Quantez Robertson (188-SG-1984, college: Auburn, agency: Interperformances) is a former professional player that played 14 seasons for only one organization with the Fraport Skyliners. He won the 2016 FIBA Europe Cup and reached the 2010 easyCredit BBL final. His stats for 14 years were 479 games, 4,425 points, 2217 rebounds, 742 steals in 15,034 minutes. He will be returning back on Frankfurt on March 17th when the Fraport Skyliners will retire his jersey before a game against the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Tez for talking to eurobasket.com. The 2023-2024 season is moving along quicky. How is retirement life treating you? It has been treating me pretty well. I have had the opportunity to watch my kids play a lot of sports and games.
This was your first full winter in Alabama in 14 years. How are winters in general in Alabama. I can imagine a lot warmer than in Frankfurt.
This past winter it actually snowed. We had snow and ice on the ground for 1 week. It was a lot of snow. It usually snows every 2-3 winters here.
It has almost been a year since you last played. Have you kept in shape or have you put on some pounds? I have put on pounds. I just don´t have the preparation and routine that I was used to during my playing days.
How did your kids team´s do this winter in sports and how is coaching life? My kids did pretty well in their sports, baseball, softball and American football. Both my son and daughter won some tournaments and rings.
Have you made any plans about possibly doing something different than only coaching? Coaching and training is what I will be doing.
The beautiful announcement came that the Fraport Skyliners will retire your number 23 for good. How does that make you feel? It is a real great honor to have my jersey retired and have it next to a legend like Pascal Roller.
If someone had told you then that your jersey would be retired one day, what would you have thought I wouldn´t have believed it in a million years.
When you look up for the first time and see your number #23 what will be the first thing you will think about?
The first thing that I will think about is all the hard work and preparation that I put in and was able to perform at a high level. I will be thinking there is my jersey and be happy.
Your number will hang besides Pascal Roller´s. You played 2 seasons with him before he retired. What do you remember being your nicest memory with him?
The nicest moment was just watching how he would continue to perfect his craft after practice where he would still put up hundreds of extra shots. That really stood out for me. It will be the greatest honor to be the second player in club history as having their jersey retired and then next to Pascal is great.
With what kind of feelings are you coming back to Frankfurt? What are you looking forward most to seeing again? I´m looking forward to seeing the club again. It is great that they have got back to their winning days again. I´m also looking forward to seeing the atmosphere in the arena again.
What guests will be there? Do you anticipate some of your old teammates coming back to give you their congrats? I have no idea.
Is your whole family coming? Just my wife and I.
The Fraport Skyliners will play Bremerhaven. You were a rookie when Frankfurt beat Bremerhaven in the playoffs. Do you ever remember having to guard 188cm center jeff Gibbs? I didn´t have to guard him. If you came for help side, you weren´t really helping, but just coming. That guy was so hard to stop. He knew how to use his strength and athletic ability really well and move around guys and get to his spots.
I know that you would be itching to help the Skyliners against Bremerhaven. Could you still go on the floor and help in some way? Do you still get up shots or have you taken a break?
I have definitely picked up a basketball since my wife and I teach a prep team. But in terms of stepping on the court again, I don´t think I could help. My foot isn´t good. I can barely do anything.
Your ex teammate Jordan Theodore is back in the Euroleague with Baskonia in Spain. How proud are you of him returning back to the Euroleague? I always believed it would happen, but I just didn´t think it would take so long. He was still playing with high level teams, but they just weren´t in the Euroleague. He has been consistent his whole career and was long due to get back to the Euroleague.
Will his schedule permit him to come back and be at your retirement ceremony? Do you know of any other guys that will come back and support you? I really don´t know.
The Fraport Skyliners have many new players, but 2 guys still there are the athletic Nolan Adekunle and Justin Onyejiaka. How would a Tez right now against them in a 1-1 battle? I would use my veteran know how to outwit them. Nolan is strong and athletic and Justin quick and athletic. I would use some of my old tricks and pull out the win.
What message would you like to give the Fraport Skyliners fans? It was great to perform in front of the fans. I appreciated all the love and support each one gave me. I´m looking forward to coming back!
Ahmad Caver (188-G-1996, college: ODU) is a 27 year old 188cm guard from Georgia playing his 5th professional season and first with JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). Last season he played with the BC Wolves Vilnius (Lithuania-LKL) averaging 17.1ppg, 3.2rpg, Assists-3 (5.8apg), Steals-4 (1.9spg), FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 77.3%. He played his first 3 pro seasons with The Memphis Hustle (G-League playing a total of 98 games averaging 9.7ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.5%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 74.2% in his first season, 16.5ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.8apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 55.5%, 3PT: 42.5%, FT: 63.4% in his second season and 16.3ppg, 5.3rpg, Assists-2 (7.5apg), 1.7spg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 74.4% in his third season. He played 1 NBA game with the Indiana Pacers. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Basketball Champions League game against the Telekom Baskets Bonn.
Thanks Ahmad for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season for JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). After 3 years in the G-League and NBA and 2 NBA Summer Leagues after, have you now focused on Europe or do you feel like the NBA could still be realistic? I still have a dream to play in the NBA, I know a career in Europe and overseas is still a great accomplishment but NBA still is my goal.
You signed in Israel but then the war in Gaza stopped play. How crazy were the first few months of the season for you? It was very up and down for me, I was excited to play in Israel. I liked the team, the organization in Holon, I like everything about it but I had a death in the family that made a major impact on me leaving the team after the war happened.
How have you experienced basketball and life in Dijon? Is it a little different than Lithuania where people are really basketball fanatics?
Dijon is cool, I haven’t really done much but focus on basketball. Yea it’s definitely different, I think that fans in Lithuania were a little bit more into the game and more excited about basketball.
The team reached the BCL top 16 What do you believe has been the secret to the success? One has to admit that on paper the team isn´t as deep as other teams? I think we just won the games we needed to win. I played a couple good games for the bcl and helped the team win. Yea we might not have the names like other teams but we play hard and together.
Was it a tough adjustment for you coming in so late in the season in late November? In the Pro A your averaging 10 minutes less than in Lithuania.
Yea I’ve never had to switch teams in the middle of the season so it was tough to switch and try to get back in game shape. Yea wasn’t really expecting to play that many minutes less than Lithuania. I was MVP and scoring leading last year so I wanted to grow on that with my career so it was unexpected.
What has it been like sharing the court with ultra veteran David Holston who is 38 and just keeps going and Cameron Hunt the ex NAIA player who has played with a chip on his shoulder his whole career? What have you learned to appreciate the most from each one?
Both of those guys are great players and even better teammates. I think we all helped each other by competing in practice. Always good to try to see where your skills are at when you’re playing different types of guards.
You are play way more minutes in the BCL. Do you have a different role to the Pro A and what has been key for you taking on a vital part of the offense? I think we had a couple blow outs in the first round of games so that let me get more minutes in the BCL. I hoped for the same role and minutes in both leagues but some games just didn’t go as I thought they would.
What do you feel has been vital for your game being able to develop further overseas? What has your game gotten overseas since 2022 that it didn´t have prior to 2022? More confidence and knowing I can play anywhere. I think my game has always been like this. A point guard that can basically do everything. If I need to score or be the floor general or a defensive stopper.
Last season you played with the BC Wolves Vilnius (Lithuania-LKL) leading the league in scoring averaging 17.1ppg, 3.2rpg, Assists-3 (5.8apg), Steals-4 (1.9spg), FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 77.3% and in the ENBL averaged 18.6ppg), 3.9rpg, 4.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 25.9%, FT: 80.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? I think the preseason was my wake up call. Such a different preseason method than the NBA or the G-league.
How tough was it losing your first playoff series overseas to Jovana by only 9 points combined? What did you learn from this tough series loss? It was very tough losing first round. Felt like we had a good enough team to make something happen. Injuries hurt us late in the year and we had a coaching change so it just was a little tough. I learned to try to help my teammates more around that time to be comfortable and be ready to compete. It was my first time so I focused on getting myself ready but I could’ve done a better job to help them.
You played your first 2 pro seasons with the Memphis Hustle. How did you experience the G-League and what was your wake up call to the G-League? The experience in the G-League was good, helped me get my name out in the radar. My wake up call was when I played preseason with the Memphis Grizzlies. That introduced me to the NBA game and got my career started.
In your first season you had spans of less minutes and other times where you averaged 30 minutes per game. Did it sometimes feel like you had no idea how much time you would get? What was most challenging about the minutes? I knew it was a process to get on the court constantly. I had great and experienced guards ahead of me so I just competed in practice, kept getting better, played intense defense and that helped me get on the court. The only challenge was getting used to not really playing. Never had to deal with that besides my freshmen year of college.
How tough was that second season where you only played 15 minutes? You averaged 16,0ppg and had 35 points against OKC. Do you sometimes wonder what could have been had you played a whole season? Around that time my confidence was so high and I was excited to play again because of the pandemic. I wish we had a whole season but I for sure would’ve got picked up or a 10 day contract. I was on a really good place mentally and had a good routine.
n your third season with the Hustle you averaged 16.3ppg, 5.3rpg, Assists-2 (7.5apg), 1.7spg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 74.4%. You really had a great G-League season. Did it bother you that only 1 NBA game became of it?
Yea it bothered me because I thought I was good enough to play more or at least get more of an opportunity. I was grateful for the contract but I still wanted to showcase who I was as a player and a person.
Your game really blossomed that season in scoring and assists. You were just shy of 2 triple doubles. It isn´t always easy to score and get assists in the G-League where all want to score. How much pride did you take in that season when looking back?
I was just being me, a leader on the court. My coach ( Jason March) believed in me. He gave me the ball to be me and let me have fun. I’ve always been a good point guard and that year my assists showed.
You played 1 NBA game scoring a basket in 1 minute. You couldn´t have gotten a more interesting opponent than Brooklyn as you saw Durant, Harden and Kyrie. Which one of those 3 guys did you want to see most?
I think I was more shocked seeing KD and kyrie. Kyrie´s first game back from the vaccine incident but he looked like he been playing all season and KD had a quiet 30 plus game.
You played at Old Dominion (NCAA) from 2015-2019 winning the C-USA title in your senior year. What memories do you have of that win against W Kentucky? I think just the atmosphere of that game was my memory. They beat us the year before 3 times and then that year we beat them all 3 times.
You lost in first game at March Madness against Purdue. You had a great 20 point game, but the team mustered only 48 points. How disappointing was this loss? Of course we thought we had a chance to beat them but it wasn’t a disappointment for losing though. We had a bunch of ups and downs that year and to make to the tournament was a blessing.
You had many great games in the NCAA but where do you rank the 75-74 win over FIU where you scored 22 points?
That might’ve been the game I was sick right before. I had to get an iv because I was throwing up the day before and I lost a lot of weight. So that ranks high in my book.
How did head coach Jeff Jones groom and prepare you best for a pro career? He prepared me by being an all around player. He preached defense and you weren´t going to play if you didn’t play defense so he helped me on that. He was a point guard when he played so we had that connection from day 1.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Randy Haynes?
Randy is one of my favorite players to watch and to play with. I’ll probably beat him 3 times and he’ll win 2 times lol that’s my guy though. He actually just came to my game.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life on the court that reached the NBA? I played Donovan Mitchell in college my sophomore year. He was tough and I played with Brandon Ingram in AAU so those two.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time.
Brandon Ingram Randy Haynes Bj Stith Zoran Talley Aaron Bacote
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads? Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant Lebron James Shaq/ magic
Who is your GOAT and why?
Michael Jordan is THE goat. Outside of the accomplishments, he had that dog, wasn’t scared of the moment, had all the skill and athleticism, had a certain type of swag and grace to his game, and he was humble but he knew he was the best player on the court at all time. I put Kobe as my second goat.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? No I didn’t see it. I didn’t want to because none of them are better than the original one
After only winning one game last season, the Fraport Skyliners U-19 youth team Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners had to battle in the B-group this season, but excelled and had a potent season and qualified themselves for the NBBL playoffs in the A group and the chance to earn a ticket to go to Berlin for the top 4 in May. However they had no easy match with the always ambitious and highly talented team of Kickz Ibam that have produced the highly touted Da Silva brothers Oscar and Tristan in the last years. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners had to battle them in a best of 3 series and didn´t have home court advantage. In game 1 in Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners had a tough time losing 83-63 and losing every quarter. They had a struggle on the boards and couldn´t contain their top scorer Matija Milosevic (193-G-2005) who dropped 29 points. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners came home and were facing a do or die game to live another day, but unfortunately for them their season ended in their own living room as they couldn´t force a second do or die game in Munich next weekend losing 79-73. It was a tough battle until the buzzer, but Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners just couldn´t contain team top player Milosevic as he nailed big shots nor solid playmaker Jonathan Zeisberger who also hit tough shots when his team needed it most. “We tried all we could to stop Milosevic and Zeisberger, but they hit countless difficult shots. As soon as Milosevic hit three´s from 8 meters, then I knew that we didn´t have the basketball God on our side. We fought hard, but too often made the wrong decisions, missed lay ups or free throws”, stressed Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners guard Dusan Nikolic. Kickz Ibam played a strong game and just stuck together even when Frankfurt had had the lead and in the second half took great care of the lead. “We gave all we could for 40 minutes. It was enough to win, but we have to improve. We did a good job on defensive pressure especially on Nikolic. We communicated well on defense and stayed together”, warned Kickz Ibam guard Matija Milosevic. Despite the season ending for Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners, Dusan Nikolic was proud of how the team performed this season. “We developed a fighting spirit this season and played as a team. We found our roles and each other”, stated Dusan Nikolic.
Marvin Esser reverse lay in
Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners were complete and ready to battle while Kickz Ibam were without solid role players Philipp Roos and Jordan Knacke. The first quarter was a tight affair as no team was able to escape on a run. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners got top scorer Dusan Nikolic involved early as he scored twice while the guests got big baskets early from German Jeremy Kolev and also from Silver Bieling and Zeisberger who hit tough shots from the get go and which would continue all afternoon long. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners was defending well, but sometimes there are just those days where an opponent is makingveryugh shot. But Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners had a solid rhythm on offense and got an early trey from universal genius Ivan Crnjac and as always great energy from the bench from German Joscha Zentgraf who made 2 baskets. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners was doing a good job on the offensive boards, but couldn´t slow down Milosevic who got going in the last minutes making a jumper and 4 free throws. German Leif Zentgraf gave Frankfurt big minutes late with 5 points, but Kickz Ibam led 20-19. “Milosevic is tough to guard. If you’re a split second too late, he will get past you. He may not be the most athletic, but he is a tremendous shooter”, warned Dusan Nikolic. Kickz Ibam shot 38% from the field and 20% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 4 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners shot 50% from the field and 40% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 4 turnovers.
Caspar Okoro at the FT line
In the second quarter both teams had a run, but at the break it was Kickz Ibam that had the 39-33 lead. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners began the second quarter off with a bang exploding out on a 8-0 run to lead 27-20 as Ivan Crnjac connected with consecutive three´s and glue guy Marvin Esser made a massive dunk on transition off a Nikolic dunk. Frankfurt played with forceful energy and caught Kickz Ibam off guard and surprised them a little. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners defended aggressively and forced the guests to tough shots. But Kickz Ibam wasn´t totally rattled by Frankfurt´s outburst and punched back with a 7-0 run to dead lock the game at 27-27. In the run the guests got vital support from 206cm Nigerian center Williams Itumo who has only been in Germany for 2,5 years got 2 baskets and Kolev made a big trey. Kickz Ibam played super team basketball while Frankfurt weren´t calm on offense putting up some hurried shots. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners got the lead back at 32-29 as Jamie Edoka made a lay in and the game looked like it would stay close, but Kickz Ibam turned the game aground with a fierce 10-1 run to lead 39-33 at the break. Zeisberger supplied 6 points including 2 real tough off balance shots, while Bieling hit a jumper and Kolev made a lay in. Despite the deficit, Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners did a better job on Milosevic holding him to 2 points. “We continued to defend well, but just didn´t get rewarded on offense as we missed easy lay ups and missed free throws”, added Dusan Nikolic. Kickz Ibam shot 48% from the field and 25% from the three point line and had 14 rebounds and 8 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners shot 35% from the field and 29% from the three point line and had 24 rebounds with the 13-3 offensive rebound edge and 10 turnovers.
Dusan Nikolic from outside
In the third quarter Kickz Ibam led by as much as 8 points, but couldn´t shake Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners totally allowing them to hang around leading only 56-52 after 30 minutes. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners got some valuable buckets in the first minutes by German Namori Omog and Ivan Crnjac, but couldn´t make any ground as Kickz Ibam got baskets from Zeisberger and Milosevic to lead 47-40. Kickz Ibam had to work for their points as Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners continued to play aggressive 1-1 defense, but still got little reward with too many missed free throws as after 30 minutes they had missed 8. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners continued to execute as Crnjac made a lay in, but were unable to make serious ground as Bieling made a tough trey over Edoka and Ognjen Cocic made a tip in as the guests were more aggressive on the offensive boards and led 52-44. Both teams continue to punch back and forth on offense as Nikolic who is always in attack mode scored 5 points to cut Kickz Ibam´s lead down to 52-49, but the guests reacted with good energy from the bench from Gunnar Wanninger who made a lay in which was followed by a Zeisberger lay in. Crnjac added a trey at the buzzer as Kickz Ibam led 56-52. “We made tough shots and trusted each other. We also did a better job on the offensive boards. When Frankfurt made tough shots, we didn´t hang our heads”, added Matija Milosevic. “Ibam got good support from the bench. Zeisberger had one kind of a performance. We continued to defend ok. They did a better job on the offensive boards”, stated Dusan Nikolic. Kickz Ibam shot 45% from the field and 29% from the parking lot and had 26 rebounds and 13 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners shot 36% from the field and 30% from the parking lot and had 32 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
Matija Milosevic with the lay in
In the fourth quarter Kickz Ibam continued to control the game and despite Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners tying the game were unable to truly get over the hump and ever lead again. Kickz Ibam began strong getting a 4 point play by Silver Bieling to lead 60-52. However Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners then buckled down and allowed Dusan Nikolic to take over as he led his team on a ruthless 10-2 run to deadlock the contest at 62-62. In the run it was the pure Nikolic show as he rattled off 8 points including a pretty finger tip roll lay in and Marvin Esser scored on the fast break getting a beautiful shovel pass from Edoka. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners knew what was at stake and so did Nikolic who showed exactly to what he is capable off o offense. He finished the game with 25 points. “I think that my leadership grew this season and I kept the team together”, said Dusan Nikolic. His stellar play carried his team especially on the defensive end as Ibam made many turnovers. However Milosevic had seen enough of the Nikolic show and now even if he did hit 2 big three´s, it wasn´t just his show, but also that of Zeisberger who nailed a trey in the 8-2 run and 70-64 guests advantage. “Zeisberger is a good player and currently in top form. He is always aggressive and does exactly what coach says. He made many tough shots like I did. He watches me in practice”, smiled Matija Milosevic. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners continued to fight getting a Leif Zentgraf lay in to trail 70-67, but Kickz Ibam had an answer for all as Zeisberger made a floater which was matched by Nikolic free throws to trail only 72-69 with 1,08 to play. But Kickz Ibam then decided the game with a 7-0 run as Milosevic dropped another pretty three pointer and Zeisberger added free throws for the 79-70 advantage. “I practice hard every day to be able to make these shots. I believe 100% in my shot”, warned Matija Milosevic. Nikolic closed out the game with 3 free throws, but the season of Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners had ended. “We didn´t play good defense at the end and that is why the game was so close. We believed that we could win the game and made the tough shots”, warned Matija Milosevic. “Milosevic´s and Zeisberger´s three´s hurt us. We had too many turnovers. Every possession is important and we didn´t take care of the ball”, stressed Dusan Nikolic. Kickz Ibam was led by Matija Milosevic with 22 points. Jonathan Zeisberger added 21 points and Silver Bieling 14 points while Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners was led by Dusan Nikolic with 25 points. Ivan Crnjac added 20 points. Kickz Ibam shot 45% from the field and 36% from outside and had 34 rebounds and 17 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners shot 38% from the field and 24% from outside and had 41 rebounds and 15 turnovers.
Sometimes basketball works in strange ways and for the EPG Baskets in really annoying ways especially when you look at how their results went after the masterful home upset over top team Romerstrom Gladiators. One would have thought the club would not only have been rested after the 2 week Fiba break, but would have meshed even more together on the court with new head coach Marco Van Den Berg, but instead they lost twice within 48 hours and continue to move down the standings. The ugly home loss against Bremerhaven was one of the worst loses if not worst loss in the last years while the team played 2 good quarters in Kirchheim, but their regular bad phases were as rampant as a sea gull hanging around on a busy beach in a frequented area of people and food. A positive reaction had to happen against Jena who strolled into the CGM arena as their next opponent. Even if Jena haven´t been playing their best basketball as of late having lost 5 of their last 7 games, it has gotten better in the last few weeks having won 2 of their last 3 games. Plus they were in third place for a reason. It was like so often this season where the EPG Baskets Koblenz played brilliant basketball in phases, but a game has 40 minutes and in the second half stunk up the CGM arena allowing Jena to totally turn the game around. Like so often this season Koblenz played as if they were in preseason and played like a chicken without a head where they panicked instead of just staying calm and playing their game. “We played well until the third quarter. In the 16-0 run we stayed in rhythm and moved the ball well. We didn´t have the needed intensity in the third quarter allowing them to get back in the game. We have had this problem all season where we get away from basics which effects our mentality on the floor”, warned EPG Baskets Koblenz guard Marvin Heckel. Medipolis SC Jena played solid in the first half, but in the second half made adjustments and increased their defensive pressure on Koblenz´s guards which they didn´t come to terms with. “We stuck with it for 40 minutes. We stuck through adversity. We had our ups and downs, but we stuck together on defense, attacked the paint and got to the free throw line”, stressed Medipolis SC Jena guard Blake Francis.
Leo Saffer at the FT line
The first quarter was a back and fourth battle as no team was able to get away from the other. EPG Baskets Koblenz center Maurice Pluskota got going quickly with 2 baskets, but Medipolis SC Jena led 9-4 quickly getting crucial buckets from ex Shaw University (NCAA2) great Amir Hinton with a lay in while ex Giessen 46er guard Joshiko Saibou (187-PG-1990) hit a three pointer at the shot clock buzzer. Medipolis SC Jena did a good job not letting Koblenz inside and forcing them to tough shots. Medipolis SC Jena continued to move the ball well and got great support from their bench from young Germans Raphael Falkenthal and Rafael Rodriguez with baskets, but the EPG Baskets Koblenz finally got their long ball to drop as ex Rhondorf center Gabriel De Olveira and Heckel scored as Jena led only 13-11. After a key Leo Saffer basket that was polished with a pretty Nicolas Sperber bullet pass, Medipolis SC Jena continued to keep the lead as Saibou made a tough step back jumper and ex Fraport Skyliner Rasheed Moore connected on free throws for the 18-13 advantage. Koblenz ended the first quarter with a beautiful Heckel no look pass in traffic as he almost lost the ball, but regrouped and found Saffer for the lay in as the guests led 18-15 after 10 minutes. “That was a super pass from him. He almost turned it over, but made a great play. It was an open game. Our offense was working and we matched their physicality well. Jena forced us to have to take three´s”, stated EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein.
Amir Hinto at the FT line
In the second quarter it looked like Medipolis SC Jena would get away from the EPG Baskets Koblenz, but out of seemingly nothing the troops of Marco Van Den Berg produced an incredible run and suddenly led by 8 points at the break. Medipolis SC Jena began motivated in the second quarter and cruised out on a 11-5 run to lead 29-20. The duo of Stephan Haukohl and Amir Hinton were a wrecking crew as they combined for 11 points and 3 three´s. Medipolis SC Jena was moving the ball really well and choosing the extra pass. They just harmonized well as a team and were threatening to run away with the game. However the EPG Baskets Koblenz had other ideas going on a major lethal 16-0 run totally shocking Medipolis SC Jena and bewildered the guests. In the run the EPG Baskets had a beautiful flow something never seen before this season. “That was our best run of the season. It was perfect basketball”, warned Thomas Klein. They let it rain three´s connecting 4 times as Pluskota hit 2 and De Olveiria and Heckel also connected. Poelking also made a lay in. Medipolis SC Jena were totally insecure and opted for 1-1 ball and even put up 2 air balls at the end. Hinton finally stopped the run with a 15 footer, but Marvin Heckel had the last laugh nailing a tough off balance three pointer from the corner for the 39-31 Koblenz lead at half-time. “We played great basketball for 8,5 minutes. We had a good offensive flow and were physical on defense”, stressed Thomas Klein.
Maurice Pluskota from outside
In the third quarter Medipolis SC Jena made a run and came back, but couldn´t shake the EPG Baskets Koblenz as the game was dead locked at 54-54 after 3 quarters. The guests came out focused and surprised Koblenz with a 6-2 run to trail only 41-37. They got solid support from guards Saibou and Serbian Vuk Radojidic with lay in´s. Medipolis SC Jena immediately put massive pressure on the Koblenz guards. Robert Hall was out with an injury so DJ Johnson had to play point guard which wasn´t his natural position. The intensity of Medipolis SC Jena was higher especially on the defensive end forcing Koblenz to 3 turnovers in the first 2 minutes. The EPG Baskets Koblenz kept the lead as Marvin Heckel carried his team on his shoulders with free throws and a lay in leading 47-41. Heckel continued to be the focus on offense as he made a perfect pocket bullet pass to Sperber for the lay in and 49-44 advantage. “The adjustments that the team has made recently really fits my game. We play more open with much movement. It allows me to make these fancy passes. Sometimes I don´t even know I´m making these passes. It is like I´m in the zone. When I see video then I´ll see a pass and say damn nice pass”, smiled Marvin Heckel. But Medipolis SC Jena continued to be aggressive and closed out the third quarter with a 10-5 run to tie the game 54-54. In the run, the guests received support from Saibou and Hinton with jumpers while Alex Herrera, Saibou and Robin Lodders also made free throws. But once again Koblenz had the last laugh as DJ Johnson hit a key three pointer at the buzzer. “We stayed aggressive on defense and attacked the rim more. We also got to the free throw line”, stated Blake Francis. “Jena was more aggressive on our guards and trapped our pick and roll. We couldn´t execute. We wanted to go inside, but they closed our entry and got us out of rhythm. We were like chickens without a head. They were able to get their bigs involved with Herrera and Lodders”, stated Marvin Heckel.
Blake Francis from down town
In the fourth quarter Medipolis SC Jena clearly slammed the door on the EPG Baskets Koblenz increasing their offensive execution with 28 points while allowing only 10 points. Medipolis SC Jena didn´t waste anytime cruising out on a brutal 9-0 run to lead 63-54. In the run the guests just played beautiful team basketball getting three´s from Francis and Saibou and 3 points from Herrera. Herrera had had his struggles in the first 3 quarters and made his first field goal in the fourth quarter and then found to his game better. The EPG Baskets Koblenz couldn´t come to terms with the aggressive on ball defense by Jena and then just played 1-1 ball and threw up brick after brick. Johnson finally stopped the Jena run with a catch and pop jumper for Koblenz´s first field goal at the 7,58 minute mark. After a Lodders hook shot, De Olveira nailed a trey as Koblenz trailed 65-59 and were still hanging on. However Medipolis SC Jena had had enough and produced a nasty 13-0 run to totally decide the game leading 78-59. In the run Medipolis SC Jena shared the ball and got 5 points from Saibou, 4 points from Herrera, a 15 footer from Hinton and another hook shot from Lodders. The EPG Baskets were in a state of a chicken without a head and were just powerless at both ends. Their energy level was very low and couldn´t hit the ocean while on defense had countless break downs and no adjustments were made. Johnson stooped the run with a trey, but the game was long decided. Saffer added an offensive rebound and put back, but the guests finished the game strong with Herrera free throws and a Hinton Jumper. “We did a good job taking away their inside game. We continued to be physical on defense and pressure their guards”, added Blake Francis. “Mentally we hung our heads. We didn´t have the needed fire to stick with a strong team like Jena. Even when the basics aren´t working, you can still gain something with intensity, but we didn´t have that either”, stressed Marvin Heckel. Medipolis SC Jena was led by Amir Hinton and Joshiko Saibou with 17 points apiece while the EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Gabriel De Olveira and Marvin Heckel with 13 points apiece. Medipolis SC Jena shot 47% from the field and 38% from outside and had 35 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 39% from the field and 48% from outside and had 30 rebounds and 17 turnovers.
Michalis Kakiouzis (206-F-1976, agency: Interperformances) is a former Greek professional player who played 24 years and 14 in his home country. He also played in Italy, Spain, Turkey, France, Italy, Switzerland and Cyprus. He won 11 career titles and played in countries Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Cyprus and was captain of the 2005 Greek national team that won Gold at the Euro. He played 8 seasons for AEK, and also played with FC Barcelona and Siena. Currently he is coaching Keravnos in Cyprus. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Michalis for talking to eurobasket. You have been retired for 8 years now as a player. What do you miss more from playing and competing now than maybe 1-2 years after you retired? I obviously miss the team and locker room time. But to be honest, I enjoy the time more now being a coach. Being a coach now is a normal thing. I still feel pain from my playing days. I have had enough having been a player.
After your playing career you were lead scout for AEK Athens. What did you enjoy most about the job and were there some young players that you discovered early on that became well known?
My time as a scout was an important time for me before becoming a coach. It helped me discover myself and scout young players. It was something new for me and it was challenging. It helped me most about understanding how to find the right players for my duties later as coach.
You have been coaching in Cyprus for Keravnos. Was starting in another country instead of Greece a decision you feel was smarter than being in Greece? I actually began my coaching career in Greece coaching young players at an academy. I decided it was better to go step by step to see if I could handle it. I wanted to start low and move up. I love coaching. I saw first hand at the start how it can be as a coach having a team in lower divisions and solving the kind of problems you see there. I saw adversary and that helped me move step by step as a coach.
What kind of an experience has it been coaching in Cyprus. What have you enjoyed most about it and how is the state of basketball in that country? This seems to be a country like many others like Finland and Holland where especially Americans use as a stepping stone to reach higher leagues.
I have enjoyed my time in Cyprus. Before coming here, I had gathered further experience in Romania and won a cup there. Having the opportunity to coach this well known organization has been great. The conditions are excellent something you don´t see with other organizations in Cyprus. We are expected to win which is something I experienced a lot as a player. Having those expectations are easy for me to deal with.
Let´s talk about your playing career. You had a very successful career winning 11 titles and winning the silver and gold at the Eurochampionships. Was the 2005 EM Gold your biggest thrill to win?
For me it´s simple. When you represent your country and win, it will always be the be at the highest position of achievement. For me it is bigger than winning a Euroleague title. It is simply huge.
You played 8 seasons with AEK Athens early in your career winning some titles. You showed real love and loyalty for this team. Didn´t you ever get offers from Olympiakos or Panathinaikos? Why didn´t you play for Greece´s top teams? Back then AEK was a very well known club. It´s reputation was bigger than today. They played Euroleague and had great coaches and players. I´m still an AEK fan. I had an offer to play with other top clubs in Greece, but at the time I was in Sienna and was happy there.
Do you feel like your loyalty to AEK Athens was respected in Greece? I don´t think you see this now anymore. But 20 years ago was the mindset of players different than today where guys are worried about getting the best contract? I will always be a AEK fan. The job situation can change any day for any player. If the conditions aren´t right, you can´t do anything about it. No matter how high the loyalty is.
You played with some great players in your years at AEK Athens like Nikos Zisis, JR Holden, Geert Hammink and Pero Antic just to name a few. Was there a player that really influenced you the most in those years? I´m really lucky to have played with so many great players. Those mentioned here are great ones. I was captain of Greece´s national team and played with FC Barcelona. I could mention so many great players that I had the pleasure being teammates with. We made each other better. I also played for many great coaches. It would be unfair to name just one player or coach that influenced me the most.
You were U-18 world champion with Greece in 1995. How vital was this win for the future of Greek basketball and what was the Greek federation doing correctly then?
I mean Greece won the Euro already in 1987. I think that after that win, Greece continued to build. That team were our leaders. We wanted to be like them. In 1995, we were kids and played in our home country in front of 20,000 loud fans. We were 18 years old and were playing in front of so many people. It was difficult to imagine. We had a great team. That win was the beginning of me. After that I experienced dream after dream that came true.
From 2003-2005 you played with Sienna winning 2 titles. What memories do you have of these 2 years. You had solid Euroleague seasons averaging 7 and 8ppg. How did your game grow in the Serie A and Euroleague?
Sienna is still one of the best organizations that I ever played for. It was my first team out of Greece. The situation was perfect for me at that time. It was a small city and Italy was beautiful. The city was small and when we won the title, we celebrated for a week. The teams we had were incredible. We reached the Euroleague final 4 twice in Barcelona and Tel Aviv. Sienna is like my home. If I could live in a city forever, it would be Sienna. They were amazing years.
You were teammates with a young Luigi Datome. Was his immense talent already present then? Did you see him having the long lasting career that he has had?
Datome was just at the start of his career. You could see early that he wanted to become a great player with the way he played and understood the game at a young age. He was a big listener and worked hard every day. He showed after 2 years that he was on his way to becoming a great player.
In 2005 you were captain of the national team and helped win the Gold medal at the Euro in Belgrade. This was a year after the football team also won the Euro. How crazy was this time. Did you feel like a national hero? It was a crazy time. We also had had the Olympics in 2004. It is really difficult to explain how huge this time was in Greece. I don´t know if I felt like a hero, but I definitely felt like I was at a different level. It was the best time in Greece sports history. We had it all.
You were teammates with 2 of possibly the greatest guards at that time Spanoulis and Diamantidis. Who was the best player that you played with?
Every teammate I had in the Greek national team played at a high level. There wasn´t just 1 or 2 guys that were better than the rest. All 12 guys were great players and more importantly great guys. I had no one favorite. We all played excellent together and the most important part was that we were friends.
In the final you beat Germany 78-62 despite a 23/9 game by Dirk Nowitzki. What memories do you have of this game. Was the 74-73 semi-final win over Spain, Germany´s real final game? We as a team had a lot of energy. We hadn´t passed the second round at the previous Euro 2003. Germany had good players and a good coach with Bauermann. Germany had the great Dirk, but we simply had a better team. I think the result was fair. We continued the success at the next World Championships reaching the final. This was the best national team in Greek basketball history.
What memories do you have of Dirk Nowitzki and guarding him? That fade away jumper was unguardable? All our focus was on Dirk and how we could stop him. We had 12 great players and we tried our best to guard him. We tried to limit him as much as possible in the post and with touches, but there is only so much you can do against a great player like him.
You played with FC Barcelona from 2005-2007. You were 30 and in your prime. Were these 2 years your highlight of your career? You played with one of the world´s most famous teams. Yes for sure. Playing for FC Barcelona was another dream come true for me in a long line of dreams as a professional player. In Barcelona you weren´t just the player, but had a big obligation to the organization. Everybody treated each other well on and off the court. Winning is all that counts for them. It was an honor being a member of that organization.
You were teammates with Juan Carlos Navarro. Soon he went to the NBA? Do you feel like his worth and legacy in Europe is overshadowed from legends like Nowitzki and Pao Gasol? Where do you see Navarro´s legacy being?
I believe he is one of the top 10 European players to ever play the game. He had good numbers in the NBA. He was a rookie and if you compare that with now, it isn´t so easy to have been successful then than now in the NBA. I see him at the same level as with the Gasol brothers. He is a top 3 Spanish player ever.
Every one has their special Mario Kasun story. He was a beast that made the NBA? Do you remember him riding his motorcycle down the streets of Barcelona.
We are great friends. He is an unbelievable guy. I love him. No no Mario didn´t drive his motorcycle in those days. It was forbidden by the team.
You played against so many great Euroleague players. Who do you remember being the toughest player? That is hard to say. I always had tough opponents at the highest level with different teams and leagues. It was always tough to play against Greek players.
In the 2007-2008 season you played with Cajasol Sevilla (Spain-Liga ACB) You played with so many Americans in your career, but how does Tyrone Ellis remain in your thoughts? Tyrone was an excellent shooter and teammate. I really loved to play with him. I will never forget his jump shoot. He jumped very high when shooting. He could score 30 points easily. He was that kind of player that you loved having on your side, but never as a teammate.
In the 2008-2009 season you played with Efes Pilsen Istanbul (Turkey-TBL) averaging 6.4ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 90.9% in the Euroleague and in the Turkish League averaged 6.5ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.0apg, FGP-1 (71.0%), 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 75.0%. You won the double. How special was this season and how do you remember the Turkish league being then in comparison to today as it has become a top 5 league in Europe with high team budgets?
Back then you had 6 or 7 teams at eyelevel and the rest were ok. Now the Turkish league is one of the toughest in Europe. Mario Kasun was my teammate here.
In Turkey you were reunited for the third time with American Bootsy Thornton. Did you guys become like brothers and do you still have contact to him today? Unfortunately we don´t have contact now, but I still see him like a brother. It didn´t matter where we were, if it was at Sienna, Barcelona or Efes, we won something together in each place. He is one of the best guys that I ever met. He was unbelievable on and off the court. He improved his game each season. That is why he was able to play at the highest level. I will never forget him. Together we were something beautiful to see.
In the 2009-2010 season you played with Aris Thessaloniki (A1) averaging 8.7ppg, 5.1rpg, FGP: 64.7%, 3PT: 41.9%, FT: 80.8%; in the Eurocup and 8.7ppg, 5.7rpg, FGP: 62.2%, 3PT: 27.1%, FT: 66.7% in the Greek league. How special was it playing for David Blatt? What was unique about his coaching style? This was another incredible experience for me. David Blatt really helped change my mind and helped me view the game in a different way. His preparation was incredible. His resume now shows what kind of a coach he is. We had some problems then at Aris, but he did a great job holding the team together. I use some of his tactics that he used there now in my coaching ways.
You also played in France with Le Mans Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France-ProA) averaging 7.3ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 31.3%, 3PT: 45ga %, FT: 91.7% in the Eurocup and in the French League averaged 9.0ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 32.2%, FT: 80.0%. What memories do you have of the French Pro A. You were a player that could adjust to any style anywhere? I was afraid of nothing. I could play in any league. The France Pro A league was the most athletic that I ever played in. I was never athletic, but here I was able to adjust to that league and still be an important player for the team. I had to think a lot more on the court. Le Mans reminded me a lot of my time with Sienna.
In 2011-2012 you lived in Rome. What was it like playing for Virtus Rome and living in one of the most historic cities in the world. What did you appreciate most about Rome? Rome was perfect. I had a great coach. Rome was a big city and the traffic didn´t bother me, because I was used to it from Athens. We tried to win the title, but lost. I remember being reunited again with Luigi Datome. He played incredible and a few years later he reached the NBA.
In 2012-2013 you played for SAV Vacallo Basket (Switzerland-LNA) averaging 15.5ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.3apg, 2.0spg, 2FGP: 63.3%, 3FGP: 23.7%, FT: 78.9%. You scored 37 points against Boncourt and was teammates with Larry O Bannon who had won the 1995 NCAA title with UCLA. 2 champions as teammates must have been enjoyable?
This was also a nice team. To be honest, I don´t remember the game. I never cared about the points. Playing in Switzerland was definitely something totally new, but I always showed that I was never scared of trying something new. I think that having played in so many different places always helped me adjust.
In 2013-2014 you returned to Greece to play with AE Nea Kifissia Dimoulas Athens (A1) averaging 7.3ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 66.7%. What was it like playing in Greece again. How had the league changed in the last 10 years?
The league had changed a lot. We were new in the league but we had good players. At first it was a bit strange being back, but it´s always easier to adjust in your own country. It was a big challenge being in a new team. I helped the young players about giving my knowledge and I was already thinking about my future coaching career.
You ended your professional career with AO Faros Keratsiniou (A2) averaging 5.3ppg, 1.9rpg, FGP-1 (72.1%), 3PT: 36.8%, FT-3 (92.9%). You ended your career on a high note.
Yes that´s true. It was a good way to go out. We won the title to move up and reached the cup final against Panathinaikos where he lost. It was the perfect end.
Who were your 5 best teammates of all-time?
I loved everybody.
Please name your Euro Mount Rushmore of 5 top players? Peja Stojakovic, Juan Carlos Navarro, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Arvydas Sabonis
Shawn Scott (185-G-1996, college: SW Christian).is a 28 year old 185cm guard playing his third professional season and first with BG Hagen. Last season he split time with TVO Biggesee / TV Jahn Lindhorst (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 31.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 6.1apg, 3.6spg, 2FGP: 56.2%, 3FGP: 30.4%, FT: 77.6%, in Jan.’23 moved to BG 2000 Berlin (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 14.2ppg, 8.1rpg, 4.6apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 64.4%. He began his career at Jenks High School and then played 3 seasons at Southwestern Christian University. He teams up with germanmhoops.com every week to talk basketball.
Congrats Shawn on the big 100-94 win over Salzkotten. The winning streak continues. Now it´s at 11 games. Is this the most games that you ever won in a row in your career?
Thank you. I believe it is. I don’t think people understand how hard it is to keep a streak like this especially having to play a team again and getting a win the second time.
It was a shoot out win and the most points the team gave up since Nov 18, 2023. Was the team ever in danger of losing?
I would say don’t let the points fool you because multiple times we were winning by double digits and they went on a run and came back which is normal. I don’t think we were ever in danger of losing because this was some of the best defense we played all season despite the amount of points they scored.
The stats were pretty even. Both teams gave up combined only 11 turnovers. Where did BG Hagen win this game? We won this game on defense plain and simple. We made it difficult for their top players and even though they scored a lot, I believe we took them out of rhythm and made all of their shots tough to make.
BG Hagen had problems with Keith Hayes and Danius Zvinkyls combined for 48 points. Did you guys focus on everyone else more and let them just play? I mean if you look at the numbers, Hayes shot 2-9 from 3pt and he’s one of the best shooters in the league. I’d say that was a win for us because we made it tough for him to get going. These are guys that are going to score no matter what but the difficulty of shot and how many they take is what we paid attention to.
Quincy Tjon-Affo had a great game with 24 points. How vital has his game been this season? He has come up big in many games. For sure. Quincy’s been due for a breakout game and I’m
Glad it was this one against the 3rd place team. He really saved us with big time shots in the 4th quarter and I hope this gives him a lot of confidence going into playoffs.
You had another solid game with 30/8/4. Does the game in the Reginalliga become more automatic with each new game or is it a challenge every game? I mean you have to remember I played in this league last year as well and I’m familiar with these teams and their play styles and I feel the way I play can be adjusted in any way to be successful in this league. The real test is in the playoffs because every team is bringing out every possible plan to stop you then and it’s my job to not let that happen.
The next game is against Essen which is the big showdown. They won the first game by 20 points and Allen and Andrew combined for 45 points. What will be key to getting the win?
If we play the same defense that we played last week and with the same effort and energy, I think we have a good chance of winning. The key of course is stop their outside shooting which means we must be focused for 40 minutes straight and have to make them earn every bucket.
It is one thing meeting a Gasol while an added gem is getting to play with one as not many players get that special opportunity. I had the pleasure of really meeting Pau Gasol once and then seeing him again briefly another time. The first time was in 2019 during the playoff series between Boston and Milwaukee in Boston. Pau Gasol was actually injured, but made the trip to support his teammates. I had a meeting to interview assistant coach Charles Lee, a guy I had covered a decade earlier when he was a professional player in Germany. So there I was interviewing Charles and practicing small talk with him after the interview in the hotel restaurant when all of a sudden Pau Gasol walked in. For me it was definitely an awe moment. I mean, it isn´t everyday that you see a legend like that in an arena in Germany even though I had met Dirk Nowitzki and Detlef Schrempf in Germany before, but Pau Gasol was at that level. Gasol surely is one of the top 3 greatest Europeans to have ever played in the NBA. I asked Charles if I could go to him and he said sure go ahead. I went to Gasol´s table as he wasn´t alone, but with some Spanish friends. I sat down and talked a bit and got a few autographs for friends and a picture. It was a great moment. I saw him again 2 years later in Cologne before the Euroleague Final 4 when he was active with FC Barcelona and got the Boston picture signed. I saw him twice for a moment, but imagine actually being the teammate of a Gasol. Current Alba Berlin American Matt Thomas (195-SG-1994, college: Iowa St.) had that opportunity. He wasn´t teammates with Pau, but with brother Marc. Even if Pau may be the better known, Marc had an incredible career that spawned 14 seasons in the NBA where he won one NBA title and was a 3 time allstar. He also was known as being the best passing big man during his prime. So being able to be his teammate is something any player would forever remember. “ Marc was incredible. I loved to be his teammate. We were able to connect in that we had some common ground. He is from Spain and I played 2 seasons there. I learned a lot from him. The most important thing that I learned from him was that you can have a routine, but you shouldn´t live and die by it. So many things can change. You need to go with the flow and roll with the punches. That was something he always had in his mind and I took that with me”, remembered Matt Thomas.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Pau Gasol in Boston in May 2019
Matt Thomas who lists NBA player Buddy Hield as his toughest opponent in the NCAA was born on August 4, 1994 in Decatur, Illinois and grew up in Onalaska, Wisconsin. He suffered a major tragedy when he was 9 years old when his fathered died of suicide. Because of this, he formed a very strong relationship with his mother. He played at Onalaska high school and was an incredible player. He won the division state championship in his junior year leading his team to a 27-1 record and averaged 21,3ppg, 5,3rpg, 2,5apg and 2,1spg. He once scored 50 points in a game in only 2,5 quarters against Tomah. He finished his high school career with a 95-12 record and was a 2 time first team all state pick and scored over 2,000 points. He was a top-100 national recruit and was considered to be one of the best shooters in the country and one of the best players from Wisconsin in the class of 2013. He had many offers, but chose Iowa State where he played a total of 136 games. In his first 2 years he averaged 21and 15 minutes averaging 5.5ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.1apg, and 4.9ppg, 2.0rpg. His minutes rose to 33 and 30 in his last 2 seasons as his role increased and he averaged 10.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 89.2% and 12.3ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 44.5%, FT: 89.1%. He reached the NCAA tournament each season and reached 2 NCAA Sweet 16´s and won 3 Big 12 titles. “I would say the last Big 12 title was the most memorable. I had a bigger role and more of an impact at the NCAA tournament. I had been together many years with guys like Monte Morris and Naz Long which made winning that one more special”, stated Matt Thomas. He scored 25 points against Kansas State and Oklahoma State and 23 points against Texas Tech. He wouldn´t have become the player he did when he departed in 2017 without the guidance of coaches Fred Hoiberg and Steve Prohm. “Both were good coaches, but different. Hoiberg had played in the NBA for 10 years and had that NBA mentality. I learned a lot about the routine and how to become better as a player. I learned shooting routines and how to play without the ball in my hands. I learned to be able to take different kinds of shots on the move. When coach Prohm arrived, I had a bigger role, more minutes and more responsibility. That was great for my confidence. He was a defensive minded coach. I improved my defense and had to guard the other team´s best perimeter player. I had never done that before, but I embraced it. I often had to match up against Buddy Hield who in college played like a Steph Curry. He was a tough match up and being able to compete against a guy like that was awesome”, stressed Matt Thomas who remembers beating Naz Long more than losing to him in 1-1 battles in practice. He was a All-Big 12 Honorable Mention twice and made the Big 12 All-Tournament Team in 2017.
The 195cm shooting guard who names Naz Long, Sam Van Rossom, Mike Tobey, Aaron Doornekamp, Kyle Lowery, OG Anunoby, Coby White, Yannick Wetzell, Jose (Pepe) Pozas, and Marius Grigonis as his best teammates of all-time experienced NBA Summer League in 2017 with the Los Angeles Lakers averaging 9.6ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 62.2%. He then made the trek overseas and played his rookie season in Europe´s top national league in Spain called ACB. He played 30 ACB games and scored in double figures 25 times including 30 points against Andorra and 30 and 29 points against Estudiantes. He played twice against top Euroleague team Real Madrid scoring 14 points once. It was the last season where Luka Doncic played in Europe before heading to the NBA. Doncic had solid games in the wins, but not great games. Has his magic and success in the NBA surprised Thomas? “I´m not surprised. He had a different role with Real Madrid and the Euro game is different than the NBA. He was 17-18 years old and was the MVP of the Euroleague. I mean that was a big deal. The way he was able to adapt so quickly to the NBA and have success was remarkable. With what he did at 17 then, anything was possible. He was playing with grown men and was the leader of the team. You just don´t see that often and it could be a long time before we see that again”, warned Matt Thomas. In his second season he remained in the ACB playing with Valencia Basket (Spain-Liga ACB) averaging 11.4ppg, 1.6rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT-3 (48.5%), FT: 84.6% and in the Eurocup averaged 12.7ppg, 1.3rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 47.7%, FT: 90.9%. It was his most successful season overseas as he helped win the Eurocup title with great character guys like Aaron Doornekamp, Will Thomas and Sam Van Rossom. “That was a very special team. We had a lot of talent and possibly the most that season in the Eurocup. We had no ego´s and a good chemistry. But what was also important was that we liked to hang out together off the court. I think that bond translated well on to the court. I still keep in touch with those guys especially Mike Tobey. We were all competitive guys and put our agendas aside and all wanted to win. It was a fun year”, added Matt Thomas. He scored in double figures in 20 of 29 games including scoring 27 points against FC Barcelona and Joventut and in the Eurocup scored in double figures in 16 of 23 games including scoring 22 points against Zenit and 20 points against Dolomiti.
The Three point specialist who lists Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, and Steve Nash on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore then made the jump over the pond and celebrated 3 seasons in the NBA playing 126 games with Toronto, Utah and Chicago. Guys that come overseas usually have a wake up moment to being there for the first time, but how was it for him in the NBA? “Some guys share a moment and experience, but I don´t really have one. When I was a kid growing up in the States, my dream was to play in the NBA. I remember watching the NBA on ABC. I was a Laker fan and my favorite player was Kobe Bryant. My biggest moment was playing that first time at the Staple Center where the Lakers play. Other big moments was being able to play against guys that I looked up to growing up. One of those guys is JJ Reddick. We have many similarities with our stature and game. I try to play like him. I was able to work out with him during the summer after my second year in the NBA. That was a big moment for me”, commented Matt Thomas. He played his first season in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors. He scored in double figures 7 times including 22 points in a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. “I think the biggest moment my rookie season was just playing games in Toronto. I began in Toronto the season when Covid hit. I came in the year after they won the title. The fan base was incredible there”, expressed Matt Thomas. In his second season he split time with the Toronto Raptors playing 25 games averaging 2.8ppg, and with the Utah Jazz (NBA) playing 22 games averaging 3.1ppg, 1.1rpg. He scored in double figures 3 times including 17 points in a 154-105 blow out win over Sacramento where he went 7/7 from the field. He was fortunate to have been coached by Nick Nurse who had to pay his dues before becoming a NBA coach the same way Thomas did before becoming a NBA player. “It was a good experience being able to play for him. We also had some common ground in that he comes from Iowa and I played at Iowa State. We had a similar background. He had had a long past before becoming an NBA coach and I went to Europe before reaching the NBA. He was good for me. He gave me a lot of confidence. He always told me to aggressive and shoot. He was a defensive minded coach and I improved my defense a lot under him. A lot of his defensive principles have helped my game”, stated Matt Thomas. He finished his second NBA season with the Utah Jazz and was fortunate to be teammates with Ersan Ilyasova who soon would retire after a stellar career. “He signed a 10 day with Chicago the next season and we were teammates again. He was great. He was a high level pro that had tons of success. He kept to himself, but he was cool and could be funny at times. He had a good career”, said Matt Thomas. He played his last NBA season with the Chicago Bulls playing 39 games averaging 4.1ppg, 1.3rpg. He scored in double figures in 4 games including 13 points against Memphis. After his third season, he was at a point where he had to choose between trying to continue the NBA dream or heading back overseas. He surely could of found another NBA team. Was his desire for a new challenge overseas to great? “Yes and no. I waited for a while trying to stay in the NBA and that is why I signed so late in Greece last year. I was a specialist and had a role and that was a challenge. I didn´t get huge minutes and wanted to be playing in close games in the fourth quarter. At that time in my career, I had the idea of coming back to Europe or staying in the NBA, but coming back to Europe made the most sense. I wanted to find a consistent role and develop into the player I know I can be. I feel like being able to play for Alba Berlin has been the right choice”, warned Matt Thomas.
The ex Iowa State sniper who lists Kobe Bryant as his GOAT came back overseas mid way through the 2022-2023 season and played with Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (Greece-GBL) averaging 8.1ppg, 2.0rpg, FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 75.0% in the Euroleague. It was a tough season on the court whereas off the court things were different. “I think that I had my best memories off the court. I came midway through the season and they were having a tough stretch. The atmosphere when I was there wasn´t that great. They are playing well again now so that atmosphere is back again. Their fan base is great though. I was very recognizable when I was there and they always supported me. Greece and also Serbia basketball is like a religion. They live and breathe basketball. It is at another level”, added Matt Thomas. He scored in double figures 4 times in the Euroleague including netting 13 points against his ex team Valencia. This season he is playing for Alba Berlin in the rising easyCredit BBL and has recognized differences between that and the ACB. “Every league that I have played in overseas has been different. I can´t really comment on Greece since I only played 1 game in the Greek league, but I can comment on Spain and Germany. The BBL is more physical than the ACB, while the ACB was faster and more tactical. There are many very skilled players in Germany. Every season no matter where I play, I just try to improve and add to my game. Since returning back to Europe, I´m trying to become that player I know I can be. I have been able to shoot the ball well at a high level and especially this season, I draw a lot of attention to myself in the Euroleague and BBL which has allowed me to become more of a facilitator. I have enjoyed this”, commented Matt Thomas. In the NBA he battled against Sterling Brown many times and now are teammates and is more than thrilled with the opportunity. “Sterling is a very experienced player and did a good job adapting quickly to overseas ball. I´m impressed most about his professionalism and hard work he puts in every day. It isn´t a coincidence that he played many years in the NBA and then gets signed by a well known organization like Alba Berlin”, expressed Matt Thomas. He has needed no adjustment time in the easyCredit BBL as currently he is averaging 13,0ppg, 2,5rpg and 1,8apg while shooting 46% from outside while in the Euroleague he is averaging 9,1ppg, 2,0rpg and 1,5apg while shooting 41% from outside. It has been a tough season for Alba Berlin this season as after many winning seasons and titles in the last years are in last place in the Euroleague and only 4th in the BBL. But he is making the best out of the situation. “The season has definitely been a challenge. We haven´t met the expectations in the Euroleague or BBL. But I feel like there is still a big chunk of the season left where we can still improve and finish the season strong. I´m a competitive player and it´s been tough losing games, but at the same time, I remain positive and keep working hard. I have been more of a lead by example guy in my career, but this season with Alba Berlin, I have been vocal. I have really enjoyed being able to do that”, stressed Matt Thomas. It will be interesting to see where the journey goes with Alba as currently the teams from 4th-8th all have 14 wins as it is a real dog fight for the playoff spots. Thomas has won at many levels and knows how to win and will do all he can so Alba Berlin finish the season as best as possible.
In the NBA where scoring is as high on the appetite list as are plants for Bears, it is no surprise that you are able to see guys go head to head on a nightly basis and just score score score. Guys like Joel Embild and Karl Anthony Townes displayed their knack of explosive scoring recently. Sometimes you also see 2 guys go crazy in a contest and try to out score the other. One of the more famous 1-1 battles in NBA history has to be between Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Dominique Wilkins of the Atlanta Hawks in 1988 as they combined for a ridiculous 81 points in a 48 minute game as the human highlight reel exploded for 47 points while Bird settled for 34 points. But in the end it was the Boston Celtics who prevailed 118-116 as Bird was hotter and more efficient in the clutch and in the fourth quarter as he delivered 20 of his 34 points. These kind of unique games are rare, but they do happen not only in the NBA or pro level overseas, but also in the youth sector. Last season In the JBBL (U-16) final game, Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners as the underdog delivered an incredible effort against heavy favorite Alba Berlin, but ran out of gas in the fourth quarter losing 93-85. In this game each team´s best player Mathieu Grujicic of Alba Berlin and Ivan Crjnac went head to head and combined for 93 points. At the end it was Grujicic who came out victorious as he dropped a mind boggling 52 points while Crjnac contributed 41 points. “That game is an unbelievable memory for me. It was one of the best and one of the saddest days for me. I had a very good game and when I go back to watch, I remember everything. Grujicic and I had a real battle. His play motivated me. We had to play catch up the whole time. I think that there was a time in the game where we both had 38 points. From then on it was a battle to see who would win. I respect him as a player. He is a really good player. We both proved that day that we could keep up with the other”, stressed Ivan Crnjac (201-F-2007).
Ivan Crnjac who lists Real Madrid´s Deklan Duru and current FC Barcelona player Mattieu Grujicic as his 2 toughest opponents in his career was born on March 10, 2007 in Frankfurt, Germany and grew up in Nieder-Erlenbach. He had a normal and happy childhood. Like many boys, he tried many sports from ages 4-6, and liked soccer but finally landed with basketball at age 6. His brother Drago who is 4,5 years older was always playing basketball. His first team was in Dortelweil and he then made the jump to Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners in 2015. It is no secret that in the Rhein-Main area, if a kid is talented sooner or later he probably will go to the Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners organization simply because it´s the best address in the area and known for years for serving super development to young kids. In the last 10 years players like Johannes Voigtmann, Danilo Barthel and Isaac Bonga were groomed to become Euroleague players. “I felt like I could play at a high level and Frankfurt seemed like the logical choice”, stated Ivan Crnjac. He already displayed in young years just how much potential he has as he once scored 57 points in an U-14 youth game. Last season he was bounced on to the big youth stage leading Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners into the JBBL U-16) 2023 Top 4 in Frankfurt. He came into the contest averaging 24/12 stats and was the main go to guy on the team. The club was very special that had many talented role players like Noah Koch, Julius Messer, Maximilian Peters und Darren Maglocky. “We had experience and brought calmness into the team. We had been there before and pushed the other guys. We all had great will and pushed each other”, remembered Ivan Crnjac. A big time coach in the Skyliners youth department has been Olaf Kanngiesser. He has won the JBBL title, U-14 title and U-18 cup and been in the organization for 20 years. It is no secret that he knows how to win and form players. “He is a very good coach and so important for young players. I know him since the U-14. He always valued my game and pushed me. I honestly don´t know if we would have reached the top 4 last season with another coach. He truly understands young players”, warned Ivan Crnjac.
Drago and Ivan Crnjac at Basketball City Mainhatten in Frankfurt
The versatile point forward lists Lebron, Jordan, Kobe and Shaq on his NBA Mount Rushmore is a 2,00cm forward that weighs 84 kilo and has a similar game to Lauri Markkanen. “The idea came from my dad. When he watched Euro 2022 game between Finland and Croatia, he thought that I played like him. Since that day, I have been watching his videos”, said Ivan Crnjac. It is a delight to watch Ivan play, because he already has such a high IQ for his age not commonly seen with 16 year olds. “I think on the bigger level. I may not be the most skilled player, but I compensate through my IQ. I like to help my team as best as possible and motivate the guys and be a good teammate”, warned Ivan Crnjac. His game continues to develop smoothly as in the JBBL, he was more of a driver and in the NBBL he is taking more three´s. “One could define his game now already as very grown up”, stressed brother Drago Crnjac. After not taking many three´s in the NBBL last season, he worked more on his shot last summer. He suffered an injury before the season and was out for some months. That injury was like a small blessing in disguise. “When I was injured the last months, I was able to work more on my shot. I couldn´t do physical activity so I worked on my shot. Now it has become a big part of my game in the NBBL”, added Ivan Crnjac. He is a solid defender and has the potential to be a lock down defender. “I´m a bit slow to guard guards, but my long term goal is to be able to defend 1-5. I want to be strong enough to guard centers and agile enough to guard guards”, commented Ivan Crnjac.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Ivan Crnjac at Basketball City Mainhatten in Frankfurt
The 2023 JBBL finalist who lists Dirk Nowitzki, Drazen Petrovic, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Giannis on his Euro NBA Mount Rushmore is having a strong NBBL season playing 29 minutes per game averaging 15,8ppg, 5,0rpg, 1,3apg and is shooting 28% from outside and taking 67 three´s per game while in the Pro B, he has already made his debut and averaging 12,3 minutes per game and 3,3ppg and 1,3rpg. “I´m more of a shooter. I´m still playing a lot off the ball as there are more skilled players on ball. I´m going more in the direction of a 3 and D player. In the NBBL, I´m the go to guy and scorer. Despite being in the youngest year in the NBBL, I´m becoming that leader”, expressed Ivan Crnjac. He is so young, but has a normal goal that many young talented players have now adays. “When I was younger, my dream was the NBA, but now I´m heading more towards the Euroleague. I understand the Euro game better than the NBA game. I´m a guy that likes to take small steps. I want to play a good World championships this summer”, warned Ivan Crnjac. An important person in his life has been brother Drago. They played together for the first time in the Kreissliga when Drago was 11 and Ivan was 7 and are doing it again in the Pro B now. Drago is like a mentor for him, because he sees things on the court that Ivan as a younger player might not see and besides they have good chemistry as well. “Drago is a really good player. He has taught me so much. We have a court outside in our town where we play a lot. He has a good mentality and is really competitive and pushes me. He has that I want to win mentality that he has helped instill in me. He has helped me a lot with small things and my shot”, warned Ivan Crnjac. I can remember running around the Suwag arena before the 2023 JBBL semi-final between Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners-Alba Berlin and finally found brother Drago. I asked him please give me a cool nickname for your brother. He didn´t hesitate and fired the name “Universal Genius”. That nickname has stuck with me since that day and is what I call him in the broadcasts. It fits his game. He is simply a universal genius. “Olaf Kanngiesser named me that. It was nice to hear from him. I think it fits my game. I use my versatility and IQ in many ways on the court”, warned Ivan Crnjac. So who wins a 1-1 on the court between Ivan and Drago? “It has been very even games, but I won the last one”, smiled Ivan Crnjac. It will be interesting to see how Ivan Crnjac continues to develop in the next years. If he is already a universal Genius at age 16, then it´s only scary where his game will be in a few years.
Leyton Hammonds (203-PF-1994, college: OK State) is a 29 year old 203cm forward from Texas that is playing his 7th professional season and first with JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) after starting the season with Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (Turkey-BSL). Last season he played with Gaziantep Basketbol (Turkey-BSL) averaging 11.2ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 53.1%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 89.5%. in 2021-2022 he played with Yokohama B-Corsairs (Japan-B1 League) averaging 12.9ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 85.6%. In 20-21 he played with Enisey Krasnoyarsk (Russia-VTB United League) averaging 14.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 47.4%, FT-3 (93.3%). In 2019-2020 he played with Asseco Arka Gdynia (Poland-EBL, starting five): 22 games: 8.5ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 77.5%. In 2018-2019 he played with Egis Kormend (Hungary-A Division) averaging 13.3ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 82.7%. In 2017-2018 he played with BC Nokia (Finland-Korisliiga, starting five): 48 games: 13.7ppg, 6.8rpg, FGP: 61.9%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 80.6%. He began his basketball career at Richland high school and then played at Oklahoma State (NCAA) from 2013-2017 playing a total of 121 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a BCL game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg
Thanks Leyton for talking to germanhoops.com. You began the season in Turkey and now have landed in France with Dijon. You have been in a new country each season of your 7 pro years. Is learning new cultures and playing styles a goal of yours as an overseas baller?
Yes it is. Everywhere I’ve played I like to immerse myself in the culture. All 7 different countries I’ve played offer something different and I love that about my job.
You began the season with Besiktas and put up pretty good stats there. What kind of an experience was it playing for this well known organization and why did you move on? It was a great experience. The fans are very passionate and I liked this a lot. I left because I wanted a better experience on the court for myself. Even though I didn’t feel like it was the right fit for me, I’m very thankful Besiktas gave the opportunity to play for them.
Now you have a new challenge in France and will help Dijon in the top 16 of BCL. You won your first and only chip 5 years ago. How big is your hunger to win that next one? It’s very important to me. When I’m retired, I want to have left my legacy and for leaving a good legacy includes winning championships.
What exactly is your role with Dijon. They have some talented guys at your position. But it seems like you could be a key player on the front line in the down stretch. My role is to stretch the floor with my shooting ability and versatility on offense and bring toughness and energy on defense.
You have always been a reliable scorer in your career and showed consistency on the stat sheet. How do you feel has your game grown overseas since your days in Finland and Hungary?
In my early career I relied on my jump shot a lot. Also making my first shot determined if I had a good game or a bad game. Now I think I’ve added a lot more to my game like low post, and attacking a close out. Also I try to focus more on getting a stop and a rebound to start the game instead of making my first shot.
How much of a work in progress is your three pointer? You shot the ball best in Russia and also in Fiba Europe Cup. What do you feel is still missing from being a more consistent shooter? I would say just confidence. I know I’m a good shooter, but I can get in my own head.
You have only been teammates with 38 year old veteran David Holston for a short while. What kind of an impression has this short point guard left on you?
He’s a guard that can see everything on the floor. He plays the game one step ahead of everyone and as a shooter that is helpful because he sees things before that happen.
Last season you played with Gaziantep Basketbol (Turkey-BSL) averaging 11.2ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 53.1%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 89.5%; and in the FIBA Europe Cup averaged 12.4ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 74.2%. What kind of an experience was it playing in the competitive BSL? What was your fondest moment in Turkey?
I enjoyed playing in Turkey. The fans are very passionate. The league is very good so every game was a fight. My favorite memory was just enjoying all of the food in Gaziantep.
In 21-22 you balled for Yokohama B-Corsairs (Japan-B1 League) averaging 12.9ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 85.6%. Japan has become really popular with American players in the last years. What was the biggest challenge for you having to play the same team back to back? Japan was most likely my favorite country I played in but it was a huge adjustment for me on the court.
In 20-21 you played with Enisey Krasnoyarsk (Russia-VTB United League) averaging 14.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 47.4%, FT-3 (93.3%). That was your best season in terms of free throws. What did you enjoy most about the VTB league? I really enjoy playing for coach Zula. He helped me become a better player and instilled a lot of confidence in me.
You played twice against Euroleague team CSKA Moscow first losing by 49 points and then by 11 points. What kind of an experience was it for you playing against so many top players?
It was a learning experience, especially the first game. That team was extremely talented and I got to see up close what a good euro league team looked like.
In the 2019-2020 season you played with Asseco Arka Gdynia (Poland-EBL) averaging 8.5ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 77.5%:and in the Eurocup averaging 10.0ppg, 3.7rpg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 81.3% What was key in your play in Eurocup play for this being your break out season after having played in lower leagues in Finland and Hungary? That year I was trying to prove to others and myself that I can play at a high level.
In your second pro season you played with Egis Kormend (Hungary-A Division) averaging 13.3ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 82.7%; Alpe Adria Cup: 11 games: 14.6ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 65.0%. You won your first chip with the Adria Cup. What memories do you have of the 21 point win over Skrljevo where you scored 24 points? That was a great time in my career. I was newly married and it was the first season my wife lived with me overseas. My teammates were some of the best guys I’ve met playing so that made that year even more special.
You played your rookie season with BC Nokia (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 13.7ppg, 6.8rpg, FGP: 61.9%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 80.6%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? Walking into my apartment and from my bed I could touch the stove, the front door, the bathroom door and the refrigerator. This was my wake up call. I had never lived in a space so small in my life.
How will you always have Devoe Joseph in your memories. Was he like a mentor for you in your rookie season? He is still playing in Mongolia this season. He was a mentor for me. I spent a lot of time in his room watching NBA games. He helped me get through the tough times my rookie year.
You played at Oklahoma State University (NCAA) form 2013-2017. How tough were your first 2 years? You did play 58 games, but didn´t average more than 9,9 minutes per game. What did you learn about yourself? I learned that in high level basketball you have to give the coach a reason to play you and keep you on the court whatever it might be.
You finally got going in your last 2 years averaging 10.5ppg, 5.0rpg, FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 79.6% and 8.1ppg, 4.9rpg, FGP: 52.7%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 85.1%. How did your game grow in this time? I grew into my body and I was more physically ready to compete.
In your freshman year you were teammates with Marcus Smart. How do you remember the time with him? How quickly did you know on arrival there that he could be an NBA player? He was a big prankster. He was a guy that always had the team laughing. On the court it, he was special. He took over a lot of games for us that year.
You saw 2 freshmen arrive with Cameron Mcgriff and Lindy Waters. Would you have thought with their early development and little minutes as freshmen that they had the potential to go so far? I sure did. They were always in the gym and they were both good kids.
You played for 2 coaches with Travis Ford and Brad Greenwood. How did both guys groom and prepare you best for a pro basketball career? They both taught me how to deal with adversity. How not allow tough times control my mental.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Cameron Mcgriff? Me of course
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life on the court that reached the NBA? Joe Young
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time
Vince Councel
Conner Frankamp
Damyean Dotson
John Egbunu
Angel Delgado
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?
Michael Jordan
Lebron James
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Shaq
Who is your GOAT and why?
Michael Jordan. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do on the court and he never lost in the finals. But my favorite player of all time is Tracy McGrady
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I watched the first 20 mins and I left the movie theater.
David McCormack (208-C-1999, college: Kansas) Is a 24 year old 208cm center that was born in the Bronx, New York that is playing his second pro season overseas and first with Galatasaray Ekmas Istanbul (Turkey-BSL). He began the season with Darussafaka Lassa Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) averaging 13.7ppg, 9.8rpg, 2FGP: 64.6%, FT: 72.1%; and played 5 Basketball Champions League games averaging 12.2ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 63.4%, FT: 81.8%. He palyed his rookie season with Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) averaging 9.1ppg, 7.4rpg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 75.0%. He played NBA Summer League twice with the Minnesota Timberwolves averaging 7.0ppg, 6.0rpg, FGP: 44.4%, FT: 66.7% and with the Toronto Raptors averaging 3.5ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.0bpg. He began his basketball career at Norfolk academy and then played 2 years at the well known Oak Hill Academy. He then played 4 years at the University of Kansas (NCAA) playing 132 games and averaging 10.6ppg, 7.0rpg, FGP: 51.2%, FT: 75.6% as a senior and winning the 2022 NCAA title. He spoke to germanhoops before a Basketball Champions League game against the Telekom Baskets Bonn
Thanks David for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your second pro season and second overseas in Turkey. How much has Turkey become like a second home for you? What do you enjoy most about the culture in Turkey? I have definitely become comfortable living in Turkey to say the least. It wasn’t the easiest adjustment at first, but with time things became more natural. Turkey has pretty welcoming people and I also really enjoy the country’s traditional foods.
You live in the capital Istanbul that has many many teams. How wild is it living in one massive city and so much basketball to choose from?
Istanbul is a great city and I am happy to live in such a place. Finding things I need or receiving packages from home is a lot easier when living in a city like this. On the other hand, with a big city and high population it is inevitable to not have traffic. Also with so many teams being in Istanbul, it always gives me something to do. I love watching basketball. There is always a game in the city that I would drive to to watch.
You began the season with Darussafaka Lassa Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) averaging 13.7ppg, 9.8rpg, 2FGP: 64.6%, FT: 72.1%; in the BCL an din the Basketball Champions League 12.2ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 63.4%, FT: 81.8%. You had very solid stats. Why was your stay so short? I enjoyed my time in Darussafaka, and my stats wouldn’t have been accomplished without the teammates that I had. Unfortunately, the club had some internal matters that needed to be handled.
You moved to Galatasaray Ekmas Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) that is also a very well known Turkish sports organization. It last won a title more than 10 years ago. How big is the desire inside the organization to win again?
Galatasaray is a famous club with a passionate staff as well as fans. We are practicing, preparing and are very eager ourselves each day to bring another title into this club.
The team is in 9th place in the BSL and 0-3 in the BCL. Despite that how much potential does the team have? This team has gone through a lot of changes, but with each day we are building better chemistry and learning how to play better basketball with each other. This team has a lot of talent and experience and I feel we can compete with the best of teams.
What has it been like playing with ultra veteran Dee Bost? The guy has so much experience. What have you enjoyed most about his game? Dee Bost is a great guy and knows the game and teams. From his years of experience, he has been able to give advice on other coaches’ playing style. He also tells me certain players’ habits to better guard or attack them.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm center. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description? I’ve honestly never thought of an NBA comparison for myself. I’ve always strived to be the player that I can be. Now I have had teammates who makes jokes say players like Lamarcus Aldridge or Demarcus Cousins but that’s not of my own judgment.
You’re a guy that can score and haul down the rebounds. What else does your game incorporate besides these traits?
I’m sure that it’s hard to tell in a loud gym, but I am also a very vocal player on the floor. Talking, pointing and sometimes pushing players to be in the right position, all so we can work in tandem. Being a better all around defensive player is also something I want to really improve in.
You have only shot 1 three this season. Is the three ball something that you want to incorporate into your game? I would like to say I am a capable three point shooter, but have never really taken the opportunity to display it. So yes, expanding my shooting range is something that I want to work on.
What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
Thinking about my game, I would say I am a slightly above average defender. I realize that I am no shot blocker but I make post-players take a difficult shot attempt. Defensively I know I have the capability, but really honing in on becoming a really good defender that can guard all positions.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? During the season I try not to change my game too much. I rather make the adjustments the team needs for us to be more successful. Right now, just making the right reads out ball screen actions can really help our flow of offense.
Last season you played with Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (Turkey-BSL) averaging 9.1ppg, 7.4rpg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 75.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
My first wake up call was the 10 hour flight and 8 hour time difference. Another wake up call was the skill development. In college for the most part you would have designated times for your skill development. Now that you’re a professional it all is based on your desire. So if you see people never coming to the gym besides practice and start to lose playing time, it’s on them.
You played NBA Summer League in 2022 and 2023. What memories do you have of them and what was the coolest experience you had? Did you meet any NBA legends?
One of my favorite things about Summer League is seeing a lot of the guys who played a part in your journey. Teammates from high school to college and even overseas. Basketball is a global community and Summer League is almost like a family reunion for everyone that has invested time into the game.
What was the main reason why you didn´t start in the G-League? The NBA must be your dream. Did you see the reality of having a overseas career more than having to fight to reach the NBA?
I felt that playing overseas was a better opportunity for me. Having known some teammates that already played G-League, they gave me their advice which helped with my decision. The NBA is still my dream. I have learned that there is more than one way to reach the NBA and everyone’s road to get there is different.
You played at the University of Kansas from 2018-2022 topping off your career with the NCAA title in 2022. Looking back almost 2 years later, what thing pops into your mind at first when you think about the final win? It’s really not too much to say besides I enjoyed my time at Kansas. The teammates and relationships I built while I was there. All the hard work and time invested paid off in the end.
You had easy wins against Miami and Villanova, but closer wins against Creighton and Providence. Was there a game at March madness that showed you most that this title wasn´t going anywhere besides Kansas? I wouldn’t say that there is any easy win during March madness. Any team can get beaten at any time, and that’s the beauty of it. Every team has to bring their best every time they step on the floor, because it could be their last. You always feel strong and wanting to wind while going through the tournament, but I didn’t feel certain we were going to win until the championship game. Even with the halftime deficit.
In the final you were the hero at the end hitting the go ahead bucket with 1.22 to play and an insurance basket with 22 seconds. What was the whole atmosphere like at the end? Did you just block everything out? What memories do you have of those 2 clutch shots? The last moments leading up to the win were really a blur. I was in this state of flow, where everything felt second nature and I really didn’t have to think about anything. We practice so many times for moments like and all the preparation paid off.
In your 4 years at Kansas you were teammates with many guys that would move on to the NBA. Which teammate had the biggest impact on you?
Dedric Lawson was a veteran roommate my freshman year. When finding my way trying to play at such a historic school, he just gave simple advice to help me see things in a different perspective.
How did head coach Bill Self groom and prepare you best for a professional career? Coach Self is not only a great coach but a great guy. He was always honest and told you things with transparency. He would let you know how professional teams looked at you and how they would use you. To some players they may have felt discouraged. As for me I took it as motivation in learning how to make myself sought after as a player.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Udoka Azubuike?
If we’re playing strictly post moves Dok gets it. If it’s face up away from the basketball, I’m taking that.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life on the court that reached the NBA?
I’ve played against a lot of guys but one of the first that comes to mind is also a former teammate Oscar Tshiebwe. He is an athlete and strong as well as being a workhorse.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time
(No specific order)
Keldon Johnson
Christian Braun
Ochai Agbaji
Immanuel Quickley
Mac McClung
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?
Shaq, Jordan, Kobe, Lebron
Who is your GOAT and why?
Jordan is Icon
Kobe is a Legend
Lebron is the GOAT
Case closed.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?
German Hoops 