TJ Shorts (175-PG-97, college: UC Davis) is a 23 year old 175cm point guard from Tustin, California playing his second professional season and first with the Hamburg Towers. Last season as a rookie 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 to germanhoops.com after the big 95-83 Hamburg win over s.Oliver Wurzburg.

Thanks TJ for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the huge 95-83 win against s.Oliver Wurzburg. How good did it feel to get the win after that heartbreaking loss against Chemnitz?

It definitely felt good to get back into the win column. We had a short memory with the loss to Chemnitz. We knew that Wurzburg would be another tough game, but we came out and won and got rolling again.

Basketball sometimes can be so simple. The Hamburg Towers averaged 23 points per quarter. How key was the consistent offense for getting you this win?

Our offense was key, but we really like to focus on defense. We know that when we defend well then our offense will come. If we play with pace and together then we know that we will be able to score the ball.

Hamburg allowed 27 points in the second quarter. What did you as a team get away from that allowed Wurzburg to remain in the game?

It was minor details that we got away from. They got a couple transition baskets and offensive rebounds. When we don’t dictate the game then we know that we can get in trouble.

Wurzburg was able to cut it down to 83-81 in the last minutes. What was key in crunch-time for Hamburg being able to get the victory?

Just small details. We had that mentality that each possession mattered. We were able to hold them to one stop and didn’t allow any offensive rebounds. We played with a lot of confidence at the end and executed. That brought us the win.

Hamburg shot the ball well, and rebounded very well. How much more good does a win like this feel for you personally when the team gives up only 6 turnovers?

It feels good, but the credit goes to everyone that was on the court. Taking care of the ball that well makes everyone feel good. Every guy gives their best as we try to get the win.

What a way for Patrick Spencer to give his BBL debut and score 18 points. What have you learned to appreciate most about his game?

He has been working very hard in practice and had to wait a while until he got in. He came here and right away bought into the system and was a big spark off the bench. For him to come in and play so well was huge for us.

He was one of the top Lacrosse players in the United States and then decided to hang on a year at Northwestern and played a good season of basketball. How do you feel has Lacrosse helped his basketball game?

I had heard that he has played Lacrosse in school. Lacrosse is a very physical sport and that translates to basketball. He is a very physical player and knows how to use his body well. For him to find the balance and be able to perform well on the court has been a big credit to him.

How good are the Hamburg Towers really? You could have won 3 more games which you lost at the end. How did this team improve in the recent 9 game winning streak?

We don’t look at ourselves about how good we are at the moment. Our goal the whole season has been to establish ourselves in the BBL. We don’t focus on what the media says, but focus just on getting better. We as a unit have a very good bond and just want to keep our success going.

You had your second double double of the season with 14 points and 10 assists. You have been so consistent this season was this just another regular day at the office for you?

Each game is different. I was able to find guys today and they hit shots. They make my job a lot easier when their hitting shots. I just do whatever I can to help my team win. If that means getting 10 assists. I don’t think about having a regular day at the office but I always have the same mind set and always have something to prove.

You had a very good rookie season in Latvia with BK Ventspils but your having an even better season in a better league. How much of a testament has the Hamburg system and head coach Pedro Calles been for your success?

A lot of credit goes to Pedro Calles. He brought me to Hamburg. I am a young player that is still learning. He talks to me and helps me. He has given me confidence and made me be comfortable. His system is great and I hope that I continue to play well.

Every game is a challenge for you because you are usually the smallest guy on the court. How do you feel have you grown as a player in the BBL this season?

As a small guard I always have tall tasks. I have always been the smallest guy on the court and that’s nothing new. The only difference now is that the players are better. I have to always continue to learn and find tricks that will help me be successful. I feel that with time and the more games that I play, the more that I will be able to add to my game and become an even better player.

Chris Paul passed Magic Johnson for fifth on the NBA all-time with assists. Where do you rank a Paul in the NBA’s best all-time point guards when he hasn’t won a ring yet?

It is definitely a tough conversation since he hasn’t won a ring. He is my favorite player of all-time. I have admired and idolized him forever and tried to take things from his game. I wasn’t raised in the 80’s when Magic and Isaiah Thomas played. He is still my favorite. For him to pass Magic is huge. He still looks great for so late in his career. I hope he still gets a ring, but I’m a Lakers fan so I’m rooting for them.

Croatian legend Dino Radja recently said that he couldn’t imagine Russell Westbrook being able to lead a team in Europe to success. Do you agree?

I don’t agree. Westbrook gets a lot of criticism for his antics and how he carries himself, but he has proven his whole career that he can lead a team. He does whatever it takes to win. I feel like he would be able to adjust to Europe and have success.

Draymond Greene recently said that he is the greatest defender of all-time. Do you agree?

He isn’t the best of all-time, but up there with the best. He can defend 1-5 and be the leader on defense. He adds a lot to his team, but there have been too many other great defenders.

Did you see the Coming to America sequel? It has gotten mixed reviews. Shouldn’t they just have left it untouched?

I haven’t seen it. The first one was such a classic. The mixed reviews are a bad sign. The first one was so good.

Thanks TJ for the chat.

Troy Caupain is a 25 year old 193cm guard from Midlothian, Virginia playing his fourth professional season and first with ratiopharm Ulm. Last season he split time with the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA), Hapoel Unet Holon (Israel-Winner League) and Filou Oostende (Belgium-Euromillions League). In the 2018-2019 season he reached the NBA with the Orlando Magic playing 4 games and also played with the akeland Magic (NBA G League) playing 51 games averaging 16.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 4.9apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 78.3%. In his rookie season he played with theLakeland Magic (NBA G League) playing 51 games averaging 15.8ppg, 7.5rpg, 5.7apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 48.8%, 3FGP: 34.3%, FT: 83.8%, in Apr.’18 moved to GSA Amici Pallacanestro Udine (Italy-Serie A2) playing 10 games averaging 14.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 41.9%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 75.6%. He played at the University of Cincinnati(NCAA) from 2013-2017 playing a total of 137 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career before the easyCredit BBL game against the EWE Baskets

Troy thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season in Germany for ratiopharm Ulm. After playing in Italy, Israel and Belgium, how does the easyCredit BBL compare to the other leagues that you have played in?

I thought that the players in Italy A-2 were better than the players in Germany. All the leagues have been good, but the German BBL has been the best that I have played in with the competition level top to bottom.

Before we get to your basketball game and career, I have to ask you about COVID-19. How have you experienced the whole drama in the last year and what was the biggest challenge for you?

It has been a tough year with COVID. Everything was going good. I was in Belgium and in the BCL playoffs. We were tied with Tenerife 1-1 and then everything suddenly stopped. Everyone was sent home. I flew back home to my dad in New York city. New York was already at that time in bad shape. I wanted to go home and visit my mom in Virginia, but I didn’t want to take that risk with COVID. At first when I was in New York, I was isolated in a room until I took a test. The whole situation with COVID was an awakening for me since I couldn’t do normal every day life things. I had to figure out how to do things by myself. But that wasn’t too tough because I was an only child. On the basketball side it was tough because not everything was open and I didn’t do anything for a month and a half. Plus I had no idea when basketball would start up again. Not knowing what was ahead and staying motivated wasn’t easy.

With everything that you have seen in the last year, how do you feel did COVID-19 make you stronger as a man?

I changed up my diet and cut down on sugars. My immune system grew through that. I think COVID really helped me realize that I really didn’t need much. I saved money and was there for my family.

Ratiopharm Ulm have a very talented and deep roster and want to make some noise in the playoffs. You guys can put up a lot of points on the board, but also give up a lot. On what area’s on the defensive end does the team need to get better if they want to make a run in the playoffs?

I think that most key for us is finishing games down the stretch. It is the little things at the end that we have to do better like getting that one stop, box outs or offensive rebounds. We can score well and know how to get stops, but it’s just getting those one or two stops at the end to put it all together.

You were 13 years old when ratiopharm Ulm legend Per Gunther arrived in Ulm. What has it been like playing with him and have you been able to soak up vital things on the court from him?

A big shoutout to P. One of the great guards in the league. He is a forever legend. He has been very helpful in my first season in Germany on how to attack certain things like on the pick and roll. I watched his film before I arrived. He is a great shooter and is great on transition. Even if I’m in a bad mood, he picks me up. When I first got here I remember we hyped each other up to see how we can do this together.

Dylan Ostekowski is a very talented player with a special character. What has been the best example this season where he showed that he is a very extraordinary person?
He is a cool guy and is a smooth sailor. He is a Cali guy and doesn’t get out of his comfort zone. He is a good shooter for his size. As a point guard it’s always good to play with a guy that can stretch the floor as well as he can.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 193cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

I would compare myself to Chauncey Billups.

You’re a player that can really fill the stat sheet well. Would you say that your biggest strength is your versatility?

Yes that’s true. I try to do a lot on the floor. Posting up, rebounding, guarding 1-5 or just running the floor. I’m a pass first guard that can guard bigger players.

In the G-League you had very high scoring, rebounds and assists averages. It is obviously a lot more difficult to put up stats like that in Europe. Do you feel you could raise your rebounding and assists overseas with more experience?

Yes for sure. In the G-League there was a lot more space and weren’t many point guards that would crash the boards. It is tougher to rebound in Europe because the bigs are sitting in the paint, but I feel like I could raise my averages.

How much pride do you take on the defensive end? At Cincinnati as a freshman you were already introduced to a special way to defend. Talk a little about that time and how your game has grown?

They really preached defense at Cincinnati. I think that my one on one defense and help defense is good. The main thing that I’m working on in Germany is running off on those massive down screens. My big downfall at the moment are the stagger screens. I often get caught looking. I’m really trying to work on that to improve.

On what area’s of your game do you continue to work on so that you can continue to climb the basketball ladder?

The main area that I’m working on most now besides defense and the stagger screens is coming off screens and shooting. My problem is that I hesitate too much and let the defense get back to the area where I can’t shoot. I try to watch Per as much as possible. He does a great job coming off screens and letting the ball fly. I’m confident that over time that I will be able to take shots off the screen and be more successful. I have to also work more on my foot work. I also want to get better on the pick and roll. I’m watching a lot of Euroleague like Madrid-Efes at the moment.

Last season you began with the Portland Trailblazers. What was it like sharing the court with Damian Lillard and CJ McCullum? When you see their games does it motivate you to grind even more?

Those two guys always stayed late and put up massive amounts of shots each day. It helped me being able to watch them play for two weeks every day. They put in a lot of work and it makes sense how far they have come as players. After seeing them put in the work and be successful gave me a lot of confidence that I could do that. They have no highlights in their stories. They both came from mid major schools and look where they are now. That all came with the work they put in. I will continue to put in the work and get better.

You had had a good NBA Summer League in 2019. What were the main reasons for coming overseas? Did you lose some faith in the NBA?

No I didn’t lose faith in the NBA. My main goal is to get back to the NBA. I had played in the G-League for two years. I was 24 and told myself if I’m not in the NBA now, it is time to put something on the table for my family. I had to make big boy decisions. I didn’t want that G-league salary, but wanted to go overseas and earn some money. I didn’t want to waste good money that I could earn in Europe and that is why I came overseas last season. I didn’t want to waste money just for a dream. The NBA always knows where to find you.

You played with Hapoel Unet Holon (Israel-Winner League) playing 12 games averaging 10.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.6apg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3FGP: 37.0%, FT: 68.0%, and played 11 Basketball Champions League: games averaging 8.7ppg, 3.9rpg, 3.2apg, 2FGP: 48.1%, 3FGP: 32.3%, FT: 60.9%. I have never talked to an American that didn’t love Israel. What did you like most about the country besides it’s warm weather and food?

It was a great experience to see a new culture. I loved the fan base in Israel. They came to every game.

You played twice against Euroleague Powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv. In one game you played against ex Florida (NCAA) great Scottie Wilbekin. Is he another one of those great examples why their aren’t enough guard spots in the NBA?

Yes for sure. His work that he puts in matches his game. He gets the job done. His team wins and you could see his leadership qualities on the court.

You began your professional career with the Orlando Magic (NBA), but then got cut. What memories do you have of that first NBA training camp and what do you remember being your wake up call to being in the NBA?

I always felt like I should be in the NBA. I really didn’t have a wake up call. For me it was all about seeing the guy in front of me and knowing that we did the same thing. Important for me was watching the guys in the NBA and seeing how they operated. Seeing all the magnificent cars in the parking lot and all the great food really impressed me.

You then played with the Lakeland Magic (NBA G League) playing 51 games averaging 15.8ppg, 7.5rpg, 5.7apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 48.8%, 3FGP: 34.3%, FT: 83.8%. Did you ever feel like you were close to getting a NBA call up?

I thought that I was close. My ex agent kept telling me that their was interest and that I just had to keep doing what I was doing. That really motivated to keep working hard. Of course then when it didn’t happen, I was very disappointed. I had some long nights. It is what it is.

You finished your rookie season with to GSA Amici Pallacanestro Udine (Italy-Serie A2) playing 10 games averaging 14.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 41.9%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 75.6%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

The language barrier was a wake up call as well as the traveling rule. I remember in my first games I had something like 2 or 3 back to back traveling calls called against me. The positive side were the fans. I remember the fans having blow horns when we played against Trieste. The food also was really good.

You made your NBA debut on new years eve against Charlotte. What memories do you have of your first minutes?

I remember thanking the man upstairs when I checked in. I wanted to make my family proud when I stepped on the court. I remember thinking that I had to score a bucket. I remember that Amile Jefferson and I executed for the bucket. I made a floater. When I scored I was throwing a party inside of me. Of course I couldn’t show my emotions on the court. I had to act as if I had been there before.

What Orlando Magic do you remember having the biggest impact on you?

DJ Augustine had he biggest impact on me. He always gave me good knowledge about the game. He always told me not to get frustrated. He was a big help on the pick and roll. He was a small guard and knew how to get to the rim. I took notes and took that to the G-League which really helped me

What do you remember being the best example that you saw in your two years in the NBA/G-League where you saw that the NBA will always be a business before anything else?

I remember seeing a guy that I thought was a great fit for the team, but he was traded the next day. I don’t remember his name, but I remember thinking that he was a good piece for the team, but the team got rid of him.

You also played with the Lakeland Magic (NBA G League) again playing 51 games averaging 16.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 4.9apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 78.3%. You were teammates with Alan Anderson who would retire after the season. How much hope does his path give you knowing he began in the NBA then played some years in Europe and then went back to the NBA?

The dream is never over. You can get back to the NBA. If the NBA wants you then they will find you. Alan is a primary example of a guy who made it back to the NBA and stayed. Every path is different. You have to stay the course and when the time is right it could happen. Alan was always confident. He always told me that no matter who is front of me on the court kill him

You had a fine career at Cincinnati (NCAA) reaching the ACC tournament in 2017 and reached the NCAA tournament as a senior. What were your fondest basketball moments there?

I had many fond moments. Like scoring my 1000th point against Iowa State, or becoming the school’s all-time assist leader or hitting a shot against Purdue to reach OT. Of course going to the tournament each year was also huge.

You had many great games at Cincinnati like tearing up UConn for 37 points, but was your 23 points in the NCAA tournament win against Kansas State one of your most memorable?

Yes that was my best game as a senior. No one thought that we would win that game. It was exciting because we were underdogs.

How did head coach Mick Cronin groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

He taught me how to stay mentally locked in. He always stressed that you can’t get frustrated on the court. The game has to be won so put negativity behind you

Who won a one on one back in the day you or Sean Killpatrick?

We never played. His resume speaks for it’s self. He was sort of a mentor for me. He told me how to win games. He always told me don’t let the crowd get to you. We have to win the game. As a freshman you tend to get nervous at times, but he always calmed me down. He was a winner. He always wanted to win.

Who is the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that made it to the NBA?

Shabazz Napier of UConn.

Please name your five best teammates of all-time?

Greg Donlan, John Petrocelli, Kevin Johnson, Gary Clark, Justin Jackson.

Please construct your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Jordan, Kobe, Lebron, Durant, Shaq

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Michael Jordan or Lebron James?

Two different era’s. I feel like Jordan would be successful in this era, but Lebron would have been more successful than Jordan in his era.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Money Talks.

Thanks Troy for the chat.

32 year old Malcolm Delaney proved once again why he is the ultimate champion as he was an instrumental piece to helping lead AX Armani Exchange Milano to the amazing and thrilling 79-78 victory over FC Bayern Munich in game one of the Euroleague Quarterfinal playoffs. AX Armani Exchange Milano are in good position now as they have the 1-0 series lead in the best of five series and own the overwhelming momentum and will be seeking the 2-0 series lead tonight at home. Two nights ago, FC Bayern Munich was in the drivers seat with one second remaining and having the 78-77 advantage. Sometimes making just that one stop is more difficult than trying to stop Dennis Schroeder´s lethal drive to the basket on a consistent rate. Malcolm Delaney has been in these last second situations over and over and just has that knack of being able to produce something positive. He knows how to be cool and calm when a game is on the line the same way a Michael Jordan was back in the day. Ok so Delaney is no Jordan, but in the Euroleague he showed just how focused he can be under severe pressure. There is a reason why the Maryland native has won 8 titles in five different countries. He wasted no time when he came overseas beginning to rack up the titles as he won titles in his first three seasons in France, Ukraine and Germany. The titles have continued to come as he won twice in Spain last season with FC Barcelona and won two cups this season with AX Armani Exchange Milano. Milan could of wrapped the game earlier had they been able to get the last stop, but instead American Kevin Punter made a bad foul with one second allowing ex Maryland(NCAA) stand out and San Antonio Spurs draft pick James Gist to the line sinking two free throws as FC Bayern Munich had the tight 78-77 advantage with one second to play. I was on the edge of my seat and have to be honest that I already had FC Bayern Munich with the 1-0 game lead. Here and there you see those amazing last second plays, but the odds are greater that the opponent will get a stop. But not on this night. Delaney found Zach Leday at the buzzer with an alley-oop tip in. There might have been only one second left on the clock, but for Malcolm Delaney the game isn´t over until the fat lady sings. “For me the game is never over. I went into the huddle and told the guys that we can still win this game. There was never any doubt in my mind that we would lose this game”, warned Malcolm Delaney. The shocking win in game one was something that wasn´t surprising to the American as he has seen so much in his career, but he already found a special place for the last second win. “I would rank this at number 5. I have won and lost games with half court shots. But this win was special because it was a playoff game which made it a lot better”, said Malcolm Delaney.

AX Armani Exchange Milano came into the Euroleague series against FC Bayern Munich as the favorite and had won the regular season series 2-0 including a tight 81-79 won on the road and then hammering the German side 75-51 at home. But game one would not be a cake walk as FC Bayern Munich came alive in the second quarter exploding for 26 points and had the commanding 44-27 advantage at the break. The American who laughed when he heard Dino Radja´s comments about Russell Westbrook not being able to lead a team in Europe to success has seen a lot in his career and wasn´t surprised by how the German team stepped up in the second quarter. “I don´t see anyone being able to defend Russell Westbrook in Europe. There is no one closer to being better than Westbrook in Europe. Munich is always tough and are well coached. They played well and we played terrible. They had a good game plan and found a way to score. They got hot and we couldn´t get stops. Despite having 27 points at half-time, we never ever felt like we were out of the game. We were unable to take them out of what they do well. We weren´t too worried. We knew that we had to cut down the lead and we would be ok”, stressed Malcolm Delaney who sees Chris Paul who never won a NBA ring as a top 5 point guard all-time. Despite being behind by 17 points at the break, the Milan locker room was pretty subdued. Coach Ettore Messina didn´t fuss around or get mad. Vocal leader Malcolm Delaney took charge in the locker room and the second half road to recovery wasn´t a strenuous one to comprehend. Milan is one of the top three point shooting teams in the Euroleague. Playing good defense to help spark the offense was what had to be implemented at once. “I told my teammates to take it one possession at a time. Once we get going on offense, it will have a trickle down effect on everyone. Coach also stressed that we can´t rely on our offense, but have to start playing better defense. I knew that once we began to get stops, our scoring would come”, stated Malcolm Delaney.

            One can´t slow down a powerhouse offense of AX Armani Exchange Milano forever and the Italian side finally crawled out of their funk putting on an offensive showcase in the third quarter scoring 26 points. But AX Armani Exchange Milano were still behind 64-53 after 30 minutes, but were in striking range to make continued progress in the fourth quarter as they had the momentum. “We were more patient in the third quarter and didn´t play one on one. We figured out how to space better and got guys in good position. We began to defend better which allowed us to get out on transition. On offense we played more free”, stated Malcolm Delaney. AX Armani Exchange Milano continued to plug away in the fourth quarter and got a massive boost from ex NBA player Sergio Rodriguez who played 325 NBA games and came into the game having  been inserted in 292 Euroleague games. He came on the floor and sparked AX Armani Exchange Milano with 8 points drilling home two three pointers to cut the Munich lead to 67-61. In crunch time he drained another clutch three pointer for the 77-74 Milan lead. “Chacho is up for those moments and has the ability to step up. He is a winner and never backs down when it´s clutch time. That is what we expect him to do. We aren´t surprised when he does that”, warned Malcolm Delaney.

            Then came the thrilling end of the game which is one that will be talked about for many more years not only in Milan, but also in Munich. AX Armani Exchange Milano had one second on the clock and had the in bounds pass at half court. AX Armani Exchange Milano had had a similar situation this season against CSKA Moscow. They ran the same play as they would against Munich finding ex CSKA player Kyle Hines. Hines was fouled, but was unable to make both free throws, so Milan had to go into overtime. AX Armani Exchange Milano didn´t want to lose this game and definitely wanted to do it better than against CSKA Moscow. Many thought the last Milan play was a back screen, but it wasn´t. “We wanted Zach LeDay to slip. Munich had been switching all game long. We knew that all we needed was for them was too make one mistake and we would win. I had Kevin Punter as an extra option, but really I wanted to go to LeDay. I knew that in 8/10 plays, I would go to LeDay. I had told him before my pass that he would be open. I also told him that he also would still have time to go down and shoot it if needed. It was tough with the pressure, but there is a reason why we practice shot clock plays”, warned Malcolm Delaney. FC Bayern Munich looked really bad on the last play and AX Armani Exchange Milano capitalized on the game changing mistake. “They tried to switch and got lost. I was going back door to Leday regardless. I had to go to him. I wanted to get something to him around the rim. I was aware of his athleticism and knew that he would get a good opportunity”, stated Malcolm Delaney.

            The American who sees Golden State Warrior Draymond Greene as one of the most versatile defenders in the game, but not the greatest of all-time had a tough shooting night netting 10 points on 1/8 shooting from the parking lot. But one can´t forget, he only returned from knee surgery two weeks ago. Even if his shot didn´t fall, he is never worried about his shooting, because he knows that he can help the team in other ways. “I got in my extra shots today, but I´m always confident with my shooting. I feel like I have been playing my best defense this season in my whole career. Even if I go 0/15, I´ll be content if I can make three or four good defensive plays and get five assists. That is the same for me as if I score 20 points. I´m able to do other things to help my team win. Shooting isn´t important for me”, commented Malcolm Delaney. Game two is tonight in Milan and FC Bayern Munich desperately have to steal a win in Milan. Delaney who is one of the few professional players I have interviewed in the last weeks that didn´t like the sequel to Coming To America, because it was too commercial isn´t worried about Munich in game two and doesn´t know if the shocking game one loss will effect his old team Munich mentally. “I can´t answer that about Munich. I really don´t care. I´m just focused on us”, warned Malcolm Delaney. Zach LeDay was the hero of game one and will always be remembered. But what about Delaney who supplied the perfect lob pass? Well usually when a situation like this happens, it will be Zach LeDay who is stuck with the restaurant bill. Delaney´s feat definitely should reward him with a free dinner paid by LeDay. But that will have to wait. “No free dinner for me yet. Game one is over and we aren´t celebrating yet. We have forgotten game one and are ready for game two. I think a nice dinner and wine would be good after you win a game three in the playoffs”, smiled Malcolm Delaney. The 2021 Euroleague playoffs are still young for AX Armani Exchange Milano as they still have a long way to go to secure that title. If they want to win it all, then they will have to win twice in May at the Euroleague Final 4 in Cologne, Germany. If AX Armani Exchange Milano can come up victorious then Delaney can choose if he wants a typical German meal or if he wants to put a small dent into LeDay´s paycheck with a meal at the posh Dongio in Milan.

Tyson Ward (198-G/F-97, college: NDSU) is a 23 year old 198cm guard/forward from Tampa Bay, Florida that is playing his rookie season in Germany with s.Oliver Wurzburg currently averaging 9,1ppg, 4,2rpg and 2,8apg. He played at North Dakota State University (NCAA) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 129 NCAA games. He was able to improve his scoring and rebounding season averages each year. In his senior year he played 33 games averaging 16.9ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 77.8%. he spoke to germanhoops.com after the big 82-78 win against Brose Bamberg.

Tyson thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the massive 82-78 win. How good did it feel to get this win after losing 5 games in a row?

This win was like a fresh breath of air. Losing takes a lot of the wind out of the sail. This was a big win. It had been a long time since our last win against Crailsheim. It was great to bounce back. This was a big step for us.

s.Oliver Wurzburg had some very tough weeks losing by 50 points to Oldenburg, losing by 24 points to Ulm and 23 points against BG Goettingen. What has frustrated you the most about how the club has performed on the defensive end in this span?

Defense is something that we have needed to work on all season long. We have to be able to put our best foot forward. Our problem is that when we play bad defense, we get down on ourselves. That’s when the opponent gets a big lead. Every team is so good in the BBL that it is hard to come back when your down by so much.

Did you sense that the team was focused than ever wanting to get revenge after losing to them twice this season?

It was a combination of having guys back and just having that chip on our shoulders. We had a long week and a half to prepare for this game. Our practices were more intense and everybody was really competitive. It is good see that our practice effort was able to translate over into the game.

s.Oliver Wurzburg began slow, but really picked it up in the second quarter scoring 31 points. What adjustments did the team make to finally find their offensive rhythm?

Energy really helped us. We were up and down in the first quarter while Bamberg stayed solid. We played harder on the defensive end in the second quarter and began to capitalize on their mistakes.

s.Oliver Wurzburg did a good job not allowing any points from Bamberg for almost 5 minutes in the fourth quarter, but then allowed three consecutive three’s from German Kenneth Ogbe. How much of a pest was he in making it a game again?

We had to make defensive adjustments. Bamberg has many good shooters. It wasn’t just Ogbe, but it could have been any other player sitting in the corner and making shots. His three three pointers definitely bothered us. We took a good timeout to regroup.

How instrumental was Murphy Holloway for the win? He was without a doubt the team’s MVP in the fourth quarter.

Murph always brings big energy. He is a dawg. You saw it all game from him with his energy. It is a testament of how hard he plays and just how much his energy affects us. It is awesome having him on the team. He brings a different energy boost.

How much of a spark does his defense truly give the offense?

It gives us a big boost. Defense sparks offense is the biggest motto of any team. The more stops you get the more transition baskets you can get.

How key was it limiting David Kravish to only 2 points. He could have been the difference had he been able to score more.

Slowing him down was a testament to our bigs and our help side. We gave strong contact in the low post when he caught the ball. Kravish is a talented dude. You really need to key in on a guy like him.

What do you believe was s-Oliver’s biggest strength on the court tonight?

Being together was huge for our success tonight. We were giving constant encouragement from the bench and bounced back to the next play. Energy and effort helped us win this game

How confident are you that the team will finish strong with the better integration of Rob Lowery, Brekkott Chapman and Perry Jones?

It definitely felt a lot better having those guys back. Murphy, Hunt and I had to do a lot and we had tough times. We are still learning the pace of the BBL to this day. Having Chapman and Lowery back was a huge help. You really see how they affect the game.

You had a solid game with 13 points and filled the stat sheet nicely. How tough have the last weeks been for you being able to produce well on the court?

It has been tough as a rookie. I have been up and down. Teams pick on you and bet on you to make mistakes. It took me a while to understand that I have to slow down more. Your emotions can get the best of you. I learned that I need to lock down more and have fun and not worry about making mistakes.

You have had an up and down rookie season. Do you feel that the many offensive options that the club has has limited your scoring output?

I think for me it has been a learning curve as the season has gone on. It hasn’t been about the team having natural scorers, but about me learning the game. I think that my game has become more consistent half way through the season. I have learned a lot and I feel that I have had a decent rookie year. It is something that I can build on. I learned that I had to stop putting pressure on myself and just stay solid.

You compete against many great players each game including ex NBA players like Devon Hall. Do you ever ask yourself what you still have to do to get better when you watch a guy like that operate?

I didn’t even know that he played in the NBA. I just try to get better each day and stop the guy in front of me no matter who the player

Chris Paul passed Magic Johnson for fifth on the NBA all-time with assists. Where do you rank a Paul in the NBA’s best all-time point guards when he hasn’t won a ring yet?

I think he is really underrated. He is so dynamic. He has played for great and bad teams and always proved where ever he was that he got it. He is a top 5 point guard.

Croatian legend Dino Radja recently said that he couldn’t imagine Russell Westbrook being able to lead a team in Europe to success. Do you agree?

I don’t know. You need to be able to shoot the ball at the Euro level. The floor is a lot tighter in Europe. I can see where he is coming from with that statement.

Draymond Greene recently said that he is the greatest defender of all-time. Do you agree?

No, absolutely not. He is one of the great defenders, but not the greatest.

Did you see the Coming to America sequel? It has gotten mixed reviews. Shouldn’t they just have left it untouched?

Classics should never be remade. It is hard to redo a classic.

Thanks Tyson for the chat.

Marcus Thornton (193-G-93, college: William & Mary) is a 29 year old 193cm guard from Forestville Maryland playing his sixth professional season and first with the NINERS Chemnitz (Germany-BBL) averaging 13,7ppg, 2,0rpg and 4,0apg while shooting 40% from outside. Last season he played with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-Jeep ELITE ProA) playing 23 games averaging 10.4ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 43.8%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 68.2%. He began his professional career in 2015 and has played for organizations Sydney Kings (Australia-NBL), Consultinvest VL Pesaro (Italy-Serie A), Banvit Basketbol Kulubu (Turkey-BSL), Guangxi Rhinos (China-NBL) and for two G-League teams Maine Red Claws and Canton Charge. He played at the College of William & Mary (NCAA) from 2011-2015 playing a total of 125 es and as a senior averaged 20.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 82.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the magnificent 98-97 win over the Hamburg Towers.

Marcus thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Mr Buzzer beater. Did you see the buzzer beater the other day from Miami Heat Bam Adebayo? Did you ask yourself when you might make one again?

Yes I did catch his buzzer beater. No I didn’t think after seeing that buzzer beater when I would make one again. It is crazy seeing so many buzzer beaters in the NBA, but also in the BBL this season.

What is your personal history of buzzer beaters? How many have you had since high school and which was your favorite?

I had one in college. I can’t remember having one in high school. Then I had the one against Bamberg this season and last night against Hamburg. I have had shots that have helped my team go ahead late. My favorite one was against Drexel. Their coach had recruited me, but wanted me to cut my hair. I didn’t want that and didn’t go there.

Your playing great basketball right now. You love facilitating, but really is there anything better than scoring the ball consistently?

A big part of my game is to score the ball. That is what I have been training for to be able to score the ball. I love to score the ball and love to see work come to fruition.

How good did it feel to sweep the Hamburg Towers this season? Did a Virgil Matthews tell you about how they stopped Chemnitz from reaching the BBL earlier by beating them in the playoffs some years ago?

Yes he was motivated. I definitely had heard stories of that playoff series between Hamburg and Chemnitz. The guys really wanted to win.

Is Chemnitz the best example of a team that is way better than their record shows? Hamburg has beat most of the top teams and could play an interesting role in the playoffs.

We have a great team this year and everyone has always given their best. We did have some set backs this season and had games we should of won. But we are confident now of who we are as a team and what we still have to do and can do.

Did you sense before the game that head coach Rodrigo Pastore was extra motivated to win because of his history with the Hamburg Towers?

Yes for sure. Coach is a huge competitor. This was a big time win for the club and for coach.

How crazy was this game? I mean there was a buzzer beater and each team won two quarters averaging 29 points?

Yes I know. We had a big lead in the fourth quarter, but they played well and were able to come back. They were able to capitalize on our mistakes. That is a testament of how good the BBL is.

Chemnitz had the 48-45 lead at the break. What did head coach Rodrigo Pastore tell the team to do better in the third quarter?

Coach told us to get more consecutive stops on defense, finish plays better and cut down on turnovers. Overal we stuck together and were able to get the win.

Chemnitz allowed an unacceptable 31 points in the third quarter. Why was it so difficult to keep Hamburg better in check on offense?

We allowed them to get to the free throw line too much. It is already hard enough to play good defense, but we gave them too many easy baskets from the free throw line.

The Hamburg Towers never gave up rallying in crunch time. Max DiLeo gave Hamburg the 97-95 lead with 10 seconds to play. What was going through your mind when he made that shot?

I looked at the bench and saw that coach didn’t want to call a timeout. This was a similar situation to what we had against Oldenburg recently. I drove to the basket to reach overtime, but we lost to Oldenburg. I didn’t want that to happen again. I knew that we had to get a good look

Take us through your game winner. Everything was hurried as there was no timeout. How confident were you that the team would get off the right and best shot despite the time given?

When I got the ball I knew that we still had a lot of time. I was patient and took my time to see what they would do. Would they trap or play straight up. I made a play and made the three.

How much of a pest was Kam Taylor who was Hamburg’s leadings sand filled the stat sheet like Russell Westbrook and also contributed 3 blocks.

He played a big time game. I know him from high school. We went to different high schools, but played in the same conference. He played at a high level in all four quarters. Big shout out to his game.

Where would Chemnitz be without Terrell Harris tonight? Did he show another side with his 11 assists?

Terrell played big time. I texted him after the game telling him not to let his double double get under the radar. Obviously my shot would get a lot of hype. We needed all he gave us with his scoring and assists to get into the position that we were to win the game. He played a great game.

How much fun is it playing right now? The team has a lot of freedom. Is seeing how many games it can win the primary goal?

Yes absolutely. We are a very competitive group of guys. We are taking this season very serious and don’t want to let it go to waste at the end. We want to keep putting our feet forward, get better and keep winning games.

Croatian basketball legend Dino Radja said recently that he couldn’t see Russell Westbrook being bale to lead a team in Europe to success. Do you agree?

It is tough to say since the game is a lot different here. He is so skilled and so athletic that I have no doubt that he could get adjusted here and be successful. He puts in the work and could be great here.

Draymond Greene recently said that he is the best defender of all-time. Do you agree?

No I can’t agree. That is a tough statement. There have been so many great defenders.

Did you see the Coming To America sequel? It got mixed reviews. Should they not just have let it be?

Yes I can see people thinking that. I think people expected too much. It wasn’t meant to be like the first one. It is hard to make a reboot from so long ago.

Thanks Marcus for the chat.

I have conducted 21 interviews with American Kyle Hines since his only season in Germany with Brose Bamberg in 2010-2011 and even 11 seasons later nothing has changed with this guy´s overall demeanour when you speak with him. When I talk to him today, it seems like it could be like it was 2010 when Kyle Hines was just at the beginning of an illustrious career that not many players can say they have witnessed. You talk to the physical and versatile player today and you continue to sense this business like attitude and focus that you don´t see with other players. Kyle Hines has this amazing special aura that is so powerful, but at the same time as inviting as if he is a guy you could trust with any information. It really doesn´t matter when or where I have spoken to this guy, if it was in his home state of New Jersey, Berlin, Frankfurt, Bamberg, Moscow or Pireas, Greece, he has always been the same with how he conducts himself. He has this focused straight ahead attitude with how he presents himself, but at the same time is always ready for small talk. The way he conducts himself off the court is no different than the way he does on the court. He is all business on the court and that is probably why the guy has won 20 professional titles in his career and still is nowhere satisfied yet. The guy always wants more and that has shown on the court with his track record. His focus on the game and issue at hand is as powerful as a Lebron James stare down on the court. He is a winner and will always be a winner and is the basketball Tom Brady of European basketball. There are so many parallels that these guys share that one would think that they have somehow been connected in another life. The first most distinct parallel is the fact that they are the winningest American players in their sport determining the biggest title in their sport. Tom Brady has won a record 7 Super Bowls and Kyle Hines has 4 Euroleague titles. Okay so there have been players that have won more Euroleague titles than Hines with Dino Meneghin with 7 , but no other American has won as much as he has. Another parallel and one that is extra ordinary and is one that could happen, is wining a title with another team. Hines won 2 Euroleague titles with Olyimpiakos Pireas and 2 with CSKA Moscow while Tom Brady has won 6 with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hines could pull a Tom Brady in that he helps lead his new team AX Armani Exchange Milano to a Euroleague title in his first year after coming from Moscow. Tom Brady did the same thing moving from New England to Tampa Bay and being able to not only hoist the Super bowl title in his own stadium, but also make a new historical throw heaving the trophy from one boat to the next during the victory boat parade.” It would be incredible being able to win a fifth Euroleague title with Milan considering with all that we have dealt with this season. For me it would be historical being able to hoist 5 titles”, warned Kyle Hines. It would be a delight and be interesting to see how these two exceptional players and out of the ordinary characters would act in a meeting? When you have won a record 7 Super bowl titles, you can always learn something new about wining even if you play two different sports. Hines would know exactly what questions to fire if he had 5 minutes of Tom Brady´s time. “I would ask him how he has been able to keep that longevity of almost 21 years. I would ask him also what his secret is to winning and the preparation and process that it takes to win”, warned Kyle Hines.

                 AX Armani Exchange Milano have won 9 titles in Italy since the 2015-2016 season, but haven´t been as lucky in international club competition as they last reached the Euroleague playoffs in 2016. This season everything is working a lot better as they are going head to head with Brindisi in the Serie A and have reached the Top 8 of the Euroleague competition. Despite the basketball side of the season going well for Kyle Hines, he like everyone else has had to deal with COVID-19 and has met the challenges and accepted them even if living isn´t always easy. “The biggest challenge has been to keep getting adjusted and keeping my family and the people around me safe as well. On the basketball side challenging has been following all the protocols. Everyone has to learn to deal with the situation on a daily basis. I just try to stay safe and be in good spirits”, stressed Kyle Hines. Staying focused and locked in on game day is as normal an occurrence for the American from Sicklerville, New Jersey as it is for Indiana Pacer big man Myles Turner swatting away an opponent´s shot, but what added bit of difficulty has he had with the added constraint of COVID concerning his preparation for every game? Even if every game is a challenge with COVID, he has that special feeling in his mind knowing that it is all worth it. Everything is better than not playing the game he loves. “Everyone has been giving their best in games despite the situation with COVID. The biggest adjustments have been following the protocols, travel and playing without fans. Also tough has been having to play teams that have been effected by COVID. But most important is that despite everything we as players continue to be able to play the game that we love”, warned Kyle Hines.

                Being reunited with Ettore Messina who Hines played under in his first season with CSKA Moscow was a giant reason why he decided to leave Moscow after 7 seasons and come to the elegant city of Milan. He had had great times with CSKA Moscow winning 10 titles, but often even a great fit comes to an end after a long while. It wasn´t any different for Tom Brady. Tom Brady was seeking a new challenge and it wasn´t any different for Kyle Hines. “One of the biggest reasons why I came to Milan was being able to take on a new challenge and have an opportunity to come to a new team. It has been exciting being a part of a foundation of change. It has been great being able to have the opportunity of taking on a new challenge at the tail end of my career. It has been fun”, stated Kyle Hines. The club is playing great basketball and a massive reason for their good play in the Italian Serie A and Euroleague was the ability of the team being able to mesh together well early, but there also has been another reason for the club being able to have success. “. Big also has been the development of players Zach LeDay, Kevin Punter and Shavon Shields who have stepped up big within their roles. Important also has been having some older guys like Sergio Rodriguez and I who have shared the leadership”, added Kyle Hines. They have been super successful in the Euroleague finishing as the fourth best team averaging 81 points per game on offense and allowing 77 points per game. Key has been never suffering a huge losing streak, but being able to bounce back after a loss and string along two or three wins in a row. “Having that consistency in the Euroleague has been huge. Despite COVID and everything we wanted to make sure never have two loses in a row. The most consistent teams in the Euroleague tend to have the most success”, stressed Kyle Hines. AX Armani Exchange Milano meet German club FC Bayern Munich in a best of five series tonight in Milan. During the regular season Milan won a nail bitter in Munich 81-79 and then overpowered the German side at home sweeping the regular season series. “The playoffs don´t have an inclination of what happened in the regular season. We don´t expect a easy series. Munich is a well coached team that play with discipline. It will be a big challenge, but if we can play our game the way we have been doing this season and raise our level then we will have good chances”, warned Kyle Hines. A big reason for the huge success of FC Bayern Munich this season in the Euroleague has been head coach Andrea Trinchieri who coached Hines in Italy as a rookie with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2). Hines knows him inside out and hasn´t been surprised by the success of Munich. “He has been doing this his whole career. He comes to teams and finds a way to turn it around. He has always been a well prepared coach his whole career. He knows how to get the best out of his players and maximize them to play their best. He has taken a leap every season. I´m happy for his success, but I hope that we can capitalize and win the series”, stressed Kyle Hines.

AX Armani Exchange Milano also have been aided by having been able to find the correct pieces. The front court of AX Armani Exchange Milano has an exciting and interesting constellation of very talented players where each guy can do something different. “We have a ray of different versatile big men. LeDay has had his break out season. He has shown a lot of different abilities shooting the three, playing the pick and roll and showing his athleticism. He also has the ability to play the four five positions. Evans gives us experience and athleticism and has done a great job. He has given us that extra push. Tarczewski has been here since five years. He gives us more of that traditional low post center. The great thing is that we have so much versatility that we can match up in a variety of ways”, said Kyle Hines. American Kaleb Tarczewski who learned his basketball trade at UCLA(NCAA) is in his fifth season with Milan and could become a lifer with the club the same way Quantez Robertson has who is in his 12^th season with the Fraport Skyliners. “Kaleb is a great player. He has improved this year. You don´t see often when foreign players stay that long with one team. I would love to continue to be his teammate for many more years”, commented Kyle Hines.  He battled ex NBA player Luigi Datome the last years in the Euroleague and now finally can call the versatile big man his own teammate. “I have gotten to know him well. We are both representatives of the players association. I appreciate his work ethic most. He always does the extra things to be ready every day. He has accomplished so much playing in the NBA and Euroleague, but he still comes to work every day ready to provide what is best for the team”, stressed Kyle Hines. The American who played 120 NCAA games at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (NCAA) from 2004-2008 averaging 19,0ppg in his last three seasons also has seen the incredible development of ex Nebraska(NCAA) standout Shavon Shields. He is a guy that gives constant development a new name. “Shavon is still young and hasn´t hit his prime yet. He has many more years to get even better. He has been one of those guys that has really flourished under coach Messina. Coach has recognized something special in his game and given him the freedom to play. He does so many special things. He has hit so many big shots this year and made big plays that we all rely on him. He is one of the best players at his position in the Euroleague. Once he gets even more confidence and matures more, he will continue to blossom in the future”, warned Kyle Hines.

                Hines who is the man behind the Players Podcast as he loves interviewing other players and telling stories is playing his 11^th Euroleague season and has played an amazing 314 Euroleague games and currently is averaging 8,1ppg, 4,3rpg and 1,9apg. He has experienced having a new role each season and it isn´t any different with Milan. But this season he doing something a lot more than he ever has in his career. “I have taken more the role of a creator this season. It has been a fun role. We have had injuries to some of our creators this season. It has also has been fun seeing the rise of LeDay, Punter and Shields. We have more younger guys this season as opposed to CSKA where we had more experienced players”, said Kyle Hines. As usual he is putting up good stats in the minutes that he plays. He has never been a stats man, but a guy that does anything to help his team win. Leading a team the way a Tom Brady has done his whole career is something that will always be entrenched in Hines´s head. “ I´m trying to become more of a vocal leader. I was captain at CSKA, but we had more experienced guys there. We have a good mix of young and old in Milan. The biggest difference to CSKA is that I´m trying to be more of a leader here and help and push the younger players. I try to tell them what it takes to win a Euroleague title”, warned Kyle Hines.  He has played 33 Euroleague games this season, but only 14 Serie A games as there is a good and plausible reason why. “We had a phase where we had several double week games. Coach thought it be best if the older guys rested more. He learned how players should take care of their bodies when he was with the Spurs. For me it has been great getting the rest. We have a roster full of guys that can all compete”, expressed Kyle Hines. Consistency had been a massive reason why Kyle Hines has been able to play at such a high level his whole career. Usually guys break down as they get older, but not with Hines. He has a grade A work ethic and knows how to take care of his body. These are all vital factors why he doesn´t slow down as he gets older and can still develop further. “I think that my experience continues to help me develop my game. When you get older you play more with your mind and less with your body. I also feel this new challenge with Milan and being able to be around a new group of guys has given me new energy. It has been exciting experiencing new things”, warned Kyle Hines. He has had many mentors in his career, but none has been more beneficial than ex NBA player Jerome Allen who played 117 NBA games for the Pacers, Timberwolves and Nuggets and now is an assistant coach under Brad Stevens in Boston. “He has been a big mentor for me. We were teammates my first season. I was 21 and he was 35. He taught me so much. He taught me really what it takes to compete at a high level and how to be a professional. He gave me so much wisdom then and still does today. He had a big effect on my career and life”, warned Kyle Hines.

The last movie that he saw was the Coming to America sequel which he liked still has strong ties to his ex club CSKA Moscow who he could meet again should they advance past FC Bayern Munich. “I still talk to guys like Will Clyburn, Mike James and Daniel Hackett. They have continued to be successful something everybody expects. Despite having to deal with COVID and injuries, they are still the CSKA of old “, added Kyle Hines. The fact that CSKA Moscow was able to be one of the top Euroleague teams this season despite COVID, numerous injuries and the drama with Mike James hasn´t surprised Hines, because he knows that they have a coach that is very special and can achieve things that most other coaches can´t. “Coach Dimitrios Itoudis has done a great job keeping everyone together. The pressure to win is so big for CSKA Moscow, but he still has led them to success. That is one of the reasons why he is one of the best coaches in the Euroleague. He knows how to use pressure and turn it into an advantage. There aren´t many coaches who would be able to do this”, stressed Kyle Hines.  The American also keeps the NBA on his radar and like so many other people hopes that his ex coach Chris Fleming can finally remove the assistant coach name from his resume. “I have spoken to him a few times in the last years. I have talked to him more indirectly through the assistant coaches there. He is an incredible coach and everyone knows it. He has had so much success. I look forward to him getting a NBA head coach opportunity. It would be well deserved”, warned Kyle Hines. He has played for so many head coaches in his career, but one can´t argue that Ettore Messina has been the best ever. Like Trinchieri has done in Munich, Messina has come to Milan and has done special things and turned a stalling organization into a top club and helped them find the correct path again. “He is a Hall Of Fame coach. He knows more about basketball than most. He became better and wiser in the Spurs organization. He has been able to implement the culture of the Spurs on and off the court for us. That has really helped us this season and you can see the turnaround the team has had. On top of that he is a great person. That is why he has had so much success”, stressed Kyle Hines.  Kyle Hines definitely won´t catch Messina´s mind boggling 44 titles as a coach in his playing career, but he doesn´t care or is worried about that. His ultimate goal now is to win another Euroleague title. And then come back and do again next season the same way Tom Brady wants to do this season with Tampa Bay. Both guys wouldn´t want it any other way.

He was only 24 years old and was just at the beginning of his professional career, but Dorian Pinson will never step foot on a basketball court again. According to Fox5Atlanta.com he drowned in Lake Lanier in Georgia on Sunday. He and three friends went boating renting a pontoon boat and then attempted to go swimming near Sunrise Cova marina. The three men underestimated the wind and were unable to get back to the boat. Two men were rescued and the third Dorian Pinson went under and didn´t resurface. Hall County Fire Services made a search, but still hadn´t recovered a body by night and the search was suspended until morning.                

Pinson was born in Greenville, South Carolina and attended Southside High School. He then went on to have a very illustrious career at Lincoln Memorial University (NCAA2) from 2014-2018 where he played 103 NCAA games. He was able to improve his scoring and rebounding season average each season and as a senior averaged 15.5ppg, 9.4rpg, 4.1apg, 2.0spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 58.9%, 3PT: 43.2%, FT: 63.0%. He helped his team win the SAC Tournament in 2016 and 2018 and reached the NCAA 2 final in 2016. In 2018 he began his professional career in Germany with the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau (Germany-ProA) averaging 12.2ppg, 6.2rpg, 3.5apg, Steals-1(2.5spg), FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 58.4%. He continued his solid play in his second professional season in Israel demonstrating that he could adjust without problems to another country playing with Ramat Hasharon (Israel-National League) averaging 20.2ppg, 8.4rpg, 4.4apg, Steals-4(2.6spg), FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 69.6%. He also had two stints with the Niagara River Lions (Canada-CEBL) where he averaged 13.5ppg, 7.3rpg, Assists-5(3.9apg), Steals-4(1.7spg), FGP-3(64.3%), 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 70.4%. ““I’m so very sad to hear about Dorian’s passing. He was truly a great person and teammate. He was also a fierce competitor, a winner and a very talented player. It was an honor and Joy to coach him. I will miss him”, stressed his ex coach Simon Cote who coached him his rookie season in Germany

Henry Dugat (183-PG-87, college: Baylor) is a 34 year old 183cm point guard that has 12 years of professional basketball under his belt. He played the last two seasons with BK Dnipro (Ukraine-Superleague). His professional career also has brought him to teams like Oros Nuevo Laredo (Mexico-LNBP), Marinos de Anzoategui (Venezuela-LPB), Halcones UV Xalapa (Mexico-LNBP), Fuerza Regia Monterrey (Mexico-LNBP), Frayles de Guasave (Mexico), LF Basket (Sweden-Basketligan), Phoenix Hagen (Germany-BBL), Atomeromu SE Paks (Hungary-A Division), STB Le Havre (France-ProA), and Budivelnyk Kyiv (Ukraine-Superleague). He played at Baylor (NCAA) form 2005-2009 playing a total of 97 NCAA games reaching the nCAA tournament and was a NIT finalist in 2009. He spoke to eurobasket about his Baylor days and about the special basketball magic there.

Henry thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. You last played for BK Dnipro (Ukraine-Superleague) and won the 2020 cup Talk a little about your experiences with COVID-19 in the last year. What were your biggest challenges and how did you get stronger as a man with everything you saw?

I think life was different for everyone during COVID dealing with so much uncertainty. One thing I noticed that was difficult for me was not knowing what to expect but within that I believe I became stronger in focusing on what matters most to me in life

Your 34 years old now. Will you return next year or have you contemplated retirement?

I still have the fire inside and a lot to give to the game I will continue my career

You played with German club Phoenix Hagen in 2013-2014. What memories do you have of Germany and with what teammate did you have the biggest connection with then?

I really enjoyed my time in Germany. I have a lot of memories from my time in Hagen. One of the memories is how great the fans were in almost every arena.

You reached the NCAA tournament in 2008 with Baylor. What made this team so special?

In 2008 what made that team special was we had a lot of talent and the same goal.

You played four years with Curtis Jerrell and three years with Tweety Carter. What memories do you have of your fellow guards and how did they grow as players?

Curtis and Tweety are two guys that I consider family to this day.

Let’s talk about your alma mater Baylor. They won the 2021 NCAA title. How did you feel the day after the win?

I was proud for Baylor winning the NCAA TItle, Happy for the players, the coaching staff and the whole university. They made history and this team will be written forever

Baylor had a simple game plan. Make some shots. If you miss get the rebounds and then make some more shots. Can basketball sometimes be that simple?

They came out focused early in the game and was able to control the momentum early and maintain it throughout the game.

How key was it for Baylor players Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, Flo Thamba and Mark Vital limiting Drew Timme to 12 points?. The star Jalen Suggs had 22 points, but Gonzaga didn’t have scoring support behind him.

Tchatchoua, Thamba, and Vital were key to controlling the game with rebounding and limiting Timme. I think they accepted the challenge.

Davion Mitchell is seen as a #1 Draft pick and Jared Butler as a possible second round pick. How have you followed their careers and how do you seem them doing in the NBA? Where do you see the journey of Macio Teague going? He seemed a bit in the shadow of Butler and Mitchell. Could he make the NBA and do you see his game being suited to becoming an impact player overseas?

After watching this season I believe Mitchell, Butler, and Teague are all NBA level professional players.

Ex Baylor player Ishmail Wainright said this about head coach Scott Drew ‘He treated us like professionals since day one. Talked to us like one. Worked us like one. He used to tell us, ‘ You guys want to be professionals someday, you have to walk, talk, eat, work, and take care of your bodies like professionals do!’ How proud are you of your ex coach and how did he groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

I’m very proud for coach Drew coach Jerome Tang and his coaching staff and being able to be a part of the journey and to see the growth along the way.

How do you see the future of Baylor (NCAA) basketball. Two guys seem to be heading to the NBA and Macio Teague and Mark Vital are also done as seniors.

I believe the future is bright for Baylor University and I believe they will continue to take steps forward.

Have you seen Coming To America 2 yet? The reviews have been mixed. Shouldn’t they just have left the original classic untouched?

I don’t have a take, I haven’t watched Coming to America 2

Thanks Henry for the chat.

Even if it is more than three years ago, the date March 23rd, 2018 will still be in the minds of some hardcore FC Bayern Munich fans as this was the night as a rare Eurocup feat was accomplished by ex Florida great Scottie Wilbekin. After coming off a sold 24 points showing in the Darussafaka’s nail biting 76-74 win in Turkey, Wilbekin didn’t shift up a gear, but actually a few more netting an unbelievable 41 points with 10 three’s and dumping FC Bayern Munich from the semi-final playoffs 87-84 and advancing to the final against Lok Kuban. 342 kilometers away, rookie Jaleen Smith (193-PG-94, college: UNH) was in between games having netted 6 points against Ehingen and on March 25th scored 6 points against Orange Academy. He was having a typical rookie season where ups and downs were the norm. But the most important thing was, his contribution did help the team win both games. Three years later Jaleen Smith is basketball wise in a totally different spectrum as he was able to attempt the next step to the easyCredit BBL after 2 years in the Pro A with the MLP Academics. Last season he showed no adjustment period time and became a solid BBL player in the regular season and then upped his game in the playoffs in the bubble in Munich. He continues to grow and develop as a player as this season he belongs to the best three guards in the league and is even a MVP candidate and fills the stat sheet the way Luka Doncic can distribute dimes on the court. In the past ex BBL players like American guards like Tyrese Rice and Ricky Hickman have showed that they are capable to make the next step to the Euroleague and played with Maccabi Tel Aviv. A next BBL player could make that same step. The Euroleague seems like it could become a real realistic occurrence for Jaleen Smith. His first taste of the Euroleage came recently when his name was mentioned on a well known basketball rumor site as Macabbi Tel Aviv was interested in his services. ‘I’m just excited that people are watching my game and that all my hard work can have me make another big jump in my career. I can’t wait for what the future holds this offseason’, stressed Jaleen Smith. He doesn’t want to think too much about the rumor mill, but he knows exactly what road he wants to go down on and where he wants to land. ‘I don’t recall that game, but it’s crazy that Wilbekin went off on Munich like that. I always dream about the NBA and Euroleague. That’s what motivates me everyday to be a better player to the game is because of it. Euroleague is the big goal for years to come and if a NBA team calls I’ll take it but if not I’m perfectly fine in Europe’, stated Jaleen Smith. He would love to duel against Scottie Wilbekin in a one on one game. That big names don’t scare him is already half the rent to being successful at high levels. ‘Playing against Scottie would be a battle man. The game would be close for sure. I think I would dogwood against Scottie though’, warned Jaleen Smith. Maccabi Tel Aviv is a first indication that the Euroleague could be realistic with Jaleen Smith‘s game continuing grow.

Jaleen Smith was born on November 24th, 1994 in Freeport, Texas. His mom was a big fan of Michigan’s Fab four player Jalen Rose and named her son after him. Even though Smith’s first name is spelled with an extra e Jaleen, it is still pronounced as if it was Jalen. He got his first basketball experience at Brazosport High School where he averaged 17ppg, 10rpg, 6apg in his junior year and 19ppg, 8rpg, 6apg as a senior. He received numerous awards and achievements at Brazosport high school with HS 1st Team District 23-4A -11, 12, 13, HS Newcomer of the Year -11, HS 1st Team All-State -13 and HS TABC All-Star -13. He then continued his basketball career in the NCAA playing four years at the University of New Hampshire playing a total of 122 NCAA games. He did something there that isn’t often achieved by players and that was improving his scoring, rebounding and assists each season. As a freshman he averaged 5.6ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 36.9%, 3PT: 29.6%, FT: 77.3%, but in his sophomore season averaged 34 minutes and averaged 10.7ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 80.5%. He scored in double figures in 22 games and had some masterful games against NJIT and Mass-Lowell scoring 17 points apiece. He continued to make steps in his game as he upped his game as a junior averaging 13.4ppg, 5.5rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 90.0%. He scored in double figures in 22 games and already showed what he is capable of doing concerning filling the stat sheet and he posted 11/8/10 stats in a blow out win over Lyndon St in the first regular season game. He had some stellar games scoring 23 points apiece in wins over Bryant and UMBC. After averaging 34 minutes as a junior, he went to 36 minutes per game as a senior averaging 15.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 78.1%. He scored in double figures in 27 games and scored 20 points or more in 12 games and hit Bryant with 28 points, Abil Christian for 27 points and Hartford for 27 points. He also celebrated his first triple double against Lesley with 20/10/10 stats. He reached the AEC semi-finals three times and the bitter 74-41 blow out loss against Vermont in his last game is one that he will never forget. ‘I was really disappointed in how we lost because I know we are a better team than what the score indicated. I feel like we were just missing that toughness about us. We were talented but I feel like we weren’t mental tough in those semifinal games’, remembered Jaleen Smith. He grew so much as a player in the NCAA and will always be grateful for the guidance from head coach Bill Herrion. ‘He was really like a mentor to me. My freshman year really opened my eyes on how to grind for playing time. He has really helped me a lot through the process’, stressed Jaleen Smith. He was a AEC All-Tournament Team selection in 2015 and was a All-AEC 2nd Team selection in 2016 and 2017. He ended his career at New Hampshire as fifth leading scorer with 1,397 points, first in games at 122, and fifth in assists at 364. He also was the first player in Wild Cats history that had more than 1000 points, 260 assists and 600 rebounds.

He then embarked on a professional career in 2017 that brought him overseas to Germany to the ambitious pro A club MLP Academics Heidelberg. He came into the Pro A league as a player that could score the ball from all parts of the floor and could have an impact with his leadership skills. He compares his game to Paul George and played 34 games as a rookie averaging 7.6ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 45.6%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 80.3%. His rookie season was a difficult adjustment as his playing time dipped considerably from 36 to 21 minutes. ‘The adjustment was really tough. Just staying on the court the whole game to just half a game is really different. It was tough trying to be more efficient that was something really different also’, remembered Jaleen Smith. After averaging double figures in scoring in his last NCAA seasons, it was obvious that he wasn’t happy with his play as a rookie. ‘I can never be satisfied with anything I do. It just isn’t in my nature to be content. I had. I just want more you know. I just want it all’, warned Jaleen Smith. His leadership qualities were on display as he helped lead the team into the playoffs, but they couldn’t get by Trier who won a hard fought 5 game series. He was content though that he had been able to help the team also in other ways. ‘Just doing the little things for my team. Just doing the dirty work to help my team win games. Also learning all aspects of the defense like on and off ball defense’, stressed Jaleen Smith. He scored in double figures in 11 games including 19 points against Hamburg and 17 points against Trier. He shot 33% from outside and felt that he made strides as a shooter overseas, because he had the needed self-confidence as well as gaining early knowledge of the European game. Smith who remembers American Shy Ely as being his toughest cover in his rookie season remained a second season with the MLP Academics just to get a better grip on the Pro A and develop further in an up and coming league. In his second professional season he was able to make another jump in his game as his role and minutes increased from 21 to 28. Getting to be more on the court reminded him of his NCAA days where he lived on the court. ‘The more I played I knew I had to contribute someway on the court. Going into year 2 with the team I wanted to be more aggressive with the ball. I just wanted to give them another scoring option’, commented Jaleen Smith. He played 37 games averaging 12.7ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 58.6%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 84.2%. It was a massive improvement from his rookie season, but he wasn’t satisfied as he knew that his whole potential hadn’t been used. He has that killer mentality that a Russell Westbrook has. ‘I felt like I’ve could’ve done more this season. I sometimes would just be in the game just to be in the game. I can always get better from the season and I need to develop a killer mentality. I just have to win every match I have whether that’s practice or the game. I have to be better at staying aggressive’, expressed Jaleen Smith. He scored in double figures in 21 games including 26 points in a win over Kirchheim and 23 points in a victory over Chemnitz. He helped lead the club into the playoffs again, but this time escaped the first round. They sweped Ehingen where he averaged 13,0ppg, 5,0rpg and 5,0apg, but then lost 3-1 against Nurnberg where his game was slowed down as he only averaged 8,0ppg, 4,0rpg and 3,0apg. Despite the tough ending to the season, he was content that his game had progressed further including his outside hooting. ‘Going against guys like the guards we have in practice you’re only going to get better. I have more knowledge from being on the help side on defense this second season. I started my shooting pocket higher to have a quicker release. Also, keeping my follow through up and not jerking it so quickly’, warned Jaleen Smith. The American will forever be grateful for the MLP Academics Heidelberg that didn’t give up on him after his slow rookie season. ‘Signing a player out of a small Division 1 college as a rookie is always an experiment. How will his style of play translate to European basketball and how will he adapt to a different culture is key for success or failure. With regards to his stats Jaleen was struggeling in his first season. He didn’t even finish in the Top 100 in scoring within the second league. And bottom line is that you sign import players to produce numbers. We still decided to give him another shot, because we knew, what we had seen when we scouted him in the first place. On the other hand it was such a pleasure working with him, just having his positive mindset in the gym every day that gave the team that extra spark. So the coach (Branislav Ignjatovic) and I decided to stick with Jaleen against all odds basically and it paid off for both sides. But to be very honest: even we are surprised what kind of career Jaleen is having now and we are so happy for him. And it shows that sometimes you have to be patient when you believe in something. Like Jaleen, who had the strong belief to play on the highest level in Europe but he gave it time and didn’t quit after being behind his own expectations in the beginning’, warned MLP Academics Heidelberg manager Matthias Lautenschlager.

In his third professional season, he who lists Philadelphia 76ers player Shake Milton as his toughest cover in the NCAA made the next step landing in the easyCredit BBL with the MHP Risen Ludwigsburg. His arrival there was helped as his ex assistant coach from New Hampshire was an assistant for John Patrick. Patrick took the advice of Josh King and after a try out signed him and the rest is history. He helped the club have a terrific regular season and fought their way into the easyCredit final in the bubble in Munich. The club was stacked with talent and the roster was deep. But more important the team played together and had other vital attributes that helped them achieve success. ‘We just have a bunch of guys that are hungry and want to win. We play fearless no matter who the other team is and what players they have. Were going to play our game no matter what’, stressed Jaleen Smith. He scored in double figures in 11 games including 22 points against medi Bayreuth and 19 points against ratiopharm Ulm. In the bubble in Munich he scored in double figures in 7 of 9 games including 18 and 13 points over FC Bayern Munich who they defeated in the quarters. He also scored 14 points against ratiopharm Ulm and 15 points in the final loss to Alba Berlin. A big reason not only for the team success, but overall consistency and development of the organization has been head coach John Patrick who has stayed faithful to the club since 2013 when he came on board as a fireman having to save the team from moving down. ‘He just lets us play out our game. We know what our strengths are and our weaknesses are. We just focus on our strength and that’s defense’, stated Jaleen Smith. The club went into the bubble on a mission and didn’t disappoint as they achieved the upset disposing of top team FC Bayern Munich. ‘This is maybe the biggest thing in my young basketball career but there is still more work to be done this next coming week. Beating FC Bayern Munich is a huge feat. We can do something special here. You can feel everyone is locked in and knows the task at hand and that’s to win the championship. We do a great job of just staying together no matter the situation’, stressed Jaleen Smith. During the regular season, his play was up and down, but that was expected since it was his first season in the easyCredit BBL. He had 18 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in the second game against FC Bayern Munich advancing to the semi finals. ‘I would say it’s in my top 5 games of my career especially against a team like Munich’, said Jaleen Smith. The MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg played out their hearts in the final against Alba Berlin, but just didn’t have enough steam as they were clobbered in the first game 88-65 which paved the next title for Alba Berlin. They lost the last game 74-73, but Smith showed again why he belongs in the league posting 15 points, 4 boards, 6 assists and 5 steals. He opened up the fourth quarter with 7 points in a row showing his ability to score in bunches. He left the bubble as a better player. ‘I have grown a lot just playing point guard and watching a lot of film on my opponent on my own. From this tournament I’m going to take the mental part of the game a lot more serious’, added Jaleen Smith. He definitely left Ludwigsburg for the summer in 2020 a lot better than when he had arrived in August 2020. ‘I have learned a lot during the year Learning more defensively, playing a lot off the ball, etc. My mentality for the game has helped me a lot also’, expressed Jaleen Smith.

Let’s fast forward to April 2021. Jaleen Smith who lists his five favorite teammates of all-time with Niklas Ney, Tanner Leissner, Ronnel Jordan, Eric Palm, and Nick Weiler-Babb is in his second season with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and the club has proved that consistency is the real deal and that last season wasn’t a fluke. They are currently in first place in the easyCredit BBL standings with a 26-2 record. The club recently had a 18 game winning streak that came to an end against the Crailsheim Merlins. It was one of their longest winning streaks ever where that winning mentality just gets etched in your mind. ‘I think that was the longest winning streak I have been a part of actually. I remember we won a lot in High School but never a streak like that. You just get the sense that your going to win every game no matter the situation or how the flow of the game is you just know your going to win the game by that buzzer sounds’, said Jaleen Smith. An amazing fact about their massive winning streak was that they were able to find ways to win in many different ways. There were games where they didn’t necessarily defend great allowing an access of 80 points, but their offense was good enough to score more points and other games where the offense wasn’t on full throttle, but the defense was brilliant which led the team to victory on many occasions. ‘We just know how to win. We have a lot of Veterans that have played a lot of basketball and we know how it takes to win games. That has been a great success for us this season is that we can outscore anybody and also we don’t allow teams to get comfortable on defense’, stressed Jaleen Smith. There are so many reasons why the club is successful, but the success isn’t self-evident. Often when a team is almost completely changed, it takes months and sometimes a whole season for the adjustment period, but with Ludwigsburg that wasn’t the case. Despite having almost a total facelift, success came right from the start. Once again the mastermind John Patrick was instrumental in bringing in the right mix of players. ‘He deserves a lot of it getting a whole new team almost and still continue the success we had last year is amazing. The team we had this year just really got together and we all have a goal to just win games no matter what it takes’, warned Jaleen Smith. Two big strengths this season have been making adjustments on the fly and having the necessary freedom on offense. ‘Making adjustments during the game is big time. Definitely helps when players are communicating on what they see on the sideline and telling players what we can’t see while were playing. Having so much freedom on offense is such a relief to have as a player because no shot is a bad shot in JPs eyes. Maybe with another coach it would be a crazy shot but that’s what makes us so dangerous is that we can go at anytime and break off our offense and go 1 on 1 if we see a match up we can take advantage of’, stressed Jaleen Smith.

Jaleen Smith who lists his personal NBA Mount Rushmore with legends Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Shaq, and Lebron James is surrounded by great talent and one of those is easyCredit BBL experienced guard Jordan Hulls who played at Indiana (NCAA) is in his fifth season in Germany and twice shot 50% from the parking lot with Bremerhaven had been part of the great guard trio in Wurzburg with Skyler Bowlin and Cameron Wells. With Ludwsigburg he is back on track with his shooting out the lights mentality shooting above 40%. But he is so much more than just a sniper. ‘Jordan has been amazing for us this season. He’s the best shooter I’ve played with in my career it feels like every time he shoots you know its going to go in. He brings shooting, playmaking ability, and a pesky defense to the team. He’s was a great pickup for the team’, stated Jaleen Smith.. Another great addition has been ex University of Kansas (NCAA) and 2018 Elite 8 participant American Barry Brown Jr who played in the G-League as a rookie with the Iowa Wolves averaging 13.3ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 83.1%. Often guys coming from the G-League, don’t understand how you play the right way overseas, but he has had no adjustment period being that consistent reliable scorer as he hit Crailsheim for 30 points and Chemnitz for 28 points. ‘He brings his 1 on 1 game to a whole new level. I don’t think no one in the league can stay in front of him. He defiantly has some of the G-league ability in his game to go for 30 on any given night. He just adds another dimension into our team when he comes in. He gives that extra jolt of offense when he plays’, said Jaleen Smith. Another player that has been very vital for the team success has been Cuban/German Yorman Polas Bartolo who is mainly known as that lock down defender, but over the years has developed a very versatile offensive game. He is one of those players that could be the difference between a title and not. ‘Having another defender like Yorman is amazing to learn from. I just be watching him in practice how he plays and he plays super had and he’s super competitive during games. He’s just a winner and you can see that’, stressed Jaleen Smith.

The American who last saw the movie Troy continues to make massive strides as a player. He is racking up insane stats with 15/7/5 stats in 35 minutes per game. Despite being the team leader, his drive to always get better is as strongly instilled in his mind as CSKA Moscow guard Mike James is to being the best guard in Europe. ‘Man looking at those numbers is insane. I still have to improve my three point shooting and my ability to finish in the lane, but what I’ve developed this season is a pull up jumper I can go to which has helped my game a lot’, added Jaleen Smith. His consistency this season is incredible as he has scored in double figures in 26 of 28 games. He has scored 20 points or more in six games, registered three double doubles and was close to a triple double against Wurzburg with 22 points, 11 boards and 8 dimes. He scored 26 points against Braunschweig and 24 points against BG Goettingen. Last season he had the opportunity to have the ball more in his hands instead of playing more off ball and that is something that has helped him continue to help grow his game this season. With so much scoring talent this season, he also has been able to help define another aspect of his game. ‘I think my playmaking skills has improved. I can really get my other teammates involved while also looking to create for my own shot’, commented Jaleen Smith. But there is still one thing missing from his game which could make the difference from being a top BBL player to being a reliable role player in the Euroleague. ‘I’m working on my consistent shooting throughout the season which is really the big hole in my game is I don’t shoot consistently from three’, warned Jaleen Smith. Besides continuing to grind and becoming that better player, Jaleen Smith has another thing engulfed in his head. Alba Berlin stuffed their title aspirations last season and this season the club may be ready for bringing that first title back to Ludwigsburg. ‘A lot of pieces are going to come into play to win a championship only time will tell’, warned Jaleen Smith. Not only Jaleen Smith is fixated on winning a title, but also his agent American Teddy Archer knows that no Maccabi Tel Aviv rumor will derail his client from the most important matter at hand. ‘It’s an honor to be mentioned with such a storied club, but Jaleen is working hard to bring a title to Ludwigsburg and isn’t getting ahead of himself’, warned Teddy Archer. 2021 will be a very interesting and exciting time for Jalen Smith as it could be a major turning point in his career. He has come a long way from his days at the University Of New Hampshire and is far from being satisfied. He has continued to move up the basketball ladder the last years and is still in route to climbing to the top. The easyCredit BBL continues to help bring guys up from lower divisions as Hamburg’s Kam Taylor who played in the pro B with Rhondorf has gotten interest from Alba Berlin for next season, ex pro B player Deandre Lansdowne who played with herten is trying to lead his team Strasburg into the Euroleague and who knows maybe next season we will see Jaleen Smith battling these guys in the Euroleague. It will be a Pro A reunion in the Euroleague.

COVID-19 can you finally go away Please! It has been more than a year since this damn Pandemic and so many people are dying and so many people are going crazy. The deaths are the worst but it also has been hurting so many aspects of life. Sport isn´t one of the most important things in life, but it can take you away from the hardships that so many are going through. The Fraport Skyliners have been pretty much gotten through the easyCredit BBL season ok in terms of players being tested and playing against clubs that had positive cases. But COVID-19 hit them last week while they were in full preparation for the tough game against top team MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. Their game against them on the road and in Wurzburg this week were postponed to a later date. This can always happen, but how bitter now in the down stretch part of the season. Frankfurt already had a tight schedule until the end, but now will have to play two more games in a short amount of period. With shots not being attempted on the court this week for the Fraport Skyliners it was time for Fraport Skyliner living legend Quantez Robertson to sit back and just shoot the breeze.

                It is 3:00 Pm on a Tuesday afternoon as I reach Fraport Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson. He was just released from practice. It wasn´t a normal practice, but a Zoom team workout. He had heard about being quarantined last week and quickly was tested like every other player. He isn´t amused that the quarantine won´t end until April 21^st.He and his teammates were really motivated about playing Ludwigsburg and Wurzburg, because they wanted to seek revenge for the two loses that they suffered earlier in the season. So instead of sweating on the court, the Fraport Skyliners now have to sweat in their apartments as they prepare for MBC next week. Every player has a exercise bike and basketball. The players and coaches conduct various 30 minute training sessions over Zoom during the day. The workouts consist of different exercise so the guys will remain fit. Despite the tough times, Robertson still hasn´t lost his humor. After a hard workout he joked who would be able to do more pushups him or ex teammate and friend Mike Morrison. “The way me arms feel now, he would win by maybe 2 push ups. My record is around 30”, smiled ex Auburn(NCAA) guard Quantez Robertson.

                With no games and just boring ZOOM conferences every day, it was only fitting to sit back and just shoot the breeze with Quantez Robertson. With the Fraport Skyliners season momentarily on hold, it gives Tez more time to follow what the other teams are doing. For big power house team FC Bayern Munich and Alba Berlin it doesn´t seem like it will be a cake walk to the final especially when you have the tough feisty Patrick led team MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. The last loses by Munich and Berlin didn´t surprise Robertson as he sees Hamburg being able to make a run in the playoffs. “Munich may have underestimated Braunschweig. Plus Braunschweig have been playing well as of late. Hamburg is a pretty good defensive minded team and had Berlin´s number that day. Hamburg has really come together well this season. They play an aggressive style of play and create a lot of opportunities on offense. They get out well onto the open court and big man Kotsar runs the floor really well. Ludwigsburg looks like a very strong competitor for the title”, warned Quantez Robertson. He also will give his all on the defensive end to help Matt Mobley win the scoring race. He can begin in his first game back stopping current top scorer of MBC Michal Michalak next week. “I think that Matt can win the BBL scoring title. If he keeps scoring the ball he can. Michalak has been shooting the ball and getting to the rim well. I will do my best to make it hard for him and make him take contested shoots and alter his shots”, said Quantez Robertson. He has faced many difficult players on the floor and was hard pressed to name just one. “There are too many guys to choose from. I have played against point guards, small forwards and even power forwards this season”, expressed Quantez Robertson.

                Just before I started to talk to Quantez Robertson, a massive easyCredit BBL news flash was released as new rising team Crailsheim Merlins announced that they had signed current Fraport Skyliners coach Sebastian Gleim. A rumor had surfaced last week about this as now the speculation can start about who will return back. Gordon Herbert is out of the picture. “I won´t return to Frankfurt. I hope to stay in the VTB League”, said Gordon Herbert. It didn´t take long for me to come up with some names and Tez had no problem giving his two cents about the possible candidates. An interesting guy is ex national player Denis Wucherer. He played with the Skyliners back in the day and as a coach did a fantastic job in Giessen and in Wurzburg despite struggling this season. “I like the way he coaches. He is tough and aggressive on the sidelines. We can hear him on the sidelines when he is talking to his players. The guys enjoy playing for him”, stressed Quantez Robertson. Another interesting candidate could be German Thomas Paech. He was an assistant in Trier and Berlin, but failed in his first two head coaching gigs in Vechta and Bonn. Having Klaus Perwas as a mentor could be an interesting thought. He is a very energetic coach. I know the guys in Vechta and Bonn liked playing for him. He and Klaus could be a good fit”, added Quantez Robertson. A coach I would love to see in Frankfurt would be Mike Taylor. He has a lot of energy and is a players coach. “I remember him in Ulm my first two seasons in Germany. It would be nice to see him back in Germany. It would be nice to finish my career for him”, warned Quantez Robertson. Just when I wanted to move on to the next topic, Tez blurted out how about Tyrone Mccoy? He is another good choice. Currently an assistant in Ulm and has head coaching experience in Artland and Tuebingen. “He is an ex Skyliner. I remember him in Artland and Tuebingen. I remember breaking his steal record when we played Ulm. Now I could rub it in his face”, joked Quantez Robertson. Ânother great catch would be ex Skyliner Derrick Allen. At the moment with Rasta Vechta. “He would be an interesting choice”, stated Quantez Robertson.

                Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and current Polish national coach Mike Taylor in Ulm in 2008

Quantez Robertson has played with very many teammates over his long 12 year career so there really wasn´t a better time to shoot the breeze about them. You might think that Tez is only playing video games and on Netflix all day, but no he keeps excellent tabs about his ex teammates. He had no difficulty telling me Trae Holder was back in Germany. The ex Arizona State guard was a rookie with Frankfurt two years ago and recently latched on to Pro A team Nurnberg. “It didn´t surprise me that he scored 39 points last weekend. I knew he was capable of that. He showed it with us having some big games at home and on the road”, remembered Quantez Robertson. Two ex teammates that he will never forget are the German twin towers Joe Voigtmann and Danilo Barthel that have become Euroleague veterans playing this season in Russia and Turkey. “I think what would stick out the most today if I were to practice with them would be that Joe is more of a perimeter guy and Danilo more of an inside guy. Joe played the three a lot this season”, said Quantez Robertson. One player Tez saw develop from 15 to 18 was Isaac Bonga who is playing his third year in the NBA. After a tough rookie season with the Lakers, he has played with the Washington Wizards the last two seasons. Last season he was a solid role player that rebounded and played defense and often started. This season he has been downgraded hardly playing of getting DNP´s. Is he on thin ice with the Wizards? “No I don´t think so. The problem is that Westbrook and Beal hardly come out of the game. It is tough for him to get quality minutes. I think what he needs to do is put on more muscle mass so he can play the three. He is tall enough and moves well enough to guard small forwards. He would definitely see more playing time”, warned Quantez Robertson. Tez smiles when I mention ex teammate Aaron Dornekamp. He like Tez is a guy that always took care of his body and worked ahrd. That is why he is still playing at  ahigh level in the ACB in Spain with Tenerife. Tez knows who will play longer, but then becomes very diplomatic. “I will probably play longer, but you never know. But you know what. Maybe we will hang it up at the same time”, smiled Quantez Robertson.Miles

                The list goes on and on with ex teammates and another is American Ramon Galloway who balled with Tez in the 2013-2014 season. Galloway can be classified as a true basketball globe trotter. He has been almost every where in Europe, South America, Middle American and the middle east. He was very close to have made the Orlando Magic in 2016. In his 8 professional seasons, he has played for 18 organizations something that really made Tez think. “That is wild. Sometimes it is tough for a player to find just one home in a season. I have noticed that he has played very well where ever he has played. I can imagine that it is tough to move around so much. You need to have the right mind set. I have been very blessed to have been able to play for only one team”, stressed Quantez Robertson. Another ex teammate was Brady Heslip who never meta rim he didn´t like. The G-League most three pointers made in a game record holder recently retired after cutting his career short. Tez has very fond memories of the ex Baylor(NCAA) sniper. “He took some very long three pointers. I remember him making some long three´s in practice where he didn´t even look at the rim. When he was square and had a good look, it was a very good chance it was going in. He was the best Canadian shooter that I ever played with”, said Quantez Robertson. Tez also had the opportunity to have played a few months with Jon Leuer. It was in the 2010-2011 season as there was the NBA lockout. Leuer is another player that Tez outlived on the court as he retired a few years ago. “He was a cool guy. It took him a while to get used to the European play. But he soon showed how good he was . He was a great inside player that stretched the floor well. He and Jermario Davidson fed off each other well”, remembered Quantez Robertson. He also was teammates with AJ Moye who´s career was cut short because of a stroke. “I talk to AJ every few weeks. He worked at the Mamba sports academy. It was fun being teammates. In pre season we spent a lot of time in the gym. He was a real gym rat. You couldn´t keep him out of there”, remembered Quantez Robertson. Last but not least is Zach Peacock. The ex Georgia State(NCAA) great is another player that doesn´t want to stop playing. He is three years younger than Robertson, but a guy like Tez that has always been consistent. After playing in Germany in his first three seasons in Giessen, Bremerhaven and Frankfurt, he has found a home in France. He is in his eighth season in France and sixth season with JL Bourg Basket (France-Jeep ELITE ProA). He seems to have taken after Tez and found love for only one team. “He has been doing great. He is captain of the team. He has always been at the top of the scoring list. I haven´t talked to him ina few weeks, but I keep tabs on him”, said Quantez Robertson.

So with so much time in his apartment and his family in the States, Quantez Robertson has a lot of time. Netflix never gets old with him even in these tough times. “I have watched a whole lot of movies and TV Shows. I recently watched Archer. When I get tired of that I play video games and when I get tired of that, I switch back to movies and TV”, smiled Quantez Robertson. Last week Quantez Robertson had something to smile about as he had a rare occurrence. Just before The club announced that it was hit with COVID, Quantez Robertson couldn´t believe his eyes when he saw a picture of himself in an Argentine newspaper. For once I wasn´t doing the reporting, but was reading about myself. I have had a massive history with the country and a city that I often visited in my life and they wanted to know what had happened to me. The article talks a lot about my basketball career and after a Skyliner home game a few weeks ago against Chemnitz, I was wearing  a jersey of the Argentine cities football team and Quantez Robertson was hamming it up with me. It was only obvious that only Quantez Robertson could be in this picture a guy I have followed from his first practice in the BCM in 2009. “That was fun. I have never been or played in South America, but it was pretty cool to be able to say I made the newspaper there. It was awesome to see”, stated Quantez Robertson.