Back in the day when a third grade school kid had produced good work on a math quiz of testing one´s division and times skills, one would get a small star plastered to your forehead and you would run home to mommy and be gleaming with joy while possibly being rewarded again with a tasty twinkie after a hard school day. In basketball it´s no different, if Kameron Taylor would have been rewarded with every amazing game and shot he had completed so far in this young season for the Dragons Rhondorf, his forehead would be hidden from site. The play of the Maryland native and ex Seton Hill(NCAA) standout has been brilliant again and brought joy again to the energetic Dragon Dome after two poor seasons where the club was clobbered in the Pro A two seasons ago winning only two contests while last season had to battle in the playdowns to secure a spot again in the Pro B this season. Taylor was averaging 23,8ppg, 6,0rpg and 4,1apg coming into the KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe  game and has totally dominated the Pro B leading his club to a refreshing 7-2 record this season. Even if he did play in the higher Pro A last season for Ehingen where he averaged 10,8ppg, you sometimes have to take a step back to make a step forward. He wooed fans three weeks ago with a spectacular buzzer beater against the Fraport Skyliners juniors at home and in the last two weeks has been brilliant as he combined for 69 points in the two wins at home against the EN Baskets Schwelm netting 37 points and the nail bitter win in Coburg where he dropped 32 points and help ice the cake with free throws in the last seconds preserving the 68-65 victory. Rhondorf went into the contest having found a consistent rhythm on defense again allowing an average of only 70 points per game in the last two and wanted to register their fifth home win of the season while Taylor was gunning for his third 30 plus game in a row of the season. The Dragons Rhondorf kept their winning ways, but Taylor didn´t reach his third 30 plus game of the season, but nobody noticed as the club pounded  KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe as 24 year old German Patrick Reusch had the game of his life pouring in 18 points while Kameron Taylor was derailed a bit in his minutes and points because of foul problems. After the big win, Taylor was raving about the fine effort his club displayed as he played only two minutes in the first half plus minus Kevin Thomas, the club still led 41-39 at the break. “Everybody stepped up today and it was a great team effort with great team basketball minus Kevin Thomas. We knew that we had to rebound well with Thomas and we did. We played solid defense forcing the opponent to many turnovers doing a good job keeping the man in front of us”, stressed ex Seton Hill(NCAA) standout Kameron Taylor. KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe totally fell apart in the third quarter and could never get back into the game after head coach Jaivon Harris was rejected and Rhondorf cruised out on a 22-7 run. “We played ok in the first half, but it wasn´t our best basketball. They came out more aggressive in the third quarter and forced us right away to two turnovers and scored. Then our coach was thrown out and they had the momentum. When Rhondorf has the momentum then they are very hard to beat at home”, stressed ex BG Karlsruhe guard Aaaron Schmitz.

A big key in the game was that everyone stepped up on the Dragons Rhondorf squad as Kameron Taylor was hit with two early fouls. It was the Germans Valentin Blass, Thomas Michel and Yannick Kneesch that carried the team along with 24 year old Patrick Resuch. The young German Reusch started his career with Bayer Uerdingen and came to Bonn in 2014. He worked his self up slowly playing two solid seasons in the Regionalliga averaging 10,5ppg and 12,9ppg and arrived in Rhondorf last season. Last season was also a process as his minutes increased more in the second half and he sparkled with his aggressive defense and timely offense especially in the playdowns. This season he was struck with a tough injury that held him back and it took him a while to reach his rhythm again. In the last weeks he was making some progress on the court as he got into the last three games. The early foul trouble from Kameron Taylor was like a blessing in disguise as the German jumped up from the bench and not only fulfilled his role, but much more scoring nine points in eight minutes in the first half. His consistent production didn´t end there as his magical play continued in the second half as he scored nine more points in eight more minutes finishing with 18 points in 18 minutes while Taylor finished with 16 points in 18 minutes. After the big win the German was thrilled with the big win and modest with his own achievement on the court. “It really helped me that I hit my first two shots. That raised my confidence to want to keep taking and making shots”, stressed Patrick Reusch. The instant production was no surprise to Taylor as he has seen it over and over in practice. “He plays so hard in practice and he was coming off an injury. He came in and proved he could produce. He saw me in foul trouble and knew the team needed scoring and stepped up”, stressed Kameron Taylor. Despite the foul trouble, Taylor was on triple double course, but because the game only has four quarters and not five was denied as he finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals in only 18 minutes. “I was mad about the fouls in the first half. I had my head down at half-time, but my team told me i´m good and I should just play my game. They gave me the confidence to execute in the second half”, stressed Kameron Taylor.

The Dragons Rhondorf were without Kevin Thomas who was home in Canada spending time with his sick dad. Both teams came out hot from downtown as KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe took the quick 6-3 lead with two trey´s from Croatian sniper LuKa Drezga and ex Speyer guard Aaron Schmitz as Rhondorf tallied with a Thomas Michel three. The first quarter remained a tight affair as there were four lead changes and no team ever led by more than three points. Michel gave Rhondorf their first lead 9-7 after he followed a Andreas Moeller basket. Drezga regained the lead for KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe with a trey only to see it melt with two buckets in a row by Michel who gave Rhondorf the 13-11 lead as Rhondorf were getting easy bucket after easy bucket inside as KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe was lacking physicality and good 1-1 defense. KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe got the lead back on Florian Rothenberg free throws 19-18, but in the last few minutes Patrick Reusch sparked Rhondorf with five points and Kneesch made a lay in keeping Rhondorf in front 24-22 after one quarter. “We did a good job compensating the foul trouble of Kameron Taylor and Kevin Thomas absence. We were attacking well and got easy baskets”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf assistant coach Max Schamborn. The Dragons Rhondorf were shooting 58% from the field and 25% from outside while KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe was shooting 43% from the field and 57% from outside. The Dragons Rhondorf had the 10-5 rebound edge and both teams had two turnovers apiece.

In the second quarter despite a slow start, the Dragons Rhondorf would control the quarter and lead by as much as eight points, but KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe clawed back and trailed by only two points at the break. KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe upped their intensity and aggressiveness on the defense end stopping Rhondorf on their first five possessions, but got only two buckets in the paint by German second Bundesliga Veteran Jeremy Black who averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds in six Pro A seasons. Taylor was hit with his third foul and left after a few seconds. However Rhondorf stuck together and were tough as nails as their two imports were off the floor and it was the Germans and Latvian Lion Ronalds Elksnis who brought the club back on a potent 13-3 run to retake the lead 37-29. In the run, Rhondorf totally crushed KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe in the paint area as they scored 11 points there. Viktor Frankl-Maus carried the team with his aggressiveness and crafty play netting eight points. Moeller made an offensive rebound and put back and Kneesch connected on a pretty running hook shot. Rhondorf also displayed their immaculate transition offense as KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe lost focus and intensity. KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe got out of their funk riding into the locker room at halftime with some momentum going on a 10-4 run to trail only 41-39. Dutch player and ex Tennessee State(NCAA) center Chaed Wellian hit a trey and scored inside while ex Speyer guard Banjamin Kaufhold made a pull up jumper while using Reusch´s body to flick the ball at and get back as he could find no teammate open in the inbounds pass and Drezga nailed a trey. “The second quarter wasn´t pretty. We didn´t have a good start as they stopped us on our first five possessions. But there were 2-3 situations where we rebounded well which led to transition baskets and helped us back into the game”, added Rhondorf assistant coach Max Schwamborn. The Dragons Rhondorf were shooting 44% from the field and 11% from the three point line while KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe shot 54% from the field and 58% from the three point line. Rhondorf had the 22-12 rebound edge and five turnovers while KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe had 10 turnovers.

The turning point of the contest occurred in the third quarter as KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe head coach Jaivon Harris was kicked out of the game and the Dragons Rhondorf launched a brutal 22-7 run to open up the game and the club would never look back. The Dragons Rhondorf got off to a quick start right away and went on a 8-2 run before Jaivon Harris was ejected. Kameron Taylor was back on the court and got very aggressive on the offensive end and scored twice as did his playmaking side kick Frankl-Maus as the home club led comfortably 49-41. Then came the ejection of KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe head coach Jaivon Harris. He had been at odds all game long with the referees and despite being warned by, he didn´t get a second warning as he was ousted from the game. This rattled KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe which propelled the Dragons Rhondorf to an unstoppable 21-7 run as three´s rained down for the basketball heaven as the club led 70-48. When the damaged had ended, KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe had witnessed six trey´s as the Dragons Rhondorf didn´t miss as the basket looked as big the ocean. Rhondorf got three point support from Michel with two and also from Frankl-Maus, Taylor, Blass and Kneesch. The Dragons Rhondorf kept up the pressure on offense as Taylor scored two more times inside and Reusch hit another trey as KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe trailed 77-54. “Coach Adelt told us at halftime that we had to improve our three point shooting. He said shoot if your open, but also go inside. We were open and shot and mostly scored”, smiled Kameron Taylor. “We had big problems trying to stop them in their run. We gave them too much room and let them score to easily”, added Aaron Schmitz. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 53% from the field and 33% from the parking lot while KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe shot 49% from the field and 44% from the parking lot. Rhondorf had the 31-18 rebound edge and had seven turnovers while KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe had 15 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter there were no let downs by the Dragons Rhondorf as they finished strongly and also got solid input from players like Joe Kaschade and Fabian Vermun who got some extra garbage time. The Dragons Rhondorf started off quickly going on a 6-2 run to extend their lead to 83-56 as Reusch continued his stellar play with two drives inside that resulted in layins and a Michel layin. Both teams continued to score at ease while the defense took a break. Rhondorf had the huge lead and wouldn´t lose any more on this evening. The fans saw a pretty Kameron Taylor tap in alley-oop in which Geretzki dished him the perfect pass. Young German talent Anton Geretzki also hit a trey and  Alexander Moeller hit a jumper who had a solid game with nine points and five rebounds as Rhondorf led 92-67. Down the stretch KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe German Marcel Davis scored inside and Taylor added some fine tuning to his stat sheet with free throws closing out the 98-73 Rhondorf victory. “We never let up on the court. Our bench did a good job keeping the energy up and closing out the game”, expressed Kameron Taylor. “It is hard to come back when your down by 25 points. The mental part played a big role. Rhondorf continued to play their game and we couldn´t stop it”, stressed Aaron Schmitz. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Patrick Reusch with 18 points. Kameron taylor added 16 points.  As did Vikto Frankl-Maus. Thomas Michel added 13 points and Yannick Kneesch had 11 points. KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe were led by Luka Drezga with 20 points. Chaed Wellian supplied 14 points and Jeremy Black and Florian Rothenberg added 10 points apiece. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 52% from the field and 34% from outside while KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe shot 49% from the field and 39% from outside. Rhondorf won the rebound duel 39-27 and had only eight turnovers while KIT SC GEQOUS Karlsruhe coughed up the ball 19 times.

At the end of September head coach Rick Pitino was dismissed of his basketball duties at Louisville and where exactly ratiopharm Ulm guard Trey Lewis was when he had heard of the news over the social media, CNN or a phone call from an ex teammate is unknown, but any basketball fan would have loved to have been caught in his personal thoughts about the matter and a phrase like “Good riddance” or “That for sure didn´t surprise me” could easily have been in his mind. According to si.com Pitino´s employment contract and that allegations in the federal government complaint “insinuate a scheme of fraud and malfeasance'” in recruiting gave the school a reason to put Pitino on unpaid leave.  The short basketball career of Joseph Lewis has had his highs and lows as he played his first three years for two schools Penn State and Cleveland St. (NCAA) where he put up very strong stats and as a senior averaged 16.3ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 75.7%, but two Horizon League Tournament Semifinal runs denied him every player´s dream of playing at a NCAA tournament. Despite graduating from Cleveland State, he still had a season of eligibility to play and chose to play at Louisville a school that had captured two NCAA titles in the 80´s, but then dipped into obscurity until 2005 since then the school has reached two NCAA Final 4´s, two NCAA Elite 8´s and won it all in 2013. In the 2015-2016 season, Lewis and the Cardinals had a great season and a record of 23-8 and were 12-6 in the ACC, but it all didn´t matter, because shortly after the college basketball season started, the school announced that they were ineligible to play in the NCAA or ACC tournament on account of a recruiting scandal. After not winning anything at Cleveland State or at Louisville despite averaging 11.3ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 79.5%, he left Louisville with a big chip on his shoulder and probably unending thoughts in his mind and numerous “why me´s”. It didn´t help matters either that he couldn´t make any impact for his own cause on the court at the NBA Pro Summer League in Las Vegas (Cleveland Cavaliers) as he hardly got a chance in 5 games averaging 1,4ppg. His chip on his shoulder was growing and continuing to be an annoying reminder each day about his career and as heavy as if Terrance “pot Roast” Knighton was resting on his shoulder. The American from Garfield Heights stayed calm and let his agency Priority Sports go to work and prompt found him a good situation in Germany with medi Bayreuth last season. He was the main offensive force on a team that hadn´t been to the playoffs since the 90´s and brought the small Bavarian city back to life and back on the map since 2011 where there was the funny Kevin Durant rumors of him going to play there during the NBA lockout. Last season Lewis was brilliant as a rookie averaging 15.3ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 44.7%, FT: 93.8%. He had no problems adjusting to the European game. Last season he took almost six three´s per game, but not only his shooting was adored by the fans, but also his drive and free throw accuracy. He came on a mission with a chip on his shoulder and delivered. The club lost in the playoffs to a strong and confident Oldenburg team, but he did his share averaging 19,0ppg and shot a massive 11-24 from outside. A couple breaks here and here and medi Bayreuth could have been in the semi´s. This season Lewis has made the jump to top team ratiopharm Ulm and has the difficult task of replacing ex NBA player Chris Babb, but so far he has done a fine job as his stats are up, but the only negative thing is the team started off slowly. His stats might not be as high as last season as he is simply engulfed with more scoring options but he is being effective. Averaging 12,8ppg, 1,9rpg and 2,1apg and really been great in the Eurocup averaging 13,8ppg, 1,0rpg and 3,0apg while shooting 42,4% from outside. Lewis will make the next step in Ulm and improve once again just because of the vast talent on the team, but one thing won´t disappear so quickly. He continues to play with an urgency and angriness that really has propelled his game to another level. He had his lows in the NCAA and really was robbed at Louisville and it just will take some basketball time for that to heal so in the meantime he will take it out on his opponents. His chip will still be clinging on his shoulder and feeling like it could physically maim him sometime as it won´t get any lighter even as his team is crawling out of it´s hole clinging on to a three game winning streak in the BBL at the moment.

Sometimes things change so rapidly that one forgets just how wonderful basketball times were last season. Last season ratiopharm Ulm didn´t lose their first regular season game until April 8^th against FC Bayern Munich where they pulled out 27 victories in a row setting off a new kind of excitement never witnessed before by a team other than a Bamberg or Alba Berlin or the Bayer Giants Leverkusen back in the day. But the club was unable to finish the job last season in the playoffs as all were expecting a Bamberg-ULM final, but instead lost a hard fought five game series against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. Their unstoppable offense fascinated everyone last season and rebounding helped them get out of jams on many occasions, but without their arsenal of offensive weapons, they would have landed farther back in the playoff places on account of their inconsistent defense. This season has been a nightmare so far for ratiopharm Ulm as they started off 1-5 and for anyone that took a three week vacation to the outback and were offline and came back and saw the BBL standings wouldn´t have believed the 1-5 start something that just seemed impossible on paper. Nobody expected the club to start as well as last season, but these horrible start shows just how valuable the loses of ex NBA player Chris Babb, top center Raymar Morgan, Augustine Rubit, Braydon Hobbs and Karsten Tadda was for the overall team chemistry. Their offense is far from reaching their peak and defense continues to be their achilles heel as they allow 80 points per game. But they have another potent offense as always and now it depends on just how good a coach Thorsten Leibenath is to get out of this black hole. In the last weeks, it has gotten better as the club is quietly climbing up the BBL ladder with a three game winning streak and currently in 10^th position.

Besides keeping their talented young Germans like David Kramer, Joschka Ferner, Bjoern Rohwer and Hungarian Marcell Pongo, the club also held on to Per Guenther, Da´sean Butler and Tim Ohlbrecht. Guenther is a 185cm point guard that will be turning 30 this season and is wedged between Rickey Paulding(since 2007 in Oldenburg) and Quantez Robertson(since 2009 in Frankfurt) as he arrived in Ulm in 2008 from Hagen and is the club´s absolute identity figure. His back problems have been persistent, but the ex German national player still belongs to the best point guards from Germany. He is trying to find his lethal three point accuracy from 2012-2015 where he averaged an amazing 47% and last season played 38 games averaging 8.0ppg, 1.2rpg, 3.4apg, FGP: 38.6%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 88.0%; In the Eurocup, he played 7 games averaging 9.1ppg, 1.0rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 36.8%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 84.6%. The German now has the task of not only leading his team to success, but grooming Ismet Akpinar and helping him reach the next level., Da´sean Butler is a 201cm forward from New Jersey that played at West Virginia(NCAA) and was drafted by the Miami Heat in 2010 and is playing his third season with Ulm. He has experience having played in countries like Latvia, Belgium, France and the D-League. Last season for ratiopharm Ulm he played 28 BBL games averaging 10.4ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 79.7%; In the Eurocup, he played 13 games averaging 9.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 60.0%. The versatile American who can play both forward positions will be relied on to help carry the team since he has been a consistent contributor the last two years and be a good role model for the new players. Tim Ohlbrecht is a 30 year old 201cm forward/center playing his third season with the team. The ex NBA player who played 3 games with Houston is the most experienced player on the squad playing his first BBL game at age 16 with Leverkusen and also played for teams like Bonn ,Frankfurt and Enisey Krasnoyarsk (Russia-VTB). Last season the two time D-League champion was plagued with injuries and played only 16 games averaging 12.4ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP-2(69.1%), 3PT: 43.8%, FT: 88.9%; In the Eurocup, he played 8 games averaging 9.1ppg, 3.1rpg, FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 72.2%. His inside out game and experience will help the team most this season.

Besides Joseph Lewis, the team also brought in five new players with ex NBA players Luke Haragody and Toure Murray as well as Ryan Thompson, Isaac Fotu and Ismet Akpinar. The club has been known of liking to haul in ex NBA players and with Harangody did just that. The 29 year old 202cm undersized forward is an ex Notre Dame(NCAA) standout who averaged 21,8ppg and 9,1rpg as a senior and was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2010 playing 70 NBA games for Boston and Cleveland. He has had a solid European career since 2013 playing in Russia, Spain and Turkey and the last two seasons balled for Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) playing 23 games averaging 8.8ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 66.7%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 74.1%;In the Euroleague, he played 28 games averaging 3.9ppg, 2.5rpg. His 62 Euroleague games will help the team as well as his consistent scoring and rebounding and should be that Jack Cooley type dominant player in the BBL. Murray is a 29 year old 196cm American that can play the positions 1-3 and is in his second season in Europe. Last season he played with Yesilgiresun Belediye (Turkey-BSL playing 6 games averaging 8.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 78.6%. After playing only 75 NBA games for teams like New York, Washington and Utah and playing with 5 G-League teams, the American is concentrating on Europe. He could easily be an impact player overseas, but so far hasn´t found his place in the Ulm rotation. His defense, scoring and creative impulses will only help ratiopharm Ulm get back on track if he gets the chance. Ryan Thompson is a 29 year old 198cm forward playing his eighth professional season and third in Germany after stops in Bamberg and Bonn. The ex Rider(NCAA) standout has extensive experience having played in Italy, Belgium, Serbia and Turkey. Last season the Belgium cup winner with Ostende played with the Telekom Baskets Bonn (Germany-BBL) playing 35 BBL games averaging 13.7ppg, 2.1rpg, 3.1apg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 84.2%; In the FIBA Europe Cup, he played 12 games averaging 9.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.9apg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 28.0%, FT: 72.7%. The American could be the X-factor this season as the exceptional one on one player who can also shoot the three will be able to decide games in crunch-time. Isaac Fotu is a 24 year old 203cm forward that has the Tonga/New Zealand citizenship that played at the University of Hawaii (NCAA) and the last three seasons in the Spanish ACB and last season with Tecnyconta Zaragoza (Spain-Liga Endesa) played 32 games averaging 9.5ppg, 5.7rpg, FGP: 66.9%, 3PT: 8.7%, FT: 58.9%. The physical big man will bring the needed muscle and be a consistent scorer, but also an impact player on the defensive end. Ismet Akpinar is a 190cm point guard that is playing his fifth BBL season and is only 22 years of age. He made his breakthrough with Alba Berlin as Sasa Obradovic believed in his abilities and in the last two seasons got more responsibility and grew as a player and became a German national player last summer. Last season with Alba Berlin, he played 37 BBL games averaging 4.4ppg, 1.4rpg, 1.1apg; In the Eurocup, he played 14 games averaging 3.6ppg, 1.2rpg, 1.2apg. The German with Turkish roots is a good scoring point guard that likes the floater and can find his teammates will be a suitable back up to Guenther.The club recently brought in big man Jerrelle Benimon for inside insurance who is a 26 year old 203cm forward from Warrenton, Virginia playing his fourth professional season. After not getting a real chance at Georgetown, He finished at Towson (NCAA) and had a stellar senior season playing 32 games averaging 19.0ppg, Reb-3(11.6rpg), 3.7apg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 55.3%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 72.3%. AS a rookie he played one NBA game with the Utah Jazz, but stayed the rest of the season with the  Idaho Stampede (D-League) playing 44 games averaging 19.8ppg, 11.0rpg, 4.4apg, 1.1spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 63.6%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 62.9%. He chased the bucks the last two seasons in China and last season played with Qingdao Double Star Eagles (China-CBA) playing 17 games averaging 18.9ppg, 10.4rpg, 2.4apg, 1.5spg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 10.0%, FT: 72.3%. He will make an impact in the paint for the club.

So where will the journey of ratiopharm Ulm go this season?   On paper they are just as deep as last season, but with their immense loses especially with Babb and Morgan is lacking in having kept that dominant team chemistry of last season. When looking at the first nine games and 4-5 record, one could say they are underachieving and it can only get better. Their offense is only average and their defense so far is horrible which has resulted in the less than satisfactory start. In four of the first five loses they averaged giving up 85 points and played under expectations on offense. The season is still young and ratiopharm Ulm is going through a process that will only get better. New imports Ryan Thompson and usual consistent player Da´sean Butler are still searching for their groove while Toure Murray has been a bust. Those are three players that could help give the team between 30-40 points. Ratiopharm Ulm won´t win as many games as last season, but they will still reach the playoffs. The club will find their rhythm on offense and be an 80 plus scoring team, but their major goal will be to get some sort of defensive consistency which will be the difference between a longer playoff stay or a three and out playoff run. Ratiopharm Ullm will finish between 5-8 and in the playoffs anything is possible with a team like ratiopharm Ulm that has the personal to beat any team in a playoff series which they demonstrated over the last years reaching the final.

 

 

Michael Holton JR is a 26 year old 185cm guard from Portland, Oregon that is playing his second professional season and first in Germany with  RSV Eintracht Stahnsdorf (Germany-ProB).Currently he is averaging 19,6ppg, 4,7rpg and 3,4apg and shooting 44% from outside As a rookie two years ago he played with ECE Bulls Kapfenberg (Austria-A Bundesliga) playing 38 games averaging 8.4ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 75.7%; He also played 6 FIBA Europe Cup games averaging 10.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 27.6%, FT: 87.5%. He started his basketball career in 2010 at St.Michael’s (NCAA2) and as a senior played 17 games averaging 14.9ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 79.6%. He spoke to German Hoops late in the summer about basketball.

 

 

 

 

Michael thanks for talking to German Hoops. It has been almost 16 months since your last professional game against Wels. Please explain how hungry you are to get back on the court in a professional game?

 

Hey Miles, thanks for having me I appreciate it. It’s been a long 16 months since that last professional game and I am extremely hungry to get back out on the floor and compete at a high level again.

 

 

You have signed with German Pro B team Stahnsdorf. How difficult was the last season not playing the game you love? Did you ever have doubt that your career would continue?

 

 

Watching this last season come and go without being on a team was a really difficult challenge for me to navigate. I’ve been on a team year after year since I was very young. There were definitely a lot of moments of frustration, but I never let doubt fully creep in and used my situation to fuel me to keep getting better and preparing for another opportunity.

 

 

You played your rookie season in Austria and now are coming to the German Pro B league. Do you feel pressure to have to really make a statement in your game or are you the type of player that just let´s the game come to you and let the rest fall in place?

 

As a competitor you always want to go out and make a statement with your performance, and for me that has always been important especially with trying to crack my way into the pros. Overall I am more of the type of player to let the game flow and have it come to me. Any pressure I have is never external and only internal as a driver to keep pushing forward and improving.

 

 

 

What was the main reason for you joining Stahnsdorf? What sold you most on coming to play for them?

 

I’ve wanted to play in Germany for some time now and the opportunity with Stahnsdorf is a good one for me. They believed in me enough to give me an opportunity after a “year off”. With the way their season ended last year and coming into this year you could say that some may have counted them out. I see my situation as a similar one, and think it’s a good fit for both the team and myself to go out there and turn things around this year.

 

 

You have been impressed by the motivation of the club in the early going. The club has two Americans with you and Josh Smith and talented Germans. What has impressed you most about this bunch of guys in the early going?

 

Everybody has been working really hard early on here in the preseason and I can really tell that we have a great group of guys who are ready to train hard and go out and compete.

The club has a new Head coach Denis Toroman who has coached in 8 countries. Have you felt his experience come through in the early going and what has impressed you most about his coaching style?

 

I really like Coach Toroman’s approach. He has a lot of on court experience and it’s clear that he knows a lot about the game, especially from the players’ perspective. With him playing previously at a high European level it comes out in his coaching style and he’s able to coach and take us through a lot of situations on the court as well as talk about the mindset you need to have as a player.

 

 

 

Let´s talk about your game. You are a point guard that demonstrated that you could score in college. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player to whom would you do that?

 

 

I like to think that everybody has their own game and playing style including myself, but Damian Lillard is one of my favorite guards to watch and if I could model my game after an NBA player it would be him.

 

 

What other strengths do you have? You never averaged more than 3,6apg. Do you feel like you could really heighten your playmaking this season and not be relied on so much to only score?

 

I shoot the ball very well and this has been a big part of my game and has also often enabled me to play off the ball for previous teams I’ve been on. Increasing my playmaking is definitely something I’m conscious of and want to continue improving in.

 

 

 

 

You’re a player that can really fill up the stat sheet, but what do you feel is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the court?

 

 

My ability to set other guys up by keeping good spacing.

 

 

AS a rookie you played for ECE Bulls Kapfenberg (Austria-A Bundesliga) playing 38 games averaging 8.4ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 75.7%; You also played FIBA Europe Cup: playing 6 games averaging 10.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 27.6%, FT: 87.5%. What was your wake up call to being a rookie in Europe where you knew that you were far away from home in Portland, Oregon?

 

I’d say the biggest wake up call for me as a rookie was seeing the business side of the game. Before reaching the professional level you don’t see guys on your team being sent home or new guys being added in the middle of the season as well as on the other teams in your league that you’re playing against. So just adjusting your mindset for that and being steady in your routines and controlling what you do was a big learning piece for me.

 

 

 

 

How vital was 35 year old veteran Shawn Ray in your rookie season. Did he take you under his wing in the early game and what did you appreciate most by his presence?

 

I’m extremely glad that I had Shawn Ray as a veteran on my team in my first season. He definitely took me under his wing as a rookie and we’re still close today and talk to each other pretty often. I learned a lot from him and really admire how he has turned coming from a smaller college into a lengthy and successful professional career abroad. He embodies what it is to be a pro from his professionalism on the court to his consistency in his routines off the court that have always kept him in shape and ready.

 

You had some big games in the Austrian league and also hit Cantu and Boras for 20 plus points in the Fiba Europe Cup. Will you keep these highlights in the back of your mind this season when you continue your quest of climbing the basketball ladder in Europe?

 

Sure. I think that you can always use experiences and learn from both the good and the bad. So I look at the moments where I wasn’t at my best and keep working to improve on those areas and situations, and then with the highlights I use them as confidence for myself that I belong and that I can keep climbing and moving forward in my career.

 

 

Your dad played in the NBA in the 80´s with teams Phoenix, Chicago, Portland and Charlotte, coached at the college ranks and is a color man for the Portland Trailblazers at the moment. How was it growing up with an NBA dad and what special NBA stories do you have?

 

 

What stands out most for me having a dad who played in the NBA and coached in college is that I’ve always been able to be around the game and continually watch and learn. I’ve been in gyms for as long as I can remember and have observed a lot. He played in a golden era of the NBA with and against a lot of legends, there’s just too many stories to tell one. His path wasn’t clear cut and he bounced around a bit with the CBA and was on a couple of 10-day contracts at times but he turned it into 6 years in the league. I’ve always admired the drive he had to keep pursuing his career.

 

 

 

You played at ST Michaels from 2010-2015 . You had many memorable games, but was your 36 points game in the win against Bentley your most memorable experience on the court?

That was a special game individually for me, but my most memorable game at Saint Mike’s would be one from my sophomore season on the road at Southern Connecticut State. We were the underdog and it went into 4 overtimes, we pulled out the win, and had 3 guys score over 20. A lot of big time plays were made from everybody on the team to pull out the win and the feeling afterwards was really special.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How did head coach Josh Meyer groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

 

 

Coach Meyer took over as head coach for my last 2 seasons and he really helped me mentally to mature as a player and a leader especially at a time when I went from being an underclassman to being in my final years.

 

 

 

Who won a one on one in practice you or Corey Crawford?

 

 

Corey Crawford is one of the hardest working players I know and we spent a lot of time preparing together in the off-seasons. We had a mutual admiration and respect for each other’s games. I’ll tell you that I would win one on one every time against him, and he would tell you that he’d win one on one against me every time. That’s just how we are as competitors. So, me. I would win.

 

 

Who was the toughest player you battled in the states in high school or college time that is in the NBA or in Europe now?

 

There’s a lot of guys I could mention. Avery Bradley and I were on the same AAU team for a brief period in high school, on the Portland Legends. He was a killer on both ends of the floor. Going against him consistently in practices getting ready for tournaments, I saw why he’s an elite defender and starter in the NBA now.

 

 

 

 

 

If you had to construct your own NBA Rushmore which 4 heads would you chose?

 

 

 

Jordan, Kareem, Magic, LeBron.

 

 

 

Lebron James failed to win his fourth NBA title and is still three away from Michael Jordan. Where does Lebron stand right now in your opinion in the never ending debate of who is the best of all-time?

 

Jordan is the best to ever do it. LeBron is also unlike any player we’ve seen before and his career is far from finished. Depending on how he ends his career he could end up being the greatest.

 

 

 

 

There has been criticism of Russell Westbrook to be focusing more on rebounding to help inflate his stats and possibilities of getting triple doubles instead of focusing on his defensive assignments. Do you feel that this is a fair assessment to the player Russell Westbrook?

 

 

I think that people have always and will always have something negative to say about Westbrook for some reason. Do you realize how special you have to be to inflate a stat like rebounding? I think that’s silly. The guy is incredible and anybody who averages a triple double is doing something valuable for their team. He deserved MVP.

 

 

 

 

How do you summarize the 2017 NBA Draft. What sleepers do you see playing a role in the NBA?

 

 

 

This year’s draft was loaded with talent and exciting players. I think maybe 2nd rounder Jordan Bell will find his niche. He plays great defense and has a good motor. He could end up being another valuable piece for the Warriors.

 

Where will the journey of the Houston Rockets go this season with Chris Paul and James Harden in the back court. Do they have enough to make a serious run at the title or is something missing?

 

I really don’t know what to expect from this situation. They’re two of the top guards in the league with the ball in their hands. It will be exciting to watch how they share roles on the team and see how it will elevate the players around them. Rockets have some good defenders and shooters which makes them tough, but the West is just going to be really hard to get out of.

 

 

 

 

How do you rate the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade? Who got the better deal and which team will profit better in the long run?

 

I was shocked when I saw this trade go through. Both teams lost and received value. Cavs got more in the short term, and a lot obviously depends on if LeBron remains there for a while or not. If Kyrie fits well in Boston they could be in a great position for some years to come due to the young talent that he will have around him.

 

 

 

 

What was the last movie that you saw?

 

Get Out.

 

Thanks Michael for the chat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eniel Polynice is a 28 year old 196cm guard from Sarasota, Florida that has played six professional seasons and gathered vast experience having played in countries like the states, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, Puerto Rico and France. His uncle is 17 year NBA veteran Olden Polynice and his cousin is Euroleague player James Nunnally.  Last season he played with Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (France-ProB) playing 8 games averaging 9.4ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 66.7%. He played at  Mississippi (NCAA) from 2006-2010 playing a total of 99 NCAA games and in his last season played 33 games averaging 8.8ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.9apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.9%, 3PT: 24.2%, FT: 67.9%. He played his last season of NCAA ball with Seton Hall (NCAA) playing 31 games averaging 3.8ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.0apg. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

 

 

Eniel thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

 

 

I am in France now. I am working out with a team and just waiting for the right call.

 

 

You are still unsigned. Your 28 years old and have six seasons of professional experience. Last season you also got signed late. Do you get a bit more uneasy each season as you get older about getting another job?

 

Every year is a new year and I am just thankful to still being playing the game I love.

 

 

 

 

You played in North and South America for your first five seasons and moved to Europe last season for the first time playing with Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (France-ProB). Why do you feel did it take you so long to get to Europe?

 

 

I played in South America and kept going back because I was chasing the money.

 

 

Last season with Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball you came in mid season playing 8 games averaging 9.4ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 66.7%. You didn´t seem to need any real adjustment period. With your age and having played only one season in Europe so far do you feel an extended hunger for basketball in Europe like a rookie?

 

 

My hunger is the same each season. My goal is to play professional basketball for 10-12 years.

 

 

 

What is your biggest strength that will continue to help a team in Europe?

 

 

My strength is that I am versatile and can play many positions. I have filled up the stat sheet wherever I have played. In France I played close to 20 minutes averaging 10,0ppg, 5,0rpg, 2,0apg, 45%fgp and 40% from outside.

 

 

You’re a guy that can fill the stat sheet very well, but what do you feel is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the court?

 

I feel that my defense doesn´t get the credit it deserves. I guarded the best players in college from Chris Lofton to John Wall.

 

 

 

 

If you could describe your game and to why you could help any team now how would you explain best in a few sentences?

 

 

I can help any team now because I am the type of player that likes to play up and down, pick and roll and am versatile.

 

 

After playing your whole career in North and South American what was your wake up call to your first season in Europe in France. Was being in a place like ST Quenten a good place where you could totally focus on basketball?

 

I was able to focus well in France at ST Quenten and kept my passion for the game.

 

 

You played your rookie season with the  Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League) playing 16 games averaging 6.3ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 58.3%. What kind of experience was that for you and when you look back at that experience how could you really measure how far you really were from the NBA in terms of what you had on talent?

 

Playing with the Los Angeles Defenders was a great learning experience being able to go up against NBA type guys on any night. I averaged close to 7,0ppg, 2,0rpg and 1,0apg in 16 minutes per game.

 

 

What vital things could you take from head coach Eric Musselman. Just how much can players profit from a coach in the D-League? How valuable is that player coach relationship in the D-League?

 

 

Coach is a great coach and has been for a while. He always made sure we were best prepared for every opponent.

 

What memories do you have of highly talented Courtney Fortson who at that time was between call up to the Los Angeles Clippers and now is making millions in Asia. Did his height limit him from an NBA career?

 

 

 

Courtney and I are best friends. Heck we are like brothers. I am proud of him that he came from nothing like me and is making millions now.

 

 

You played at Mississippi(NCAA) from 2006-2010. You played with many great players there like Terrico White, Chris Warren or Zach Graham just to mention a few. From what player did you profit the most from in that time on the court?

 

Playing there was great and amazing. I didn´t profit from anyone there. I have continued to keep watching film and continue to keep learning from others wherever I have played after.

 

 

 

You played with three very talented guys with Herb pope, Jeremy Hazell and Jordan Theodore. Theodore had tow brilliant seasons in Germany and Turkey and now will play in Italy with Milan. He told me earlier in the year in an interview he is ready for the NBA. Could he be the next Malcom Delaney and make to the NBA after some years in Europe?

 

 

Jeremy and Jordan are great guys that always worked hard. Everybody is trying to prove themselves while putting in the work year in and year out. We aren´t here to compete against each other, but too inspire others that you can do others things in life outside of the NBA.

 

Who won a one on one in practice you or Jeremy Hazell?

 

 

We never played, but that would be an interesting battle.

 

 

 

Who was the toughest player you battled in school that made it far as a professional?

 

 

John Wall.

 

Thanks Eniel for the chat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Nunnally is a 27 year old 201cm forward from California that is playing his sixth professional season and second with Fenerbahce Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) whom he helped win the 2017 Euroleague title averaging  5.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 43.2%, 3PT: 45.1%, FT: 87.0%. In the Turkish league he averaged 11.9ppg, 1.6rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT-1(57.1%), FT: 86.2%. He started his professional basketball career in 2012 with  Enosi Kalathosfairisis Kavalas (Greece-A1) playing 2 games averaging 9.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.5apg; Balkan League: 1 game: 11pts, 3reb, 1ast, then signed with the Bakersfield Jam (D-League) playing 51 games averaging 10.3ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 88.6%. In the 2013-2014 season he made the jump to the NBA playing with the Phoenix Suns (NBA) playing 9 games averaging 2.6ppg, 1.2rpg, played with the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) playing 4 games averaging 4.5ppg, 2.0rpg, played with the  Bakersfield Jam (D-League) playing 25 games averaging 18.4ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.1apg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 84.8%, played with the Frisco Texas Legends (D-League) playing 10 games averaging 17.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 60.3%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 78.1%, and played with the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) playing 9 games averaging 2.6ppg, 1.2rpg. In the 2014-2015 season he played with Tuenti Movil Estudiantes Madrid (Spain-Liga Endesa) playing 7 games averaging 9.4ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 58.1%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 75.0%, and also played with Maccabi Ashdod (Israel-Winner League) playing 24 games: Score-4(17.1ppg), 7.8rpg, 3.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 80.0%. In the 2015-2016 season he played with Scandone Avellino (Italy-Serie A) playing 40 games: Score-3(18.4ppg), 4.2rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT-2(90.8%). He played at UCSB (NCAA) from 2008-2012 playing a total of 122 NCAA games and as a senior played 30 games averaging 15.7ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 37.2%, FT: 79.8%. He spoke to German Hoops  before the Euroleague game against Brose Bamberg in Bamberg,

 

 

 

 

James thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome back to Germany. Last season you swept the series against Brose Bamberg. Had that been your first time in Germany or had you been there before?

 

No that had been my second time. My first visit to Germany was when I played with Italian team Avellino and we played in a pre season tournament in Hagen. I remember a couple of good games. The fans were crazy there. It was a good experience.

 

 

 

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball. Do you have any friends playing here?

 

One of my good buddies is Peyton Siva who plays for Alba Berlin. I also played briefly with Dennis Schroeder with the Atlanta Hawks and my sister in law is German.

 

 

 

Last season you won a nail bitter at home by one point and won on the road in an also tight game. What memories do you have of last season´s victory in Bamberg?

 

 

The fans were crazy in Bamberg. We actually had quite a few Turkish fans in Bamberg so the fan support seemed even. It got really loud in that arena when the game got tight. Bamberg had great fans.

 

 

What was your impression of Bamberg last season? They had a very good team and with some breaks might have gone farther in the Euroleague. Did you see that also?

 

They were a talented team. I remember Darius Miller who was their best 1-1 scorer and also Daniel Theis who is a big time hustle guy that always brought great energy.

 

 

This season they are struggling with the BBL and Euroleague as the team had a big facelift. What kind of game can we await and what will be key to winning?

 

Every game in the Euroleague is a fight. You battle each game and have to fight for everything.

 

Has Brad Wanamaker told some interesting stories from his time here? How have you sensed his demeanor coming back to an old stomping ground?

 

 

 

 

He hasn´t talked so much about the basketball side, but said the city wasn´t big, but just chill. You had to find things to do. I do sense that he wants to play his old team again though.

 

 

If some bold person had told you in the summer of 2009 after your freshman year at UCSB that 8 years later you would have played in the NBA and won the Euroleague what would you have thought? How blessed are you with your life?

 

I don´t know. I probably would have believed those words, because I was confident in myself. I always knew what I wanted to do and playing professionally was it. People dream of these things happening and sometimes dreams come true. Dreams happen when you put in the work and I did that .Even if I have won titles and reached the NBA, I strive for more. I am always hungry.

 

 

 

After playing NBA Summer League from 2012-2016, you didn´t play this past summer after winning the Euroleague. Are you content now at age 27 to be a high profile Euroleague player and seek titles and put the NBA on the back burner?

 

 

 

I never want to say no. I am fine where I am now. If the opportunity presents itself then I would have to think about because the NBA is the best league in the world and has the best players. But the Euroleague has a great history, great competition and has good players also.

 

 

What was really the key component last season in the Euroleague win that allowed this special team to win it all?

 

 

 

 

We were an experienced team that was healthy and played together at the right time. The struggles we did have during the season helped us turn things around and play our best basketball when we needed it most.

 

The club kept a majority of players from last season title team and added Brad Wanamaker and Nicolo Melli. Does the team feel much pressure to repeat and is the “we believe” feeling in your minds already now?

 

The season just started and we are still feeling each other out and still trying to gel with each other. We did get new players that have to learn a new system. That takes time.

 

 

 

After coming from the NBA in 2014, you got your feet wet again in Europe in Spain and Israel and the season after moved to Scandone Avellino (Italy-Serie A) playing 40 games: Score-3(18.4ppg), 4.2rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT-2(90.8%). Do you feel like this was your true breakout season in Europe which was something like your Euroleague screen test?

 

 

My time in Italy with Avellino made me like basketball again. I wasn´t enjoying basketball before that. I wasn´t treated well in Spain, but then I moved to Israel and I loved my time there. But I loved Avellino. That was a very special place for me. I got a chance to show there what I could do on the court. We had a lot of veterans which made it easier increasing my learning speed. I won the MVP there and I give a lot of credit to the coaching staff and my teammates.

 

 

 

How important was it having a guy like ex NBA player Alex Acker around who had seen it all in the NBA and returned back to Europe and has had a stellar career. Did his experience from having to make the transition back to Europe rub off on you?

 

 

Alex helped me in many different ways like with certain strategies on offense and defense. He was a good veteran to have and was a good friend off the court.

 

In the 2014-2015 season you came back to Europe and split time with  Tuenti Movil Estudiantes Madrid (Spain-Liga Endesa): 7 games: 9.4ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 58.1%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 75.0%, in Dec.’14 moved to Maccabi Ashdod (Israel-Winner League, starting five): 24 games: Score-4(17.1ppg), 7.8rpg, 3.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 80.0%. After moving from Spain to Israel you really blossomed. Was Israel a good example of how important a certain situation can be?

 

 

 

Yes Israel was a very good example of how important the certain situation can be. In Spain, I didn´t understand why the coach didn´t want us playing more than 20 minutes a game when all we had was one game per week. Spain simply wasn´t the right fit for me. Israel on the other hand was a different style and that fit the team best. We had very good players. We might not have had the best record, but made a great turnaround. When I arrived the team was 1-11, but when the season ended we were one game away from the playoffs. We were successful at the end because we talked things out and had to figure things out on our own.

 

You spent a season in the NBA and D-League in 2013-2014 with the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers and played with the Bakersfield Jam and Texas Legends. You had 10 day contracts and played 9 games with the 76ers and 4 games with the Atlanta Hawks. When you look back at your NBA gig, what did you appreciate most about the experience?

 

 

I appreciated how hard I had to work to reach the NBA. Dreams really can come true when hard works really pays off. I didn´t have the best opportunity to showcase my skills, but all in all the experience was a big blessing.

 

 

With Atlanta you saw the early development of German Dennis Schroeder who has kept developing. How far do you see a guy like him getting down the road? Could he become a top 5 NBA point guard?

 

 

Dennis has game. He could be a top 5 NBA point guard depending how hard he works. He still has a lot of upside. He was a gym rat. I remember going to the gym with him after games.

 

 

 

What did you learn about the NBA process? There are probably many less talented players than you that have stuck in the NBA. Has it bothered you that over the years despite showing your craft in the NBA Summer League that you didn´t get an another chance?

 

 

That is a great question. It has bothered me. I will not watch the next guy. I feel that I wasn´t in the right place at the right time. Some get in the right situation and then get a great chance.

 

I know you have played with hundreds of players and against thousands, but let´s see how good your memory is. In 2014 you played 5 NBA Summer League games with the Miami Heat and your teammate was German Danilo Barthel. Do you have any memory of him?

 

 

I don’t remember playing along with him in summer league maybe I missed him since I played with Indiana in The Orlando summer league prior to switching from Dallas to Miami in Las Vegas.

 

As a rookie you played briefly with Enosi Kalathosfairisis Kavalas (Greece-A1). What was your wake up call to being a rookie in Europe where you knew that you were very far away from home in California?

 

 

I had no wake up call there at first. I wanted to go there, but my agent told me not to. I should have listened to him but I was thinking to much of the money. The club didn´t pay a big portion of my money and I eventually left. After going from practice to practice, playing games, and taking 16 hour bus rides to Bulgaria, I was just fed up and angry. I decided not to play the next game and threatened to leave, but the club wanted to keep me, but after still seeing no money, I left a few days later and flew back to San Francisco. Soon I was playing in the D-League with the Bakersfield Jam.

 

 

 

You played at UCSB from 2008-2012 winning two Big West tournaments. When looking back which one was sweeter?

 

 

The first one. There had been a huge drought at UCSB for years of losing and not reaching the tournament.

 

 

 

How did head coach Bob Williams groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

 

 

He was a hands on coach. He made you responsible for your mistakes. Also his assistant coaches played a big role as did he in getting me ready for professional ball.

 

 

What memories do you have of Orlando Johnson? How competitive was playing with him and going into your senior year, did either of you two ever mention the NBA being a possibility?

 

 

 

Yes we talked about the NBA. He is one of my best friends. Every practice with Orlando was very competitive. Coach always had to switch up the lineups, because when we played on the same team, we always won. He brought out the best in me and I brought out the best in him. He had a plan and reached the NBA playing three years there.

 

 

Who won a one on one in practice you or Orlando Johnson?

 

 

 

We also train together in the summer. He won his share and I won my share. He is a great one on one player that is very hard to stop.

 

 

 

 

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that is in the NBA now?

 

 

The fastest was Ty Lawson. He played with the great North Carolina teams with Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, Wayne Ellington, Tyler Zeller, Deon Thompson and Ed Davis. I remember that was my freshman year and my third game as we were in the  game and even led before halftime. Another tough player was Evan Turner who played with Ohio State.

 

 

 

If you had to construct your own NBA Rushmore which 4 heads would you chose?

 

Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq

 

 

 

 

 

Lebron James failed to win his fourth NBA title and is still three away from Michael Jordan. Where does Lebron stand right now in your opinion in the never ending debate of who is the best of all-time?

 

 

 

My list now is 1.Jordan 2 Kobe 3 Lebron

 

 

There has been criticism of Russell Westbrook to be focusing more on rebounding to help inflate his stats and possibilities of getting triple doubles instead of focusing on his defensive assignments. Do you feel that this is a fair assessment to the player Russell Westbrook?

 

 

Yes it is a fair assessment. He was on a bad team and was stacking his stats. I am big on winners like Tim Duncan who is one of my favorites of all-time.

 

 

 

 

How do you summarize the 2017 NBA Draft. What sleepers do you see playing a role in the NBA?

 

 

I didn´t follow the young boys much. Lonzo Ball will have a hard time because he has a target on his back. But Ball is very good. Ben Simmons will win rookie of the year.

 

 

 

Where will the journey of the Houston Rockets go this season with Chris Paul and James Harden in the back court. Do they have enough to make a serious run at the title or is something missing?

 

 

 

I don´t know. I think that they are missing a dominant big man.

 

 

How do you rate the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade? Who got the better deal and which team will profit better in the long run?

 

 

The deal was great for Kyrie Irving. I think it was messed up how Isaiah Thomas was treated. He did great for them and they just traded him. The deal is great for the Celtics long term.

 

 

Where will the journey of the Oklahoma Thunder go this season with Westbrook, George and Anthony? Can they make a serious run in the west?

 

No they can´t

 

 

 

 

 

What was the last movie that you saw?

 

 

 

I have been watching the TV series 24. It´s a great show.

 

 

Thanks James for the chat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ronalds Elksnis is a 24 year old 203cm forward from Latvia that is playing his first season in Germany with the Dragons Rhondorf. Last season he helped  BK Jelgava/BJSS (LBL2) win the Latvian division two title playing 34 games averaging 11.7ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP-3(63.2%), 3PT: 45.0%, FT: 82.0%. The season before he played with  Gulbenes Buki BJSS Riga (Latvia-LBL2) playing 23 games averaging 12.8ppg, Reb-5(10.0rpg), 3.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 21.7%, FT: 61.6%. He spent some years in the states at La Jolla Prep (Calif.) and played a year at Clark St. CC (JUCO) and John Brown (NAIA). Currently with the Dragons Rhondorf, he is averaging 3,3ppg and 1,9rpg. He spoke to German Hoops  at the end of the summer about basketball.

 

 

 

 

 

Ronalds thanks for talking to German Hoops. You are starting a new adventure in Germany this season. What will you miss most from your native country the abundance in snow or the food Rupimaize?

 

Thank you for reaching out me! I am not going to miss snow thats for sure! For me, its not the first I am away from home forav long time period. But I will definitely miss my family, girlfriend, close friends and my dog LeBron.

 

 

 

Welcome to Germany. You won the Latvian second league title last season with BK Jelgava/BJSS (LBL2). Was there never any thought about going into the first division and play against better competition and top teams like VEF Riga or Ventspils?

 

 

Yeah it was a thought and opportunity. In the same time, I wanted to go play pro ball outside the Latvia. I believe I made the right choice, because it will help me now and further in career.

 

 

 

 

What do you know in general about the country and Germany? How much of a basketball presence does Germany have in Latvia?

 

I have been a couple times in Germany already. So I know the language very well, and the country doesn’t feel so strange for me. I think there are not so many player German players in Latvia. But everyone know that German basketball system is one of the most developed in Europe.

 

 

 

 

You have joined the Dragons Rhondorf that are a very ambitious organization that played in the Pro A two seasons ago and underachieved last season. What sold you best about coming to this club?

 

 

The organization and team have huge goals, and I want to help them to succeed. They see me as a great fit in the team. I believe this place will help me to develop and improve my game better and get to the next level. Dragons Rhondorf have corporation with Telekom Basket Bonn, which is a great opportunity to showcase what you are capable to do to a higher level team.

 

 

What has been your early impression of head coach Thomas Adelt? He is in a similar position as you in that he also wants to prove himself at the next level.

 

 

He is very confident and settled as coach. Coach Thomas really wants to build that trust between player and coach, which helps a lot mentally for me. Off the court he is a great person, because we can talk about everything not only basketball. I can see a lot of potential in him as becoming a great coach.

 

 

 

How has he helped you most in the early going in helping you get adjusted to the German level? How has your game profited from him so far?

 

Coach wants me to play my game, and he trusts that I can make a huge impact at this level. In the early going I am just adjusting to the team, and speed of the game. I can bring that champion mentality in this team culture and help other teammates, which is very important.

 

 

 

The Dragons Rhondorf are very high on your skills and like your versatility. Would you consider yourself a modern day forward?

 

Probably yes, as a modern day forward. This summer I worked really hard on my game and my weaknesses. I can see myself as all-around player

 

 

You have a nice inside out game, but what other strengths do you have in your arsenal?

 

I believe I can bring a lot to the table, since I worked on my game this summer a lot. So I will let my game do all the talking.

 

 

 

 

You lived in the States in California and got your does of NBA when you lived there. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would you pick?

 

 

My comparison would be Danilo Galinari or Kevin Love. They are more like all- around PF, that can shoot the ball and do other stuff and are great offensively and defensively.

 

 

You are a player that can fill up the stat sheet, but what do you feel is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the court?

 

I make my teammates better around me. By communicating and talking on the court, help them use their strengths, always put confidence so they be efficient. At the same time,  I must be efficient, which is one of the other things that doesn’t get noticed right away.

 

 

 

What kind of experience was it playing with two sets of brothers with the Krumins and Justovics? What did you learn about brotherly love that you had never known about before?

 

First of all, I have brothers too, and I know a lot about brotherly love. Second, both Krumins are not related. But that aside, I learned many things from these experienced players. They helped me grow mentally, and show the passion what it takes to win games and even a championship. It was a great experience to play in such a team and players.

 

 

Two seasons ago you played with  Gulbenes Buki BJSS Riga (Latvia-LBL2): 23 games: 12.8ppg, Reb-5(10.0rpg), 3.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 21.7%, FT: 61.6% and last season with  BK Jelgava/BJSS (LBL2): 34 games: 11.7ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP-3(63.2%), 3PT: 45.0%, FT: 82.0%. How do you feel has your game developed further since coming back to Europe from the States?

 

It has developed a lot since coming back from States. Just in these two years I feel way more better than before. It feels good to focus on basketball, and have people around me, who really support me. I got my confidence back, which was really damaged when I played back in States. I am really happy how everything is moving forward and in the good way. Can’t wait to develop my game even more.

 

 

 

You spent time in the States at La Jolla Prep (Calif) as well as Clark St. CC (JUCO)
and John Brown (NAIA). How was this whole experience in the United States for you? What were the positives and did you have any negatives?

 

It was a definitely a huge life lesson for me. To be honest, overall it was the most negative experience. Of course, there were positive things like seeing how life is overseas, met new people, education, played with and against great players, saw many beautiful places and so on. but the whole experience, If I had a chance to go back in time and do this again, than I would say no.

 

 

 

 

How do you feel was the time in the States positive for your game and how did this time benefit your game that you wouldn´t have gotten had you stayed in Europe?

 

States basketball is more physical and athletic than European. During the time in college I learned how important is to have success as a team, and that it is not everything about me. I definitely learned how to play a more physical game. I learned how important is the communication on the court.

 

 

 

You didn´t get much of a chance at John Brown (NAIA) playing 19 games averaging 3.9ppg, 3.6rpg. Was one of your nicest memories when you scored eight points and hauled down nine rebounds in the win against Avila?

 

 
The whole season was pretty hard for me. I battled most of the season with two injuries. So its hard to say if I had any nice memories.

 

 

How did head coach Jason Beschta help your game at John Brown in the year that you were there? Did you incorporate any American basketball know how in your year there?

 

I believe he could helped me a lot more, but the year was not great for my health. So it was very difficult to make any progress in that situation, when you battle injuries and try to get healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

How did you profit from talented Austrian national player Maximilain Hofgartner at John Brown? How much did you push each other in practice and do you follow his career now?

 

 

He is good player with a lot of potential and talent. I believe we were two players that spent most of the time in gym/weight room. He has a great work ethics, and that´s why  I saw him a lot to work in the gym, so it kind of pushed me to work even harder. I know that it is his third season in Spain. I believe, he is doing pretty good there, since he will start his third season in Spain. I wish the best for him, and I know he is capable to be a great player in the future.

 

 

 

Who won a one on one in practice you or Maximilian Hopgartner?

 

Good question. It was going both ways. He was really good competition.

 

 

Did you have any funny experience concerning your name? I can imagine kids called you more Ronald than Ronalds simply because I can imagine American kids not being able to master the Ronalds on a regular basis.

 

 

That is so true. Well Ronald is familiar name to people in the States, because of the former president of USA Ronald Reagan. So I told everybody that you can call me Ron, which is way more easier. In college I got my favorite nick name The Latvian Lion, thanks to Coach Rob. So I will use that one a lot, but usually people call me Ron.

 

 

Did it seem like you lived in paradise at times in La Jolla California not far from San Diego? What was your most memorable experience off the court that you will never forget?

 

Oh man that place is just beautiful. Cali is one of the most amazing places I ever have been. Like the weather is perfect all year long, the beaches, people of different cultures, just a positive place. It seems like a paradise, not going to lie.

 

 

 

Who was the toughest player you battled in the states in high school or college time that is in the NBA or in Europe now?

 

From talent perspective and who has gone the furthest in career: Anthony Davis. There are other great names I played against like Doug McDermmot, Steven Adams, former first pick Anthony Bennet, and Latvian player Davis Bertans, and others

 

 

 

 

 

If you had to construct your own NBA Rushmore which 4 heads would you chose?

 

 

 

My own NBA Rushmore would be: LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Micheal Jordan.

 

 

 

Lebron James failed to win his fourth NBA title and is still three away from Michael Jordan. Where does Lebron stand right now in your opinion in the never ending debate of who is the best of all-time?

 

 

In my opinion, he is close to Jordan, like very close. I am LeBrons fan since high school to be honest. People just dont appreciate his greatness. There won´t be other player like him, that can attractspeople with his greatness. What things he does on the court are just unreal. I believe he will be all time greatest basketball player, but that´s just my opinion.

 

 

There has been criticism of Russell Westbrook to be focusing more on rebounding to help inflate his stats and possibilities of getting triple doubles instead of focusing on his defensive assignments. Do you feel that this is a fair assessment to the player Russell Westbrook?

 

 
I will put in this ways. Its great that he brokethe  record and won MVP. There is no question that he is one of the best players in the leauge. In my opinion, I would rather win Finals or Finals MVP, because I am more focused on team success and not individual awards.

 

 

 

 

How do you summarize the 2017 NBA Draft. What sleepers do you see playing a role in the NBA?

 

 

 

 

 

I think this years draft was not that great. I see that Jayson Tatum could make a major impact already in the league. I was impressed with Dennis Smith JR performance during summer league, he can play huge role in Dallas. Latvian player Anzejs Pasecniks got drafted this year to Magic, so he can get a chance.

Where will the journey of the Houston Rockets go this season with Chris Paul and James Harden in the back court. Do they have enough to make a serious run at the title or is something missing?

 

 

 

 

Well I am not a fan of James Harden´s game. I think Houston is not the right place for CP3. I believe they won´t make a serious run at the title. I don´t see CP3 and Harden cooperate that great on the court, but we will see.

 

 

What was the last movie that you saw?

 

Spider man: Homecoming. I am Marvel fan!

 

Thanks Ronalds for the chat

Adam Smith is a 25 year old 185cm point guard from Jonesboro, Georgia playing his second professional season and recently played with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-ProA) averaging 12,3ppg, 2,1rpg and 3,3apg and in the Basketball Champions League averaged 13,5ppg, 3,5rpg and 4,0apg. Last season as a rookie he played with Mec-Energy Roseto (Italy-Serie A2) playing 37 games: Score-2(23.6ppg), 3.0rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 86.8%. He played at three NCAA schools from 2011-2016 with NC-Wilmington, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech playing a total of 112 NCAA games. In his senior year with Georgia Tech he played 35 games averaging 15.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 39.5%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 80.3%. He was released from ES Chalon-Sur-Saone on the eve of their Basketball Champions League game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and spoke to German Hoops about his basketball career.

 

 

 

 

Adam thanks for talking to German Hoops. You didn´t make the trip to Germany to play in the Basketball Champions League against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg on account of being released by ES Chalon-Sur-Saone. Would this have been your first time in Germany or have you been here before?

 

 

I have stopped in Germany before and have some friends playing here. I have heard that the BBL is a really good league. Many of their teams play in Euroleague, BCL and Eurocup which is a big market. If you play well in Germany, you can attract a lot of attention.

 

 

You have a very common name. I knew a Adam Smith in grade school. How many Adam Smith´s have you come upon in your life

 

 

Honestly I have never met one in person. All like to make the reference to the famous economist Adam Smith and his book “Invisible Hand”. It inspired me to read his book. The book wasn´t really my cup of tea, but it intrigued me to read it.

 

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Do you have any friends playing professionally in Germany?

 

 

I know a few guys like Thomas Walkup who I would have played against in Ludwigsburg. We trained together a few summer ago in Phoenix with the Phoenix Suns. I also know Malik Mueller who plays with Bamberg. We were teammates at Virginia Tech for three years. Bryon Allen of the EWE Baskets is one of my good friends.

 

 

 

Your played briefly for Chalon putting up solid stats. After a great rookie season in Italy you needed no adjustment period. What were the main differences from the Italian Serie A-2 and the Pro A?

 

 

The level of competition was different. In France Pro A there was a lot of pick and roll, experienced players and it was very athletic. Plus you can use five Americans in France Pro A and only two in Italy 2. The adjustment wasn´t too big. I played shooting guard in Italy and point guard with Chalon.

 

 

 

 

Chalon have had some start problems in the France Pro A having a 1-7 record and lost five very close games that you could of won. Do you feel like the losing record is one of the reasons the club released you?

 

 

 

When teams lose at any level, they will look to make changes and look for the problems and make solutions. I think that losing so much made them in making the change with me. I have nothing bad to say about the organization Chalon. The club and I have to move forward. I learned a lot in the short time I was there. I thought that we were coming around. I felt we were improving. Losing makes you come together and you tend to fight harder in practice and games. I saw this fight and respected it a lot.

 

What is the next step for Adam Smith? I am sure you won´t be without a team long?

 

 

My agent and I are looking for our next best and right situation for me. I will take what I learned with Chalon and take it to my new team. I have nothing on the table yet and just waiting for the right opportunity. My stats were pretty good in Pro A and BCL and I would like to get with a team that is playing for a title. I feel that I could be a valuable piece for any team competing for a title.

 

 

How did it feel to be the leading scorer of Chalon in both the France Pro A and BCL that has talented and experienced guys like ex NBA players Kris Josepth, Mickale Gelable and Lance Harris?

 

 

It felt natural. It felt like I was playing my game. Scoring is simply what I am good at. I really loved playing in the Basketball Champions League. It is a very professional league. I really got up for those games and loved leading the team and it felt good except for the losing. I´ll never forget the Chalon fans. It was always a great atmosphere there. It is a very small French city and I was always amazed how well they supported their team. They are extremely loyal to the players and coach.

 

 

Does a young player like you feel in awe sometimes just being able to play and spend time with a guy like Mickale Gelable? Does the urge to ask some questions about his NBA days or time at Real Madrid come about or do you just leave him be?

 

 

We spoke a bit during my time there. He was a veteran and would come randomly to me giving advice while not saying so much. I learn important things from him like about how to handle one´s self at practice and at pre game. I just tried to soak in as much as possible form him.

 

 

Let´s talk about your game. You a pure scorer and have shown it from Jonesboro, through the NCAA at three schools and last season in Italy. Were you born with the scoring genes?

 

 

I think so. When I was five years old, my dad gave bought me a plastic ball and basket. That first night I took over 1000 shots. From then on, I just loved watching see the ball go through the hoop. It is the same way today. I just love being alone in the gym, putting on music and putting up 1500 shots. The gym is my sanctuary. Time flies by when I´m in the gym putting up shots.

 

 

Your obviously a guy that can score at ease, but also know when to set up your teammates, but if you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would come to mind?

 

 

I would say a Kyrie Irving. He can get to the basket when he wants to. I might not be able to do that as well as him, but I know how to shoot and find my teammates. I also have a nice variety moves and can shoot over any kind of guard. I can get all over the floor and get off any type of shot for myself or my teammates.

 

 

 

You’re a guy that can fill up the stat sheet, but what do you feel is a hidden strength in your game that isn´t always noticed right away on the court?

 

 

My leadership qualities is a hidden strength in my game. I have become more vocal and lead by example. I feel that I am very mature for my age. Veterans like Kris Josepth, and Mickale Gelable have respected that about me.

 

You put up great stats in the NCAA, but when you decided to attend Georgia Tech so you could pursue a Masters Degree in Music Technology you stated the words of wisdom ““Hopefully, I get a chance to play professional basketball,”  “But at some point, it’s going to end. Was there really some doubt in your mind that you couldn´t play professionally?

 

 

When your in college, you don´t really know anything else except what is going on there. I had known guys that had come over to Europe played ball and made money, but I myself had no idea what kind of process it was coming over here and being a professional basketball player. Coming over here is everybody´s dream. I was playing it safe when I made that quote, but really there was never any doubt in my mind that I could come over here and play professional ball. But you never know what can happen. You could suffer a career ending injury. You can only hope for the best.

 

Last season as a rookie you played for Mec-Energy Roseto (Italy-Serie A2) playing 37 games: Score-2(23.6ppg), 3.0rpg, 2.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 86.8%. What was your wake up call to being a rookie in Europe where you knew that you were very far away from home in Georgia?

 

 

I was in a really good spot. I was right on the beach with great food. The people were all nice and treated me well. They really made me feel at home and we were winning and there wasn´t any pressure or stress. I was blessed that the coaching staff and teammates let me play my game and be successful. I know there was some doubt coming in, but as soon as they saw what I could do, they gave me free reigns to lead the team.

 

 

 

Last season you scored 20 points or more 24 times in 37 games. The Italian Serie A-2 is very respected, but did you sometimes feel like a man playing among boys?

 

 

No, no, it wasn´t as easy as people may have thought. After a while teams really keyed in on me putting double teams or box and one´s which made it more difficult for me as a rookie. But that is part of being a great professional. You have to be really good and what you do really good. I had to find different ways of getting open and getting off shots.

 

 

You were the only American last season with Roseto along with Brandon Sherrod who like you was a rookie from Yale. How important were you for each other and did you become friends for life?

 

Yes we are friends for life. Brandon and I are super close. We still talk to this day. He is doing really well again this season in Italy. He is really well cultured. He is really into food and traveling. I learned a lot of things from him in how to respect different cultures and sites because of his willingness to go out and do different things.

 

 

You played at three schools with NC-Wilmington, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. How did you benefit most from playing at three schools instead of only having had that experience at one school?

 

A lot of people look at my track record and think it must have been hard to bounce around so much and never really gets settled in one place. I learned so much in my years with three different schools. I saw different coaching styles. I was on the beach at NC Wilmington, in the mountains at Virginia Tech and in the city with Georgia Tech. I lived in three different environments and it helped me learn a lot in a short amount of time. I faced some adversity, but also had some great times. I would advise people never to go to three schools, but to welcome as much change as possible. Some may be afraid of this, but I like it.

 

 

You were a freshman at NC-Wilmington (NCAA) in 2011-2012 and played 30 games averaging 13.9ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 42.4%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 83.8%. . You were teammates with scoring guard KK Simmons who was a rookie in Germany last season and is now playing in Austria. What memories do you have of his game and did it shock you that he finished in the NAIA?

 

KK is one of my best friends in life. He is one of the funniest guys that I know. His game is similar to his personality. I saw him shoot some crazy shoots that went in. We were roommates there. I wasn´t shocked that he finished his career in the NAIA. He takes situations that he feels most comfortable in. I know that he could have been successful as much at a high division one school as much as in the NAIA.

 

 

 

After a solid freshman season you transferred to Virginia Tech on account of academic reasons. You credit head coach Buzz Williams in being very instrumental in your basketball development in your two seasons there. How did he help shape your game best?

 

Coach Buzz taught me a lot about life. He showed me how to truly work. I thought that I had always worked hard until I came to Virginia Tech. He pushed me past limits that I honestly never thought I could reach. He helped me instill a crazy work ethic. He produced so many great players like Jimmy Butler, Jae Crowder or Wesley Matthews and numerous players in Europe. Every guy played hard and worked hard and it was all because of coach Buzz.

 

 

You played a season with talented German Mailk Mueller who is now on the roster of Euroleague team Brose Bamberg. What did you like most of his game and do you see him having a fine European career?

 

 

Malik is a very versatile player that can play the point guard position and if needed the stretch four because of his size. He is a good defender, is crafty and also plays hard. He is a great teammate and I see him having a long career in Europe.

 

 

You scored 15 points in a tough 91-86 OT loss to top NCAA school Duke that had a whole roster full of NBA players. When you remember the game of Tyus Jones does his skills and where he is now motivate you further each day to work harder in the gym?

 

 

Yes but not only Tyus. Not only Duke players, but the whole ACC is filled with NBA prospects. Playing against guys like that really lifts your confidence. I have trained a lot with Milwaukee Buck Malcolm Brogdan. He motivates me a lot and is one of the toughest players I have played against.

 

 

You played one more season at Georgia Tech (NCAA) playing 35 games averaging 15.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 39.5%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 80.3% After creaming South Carolina you lost to San Diego State in the NIT Elite 8. What was your most memorable game there?

 

 

 

My most memorable game was playing Clemson in the ACC tournament in the first round. We were down by 20-25 points coming down the stretch. We never gave up, but always fought. It was the hardest that we had fought the whole season. All of a sudden when we looked up at the score board the game was tied with a few seconds to go. We pulled out the win. This game showed just how far we had come that season and what we were able to do as a team in the five months. When I look back at that game, I have so much more respect for my teammates and coaches.

 

 

How did head coach Brian Gregory give you that last push in your game to help you leave the NCAA satisfied and content about becoming a professional?

 

 

 

When I transferred there for my senior year, he reached out honestly to me and said how important it was for me to come back home. He simply let me play my game. He gave me a lot of confidence and I am forever grateful. Not every coach lets you do that at that level, because it is a system. Having this freedom and letting me play my game was crucial for my senior year. We had a successful season. A week before I started my professional career in Italy, I was still on the campus at Georgia State taking 1000 shots from the gun. I think going from there to Italy set the stage for me being successful overseas. I took a lot of confidence to Italy from there and that helped my game.

 

 

 

 

 

Who won a one on one in practice you or Tadric Jackson?

 

 

 

Definitely me. He was really athletic, but I had too many moves for him.

 

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that is in the NBA now?

 

TJ Warren of the Phoenix Suns. When I played against him he was going through stretch where he was scoring between 35-45 shots a game. All you could try to do was slow him down, but I didn´t slow him down. He hit my team for 35 points. Another tough guy was Erik Greene who was my teammate and now plays with Euroleague team Valencia. He was leading the ACC in scoring. Going against him daily in practice really helped my game.

 

 

 

 

If you had to construct your own NBA Rushmore which 4 heads would you chose?

 

 

Kyrie Irving, Lebron James, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis

 

 

 

 

Lebron James failed to win his fourth NBA title and is still three away from Michael Jordan. Where does Lebron stand right now in your opinion in the neverending debate of who is the best of all-time?

 

 

If you go by rings it´s Jordan, but by filling the stat sheet it´s Lebron. Lebron has created his own legacy. He just keeps getting better. When all is said and done there will be an answer to this question.

 

 

 

There has been criticism of Russell Westbrook to be focusing more on rebounding to help inflate his stats and possibilities of getting triple doubles instead of focusing on his defensive assignments. Do you feel that this is a fair assessment to the player Russell Westbrook?

 

 

No It isn´t. They made the playoffs. They wouldn´t have won games if he hadn´t played like that. He just plays the game so his team can win.

 

 

 

 

How do you summarize the 2017 NBA Draft. What sleepers do you see playing a role in the NBA?

 

 

Luke Kinnard of Duke. He is a lefty shooting guard. I think that as soon as he feels comfortable around midseason that he will make an immediate impact.

 

 

 

Where will the journey of the Houston Rockets go this season with Chris Paul and James Harden in the back court. Do they have enough to make a serious run at the title or is something missing?

 

 

They have enough. I have watched some of their games. They have all the necessary pieces to make a run. They play well together. They play fast paced and like to shoot the three like Golden State.

 

 

How do you rate the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade? Who got the better deal and which team will profit better in the long run?

 

 

 

 

Short term the Cavs got the better deal as they will make another run for the title. Long term the Celtics got the better deal. They have a good core of young talented players. When you take them and build it around Kyrie, then they will be successful down the road.

 

Where will the journey of the Oklahoma Thunder go this season with Westbrook, George and Anthony? Can they make a serious run in the west?

 

 

I don´t think they can. The talent of them and Golden State are similar, but the system is different. The system and how Golden State play makes them much better than the Thunder.

 

 

What was the last movie that you saw?

 

I saw the Pirates of the Caribbean. I am a big Johnny Depp fan.

 

Thanks Adam for the chat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alec Brown is a 25 year old 216cm center from Winona, Minnesota playing his fourth professional season and second with Movistar Estudiantes(ACB). Last season he started the season with the Windy City Bulls (D-League) playing 50 games averaging 10.7ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.9bpg, 2FGP: 53.4%, 3FGP: 36.4%, FT: 81.0%, in Apr.’17 moved to Movistar Estudiantes (ACB) playing 6 games averaging 14.5ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 68.0%, 3PT: 63.6%, FT: 68.8%. In the 2015-2016 season he came to Europe and played with  Rio Natura Monbus Obradoiro CAB (ACB) playing 29 game averaging  6.1ppg, 2.9rpg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 75.0%. In 2014-2015 he was drafted by the Phoenix Suns (NBA,2rd(50) and  played his rookie season with the Bakersfield Jam (D-League) playing 20 games averaging 7.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.0apg, 2.0bpg, FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 79.3%. He started his basketball career at Green Bay (NCAA) form 2010-2015 playing a total of 30 games averaging 15.3ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.0apg, 3.1bpg, FGP: 47.6%, 3PT: 42%, FT: 72.7%. He has played NBA Summer League the last four summers and last summer won the Gold at the FIBA AmeriCup. He spoke to German Hoops before the Basketball champions League game against medi Bayreuth in Bayreuth.

 

 

 

 

Alex thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome to Germany. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

 

 

Not much. I have played with and against guys that have played in Germany. I played with Alfonso Mckinnie who is with the Toronto Raptors now and he played in Germany.

 

He actually played in Luxemburg(D2)

 

Oh ok.

 

 

Your playing your first full season Movistar Estudiantes in the ACB league in Spain. You have played parts of three seasons in the best league in Europe. Do you feel that this league suits your game best in Europe?

 

 

I would say yes. I haven´t played in any other league in Europe besides the ACB, but so far it has worked out well. I was injured in my rookie season and then went to the D-League. I returned my second year back to Spain and it was a lot easier.

 

 

How is life in Madrid playing for Estudiantes and being in the shadow of Real Madrid? Do you notice that there is so much less pressure as everything is focused on Real Madrid?

Real Madrid is the big team in Madrid, but Estudiantes has a pretty big following as well. We will meet fans on the street and that´s kind of cool. People tend to like to cheer for the underdog. We aren´t as high profile as Real Madrid, but we believe that we can beat any team on any night.

 

Movistar Estudiantes last reached the playoffs in 2006. This season they are filled with a lot of talent, but so is the ACB league. What is your early season feeling about where the journey will end this season for the club in the ACB and BCL?

 

 

It´s still very early and it´s tough to tell. We already showed what we are capable of this season as we beat FC Barcelona when we come together as a team. If we can be consistent then we should be a good team. I think that we are a potential playoff team.

 

 

 

Omar Sharif-Cook is 30 centimeters smaller than you and is a point guard, but the St Johns legend and ex NBA player has had an amazing career? How has his play and character rubbed off on you in the short time that you have been teammates?

 

It has been great playing with Omar. I have played with many great point guards including good scoring point guards, but I have never played with a point guard that has seen the court as well as him. His IQ is amazing. Anyone would love to play with him.

 

 

You share the big man duties with Croatian Goran Sutton, but do you believe like despite the immense talent around you that this could be your break out season in the ACB where you could play a more significant offensive role than you did before in this league?

 

 

I think it could be. I showed in the last six games of last season for Estudiantes that I could be effective and help them win games. I haven´t been as consistent as last season, but I have shown in a few games this season that I can be at the level that I was at last season. I feel that my play works well within coach´s system.

 

 

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a versatile big man that can shoot the three and are an amazing shot blocker. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would you say has a game most like yours?

 

I don´t know. I´ll let other people decide that.

 

 

 

You shot over 40% in your last two years of school at Wisc.-Green Bay (NCAA) and in 2014 hit 18-25 three´s at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. Was shooting something that came easy to you already at a young age or has it been a work in progress?

 

 

I feel that shooting has always been a work in progress for me. I always had a natural touch from the mid distance. I worked very hard in school in expanding my range little by little. I have to really credit my coaching staff who had a lot of confidence in my abilities and believed in me. I eventually got the green light. That has really helped open up my career and get new opportunities.

 

 

You left Wisc.-Green Bay (NCAA) as the all-time shot leader at 309. Obviously blocking shots is all about timing, but do you also study opponents a little extra more with video so you have an advantage when game time comes?

 

Yes it does. I think knowing especially what hand a player uses best or what moves they have is important for being successful as a shot blocker. Most important is the timing and knowing when to be in the right place and knowing when you need to help off the drive.

 

 

 

 

Last summer you were with the Los Angeles Lakers in the Summer League in Las Vegas. After seeing Lonzo Ball live, do you see him being able to make the Lakers into a contender in the next years?

 

Yes I think he can, but maybe not right away. He is a player with a lot of potential. He is among a lot of other talented players and if they can stay together and grow then they should be good in the years to come.

 

 

 

Last season you played mostly for the Windy City Bulls (D-League) playing 50 games averaging 10.7ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.9bpg, 2FGP: 53.4%, 3FGP: 36.4%, FT: 81.0%, in Apr.’17 moved to Movistar Estudiantes (Spain-Liga Endesa) playing 6 games averaging 14.5ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 68.0%, 3PT: 63.6%, FT: 68.8%. You were teammates with German national player Paul Zipser. Does he have the game to have a long NBA career?

 

 

 

Yes he could have a long NBA career. I only played a couple of games with him, but from what I saw, he really knows how to read the game well. He is a very smart player and really knows how to play.

 

 

In the  2015-2016 season you played your first full season with Rio Natura Monbus Obradoiro CAB (Spain ACB) playing 29 games averaging 6.1ppg, 2.9rpg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 41.5%, FT: 75.0%. What was your wake up call to playing your first season in Europe where you knew that you were very far away from home in Minnesota?

 

 

 

It is always tough to be far away from home living on your own and then being in a foreign country. I lived in a small city where few knew English. The late dinner´s actually fit into our schedule so I liked that. My Spanish still isn´t fluid. I know basic Spanish.

 

 

In that season you lost by 30 and 15 points to top team Real Madrid scoring 10 points combined. When you look back to two years ago and look at your game now, how do you feel have you developed further that you can be an impact player this season against a team like that and in general in the ACB?

 

I have grown in the years. I wasn´t able to play to my full potential in my first season in Spain. It had nothing to do with the coach or players, but just their system that didn´t fit my style. With Estudiantes I am playing in a system that fits my game.

 

 

 

After being drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 2014 you played your rookie season with the Bakersfield Jam (D-League) playing 20 games averaging 7.0ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.0apg, 2.0bpg, FGP: 45.8%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 79.3%. A tough injury curtailed your rookie season as you missed many months. How tough was this rookie season going through all the lows. Were there any highs for you?

 

 

 

The D-League as a rookie was tough. I was drafted and then was injured right away and missed a long time until I returned in February. Important in that down time was doing the rehab right. I knew at the end of the season that my shoulder was good again. I put in the time to get healthy again and put in the time and didn´t risk coming back to early.

 

 

You have played the last 4 NBA Summer Leagues, but still haven´t played an NBA game. What is your current approach towards the NBA? Obviously your number one focus is Estudiantes Madrid, but how far do you feel are you from getting an NBA job. How was the feedback this past summer?

 

 

I didn´t have much opportunities last summer to showcase my abilities. I don´t plan on giving up on reaching the NBA. As long as there are opportunities to play NBA Summer league or others I will accept. There is no harm in trying for the opportunity. I don´t plan on stopping.

 

 

 

 

You played at Wisc.-Green Bay (NCAA) from 2010-2014. You were signified a lot with your defensive play. When you look back at your career there what were you most proud about your accomplishments on and off the court?

 

 

I think off the court just building long lasting relationships with the coaches and players. The best thing has been building life long friendships with the people there. I can always get in contact with the coaches which is nice. On the court there were a lot of achievements. It would have been nice if we would have reached a NCAA tournament, but we won the conference my senior year so that was a big achievement.

 

 

 

 

Was your 57-56 win against Wright State where you had 11 blocks one of your most memorable games in the NCAA?

 

 

Anytime you get 11 blocks that will be memorable. That game was fun. Scoring 40 points against Fairfield was also memorable.

 

 

 

How did head coach Brian Wardle groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career at Wisc.-Green Bay (NCAA)?

 

 

 

 

When I got to school I was so unprepared for everything for being able to do the level of work there. He helped me become responsible. He also helped my shot giving me the green light. He had the confidence in me and helped me develop as a player.

 

 

 

Who won a one on one in practice you or Greg Mays?

 

 

Definitely me. I don´t know what he will say, but it was for sure me.

 

 

How much of an honor was it playing for the USA national team last summer and winning the gold at the FIBA AmeriCup? You played with some NBA players. Did the feeling of playing for your own country wet your appetite for possibly doing that again down the road?

 

 

 

I would play again if I was asked. It was an amazing experience. I will never forget all the confetti coming down and everyone going crazy. I kept the jersey and medal and framed it.

 

 

 

 

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that is in the NBA now?

 

 

I have played against many very tough players. Too many to name off the top of my head. I played against Anthony Davis at a Nike camp.

 

 

 

If you had to construct your own NBA Rushmore which 4 heads would you chose?

 

 

Kevin Garnett, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Lebron James.

 

 

 

 

Lebron James failed to win his fourth NBA title and is still three away from Michael Jordan. Where does Lebron stand right now in your opinion in the never ending debate of who is the best of all-time?

 

It is still Michael Jordan. We will see where Lebron is after he ends his career, but he is close behind and ready to take over his role.

 

 

 

There has been criticism of Russell Westbrook to be focusing more on rebounding to help inflate his stats and possibilities of getting triple doubles instead of focusing on his defensive assignments. Do you feel that this is a fair assessment to the player Russell Westbrook?

 

 

 

No I don´t. Anytime a player averages a triple double, it is simply amazing.

 

 

 

How do you summarize the 2017 NBA Draft. What sleepers do you see playing a role in the NBA?

 

 

I didn´t follow it closely. But from what I saw and heard and with guys I played with, I would say that Kyle Kuzma has a good chance of having a good career.

 

 

 

Where will the journey of the Houston Rockets go this season with Chris Paul and James Harden in the back court. Do they have enough to make a serious run at the title or is something missing?

 

Their conference is tough. Good luck to them.

 

 

 

 

 

How do you rate the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade? Who got the better deal and which team will profit better in the long run?

 

 

The Cavs got the better deal short term and the Celtics long term.

 

 

Where will the journey of the Oklahoma Thunder go this season with Westbrook, George and Anthony? Can they make a serious run in the west?

 

They will always be good, but I doubt that they can make a serious run.

 

What was the last movie that you saw?

 

I recently saw the movie Thor. It was a great movie.

 

Thanks Alec for the chat.