One thing that one can never take away from Mike Nwabuzor (188-G-1996, college: NMHU) is that he will be forever be linked to Lebron James even if they never played against each other in a real professional game, but in a pro Am game in Los Angeles in July 2022. Nwabuzor is one of thousands of very talented guards on this planet that hasn’t reached a high level overseas yet, but continues to get closer as he will play in Germany for Pro A club Artland Dragons. He is another one of many that had to pay his dues in the JUCO and have that seemingly neverending climb up the basketball ladder as his trek is still far away from reaching the top. The 193cm guard has been living the overseas dream and even if it has been a struggle having played in Germany and North Macedonia, he has never given up to have to prove himself and demonstrate his nonending love for the game. It wasn’t any different last summer when he suddenly found himself going head to head against Lebron James in a summer time Pro Am game in Los Angeles under the watchful eyes of family, friends and legends like Draymond Greene and Baron Davis. At the end of 40 minutes his stat line read 17/8/7/3/3 which would of made many guys envious. ”I feel that I performed at a high level on the biggest stage and that speaks volumes about my preparation and the work I put into my craft. I played a full all around game , which is me in a nutshell. I’m a playmaker and defender that can score the basketball and get my teammates off as well. My one regret and probably biggest moment is coming down the line and taking off to dunk right in front of Bron and I missed the dunk by an inch. Ball went in the rim and popped out when I pulled the rim down. Other than that, great all around game. I was composed , confident , and strategic in my attack offensively and defensively’, expressed Mike Nwabuzor. There aren’t many guys on this planet that can say that they have played against Lebron James that never set foot in the NBA. Obviously for him being able to observe the king get the record is an extra special meaning for him. ‘It just validates the game we played even more. To be able to say to say I shared the court with the NBA’s all time leading scorer holds a lot of weight’, stated Mike Nwabuzor. It was definitely an experience he will never forget.
Now let’s fast forward 7 months later to Feb 2023. Lebron James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer breaking the record of ex Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar that stood 38 years. He had one advantage over all those poor ballers overseas that were in time zones 9 hours and more away in that he didn’t have to be dead tired and be up in the middle of the night to witness history. Instead he was back in the States and could enjoy the game with a cool drink. He had been preparing religiously for the Basketball Africa League where he suited up for Seydou Legacy Athletique Club Conakry averaging 16.8ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 92.3%. When one sits down and tries to digest a long standing record like this, one really has to be able to comprehend what it really means for someone to have broken this record. ‘It’s hard to put into perspective. I don’t think we will really understand until LeBron retires. I also don’t see anybody breaking this record because of how much longer Bron will play’, stressed Mike Nwabuzor. It is truly a shame that the young generation can’t fully understand or appreciate the legacy that Kareem has had over time with his incredible skill set. ‘I have watched full games of games in the 80s and 90s courtesy of NBA TV so it allowed me to understand these older legacies and I think Kareem paved the way for many things in the basketball world’, expressed Mike Nwabuzor who’s favorite Lebron moment was his block against Andre Iguodala in the 2016 finals.
The big question coming into the Oklahoma Thunder game was, was he going to break it against Shai Gillgeous-Alexander or in the next game against the Milwaukee Bucks. It must have been clear to everyone when Lebron James came in all black that the record would fall that night. He didn’t disappoint any of the home crowd fans as he scored 38 points in 26 minutes. No one can really argue that it wasn’t a normal day at the office for the 4 time NBA champion. ‘Normal day for sure. Although I think they were kind of force feeding him the ball instead of playing the game. It still is something he would’ve accomplished either way’, said Mike Nwabuzor. Lebron James made his record breaking points with a routine step back jumper over Kenrich Williams. One has to wonder what would have been happening on social media had he set up on the base line and made a sky hook in Kareem manner. ‘Honestly I was hoping and expecting him to do a sky hook to honor or show up Kareem, however you want to look at it. The one foot fade is one of his patent moves so I’m not surprised. I think that social media would have its way with that narrative. So many different avenues people good go with that’, said Mike Nwabuzor. Also with the crafty and versatile Russell Westbrook on the court, one could of expected a fancy dime to forever be remembered and linked with the bucket. But instead it was no special pass. All ballers agree that his pass won’t be remembered in 20 years, but his triple doubles surely will. ‘I don’t think anything will trump the feat of triple doubles that Russ accomplished in those years. Those are seasons and times you could never forget’, warned Mike Nwabuzor. One thing that one can speculate about is how much the ball will be worth. Billions may be a bit unthinkable, but what about millions? ‘That ball will definitely be worth millions but it won’t be leaving Bron’s possession , I know that for a fact’, warned Mike Nwabuzor.
It took almost 40 years for the record to be broken. Will it take another 40 years or perhaps longer. Can this incredible record ever be broken? ‘I personally don’t think it can be broken because I don’t see another player playing as long Bron and at as high of a level’, added Mike Nwabuzor. The game has changed over the last years where there is so much more scoring, more possessions and more three pointers. One guy who could possibly compete for the record is Luka Doncic, but he will have to be durable and become a physical specimen like Lebron so he can play many many years. ‘Luka does have a good head start but I don’t see him playing more than 20 years in this league’, warned Mike Nwabuzor. The GOAT debate has been going on for more than a decade between Jordan and Lebron. Does Lebron’s record finally give him the GOAT status? ‘I give him the goat of our generation for sure. It’s hard to argue who is the best because I am a big fan of both’, commented Mike Nwabuzor. He may never face him again on the court, but just in case he would, he will be prepared on and off the court. ‘I would approach him the same way I approach anybody else. At the end of the day, he is still human. On the court, my wish would be that we worked out together and then played 1s after. As for off the court, I’d like to get a workout with him in the weight room and see what he’s doing to be able to keep on playing at this level in year 20’, stressed Mike Nwabuzor. One day he will be able to tell his grand children that he played against the NBA all-time leading scorer Lebron James and nobody will be able to take that away from him.
Dylan Travis (190-G-1993, college: FSC) is a professional basketball player that has made the transition from overseas ball to being a 3×3 professional player in the States as well as playing for the USA national team. The Omaha native played at Midland University (NAIA), Iowa Central Community College (JUCO) and Florida Southern College (NCAA2) before embarking on a professional career overseas. He played in Germany for Rot Weiss Cuxhaven and the ScanPlus Baskets Elchingen (Germany-ProB) and in Australia for the Western Port Steelers (Australia-Big V D1) and Waverley Falcons (Australia-NBL1). He spoke to germanhoops.com about Lebron James becoming the NBA all-time leading scorer.
Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history?
I did stay up and watch this. I could not miss watching that historic moment on tv.
How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years? –
So many great players came before Lebron, it just shows how hard it is to do this. To stay healthy and produce for that many years and counting is incredible.
He scored 38 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office?
He definitely was out to get the record and LA needs the wins to make the playoffs. Which equaled a big night.
How much is that ball going to be worth?
I don’t know, but a lot of money. Hopefully he gets to keep it for himself.
Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles?
Definitely not.
His record breaking basket was a step back over Kenrich Williams. Is that the kind of shot you expected knowing the kind of player he is? Or would you have expected a dunk for the spectacular finish?
It was just Lebron making a play like he always does.
There obviously is a lot of respect for Kareem, by the basketball world, but what would have happened on social media if Lebron had gotten the record with a sky hook shot?
haha social media would’ve gone crazy for that and it would’ve been iconic. Almost would have looked staged though.
Kareem is such a gentleman. You didn’t grow up with him, but what does his legacy mean to younger guys? Can they even understand what that guy did?
To be honest I don’t know much besides he was obviously a great player. I never got the chance to watch him play. But when your name is prominent for decade after decade that means something.
Lebron will have more than 40,000 points when it’s all over. Back in 1984 people said it would never be broken? Will this record be broken?
I don’t think so! But who knows maybe I’m no better than those folks in the 80’s.
If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him?
Luka is a great player and I enjoy watching his game. Hopefully he can stay healthy.
Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan?
I stay out of those convo’s I just appreciate both of them.
What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV?
His chase down block in the finals is something I will never forget. Or when he decided to go to Miami. I’ll never forget I was in high school with my AAU team on a trip and we had to stop what we were doing to watch the announcement.
Ryan Schwieger (198-G-1999, college: Loyola, IL) is a 24 year old 198cm guard from North Carolina that completed his rookie season with Rasta Vechta averaging 14.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.1apg, FGP: 63.1%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 80.6%. He began his basketball career at Weddington high school. He then played at Princeton (NCAA) from 2017-2020 improving his scoring average each season. He played his senior year at Loyola University of Chicago (NCAA) playing 33 games averaging 9.2ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 80.4%. he spoke to germanhoops.com after his rokkie season.
Thanks Ryan for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on winning your first pro title as a rookie with Rasta Vechta. If someone had told you in September you will be Pro A champ what would you have thought?
Rasta is a club that expects to compete at the highest level and puts forth the effort to do so, so even back at the beginning of the season we all had championship expectations. It would’ve been great to know we were going to win that early on! But it’s still tough to win any championship and doing so in my first year is a blessing.
How rapidly did you notice in the fall that there was a winning culture in Vechta? What is so special about the organization Rasta Vechta that you won’t see in other places?
I knew before I even joined the team that Rasta will not settle to be a mediocre club, and that was only confirmed getting there in the fall. I think in Vechta there is a real culture around the team that makes you feel proud to wear the jersey and play in front of those fans every game.
The club went into the season with high expectations and rolled over the competition. How important was it for your game coming into this winning culture and performing well at a high level?
We started off the season very well in large part to the leadership and play of the returners / vets. Tajuan Agee, Joel Aminu, and Chip Flanigan in particular dominated our first game against Artland and the next few, which really set the expectation for the younger guys like myself that we were on a mission that season
The Pro A finals are always 2 games with the winner having the best scores in the 2 games. How strange was that 78-78 score in game 1? Were you still waiting for the OT period to come?
I really can’t believe we tied a basketball game even now, but at the same time it almost felt inevitable in a way. Tuebingen was such a good team and we had been neck and neck all season and I mean the tie really was the fairest representation of the teams at that point I think.
Was the 78-78 more an advantage or disadvantage from your perspective for Rasta Vechta or for the Tigers? You as a team must of felt very confident with the incredible fans going into the second game?
I think tying the first game was sort of a win for us. Especially with how the game went, we were down in the first half and came back to end in a tie. I think even if they had won by one point, it would have been a totally different feeling between games 1 and 2 even though score-wise it’s not that big of a difference. Coming back to our home arena and our fans it did feel like we have all the advantage and we were in a great position to win.
Vechta had the 8 point lead in the fourth quarter but the guests made a furious comeback and trailed only 63-61. What do you remember going through your head at that time?
They actually did the same thing in the first game we played them in Vechta where Julius Wolf hit the game winner at the buzzer. I think they took the lead late in both games. But I know the guys that we had on our team and know that we have the ability to make big shots and get big stops so I wasn’t too worried. It was more about withstanding their run and not losing our cool.
You made some massive shots in crunch time. How confident were you feeling with your game and how good did it feel getting the call where anyone else could have been the go to guy?
Honestly I wasn’t really thinking about my game at all, at that point all that matters is winning the game however you have to do it. Joshka Ferner made a big 3 to put us back in the lead. I ended up scoring a layup and some free throws but it’s really because the defense has to worry about guys like Joshka, Joel (who scored 30+ points the last 2 games), and Tajuan that I was able to have success late.
How highly can you credit the season of Tuebingen? What did you respect most from the team?
Tuebingen really was an awesome team. Hard to say what I respect the most but it seemed like they were always the team that we kept our eye on all season and knew that we would have to get past them to win the championship. Of the four games we played them we won one at the buzzer, tied a game, they won by 10 or so and we won by 7 or 8 in the last game. So in my mind the teams were literally right there with each other all season and we just pulled it out in the end.
How was the celebration night? When did you finally go to sleep and what will you never forget from the party night? The celebration was great. Rasta fans know how to party.
Rasta Vechta reminded me a lot of top Pro B EPG Baskets Koblenz who won the pro B title. They like you had a very deep and talented roster. They had an incredible chemistry. What was your team’s biggest strength?
I think our biggest strength was our competitiveness. From day 1 of practice we were going at each other and competing so much that it almost got too much at times and we had to dial it back. But once we got to the games and especially the playoffs, there was just no way that we were going to lose.
Two of the team’s main components were Joel Aminu and Tajuan Agee. Talk a little about what you appreciated most from them on the court?
Like the question before, these two guys were probably the most competitive and never were okay with losing in anything. Once it got to game time with these two guys on our team, I knew we would be in good shape. As players also they both really carried us a lot during the season. Tajuan’s physicality and scoring ability, combined with his unselfishness, made him such a problem for other teams and he would just impact the game so much. Joel was similar in the guard position. His confidence and shot making were huge for us down the stretch, especially in those two 30 point games, but I think his impact on defense was underrated and really allowed us to dominate teams on both ends.
Who was the team unsung hero and who improved the most from the young Americans?
Unsung hero maybe Siler Schneider? It’s hard to say because I think as a team we recognized and appreciated everybody for what they brought. Siler coming in during the season brought such a great attitude, along with his ball handling, playmaking and scoring, that he had the ability to kind of guide the team at times and keep us playing well and together. Also hard to say who improved the most. Naz , Andrew and I all were important to us winning in different ways. Naz is a matchup nightmare for other teams who also changes games with his energy and motor. Drew’s scoring and shooting ability along with his defense and athleticism make him so impactful on both ends that he could carry us in games. They both could.
Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 14/2/3 stats and shot 41% from outside. What was your personal summary of your rookie season in terms of your game?
My shooting numbers are good but I’ve really got to improve the passing and rebounding. I think the assists will come naturally but I do think I’ve got to focus a lot more on rebounding the ball especially for my size
You were very consistent as a rookie. How tough was it being that scorer you knew you were despite playing on a team where many guys could score and had the ball in their hands?
The only difficult thing for me was balancing scoring and setting guys up. I learned how to do it better as the year went on but can still really improve at that. The great thing was that we had such versatile players that it allowed us all to incorporate our strengths into the game really. Julius, Tajuan, and Naz were great playmakers as bigs, so it let the guards play off the ball and score. And then Robbie and Joshka and other guys were elite at scoring the ball efficiently so it helped really open up the court.
You have continued to improve your three point shooting percentages. How do you feel did your game grow in general in the German pro A? I felt I got a lot better this season. I worked a lot with the coaches individually and then just through competing at practice and in the games they let me play through mistakes and learn on the fly. So Im really grateful for how much they helped me improve.
What was it like working together with head coach Ty Harrellson. How did he help let your game grow best this season?
Coach Harrelson was a player himself, and a big point guard, so he really understood what position I was in and he always knew how to help me. He also really lets his players play their game and doesn’t try to take anything away from them so it lets you play confident and free, which is the best thing you can feel as a player.
Who was the toughest player that you faced in the German pro A this season? Mike Flowers gave us about 40 in Vechta so i’m going to go with him.
You played 3 seasons at Princeton (NCAA) and improved your stats each season. How blessed were to play for Mitch Henderson? What kind of a relationship did you have with him and how did your game grow under his guidance?
I have a great relationship with coach Henderson. Both on and off the court. He taught me how to compete, how to be in shape, and how to really improve and get better. Off the court though he taught me a lot as well, how to make good meaningful relationships and how to really care for the people around you.
In your second season you lost by 51 points to Duke (NCAA). Do you remember having a wow moment seeing Zion Williamson up close?
Zion is legit. RJ Barret was the only who really killed us though. Definitely the biggest loss of my career. Did you have to bring that up ?
You then finished at Loyola University of Chicago (NCAA) averaging 9.2ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 80.4%. How special was it winning the MVC title beating Drake? What will you always cherish from that title?
Playing at Loyola was awesome. They have a culture of winning that is really great to be a part of. I’ll really just cherish the time I spent with my teammates and coaches there and how much I learned from all of them.
How did head coach Drew Valentine groom and prepare you best for a pro career?
I think the world of Drew. I really think he is a special coach that will be great for years to come. He does a great job of balancing the relationship of being your coach and holding you accountable, to being family off the court and helping you as much as you can with whatever he can. I’m forever thankful for letting me come to Loyola and be a part of their program
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Aher Uguak? Me of course. We used to play everyday after practice and he never beat me one time. He’ll deny it though.
Who was your toughest player you face din the NCAA that reached the NBA? I’d have to say RJ Barret. Chimezie Metu also really killed us when we played USC.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Chip Flanigan , Lucas Williamson, Richmond Aririguzoh, Amir Bell , Tate Hall
Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore? Michael Jordan , Lebron, Kobe , Magic
Who is your basketball GOAT? Mike
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?
Timothy Clifford (211-C-1986) is a former professional player that played 1 season with the Telekom Baskets Bonn in the 2008-2009 season playing 29 BBL games averaging 1,9ppg and 1,0rpg and played 12 Eurochallenge games averaging 3,7ppg and 1,7rpg. He began his basketball career at Walpole High School and then played at Holy Cross (NCAA) from 2004-2008 playing 114 NCAA games and as a senior averaged 18.0ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.2apg, 0.7spg, 2.3bpg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 78.2%, 3PT: 33.3%. He looked back on the magical Bonn season of 2008-2009 during the 2023 BBL finals.
Thanks Tim for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?
Living near my hometown with my wife Jess and our 3 kids Jack, Jameson, and Maggie. Im working as a Middle School history teacher. Our family is happy and healthy. Life is good. I play the occasional men’s league with some former players but it’s just for fun now. It’s more about my kid’s sports now. My oldest loves hockey.
You retired in 2009. You played one season but went out almost in style reaching the BBL final. Could you have played longer or did you get some kind of other good opportunity off the court that you simply couldn’t give up? I could have played longer but it seemed like a better long term plan to pursue my career in education and for my wife to work toward her career in Anesthesia.
How have you been keeping busy since you retired in 2010? Do you still have some kind of ties to the game? I have been mostly focused on career and family. I coached a few years at the high school level but gave it up when my oldest son was born. Otherwise I read, spend time with friends, and play the occasional men’s league. Mostly I give my time to my kids.
You played at Holy Cross from 2004-2008 and had the pleasure of playing with 3 great guards with Kevin Hamilton, Keith Simmons and Torey Thomas. How do you remember them best?
As good teammates, good leaders, and good people.
In your junior year you lost a tough 57-45 game to Duke. What memories do you have of that game playing against future NBA guys like Gerald Henderson and Lance Thomas? I remember that the Cameron Crazies weren’t as bad as the Bucknell fans.
Who was the toughest center that you battled in the NCAA that reached the NBA? The center from Dayton OH who I played my senior year, can’t think of a name though.
You came to Bonn in 2008 after having a sensational senior year averaging 18/5. Did you expect your rookie season to be easier than how it went? You hardly played for head coach Mike Koch. I didn’t go in expecting much playing time. I knew I was a backup.
I can imagine one of your most memorable BBL games was the win against Bamberg where you had 9 points. What do you remember form that game? Not a thing. I know that sounds funny but it was a lifetime ago.
You helped the Telekom Baskets Bonn reach the final in 2009. Bonn is back in the final for the first team as they had an incredible season. Do you still follow your ex team? I don’t but I wish them and the city all the best. It was a lovely place to play and live. My memories of the city are fond and will always stick more than any particular game.
The 2008-2009 Bonn was a special team that finished the regular season in fourth place. What do you remember being this team’s biggest strength? Comadre among players and good coaching
The team had 2 ex NBA players with Ken Johnson and Vincent Yarbrough and a third player by the name of Brandon Bowman who I felt should always have made it. How important was his play for the success of the team? Obviously important to the team.
How will you remember John Bowler most? He was an unorthodox player that also had a original character and humor. As a good friend and a good teammate.
What memories will you always have of EJ Rowland? The guy just completed his 18th season at age 40. I guess his wheels never fell off. He was a really good leader and quality person.
Bonn began the playoffs by sweeping Ulm. Could the series have changed for the worse had Bonn not won game 2 71-69? Yes.
Is Jeff Gibbs one of those guys that you will never forget playing against? How does a 22 centimeter advantage that Ken Johnson still give a big man problems? Was he one of the greatest undersized bigs you ever saw? He was a great player but Germany was full of great bigs.
The Alba Berlin series was crazy. Bonn won the first 2 games combined by 5 points and looked like the final was an easy bet , but then they strapped up the defense and allowed Bonn to average 40 points in the next 2 games. What did they change up? In the playoff they picked up the intensity
Then came the crazy final against Oldenburg. Bonn was always up a game, but Oldenburg always fought back. Was the 71-70 loss in game 5 your toughest loss in your career? It was certainly up there
Talk a little about the last seconds. How do you remember witnessing them? It’s been a while but it was an emotional moment.
What was the difference in the series? Could Bonn had won the series keeping Ricky Paulding better in check? Yes.
Please name your starting 5 of favorite Bonn teammates?
They were all such lovely people I can’t choose.
Who won a 1-1 you or John Bowler? Me
Who do you remember being the toughest center that you battled in Germany?
Chris McNaughton
The Telekom Baskets Bonn are down 01 in the best of 5 series against Ulm. What is your prediction?
The dog days of summer are running down and with August around the corner, it will soon be training camp for teams in Europe. The Fraport Skyliners will begin a new chapter in the second division Pro A and will have many new faces in Basketball City Mainhatten as well as many old faces not around. The best known with Quantez Robertson (188-SG-1984, college: Auburn, agency: Interperformances) won’t be there. It will be tough seeing Skyliner practices and games soon without Quantez Robertson or simply Tez as everyone called him. The fact of not seeing Tez after games and having the usual chit chat is something that just hasn’t sunk in yet. I mean it was a normal occurrence and something in a way that I just always wished wouldn’t stop. But some things just don’t go on forever. That is something that I will get used to. Besides there are enough other new imports around with whom I can start a new 1-1 season interview session with. But one thing is for sure, it may take a very long time to find a player that will stay in Frankfurt for more than just a few seasons. Just for the record here are the life time easyCredit BBL stats of Quantez Robertson once more. 479 games, 4,425 points, 2217 rebounds, 742 steals in 15, 034 minutes of work. It was an incredible carer and now life goes forward for the Fraport Skyliners and Quantez Robertson in very different ways.
It’s 3.00 pm Alabama time and 9:00pm time in Germany when I reach Quantez Robertson at home. As usual the atmosphere is bustling with loud kid’s voices in the back- round. One could even think that Tez is the head camp counselor having control with all his kids. The ex Auburn guard seems very relaxed despite the hoopla in the back-round and just extremely happy. It has been more than 3 months since he played his last easyCredit BBL game. His daily routine now has been very much different than when he was living in Germany and preparing daily to play the game he loves. If one want’s to believe it or not, he hasn’t really picked up a ball since Frankfurt. ‘I am very occupied now bringing my kids to sports practices. I haven’t really picked up a basketball since leaving Germany. It has been more like getting a rebound or making a pass at one of my kid’s practices. At the same time, I’m still letting my body recover from all the bumps and bruises I had. The only real activity that I have done in the last months has been racing my son from mail box to mail box or playing pickle ball with my wife. Picking up this game pickle ball and playing it has been the coolest thing I have done this summer’, laughed Quantez Robertson. Now that he is retired, he also has more time to keep in better contact with his ex Auburn teammates like Lucas Hargrove even if he isn’t right around the corner living in South Carolina. ‘Lucas sends me a lot of messages and video’s about his cooking on the grill’, said Quantez Robertson.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Quantez Robertson in the BCM during Covid in 2021
August is right around the corner and it will definitely be a strange feeling not getting ready to come back overseas for a new season. Instead now he will stay at home. At the moment, he is still contemplating about how life will really look like as an ex pro player. ‘At the moment I’m still relaxing, but also thinking about what I will really do after basketball. I think that being a trainer or coach is looking very realistic now’, warned Quantez Robertson. Of course every now and then he thinks about his illustrious career and knows what he will miss most soon when he isn’t back in Germany undertaking the grind in the lab and being a professional player. ‘I will miss the preparation of getting in shape for the season and just going to the gym every day and spending time with my teammates’, stressed Quantez Robertson. Tez may be far away from what is happening basketball wise in Frankfurt, but of course he isn’t going to shy away from giving his 2 cents about the first import signings. ‘It’s a new start for the Skyliners in a different era. The new coach wants fresh blood, but I think it will still be good to have a few veterans’, warned Quantez Robertson. The most interesting signing for me has been Aiden Warnholtz who played at Canada’s greatest basketball institution Carleton. You just can’t go wrong with Carleton boys. ‘That’s a good place to get players from. Aaron Doornekamp and Phil Scrubb went there. This could be the start of something good’, warned Quantez Robertson. The club also brought in 2 very exciting young Germans with Bruno Albrecht and Jacob Knauf as well as bringing back an ex NBBL champion with Bruno Vrcic and Lorenz Brenneke who is looking to rebound after his injury prone season in 22-23. ‘Bruno will be a big spark. He will be a big threat as a starter or off the bench, because he is a proven scorer and defender. I expect a very strong season from Lorenz. He was injured most of last season and will have a huge chip on his shoulder. I am confident that he will produce and be effective’, warned Quantez Robertson. But before the Pro A season starts, fans will see Quantez Robertson one more time in his farewell game. ‘We are trying to contact my ex teammates to see who can play’, stated Quantez Robertson.
Mikal Bridges autograph
One thing I have always loved talking about with Tez is other basketball topics besides the Fraport Skyliners. In the last years, we discussed topics like Lebron James, Charles Barkley, The Euro 2022, Autograph collecting, Derrick Allen, Rickey Paulding, summer vacation, making it into an Argentine newspaper with me, Easter and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, PJ Tucker and of course Tom Brady. In summer 2023, I had to ask him about Team USA and the 2023 World Cup. I mean I was almost at a loss of words when I saw this 12 man roster of Paolo Banchero, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram Jaren Jackson Jr., Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Bobby Portis and Austin Reaves. My first thought was where are the superstars like Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving or Anthony Davis? ‘I’m not going to stay I was scared when I first read the names. I mean they are all good players. They all can score and play defense’, commented Quantez Robertson. Why aren’t stars playing? Are the priorities different in 2023 than years ago?. ‘I think that a lot of the super stars have played in the Olympics and World cup before. I think that the basketball federation is trying to give young and up coming players the chance to represent their country’, expressed Quantez Robertson. I personally don’t follow the NBA much, but of course have heard of all of them and even had dealings with some. I never lost interest for autograph collecting as my first real NBA autograph was Moses Malone during the 1981 NBA finals in Boston. Just a few months ago when I was in my home town Boston for 10 days, I was able to get Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Cam Johnson’s autographs while guys like Jalen Brunson and Brandon Ingram couldn’t be bothered to stop and sign. Tez sees guys like Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson and Brandon Ingram as being the go to guys and leaders as they score at a high clip and sees every player as being a surprise as each player brings something different to the table, but can USA win the Gold medal? ‘I think that the advantage that Team USA has is that the Euro teams don’t know much about this team. They have allstars, but no superstars. I honestly think that Team USA can win the Gold medal’, warned Quantez Robertson. How will Germany fair? ‘I think that Germany have a shot if they play well. You know that Gordie always has a game plan’, said Quantez Robertson. You know that the next Tez article will come after the 2023 World Cup results are in. I end our 20 minute talk with the question to which Team USA player is most like him. ‘Mikal Bridges is most like me. He doesn’t need any plays run for him to be effective’, warned Quantez Robertson. But I’ll take a Quantez Robertson over Mikal Bridges any day. There are simply too many sweet memories still dancing in my head with Tez and the Fraport Skyliners.
Sometimes you see a player and some time later you realize that was the last time you ever saw him play competitively in a professional game overseas. That happened to me in the second half of last season as I did play by play of a Pro B game between the Dragons Rhondorf and the EN Baskets Schwelm. The guy that I saw for the last time play without knowing it was Robert Nortmann (204-F/C-1987, college: Dalhousie). He was a guy that I would discover for the first time in the 2017-2018 season when he had his first tour of duty in Germany. His playing resume stood out to me instantly because he had had an interesting career. A career like so many guys overseas that consisted of nonstop grinding in the lab and having to play in lower leagues, but feeling grateful for playing the game he loves for a living.. He would play 4 of his last 5 years in Germany and one could say that Germany became like a second home for him. Interviewing guys like this that have a story to tell is always fascinating for me. But surprisingly even if he decided to hang up his jersey after 8 professional seasons, his out of the ordinary life will continue after banging on the court in Germany. Over the years the Canadian native has had a special bond to Toronto and recently had the unbelievable rare opportunity to film a commercial with Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam. ‘There was a casting call for high level, tall basketball players and luckily I was able to get the role. It was a really cool experience, and it’s actually my 4th national commercial that I’ve done in my life. I’ve done two commercials for the Toronto Raptors and one for NBA League Pass. I recently got an agent for acting and I’m looking to take this more seriously’, stressed Robert Nortmann. He has had a special connection to the Toronto Raptors organization since 2017 when he was able to practice with them and has cherished every moment with them. ‘I was able to train with the Raptors farm team in both the fall of 2017 and 2019. I made a few contacts in university that actually ended up working for the Toronto Raptors. I played against Harry Ezenibe in university and he became an assistant coach with the Raptors. I also knew Shelby Weaver, who is on the Raptors basketball operations staff, and she encouraged me to try out and work out with their farm team. The Raptors organization does a good job of identifying the top players in Toronto and giving them an opportunity to display their ability. It was amazing being coached by Jerry Stackhouse in 2017. He instilled a lot of confidence in me and it was just cool to be around a former NBA All-star. I had many battles with NBA Champion Joel Anthony that helped to sharpen my abilities. I also was training with some players who would eventually play in the BBL like Kaza Kajami-Keane and Aaron Best. That Raptors opportunity definitely helped me to easily transition to the Pro A level in Germany’, said Robert Nortmann. A new life has started for Robert Nortmann as he went from Schwelm to making a Mcdonalds commercial with Toronto Raptor Pascal Siakam.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Robert Nortman in Rhondorf, Germany in 2022
The 35 year old forward who played like NBA allstar Draymond Greene as a player played 4 years at Dalhousie University (CIS) and finally broke out in his senior year averaging : 14.6ppg, 6.4rpg, FGP: 49.4%, FT: 61.7%, but that didn’t guarantee him a free pass to higher leagues. He won 2 AUS titles and hit St Francis X for 30 points. He played his rookie season down under with the Maitland Mustangs (Australia-WARATAH) averaging 18.0ppg, FGP: 54.6%, FT: 56.1%, but that didn’t secure him any offers from Europe. Instead he played the next 3 seasons in Canada for teams like the Halifax Rainmen (Canada NBL) and Island Storm. He never averaged more than 2,0ppg in Canada, but his determination to play the game he loves never waned. In 2017 he finally made it to Europe and played 4 years in Germany and one in Iceland. His best season was in Iceland with UMF Sindri Hofn (Iceland-D1) averaging 16.2ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 64.8%, but one has to remember that the league in Iceland was not the same kind of level as the Pro A in Germany where he balled for three years. In total he played 58 Pro A games for Trier and Tuebingen with his most memorable games being a 16/11 explosion against Ehingen and hit Baunach for 14 points. He never averaged more than 4,0ppg in the Pro A. He played his last season with the EN Baskets Schwelm in the third division called Pro B averaging 5.8ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 47.9%, FT: 46.3%. For me it was always a riddle why he didn’t get more of an opportunity as an offensive player. Ok so in the Pro A, it was more difficult, but why not last season in the Pro B? ‘I would have definitely liked to have been featured more on offense. It’s always more fun to play when you know that you are trusted to make plays with the ball. I know that I definitely could have done more offensively if I was given more touches and minutes. As a big man, you depend on your guards to get you the ball. If they would rather shoot than throw it inside it’s hard to have a consistent impact offensively. I made the most of this situation and just tried my best to impact winning.’, remembered Robert Nortmann. Many leagues around the world are filled with guys looking to make a name for themselves and better themselves and continue to climb the basketball ladder. The best example is the G-League where many guys are playing for their stats. It isn’t any different in the Pro B. ‘I’ve noticed that at the Pro B level there are many young guys looking to make a name for themselves. So guys can end up playing for their next contract instead of playing team basketball. Those players all had the green light to shoot freely and I can’t fault young, hungry players who are trying to make a name for themselves. This is the business of basketball and this typical behavior at these levels. I know that I play basketball the right way and I don’t play for my statistics, which has also hurt my career at times. I always play for the W’s and I try to make the right team basketball plays. So personally, I measure my success with team wins and losses. I am happy that we were able to turn our season around and that we got a lot of W’s last season.
The big forward who’s dad is German and from Hamburg didn’t have a great last season to go out in the sunset totally content as his shooting was up and down, but there were other area’s in how he performed where he was content with. ‘I just felt that my ability was undervalued and this resulted in inconsistent minutes. I showed my ability and I proved my value on the court last season. I was happy with the way that I performed in this difficult situation. I believed that I should have had more touches and overall minutes. There was no emphasis on getting the ball inside and I believe that the bigs were underutilized last season. Schwelm had two of the most talented bigs in Pro B. Both Daniel Mayr and I brought a lot of complimentary abilities to the team that could have really worked well together. But we were often competing for minutes when I feel that we should have both been on the court together. There were many times where I felt that I was running, defending and setting screens without being rewarded offensively for my effort. The ball movement was our team’s achilles heel and it frequently led to isolation basketball from the perimeter’, remembered Robert Nortmann. Last season he had some solid games against Duesseldorf and Bernau and he will never forget his one season in Schwelm. ‘My fondest moment would have to be bringing my daughter on the court after our win at home in the playoffs. That was a very special moment for me and I’ll always cherish that experience. The Schwelm fans were fantastic and they really showed me and my family so much love. They nicknamed my daughter Zaia “die kleine Maus” (little mouse) and I loved bringing her to all of the home games’, expressed Robert Nortmann. In the Pro A his toughest opponent is current easyCredit BBL player Owen Klassen and last season remembers playing against a real thorn, a guy that is a walking bucket and has given multiple teams head aches over the last years with his ability to shine on the 1-1 play. ‘The best big man that I played against was Bill Borekambi. He gave our team a lot of problems last season. His mobility and unorthodox midrange game was really hard for us to guard defensively. He was especially effective out of the pick and roll and off ball cutting situations. I like his game a lot’, warned Robert Nortmann.
So now let’s fast forward to 2023. The ex national player of the Bahamas that has Jordan, Lebron, Kobe and Kareem on his personal NBA Mount probably would have enjoyed continuing his professional career, because his love for the game is so massive, but there were outside factors that effected his decision to hang it up. ‘There was interest and offers but I had decided to focus on creating stability for my family. I had told myself that I would only take a job if it was really financially beneficial to my family. And with the pandemic and the war in the Ukraine, the market just isn’t the same. So unfortunately I couldn’t accept any of the offers as they couldn’t provide mt family what we needed. I love playing basketball but it was time to focus on something more important than the game’, stressed Robert Nortmann. Many don’t recognize that so many ballers overseas have the stress of moving around with family. Toronto is home for him now as his wife Maddie is from there. It was only logical with both his and her families being in Toronto to move there. Their one and a half year old daughter Zaia needs the family support and stability He has transitioned into teaching and is working on his Masters of Science in adolescent education. He also teaches physical education at a Montessori school here in Toronto. The guy is just oozing with lots of energy for many projects and even if he isn’t playing professionally overseas, he is still on the court a lot besides when he is making commercials. ‘I started my own basketball team in Toronto, named “Team Triple Threats”. My goal is to get my team into the TBT “The Basketball Tournament” and to get into the FIBA 3X3 circuit with my team. I have recruited some talented former pro players to my team. Former Canadian National Team member Brady Heslip currently plays on my team and I have other players who have played at various other levels professionally. I am definitely looking forward to moving forward with this project. I am also very interested in the opportunities that are afforded by the CEBL and FIBA 3X3. I would love to either continue my playing career or transition into the coaching field with the CEBL. I have been playing in four different leagues in Toronto. All four of my teams have won the championship in their respective leagues, so I know that I still have some game left in the tank. There are a lot of options and opportunities right now. I’m just happy that I’m finally putting down roots and creating a home for my family’, expressed Robert Nortmann.
He has so many projects in his new life now that you wonder if 24 hours a day is even enough for the ambitious 206cm big man to be able to tackle every challenge and task? Even if he didn’t play at the highest level, he has battled against some guys that 1000’s of guys world wide couldn’t say they ever did and might be a bit envious. ‘I’ve been lucky enough to play against many players with NBA experience over my career. I’ve shared the court with Klay Thompson, Anthony Bennett, Deandre Ayton, Stanley Johnson, Dwight Powell, Pascal Siakam, Quincy Miller, Buddy Hield, Corey Joseph, Joel Anthony, Brandon Jennings, and many other NBA players. You can definitely see abilities that makes these players NBA level. I’ve also always gotten respect from these high level players for my abilities as well. I feel like I can go to any court at any level and contribute to winning basketball’, warned Robert Nortmann. How about writing a book about your experiences playing against them? I would buy it. Over the years my last question in interviews has been who is the GOAT Jordan or Lebron? The older gents say Jordan and the younger generation usually go with Lebron. Recently I have asked who currently the best player is? Most say Steph Curry while Giannis and Luka are a second and third. But you would never guess who Robert Nortmann said. ‘Is it too early to say now that Luca Doncic is the best player in the NBA or is a guy like Steph and Giannis ahead of him? I would have to say that Nikola Joki is the best player in the NBA right now. He is like nothing that we have ever seen before and he is an unbelievable teammate. I have to show love to the big men that keep everyone involved’, stressed Robert Nortmann. Or becoming a story teller would be another thing he could do if he had 48 hours per day. It is definitely never boring with Robert Nortmann. You definitely never know what you will get from him.
Sean Stoqua (5’11”-PG) is a 180cm point guard that recently completed his second professional season and first in Germany with the Bona Baskets Limburg averaging 20.4ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.6apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 76.1%. Following his season in Germany, Sean was hired as the strength coach for Balkan Botevgrad, the back to back champions of the Bulgarian Basketball League. This summer Sean was signed to practice roster for the Ottawa Blackjacks in the CEBL (Canadian Elite Basketball League), making him the 4th generation in his family to sign with a pro sports team in Ottawa. Sean played his rookie season overseas with Ararat Yerevan (Armenia-League A) averaging 32.3ppg, 7.1rpg, 4.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT-2 (43.9%), FT: 76.8%. He began his basketball career at Sacred Heart high school and then played 4 years at Acadia University (CIS) as a dual sport athlete, competing as a guard for the basketball team and defensive back for the football team. He then moved to the University of Ottawa (CIS) where he completed his physiotherapy degree and played 2 seasons for the Gee Gees basketball team. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball during the 2022-2023 season in Limburg.
Thanks Sean for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?
Life is good! I’m currently out in Germany playing for the Bona Baskets Limburg in the Regionalliga. I’ve been to Germany a couple times before so I’m a little familiar with the country. Basketball wise I’m feeling good. My body feels healthy and skill wise I feel like I’m at the top of my game.
You’re playing your first season for the Bona Baskets Limburg. You came late to the season. Despite your great rookie season in Armenia, did the job market prove to be more challenging than you expected or wasn’t the right situation there until Limburg came along?
As an import player without a secondary passport it can be difficult to find good opportunities overseas. Sometimes I think the challenge for players from North America is finding a good agent who can connect you with the right team when an opportunity arises. I’m grateful for BLC Consultation helping me find a good opportunity here in Germany and looking forward to helping Limburg finish the season strong.
You played your first game against Soeflingen, but actually was already in Limburg for the Langen game but couldn’t play. You then experienced some harsh cold weather. Did that make the adjustment period easier because you come from cold Canada?
Yeah Germany and Canada’s idea of harsh cold weather are 2 different things haha. There were times in Canada when we had to cancel games and practices due to blizzards. From what I’ve seen so far this year, Germany’s winter is almost like Canada’s spring.
You put up solid stats in Canada in the CIS league with 2 different schools. You definitely can play, but how much of a role do you think has your height and size played for you not landing in higher leagues yet?
It seems to me like agents and coaches often dismiss smaller guards due to their size and are more likely to take a chance on a taller player. That said, once you can get your foot in the door and get in front of people and play they can see what you’re capable of. There are plenty of players my size who have made it to the highest levels, evidence that height isn’t necessarily the bottleneck. Limitations in athleticism, skill and basketball IQ are potentially limiting factors and things that I am actively trying to improve.
You battled against many future NBA players in Canada and have proved that you can play. How big is your chip on your shoulder and how do you deal with it? Yeah I was lucky to play with and against many NBA players when I was growing up in Canada including Andrew Wiggins, Marial Shayok, Olivier Hanlan, Kevin Pangos, Nik Stauskas, Nazareth Mitrou- Long, Anthony Bennett, Tyler Ennis and Khem Birch. I wouldn’t say that gives me a chip on my shoulder in any way. I just feel lucky that I grew up in a generation when Canada basketball was on the rise and I got to be on the court and compete with a lot of these guys.
You recently started your first game with the Bona Baskets Limburg in a loss putting up 26/4/2 stats. How did it feel and how would you compare the German regionalliga with the league in Armenia where you played last season? It felt great to be on the court again after a long off-season. I’m still working on finding some chemistry with my teammates but that will come with more time and reps. The German Regionalliga is a solid league. Most teams are well coached with good size, skill and depth. Its certainly a step up from my league in Armenia last season.
You played against German Ole Wendt who played in Germany’s first division BBL and held your own. When you see his game, does that give you hope that you can reach higher leagues down the road? Yeah anytime you compete and hold your own with players who have played at a high level it gives you confidence. I know that I’m capable of playing at those levels, for me its more a matter of the limited import spots for North Americans. While I may be as good or better than some of the Germans who play at higher levels, I need to outperform other North Americans in order to make it to those higher leagues.
How have you gotten to enjoy your teammates so far? I can imagine that Justin Stallbohm and Brandon Cataldo have gotten a laugh out of you. Talk a little about the guys and what you have appreciated most from them on and off the court?
My teammates have been awesome! They have really made me feel welcome and part of the team, inviting me to different social events off the court. Justin has been playing on the team for many years so he has been very helpful showing me the ropes. Its cool having guys with different backgrounds from different countries. Its also nice how everyone speaks English, just makes communication that much easier. Its great having another guy from North America on the team in Brandon Cataldo to make me feel more at home. I think him and I will make an excellent ball screen combo as the year continues.
Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 180CM guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who fits the description best?
Being from Canada, Steve Nash was always my favourite player growing up. I also like Nate Robinson a lot of because he played defensive back at the University of Washington. That said, I think JJ Barea might be my best NBA comparison. We have similar size, athleticism and style of play.
When looking at your stats one could say you’re a 3 and D player, but you seem to be more versatile than that. Talk a little about your game and strengths?
I feel like I’m a pretty versatile player in the sense that I can adapt to whatever my team needs. I can change what I do on the court based on what my teammates do well. I feel like when I have capable shooters and scorers around me I can play more of a pass first point guard role. I’m also capable of playing off the ball in more of a scoring role when my team needs that, like I did last season in Armenia. 3 point shooting and defense have always been two of my biggest strengths.
You also played football in University. A guy like Ishmail Wainwright of the Phoenix Suns also played football at Baylor (NCAA). How do you feel has your football skills helped your basketball game over the years?
I think playing football has helped me on the basketball court in several ways. I played defensive back for 4 years in University. It helped me become a better defender on the basketball court. You won’t meet many defensive backs who can’t play defense on a basketball court. The reverse isn’t necessarily true. Playing defensive in football & basketball both require great footwork, hip mobility and dissociation of the pelvis and ribcage. Football also made me a better rebounder, learning how to high point the ball and handle contact in the air. It helped me understand collisions better and how to keep my centre of mass low to the ground. Football also helped me learn how to watch film and study my opponents. It helped teach me how to be a better leader, communicator and handle inter-personal dynamics more effectively. It made me a tougher person physically and mentally.
What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
At the moment I think defense is one of my strengths. I am fast enough to stay in front of quick guards and strong enough to guard taller, bigger players. Creating turnovers and drawing offensive fouls have always been two of my biggest strengths. I’m working on becoming a better on ball defender in the full court.
On what area’s of your game are you working on most now you can continue to climb the basketball ladder?
My mid-range game
In 2022 you played for Ararat Yerevan (Armenia-League A) averaging 32.3ppg, 7.1rpg, 4.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT FG (43.9%), FT: 76.8%. You led the league in 3PT FG made and 3PT %. What do you remember being your wake up call where you knew that you were very far from home?
When the war broke out between Russia and Ukraine I realized I wasn’t in Kansas anymore.
You didn’t have just massive games but unbelievable games scoring 55 points and 51 points twice. I mean that’s not easy to do at any level. Talk a little about scoring 50 plus points at the professional level. How can one classify that feat doing it 3 times in the Armenian pro league?
During those games I was able to catch a rhythm with my shooting, felt like I couldn’t miss. I was also in a great mental space last season. When you know you are going to play 40 minutes you feel very free on the court and you don’t second guess your shot selection. My teammates were also great when it came to setting me screens and finding me when I was open.
You hit 11 three’s in the 55 point explosion? Not many pro players overseas can boast having made 10 or more three’s. Was that just one of those games where everything fit. Do you feel like making 11 again is possible? Yeah it was one of those days. I don’t see why its not possible to do that again. I think its mostly about getting the minutes and the attempts up. Once I see the ball go in once or twice the rim gets a lot bigger.
You have had a very interesting journey before even turning professional. First of all you come from a very athletic family where relatives played on Stanley Cup winning teams and others played sports. How did the family culture shape you to become the player you are?
Yeah I feel pretty lucky to have a history of professional athletes on both sides of my family, all having played for pro sports teams in Ottawa. My father played professional football for the Ottawa Roughriders in the 1980s. My Mum’s father also played for the Roughriders in the 1940s and his dad played for the Ottawa Senators (then called the Silver Seven) winning the Stanley Cup in 1904. One of my current goals is to play for the Ottawa Blackjacks (Ottawa’s new professional basketball team) so that I can make it 4 generations straight in my family playing professional sports in Ottawa. I think more than anything, my family history gave me the belief in myself that I had what it took to become a professional athlete one day. Having done it himself, my dad taught me so much growing up about how hard I would need to work and how tough the process would be. My Mum has provided me so much support every step of the way, I definitely wouldn’t be here without her. Having a younger brother and older sister who also played basketball added a fun and competitive aspect to our family culture.
You were a dual sport athlete at Acadia playing basketball and football and had many injuries. What did you learn most in this time about how to handle your body?
Yeah playing 2 sports definitely took a toll on my body. During this time I think I realized its not so much the workload, but more so how you carry it. During my first 2 years I wasn’t very disciplined with my training, nutrition and lifestyle and consequently in my 3rd year I suffered an ankle injury that required 3 surgeries to fix. After establishing some new habits, I was able to return to both sports my senior year posting career highs in both sports and not missing a single game for either season. Being more focused on nutrition, sleep, breathing patterns, thought patterns, weight training and mobility made all the difference.
Do you sometimes wonder how your basketball career might have gone had you began earlier and not played football and had all those injuries.
Yeah I feel like I probably would have avoiding some injuries and started my professional basketball career at a younger age straight out of University if I had never played football. Sometimes I also think about where my football career would have ended up if I didn’t play basketball in university. I’m pretty confident I could have had a decent career in the CFL. That said, I’m grateful for my experiences and injury history. Its made me a more well rounded person and a better physiotherapist.
After finishing at the University of Ottawa you worked at a sports medicine clinic and also started a physiotherapy business called ‘TheFixedPhysio’. You also work with athletes overseas helping manage their injuries. What is the greatest satisfaction for you being able to give back after what pains you experienced with injuries?
After finishing physiotherapy school I’ve been working as physiotherapist and strength coach both in person and online. Having had ankle and knee surgeries myself, I especially enjoy helping athletes return from those injuries. I get a lot of satisfaction from working with my old teammates who are still competing at a high level playing professional basketball in the NBA or overseas. Sharing what I’ve learned and helping them stay healthy and have long careers doing what they love brings me a lot of joy.
You played at Acadia from 2011-2015. What basketball memories do you have of this time. What experiences do you take from there as being your most important? Winning a conference championship in my 1st year is my favourite memory. My first couple years at Acadia we had such a close team and I’m still good friends with a lot of those guys to this day.
You played twice against Mr Canada Philipp Scrubb. What memories do you have playing against him? You lost both games and in one scored 20 points?
Yeah I got to compete against Phil during our Final 8 National Tournament in Canada on 2 occasions. I also got to play with his older brother Tommy Scrubb on a club basketball team a year before that. Both of them are great players and it was always challenging competing against them. Scoring 20 points in the national semi-final in my hometown was a cool experience.
You played 3 seasons with Owen Klassen who has played many years in Germany. What was your fondest moment with him and do you follow his career now? Yeah Owen is still one of my best friends today. I spent last Christmas with him and his wife Paige in Germany. My fondest moment with Owen is probably eating an entire ice cream cake together from Dairy Queen after one of our University games.
How vital was head coach Stephen Baur in your early basketball development at Acadia? How did he help you most?
Steph was an awesome coach at Acadia and I’m super grateful he recruited me and allowed me to play football at the same time. He helped me gain a better understanding of the analytics side of basketball and how important discipline is to team success. I’m happy to see him have continued success as a coach with our Canadian Women’s National Team.
You then finished graduate school at the University of Ottawa and played 2 more years. How vital were these last 2 years? How do you feel did your game grow there under James Derouin?
Playing at the University of Ottawa was a great experience. Coach Jimmy had recruited me out of high school and continued to support me at Acadia which I always appreciated. Jimmy also helped me gain a better understanding of the analytics side of the game and how to become a better leader on and off the floor. He has a history of helping develop high level pro players including Johnny Berhanemeskel, Caleb Agada & Warren Ward. I enjoy going back and scrimmaging with the team during the summer and helping their current players manage their injuries.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced on the court that reached the NBA? I played against Andrew Wiggins in high school. I actually missed a game winning shot against his team, which will probably haunt me for the rest of my life.
Tyler Brevard (189-G-1998, college: Lander)s a 25 year old 189cm guard from West Columbia, South Carolina that played his second professional season and first with TuS 59 HammStars (Germany-Regionalliga). Last season as a rookie he played with BG Dorsten averaging 24.5ppg, 8.1rpg, 4.3apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 72.7%. He began his basketball career at Gray Collegiate Academy. He then played two years at Spartanburg Methodist College (JUCO) averaging 4.3ppg, 1.2rpg, 1.1apg and in his second year averaged 5.7ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 48.2%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 75.0%. He played his junior year at Erskine College (NCAA2) averaging 13.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 80.3% an dplayed his senior year at Lander University (NCAA2) averaging 12.0ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.1%, 3PT: 43.2%, FT: 70.5%. He spoke to eurobasket about Lebron James becoming the NBA all-time leading scorer.
Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history? No, I wasn’t able to stay up and watch. Hate I missed that.
How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years?
That was years of consistency on LeBron’s end! There have many great scorers, but to do what he’s done year-after-year is amazing.
He scored 38 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office?
Basically, but there was definitely some added motivation involved haha.
How much is that ball going to be worth?
It’ll be worth millions easily.
Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles?
No way!!
His record breaking basket was a step back over Kenrich Williams. Is that the kind of shot you expected knowing the kind of player he is? Or would you have expected a dunk for the spectacular finish? Yea I figured it would be a fadeaway or his signature side step three pointer.
There obviously is a lot of respect for Kareem, by the basketball world, but what would have happened on social media if Lebron had gotten the record with a sky hook shot?
I think it would have been a frenzy all over social media if that happened. That would have made it more surreal.
Kareem is such a gentleman. You didn’t grow up with him, but what does his legacy mean to younger guys? Can they even understand what that guy did?
Kareem changed the game and did it his way. He showed it was possible to be well educated and calm while facing conflicts, but also dominating on the court through the face of it all. Of course I wasn’t alive while he played, but his impact is still felt for sure.
Lebron will have more than 40,000 points when it’s all over. Back in 1984 people said it would never be broken? Will this record be broken?
I think it’s possible, especially with how effortless players are scoring now. It would take someone to be as healthy as LeBron and that’s the only thing I have doubts about haha.
If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him? 100%, but Luka looks more forward to offseason and enjoying the farm life in the future rather than breaking that record.
Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan?
I feel that he passed Jordan, this just gives another reason why now.
What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV?
Watching ‘The Decision’. When he chose Miami, I went and grabbed powder to do his pregame ritual. I was beyond happy he was joining forces with my favorite player, Dwyane Wade.
The last 2 seasons have been nothing to brag about for the Fraport Skyliners as they begin a new chapter in their history in the second division Pro A. They began the transfer period this summer wanting to rely on college rookies as Aiden Warnholtz, Cameron Henry and David Muenkat (6’7”-F-2000, college: St.Francis X.) were all reeled in. 2 in the lot are guards and the third a power forward that averaged big man stats as a senior. This young man is David Muenkat. When you look back the last years, the Fraport Skyliners last had a dominant big man with Johannes Voigtmann who turned down an NBA gig with Washington and has been an Euroleague player since he left Frankfurt in 2016. But at 201cm, can you classify Muenkat as a big man? He is actually a power forward that put up double double stats in college, but lot more than that and could be another special gem that head coach Denis Wucherer some how found through his detailed world wide network. Like Warnholtz, he has had the opportunity to get pro experience the last 2 summers in the Canadian CEBL. He is a player doing all he can do be as versatile as possible, the same as Warnholtz. If there is anyone who can give his best 2 cents about his play, then it is current St. Francis Xavier University head coach Tyrell Vernon. Even if I only heard his voice, but when I asked him what the first thing that he thinks of when he hears the name David Muenkat, I could imagine a massive smile pop on his face. ‘He is an overall mismatch nightmare. He may not have the experience or total skill set yet, but if you put him on the floor, he will be a mismatch problem and he is still developing’, said Tyrell Vernon proudly. A mismatch problem and leadership qualities are something that David Muenkat should enrich the Fraport Skyliners with.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Johannes Voigtmann at Artland in 2014
David Muenkat was born on July 2,2000 in Brampton Ontario. He received his first basketball instruction at CIA Bounce playing AAU basketball. He also got early basketball experience playing at the Rise Center averaging 10,0ppg and 9,0rpg. He then played 2 seasons at Trinidad State Junior College where he played 58 games and made 46 starts. In his 2 seasons there he averaged 10,4ppg and 7,7rpg and shot a solid 55,3% from the field. He then was rewarded getting a NCAA gig with St. Francis College (NY) (NCAA). But like for so many people in this time, the season was affected by Covid. He only played 19 games averaging 5.9ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 60.0%. He scored in double figures in 4 games including a potent 21/11 game against LIU Brooklyn. He made one more change of scenery going back to Canada and playing 2 seasons with St. Francis Xavier University (U Sports). It was here where his career took off and where the successful working relationship began with head coach Tyrell Vernon. He was a double double monster in his 2 years and there is one major asset that could turn the German Pro A upside down. ‘He is extremely unique and is a high IQ guy. He is a finisher but continues to work on his three. He can cover many positions and has great foot speed. I see him being in the top 2%-3% in terms of athleticism and what his body can do’, warned Tyrell Vernon. The big question is can he continue to bring his game to a new level by incorporating a stable three point shot? In his last 3 seasons in school he only attempted 32 three’s making 10. ‘I feel like he always had a good form, but he simply never was in a situation to gain confidence. He is getting better, but there is a lot of progress still to be made, but he is making strides’, warned Tyrell Vernon. With the Fraport Skyliners he will be able to keep making progress under the guidance of assistant coach Klaus Perwas. Sometimes young players are still raw and have certain abilities off the radar, but with Muenkat, it’s all about grinding in the gym. ‘He doesn’t really have a hidden strength. He plays with extreme force, but when his game gets more polished, he will be very hard to stop on offense’, stressed Tyrell Vernon.
In his 2 years at St Francis Xavier University he played a total of 40 games. In his junior season he averaged 13.1ppg, Reb-3 (10.2rpg), 1.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 60.0% and in his senior year, he stepped up his scoring further averaging 16.3ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 63.7%. He had 17 double doubles and some real explosive monster games against Arcadia posting 25/18 stats, had 27 points against Queen’s and a 13/21 outing against Dalhousie. In his last college game, he led all scorers with 31 points and 11 boards, but new teammate Aiden Warnholtz had the last laugh having 23 points and 11 dimes and winning the U title. He can obviously dominate the paint on offense, but what kind of a defender is he? ‘At the moment, he is a solid defender. He has the ability switch 1-5. When he becomes more seasoned he will be able to demand all 5’, expressed Tyrell Vernon. He made big strides in his senior year, but not only on offense, but also through his leadership. ‘He found his voice. In his first year he found his athleticism and played away from the basket, but in his second year he led the team to wins. He isn’t shy. He will be the voice in the locker room. He is socially prepared for what is to come’, commented Tyrell Vernon. Like many Canadians that turn professional, he has been able to get added pro experience in the CEBL where he played 2 seasons with the Scarborough Shooting Stars averaging 5.3ppg, 3.5rpg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT-2 (50.0%), FT: 58.1%. He scored in double figures 3 times and had a solid 18/8 game against Hamilton. This summer he upped his game averaging 8,2ppg and 5,9rpg and scored in double figures in 4 games including netting 21 points against Niagara and scooped down 14 rebounds including 7 offensive rebounds against Montreal. Having this added experience in the CEBL will be vital for him adjusting easier and quicker to the Pro A. ‘He continues to work on his catch and shooting. On defense he has all the physical tools. Now it’s all about being a step ahead of everyone else and knowing where everyone has to be’, added Tyrell Vernon.
It is obvious that when you have such a special player like David Muenkat, your going to have very fond memories in the 2 year working relationship. There wasn’t a single game he could pick out that he will remember the most, but moreover the whole time. ‘The biggest story with David is the enormous jump he made after coming from the NCAA. He is a totally different player and person to 2 years ago. 2 years ago he was undersized and now is a player that can do so much more. He made such a huge transformation in a short time, but he still has so much room to grow’, warned Tyrell Vernon. Of course Tyrell Vernon also had a special experience with him off the court. ‘We were close. He was very personal. He is one of those guys that will talk to you. I remember at the start of the season, we were at a team dinner. I told the guys, in order for us to have success, I have to coach you hard. Some guys can’t come to terms with that, but David said with no hesitation that he would do what was needed, because he wanted to be the best. And if that meant getting on him, it wasn’t a problem. His main focus is always winning and getting better’, stressed Tyrell Vernon. Leadership and that kind of diehard focus is something the Fraport Skyliners will dearly need in the 2023-2024 season. The first 3 imports may all be rookies. The more leadership they have the better. Who can’t say a rookie like David Muenkat can’t be a leader as a rookie? This team is on a mission and don’t want to solidify a spot in the Pro A as a regular team, but return back to where they came from. They will need all the added help possible even from rookies.
Julian Scott (203-F/C-1990, college: ASU) is a 32 year old 203cm forward from Sacramento that has played 9 professional seasons and last with Hoops Club (Lebanon-LBL) his 11th professional team. He began his basketball career with Yuba College (NJCAA), and then also gained experience with Southern Utah University (NCAA) and Adams State University (NCAA2, starting five): 27 games: 10.8ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 70.2%. He began his career with TSV Quakenbrueck (Germany-2.Regionalliga) and also played for teams like Uni Riesen Leipzig (Germany-ProB), Team Ehingen Urspring (Germany-ProA), Gries/Oberhoffen BC (France-NM1), Residence Walferdange (Luxembourg-Total League), Iserlohn Kangaroos (Germany-ProB), BC Prievidza (Slovakia-SBL), Dresden Titans (Germany-ProB) and Pays de Fougeres Basket (France-NM2). He spoke togermanhoops.com about Lebron James becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history? Yes of course I had to watch it. I was super tired for practice the next day lol but that’s okay.
How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years? It solidifies him in my opinion as the best overall player in NBA. GOAT!
He scored 38 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office? Yes the game is easy for Lebron I don’t see him slowing down he is that special.
How much is that ball going to be worth? I believe 5 million or more for sure.
Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles? No I think his triple doubles is more memorable for him personally.
His record breaking basket was a step back over Kenrich Williams. Is that the kind of shot you expected knowing the kind of player he is? Or would you have expected a dunk for the spectacular finish? You can’t really plan that out. So I didn’t expect anything crazy. The shot he made was his signature shot so it’s good.
There obviously is a lot of respect for Kareem, by the basketball world, but what would have happened on social media if Lebron had gotten the record with a sky hook shot? It would have been a memorable moment but the game as moved past this type of shot which I don’t know why but it just has.
Kareem is such a gentleman. You didn’t grow up with him, but what does his legacy mean to younger guys? Can they even understand what that guy did?
Him alongside others did many things off the court that impacted the African American community and we are grateful there were those kind of leaders who stepped up outside of there own world to help others in this ugly world we live in today.
Lebron will have more than 40,000 points when it’s all over. Back in 1984 people said it would never be broken? Will this record be broken? I don’t think so rumors are that the league game will be shorter you need those games plus health and longevity is important. So no I think that’s it.
If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him? I don’t think Luka is motivated like Lebron is in that regard to be great like him. So no I don’t think so.
Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan? My opinion Yes
What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV? Winning a championship in our laker uniform. During Covid!!
German Hoops 