It was supposed to be the happy homecoming of ex Skyliner head coach Gordon Herbert who helped the organization win 2 of their 3 club titles. However less than a week before the game, FC Bayern Munich and Herbert went separate ways. FC Bayern Munich didn´t have a positive Euroleague record so they had to make a change. They surprised the basketball world a little bringing in coaching legend Sveitslav Pesic for another tour of duty in Bavaria. Despite the negative Euroleague record, they did arrive in Frankfurt with the BBL´s best record of 9-1. The Skyliners snapped their 2 game losing streak with a convincing win against Science City Jena and now wanted to continue their winning streak with a major upset. Isaiah Swope who pulled a Jordan with 11 consecutive points in crunch-time to secure the win now could battle against ex NBA guys like Xavier Rathan-Mayes (191-G-1994, college: FSU) and Wenyen Gabriel. On a cold post Xmas evening, the Skyliners were able to keep up with Euroleague team FC Bayern Munich for a quarter, but in the second quarter the current easyCredit BBL champion team took control of the game and never looked back winning 97-69. “We gave up way too many second chance points and offensive rebounds. We had some good defensive segments with 1-1 defense, but overall we couldn´t match their physicality”, stressed Skyliner Ryan Hawkins. FC Bayern Munich found their offense rhythm in the second quarter and played aggressive defense for 40 minutes stifling the Skyliners and not allowing them to find any kind of sound rhythm. “We had a game plan and that was too play good defense and play with pace. Coach Pesic wants us to be great on defense and to score within the first 6 seconds. We got on transition and had a good flow on offense. On defense our biggest strength was ball pressure and disrupting their offense and getting into the passing lanes”, stressed FC Bayern Munich guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes.
Logan Johnson at the FT line
The Skyliners continued to be without their best scorer and rebounder Jaedon LeDee while FC Bayern Munich was without ex NBA player Spencer Dinwiddie. The first few minutes was a real battle between both teams that consisted of less scoring and aggressive defense. Ex Creighton forward Ryan Hawkins came up big with 2 steals which led to a Jacob Knauf trey and Christmas free throw while FC Bayern Munich attacked the rim and got big dunks from world champion Andreas Obst and Serbian Vladimir Lucic as Munich led 6-5. However Frankfurt then had a real potent stretch going on a 10-2 run to lead 15-8. In the run, Frankfurt was aggressive getting inside getting a lay in from ex Virginia Tech guard Nahiem Alleyne and a dunk from 2018 NBBL champion Lorenz Brenneke while ex Vechta guard Radi Caisin hit a triple. FC Bayern Munich were slow to finding a rhythm, but their bench came up big led by 2 time NCAA champion with UConn Niels Giffey who hit three three´s while ex Memphis Grizzlie Xavier Rathan-Mayes was aggressive getting to the free throw line 3 times and scoring 5 points. FC Bayern Munich had punched back with a 14-2 run to lead 22-19 after 10 minutes. That was most of the damage that Giffey did in the game scoring wise which helped his team secure the momentum going into the second quarter. He would make 1 more trey later in the second half. “We got easy stuff on offense and had an offensive flow and took good care of the ball. Basketball is a game of runs and they hit us for a run keeping the game close”, stressed Ryan Hawkins. FC Bayern Munich shot 42% from the field and 33% from outside and had 15 rebounds and 2 turnovers while the Skyliners shot 33% from the field and 22% from the field and had 7 rebounds and 1 turnover.
Vladimir Lucic from outside
FC Bayern Munich took control of the game in the second quarter going on a big run and would never look back. FC Bayern Munich took care of business right away punching the Skyliners in the face with a 15-2 run to extend their lead to 37-21. Munich´s aggressive on ball pressure was too much for them as turnovers grew in volume for Frankfurt. On offense good team basketball coupled with extreme good 1-1 players led to a dominance on offense. EX Ulm forward Justinian Jessup began with 5 straight points as his high energy really carried the team. The giant FC Bayern offensive arsenal kept executing as Obst added 5 points as did ex Stanford forward Oscar da Silva as the team´s inside out game was working to perfection. Frankfurt was always a step to slow. American Isaiah Swope stopped the Munich run with a trey to trail 37-24. FC Bayern´s consistent aggressive defense led to rapid transition baskets from ex Boston Celtic Wenyen Gabriel and German world champion Justus Hollatz and the 41-24 Munich lead. The Skyliners had scarce offensive execution as Caisin made a lay in while Swope added 5 points. The ex Indiana State (NCAA) guard Swope was the only real bright spot for the Skyliners as his excellent 1-1 play was always good for a ooh and a ahh as he is a real highlight reel. First he nailed a trey in Gabriel´s face and then made a nifty lay in after slipping, got up and slid to the hoop. “He shows plays like that in practice. It is fun playing with him. He never gives up, but just keeps playing even if he slips. He gets our offense going”, said Ryan Hawkins. FC Bayern Munich added Gabriel free throws and a Rathan-Mayes lay up to lead 48-31 at the break. “Key for taking control of the game was getting stops and playing with pace. We had rim runners that opened up lanes. That helped me and the other guards and also got paint touches”, said Xavier Rathan-Mayes. “We gave up way too many offensive rebounds. They didn´t let us run our offense”, stated Ryan Hawkins. FC Bayern Munich shot 53% from the field and 38% from the three point line and had 23 rebounds and 6 turnovers while the Skyliners shot 37% from the field and 27% from the three point line and had 10 rebounds and 7 turnovers.
Isaiah Swope from the corner
The third quarter was the Skyliners strongest quarter as they won it 19-18, but still couldn´t get over the hump as they trailed by 16 points after 30 minutes. The Skyliners came focused out of the locker room bursting out on a 5-0 run as ex G-League player Logan Johnson connected on free throws and Alleyne dropped a trey to trail 48-36. But that didn´t faze FC Bayern Munich as they punched back with a 7-0 run to lead 55-36. In the run, it was Andreas Obst supplying the needed support with his sniper shooting with a 20 footer and trey while Gabriel made a pretty alley-op dunk off the perfect feed from Hollatz. “Obst is a great player. We tried to run him off the line as best we could. He just spreads the floor so well”, stated Ryan Hawkins. Munich continued to control the game as Vladimir Lucic also displayed some production with a trey while ex Alba Berlin center David McCormack made a alley-op tip in off the great feed from Rathan-Mayes for the 63-41. Fc Bayern Munich couldn´t keep the consistency in the last minutes as they let up a bit as the Skyliners finished the quarter with a 9-3 run to trail only 66-50. In the run, the Skyliners let it rain three´s as Isaiah Swope drilled home 2 three´s as he is slowly showing that he can hit from any place in his living room while Hawkins also scored. “We played well in the last 2 minutes. We wanted to get to 10 points and then see what can happen”, stressed Ryan Hawkins. “Basketball is a game of runs. We knew that they weren´t going to give up”, stressed Xavier Rathan-Mayes.
Andi Obst from downtown
FC Bayern Munich weren´t about to let up in the fourth quarter, but instead found some extra energy and exploded for 31 points and easily sealing up the win. FC Bayern Munich sealed up the win in the first few minutes and went on a 12-0 run to lead 78-50 as the game now had become a major blow out. In the run, FC Bayern Munich shared the love around as they played beautiful team basketball. Scoring point guard Rathan-Mayes added 4 points, Giffey dropped his 4th trey of the game, Da Silva made a dunk and Jessup another trey. At the 7,08 minute mark, the first fans began to exit the arena. Frankfurt finally stopped the run with a Will Christmas off balance shot and began to execute better as Caisin hit a few three´s, but couldn´t make any ground as the guests really had an offensive rhythm now as Rathan-Mayes began to heat up with 7 points while even the 12th man 2025 NBBL champion Nikolas Sermpezis did his job nailing a trey from the corner for the unstoppable 91-64 FC Bayern Munich advantage. Caisin continued to have the hot hand connecting on another trey, but FC Bayern Munich closed out the game with pure Oscar da Silva dominance as he scored the team´s last 3 buckets. The only thing missing from it being a perfect FC Bayern Munich night was reaching the 100 points. “We wanted to continue to add pressure and not step off the gas pedal. We just continued to paly our game and do what got us here. We did a good job with 26 team assists”, commented Xavier Rathan-Mayes. “We gave up to many easy points. We couldn´t get on transition and had to much set offense”, added Ryan Hawkins. FC Bayern Munich had 5 guys scoring in double figures and were led by Xavier Rathan-Mayes with 19 points. Niels Giffey added 15 points and Andreas Obst 14 points while the Skyliners were led by Isaiah Swope with 18 points while Radii Caisin had 14 points. FC Bayern Munich shot 58% from the field and 50% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 14 turnovers while the Skyliners shot 40% from the field and 36% from outside and had 21 rebounds and 20 turnovers.
When you’re an American baller playing overseas in lower leagues, there is one fringe benefit that one has over the Christmas holidays over guys playing in first and second divisions. Ok so there is a big difference in the pay, but when your grinding month for month for a monthly check of about 1000-1,500 USD, you can at least be home for the Xmas holidays. But when your playing in a top league like Urald King (198-F-1990, college: SE Oklahoma) is of the Romerstrom Gladiators in the easyCredit BBL in Germany,you don’t have the luxury of going home. You get to experience a totally different kind of festive holiday overseas. King is a 35 year old player who is your classic basketball globe trotter. He is currently in his 10th pro season that has taken him to countries like Iceland, France, Finland, Austria, Israel and Denmark. He has seen many different cultures and had the pleasure of celebrating 7 Christmas´s overseas with an eight happening this year in Trier. ““Christmas means to me the birth of Jesus and the celebration of religion and a time for family to come together and appreciate one another”, expressed Urald King.
Before he came overseas, he celebrated Christmas back home in West Monroe. Louisiana. If there will be a white Christmas in Trier this season is unlikely, but more likely than it ever will be happening in Louisiana. His Xmas celebration was always unique back home when he was growing up. “Christmas for me was always special. We didn’t have a white Christmas because the weather was always warm. My family would meet at my grandma’s house. I especially loved it because we had a big family and I had tons of cousins to play with”, said Urald King. One of the great moments for Americans is Christmas Eve. It is a moment for all to be together and be thankful for all that they have before the big stress of opening presents in the morning. Adults may really cherish the evening while kids are counting the minutes to morning. “Christmas Eve for my family meant just being around my mom and older brother and getting to open one present the night before Christmas”, stated Urald King. Presents play a big role especially for kids. But when Urald was a kid, he not only remembered getting incredible presents, but also giving a special gift to his mom. “My favorite present would have to be between a few things; a basketball goal, wrestling action figures, and Pokémon cards. I have given a lot of gifts over the years but if I had to say one that I gave a family member, it would be a ring I bought my mom. What’s so special about the ring is it has her, my brother, his daughter (my niece), my daughter, and my birth stones all in one ring”, commented Urald King.
This is actually his second season in Germany. He is one of those rare players that went from a lower league to top leagues in Europe. He began his overseas grind in 2015 with the TuS Bad Aibling Fireballs (Germany-2.Regionalliga). He had experienced the Xmas build up 10 years ago and now did it again in the beautiful Trier city that sits in a valley on the Mosel river. One of the coolest things to witness are the eccentric Christmas markets that can be seen in so many different places in Germany. “My experience with the pre Christmas in Germany has been going to the Christmas market here in Trier and Cologne and I love them. I’m looking forward to drinking some warm wine when we have some off days. The difference between Christmas in Germany and The States is we don’t have Christmas markets (at least that I know of). I didn’t get one this year but receiving an Advent calendar was interesting”, said Urald King. A big difference to Xmas in Germany and the States is when you open the presents. I remember annoying all my classmates in the States back in the day saying as a German that we opened presents on Xmas Eve and could go to sleep knowing what the presents were. “In America we share a similar experience, we open a gift at night however we focusing on waking up extremely early the next morning to open gifts”, added Urald King.
There are so many great aspects to Christmas besides the presents and being thankful for so much, but one has to satisfy their appetite somehow. A big negative aspect for Americans overseas is not having that home cooking from their family. “My favorite Christmas food is called “Chicken dressing” with cranberry sauce (can’t forget the cranberry sauce). My Grandmother and my ma make the best kind”, warned Urald King. Another big aspect to Xmas is music and movies. Music is probably even bigger simply because you hear the Xmas music all over the place from stores, to schools to Churches and of course Xmas markets. When it comes to music and movies, he has quite a few favorites. “I’d have to say some of my favs are “chestnuts roasting on an open fire”, “ Rudolph the red nose reindeer”, “all I want for Christmas”, “The Christmas”, and “Silent Night”. However I know I’m missing a lot, there’s so many good songs. Again, I can’t just pick one Christmas movie. Top 3 would be Home Alone (the first one), A Christmas Story, Friday After Next”, stated Urald King. But there is also that serious question during the Xmas period. Urald King and millions of people are all blessed to have food and presents on the table, but then again there are millions of others out there who are suffering. Wouldn´t be great if there could just be less suffering in the world? “My Christmas gift for the world would be, I know this sounds cliché but I would be world peace or for world hunger to end. After Xmas, there is only a week until 2026 comes upon us. Does he have any New Years resolution? “My New Years Resolution has been the same for the last 10+ years and that’s to keep growing and becoming a better version of myself”, warned Urald King.
Even If DJ Woodmore (190-SG-1992, college: VWU) has played in the very competitive German Pro B league almost his whole life, he is definitely a guy that could have played in the second division Pro A. He is currently in his 11th professional season and still miles away from retiring at age 33 and has played in the Pro B in 9 of his 11 seasons overseas. When it comes to the Christmas period overseas there is a big difference between leagues from the top to the lower. In Germany the first 2 divisions BBL and Pro A have to play during the holidays while in the Pro B, there is a 2 week break which allows American ballers to have that big decision between going home for some of momma´s home cooking specialties or staying abroad and experiencing a different kind of holiday time. It is only understandable that Americans will try to go home as often as possible especially when they have the opportunity, but DJ Woodmore hasn´t had that serious home sick feeling to Virginia. “This year I’ll go home after the Ludwigsburg game. For the first time in 5 years I’ll be able to celebrate with the family in person”, said DJ Woodmore. When he is in Germany, he has that one special spot where he always heads to have the classic German festive moment. “I’ll usually head to Bremen to celebrate with my girlfriend and her family. Before we met, I would stay in Speyer and celebrate with some friends in the city. It’s nice to have family everywhere“, stressed DJ Woodmore.
DJ Woodmore was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia and like most other Americans experienced special Christmas´s at home. Christmas doesn´t always have to be about religion, but for him it all has to do about his loved ones. “I’m not the most religious person in world, so Christmas has always meant a time for family. It’s always been the one time of year, we can all get together without any distraction from the outside. Great food, great vibes, great times”, commented DJ Woodmore. Every family has their own special Christmas and it wasn´t any different for DJ when he was a child. “It was always the best time of year. Jackson 5 Christmas album playing in the background. Opening gifts one by one. Then the whole day playing with the gifts we opened!! Best time. And still is”, warned DJ Woodmore. He also remembers what Christmas Eve was like in the Woodmore family as if it was yesterday. “It was always a relaxed day with the family. We try to get the last shopping done and then relaxing in the night listening to music or watching classic Xmas movies. We open 1 gift as an appetizer for the next day”, said DJ Woodmore. For some ballers getting that first basketball was the perfect X-mas gift as a kid, but for DJ it was something different. “I remember I got an electric motorcycle when I was like 12. Not a big one. But like a medium size one. My best friend down the street also had one. So we spent the next months riding together everywhere. It was easily one of my favorite gifts.”, remembered DJ Woodmore. Christmas isn´t only about receiving, but also about giving. Everyone has that favorite gift that they have given. “I think my favorite gift was giving my sister a new iPod. Her favorite color and she wasn’t expecting it at all. She loved it”, said DJ Woodmore. He will be home this year and one thing he is looking forward to is a special food from his dad and witnessing a certain song and movie pertaining to Xmas. “I really enjoy the ham my dad makes. But besides that, give me all the sweet stuff. Cookies cake chocolate. All of it. My favorite Christmas move would have to be “This Christmas”. And song would have to also be “This Christmas” by Chris Brown”, added DJ Woodmore.
The last 5 years the American has taken in the Xmas season in Germany and it is no surprise that the Christmas markets are his favorite thing to do. “That is my favorite thing to do in Germany by far. It’s always the best time of the year. The atmosphere and the Christmas mood is there all month long. And here in Speyer the Christmas market stays open until Jan 6 and becomes the new years market. So many Glühweins and Nutella Crepes for me to enjoy”, smiled DJ Woodmore. A big difference to Europe and USA is when presents are opened. Americans have to wait until the morning, but his family has a special tradition when opening presents. “I feel like it’s pretty similar. The only difference is that my family usually opens one or two small gifts on the night of Christmas Eve. It kind of builds the suspense for the next day. I think I like our tradition a bit more, because then we have the whole day to use our new gifts. Myself as a kid would have hated having to wait until the next day to ride my new bike or something for example. I´m curious to see if we’ll keep that tradition since I’ve been gone so long”, stated DJ Woodmore. After all the Xmas presents have been opened and delicious food devoured, people only have 1 more week before the New Year. Is he a classical new years resolution guy? “I do have new year resolutions which are trying to keep improving on my German and make more time for the people in my life. I say this every year but it’s very difficult to stay in contact with friends and family while living overseas. You get caught up in your own thing, sometimes going months and years without staying in touch with the people you don’t see regularly anymore. It’s an effort I need to be more conscious of”, stressed DJ Woodmore. It doesn´t matter if in Virginia or Bremen, he is always focused on his loved ones.
Toru Dean (183-PG, college: Langston) is a 183cm guard from Miami Florida playing his rookie season overseas with the TSV Bargteheide Bees (Germany-Regionalliga). He began his basketball career with South Miami High School and then played 3 seasons at Barry University (NCAA2) averaging 8.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 65.1% and in his second season averaged 12.0ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 39.2%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 46.2%; and in his third season averaged 9.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 62.9%. He then finished at Langston University, OK (NAIA) averaging 10.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 81.0% and 9.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.1apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 69.4%. He teams up every week with germanhoops..com to talk basketball.
How tough was it to digest that loss against low ranked Rendsburg?
Man, that was a tough one. Losing on a buzzer beater always hurts, especially when you feel like you had control of the game most of the night. Those are the ones that stay with you, but at the same time, you’ve gotta turn the page and get better from it.
Do you think there was any underestimating of Rendsburg? I wouldn’t say we underestimated them, but you can’t look at records in this league. Any team can beat you if you don’t bring it every possession. They came in aggressive, played free, and we didn’t match that intensity for the full 40.
What was key in letting Rendsburg come back? It came down to execution. We had some defensive breakdowns, didn’t get key stops, and on offense we had a few possessions where we didn’t get great looks. When you’re up like that late, every detail matters, and we slipped in a few areas.
How did you experience the last possession?
We knew who they wanted the ball in. Harvey made a tough shot — you’ve got to give him credit. From our side, it’s frustrating because you feel like one more stop and the game’s over.
Harvey scored 35 points. What was toughest to contain? He’s a bucket-getter. What makes him tough is his confidence and his ability to score at all three levels. Even when you defend him well, he can still rise up and make difficult shots.
You had 27/6/4/2. How did you feel about your shot selection from three? I felt good about it. The shots came within the flow of the game nothing forced. You always want to see them go down, but I’m comfortable taking those shots when the defense gives them to me.
What will be key against Wolfenbüttel?
Consistency and focus. We’ve got to play a full 40 minutes, take care of the ball, and defend at a high level. If we do that and stay together, we’ll give ourselves a great chance to get the win.
As a kid growing up in Madison, Alabama, I´m sure a guy like Garrett Hicks was often at Palmer park. A beautiful place with a lot of greenery and a lot of pretty baseball diamonds. The perfect place for any kid who loves the outdoors and sports. Now as a professional baller chasing his dream, he has lived overseas in Georgia and currently in Koblenz, Germany playing his second pro season. He couldn´t have picked a more beautiful place to call his temporary home for this season. It is a small city laying in a valley on the Rhine and Mosel rivers and with a massive fortress overlooking the city. I can imagine just strolling down to the Rhine river to get away and just enjoy the beauty of Germany is something not only he would do, but any other American playing for this historic organization. With the Pro A schedule of the EPG Baskets, he will have to stay overseas again just like last season when he was in Tbilisi, Georgia with his girlfriend. For him, it really doesn´t matter where he will be, because he can celebrate Xmas anywhere. “For me Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ who deserves all my honor and glory. It would be nothing without him”, warned Garrett Hicks.
There is a kid in every professional baller overseas. I bet if you asked 10 out of 10 ballers anywhere playing overseas what their favorite holiday was as a kid 10 would say Xmas. There is so much exciting things happening in the holiday season that it is like a kid being in a candy store for weeks. “Christmas was my favorite holiday growing up and still is today. Getting a huge break from school and getting to see all my family used to be the highlight of my year. I also loved seeing Christmas decorations around the city & listening to Christmas music on the radio”, stressed Garrett Hicks. Probably one of the toughest times during Christmas for any kid in USA is Christmas Eve simply because those hours before bedtime must feel like an eternity not to mention the long night before it´s finally time to open presents. “On Christmas Eve me and my family usually stayed up all night and watched Christmas movies & anticipate opening presents for the next morning”, said Garrett Hicks. It is never difficult remembering exactly what your favorite present was as a kid for Xmas and what the favorite gift was that you gave for a loved one. “I remember getting a bike which was my favorite present while I gave a special gift. I curated a family picture album”, remembered Garrett Hicks.
One of the great attractions in Germany are the unique and pretty Christmas markets. The great thing about them is that they are so in abundance. One doesn´t only find them in the big cities like Frankfurt, Cologne, or Munich, but even in smaller cities and towns. Even if your in the middle of nowhere balling for a Regionalliga team that may be around 100 kilometers from a bigger city, you will tend to find some kind of Xmas market somewhere near. In Koblenz, people have a double treat. There isn´t only the Christmas Market in the center of town, but there is also the Christmas Garden that is in the fortress up on the hill overlooking Koblenz. It is an amazing light landscape that is a must for anyone. He definitely has gotten around not only checking everything out in Koblenz, but also has been to Cologne to see the Xmas market. Even if he is Germany for Xmas, one tradition most likely won´t change in terms of opening presents. “We typically open presents on Christmas morning in America”, said Garrett Hicks. When it come to his favorite Xmas food, he won´t have any problems finding what he always had in the States, but now in Germany in other forms. “It doesn´t matter what, but my favorite Xmas foods are All Christmas sweets. Cookies, cakes, and pies”, stated Garrett Hicks. He also will celebrate Xmas in Germany with his favorite Xmas movie and song this year. “My favorite Xmas movie is This Christmas and favorite song is Wonderful Christmastime”, added Garrett Hicks. Christmas is also a time where everyone is thankful for what they have and simply hope for the best for the world. Not everyone will be celebrating the way a Garrett Hicks will around the world. He has a wish for the world. It is one that would do the world so much good. “My wish for the world is more unity together”, warned Garrett Hicks. With 2026 just around the corner, he also has a new years resolution for himself. “I want to gain a new hobby”, smiled Garrett Hicks. When it comes to new hobbies, Koblenz has a lot to offer. Some candidates would be pottery or ax throwing or water sports on the rivers. Another one would be hiking. He could even ask teammate Calvin Wishart to go hiking with as he seems to have already checked out some of the scenic hikes around the area.
Robert Brown (203-F-1998, college: TxWes) is playing his rookie season overseas in Germany in the Regionalliga with the Aschaffenburg Baskets. He had the luxury of playing at 3 schools and experienced different coaches and different styles of play from 2017-2023. However one thing always stayed the same during those years and before that was how he experienced the whole pre Xmas time at home in the States. However for the first time in his life this year he is experiencing a totally different holiday season overseas in Germany. Luckily for him he can not miss Christmas this year in the States even though he is playing in the Regionalliga. Usually guys that are balling in lower leagues have a break during December 25th, but if he was playing in the North of Germany in the Regionalliga, then he would of experienced his first Xmas overseas, but because the Aschaffenburg Baskets play in the South-East North division, he will be idle from the court. He is so lucky because he will be at home with his loved ones. “Christmas means gratitude. It’s the time of year when I slow down, reflect on my journey, and appreciate the people who have supported me from the beginning. It brings perspective. I will go home for the break and celebrate Xmas with family and my birthday with family”, said Robert Brown.
It is absolutely no surprise that Christmas for Robert Brown is like for most other people on this earth. “Christmas growing up was always about family. We never needed anything extravagant—just everybody in the same place, good food, and a lot of laughter. Those were the moments that grounded me and reminded me what mattered outside of basketball”, stressed Robert Brown. Another thing that seems to be a tradition with other ballers families is a certain Christmas Eve ritual concerning presents. “I normally would have dinner and open 1 present before Xmas that was always a thing in my family normally on that day we just celebrate and enjoy each others company”, added Robert Brown. It´s also no real big surprise what his favorite present was as a kid. “My favorite gift was my first real basketball. That ball pretty much became an extension of me. I took it everywhere and spent countless hours with it. That gift played a big role in who I am today”, said Robert Brown. I remember so vividly how special it was giving my mom a Xmas present. Mothers are always there for their kids and it´s only logical to show how much you care and love them. “One year I surprised my mom with something she had wanted for a long time. Seeing her reaction reminded me how powerful it is to give back to the people who made sacrifices for me”, warned Robert Brown. Even if Christmas is all about giving, you can´t enjoy the whole experience without the correct nourishment. “Back home my favorite Xmas food is baked mac and cheese and sweet potato pie. Those two dishes instantly bring back the Christmas feeling for me”, said Robert Brown.
Even if the Chicago native who lists This Christmas as his favorite Xmas song and Home Alone as his favorite Xmas movie will be home for the holidays this year, he did experience the pre Xmas buzz overseas. “The pre-Christmas vibe in Aschaffenburg is really special. Everything feels more traditional—more cultural. In the States, the holiday season is bigger and more commercial. Here it feels more intimate, more about community”, stated Robert Brown. One thing you can´t miss or really not not witness are the incredible Christmas markets. It doesn´t matter if in Munich, Frankfurt or Dresden, each market has their own special flair. “They’ve become one of my favorite things here. The lights, the food, the atmosphere—there’s nothing like it in the U.S. It’s something you really have to experience firsthand”, warned Robert Brown. The Xmas time is also about thinking about what is going on in the world. There is so much misery around and not everyone will be home for Xmas and be with family. How can the world become a better place? “My wish is for more peace, understanding, and compassion. The world moves fast—if people slowed down and showed more kindness, things would be better for everyone”, added Robert Brown. 2026 is just around the corner and he knows exactly what his goals are for the new year. “My resolution is to keep growing, stay consistent, and continue pushing myself as a player and as a person. Every year is another chance to take a step forward”, stressed Robert Brown. With Xmas just a few days away, this season he will be opening presents on the 25th, but what would it be like for him opening all of them on the 24th? “It would feel different at first, but being overseas teaches you to embrace new traditions. I could adapt. That’s part of the journey of playing abroad”, commented Robert Brown. Who knows maybe one day he will open presents on the 24th? There are numerous Americans who found their sweeties overseas and have experienced how Xmas is celebrated there. Robert Brown is still young and still has a long career ahead of him to witness Xmas overseas in the future.
After a disastrous start into the season where TV Langen lost 7 of their first 8 games, the club led by head coach Tobias Jahn have finally found on track. The team had serious injury woes to start the season and had guys come in and out and just couldn´t find a rhythm early on. Despite having guys out now, the club has been able to adjust and build chemistry which had led to a 4 game winning streak. The team has especially come together as a unit on the defensive end allowing only 68 points on average in the win streak. They welcomed BBC Coburg who came into the game ranked first in the Pro B south with a 9-3 record. They began the season hot winning 9 of their first 10 games, but came to Langen sporting a 2 game losing streak. TV Langen had to be fully prepared and awake and wanted to continue their winning streak, but a few days before Xmas BBC Coburg stopped TV Langen´s winning streak and began a new winning streak winning 83-76. It was a game at eye level for 36 minutes, but in crunch-time it was Dylan Fasoyiro who took control of the game finding his teammates while getting to the free throw line to secure the win. “We showed tremendous grit tonight. We had a 2 game losing streak and lost our point guard Nico Wenzl who came into the game not totally fit and then hurt his wrist during the game. I had to play point guard. Team defense was our biggest strength. We aren´t the best 1-1 defensive team, but came together as a team. We helped each other out. This was a great team win”, stressed BBC Coburg guard Dylan Fasoyiro. TV Langen stayed with BBC Coburg for the most part of the game, but it was the little things in crunch-time that cost them the game. “We started off slow, but came together and fought our way back into the game. I think that our defense was solid. It was more missed shots and turnovers. We have to be better in the decision making”, stressed TV Langen forward Jacob Washington.
Nico Wenzl at the FT line
The first quarter was a tale of 2 parts as BBC Coburg came out strong, but TV Langen found to their game and had Alexander Lagerman who carried the team and trailed only by 3 points after 10 minutes. BBC Coburg rushed out on a rapid 7-2 lead and soon extended it to 11-4. American 2 way player Darius Dawson was aggressive and scored twice on the drive while ex Erfurt forward Tim Herzog dropped a trey while Canadian Dylan Fasoyiro also connected from the parking lot. TV Langen came out sluggish and seemed to have gotten off the wrong side of the bed. Their 1-1 defense wasn´t on par as they couldn´t match BBC Coburg´s intensity yet. TV Lagen has a special microwave in Alexander Lagerman and he gives the word scoring in bunches a new meaning. He scored 5 unanswered points as TV Langen trailed only 11-9. However BBC Coburg continued to execute easily as Fasoyiro added 3 points and Herzog another trey to lead 17-9. However basketball is always a game of runs and TV Langen punched back with an 8-0 run led by Lagerman with 4 more points while team captain Mr triple double Niklas Pons scored on a lay in and California native Jacob Washington also scored on the drive to dead lock the game at 17-17. Lagerman had contributed 9 points, but TV Langen couldn´t hold the momentum as BBC Coburg led 20-17 after 1 quarter thanks to a runner by German Eric Neuenhoeffer. “I feel like we came out solid as a team. We knew that TV Langen would switch a lot. We took advantage of the mismatches and played team defense”, said Dylan Fasoyiro.
Jacob Washington from outside
In the second quarter BBC Coburg tried to get away from TV Langen early, but the home team stayed strong and battled back leading 41-39 at the break. Lagerman started the second quarter firing away and scored with a trey to tie the game at 20-20. It seemed like BBC Coburg kept big man Finn Doentgens out of game in the first quarter to get TV Langen tired and then in the second quarter inserted the 208cm center and prompt he scored back to back baskets while 3×3 world champion Leon Fertig showed his potent 1-1 skills scored twice to tie the game at 24-24. BBC Coburg then attempted to get away from TV Langen with a 5-0 run as ex Bayreuth guard Nico Wenzl dropped a three pointer while Doentgens scored again always taking advantage of the mismatch as BBC Coburg led 29-24. However TV Langen had no real lulls on their offensive execution as they fired back with a 10-4 run to take their first lead of the game at 34-33. Instrumental in the run was work horse Jacob Washington who once battled Franz Wagner scored 8 points including 2 three´s. German Leon Fertig also added a turn around shot. From now until the break, the game remained at eye level as no team could secure another run. BBC Coburg retrieved the lead again as Fasoyiro took a runner for the 39-36 advantage. Wenzl had left the game, because of a hurt wrist and Fasoyiro suddenly was the point guard. With less than a minute to go, TV Langen still had some extra energy and got a lay in by Lagerman who tied the game at 39-39. Doentgens then coughed up the ball and Washington made a tip in at the buzzer securing the TV Langen 2 point lead at the break. Both teams were shooting over 50% from the 2 point range while TV Langen had the slim 16-15 rebound edge while BBC Coburg had 12 turnovers and TV Langen only 9. “We let them come back. They killed us on the offensive glass. We had a good flow on offense switching a lot and played through Doentgens and got movement on the weak side”, stressed Dylan Fasoyiro.
Finn Doentgens with the lay in
Coburg played their best defensive quarter in the third allowing only 13 points, but couldn´t get away as TV Langen was solid on defense allowing 20 points, but trailed 59-54 after 30 minutes. TV Langen began with a bang as Washington got going scoring 5 unanswered points for the 46-39 lead. However BBC Bayreuth had grit and clenched their teeth together and strung along 3 stops and scored 8 unanswered points to lead 48-46. TV Langen were sloppy on 1-1 defense allowing 2 Fasoyiro buckets and two from South Carolina native Darius Dawson. TV Langen stopped the run with 4 consecutive points with Lagerman free throws and a Washington lay in for the 50-48 lead. However BBC Coburg remained strong and buckled down on defense and their offense strung along a 11-4 run to lead by 5 points after 3 quarters. In the BBC Coburg run, it was Fasoyiro who was a total beast scoring 7 points. There was no stopping him. Dawson also added a pretty hook shot and Doentgens a turn around shot. Leon Fertig will always dazzle you with great shots every game and practice and in this run added a 360 shot. “That shot was normal. We see that from him all the time. We know what he can do”, said Jacob Washington. BBC Coburg shot 63% from the 2 point area and 40% from the parking lot and had 24 rebounds and 13 turnovers while TV Langen shot 64% from the 2 point area and 22% from outside and had 24 rebounds and 11 turnovers. “We knew that we had to step up our team defense. Our help team defense was good. We got stops and limited their second chances”, stated Dylan Fasoyiro. “We missed shots and they made shots. We have to find a way to finish the easy stuff”, added Jacob Washington.
Leon Fertig at the FT line
TV Langen fought back in the fourth quarter to tie the game, but Dylan Fasoyiro gave BBC Coburg the lead again and the team then managed the lead well and then got key free throws down the stretch from Fasoyiro to gain the win. Finn Doentgens began the fourth quarter with a lay in to give BBC Coburg the comfortable 61-54 advantage. However TV Langen stayed mentally strong and had answers on offense as Lagerman remained aggressive and found ways to score on 2 tough drives while Fertig added 4 free throws to tie the game at 62-62. After a thunderous Dawson dunk, Leon Fertig hit another one of his patent off balance shots and made a free throw for the 65-64 TV Langen lead. However that would be TV Langen´s last lead as now it was time for Dylan Fasoyiro to take control as he added 5 points for BBC Bayreuth to lead 69-65. ““I told my team that I didn´t want the ball but the win. We were the number 1 team and all that mattered was the win. The ball found me. I have to credit my team”, commented Dylan Fasoyiro. Austrian guard Nico Hollerl added a trey for insurance as TV Langen trailed 73-66. TV Langen didn´t drop dead as they battled and got a wild bank shot from Lagerman and trey from Washington to trail 77-74. However a technical foul from Washington led to a Fasoyiro free throw and 2 free throws by Dawson for the 80-74 advantage with less than a minute to play. Fertig did add a lay in traffic, but Fasoyiro added 3 free throws to seal the victory. “It was the little things that got us the win. Whether it was cutting or being active on the weak side. We did a good job on the boards. We wanted it more than they did”, warned Dylan Washington. “There is a reason why they´re the number 1 team. They made the plays and right decisions down the stretch”, said Jacob Washington. BBC Coburg was led by Dylan Fasoyiro with 33 points. Darius Dawson and Finn Doentgens added 15 points a piece while TV Langen was led by Alex Lagerman with 26 points while Jacob Washington had 24 points. BBC Coburg shot 57% from the field and 40% from outside and had 35 rebounds and 17 turnovers while TV Langen shot 43% from the field and 21%from outside and had 30 rebounds and 13 turnovers.
The up and down play of the Dragons continues as they simply can´t find more consistency in their game. After an incredible upset win over top team Lok Bernau 2 weeks ago, the club went on the road and prompt lost to Itzehoe. The team continues to struggle defensively. The team wanted to go into the short Xmas break with a win over Neustadt. The Dragons Rhondorf had upset the then top team 5 weeks ago, but since then the club that began the season with a 7 game winning streak have struggled severely with a 6 game losing streak. After being a top defensive team in their winning streak, they have gone a total 180 degree allowing a disastrous 93 points per game in the losing streak. The Dragons Rhondorf had to be fully awake and prepared as losing streaks do come to an end and Neustadt was hungry for revenge in the Dragon Dome. On a mild December evening the Dragons Rhondorf returned home and gave a superb defensive effort and swept the season series against the TSV Neustadt Temps Shooters 80-74. It was a total team effort where the young kids especially stepped up from the bench. “This was one of our best defensive efforts of the season. We played were consistent on defense. A big focus this week was communication and good protection and we showed that the whole game. Our bench was great with Schmid, Scepanovic and Bonning really stepping up. We played well against their zone and had the right qualities to make plays”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf guard Juhwan Harris-Dyson. Neustadt´s losing ways continued as they had lost David Craig and top player Matej Jelovcic was out with injury. “We played a lot of zone which was new to us. Our communication wasn´t good. We had problems with the rebound and weren´t aggressive enough. We didn´t get to the free throw line enough”, stressed TSV Neustadt Temps Shooter Amir Licina.
Elias Marei strong to the hole
The Dragons Rhondorf began red hot taking a rapid 10-2 lead as they were flying around on defense getting 5 stops and a couple of Jorge Mejias steals. The Dragons didn´t allow the penetration and on offense spread the love around getting lay in´s from Duje Dujmovic and Benjamin Sadikovic plus a trey from Mejias and a pretty floater from Harris Dyson. The only Dragon flaw were unneeded turnovers. Sometimes all it takes is the energy of one player and that is what Neustadt got from ex Trier guard Aime Olma who scored 7 unanswered points as his drive was unstoppable and suddenly they trailed only 12-9. Rhondorf did a great job keeping the lead and getting incredible support from the youth as Vuk Scepanovic steered 5 points while Carlo Schmid made a massive block to conserve the 17-11 advantage. Ex Essen guard Samuel Mpacko added a trey, but Mejias remained aggressive adding 2 baskets for the 21-18 Dragons lead after 1 quarter. “We started strong and did a great job following the game plan. We defended aggressively and helped each other and rebounded well. Our bench gave good support and we played fast and always used our best option”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf center Daniel Mayr. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 64% from the field and 50% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 7 turnovers while TSV Neustadt Temps Shooters shot 44% from the field and 50% from outside and had 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers.
Kenan Reinhart from downtown
The Dragons Rhondorf controlled the game well in the second quarter, but let down a bit in the last minutes allowing a Neustadt run which allowed them to trail only 49-43 at the break. 218cm giant Max Brackmann began the second quarter with a lay in, but the Dragons Rhondorf then went on a strong 10-2 run to extend their lead to 31-22. Harris Dyson led the Dragons in the run with 6 points including a massive dunk while ex Neustadt forward Dujimovic added 4 points as he was a beast on the offensive glass. He seemed to be everywhere at both ends. “Duje gave a strong performance. He was super physical, defended well, got rebounds and was just present. He did exactly what I told him to do before the game”, smiled Daniel Mayr. Rhondorf played with a lot of intensity that Neustadt couldn´t match while they rebounded as a team. Neustadt got super support from bench player German Leonard Musahl who played in the second Regioalliga last season in Potsdam added 6 points to trail 33-26. Rhondorf kept the lead continuing to be super aggressive on the glass getting an offensive rebound and put back from Dujmovic, a trey from Scepanovic and lay in from Harris-Dyson as Neustadt trailed 41-30. Scepanovic continued not to hesitate and nailed his second trey of the game as the Dragons led 45-32. “Vuk had a great game. He gave us a great offensive push”, added Daniel Mayr. However the Dragons lost their focus a bit in the last minutes allowing a 11-4 run before half-time. In the run, the guests played good team basketball getting a trey from Olma, a dunk from Brackmann who got the pretty no look pass from Marei, and a lay in by Licina. “We did a great job taking care of the ball and continued to be sharp on defense and played aggressive. We let up a bit at the end, but kept the lead”, added Daniel Mayr. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 63% from the field and 44% from the three point line and had 22 rebounds and 9 turnovers while TSV Neustadt Temps Shooters shot 535 from the field and 43% from the three point line and had 10 rebounds and 7 turnovers.
Sameul Mpacko from the corner
TSV Neustadt Temps Shooters made a big comeback in the third quarter and had their first lead of the game, but couldn´t take it into the fourth quarter as the Dragons Rhondorf led 62-61 after 30 minutes. Olma and Sadikovic traded baskets, but Rhondorf still led 51-45. Then came the massive run of Neustadt as they went on a 14-3 run to take the 59-54 advantage. Instrumental in the run was German Veteran Emil Loch who had played in the Pro A the last 2 seasons with Bochum. He had 0 points up to half-time, but exploded in the run scoring 10 unanswered points with 2 three´s and 2 lay in´s. Neustadt suddenly was able to defend and totally upped their intensity that the Dragons couldn´t match. They only got a trey from Mejias in the run. After the run, Neustadt lost their rhythm a bit while the Dragons continued to have problems with offensive execution. But luckily for the Dragons, their bench continued to step up big time. They closed out the quarter with a 7-2 run as Scepanovic continued to execute nailing a 20 footer while little used Carlo Schmid displayed total clutch with a trey while bench energizer Lagui Diallo also connected on a three pointer for the 1 point advantage after 3 quarters. “It was a battle of runs. It happens in basketball. They beat us on the offensive boards. Brackmann took up a lot of space. It was tough defending him”, stated Juhwan Harris-Dyson. “That was our best quarter of the game. We found our offensive rhythm and all were talking on both ends”, stated Amar Licina. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 50% from the field and 35% from the parking lot and had 28 rebounds and 12 turnovers while TSV Neustadt Temps Shooters shot 52% from the field and 36% from the parking lot and had 24 rebounds and 13 turnovers.
Juhwan Harris-Dyson from outside
The Dragons Rhondorf did a super job managing the lead in the fourth quarter and despite Neustadt supplying answers, they were able to punch back to hold the lead. In the first few minutes, Neustadt stayed on the Dragons heels getting free throws from Loch and a lay in from ex San Diego Christian(NAIA) forward Robin Kniss to trail 66-65. But then came the last hard punch from the Dragons Rhondorf as they cruised out on a lethal 8-0 run to lead 74-65 something from which the guests had no answer for. Back to back three´s from Reinhart and Harris-Dyson and a lay in by Dujmovic did the trick. That punch was too much for Neustadt. Neustadt did battle getting a lay in from ex Aschersleben forward Christenvie Kwilu and free throws from Elias Marei to trail 74-69 with 2,20 to play. However the Dragons Rhondorf came up big in crunch-time as Mejias was clutch hitting a 20 footer and free throws for the 78-71 lead. Mpacko did add a circus three to trail 78-74, but Reinhart sealed the win with free throws. “We played really well as a team and trusted the system in crunch-time. We also trusted each other. This was a right step going into Xmas break”, stated Juhwan Harris-Dyson. “We didn´t get enough execution or rebounds. We also didn´t have good shot selection. We didn´t penetrate enough”, said Amir Licina. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Jorge Mejias with 18 points. Juhwan Harris Dyson added 14 points and Vuk Scepanovic had 13 points while TSV Neustadt Temps Shooters were led yb Emil Loch with 16 points while Aime Olma had 14 points. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 46% form the field and 30% from outside and had 43 rebounds and 17 turnovers while TSV Neustadt Temps Shooters shot 41% from the field and 27% from outside and had 37 rebounds and 16 turnovers.
Every once in a while, I have a massive Deja-vu when preparing an interview for a basketball player. It doesn´t happen often though. When I saw that American Felix Kloman (196-G, college: Babson) had scored an amazing 50 points in a professional game in Luxemburg, I knew I had to interview him. Besides it doesn´t happen that often that a pro player overseas scores 50 points. I checked his profile at eurobasket.com and then I read the name Babson (NCAA3) where he played his last season before coming overseas. He had previously spent 3 years at the Ivy league school Brown (NCAA), but it was the school where he was properly reborn as a player. There is nothing nicer for me than to relive childhood memories even if they are only in my thoughts. I drove by Babson every day as a kid going to school and later as a young adult did my training runs around the Babson area. Not too mention not long ago, Daniel Theis when he was playing with the Boston Celtics lived down the road from Babson in Needham and one could see NBA hall of fame player Tiny Archibald´s house from near the schools post office when looking across the Wellesley country club´s 10th and 11th holes. I also remember watching the Team USA soccer national team practice there in 1996 and getting the great Cobi Jones´s autograph. Plus as a kid as a fifth grader skating at the Babson ice rink as well as swimming in their pool. Another interesting side note is that Crew Ainge, the youngest son of Celtic legend Danny Ainge who was a Wellesley resident then went there from 2019-2021. Besides all the memories, the surrounding area is simply beautiful and it is no surprise that students loved going there including professional basketball player Felix Kloman. “Wellesley was a very nice town and it was cool because some of the Celtics players/ coaches live in the area so it was cool to be able to go and get coffee and run into Brad Steven’s or something like that”, stressed Felix Kloman
Felix Kloman who lists current NBA player Isaiah Collier as his toughest opponent was born in Ipswich, Mass and grew up in South Hamilton which is right next to Salem Mass made famous for the Witch trials in 1692-1693. He began his basketball career at the Pingree school and then played at Ivy League school Brown University (NCAA) from 2020-2024, but the first year was cancelled because of Covid. He played a total of 50 NCAA games. His minutes rose from 4 to 7 to 18 in his 3 years. In his last season he averaged 5.0ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.3apg and shot a respectable 32% from outside. His playing time increased each season, but times weren´t always easy, but he felt more than blessed getting this great opportunity playing for head coach Mike Martin. “My basketball experience at Brown taught me so much about resilience and controlling the controllables when it comes to basketball. I learned how to show up, even when things aren’t going your way, and put the work in anyways with the faith it will all pay off. I want to shout out to all my teammates for making the Brown experience so special”, said Felix Kloman. He had some very good games at Brown like scoring 11 points in a very narrow win over Harvard, but his fondest moment was a totally different one. “ Honestly I just enjoyed the times in the locker room or dining hall hanging out with the team. We had a special group of guys and I’m super grateful for that”, remembered Felix Kloman. He helped Brown reach the Ivy League final in 2024. He then moved a step back and played a season at Babson College (NCAA3) averaging 17.7ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.5apg, 1.4spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 45.6%, 3PT: 40.1%, FT: 83.1%. Despite playing division 3, he is very thankful for getting the opportunity to showcase his game. “ I got to play a different role on the court and off it as an older guy and leader. I again was blessed with the opportunity to play with a great group of guys that I had great times with. I think at Babson I became a more confident player for sure”, warned Felix Kloman. He had superb games at Babson against schools like Wooster, WPI, Trinity and MIT. “Beating Trinity at home in double OT was a great game. I don´t know if I’ve ever been that tired after a basketball game”, smiled Felix Kloman. His game was able to grow at Babson and that was mainly due because of head coach Stephan Brennan helped guide him in the right direction with his game. “Coach Brennan is a great coach and an even better guy. He cares for you off the court and really wants what is best for you. I learned a lot from him in terms of how to carry myself, how to be a better leader, and most importantly how to be a better man”, added Felix Kloman who won´t forget the 1-1 duels in practice with Alex Stoddard “I think I won 11-0 every time. I’m joking but Alex is killing it off the basketball court though as a producer/director and I have no doubt I’ll be seeing him as the face of Hollywood very soon. Stay tuned”, said Felix Kloman.
The American who lists Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Carmelo Anthony on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore is playing his rookie season overseas with AS Soleuvre Belvaux (Luxembourg-Nationale 2). “This experience has been great. My teammates and my coaches have been great and I feel lucky to be in such a great spot with even better people. My favorite part so far outside of the hoops has just been walking around towns or Luxembourg City and seeing/trying new things. You can follow my journey on instagram @felixlikestohoop”, stated Felix Kloman. He also knows that not many former division 3 guys get the opportunity to play overseas and he takes nothing for granted. “I love playing basketball, and the fact I get to wake up and have basketball be my job is truly a blessing. There is not a day that I do not appreciate that fact. I would love to play pro hoops until the wheels fall off and save the rat race and work for later in life”, said Felix Kloman. The team is starved to win a title as it last won in the 80´s and were a finalist in 2022. The club is currently 4-0 and want to keep the winning streak alive. The club ambitions must be sky high. “A great American hero by the name of Ricky Bobby once said: “If you’re not first, you’re last.” And this is a mindset I take into this season and I believe our club has taken too. We have set our aim high, and while we know it is going to be difficult to get there, we are all ready and willing to sacrifice and do what it takes to win”, warned Felix Kloman. He is one of the main scoring conditions on the team along with fellow American Christian Parker. Together both rookies average 56 of the team 85 points. Parker is a walking bucket averaging 23/15 and have something very special in common that they are in the same boat grinding to move up the basketball ladder. “Christian is my guy and it has been great sharing the apartment and court with him! As a big man and guard combo I think we compliment each other on the court very well and both are coming from D3 schools so we have that chip on our shoulder”, warned Felix Kloman. He may not be in Slovakia or Romania where that wake up call to being a rookie would surely be different than in Luxemburg. “Everyone here stops to let you cross the road at crosswalks in the US they never do that, they just drive right through. Also my groceries are much cheaper compared to the US which has been great”, commented Felix Kloman.
Felix Kloman who lists Lebron James as his GOAT is currently averaging 32,0ppg an dis second in scoring in the league. He is a 196cm forward that had no problem telling me who he compares his game to. His answer came out as quickly as a shot gun operates. “Dion Waiters. I’d rather go 0-30 than 0-9 because that means I stopped shooting.” Great advice”, said Felix Kloman. He may be an incredible scorer and shooter, but he is so much more than that. “I try my best to be a Swiss army knife on the basketball court. I have played a lot of different roles over my basketball career, and this has allowed me to become a more versatile player. I take pride in playing on both ends of the floor and doing the little things to win”, expressed Felix Kloman. Last season at Babson, he was at 40%. It is only normal that his ambitions to shoot the ball are very high. “Well to be honest I would love to bring my shooting game to the point where I am shooting 100%, but if that is not possible I hope to continue to put my undivided attention on the next shot I shoot and stay present. I put a lot of work in on the court and mentally to become a resilient and adaptable shooter”, said Felix Kloman. Even if he is an incredible offensive player, he is a player that also wants to make an impact on the defensive end. “ I think I am a solid defender currently, and love guarding the other team´s scorer or best player. There is always work to be done, and I just want to keep getting opportunities to guard the great players in this league to continue to improve as a defender myself”, stated Felix Kloman. He also continues to grind hard in the lab so he ican continue to improve other aspects of his game. “ I’m working on tightening up my handle a bit so I can play the 1 and not just the 2 or 3”, warned Felix Kloman. It will be interesting where the journey of AS Soleuvre Belvaux (Luxembourg-Nationale 2) and Felix Koman will go this season. Will the club finally win a title again and will Kloman hit for 50 plus points again? Life is very exciting at the moment for Felix Kloman as he is living the dream of an American baller overseas.
Juan Toscano-Anderson is a 32 year old 198cm forward from Oakland, California that also has the Mexican citzenship and is playing his first season overseaswith Pallacanestro Trieste (Italy-Serie A). He began his basketball career with Castro Valley high school an dthen played 4 years at Marquette University(NCAA). He began his professional career in 2015 and played his first 4 pro seasons mostly in Mexico, but also had stints in Venezuela, Argentina and the G-League. In teh 2019-2020 season, he played 3 seasons for the Golden State Warriors and won an NBA title. He then added 2 more NBA seasons with the Lakers, Jazz and Kings. Last season he played with Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico (NBA G League) averaging 16.1ppg, 7.4rpg, 3.7apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 84.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against Wurzburg.
Thank you, Juan, for talking to germanhoops.com You are playing your first season overseas with Pallacanestro Trieste. What kind of an experience has Italy been? What have you enjoyed most about the opportunity with them?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:Italy has been incredible. The country is beautiful, the league is very competitive. I just love living here. I think Europe is a very simple place. I think people still bask in the simplicity of life, which I can appreciate; it is much different than America, so I have been enjoying it.
As a guy who saw it all in the NBA and played numerous years in Mexico, how have you taken in the beauty and culture of Italy? And what have you learned to like most about this country?
Juan Toscano-Anderson: I think what I like most is the scenery here. It reminds me a lot of California—the water, the mountains, the plants, and the greenery. The country is extremely beautiful. The food probably is what I like the most. I still appreciate Mexican food, but I think just the simplicity of the food without all the ingredients allows you to really taste the purity of the food, so I can appreciate that.
It is not usual for a guy to come overseas at age 32. What was your wakeup call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
Juan Toscano-Anderson: I think the age part is irrelevant. Everybody’s journey is different. Some people come over at 35, some people come over at 15. I think it was just the right time for me. After playing in the NBA and playing in Mexico, I was just trying out different things in this career; you never know what is going to work for you until you try it. I felt like my time in the NBA was done, so it was time to open a new chapter and try to do something different.
The team is in the middle of the pack in Serie A and battling in the BCL. How confident are you that this club has the potential to make the playoffs?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:I am extremely confident. I think we have a really good team on paper. Obviously, that is just on paper, but Mike has put a really good team together. We have a new coach, a bunch of new guys—myself and Jahmi’us—who have never played in Europe before. We are still figuring a lot of things out, figuring out what works and what does not work. The best part is that we have been competitive. We haven’t won some games that we should have won, but that happens. I believe what I have seen in my career about the teams who are clicking at the right time. Obviously, we want to win every game, but we just want to put ourselves in position to have a chance to make the playoffs and then start to click when playoffs come around.
As you already said, you are a player that can pretty much do it all. What exactly is your role on the team?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:I am still trying to figure that out as well. The best part of my game is the versatility, but I also think sometimes that comes with, but just figuring things out. Like, where do I work best on the team? What position? Because I can play multiple positions. So, how can I help the team the best? We are figuring out chemistry and figuring out who plays best in tandem together, and who I play best with. Still, I think my role is just to be a leader, to be competitive. Those are starters for me, and then everything else will come together.
Let’s go back to before your pro career. You played at Marquette from 2011 to 2015. You did not have a big role in those first three years but reached the Big Dance twice and made the Elite Eight in 2013. How valuable were these years in your basketball development, and what did you learn about basketball during these years besides winning?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:At that time, the Big East, I think, was the best conference in the country. We were sending 11 teams to the Big Dance every year, and were playing against pros every night. Pretty much every game was on ESPN. The concoction of everything is what prepared me for later in my career—just playing against big names, playing against great players, and playing in big arenas. It showed me not to shy away from big moments. Now I do not get nervous about big moments; I actually embrace them. It is a privilege to play in front of 20,000 people, a privilege to play in big arenas, against great players, and be in competitive leagues like the BCL. It was a great experience. I played alongside some pros: Jay Crowder was a senior when I was a freshman, Darius Johnson Odom, who also played here in Italy, and Jamil Wilson—just a bunch of names who were big names at that time. I learned a lot just playing at a high level.
That is so interesting. How crazy was that Elite Eight run? Marquette beat Davidson and Butler by a combined score of only three points, and then lost a tough grind out defensive battle against Syracuse 55 to 39. What is the first thing that comes to mind from that run?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:The first thing that comes to mind is when we played Davidson. I think we were down nine with about a minute left, and we actually came back to win that game. If you go back and watch it, it was incredible. I remember that I fouled when we were not supposed to foul with about 50 seconds left, but it ended up working out for us because it ended up being a benefit; I think the guy missed one of the free throws. It taught me just really understanding that the game is never over until it is over, especially at a high level where guys can make tough shots and execute at the end of the game. It was incredible. Playing in the Big Dance is great. I started on that Elite 8 team. That was a lot of fun, playing alongside great players and achieving something that a lot of guys will never do. You only get to be a college player for a short amount of time; unlike pro basketball where you can do something you missed out on at 26 when you are 35, you only have four years in college and once it is over, it is over. Being able to cement that and add those things to my trophy case are things that I will never forget. I have some cool rings that I can show my son.
You are writing your own story. What memories do you have of Jay Crowder as a freshman? Was he like a mentor for you, and how much of an impact did he have on you?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:Yes, he had a major impact on me. The impact he had on me was great because he never took it easy on me. He destroyed me every day, which at that time was really hard for me because I was an 18-year-old scrawny kid playing against an adult, an NBA pro, who was drafted and went on to have a great career. That is where I learned to be tough. That is where I learned to really compete and learned that when you are on the floor with guys, it does not matter what your age is or how old you are. If you step in between these lines, you are expected to compete at the same level as these guys. It really brought out that fire in me to be relentless on the floor and to understand that I do not have friends on the floor. If you are on the floor with me, regardless of your age or your year in your career, we are competing. It was great for me to really build those skills and habits.
That is a good mentality. How did head coaches Buzz Williams and Steve Wojciechowski prepare you best for a professional career?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:Buzz was incredible. I love Buzz; I still have a relationship with him. He was a tough guy; he did not take no for an answer. You were coming to practice every day to compete and you were bringing your best, and he brought the best out of his guys. I really love playing for him. Everybody has an opinion about who is the best coach, but I think when you are a coach and you can bring the best out of your players and get the best from guys every single day and get guys to play hard, that says a lot about you. He did that; he got the best out of his guys every year, every day. He sent pros to the NBA five years in a row: Lazar Hayward, Jae Crowder, Wes Matthews, Jimmy Butler, and Jamil Wilson—the list goes on. It was incredible; I really miss playing for Buzz.
Who won one-on-one in practice back in the day? You or Jae Crowder?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:At that time, Jae for sure. He was bigger and stronger than me. I was 18 years old, he was a senior, a legit pro, Big East Player of the Year. I was just a kid coming into my own, developing my body, and he was already developed. He was a legit pro, so I would give Jae the nod at that time. But now? I do not know by now.
Who is the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:That is a tough question. It is tough because in the Big East, you are playing against pros every night. I would probably say Dion Waiters. He was the Sixth Man at Syracuse. They were a loaded team; they had guys like Scoop Jardine, Fab (rest in peace, he passed away), but they were an incredible team. I also played against Festus Ezeli, who ended up being a friend of mine because he played for the Warriors. The list goes on, but I would probably say Dion Waiters.
You really had to pay your dues in your first four pro seasons in Mexico, Venezuela, and Argentina. What did you learn in these years about surviving and what kind of player did you become?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:I learned to just run your own race. Everybody is figuring it out. Even when some people think that they have it figured out in this business, you never have it figured out, because even if you are in the NBA, there are guys trying to get to the NBA who can come take your place. Even when you are in Euro League, there are guys playing in Serie A who are trying to get to Euro League. I learned to really just take every day one day at a time. Every experience is different, every coach is different, and every team is different. So, you really have to be fluid and be able to really adjust on the fly. Things change every day in this business. I learned to find patience and really taking it one day at a time. Finding a routine is essential because things will change every day. Travel changes, teams change, you may get fired, you may get hurt, or whatever. There are just so many variables that change, so you have to find continuity in your routine to find mental peace. That is what I learned, especially in those leagues where they are not the biggest leagues, they do not have the most money, and we do not have the most resources. You have to really find what works for you and how to get the best out of everything that you have. Also, just to be appreciative. Some of my best years of my career were at those times, and I learned about enjoying it. I remember a veteran, Matthew Brian Manning from the UK, who always told me during my rookie year when we were winning a lot, “Enjoy this because you may never experience this again”. That was one thing that I learned to do: really enjoy when things are going well, because you may run into some years of your career where you are losing and you do not accomplish all the things that you want to accomplish. So, just really finding peace and joy in the everyday.
Some things will never come back. You played numerous years with Fuerza Regia Monterrey and won two LNBP titles. Did the organization become like a second home to you? And what was so special about this organization?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:That organization is not like a second home to me; it is a second home to me. They embraced me with open arms. Sergio Gano, who is the president and owner of that team, really treats me like family. I have to show a lot of love to Paco. He is a Spanish guy who really helped me develop and prepared me for my opportunity in the NBA. He taught me how to play the game. When I met him, I was just a young, athletic, talented kid, but he really showed me how to read the game, how to slow down, and just how to let the game develop in front of you. Because there is so much happening on the floor; when you have the ball, there are nine other guys on the floor. I really owe him a lot; I know I do not technically owe him anything, but I just want to say thank you to him. He really helped me change my life, and most importantly, he was very patient with me. I was a young kid figuring it out, and so I have the utmost love and respect for the whole city of Monterrey, Sergio Gano, and Paco. They were just incredible and very pivotal in my growth in my career.
Do you miss those moments?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:I miss it so much. Sometimes I wish I could go back. It is a crazy feeling because you know that you can never go back in time. I am glad that I took the time to really appreciate those times. Most importantly, I am glad that I was able to build relationships and bonds with the fans and the people of that organization to always feel welcome to go back. I know that I can go back whenever. I say that very humbly and very thankfully. I am glad that I was able to nurture those relationships and build that type of rapport there.
It is important to live in the moment. After paying your dues for four years, you then played three seasons with the Golden State Warriors and won an NBA title, only the second time for a Mexican player. Did you pinch yourself for three years? One could not have had more of a Cinderella story than you had.
Juan Toscano-Anderson: Yes. Honestly, I would walk into the gym every day in Golden State. It was crazy because I am from the Bay Area, from Oakland. Before moving to San Francisco, the Warriors played in Oakland, so I grew up a fan of the Warriors. I remember going to game two of the Finals in 2015 and watching Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. For them to turn around and be my teammates and also my friends—I have a really great relationship with Draymond Green; we talk all the time—it is pretty cool to now just call these legendary Hall of Famers my friends and I can pick up the phone and call them whenever. It is kind of surreal. People always ask me what it is like to play alongside Steph Curry. I always say it is like when you.When you watch cartoons and they have the angels with all the doves and the lights around, when Steph Curry walks into a room, you feel it. He just has that aura about him because he was made to be great. Steph Curry is kind of like the Michael Jacksons, the Mike Tyson’s, the Michael Jordans, the Messi’s, the Ronaldos; you do not get to be around those types of people every day. It was really cool to be able to learn from those guys and also to play at home and win a championship, which was incredible. The championship parade was one of the best days of my life. I remember being on the championship bus and seeing so many people that I grew up with, people that I know, and realizing, “Wow, I am a part of this”. I won an NBA championship, but I am a part of something that means so much to the place that I grew up and where I was born and raised. It is an incredible part of my life, something I will never forget, and something I am super appreciative of.
You won the NBA title in 2022, playing four games against the Celtics. What does it mean to you being only the second NBA champion with Mexican citizenship? And is there a day where you are not reminded about it?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:I think it is an incredible feat to make history, especially in a business like this. There are so many players in the world who are trying to compete at a high level. There is just so much turnover in this business; it is easy to be forgotten about. When you get the opportunity to make history and stamp your name so it will not be forgotten about, I think that is the most incredible thing you can do in this business. I try to hang my hat on that; it gives me satisfaction to know that I accomplished something big in my career. However, I am very competitive, and I always want more. We are all humans; we always want more. Sometimes I do forget about it, but on the rough days, I have to remind myself of what I have accomplished. There is so much that I can be thankful for in my career, whether it ended today or whether it ended in 10 years. Having the opportunity to play this game is enough to be thankful for; I think it is the best job in the world. To answer your question, yes, there are days where I sometimes forget about it because I get so lost in wanting more—wanting to do more, wanting another championship, wanting a bigger contract, wanting to go play for a bigger team. But sometimes you just have to slow down and bask in the moments that have got you to this point.
Not many guys can say they played together with Steph Curry and LeBron James. You played part of a season with LeBron James before moving to the Jazz. What will you always remember from your Lakers experience?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:Playing for the Lakers is crazy. I was lucky enough to play for two of the most visible teams in the world: the Lakers and the Warriors. The Lakers are on every social channel, every ESPN channel every day. But playing for the Lakers, nothing touches that. When you play for the Lakers, you immediately become a celebrity. That was really cool. There is a lot that comes with playing this game: nice cars, sponsorships, all these different things. Being in LA, being around all these famous people, being on stage at the ESPYs, doing a Nike commercial—all that comes with winning a championship and also playing for the Lakers and then playing alongside a guy like LeBron James. These are guys that I can call my friends. You do not get to see up close and personal how these guys live—the Messi’s, the Ronaldo’s, the LeBron James. Getting a peek into their lives was really cool because they do live different lives than normal people. Also, just to learn from them. I think people are born in a position to be great, but greatness does not happen by accident; they put in a lot of work. I was able to learn from these guys and watch how they take care of their bodies and watch their routines. I watched how they handle their business because we are all brands. The basketball portion is one part of it, but we are brands—sponsorships, the money, all this stuff. Being able to learn from the top of the top, the best, taught me a lot.
You also played with Utah, Sacramento, and in the G-League the last few years. What was your fondest moment off the court, and you must have had incredible interaction with legends through these years.
Juan Toscano-Anderson:My fondest moment off the court is hard to pick one, but generally, it is building relationships with all these guys. Russell Westbrook is an incredible basketball player, one of my best friends in the NBA, an incredible guy, and one of my favorite teammates. Now that I am not in the NBA, I take my son to the games, and my son is able to meet these guys. Instead of me asking for a jersey or a picture, I ask them to take a picture with my son or to sign a jersey for my son. I started a jersey collection for my son, so my son has LeBron James, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, Andrew Wiggins, and Klay Thompson—the list goes on. Having these relationships allows me to show my son greatness, for him to be around greatness. I think that is part of success, where it does not seem like a mystery; it seems very achievable, very tangible. I think that is the fondest part: having these relationships that I can nurture and call these guys my friends.
Who are your five best teammates of all time?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:In no order, because I do not want to put them in order. Draymond Green, Damian Lee, Gary Payton II, Russell Westbrook. I want to make sure I choose this last spot. I will give it to Steph Curry just because that is kind of a given; there is no way you can leave Steph Curry off there. The first four guys are the ones I am closest with in the NBA, or the relationships I built from the NBA. I talk to Damian Lee every day. I talk to Draymond Green three times a week. Those will have to be my five best teammates.
: Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore.
Juan Toscano-Anderson:People always get on me for this, but I am going to leave Michael Jordan out because I am too young; I have never seen Michael Jordan play live. I think it is easy to say guys are good when you are watching highlights all the time, so I do not put Michael Jordan. This is my top five for my age, to clarify that: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Shaq, and Tim Duncan.
Who is your GOAT?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:My GOAT is Steph Curry.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming to America? Should not they have left it alone?
Juan Toscano-Anderson:I have not seen the sequel, but Coming to America is such a great movie. I believe there is a saying in English: “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it”. If there is nothing wrong with the first one, sometimes you just leave it where it is at and allow people to appreciate art. I have not seen it, but if you are asking me that question, I probably do not need to watch it.
German Hoops 