Christopher Miller (192-G-1993, college: Salem) is a 29 year old 193cm guard from Brooklyn, New York who is playing his eighth professional season and first with GoldCoast Wallabies NLB (2nd League). He played 3 seasons with the Giessen Pointers (Germany-RegionalligaThis season for Bensheim he averaged 19,5ppg, 3,8rpg, 2,0apg and 1,5spg. He has had experience in countries like El Salvador and Bosnia. He recently played for the South Shore Monarchs (TBL) playing 8 games averaging 22.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 4.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 83.3%. He began his basketball career at Clinton Community College and also played two years at Salem University (NCAA2). This season he teams up with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber with weekly chats about his basketball season.
Congrats on the 95-59 win over Grand Saconnex. You have a neat little winning streak going. Does each win feel a bit better?
We are working hard. It feels good to put together a winning atmosphere with the team. We have a new energy and would like to keep it going.
Talk a little about the 40 minutes. When was this game decided?
We came out from the beginning again with the energy , focused on defense and followed the game plan to the best of our abilities.
There was one shocking stat line of 29 turnovers. How does a team achieve that in such a lopsided win where so much else was working? Most of those turnovers were simple mistakes from our offense moving too fast of a miss communication. We were getting Alot of stops on defense so our turnovers weren’t costing us as much as they should have. We have to focus on those more for the future 29 turnovers are unacceptable .
The team is playing their best defense of the season allowing only 53 points per game in the last 3 games. What has been the main reason for the consistent play?
We have a team full of offensive threats but the main reason for this is we are all locked in on the defensive end. We are starting games better and not giving up second chance points. Credits to our coaches pushing the intensity and making us focus our attention to the defensive end of the stat sheet.
The team got a lot of good support from various guys like Dario Pelizza who supplied 11 points. What have you learned to appreciate most about his game this season?
Dario is a very hard worker who has improved tremendously each week. He has a lot of plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet like deflections good on ball defense or hockey assists. He is a guy who’s presence is felt. He had a great game last week. I believe he is capable of these offensive outputs and more.
You had a solid game of 18/5/6 stats. You continue to be a very good from close. Was this one of those game where you didn’t need to rely on the 3?
This game was good it was a balanced game I was happy that We had multiple guys in double figures. I chose my spots and was happy with my percentage shooting. I don’t worry about if it’s is a 2 or 3 my focus is getting mine with out taking too many shots or missing too many shots.
The next game is against Acad Friborg whom you lost to by 11 points. What will be key to getting the win this time? The key this time is remembering we are a way better team than last time we played them first off. I also think the key is focusing on defense and team play if we can do this we can have a good chance to defeat a tough team like them.
Marcus Foster (191-G-1995, college: Creighton) is a 27 year old 191cm guard from Texas that is playing his 5th professional season and first with BC Rytas Vilnius (Lithuania-LKL). Last season he split time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (NBA G League) averaging 16.4ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.9apg, FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT: 70.4%, then played with ASP Promitheas Patras (Greece-A1) averaging 12.1ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 66.7%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 66.7%. In 2020-2021 he played with Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (Greece-A1) averaging 6.0ppg, 1.2rpg, 2FGP: 48.5%, 3FGP: 41.7%, FT: 55.6% in the Euroleague and 5.3ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 55.9%, 3FGP: 7.4%, FT: 64.3%, in the Greek league and in Feb.’21 moved to Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey-BSL) averaging 8.2ppg, 1.4rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 66.7%; and 8.8ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 26.1%, FT: 39.1% in the Basketball Champions League. In 2019-2020 he played with Hapoel Unet Holon (Israel-Winner League) averaging 20.2ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 73.9%; and in the BCL averaged 17.8ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 61.9%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 73.1%. He split his rookie season with DB Promy (South Korea-KBL) averaging 25.2ppg, 5.2rpg, 3.8apg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 75.1%, and in Mar.’19 moved to Champville (Lebanon-LBL) averaging 10.7ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg. He began his basketball career at Wichita Falls High School and then played 2 seasons at Kansas State averaging 15.5ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 73.4% and 12.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 70.3%. He then finished at Creighton University averaging 18.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 70.1% and 19.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 41.3%, FT: 74.4% as a senior. He spoke to eurobasket before a Basketball Champions League game in Germany against the Telekom Baskets Bonn.
Thanks Marcus for talking to eurobasket. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you? I am in Vilnius Lithuania getting ready to finish the important part of our season. We have a big stretch coming up in the Lithuanian league and also in champions league. Doing good would be a lot better if there wasn’t so much snow here.
Your playing your first season with BC Rytas Vilnius (Lithuania-LKL,). What kind of an experience has it been playing in Lithuania, the small country with so many talented ballers. What have you appreciated most about the country and it’s basketball? The experience is going better than I thought it would. The Lithuanian league is better than I thought it would be and what I have heard from other players I’ve talked to that played in the lead in the past. For me being in a smaller country it is a little bit different I’ve been lucky enough to play in some great places like Greece, Israel and Turkey. The city of Vilnius is a very beautiful place, the thing I love most about the basketball is the love of the game from the fans and not just Rytas fans but fans from other teams.
BC Rytas Vilnius (Lithuania-LKL) is one of the top teams in Lithuania and have a rich history. What does it mean to you to wear it’s jersey?
For me having to play for Rytas and knowing the history of the club makes it even more special for me to step out on the court every time and give it my all for the city. And I understand how important it is to get the club back on top in Europe
BC Rytas Vilnius (Lithuania-LKL,) is fighting for the country title with Zalgiris and a number of other teams. Your having success with 2 Americans and a number of Lithuanian role players. Have you ever seen the team basketball focus so dominant as with this organization? It is very different for me being on a team that only has two Americans but with this team we do have great Lithuanian players which makes it easier for me to be successful having such a good team surrounded by me. It’s like every club it’s always important to focus on basketball to have the most success you could have.
After playing your first 3 seasons overseas and having played NBA Summer League, you played last season in the G-League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (NBA G League) averaging 16.4ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.9apg, FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT: 70.4%. How high can one value a G-League title considering all the ups and downs and comings and goings that an organization has to deal with?
With the team I had it was obvious from the beginning that we were the best team in the G league. So having the championship was special because of the team we had with such great players. Each player on the team could have been on another team and been the main guy but we came together and all had one goal of winning the championship.
Nowadays the League and G-League have gotten so young that one rarely sees older guys. But you had the fortune being teammates with Gerald Green and helping win a title. What will you always remember from him as a teammate? G league is a very young League it’s a good development for guys that are trying to make the NBA. When I found out the Gerald Green would be my teammate I was very excited because he was always somebody I idolized with his style of play. I remember I used to tell my friends if I ever would play in the NBA I would want to have the role of a Gerald Green. When I remember most is from day one I am just wanting to win the championship. He always talked to us about how close he came to win the NBA championship and now after his career in the NBA was over he just wanted to have that championship to finish his career
You had a really consistent G-League season and really upped your stats in the last 2 months. Do you feel like you were ever close to a NBA call up?
Yeah for me towards the end of the season everything started clicking and it became easier for me to play my game. Yes I was close to a 10 day and two-way with the Rockets. Because of the season I had my agent had some conversations with some general managers and they definitely considered signing me to some contracts in the NBA for this season.
You had a good NCAA career and have played well as a professional player. Is Europe now your main focus or is the NBA still a reality for you? Older guys from overseas have made the NBA in recent years. For me the NBA is a goal but it’s not my focus though if I do achieve it I will definitely be happy but if I do not achieve it it would not make a difference to me. My main focus is just trying to enjoy the game of basketball because some people don’t get to do what I do every day which is wake up and have basketball as a job.
After having your break out season in Israel, you then played the 20-21 season with Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (Greece-A1) averaging 6.0ppg, 1.2rpg, 2FGP: 48.5%, 3FGP: 41.7%, FT: 55.6%;in the Euroleague and 5.3ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 55.9%, 3FGP: 7.4%, FT: 64.3%, in the Greek league and in Feb.’21 moved to Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey-BSL) averaging: 8.2ppg, 1.4rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 66.7%; and in the BCL averaged 8.8ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 40.6%, 3PT: 26.1%, FT: 39.1%. How tough was this season? What did you learn about the season and yourself?
This was one of the toughest years for me basketball wise because it was the first true taste of European basketball. I was in two situations that did not fit me at the time but being a younger player at the time I was still trying to figure out how to be successful on a high level. I learned that playing at a high level like Euroleague everybody is very talented but the reason why guys stick around is because they do more than one thing and they bring value to their team. So what I learned is every situation is not going to be perfect and I have to figure out ways to stick by working on my weaknesses.
Despite losing a Euroleague game to FC Barcelona, you scored 24 points. Was that one of your best games overseas? I’ve had some big games overseas scoring 30 points but this game will always be one of my favorite games I’ve had when playing a team like Barcelona and you are one of the top scores from your team that I will always be a special moment for me being so young at the time.
In 2019-2020 you played with Hapoel Unet Holon (Israel-Winner League) averaging 20.2ppg), 3.5rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 73.9%; and in the BCL averaged17.8ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 61.9%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 73.1%. Is it fair to say that Israel was your best season so far as a professional. Did the league suit your game or what do you feel was the reason for your domination?
That was definitely the best season I ever had all around. the Israel league is more of a offensive League and fast paced so that was one of the reasons why I was so successful but also the coaches I’ve had that season helped me and put me in situations for me to be successful.
Even though you lost both games to Euroleague Powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv you belonged to the best players on the court scoring 20 plus points in both games. Did you feel like you had arrived overseas with these performances? Yes because that year I felt that team could have made a run to the final four.
You played your rookie season with DB Promy (South Korea-KBL): 51 games: Score-4 (25.2ppg), 5.2rpg, 3.8apg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 75.1%, in Mar.’19 moved to Champville (Lebanon-LBL) averaging 10.7ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
.Playing in South Korea is a different experience so from day one I knew that I was a overseas basketball player because me and the other American on my team were the only ones that spoke English not even my coach spoke English so I had a Korean translator on the team
How much fun was Korea? You scored 47 and 42 points. Did it sometimes feel like you were a man among boys?
Korea will always be one of my favorite years just because it was really just waking up and playing basketball. We really didn’t run much plays and you were playing three or four games a week so I barely practiced, and they were forcing me to shoot 20 shots a game and with my style of play it was easy for me to have big games like that.
You had a solid Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft) averaging 13.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 5.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 62.5% and played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV (Sacramento Kings): 3 games: 1.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.3apg. What do you remember about this time. What did you learn about the NBA process and what feedback do you remember getting from the Kings?
Portsmouth was a good start to my whole pre-draft process it was my first time being in NBA setting. I Just remember being nervous because it was the start of the NBA process and I wanted to do very good. I always think about my first summer league with the Sacramento Kings because I got hurt with my hamstring and I ended up only playing one game in summer league. I remember leading up to the first games I was doing very well I was one of the best players on my team and was going to get a lot of minutes but got hurt right before the games. I remember the kings telling me if I would not have got hurt I possibly would have played myself into a two-way contract. I got a training camp invite from the kings and I always regret not going because they had a lot of interest in me.
You began your basketball career at Kansas State averaging 15.5ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 73.4% and 12.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 70.3%. You had 2 good seasons but were criticized in your second for focusing too much on the NBA. What did you learn about yourself in these 2 years and what positives did you get out of Kansas State? For me nobody ever thought I would make the NBA so when that started going into my mind and people are saying I was a draft pick it was hard for me to stay the same person that I was. If I would’ve played how I played my first season at Kansas State I would probably have been a first round draft pick but what I learned from that situation is everything happens for a reason what you have to do is learn from your mistakes and continue to grow not just as a basketball player but as a man.
You then went to Creighton. How thankful were you for head coach Greg Mcdermott for giving you the chance to play there and how did he groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
I’m always thankful for coach Mac, because he helped me in many ways not just on the basketball court. Basketball wise he is one of the best offensive coaches in America so his style of coaching fit how I played which made it easy for me to be very successful under him.
You had 2 great seasons averaging 18.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 70.% and 19.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 41.3%, FT: 74.4%. What kind of player did you become at Creighton? I became a smarter player and also a leader. My first year I took a lot of bad shots wasn’t a great defender and coach Mac stayed on me that off-season to become better at those two things which carried over to me being the leader of my team and having an even better year my second year
Do you still get asked about your magical buzzer beater against Depaul in the 76-75 win? What memories do you still have?
Every time I go to Omaha Nebraska people bring up that game and many others. For me it was a special game because it was the game I scored my 2000 point with that buzzer beater. I remember my close friend one of the managers on the team was keeping count until I made 2000 points I remember at shoot around him telling me you know you only need 29 points to get 2000 you might as well do it tonight and with that last shot at the buzzer that was 29 points so it was a special moment and great that my team won.
You only scored 5 points in your last NCAA game against Kansas State and hugged your ex coach Bruce Weber after the game. Did you guys wrap up the history you had at KSU over the years? For me it was tough playing my old coach there was a lot of emotions there but ending my career like that will always be tough for me but it doesn’t determine the type of career I had with playing that game it was a good way to end everything and move on from the past.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Khyri Thomas?
I can’t lie it would have been even some days I would have good days against him and some days he would lock me up. Khyri Thomas is one of the best defenders I’ve ever gone against I was always glad that he was on my team and not having to guard me in real games.
Who is the best player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA? Marcus Smart is one of the best players offensively and defensively I’ve ever had to play. His energy and competitiveness is unmatched. He brings it every single game and this is why he is still in the NBA and a very important part of the Boston Celtics.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Shane Southwell he was my teammate my freshman year at Kansas State and he believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself TJ cline my teammate from Holon. We spent a lot of time together which made our connection on the court very strong Maurice Watson my point guard from my first year at Creighton. He was like a big brother to me and he taught me how to lead a team with my actions in my words Ben Bentil and Ioannis Papapetrou my two teammates from Panathinaikos that year was very tough for me basketball wise like I said and they always made sure my head was in a good place because they knew how good of a player I could be so they guided me while I was there.
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Shaq, Stephen Curry
What is your opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron and why isn’t Kobe mentioned more?
For me Kobe Bryant is the best player to ever play basketball. I am a big Kobe Fan and I personally never got to witness Michael Jordan play in his prime so I do not like to judge players outside of my lifetime so for me I always put Kobe over everybody
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?
Yes I have seen coming to America and like every classic movie from the past I think it always should be left alone. Not many sequel movies are even close to the first one.
James Washington (182-PG-1987, college: MTSU) is a 35 year old 182cm guard from St Louis, Missouri playing his 12th professional season and first with Energa Kotwica Kolobrzeg (Poland-1Liga). He played at Western Illinois University and Middle Tennessee State university before turning pro in 2011 and playing in Germany for TBB Trier. His career has taken him to other countries like Sweden, Belgium, Croatia, Romania and France. He gave his thoughts about Lebron James breaking the NBA all-time scoring record from Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history? I tried my best to stay up. It came on a little after 4 am here in Poland. I was able to watch most of the 1st quarter. But I dozed off unfortunately.
How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years?
It’s enormously difficult to put this into perspective. Mainly because LeBron just continues to improve year after year. The crazy part is he is not even close to being finished. He scored 36 points in 26 minutes.
Was it another normal day at the office?
A normal day for him after the jump ball and after his first basket in my opinion. It’s very challenging to block out so much attention and media at that level. So I wouldn’t necessarily call it an overall normal day last night.
Do you know that you are linked in a way indirectly to Lebron James? You played with his friend and ex high school teammate at Trier Dru Joyce.
Dru Joyce is a great friend and big brother of mine. He was an amazing teammate and even better person/mentor. Proud of how he is doing as a college coach at the D1 level. We still keep in contact all the time. We still have countless debates back and forth about who is the greatest between Jordan and Lebron.
How much is that ball going to be worth? Man, Priceless!!! I don’t think Bron will ever let that ball go. So we probably will never know.
Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles? That could be a debate of how some people look at it. But in my opinion that was only an assist you would get in the NBA. And Westbrook triple doubles were CRAZY.
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 know how it is in live action at the highest level. Your usually going to take the easiest basket you can get. But I actually thought he was going to try to do the Kareem sky hook to pass him and pay homage while doing so.
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?
Funny I just mentioned that. But social media is already going wild. And I think the topic will heat up even more as the week continues. But if he would have gotten the record with the sky hook? That would have been super crazy!
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? My mother was a big Lakers fan so I was a little educated about his body of work on the court. But I would say most of the younger guys don’t understand. He played 20 seasons like Lebron, scored 38,000 plus points like LeBron, but with only 1 made 3 pointer.
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?
Lebron can probably play for 5 more seasons. So nobody knows how much he will end up scoring. But with the development of the game today at such a young age. Unfortunately I think his record could be broken. Maybe one of these young talents like this Victor Wembanyama kid from France could be one to do it.
If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him? Yes if Luka plays for that long, I think he can get it. But in my opinion if Luka wins a ring or 2, he won’t play close to the age of 40.
Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan?
No!!!! I still can not give Lebron the GOAT label. For me LeBron has always been a guy that fills the stat sheets. So him breaking all these records are of course super impressive. But he didn’t win enough for me. At the end of the day the game is about winning. Jordan had 6 rings and never lost in the finals. That’s ridiculous!
What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV? I would probably have to say when he caught the lob and dunked on Jason Terry. People made it to a meme still to this day.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and TJ Shorts in Frankfurt in 2022
TJ Shorts (175-PG-1997, college: UC Davis) is a 25 year old 175cm point guard from Tustin, California playing his fourth professional season and third in Germany and first with the Telekom Baskets Bonn currently averaging 18,6ppg, 3,5rpg 7,4apg and 1,2spg. Last season he played with the Hakro Merlins averaging (20.6ppg), 3.4rpg, Assists-3 (7.0apg), 1.9spg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 41.7%, FT: 83.3%. In 2020-2021 with the Hamburg Towers he averaged 14.3ppg, 2.8rpg, Assists-4 (5.3apg), Steals-3 (1.7spg), FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 28.1%, FT: 71.8%. In his rookie season he played with with BK Ventspils (Latvia-LBL) playing 12 FIBA Europe Cup games averaging 14.6ppg, 2.8rpg, Assists-4 (6.3apg), Steals-5 (2.0spg), FGP: 66.7%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 82.4%; and played 20 LatEstBL games averaging 11.8ppg, 3.3rpg, 5.0apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 63.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 75.6%. He began his basketball career at Tustin High School and then played two years at Saddleback JC (JUCO) He finished at the University of California – Davis (NCAA) playing 31 games averaging 14.6ppg, 3.7rpg, 4.5apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 72.7% and in his senior year averaged 15.2ppg, 4.7rpg, 4.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 27.9%, FT: 71.8%. He spoke germanhoops.com after the 88-61 win against the Fraport Skyliners.
Congrats TJ on the 88-61 win in Frankfurt against the Fraport Skyliners. Was this another normal day at the office for the team?
I wouldn’t say it was a normal day at the office for us. Even if their record doesn’t show it, they are a high quality team. I am proud of how the team fought and took control of the game after we were able to find our rhythm on offense and defense.
The Telekom Baskets Bonn broke free in the second quarter scoring 26 points. It rained three’s. What was key in the team breaking free.
We wanted to take away their strengths and play off their spots. On offense we let the ball move and when we are focused and are dynamic then we know that we will get good shots. We also were able to play at our pace and apply pressure on their defense.
In the second half, Frankfurt fought back and couldn’t get over the hump and in the fourth Bonn slammed the door shut in their faces with a 26 points outburst and 18-1 run to start. How would you describe Bonn basketball in this phase?
We showed a glimpse of our identity. We were able to get easy shots. We know that our defense will carry our offense. When we see one go in then we are capable of going on those 18-1 type runs.
This may have been your last battle against Quantez Robertson who is playing his 14th season with one club the Fraport Skyliners. How is something like that possible in todays day and age where money and moving around is the norm? I have nothing but respect for Tez. He is a guy that has done real good things in the BBL. In today’s game guys are looking to make the next step and reach next level. The game will take you places where you won’t know where you will be next. You just have to learn to cherish the in moments and not take anything for granted.
The Telekom Baskets Bonn are having a great season and have upped their performance from last season. What have you been able to appreciate most this season about playing in the easyCredit BBL? I appreciate the team that we have and they are all great guys. We all get along very well and that is very rare. We have that college basketball feel in Bonn. We are friends on and off the court. This family feeling helps us be successful. Our chemistry is at such a high level that it has helped us carry us on our run this season. I hope we can continue to keep it going.
The hunger to win a title is gigantic with the fans, but also for the players. Your still searching for that first chip. Do you personally feel that special excitement about what this club could do this season? There is definitely excitement and a buzz around the team. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves as the season is still very long. We want to continue to take it game by game. Important for us is to take care of the little things and continue to get better. We know that there are a lot of different facets that goes into winning a title.
The coach and team chemistry is very special this season. What other special attributes do you feel does this club have this season that has been instrumental in winning? I mean it is tough to pinpoint just 2 things, but those 2 things are definitely important. You have to give a lot of credit to the coach who was able to build a team and be able to hand and pick guys that would buy into the system and have it work and have the players sacrifice into the team. It is really rare to find a group of guys like that.
The Telekom Baskets Bonn lost twice to Alba Berlin but play against them again at the end of April. What will it take to beat this club in a 5 game playoff series?
We know the quality that they have. We know that they have Euroleague type players and coaches and it will take a lot to beat them. You have to be focused on every possession. They will punish you on every mistake that you make. You have to focus on each possession and not try to do to much. We will continue to build the next months, but continue to take it a game at a time.
The club recently picked up Jovantae Hawkins. Everybody knows what he can bring to the club. How does your game get more elevated now with his presence?
He knows coaches system from Crailsheim and knows what to do on defense. He will have an easy transition. He is another offensive threat that can create his own shot, has length and is athletic. It will be great to play with him and learn his game and continue to build chemistry with him.
What has it been like practicing with young point guard Zach Ensminger? How have you been able to try to help him best so that his development continues to strive? We shoot together each day after practice. He is young and like a sponge. He puts in extreme work. He really does he can so he can implement himself into the lineup.
After having a great last season despite being injured, did you come into this season with a special mission that obviously has reflected once again in your play?
Even if I had had that injury last season, I came into this season with the same mindset. I came into this season like usual with a chip on my shoulder and wanting to leave an imprint on the game and have people remember me. I want to continue to help my team anyway I can and evolve to the next level.
Your playing another great season while playing 3 minutes less in the easyCredit BBL. How much of a challenge has it been being able to win and put up big time stats while having more talented players than in Crailsheim? It isn’t really a challenge for me but I believe that it is easier for me to play with high caliber players. It makes the game easier when you have great centers and wings. I don’t feel like I have to do much in order to be successful. All that matters is winning.
How much fun has it been playing with this bunch of guys. Obviously the trust has to be huge. Talk a little about how special this group is?
It is so much fun playing with this team. Winning also helps. We hang out a lot off the court which helps build that chemistry on the court. We practice very hard and there is always a lot of trash talking. We bring out the best in each other. We continue to build a special connection that translates onto the court. I knew on the first day that we would have a special group.
How instrumental has head coach Tuomas Iisalo been for your game. What part of your game has grown most under his tutelage? He instills a lot of confidence in me. He allows me to be myself. He gives me a lot of advice and criticism on how to be successful. He is a smart coach that watches a lot of film. I’m always all ear when he talks. We trust each other and continue to grow in our relationship. I’m very thankful that he has trusted me.
What kind of player are you now and what kind of player do you still want to become? I’m the same player now that I have always been. I’m team orientated and does all to win. I’m very competitive and just try to learn and improve each day. I always want to get better and am never satisfied. The day when I’m satisfied is the day I stop to play.
Is this the year of the Boston Celtics? Will they finally win it all? I think it might be. They have great players with Taytum and Brown. If they stay healthy going into the playoffs it could be possible. The east is tough with guys like Giannis and Harden. They have to stay healthy.
Lebron James recently became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Is he the GOAT now? Yes for me. I have always had Lebron as the GOAT. There are no more arguments. There will always be a discussion. Both are great in their own right. But Lebron is my era and is my GOAT:
Stanley Whittaker (183-PG-1994, college: Keiser) is a 28 year old 183cm point guard playing his fourth professional season and first in the easyCredit BBL with s.Oliver Wurzburg currently averaging 17,7ppg, 2,8rpg, 4,8apg and 1,4spg. Last season with PS Karlsruhe he averaged (22.3ppg), 5.1rpg, Assists-3 (6.6apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 43.0%, FT: 84.6%. He played his rookie season in Lithuania and had his break through with UBSC Raiffeisen Graz (Austria-BSL) playing 24 games: Score-2 (21.5ppg), 6.3rpg, Assists-2 (8.0apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 78.4%. He played his college ball at Frank Phillips (JUCO) and Keiser (NAIA). He spoke to germanhoops.com about Lebron James becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader.
Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history?
I actually woke up in the middle of the night and luckily I caught a bit of the 3rd quarter and was able to witness it live!
How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years? Just a consistent level of availability and greatness over a long period of time.
He scored 36 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office?
Yeah you can sense the urgency and energy was shifted to just breaking the record. Glad he lifted that ‘burden’ haha. Sure he wanted to get through with it but really relish in that moment at the same time.
How much is that ball going to be worth? I’m not even sure to be honest. I’ll like to guess that Lebron will put that ball up somewhere nice.
Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles?
No I don’t think so. Russ has a historic record himself that’ll keep growing as long as he’s playing.
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? I figured it’ll be a mid to high post basket, Lebron is much more comfortable and efficient from there.
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 can’t really say, you never know how social media may perceive it. Maybe they’ll take it as Lebron was paying homage, or they’ll take it as a disrespectful act.
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?
I mean for me, his legacy is cemented and he’s one of the greats of our game. The path he took and everything he had to endure on his journey speaks volume. He paved the way for the game to be where it’s at today, one of the pillars of our game and should always be granted that respect and honor.
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? Yeah over 40K points is tough. I’m not sure if it’ll be broken but you can’t say that it won’t either.
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 wants to play that long tbh. But if he actually puts his mind, body and kind of make it a goal, it’ll be a challenge but maybe he can, anything is possible.
Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan? I don’t think so. Lebron is Lebron though. Jordan is Jordan
What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV?
Maybe one of those playoffs runs in Cleveland when he came back after Miami. Really liked the 2018 one.
Current NBA guys exploding for 50 plus points like Luka, Lebron , Devin or Steph is no surprise but that happening overseas is very rare as in many leagues defense is actually played. You won’t see that kind of dominance in the 2 top leagues Euroleague and ACB, but you will see absurb point totals in lower leagues where defense isn’t stressed as much. Especially in the German Regionalliga, you will see a handful of Americans putting up points and demonstrate their walking bucket talent. In the 2022-2023 season, the Regionalliga has boasted a number of guys putting up crazy point totals like Shawn Scott, Terry Winn and Jeremy Ingram not to mention Mr Regionalliga legend Rickey Easterling who has been doing it for 10 plus years. Another talented baller to add to that list is Ricardo Artis II (198-F/G-1993, college: Wiley) who has had no problem hitting teams for 42 points, 37 points twice and 35 points while never scoring less than 21 points. He is another one of the many Cinderella stories rampant in the Regionalliga as in a way he is playing his rookie season overseas as it took him 5 years to break in over here as he had been playing semi-pro basketball in the States. He takes nothing for granted and has an idea why his arrival in Germany took so long. ‘I’m completely grateful for the opportunity. It’s been a goal of mine outside of my NBA dreams. I don’t think you could find anyone with more heart, passion and drive for this game. I give it all I got don’t matter the circumstances. I honestly don’t know but my representation definitely could’ve been better. I’ve always been a guy that stood out in a crowd of greats. I never knew what it took to get where I am today or how to do it. I just knew that somehow, someway I would get here. I never stop believing in myself’, stressed Ricardo Artis II. One also can’t forget that when you play in the NAIA, you aren’t always taken seriously and there is that stigma that makes clubs look the other way. A question I love asking pro ballers when they are dominating a league does it feel like a man playing among kids. Interestingly enough, having this feeling is nothing new for him. ‘Truth is, I always felt like a man among kids. That’s how I play and that’s the confidence I keep to remain dominant. It’s great that my scoring numbers look like that because I’m a player that focuses on doing everything and not just scoring on the court’, warned Ricardo Artis II. He is that special player that has always had that man among kids feeling. Allowing him to dominate
Ricardo Artis II who lists Royce O’Neale, Taeshawn Thomas, Kenrich Williams, Taquan Zimmerman, Bruce Massey, Perry Jones, and Tyler Hansbrough as his toughest foes on the floor was born on July 23, 1993 in Austin, Texas. The basketball career of the American has been an unending grind and struggle and it started early when he was 20 years old when he played JUCO. Often a guy will play at a JUCO school and then after 1-2 years make the jump to a NCAA school. But he didn’t do that. He had to experience the JUCO life at 3 schools. It began at with Eastfield College (JUCO) where he right away was an impact player averaging 15.7ppg, 9.6rpg, 1.9apg, 2.3spg, 1.4bpg. He reached the Elite 8 and was a Region 3 champion and reached the all-national tournament team. His journey then continued at McLennan Community College (JUCO) where he averaged 12.9ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 69.9%. His last JUCO tour of duty continued and ended at North Lake College (JUCO). For most guys that played JUCO, it was an incredibly tough experience, but for most one of the best if not the best thing they ever did to prepare them for their professional journey and it wasn’t any different for him ‘I struggled a lot. It took me a while to grow up and to find a coach who believed in me. I’ve had skills and talents since high school. I could always play. I just had to figure out a way to put it all together. Each of those Juco colleges were learning tools. On and off the court. I learned a lot about myself and who I really am. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Everywhere I been has created what I am today. I endure it all’, stressed Ricardo Artis II. His struggle then continued as he wasn’t rewarded with an NCAA gig, but played in the NAIA for Wiley College. Playing at Wiley paved the road to becoming a professional even if it did take him longer to get overseas than other guys. ‘Wiley was great. I set records and it was historic season we had. It helped me grow a lot. It was a tough season for me off the court that last year. I grew more as a person off the court than on the court. But it was successful year for sure and it also helped me grow a lot as a player’, stated Ricardo Artis II. He averaged 16.0ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 74.8% and one of his best games was surely his 34/20 explosion in the victory against Southwestern, but the game he remembers most was the 61-59 loss against Hope International in his last NAIA game. ‘I took a buzzer beater half court shot to win the game with secs on the clock when I should have gave it to my PG Cory Jones because he had a knack for hitting half court shots’, added Ricardo Artis II. At Wiley he scored in double figures in 27 of 33 games and scored 20 points or more 10 times including hitting Southwest for 34 points and 31 points against LSU-Shreveport. An important individual in his year at Wiley was head coach Jameus Hartsfield who showed him the correct way. ‘Jameus to me was a great mental coach for me. I feel like he kept me balanced and it transitioned to my spirit out there on the courts. I thank him for that. But who prepared me the best was my high school coach Billy White Jr. I can’t thank him enough for the player and man I am today. He was like a dad/coach to me. I’m Forever grateful for them both’, warned Ricardo Artis II. He left Wiley having racked in All-RRAC First Team , RRAC All-Tournament Team and All-NAIA D1 Honorable Mention -2017.
After Wiley the athletic player who lists Cory Jones, Chuck Guy, Myron Taylor, Bruce Massey and TJ Maston as his 5 best teammates of all-time opted to chase the professional dream. It is very tough to come overseas coming form the NAIA, but it has been done, but the chances are minimal. Most of the time, it is connections and great fortune for NAIA guys to come overseas. Year after year passed and he continued to dream of the overseas gig while playing in various semi-pro leagues in the States including the UBL, ABA, PBA and TBL. Often guys will give up after a few years, but not him. He stuck out the grind for 5 years. ‘I actually wanted to give up many of times. It’s been so tough. Believing in yourself when nobody else does hurts. It hurt me continuously over and over again. Especially as a father. At times, It felt like I was chasing something that I would never reach’, warned Ricardo Artis II. What makes the semi-pro grind even more difficult is that he is up against hundred’s of guys chasing the same dream and he can’t be 24/7 working on his craft in the gym, because he has to live from something besides the marginal money from semi-pro teams. ‘I worked 9-5 jobs continuously throughout my years. My toughest moments came from working those jobs because I knew where my heart wanted to be. But I had to do what I had to do for my family. Juggling it all was tough and a struggle’, remembered Ricardo Artis II. He had many great games, but scoring a bunch or winning a title wasn’t his fondest memory of his 5 year run on the semi-pro tour. ‘My nicest memory was actually one of my worst when I broke my hand. It showed me how it could all end that day without the correct health and body. My mind body and spirit is important for me’, expressed Ricardo Artis II.
The scoring machine who lists Kobe, Jordan, Lebron, Magic, and Shaq on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore finally found himself on a flight across the Atlantic to Germany in 2022 as he signed a contract in Germany’s fourth division Regionalliga with Hagen-Haspe. The Regionalliga is no glamour league, but he has been used to playing in lower leagues his whole life. ‘This league isn’t anywhere near where I pictured I would have to start with the talent I have but I’ve always took advantage of opportunities that are given to me so in this case it’s no different. The love and support I get here is amazing’, commented Ricardo Artis II. For many Americans, the first thing they suffer when landing in Europe is the culture shock. It hasn’t ben any different for him as he has to handle the German language and also witnessing the starring of people because of his height, hair and American style. But that hasn’t affected his overwhelming play on the court as he is currently averaging 29,4ppg, 11,7rpg, 3,1apg and 3,6spg in 36 minutes of work per game. The double double monster has been battling all season with American Shawn Scott another former NAIA player who took 3 years to get overseas for the scoring title. ‘That’s my game. I’ve been a consistent double double man since my college days. The battle with Shawn Scott is fun. He is a great player. He actually left to a different team so I think I am far ahead from the next person on the scoring title now that he’s gone. I wish him the best’, said Ricardo Artis II. Americans always get a special respect from German players simply because their Americans and come from where basketball was invented. ‘The respect from my teammates have improved me to being the leader that I am today. They allow me to lead them the way I lead a group. I have a lot of passion for this game and you can see it in my play on the court. They’ve noticed it and adapted great to my leadership. They’ve treated me well and they’ve been playing great basketball’, stressed Ricardo Artis II. He has scored in double figures in every game and scored more than 20 points in all games and scored 30 points or more in 10 games. He has registered 16 double doubles and hammered Leverkusen 2 for 42 points. He also had other top games against Ibbenburen with 37 points and hit Wulfen for 35 points. He also had a monster game against Koln DTV with 32 points and 21 boards. Could he reach 30 rebounds one day? ‘I actually knew I was going to have a 20 point rebound game sometime in between the season. It’s just something I’ve always done in a season since college. The most I got was 25 in college in my juco years. 30 rebounds though? I never thought about that but since you mentioned it I will add it to my bucket list of goals. We’ll see’, warned Ricardo Artis II.
The Texas native who has Jordan and Lebron 1-2 in the Goat debate is a 198cm swing man that believes his game doesn’t resemble just one player, but a mixture of Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Jimmy Butler. Obviously his scoring and rebounding really standout, but he fills the stat sheet at ease and his game has so much more to offer than just double doubles. Being that 2 way player will help him climb the basketball ladder more than just being the hero with double doubles. ‘Defending is one of my best traits. I don’t like when I’m scored on and I think that’s what makes me great. The more you try to score on me and do score on me, will only make me play defense tougher. That’s always kept me successful as a defensive player. I’m averaging nearly around 4 steals a game on the season. That goes unnoticed. I guard the best player don’t matter the position 1-5. I think I should be in the talk of defensive player of the year as well as player of the year. I take a lot of pride on that side so hopefully that doesn’t remain unnoticed due to my scoring and rebounding. I’m also a great passer’, warned Ricardo Artis II. Certain aspects of his shooting game continue to be a work in progress like his three point shooting and free throw shooting. ‘The different gyms have been keeping me on my toes with my 3 point shooting. But that’s no excuse. I think I shoot better at home I don’t know the statistics on that. But it’s something that can be fixed. Sometimes they fall, sometimes they don’t. Shooters shoot and that’s what I will continue to do. I want to become a 90%+ free throw shooter I feel as if I can reach that level. I could be really dominant due to the amount of times I get fouled from my aggressive play. I think I’m at around 80%. I need to be better’, warned Ricardo Artis II. It will be interesting to see where the basketball journey of Ricardo Artis II will go in the next years. He should continue to move up the basketball ladder, because he can ball at higher levels than the Regionalliga. All he needs is a chance. Maybe one day one will Ricardo Artis II and Shawn Scott going head to head again down the road in a higher league. They both are living the Cinderella story and are still a long way away from midnight.
Jeremy Ingram (183-G-1991, college: AAMU) is a191 cm guard that was born in Alabama and has played his entire professional career in Germany for teams like Speyer, Idstein, Bensheim and recently SG Mannheim.This season he is playing for Regionalliga team Bargteheide. Last season with SG Mannheim he picked up South West Regionalliga player of the year while averaging (32.1ppg), 5.7rpg, 4.2apg, Steals-4 (2.6spg), FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 35.4%, 9%. He began his career with Enterprise State Community College (JUCO) and then finished with Alabama A&M University (NCAA). He teams up with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber on a weekly basis this season to talk basketball.
Bargteheide suffered a tough 97-63 loss to tough team BG Berlin. You got ejected from game. Was this the first time it happened in your career?
Yes I have never been ejected from a game in my life until now but its ok. It happens to the best of them.
Talk a little about the 40 minutes. Did BG Berlin set the tone from the start or did they decide the game later in the contest?
They started the game off on a 15-0 run so they pretty much controlled the entire game.
BG Berlin have a very impressive roster with ex BBL players Seiferth and Fuelle, ex Pro A player Jean Louis and top regio player Shawn Scott. What made this team so hard to defend against? Well players 1-10 were pretty much all good players. You can tell they spent a lot of money on this roster. Especially since the substitutions that came in was just as talented as the starters.
Bargteheide shot a weak 12% from outside at 4/31. What was giving your team the biggest problems in the set play?
We just didn’t have a good pregame warmup which didn’t help and for some reason we just could not knock down shots in this beautiful gym for some reason.
You scored 10 points and shot 3/18 on the night. You were really pumped for the game. Was this one of those nights where you weren’t feeling it?
I was getting hit and undercut on at least 50% of my jump shots. Players were running into me which is why eventually got ejected but I guess since I’m much quicker than most people on the floor I don’t get those calls.
Please talk about the ejection from the game. How did the refs see the call?
The refs were letting me get hit or players was running into my body and hitting my elbows while I was shooting almost every shot. It’s weird because we all saw it , my coach was talking to them , I was also numerous times. They kept letting it happen which was very frustrating and I’m usually always even kill in a basketball game. Then I get a clean steal which they called a foul so I had just had enough of them and my emotions got the best of me. Even though I didn’t go directly at the ref, they said I threw my hands up so I got 2 technical fouls for reacting to 2 horrible referee calls.
You next battle Westerstede that have 5 less wins. A must win situation?
If we want to make the playoffs we now have to win every game the rest of the season.
Florian Wendeler (205-C-1993) is a 29 year old 205cm center playing his 5th season for the Dragons Rhondorf and currently averaging 5,0ppg and 4,1rpg.. He began his basketball career with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. He also has played with teams Cuxhaven, Bochum and Cologne. He is in his 10th Pro B season and has played more than 200 pro B games. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.
Thanks Florian for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome back to Rhondorf. You played there from 2013-2017. What did you miss most from having the Dragons jersey on?
Definitely the atmosphere in a packed DragonDome and the great fans supporting the team. From what I’ve seen in my two games in Rhoendorf last season, there are mostly the same guys who already been there five years ago, so I think it won’t be too hard for me to reconnect with the fans.
After leaving the Dragons you went to raise your game in Cuxhaven, Bochum and Cologne. Your 28 years old. What were the main reasons for coming back? Could you imagine ending your career with the Dragons?
I had a great time playing in Rhoendorf and met a lot of great people there that are still good friends, so I always kept Rhoendorf in great memory. Now I got a good opportunity to find my way back to Rhoendorf and I have a good feeling that we will have a great time again next season. Since my focus already shifted a little bit towards my career after Basketball and I don’t know how many years I got still left to play on a professional stage, I can very well imagine my self ending my career in Rhoendorf.
When you played with the Dragons you never averaged more than 19 minutes and was a role player. With what kind of expectations are you coming back to Rhondorf?
I just want to find a good role for myself that I feel comfortable with and that helps my team to win games. I won’t care too much about playing lesser minutes if that’s what it takes to be successful as a team. But I definitely think I am a better player now than when I left and I can probably call myself a veteran by now so my role will definitely change to my first stay in Rhoendorf.
Do you feel like you are ready for a bigger offensive role or are you happy with the smaller role?
Like I just said, I take it as it comes and just want to contribute as much as I can. But I think I already showed especially in Cuxhaven and Bochum that I can raise my numbers with a bigger role so I would definitely be ready for that.
How excited are you to be playing together with the Senegal sensation Ousmane Ndije? He could be the next NBA player?
Since we played him last season I know what big of a talent he is and he could definitely be one of the best young players in Pro B. So, if we actually play together next season, I would definitely be excited to see him help us win games.
What kind of player were you in 2017 when you left Rhondorf and what kind of player have you become in 2022? In 2017 I was still a young rather unexperienced player with a lot of upside who wasn’t really sure what basketball still had left for me. Now five years later I am definitely a more complete player who knows his strengths and weaknesses and how to help a team. I probably improved in all aspects of the game and still got the same fire and hustle in me to bring that on the court.
Your 28 years old now. Would you say that you are in your prime now? What kind of a player do you still want to become?
Since I started playing basketball rather late, I think there is still a lot for me to improve on. I feel like I still got a lot of potential left when it comes to basic basketball skills like shooting or ballhandling. And I can still run and jump and got the same power so there is definitely still some upset left.
You played the last two years with the RheinStars Cologne. How tough were these 2 years for you with Covid? Do you feel like your game could still grow despite the tough times?
Covid was definitely tough for everybody. At least in professional sports we were lucky enough that we could still play and fulfill our job. But it obviously wasn’t the same with limited or no fans at all. But basketball wise I don’t think that much changed. We still had the same practice schedules and routines than we would have had without covid. Motivationally it was tough for me because just like most athletes you go through your practice week with the goal to be ready to perform in front of a big crowd and do your best to win games. Games with a great atmosphere in packed gyms is the highlight for every athlete.
What kind of an experience was it being teammates with Vincent two two Golson? He has made the next step to France. What do you remember being your most fondest moment with him? Two two is a great guy and obviously a really talented basketball player. It is crazy to see him breaking defenses apart with his speed and skill level and get all kinds of finishes around way bigger guys. Already in the first season we played together he was one of the best players in Pro B until his injury and when he came back last season he was an even better player. He got a great work ethic and I wish him all the best for his future career.
You also played 2 seasons in Bochum. In your first season you averaged 13,6ppg. Did you realize in that season that once you get more minutes and trust from your coach that you can be avery good player?
My first year in Bochum was the best season of my career no doubt. We had a great team chemistry with amazing guys in and around the team so for me playing basketball was a lot of fun that season. I am very thankful for Gary Johnson (who was a big reason to convince me to come to Bochum) and my teammates that year because they always trusted and supported me 100% which was a big factor why I could put up these numbers. I actually realized that already the year before with Cuxhaven but Bochum was the next important step to perform even better with a better team and a well-functioning club.
In Bochum you were teammates with oldie Marco Buljevic and talented American Montrael Scott. Talk a little about your memories of these guys and their importance then to the team? Marco and Monty are both great guys and I really enjoyed playing with them. Marco helped us probably more with his experience and his character. He is just a really funny guy who is absolutely great for the atmosphere around the team. Unfortunately I didn’t play that many games with him because of all kinds of injuries he had during that time but he is still an amazing and absolutely reckless shooter and could also help us on the court in the games he could play. Monty on the other hand was a more quiet but still funny and nice guy and obviously talented basketball player. Since we struggled a bit with injuries on the guard position in that season, he was really important for us as a ballhandler and playmaker and did a great job with that.
In 2017-2018 you played for Cuxhaven averaging : 9.2ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.2spg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT-3 (57.1%), FT: 67.2%. This was your break out season. How important was this season for your self-confidence?
Yes I would definitely say, this was my breakout season. To move to Cuxhaven was a very important step for me personally and basketball wise. I knew that I had to change something after my last season in Rhoendorf and Cuxhaven gave me a great opportunity to get a fresh start. Just like in Bochum I had a coach in Markus Roewenstrunk (now Jackson) who gave me a lot of trust and confidence. That combined with a bigger role and more minutes was a big confidence boost for me. Although we weren’t successful as a team, it was still a great season for me personally because I finally knew how good of a player I can be in a bigger role.
You were a young player with Rhondorf the same way Viktor Frankl-Maus was. How was it for you guys in those early days. What kind of a relationship did you have with him on and off the court?
It was a really great time back then. We had a great mix of older experienced and young but talented guys. For the younger guys like Vik and me we had to show in every practice and game that we were ready to play and deserve more minutes from the veteran guys. So we worked hard and had a great competition within the team which I think helped everybody a lot. And the veterans helped us with their experience just how it should be in well working teams. Since we also lived together for two years together with Sascha Tratnjek we had always had a close and good relationship and I was really looking forward to play with him again in Cologne. Unfortunately that didn’t work out as planned due to his injury.
You were also teammates with a young Kostja Mushidi who had a tough youth but now has made it into a good BBL player. Did it surprise you that he was able to overcome all adversary and become a good player after all? He was one of the biggest talents in Germany back then. So I would have been more surprised if he wouldn’t have made it into a good BBL player. But of course it wasn’t always easy for him to find his spot but he seems to be on a good way now.
How important were coaches Boris Kaminski and Christian Mehrens in your early development as a player? How did they help you most?
They were both very important for me. Boris Kaminski gave me a chance to play major minutes in a very good Pro B team when I was still a young and raw player. And Christian Mehrens is probably the biggest reason why I developed some kind of Post-Up game and footwork by now. He really taught me a lot in my early career and was the best big man coach I could hope for. But one other Rhoendorf coach was even more important for my basketball career. Matthias Sonnenschein was the reason why I actually started playing basketball with 15 years old and put a lot of effort in to get me to a level that allowed me to move on to play NBBL in Leverkusen and start my professional career.
What was it like battling Aaron Nelson on a daily basis? Did you win any of the battles?
He was definitely a tough matchup who was really hard to stop offensively. He had various ways to score and most of the times found the right way to score. So he might have won most of the battles in practice. But I definitely found my ways to score as well so I tried to make his life in practice as hard as possible. And I made sure that I won a couple of battles too.
You begam your basketball career with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. You lost by 40 points to the Fraport Skyliners Juniors and played against future Euroleague players Johannes Voigtmann and Danilo Barthel. Would you have thought then that they could reach that level’? They were amazingly talented at that time and already great players in their young age. And Frankfurt showed to be a great club developing young German big guys which they definitely did with these two. So yes I thought that they could have a great career in basketball. But it takes a lot more than talent to become a high level Euroleague player and they managed to do just that so nothing more to say than congrats on a great career so far. And I can still enjoy watching them play on TV now.
Who was the toughest player that you have faced in your career on the court?
I have faced a lot of great players over my career like current NBA players Dennis Schroeder or Daniel Theis (who was a really tough matchup in my first seasons in the pro B) or like you just mentioned current national team players Joe Voigtmann and Danilo Barthel. But the matchup that was the most memorable was probably in my Pro A season with Rhoendorf when we played Baunach (Farm Team Bamberg) with Johannes Thiemann and Leon Kratzer. They were both still young but already very talented. In the end we lost the game by more than 40 points and the two bigs combined for over 50 points and 25 rebounds and we stood absolutely no chance.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Basketball wise I definitely have to mention Josh Parker in my first Pro B season with Leverkusen where he won the MVP and had the biggest impact that we won the championship. He’s the player who impressed me the most over my career. Another great player and human being I had the joy to play with is Fabi Thuelig who was our absolute key player in my first time with Rhoendorf. But when we talk about being a great teammate on and off the court I got to name Felix Engel and Mark Gebhardt from my time in Bochum just to name two alongside a lot of other amazing guys I had the pleasure to call my teammates. But like I already said this season really stood out for me and these two are just players that every coach and player would love to have in their team.
How far will Germany get at the 2022 European Championships?
I think Germany got a strong roster right now and it seems like all the guys want to play the European Championship. So I really think Germany could be ready for a surprise. I would like to see Germany maybe compete for a medal and I think it’s their best chance over the last couple years.
It is often that a player will have 1 or 2 things that will stick out most in their career and it it isn’t any different for new Fraport Skyliner Derek Cooke Jr. (206-F/C-1991, college: Wyoming). Especially his ex NCAA school Wyoming won’t forget Feb 11, 2014 where the then junior unleashed a brutal throw down dunk against San Diego State University that reached ESPN Sports Center play of the day. Back then it was current NBA player Larry Nance Jr who supplied the dime. For Cooke the whole scenario was kind of amusing since he usually never got those kind of plays during games, but saw them on a regular basis in practice from Nance jr. ‘He can supply the dunks. He is a very athletic player that plays above the rim. He needs to have that point guard that will see him roll and all he needs to do is it pass up and Derek will do the rest. Fans will love him. He is always smiling and plays with positive energy’, warned ex Fraport Skyliner Tyrone Ellis. The other thing that stands out in his resume is his passport activity as he has been a globe trotter since he turned professional in 2015 and in this season is on the move again as he jumps form Italy to Germany for his second stint of duty. Last season he played 3 games for Brose Bamberg and now starts a new chapter with the Fraport Skyliners where he will have his hands full. Dunks are always nice for the highlight reel and fans, but the first order of business is for the club is to remain in the easyCredit BBL and Derek Cooke Jr. could be an instrumental part of that if he can play his hard nosed game under the boards at both ends of the court.
Derek Cooke Jr. who would like to work with kids one day was born on August 23, 1991 in Washington DC and grew up on Fort Washington. He attended Friendly High School and was playing football loving the Atlanta Falcons and not basketball. He wasn’t a star his senior year and then took a year off and worked 2 jobs at Target and Hollister. He then by chance slipped into basketball as Cloud County Community College head coach Chad Eshbaugh gave him a scholarship. He was able to work on his skills while competing for minutes and then was rewarded with a 3 year division 1 career at the University of Wyoming. There he played a total of 100 NCAA games and was able to improve his scoring and rebounding each season and helped lead the team into the NCAA tournament in 2015 for the first time since 2002. He turned professional in 2015 and since then has played for 12 organizations and played in countries like Greece, Australia, Canada, Belarus winning the league title with Tsmoki-Minsk (Belarus-Premier League) , Israel and Italy. He began the season with Nutribullet Treviso Basket (Italy-Serie A) playing 17 games averaging 7.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.1apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 50.5%, FT: 34.0%. He also had his time in the G-League playing two seasons with the Northern Arizona Suns and with the Raptors 905. He had the privilege to play for ex Fraport Skyliner guard Tyrone Ellis who helped win Frankfurt’s only BBL league title in 2004 and coached him in Arizona. Ellis coached him more than 6 years ago, but still remembers his first impression of him and what he thinks of him when he hears his name. ‘My first impression was that he was a big athlete. He is a great young man. He is very professional and has that big smile. He is a great athlete that is very coachable’, stressed Tyrone Ellis.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Tyrone Ellis in Frankfurt in 2005
When one inspects the stats of Derek Cooke who has a game comparable to a Kenneth Faried or Tristan Thompson, he doesn’t necessarily stand out as a scorer, but is a player that does other vital things that helps a team be successful. ‘He does things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. He keeps plays alive. He sets good screens and is a great locker room guy. He does a lot of the dirty work and brings a lot of value to the team’, warned Tyrone Ellis. He will take a lot of pressure of young Dutch 221cm giant Matt Haarms especially rebounding the ball an area where Frankfurt has had difficulty doing this season. He will bring certain special assets to the offense system. ‘He is a big finisher above the rim. He rolls very hard and puts a lot of pressure on the weak side. If you have a shooter and point guard then you will usually always get a dunk or open three’, stated Tyrone Ellis. He has had a long career and one thing that stands out is that he has never averaged a block per game in a season. What kind of a defender is he? ‘He isn’t a shot blocker. He is a good pick and roll defender and is very good at altering shots’, stressed Tyrone Ellis. He is definitely the kind of player that Frankfurt needs right now. He is sprouting with experience and is ready to give his all to a team clinging to life. ‘Derek is a constant positive energy in the locker room. And he is always willing to do the dirty work. If the point guard plays pick and roll then Derek will get guys open and attack the rim’, commented Tyrone Ellis. It may have been a long time since Ellis last worked with Cooke Jr, but the memories will always remain on and off the floor. ‘I loved watching his evolution in the G-League. He came in as a raw talent and then was invited to the Suns camp. It was just great seeing him develop. I will also never forget meeting his family. The excitement the family had to see their son play pro ball was great. You could see that he was a mentor for his younger brothers’, remembered Tyrone Ellis. It will be interesting to see where the journey will go on the court for Derek Cooke Jr. and the Fraport Skyliners. How much he will be able to make an impact in the tough home game on Sunday against the Telekom Baskets Bonn is uncertain. But he will definitely bring energy on the floor and give the fans something to smile about when he unleashes his thunderous dunks. The Fraport Skyliners will definitely be stronger under the basket against Bonn.
Christopher Miller (192-G-1993, college: Salem) is a 29 year old 193cm guard from Brooklyn, New York who is playing his eighth professional season and first with GoldCoast Wallabies NLB (2nd League). He played 3 seasons with the Giessen Pointers (Germany-RegionalligaThis season for Bensheim he averaged 19,5ppg, 3,8rpg, 2,0apg and 1,5spg. He has had experience in countries like El Salvador and Bosnia. He recently played for the South Shore Monarchs (TBL) playing 8 games averaging 22.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 4.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 83.3%. He began his basketball career at Clinton Community College and also played two years at Salem University (NCAA2). This season he teams up with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber with weekly chats about his basketball season.
Congrats on the huge 90-47 win over Baeren. Was this more than just a normal day at the office?
Anytime we can put a win of this margin together should be celebrated. We came in focused and kept it over the course of the game.
How important can a blow out win be so late in the season?
It is very important things are clicking well for us and it shows that we are hungry and ready to take care of business.
Talk a little about the 40 minutes. How quickly did the team decide the win? Was it over by half-time?
We started off hot from the beginning playing great defense. Led the whole game. Our coaches really did a great job preparing us for this game.
Obviously defense won you this game. What do you feel was the biggest strength on the defensive end on this night?
We communicated and played with intensity. We had very little miscommunication and rebounded well.
Wallabies totally crushed them on the boards securing 16 offensive rebounds. Was this one of the best rebounding games of the season? Our bigs have really stepped up and started rebounding like crazy. They are the reason for this stat for sure.
You had another solid game with 28/5/2/2/2 stats. How happy were you with your game?
I’m happy that I was able to contribute to the win. Most importantly but I’m never satisfied with my play.
On the offensive end it seemed like you picked your spots well again.
My goal is to simplify the game and be aggressive. I’m happy the efficiency is showing. I want to score big but not take a lot of shots to do so.
You next play Grand Saconnex a team you beat by 34 points. What will be key to getting the win? The Key to this game is respecting our opponent. Just because we won easily before doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the same . We have to stay humble, focused and execute our game plan.
German Hoops 