer of 2015, he won his second title down under with the Mackay Meteors (Australia-QBL, averaging 14.7ppg , 5.8rpg , 4.8apg , 1.2spg , FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 87.5% . This league was a good place to get in extra competition while staying in shape for the upcoming season. After 3 seasons as a pro, he finally made the next jump moving to first division team Giessen. Once again he took on the challenge and had a solid first season in the easyCredit BBL averaging 10.5ppg , 5.2rpg , 4.8apg , Steals-3 ( 1.7spg ), FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 42.2%, FT: 86.8%. There he was able to showcase his talent under young head coach Denis Wucherer. “ That jump to the BBL was huge for me. Denis gave me that opportunity and I can’t thank him enough. He helped me a lot during that season. My best memory with him is probably when we came back against Hagen. I made a couple solid plays and I would keep looking over at him and he would give me a fist pump. We had similar demeanors. We were never too high or too low”, stated Braydon Hobbs. That was Wucherer´s first season in the BBL with Giessen after helping them move back from the Pro A. After 24 years in the BBL, Wucherer wants to lead his new team Fraport Skyliners back to the BBL this season. “I think they definitely have a chance to make it back to the BBL. It is hard to play in Frankfurt so I think they will be just fine”, warned Braydon Hobbs. He had potent games against all the top teams like Alba Berlin, FC Bayern Munich and ratiopharm and the BBL was slowly getting to know him.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Braydon Hobbs in Frankfurt in 2015

The ex Bellarmine guard then made another jump in his career signing with ratiopharm Ulm that was always a tough playoff foe to play, but still was 7 seasons away from that first chip. He once again showed he can play well with top players averaging 7.1ppg , 3.0rpg , Assists-4 ( 5.4apg ), 1.3spg , FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 41.4%, FT: 87.2%; and in the Eurocup averaged 7.3ppg , 2.8rpg , 4.7apg , 1.0spg , FGP: 39.3%, 3PT: 43.4%, FT: 91.7%. Even if he played with top team Munich after this season, there is a reason why he won´t forget his Ulm season. “ The Ulm season was my favorite season of my career. We won 27 straight games. Winning cures everything so there were a lot of laughs that year. We had a blast. My teammates were awesome and I knew we were going to be solid when I signed there. I wish we would have finished the season better but injuries played a huge role. That is how things unfold sometimes though”, remembered Braydon Hobbs. He was lucky to have played with some real BBL legends in his time and it wasn´t any different with Per Guenther. “Per was great to be around. His knowledge and experience helped me more than he would ever know. He took me under his wing and showed me how to play at the top level. When I think of Per, golfing will always come to mind. We went out several times to play and it was awesome every time”, expressed Braydon Hobbs. Then came surely his 2 most memorable seasons with FC Bayern Munich where he racked up 3 titles. In two seasons he played a total of 113 games including 74 BBL games and 18 Euroleague games. He also shot the ball as good as he ever did in his career shooting over 40% from outside in the BBL and Eurocup in his first season and in his second season shot a crazy 53% in the BBL. “Winning 3 championships was great in Munich. That was a goal of mine when I started playing there. Another memory I will always have is, my second child was born 3 days after we won the first championship. I got to take the trophies into the delivery room with me and take pictures with my son. I will never forget those memories”, said Braydon Hobbs. It was also no surprise that in his 2 years, he would meet many types of celebrities, but his favorite encounter didn´t involve a football player like Manuel Neuer or Thomas Muller. “The soccer stars were at a lot of our games. A couple times they would come into our locker room for pictures as well. I have some cool memories with that but the most famous athlete I saw was Usain Bolt. I met him one time at my doctor´s office in downtown Munich”, remembered Braydon Hobbs.

The seemingly always smiling player who lists Maodo Lo, Per Gunther, and Rickey Paulding as his 3 toughest opponents in the easyCredit BBL then made another jump in his career playing with playoff team EWE Baskets Oldenburg and remained for 2 seasons. In his first season he averaged 7.8ppg , 3.5rpg , 4.0apg , 1.2spg , FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 92.6% in the BBL and in the Eurocup averaged 8.7ppg , 2.3rpg , 3.5apg , 1.4spg , FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 45.5% while in his second season averaged 7.7ppg , 2.5rpg , 4.2apg , 1.3spg , FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 43.4%, FT: 80.0%. In Oldenburg he was teammates with BBL legend Rickey Paulding. Every teammate and even some opponents have their special story with him and one word that never is missing is his humbleness. “ Rickey was a legend for sure but you would never know it. He is extremely humble and that’s what I liked so much about him. I loved going on the road trips with him because he always hooked me up with homemade cookies from his wife Kara. They were a great family and always treated us like we were their family”, stressed Braydon Hobbs. Late in his career, he made the trek to the best country league in Europe in Spain called the ACB with Monbus Obradoiro CAB Santiago de Compostela (Spain ACB) averaging 7.2ppg , 3.1rpg , 4.4apg , 1.0spg , FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 39.6%. He held his own against some of the best players in the world and scored in double figures 12 times. Even if he lost to Real Madrid in a tight affair 89-88, he scored 17 points and showed he belongs to the best. “ The ACB was an unforgettable experience. Every night was a battle. If we would relax one second, then we would get killed. It’s the most competitive league I have ever played in. The intensity was off the charts as well. The one player I enjoyed matching up with was Sergio Llull. He hit some awesome shots against us. Playing Barcelona and Real Madrid was a cool experience”, remembered Braydon Hobbs. He returned back to Germany to play his last season with the Basketball Loewen Braunschweig (Germany-BBL) averaging 12.2ppg , 3.8rpg , 6.0apg , Steals-3 ( 1.9spg ), FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 90.3%. Even if injuries played a role for him, he still sparkled when he was fit and was instrumental in the team remaining in the BBL that had a very young team. “Playing in Braunschweig was a great way to end my career. I had a huge leadership role. I tried my best to keep everyone on the same page, and to be an extension of the coach. It didn’t always work but we tried our best. I really enjoyed helping the younger players out and I hope I had at-least some positive influences on them”, expressed Braydon Hobbs. He can look back on a great career that spanned 500 plus professional games in countries like Spain, Australia, Húngary and Germany and he played a total of 236 easyCredit BBL games.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Braydon Hobbs in 2019 in Frankfurt

The family man who has a house in Indiana and has played a lot of golf since retiring will continue his life working in Louisville, Kentucky and also keep basketball in his life in some form. I like with so many pro players had a professional working relationship with him interviewing him every now and then since he arrived in Germany in 2014. I did most interviews with him when he was with Giessen. I put him to the test when I asked him about how many times I interviewed him. “I would guess that you interviewed me around 7-8 times”, said Braydon Hobbs. It was actually 14 interviews ( https://germanhoops.com/?s=braydon+hobbs . ) and he even got 2 titles for articles concerning ex Bellarmine player Adam Eberhard and for a Munich win. “I had no idea it was 14. Those 11 seasons went super fast. They went so fast some of the years just blur together. Having my whole family with me overseas, has made it go twice as fast as well”, said Braydon Hobbs. One game I remember vividly happened in 2018 when he helped FC Bayern Munich escape on the road in Frankfurt. With the title “ Braydon Hobbs plays game changer saving FC Bayern Munich from 18 points down in defeating the Fraport Skyliners 87-83”. “ I definitely remember the comeback win against Frankfurt. I was upset at halftime because I wasn’t getting to play much or even getting to play at all. All I remember was telling myself, if I get in this game, we will have a chance. I’m the end we had a chance and came out with a win”, stressed Braydon Hobbs. The American played an important role wherever he played in his career and fans everywhere will never forget him. “I hope the fans can remember some of my no look passes that I had along the way. I hope they remember how I always tried to play solid and smart team basketball”, added Braydon Hobbs. I will always remember him as a great team player that did it all at both ends. You were a spontaneous, gregarious guy that always had patience with my interviews and did them when I asked. “ Thanks for the kind words. I will always remember you as one of the first people to interview me in Germany. You were always working hard to cover basketball and you always put out great interviews. I never saw you without a pen and paper writing notes down about players. Continue the great work”, said Braydon Hobbs. All the best in your life for you and your family and perhaps our paths will cross again some day most likely in a gym somewhere.

Emanuel Littles (201-F-1999, college: Nicholls St.) is a 24 year old 201cm forward from New Jersey that is playing his rookie season overseas with BC Raiffeisen Flyers Wels (Austria-BSL). He began his basketball career at Lanett high school and then played 3 seasons at the University of North Alabama (NCAA) playing a total of 80 games. He then finished at Nicholls State (NCAA) playing a total of 45 games averaging 9.0ppg , 8.1rpg , FGP: 57.4%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 47.5% and 7.7ppg , 6.9rpg , FGP: 49.7%, 3PT: 7.1%, FT: 64.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Emanuel for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your rookie season in Austria with BC Raiffeisen Flyers Wels (Austria-BSL). What kind of an experience has it been for you so far?

It’s been a pretty cool experience so far. The environment is nice and I enjoy playing with my new teammates as I’m learning some new things

You live in Austria. Has it been a culture shock? What has been the toughest adjustment for you off the court?

I’m from New Jersey and moved to Alabama at 14 then did my last 2 years in the US in Louisiana so I’ve traveled a lot so I wouldn’t say it’s a shock knowing the cultures change when traveling but it’s very different yes. My toughest adjustment would probably be getting used to having no A/C in the houses.

What has been the biggest adjustment for you on the court? Has it ben a tough adjustment coming from the NCAA?

On court the toughest thing for me so far is probably setting my screens. Sprinting in and out of screens and setting them in the right angles. The adjustment from here to the NCAA has been tough but things are a little different but it’s nothing unexpected.

The team is fairly young at the moment. What kind of an experience has it been sharing the court with German Raidi Casin?

I actually like playing with Raidi. Yea he’s young but he has a lot of experience in the basketball over here and is pretty good. He can score and defend and doesn’t mind sharing his knowledge with his teammates.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm forward that played the 3-5 in high school. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Honestly I don’t know who I would compare my game to. A lot of people tell me it’s close to Gerald Wallace though.

You never averaged 10,0ppg in college but always had high rebound stats. What is your biggest strength in your game?

I basically average 10 and 10 my junior year but it’s not because I’m not capable to but I’ve always played with ball dominant guards, so I notice if you really want to be something in this game you have to find something other than scoring to be good at because everybody wants to be that scorer but scoring is not all the answers to winning. My strengths is probably rebounding, energy, and leadership.

You never shot many three´s in the NCAA. Are you looking to trying to incorporate the three more into your game?

I would love to shoot more threes because I can shoot the three ball but I just do what’s needed for my team to win.

You still have a lot of upside to your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

I feel like I’m a good defender. I can guard the 3-5 and keep up with the 1 and 2 spot but I want to be able to be a lock down defender for the 1-5 and be able to protect the inside at all times.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player?

I’ve been getting up a lot of shots to make sure my shot is consistent. Also been making sure my handles are tight because I would love to be able to move away from the 5 spot in the future.

You won 3 state titles at Lanet high school. Which title was the sweetest?

My senior year, the road to a championship is tough regardless but the fact I was leaving out on top accomplishing something a lot of people never have done made you feel great inside.

You played for Richard Carter. How did he help you most in young years with your game?

He was kind of the one who made me like rebounding because whoever got the rebound was allowed to push the ball up the floor and I wanted to push it every time. From there I found one of my strengths in the game.

You played 80 NCAA games at North Alabama from 2018-2021. How vital was Tony Pujol in your basketball development? You made strides in your game each season.

The system at north Al was good. I actually developed a low post game with coach smith and was able to learn how to use every part of my body on offense to mark it hard for any defender in front of. They made my touch amazing.

You had some very memorial games in your last season there. You hauled down 19 rebounds against CRW. What was your fondest moment at North Alabama?

Probably making it to the conference championship my junior year. Being it was only our 3rd year in the Asun a lot of people doubted us. We probably should’ve made the NIT that year but Covid had everything so crazy. Just the run was so amazing and being able to lead my team that far with Mervin James and Payton Youngblood. We all had our time to shine that tournament, I opened up the first round with a 20pt 13 or 11rb game it was fun.

You finished at Nicholls State (NCAA) playing 65 games. How did head coach Austin Claunch help groom and prepare you for a professional career?

Coach Austin let me get my feel back at the 4 spot and I loved it. Coming into college I played the 4 for UNA and started my first few games at the 4 spot but Tony didn’t trust none of our 5 men nor can they rebound like me so he made me make that transition. I had got used to guarding guys back to the basket or slower than me so being able to play the 4 for claunch meant a lot a getting back mobile and making sure my feet was on point. He also allowed me to shoot from wherever which made me very comfortable because he didn’t try to put me in a box. I shot pretty decent that year. My last year I went back to the 5 after losing our 7ft but he allowed me to play the same but a week maybe before the season started I dislocated my shoulder and wasn’t as comfortable with my shot after that due to a lack of reps and that’s why I didn’t shot the jump shot as much or as good my last year.

You had a stellar 13/13 game in a 83-80 win over TAMUCC. Was this one of those games you won´t forget?

Yes but the game I honestly wouldn’t forget as a colonel is my senior year against New Orleans at home. The environment was different and it was the championship for the regular season. We won a ring that game and put on a great show. I finished with 14pts, 13rbs, and 3asst while only missing one shot.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Marek Nelson?

Me. Marek is a good player but he wasn’t as physical as me and I would use it to my advantage every time.

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

I’m honestly not sure. I’ve played a tone of guys in the league I think one of the toughest guards I’ve faced is Darius from Liberty and one of the better bigs would be Zach from Purdue. I know Zach is still in school but he’ll be a pro soon if he keep working and I’m not sure where Darius is now

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Anquaevious Pollard (Lanett) Mervin James (UNA) Kendall Stafford (UNA) Rhygee Lyons (Nicholls) Tyrese Terrell (Nicholls) I had relationship with each of those guys on and off the court. They’re like my brothers we still talk regularly.

Who is your NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Micheal Jordan, Kareem, Kobe, KD,

Who is your GOAT and why?

KD. Just to see a guy move and shoot the ball the way he does at his size is amazing. It’s players like him who actually started to change the game around.

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

Yes I have a no I think they’re all pretty good.

Thanks Emanuel for the chat.

Drago Crnjac (196-SG-2002) is a 20 year old 196cm shooter guard that is playing his third season with the Fraport Skyliners (Pro B) team and also has a double license to play for the Bona Baskets Limburg. He began his career with MTV Kronberg. He spoke to germanhoops.com after dropping 24 points in his debut for the Bona Baskets Limburg in a 99-85 win.

Thanks Drago for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the 99-85 win over TuS Makkabi Frankfurt. What was the key to the win?

We played very well as a team. I was a little surprised at first that we played so well together simply because I only practice once a week with the team.

The Bona Baskets led 51-39 at the break but Frankfurt came back in the third quarter to cut the lead down to 70-67. What were the reasons for the team coming back?

They upped their intensity and we got lazy.

As a shooter what is it like playing together with top playmaker Matej Kljaic? He must feed you all night long?

It´s like a dream. We understand each other on and off the court. He gets me open so easily. I promised him to help him win the Regionalliga assist crown. He is so unselfish.
What is it like being teammates with Milton Heckel who added 21 points in his Limburg debut?

He stepped up big when we needed it most. He just knows when to step up. In the second half, I was denied more and Kljaic was defended well so he took over. He made big shots and made big passes.

What were the main reasons for taking a double license contract to play for the Bona Baskets Limburg?

Last season, I had little playing time in the Pro B. I feel like I have improved and I want a chance to develop better here and get more minutes.

What has it been like playing for head coach Danny Stallbohm? What have you appreciated most about the experience?

It is a lot different here. He has a lot of confidence in me. I have a lot of freedom here. I feel like I can be that go to guy.

How do you feel will your game grow best in the Regionalliga?

I think I can show my drive and creating more here. I also will get more of those 1-1 opportunities instead of just standing in the corner and shooting like I do in the Pro B.I also have the green light to shoot my three. I also have to be prepared to play 40 minutes.

How does the Fraport Skyliners Juniors team look like this season?

We will mostly have the same team, but be younger. Our team chemistry is already good.

What will be your role in the Pro B this season?

I will have a bigger role than last season. I will be the back up guard.

What is your biggest goal in the Pro B this season?

I want to continue to improve and become a better defender. I think then everything else will fall into place. I just need a chance to show my game.

Who will make the biggest surprise in the Pro B team this season?

I think my brother Ivan will. He is already very physical for his age. He will be able to hold his own in the Pro B. I think he will have a good role. He already showed that with the national team.

What was your reaction to the upset win by Germany over USA at the World Cup?

It wasn’t a surprise for me. I think when I realized what had happened, it then hit me. I was so happy for Germany.

Will USA get revenge at the 2024 Olympics?

They will be able to hold their own against Andi Obst.

Thanks Drago for the chat.

Pic credit: Maryland basketball

Patrick Emilien (201-F-1999, college Maryland) is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Toronto, Canada playing his rookie season in Europe for the Baskets Swans Gmunden. He began his basketball career at the Toronto Basketball academy. He then embarked on a 3 year journey with Western Michigan University (NCAA) playing a total of 77 games. He then played a season at St Francis College (NCAA) averaging 12.5ppg , 6.2rpg , 1.1apg , FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 11.1%, FT: 75.0%. He played hiss enior year at the University of Maryland (NCAA). He got his first pro experience down under with Casey Cavaliers Cranbourne (Australia-NBL One South): 10 games: 18.9ppg , 5.1rpg , 1.3apg , 2FGP: 53.7%, 3FGP: 27.6%, FT: 67.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a test game against German Pro A club Fraport Skyliners.

Thanks Patrick for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season in Europe for the Basket Swans Gmunden. What kind of an experience has it been for you so far? What have you learned to appreciate the most? How vital was already tasting experience in the last months in Australia and Canada for the adjustment period?

It was very important for me, I got the chance to experience a professional environment and develop my skills as a primary guy in Australia.

The club has won titles in the last years. Have you felt the tradition of having to win the early going?

Yes I have already felt the winning culture of the club so far everything is intense and done with a purpose, I’m excited to learn from such a succesfull club.

What has been your wake up call to being in Europe so far where you knew that you were far away from home?.

This is my first experience not speaking the local language so that will definitely take some time to get used to. Aside from that everyone has been great in welcoming me here.

You’re a 201cm forward. What kind of a role will you have this season. You proved in the NCAA and Australia that you can be a reliable scorer?

We have yet to play our first game so I’m not sure what role the club will expect from me. But I will do whatever is asked of me to contribute to winning basketball. And yes I feel very confident in my ability to score the ball in different ways.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm player. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Two players I like watching in the NBA are Tobias Harris and Paolo Banchero, I think my game is unique so I can’t really compare it to someone but I try to take things I see from versatile players my size.

You can score and rebound but what is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength is my versatility, I feel like I can be successful in many positions. From guarding multiple positions, rebounding, or scoring, I feel like I can contribute in multiple ways.

Your three still is a work in progress. Is it the usual repetition confidence and shot selection that you need to work most on or are there other factors as well for you to become a consistent shooter?

I feel very good about my three point shot, I have improved more in the past 5 months than ever in my career. I will keep working at it because I know it is vital to be successful in today’s game, but I have extreme confidence in my shot making ability.

What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I am a versatile defender, I feel like I have the ability to guard 1-5 effectively. I was able to do that throughout my college career. But of course I can still improve by working on my quickness at getting to spots.

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

My playmaking and shooting are two aspects that I am consitently working on. I want to perfect them so I can help any team win.

You played briefly for the Brampton Honey Badgers (CEBL) averaging 3.0ppg, 3.8rpg. What kind of an experience was it playing in your home land? What positives could you gain?

It was definitely a good experience. I missed the whole season while playing in Australia and only played about 3 games so it was not ideal but I had an amazing time being home playing the game I love.

You had your first rookie experience down under with the Casey Cavaliers Cranbourne (Australia-NBL One South) averaging 18.9ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 53.7%, 3FGP: 27.6%, FT: 67.6%. You had a really good short season. You exploded for 34 points in your first game? How did your game grow there in your first pro stint?

I am grateful for Casey for giving me my first pro experience, like I mentioned I was able to get more comfortable being a primary guy and go to scorer. It elevated my game a lot and I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the club.

How important was it for your development as a player and person playing at 3 NCAA schools? Do you ever wonder where you may be now had you only played at Western Michigan?

I learned something valuable from every NCAA school I attended. I would not change a thing about my collegiate path. I don’t think I would be in the same position I am if I had not left my first school but I am forever grateful for the relationships I made there. I also would not have met my former teammate Michael Cubbage who introduced me to my amazing agent Eyal Grossbard.

You played your first 3 seasons at Western Michigan playing 77 games and never averaging more than 5,2ppg. How was this experience? Did you have a special role?

Like I said I am very grateful for my time and experiences at Western Michigan University. I think I grew most as a person there and met some of the closest people in my life.

What memories do you have of Michael Flowers who played in Germany last season? What kind of a bond did you have with him?

Michael Flowers is an amazing basketball player. I played with him for 2 years and he is one of the best shooters I have ever witnessed play this sport. I consider him a close friend and I am excited to follow his season.

You then had your break out NCAA season at St. Francis College (NY) (NCAA) averaging 12.5ppg, 6.2rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 11.1%, FT: 75.0%. What did you learn about yourself as a person that season? You had many great games there. What was your most memorable game?

St. Francis was the first time I was able to gain some true confidence. I was given a lot of freedom which expanded my game more than ever before. The first game of the season was memorable for me. It was my first time playing a game with the team and I went 8/11 against a Big 10 team for 18. That was a good way for me to start of a fun season.

You played a fifth season at the University of Maryland (NCAA) averaging 3,0ppg, 2.8rpg. How tough was it seeing your minutes dip from 30 to 17. I guess reaching March Madness was a big consolation that season for you?

Reaching March Madness was my main goal through college and I am grateful I was able to do it with some an amazing group of teammates. That experience made it all worth it.

How did head coach Kevin Williard give you that last push in your preparation for a pro career?

Coach Willard was one of the best basketball minds I have ever played for. He had an incredible understanding of the game and I think I was able to retain a lot of it.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Hakim Hart?

Me and Hakim never played 1-1 but he was an all conference player and even better person.

Your from Toronto. Have you had any deals with the Scrubb brothers Phil and Tommy. These guys were legends at Carleton University.

I have never had any interactions with the Scrubb brothers but everyone back home knows about their impact on Canada basketball.

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

Obi Toppin had a great game against my Western Michigan team, that was a memorable one for sure.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My five best teammates are William Boyer-Richard, Caelum Swanton Rodger, Jason Whitens, Michael Cubbage, and Kawanise Wilkins

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Magic Johnson, Shaq

Who is your GOAT and why?

In my eyes Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time because of his pure dominance.

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

I have not seen the sequel I’ll have to watch it!

Thanks Patrick for the chat.

I

It´s has been real tough the last 2 seasons to see 2 easyCredit BBL legends go with Rickey Paulding and Quantez Robertson. Combined they played 29 seasons in the easyCredit BBL and won a combined 3 titles. They not only became the identity figures of their ball clubs EWE Baskets Oldenburg and Fraport Skyliners, but also of the easyCredit BBL. But there are also other incredible players that have been around forever and thank God will continue playing. One of those is Mr Saarlouis, Mr Regionalliga, Mr mid range Rickey Easterling. This explosive scorer who has made the mid range jumper his bread and butter the way Steph Curry has his three began his professional career in 2005 and came to Germany in 2006 and the rest is history. Except for a season in Reutlingen, Bergheim and Karlsruhe, he has made Saarlouis his home for 15 seasons and will return for a 16th season in 2023-2024. I mean how could it be any other way? Saarlouis and Ricky Easterling (189-G-1983, college Bridgewater) go hand in hand like Paulding and Robertson did in Oldenburg and Frankfurt or Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics or the legendary Red Auerbach and his cigar. The devoted and faithful guard who has the mid range game that many would die for has played 355 games for Saarlouis and it will continue this season even if his role may change a bit. “ You will see me as a part time player. I am no longer a full pro player. I’m taking the next step in my career and focusing more on coaching”, warned Ricky Easterling. He knows exactly what Paulding and Robertson went through with their teams and it isn´t any different with the Sunkings Saarlouis. “Ever since day one Saarlouis welcomed me with open arms. Once we both got to know each other it was a perfect match on and off the court. They love having me here and I love being here. If I left tomorrow I would miss everything about Saarlouis. The fans and friends I have met over the years, walking around the city and also stepping into the Stadtgardenhalle for game days”, stressed Ricky Easterling. It just wouldn´t be the same in Saarlouis without Ricky Easterling.

Ricky Easterling and miles Schmidt-Scheuber in Frankfurt in 2015

It is summer 2023 and like most pro´s Ricky Easterling is enjoying time off from competitive basketball, but is still keeping busy. “My summer is going well. I haven’t been any place new in a while. I’m just in my normal routine. When the season is over in Germany I always make sure I go home and visit my family. Once I see them, I go to Kutsher’s Sports Academy where I coach and train players of all ages and skill levels. I also take the time to workout myself to stay in shape for upcoming seasons”, stressed Ricky Easterling. Working out and staying in shape has been a huge focus in his life and a big reason why he can still compete and play the game he loves. Time really flies as he turns the magical 40 in November. But the grind doesn´t get any easier with age. “When I’m warmed up and active I feel good. But I must admit, warming up takes a bit longer than it used to. I also feel more sore and stiff after playing and it also takes longer to recover. So Father Time is starting to show his face a little bit more these days”, said Ricky Easterling. This season he will surpass BBL legend Rickey Paulding who was 15 seasons with one club the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Even if he played mostly in the Regionalliga, he followed Paulding and Quantez Robertson who played 14 seasons with one organization Fraport Skyliners. “I am very thankful that I was able to play for such a long time. If you would ask me this before I started playing overseas I would never have thought I would be here this long. Longevity is very rare in the sport business. Many things contribute to that but I’m very thankful I was able to play for so long. Knowing how rare it is I give everyone who is able to play the game for a long period of time the up most respect”, added Ricky Easterling.

The guard who led the Pro B in scoring 2 years in a row and averaged 30,0ppg plus 3 times continues to be a top player in the Regionalliga at almost 40 years of age. Even if his scoring isn´t as explosive as 11 seasons ago where he last averaged 30,0ppg, he still scores at ease as he has averaged 23,0ppg in the last 6 years and is filling the stat sheet up with ease. His secret to being able to score is easy. Don´t do anything out of the ordinary. “Reps and sticking to what I know I can do on the court. I try to only take shots that I practice or I know I can make. If it is not a good shot for me I don’t take it. I think this approach to my shot selection helps me stay efficient and consistent”, warned Ricky Easterling. His mid range game continues to be his bread butter. He hits those as easy as Kareem Abdul Jabbar did the annoying sky hook shot. How many shots does he get up? “ It may vary depending on where I am at the time. But I normally try to get 3 or 4 sessions in a week of 300-500 makes. These shooting rep sessions are extra reps in team practices or workouts with trainers are not included”, stated Ricky Easterling. He has always been a solid three point shooter, but never great. But why stress something when you can make the mid range shot in your sleep. Last season he averaged 40% from down town for the first time in his career. What changed in his preparation? “In this case it was the reps. As I got older over the years I had to adapt to Father Time and defenses. My 3s were one of the things I added to my summer workouts, and reps from behind the 3 pt line helped me develop a more efficient 3pt shot. Now I’m able to apply it in the game. The last couple seasons I have increased the volume of threes I attempt per game and they are falling more consistently all at the same time. It is a good feeling to work on something and see the hard work pay off”, commented Ricky Easterling. Last season his toughest opponent was Fellbach who moved up to the Pro B. They double and triple teamed him, but he always had a solution. This season may not be the same as in previous seasons as he is only a part-time player, but his desire to leave everything on the floor won´t be any different than a decade ago, so he will as always be best prepared. “ I’m the type of player that bases my workouts on reps and build muscle memory. I make sure I keep my strengths shape and there is no better way to do that then repping it out. Then I gradually add new things to my game. Normally I keep it simple and concentrate on just 1 or 2 new things and rep it out over the summer. Then by the time the season comes around I got some new stuff in my bag to use on my opponent’s”, warned Ricky Easterling.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Ricky Easterling in Frankfurt in 2017

When he isn´t grinding in the gym, the ex Bridgewater College (NCAA§) great follows the game just like any other American. He was shocked like everyone else when the Team USA 12 man roster for the 2023 World Cup was announced that will commence at the end of August. There were no mega superstars on the list. “That roster looks like a good bench line up. My first thought was “ where are the starters at? I honestly have no idea why super stars are not participating. I think it is very unfortunate for our country”, stated Ricky Easterling. He does have high hopes for guys like Jalen Brunson and Brandon Ingram as being the leaders and go to guys and players like Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges coming up big for them as well. Team USA definitely won´t have a cake walk as there are many countries that will challenge them like Spain, France, Serbia and Germany. Another country that also could do serious damage will be Canada who are sporting enough NBA fire power with guys like Luguentz Dort, Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Cory Joseph, Kelly Olynyk and Dwight Powell. “Canada have a deep roster. I’m not ready to say they are a favorite to win it, but they definitely have a good chance to win with all those NBA players on their roster”, stressed Ricky Easterling. With so much great talent from Europe and countries catching up with USA, can America win the Gold? “I can’t say that I am a believer this time around. I hope I am wrong though”, warned Ricky Easterling. His hope in Team USA winning a Gold medal may be minimal, but his self-confidence in his game will never wane. His consistency just speaks for him being successful even at age 40.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Gordon Herbert in Frankfurt

Gordon Herbert is a Canadian/Finnish coach who is currently in his 27th year coaching and is head of the German national team. He has a long coaching resume that includes having coached in Finland Austria, Russia and in Germany he coached Wurzburg, Alba Berlin and was with the Fraport Skyliners for more than a decade. He also coached the Canadian national team and was active with the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets. He spoke to germanhoops.com about leading Germany to the 2023 World Cup title.

Congrats Gordie on winning the 2023 World Cup. About how many congratulatory messages did you get and who were some of the more known people that reached out to you?

I would say something around 200 people. The German chancellor congratulated me. I got a lot of text messages from Finland and people from Germany. I also heard from many coaches throughout Europe.

When you look back to the first days in 2021 when your named German national coach, how great is your feeling then that you could actually accomplish something like this after only 2 years on the job?

In year 1 we tried to build relationships with the players. That was around 40 guys. You developed each others trust. We came a long way. We lost our first qualifying game in Nurnberg to Estonia. You have to give a lot of credit to the players that played in the windows. They were part of it

How high can you rate this World Cup title not only for Germany but for basketball? After a disastrous 2019 World Cup to win like this is phenomenal?

This was the biggest accomplishment in German basketball. Giannis from Greece said it best today that Germany is the world champion. It was nice to read that from one of the best players in the world.

The win over the United States was an incredible feat. Was this win in a way greater for you personally than the final simply because you beat the greatest country in the world in basketball?

No the final was the best win. The win over USA was very emotional. We came off that win and didn’t slip up against Serbia, but won the title.

You said that a statue should be put up in Braunschweig for Dennis Schroeder. Tyrone Ellis said Germany wouldn’t have beat USA without Dennis Schroeder. How much did he grow as a player in this World Cup?

Dennis was instrumental from day 1. He was a huge part of the success. He embraced the captain role and being that leader. He took on a lot of responsibility and really matured a lot as a player. For him it was a great honor to represent his country. He had a tough game against Latvia, but bounced back. He came back greater. That is what great players do.

Did you get any special words from Steve Kerr? Do you feel like the NBA really knows who you are now?

I have no idea. You would have to ask people in the NBA. Steve always comes over as very polite and down to earth. He just said congratulations. I have a lot of respect on how he carries himself.

The final against Serbia was so exciting. After Germany led by 12 points, Serbia made a comeback. What were you thinking as Serbia released a pretty open three to tie?

They made a couple big three’s before that. They never gave up. We had a good 15 minutes and they had a good 3 minutes at the end. When you want to win a world cup title, you have to be good and also a little lucky. We were 8-0 and deserved the title. It was earned and not given to us

My favorite play of the final was the quick bullet pass from Joe Voigtmann in the fourth quarter from the three point line. What was your favorite play in the whole tournament?

It is hard to say just 1 play. There were so many great plays. Jow had an outstanding final. You have to give a lot of credit to him. He sacrificed his offense for the sake of the team. He was the glue guy at both ends of the court. He was instrumental game by game.
You coached Johannes Voigtmann and Isaac Bonga for years in Frankfurt. What was most special for you during the World Cup being able to coach them as national trainer?

Joe is an outstanding person, family guy with life values. I thought Isaac’s game grew when Franz Wagner was out. He got more involved on offense. Guys like Nils Giffey, Justus Hollatz and David Kramer didn’t play much but were tremendous teammates. Their time will still come.

Tyrone Ellis said it best saying you were the perfect leader and you had 12 guys that played with so much pride for Germany. What did you respect and cherish most from your players?

Just how much they cared about each other and supported each other even when they were on the bench.

Tyrone Ellis said you deserve to be in the NBA. He said there is do difference between NBA coaches and you. Could a NBA team even defend the way you want to?

I don’t know. That is a tough question to answer.

What did you learn about yourself during the World Cup?

I thought that we let our game slip at the Euro 2022 after the win against Greece. That didn’t happen this time. We all learned from that and didn’t allow it to happen again.

You celebrated until 7:00am. I saw a picture of you, Klaus Perwas and Sebastian Gleim. Have you ever seen Klaus smile?

He smiled in the locker room after we won the title. He has a great relationship with the players. They all like him. The assistant coaches did a hell of a job. They really worked their butts off.

How did you enjoy the celebration in Frankfurt. What was the nicest thing you heard from fans?

It was nice seeing so many happy people. When I saw the energy and support of the fans, that was the first time where it really sunk in that we had won. It was pretty surreal.

Who wins a 7 game series the German national team or the Denver Nuggets? Tyrone said Denver 4-0 or 4-1.

I have no idea. I’m just really proud of our team. USA had great young players. Canada had good players as did Australia. We were simply the best team with Special individual talent.

Thanks Gordie for the chat.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Tyrone Ellis in Frankfurt in 2004. Even almost 20 years later they form a professional ex player/journalist relationship

Tyrone Ellis (193-G-1977, college: S.Nazarene) is a former professional player from Dallas, Texas that has coaching experience in the G-League having been an assistant with Tulsa, Reno, Grand Rapids, and Bakersfield and was a head coach with Northern Arizona and Stockton. He also has been an assistant coach for Team USA. As a player he had a stellar career in Europe showing that a player can make a career coming from a NAIA school from Southern Nazarene playing in countries like Germany, Italy, Turkey and Spain. In 2004 he helped the Opel Skyliners win the BBL league title. He played for three Spanish teams Girona, Cajasol Sevilla and Asefa Estudiantes Madrid playing six seasons in the best league in Europe. He also played for teams like Eldo Basket Napoli and Besiktas ColaTurka Istanbul . He spoke to germanhoops.com about the 2023 World Cup and success of his ex coach Gordon Herbert.

Thanks Ty for talking to germanhoops.com. Last time we talked it was concerning new Fraport Skyliner Derek Cooke Jr and today it’s about Gordon Herbert. How incredible is this title for him? I can imagine you were beyond overjoyed?

I was texting Gordie through out the tournament. We have been keeping in touch periodically. I’m so freakin proud of him. The greatest compliment that you can give is that he is consistent. He is a great coach and leader.

You saw first hand what Gordie is capable of doing winning the 2004 BBL title. Was this a surprise or did you feel going into the 2023 World Cup that Germany could win a medal?

I wasn’t surprised at all. I know how good of a leader he is. The x’s and o’s is the easy part. You know drawing up a play to get a shot. The difference is his leadership. He has so much pride that that spills over to the players.

I know you have contact to him. Did you have any talks the last weeks or was it more just congrats after wins?

Just texting. I congratulated him after the big win over USA. I gave him a long text message telling him how proud I am of him. He really deserved it. I told him after German won the World Cup that now the whole world can see how good he is. There is really no difference between him and NBA coaches. He is one of the best coaches in the world. The world is seeing this now, but I already saw this 20 years ago in Germany and later with Georgia.

What does the win for Germany and Gordon Herbert mean to you as having been ex player?

Gordie has always been humble. Whenever I tell him how grateful I am for everything he has done for my career, he responds with no problem. Many don’t know this but when I was in Frankfurt, I was going through a divorce and wasn’t playing my best. Gordie took the criticism for my play. I hope this World Cup title will inspire Germany to keep fighting. Obviously football is #1 in Germany, but I hope basketball will create more positive energy in that country to keep developing that sport ahead. Germany is deservingly the best basketball country in the world.

I heard a story that Gordie took you aside and pretty much said this to you. Herbert told you should be yourself, but we will only win if we do it all together. He let that team be themselves and conducted them. How do you remember that time?

That is absolutely true. He gave Chris Williams and me so much freedom. That forced us to take responsibility and not take advantage of Gordie. Americans always have more pressure to perform, but we didn’t abuse that freedom. We respected Gordie so much and so did everyone else like Pascal Roller and Robert Garret.

How high can Germany rate this in your sports history? I believe it’s at the top with football world cups despite basketball not being the countries number sport.

I don’t know the history of German sports that well, but I think this World Cup title has to be rated as highly as those football titles. This title is so amazing. No one would of ever believed this could happen. German had the perfect coach as the leader and 12 guys who loved to represent their country.

How did you follow the World Cup. Was it just all around all teams or did you have more focus on USA and Germany?

I didn’t follow it that closely. I wanted Gordie to do well for personal reasons and also USA to do well. I mostly watched these 2 teams.

How did you witness USA-Germany. Despite being an American did Germany’s win still make you a little happy since you played there some years and for Gordie?

Of course I was happy for Germany and Gordie after they beat us. I’m a basketball fan. I was more upset how USA played. Gordie winning the title means so much to me. A coach always has a long lasting impression on their players. My coaching philosophy and who I am starts with Gordie. My fondest memories in Europe was playing with Chris Williams and winning the title with him and Gordie. I can’t not think about Gordie when I think of Chris and vice versa.

You’re a coach and was an ex player. How tough is it general to have younger less known players that USA had to really focus 100% on team basketball?

USA had more talented guys than any other team. When I came overseas as a player, I understood that I had to adapt to the euro game. The difference with USA was that they didn’t adapt to the Euro game. The better team always wins and not the most talented. It was evident other countries were embodying that team first mentality.

Was USA put together wrong? I mean how can use explain them not getting a medal? They had a coaching staff filled with coaches that won NBA titles?

No I don’t think so. Team USA had good enough players and great coaches. It is hard to win when you have young guys with no euro experience. When the Olympics come, then USA will have super talented players and more experience and that will count most. You have to have the total mind set to be successful. I think that USA had that palms up mentality. That is when you complain. The others will just keep playing. You can’t win with the palms up mentality in Europe.

Germany-Serbia was an exciting game. Of course Germany showed great team basketball and every guy 1-12 contributed, but let us be honest had Germany won without Dennis Schroder? His big bucket lay up at the end sealed the win?

Germany wouldn’t have been as successful without Dennis Schroeder. They wouldn’t have beat USA without Dennis Schroeder. They also wouldn’t have made the quarterfinal without him. He was the difference maker.

Germany has 5 players in the NBA. What German player impressed you most?

You saw how dominant Dennis Schroeder can be when he feels comfortable. Franz Wagner is also really good. Dennis stood out because he had the ball in his hands most of the time. The team just really impressed me. I loved that excitement on the bench. One can’t really understand that pure joy and excitement until you have represented your country. You saw the love of the game from Germany.

The biggest strength of Gordie is his communication skills and having everyone understanding their roles and executing to 100%. What else was vital for Germany’s success that people may not have realized, but you had as an ex player?

Gordie cares for each player from 1-15. If a player isn’t doing his job, he will tell you no matter if it’s the 1 or 15th player. A good example was when Gordie bumped heads with Dennis. That is what a good leader does. You saw that both respect each other. They understand the game and moved on. That is part of the game. I can remember Gordie getting on me, Chris or Mario. He never got on Pascal. Gordie is never afraid to do his job. That has to be commended. He isn’t afraid of that 1-1 talk or showing love. He isn’t fake but the real deal. I strive for that as a coach.

Last season Gordon Herbert led Germany to a Bronze at the Euro and now a World Cup title. Does he deserve a shot as an NBA coach now?

He doesn’t deserve a job as an assistant coach, but he should be an NBA head coach. There is going to be a point in time when NBA teams will want that leader and not just that players friend. Head coaches that have relationships don’t work. Gordie is a phenomenal leader that cares for his players.

Who would win a 7 game series between the German national team and the Denver Nuggets?

Denver 4-0 maybe 4-1.

Please leave some closing words for your ex coach Gordon Herbert.

I want to personally congratulate Gordie, his staff, players and Germany. Germany was very good to me. I hope Germany appreciates all the hard work that was put in from everyone involved with the German national team. I continue to pray for success for Gordie and that he will be a head coach in the NBA.

Thanks Ty for the chat.

Tags : TYRONE ELLIS, HLA ALICANTE, GEORGIAN BASKETBALL

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Joerg Baehren in Rhondorf in 2016. They have covered German basketball combined for 40 plus years

I don’t even want to waste time with German football, except for a few lines. Today it’s all about basketball. A few days ago as German fans were exiting the Volkswagon arena in Wolfsburg after witnessing the embarrassing and shameful 4-1 loss to Japan and wondering how much more the team could pierce their delicate hearts, on the other end of the world in Manila German national basketball team coach Gordon Herbert was waking up and on the verge of literally becoming invincible in Germany. How different both worlds were in 2023. German football was in ruins while in Manila German basketball was on top of the world as the national team defeated Serbia to win the 2023 World Cup. A few minutes before the historic basketball title, the DFB announced the dismissal of coach Hansi Flick. One couldn’t ask for better timing interfering with the basketball spotlight. How totally mind boggling was this scenario 10 years ago as the roles weren’t reversed, but very much different. Germany was on the verge of winning the World Cup in football while Germany was a respected basketball country that had had some incredible moments winning the 1993 Euro and winning silver in 2005 at the Euro and Bronze at the 2002 World Cup, but their last medal was 8 years back. Germany is a football country and I can bet there was no one in 2013 that would have predicted this scenario. In 2023 German football will be in ruins and German basketball at the top. I mean I would never have come up with an absurd statement like that, but what if someone had thought that in 2013? ‘A statement like that would have been unheard of then. You see the big steps the German national team has taken in the last 4 years. Back in 2019 where we were so horrible at the World Cup, we had 7 guys on the roster that were on the 2023 World Cup team. That is crazy and unbelievable. In 2019 many thought already that that team was great. Making this kind of turnaround in such a short time is amazing. The team went into the 2023 World Cup being afraid of no one. That is phenomenal’, stressed Phoenix Hagen press speaker Joerg Baehren.

photo credit ZDF

So I thought hard on Sunday morning which person I could interview after German won the World Cup. Many guys popped into my mind, but I felt that a guy like Joerg Baehren would be perfect, because he is a guy that has followed German basketball for 20 plus years and knows the NBBL youth league well something he has covered for a long time. Everybody on the 2023 winning German team played youth basketball. He didn’t disappoint with some great stories. Plus he is a great guy. It’s always fun catching up with him. I reached him about an hour after the World Cup had ended. He had watched the game in Cologne at the easyCredit BBL office together with some other BBL media basketball hard core guys like Sven Simon and Torben Rosenbohm. Obviously he was in great spirits when I reached him. It was obvious this was going to be a very fun interview. Of course we had to talk about the game first. The first half was an up and down high scoring battle, but in the second half, the tempo was reduced and Germany stepped up their defense and forced Serbia to tougher shots and began to key on their top players like Bogdan Bogdanovic more closely. ‘Germany also did a super job taking on the physicality of Serbia. They did play their game, but just their game and matched their physicality’, stated ex Telekom Baskets Bonn press secretary Joerg Baehren. Early in the fourth quarter Germany stepped up their intensity even more and led by as much as 12 points and some fans may have got the champagne ready, but Serbia wasn’t done yet making one more run as they cut the lead down to 3 points. They could of tied in the last minute with a good look from outside, but missed. Dennis Schroeder then sealed the title with his bread and butter drive and iced the game with free throws. ‘Germany reacted well to Serbia’s come back. Dennis Schroeder did a great job keeping the team calm and demonstrated that they were in control’, said Joerg Baehren. Then the moment arrived that so many Germans had waited for with the buzzer. ‘At first I felt nothing. Then you realize what actually did happen and think about everybody who was involved with the win. I mean everyone from the players, to the coaching staff to the people behind the scenes like press speaker Christoph Buker who has been there forever. You see the happiness of the players and everything else gets transported. I mean everyone involved with basketball in Germany have some kind of story with someone involved with the German basketball federation. When I began as a press secretary in Rhondorf in 2003-2004, Klaus Perwas was the head coach. I remember driving to away games and I always drove and Klaus sat next to me and was on the phone always. It didn’t matter how far we went, he was always finished 2 minutes before we arrived at our destination. What many don’t understand is that he is the perfect assistant coach. Look what he did in Frankfurt developing young players like Joe Voigtmann or Isaac Bonga and others. He is the perfect guy to keep the team together’, warned Joerg Baehren.

2011 NBBL game with 3 2023 World champions with Johannes Thiemann, Dennis Schroeder and Daniel Theis

The Title will always be remembered most, but another aspect that is incredible is that Germany had a perfect 8-0 record. That is a feat that not every team can achieve through a long tournament. Ex Player Jermaine Bucknor said it best saying that he had never seen such a great unity like Germany had. But it wasn’t only the unity and chemistry, but you obviously also need the individual qualities on the court from players 1-12. ‘If your going to win the World Cup title, then you have to have 12 players that can all look good against the best Fiba competition. A big help was also that they are all so self-confident and can play with the best players 1-1. This team has incredible qualities at every position from every player. You have that great shooter with Obst, then you have a guy like Mo Wagner who never breaks mentally in a bad phase or a Dennis Schroeder who always has to be the best. You have guys that need to prove themselves and have modern big men that can shoot. Germany went game by game looking at each opponent thinking what component do we need tonight. Against USA it was shooting and against Serbia the big man Voigtmann’, added Joerg Baehren. I don’t care what anyone says, but without Gordon Herbert , Germany wouldn’t have won this title. He has shown everywhere he has coached that he can form competitive teams. How often did he show his brilliant coaching in Frankfurt taking teams with low budgets and making playoff teams, or bringing in the right players like Dashaun Wood, Justin Cobbs, Jordan Theodore or Shavon Shields all unproven players before coming to Frankfurt. Why didn’t the German basketball federation swipe up Herbert earlier and what is the secret to Gordon Herbert ‘s success and is he the Jurgen Klopp of German basketball. ‘You need to ask Gunnar Wobke why the German basketball federation didn’t get him earlier. Important was that Herbert got the keys to the team from the start. He was the chief from the start and took the direction and everyone else followed. That was a very smart move by the German basketball federation. Gordie has proved everywhere where he coached that he is a great communicator and knows how to get everyone involved from 1-12. You also saw with Schroeder that he isn’t afraid to take on conflict. You saw it 20 years ago during the BBL title in 2004 with Tyrone Ellis. He wasn’t an easy guy to tame. Herbert told him he should be himself, but we will only win if we do it all together. He let that team be themselves and conducted them. I don’t think that Gordie is the Jurgen Klopp but there is one similarity that I see. Both don’t take themselves as that important. They know the importance of their role, but don’t put it in the fore front’, expressed Joerg Baehren.

Photo credit ZDF

Of course every player gave their all to the title from 1-12, but there are some players that had big roles and really were key for the team being so successful like 10 year NBA veteran and 2023 World Cup MVP Dennis Schroeder who averaged 20/4/6/2 in the World Cup. He hasn’t been shy of controversary in his career off the court, but on the court you can’t diss him. He played his game, but also for the team. Will he now be loved by all German basketball fans? ‘I think so. I mean as a person some like him and some don’t. I feel the most important thing is how he plays on the court. I think it is fair to say now that Dennis is the greatest German point guard of all-time’, commented Joerg Baehren. Another player that sparkled at the World Cup, but was a bit in the shadow of Schroeder was Franz Wagner. He missed the first 5 games with a foot injury, but returned for the last 3 games averaging 16/6/3 in the World Cup. He has much potential and has a big future still ahead of him in the NBA. Could he become a superstar within 3 seasons? ‘I think he can if his legs hold up. He had problems last summer and this summer. He has the potential to get bigger in the NBA if his body doesn’t limit him. He has such a unique skill set at age 22. You see the Alba Berlin school in his play. I think he still hasn’t realized what he has accomplished the last years at his young age. I remember at the 2022 Euro being in an elevator in the Cologne arena and he was going to an interview. He said it was so surreal just having played a game and now going to an interview in an elevator. Everything has happened so quickly for him’, said Joerg Baehren.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber´s first meeting with Franz Wagner in 2017 when he helped Alba Berlin win the German U-16 title

Another big winner of this World Cup was sharp shooter Andi Obst. What better story can he tell his grand children in 30 years then beating USA and scoring 24 points? This dude must be on the NBA radar at least now. In Europe he has belonged to the best shooters since years. ‘I think he is on the NBA radar now. I mean the USA game was the perfect stage for him. He is already one of the best in Europe. If his game can translate to the NBA, I don’t know. I personally think his game is better suited to Europe. But he will always have that USA memory and it’s cool that the NBA now knows of this great shooter from Germany’, added Joerg Baehren. Another great player who statistically may seem to have had a quiet tournament was big man Johannes Voigtmann who averaged 5/6/3 stats and saved his best for last with 12 points, 8 boards and 3 dimes for the final win over Serbia. I don’t care what anyone says, but for me I enjoy his passing the most. I remember back in 2016 when he was playing Fiba Europe cup, I compared his passing IQ to a Marc Gasol in a broadcast. ‘I love his passing as well. I remember seeing him the first time 12 years ago when he was with Jena. He was a young kid, but already then he could pass the ball. I remember Jena having many guards, and Joe would just stand at the Ft line and feed the guards. He is such a unique passer. I thought he was the best at the 2023 World Cup’, stressed Joerg Baehren.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Johannes Voigtmann doing play by play in langen in 2014

When you have been around the German basketball scene for so long like Joerg Baehren has, it is only obvious that he has many great stories. One of his favorite is the one with Dennis Schroeder. ‘I’m not totally certain when this was, but I believe it was 2011. Dennis was very young maybe 16 or 17 and not in the NBA yet. At that time I was writing for Five magazine. We were doing a piece on the next German generation after Dirk Nowitzki. We had to take 5 players at every position. I remember wanting to name Dennis Schroeder at the point guard position. At that time he was already very talented and if he put in the work, he could be really good. I remember talking with then German U-18 head coach Kay Bluemel about Dennis. Dennis was cocky though then. Kay wasn’t sure if putting him in the list was good and maybe it was better leaving him out of the spot light. That way he could be off the radar. I decided not to put him in the list. I put Robert Zinn in the list instead who has had a nice career in Switzerland. I felt it was better to protect Dennis instead of putting him in the spotlight. Now you look at what Dennis did at the World Cup, and you say he did everything right. I also have a nice story with Niels Giffey. He had a small role this year and didn’t play much, but was as important as all other 11 players. But he showed what kind of character he has playing for the team and not his ego. But every team needs a guy like that to have success. I remember at the NBBL top 4 in Berlin in 2009. Giffey and Alba Berlin were getting killed by Paderborn and the Wenzl brothers in the first half. He came into a timeout and got his teammates motivated. He then took over the game in the second half and scored something like 30 + points’, remembered Joerg Baehren. One has to wonder where this breathtaking World Cup title ranks with other big sports moments in German history. Of course you have the 4 Football world Cups, Michael Schumacher Formula 1 titles and Boris Becker’s unforgettable 1985 Wimbeldon title at age 17. ‘It is difficult to compare, because each sport is unique. But I honestly feel that the World Cup title is at the same level like other big moments in German sports. You just have to rate this title so high, because it never happened before. This title is a huge moment in German sports history’, warned Joerg Baehren. We remember well how 2013 was with both Football and basketball and will cherish the 2023 Basketball triumph now, but how will the landscape for both sports look like in 2033? Even if the whole football drama is annoying now, it can only get better. But at the moment we are all on cloud 9 with the basketball world cup title. And this will be cherished forever. I began the phone call with Joerg Baehren with hello world champion and ended it with world champion. Even if Joerg and I were lazy on the couch watching the German legends being made, we all felt like champions. The German basketball scene is so small where everyone knows each other. This incredible day was for everyone that is involved with German basketball

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and legendary head coach Svetislav Pesic in Frankfurt in 2015

48 house ago, I went into the historic 2023 World Cup semi-final clash between USA and Germany with a positive feeling and big smile knowing I couldn’t lose. I mean as a born and bread American with German parents, I was always proud of having both citizenship’s, but when it came to basketball my heart always pounded more for the Americans than for Germany. That was the case again in this contest. Germany has made massive strides in the last 10 years with breeding new talent and thus they finally recorded a medal again last year at the Euro after being idle for 17 years. But despite Germany upsetting USA 113-111 in a classic power struggle of a game, I could still smile after the buzzer sounded. I mean I know the head coach personally and have had dealings with many of the German players over the 10 years. Now my mind set was 100% focused for the final on Sunday crossing all fingers for Dennis Schroder and co. But there was only once difference as now I could lose namely if Serbia win. I didn’t have the luxury again like with USA-Germany, but young basketball player Marko Rosic (174-PG-2005) of the Dragons Rhondorf does. The 18 year old grew up in Germany, but his family roots are in Serbia. He played the last few years in the ratiopharm Ulm organization and played youth basketball and pro B for Orange Academy and also played in the Regionalliga for BBU 01 Ulm. Now he is up for a new challenge with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf and has 2 special experiences connected to Serbia. ‘My nicest experience as a player was being invited to the U-16 Serbian national team and as far as the Serbian national team goes, it’s having watched their march to the final this summer. Serbia has performed so well despite not having many stars like Nikola Jokic. They have proved how well they can perform without him’, stressed Marko Rosic. It is obvious who his heart will beat strongest for on Sunday. ‘My heart is with Serbia in the final’, stated Marko Rosic.

Marko Rosic pic credit Martin Jung

Serbia reached the final by registering a 6-1 record. They achieved this record without many superstars most notably Nikola Jokic for some the best player on the planet. They destroyed countries China, South Sudan and the Dominican Republic by a combined core of 332-225. They even had little difficulty against top nations Lithuania winning 87-68 and got by Canada 95-86. Their only slip up was against Italy where they suffered a close and brutal 78-76 loss. ‘I wasn’t as convinced of their play in the early going. But the way they reacted after the loss to Italy was inspiring. They began to play with character and did a great job playing together and staying together in tough moments. They really heightened their game and improved until the final’, expressed Marko Rosic. Many may have been expecting a USA-Canada final, but Serbia had other ideas. They took on the challenge and didn’t disappoint. ‘Serbia was very well prepared for Canada. Especially on defense they played very well and always had answers. Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t have a great game keeping him better in check. Bogdanovic played great offensively against Brooks. Serbia was better prepared mentally and tactically for Canada’, commented Marko Rosic. The 7 year NBA veteran Bogdanovic has had a strong World Cup averaging 19/3/4/2 stats and shooting 40% from the parking lot. Has he been a bit lost in the shuffle among the superstars Doncic, Schroeder and Gilgeous-Alexander? ‘He has played a very good World Cup. You can’t forget he was injured for a season. The focus wasn’t on him. You look at Canada or Australia that ha so many NBA players, I think he built up his rank again and got respect again by reaching the final. He led Serbia to the final without stars’, added Marko Rosic. Even if Serbia is missing some guys, they still have very talented players with Euroleague player Nikola Milutinov and young NBA player Nikola Jovic of the Miami Heat. ‘They are both extreme important players. Jovic may be in the NBA, but he is still very young. The way he has taken on the challenge of an important role has been great. This is still the World Cup with the best players and he has played great. Milutinov helps the team so much under the basket. He is one of the best bigs in Europe and he helps some with leadership’, added Marko Rosic.

Germany steam rolled into the 2023 World Cup final with an impressive 7-0 record. They had easy wins over Japan, Finland, Georgia and Surprisingly Slovenia as well. But they also showed when the going got tough, they were able to withstand adversary with grind out wins over Australia and Latvia. ‘Germany has a very strong team. I awaited them to play like that. I didn’t expect a cake walk, but I knew they would perform well. They have a great leader in Dennis Schroeder and so many good role players with Daniel Theis and Johannes Thiemann. Their biggest strength is their team basketball. It is cool that the team doesn’t only rely on Schroeder. Any guy can step up. Against USA it was Andi Obst’, said Marko Rosic. We will see if they only saved their best for last by defeating the mighty USA or if they will have even more left against Serbia. The victory against the United States will go down as one of the countries greatest wins even if they can win the Gold against Serbia. It was a back and forth clash that seemed like a classic elite boxing match where punches were exchanged all day long with no one wilting. The game went down to the wire and Germany had one extra punch too much. Could the win over USA already been Germany’s Gold medal game? ‘This was a huge success for German basketball. But they can’t celebrate it. They still have to compete for a Gold Medal. Andi Obst is the reason they won. They way he faked out Haliburton at the end and made that shot was incredible. He had so much courage to take that shot and showed real fight. Germany really wanted to win more than USA’, warned Marko Rosic. Andi Obst has contributed well averaging 10,0ppg in the World Cup and shooting a potent 45% from outside. The FC Bayern Munich sniper has been an incredible shooter for years, but why isn’t he in the NBA? ‘I actually was thinking the same thing during the game. I think he just hasn’t had a big stage to show his skills like now. Maybe now with his play at the world cup, he will be in the note books of NBA teams. I hope he gets there. He has incredible shooting qualities. He now belongs to the best shooters in Europe’, added Marko Rosic.

Germany can win another Gold Medal for the first time since they surprisingly won the Euro in 1993 over Russia. Germany will have a reunion with legendary coach Svetislav Pesic who was Germany’s head coach then. He won the World Cup in 2002 with Yugoslavia and now at age 74 is in the final again. ‘Pesic continues to prove how good of a coach he is. He won with Germany many years ago and shows he can be successful with different countries’, said Marko Rosic. Germany has a 5-5 record against Serbia dating back to 2009. Their last meeting against Serbia at the World Cup was in 2010 in Turkey where Germany squeezed out an exciting 82-81 win with Jan Jagla leading the way with 22 points. So what kind of final can we await? ‘We will see team basketball from both sides. Both teams will step up their defense. I think it will be an emotional game and be dirty at times. It will be a good time and be close’, warned Marko Rosic. A good question will be who is coming in as the favorite? One thing is for sure that both teams will come into the final with a lot of self-confidence. Obviously many may think that Germany is the favorite simply from having beat USA, but one shouldn’t underestimate Serbia. ‘Serbia will play with a lot of emotion. They will take that emotion and energy of the win and their fans into the final. I also think they will be playing for Borisa Simanic who lost a kidney and be thinking of him. Key will be trying to keep ball away from Schroeder as much as possible. If they allow Schroeder to create then that could really give Serbia problems. Also important will be keeping an eye on Andi Obst and not losing him’, stated Marko Rosic. It will be interesting to see how Germany reacts after playing against a high tempo USA team and now playing against a more physical and team basketball orientated club like Serbia. ‘Germany has to take their confidence with them from the USA game. They don’t really have to change anything up, but just continue to play their game and show that good team basketball that carried them the whole way to the final. They definitely will have to play better defense than against USA. I also think they have to play more under the basket. They have the advantage there and could hurt Serbia’, warned Marko Rosic. Near the end of the USA game, ex NBA player and Fraport Skyliner Isaac Bonga made a key block to help secure the win. Could Bonga be the X-factor? ‘ On defense yes. He guards the other team’s best player. Slowing down Bogdanovic would be a big help’, added Marko Rosic. The semi final between Germany-USA was already a huge highlight and one of the greatest games in German basketball history, but could the final top it? We will see. It is no surprise who Marko Rosic picks. ‘I’m going with a 87-84 win for Serbia’, said Marko Rosic. I’m going against that prediction. I predict a 92-90 win with the game winner from Franz Wagner. Team Germany already put basket Germany in heaven after the win over USA. Imagine what will happen if Germany wins the Gold? If someone had said 10 years ago that Germany would be playing for the World Cup Gold and have a 7-0 record going in, nobody would have believed it.