FIBA Champions League

Jamal Shuler(AS Monaco) As I Get Older I Am Always Trying To Find New Ways To Evolve And Bring Something New To The Table

Jamal Shuler is a 31 year old 191cm shooting guard from Jacksonville, North Carolina that is playing his ninth professional season, sixth in France and second with As Monaco. Last season with AS Monaco he played 40 games averaging15.9ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 44.0%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 88.7%. He started his basketball career in 2004 with Va Commonwealth (NCAA) where he played until 2008 and as a senior played 32 games averaging 15.5ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.3apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 44.0%, 3Pts: 41.3%, FT: 79.8%. He turned professional in 2008 with TBB Trier in Germany and played there until 2010. Then he went to France and played for teams like JA Vichy Val d’Allier Auvergne basket, Sluc Nancy Basket Pro, and JSF Nanterre. He also played a season with Khimik-OPZ Yuhzny (Ukraine-Superleague). He spoke to German Hoops before the Champions League game against the Fraport Skyliners in Frankfurt.
Jamal thanks for talking to German Hoops Welcome back to Germany and Frankfurt. It has been a while since you played in Germany. Back in the 2013-2014 season you lost two Eurocup games to Alba Berlin. Where would you rank the giant Mercedes Benz arena in Berlin in your all-time best arena´s that you have played in?

Berlin’s arena is definitely one of the top gyms in Europe! It’s always fun to play there because of the competition and also because the crowd was always great!

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Michael Thompson(Besiktas Sompo Japan Istanbul )Defensively Quantez Robertson´s Hard Work And Desire Was Unreal

Michael Thompson is a 27 year old 177cm point guard from Chicago, Illinois that is playing his sixth professional season and first with Besiktas Sompo Japan Istanbul (Turkey-BSL). He played at Northwestern from 2007-2011. In his senior year, he played 34 games: 16.3ppg, 2.2rpg, 4.3apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 82.5%. He turned professional in 2011 with the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-1.Bundesliga) in 2011 and palyed EuroCup: 6 games: 7.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.3apg, FGP: 34.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 83.3%; German League: 27 games: 8.5ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 76.1%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (France-ProA) playing 35 games: 10.4ppg, 1.7rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 84.8%. In the 2013-2014 season he played for Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez (France-ProA) playing 30 games: 11.6ppg, 1.8rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 40.5%, 3PT: 45.5%, FT-3(93.8%). In the 2014-2015 season he played for SPO Rouen Basket (France-ProA) playing 33 games: 13.9ppg, 1.7rpg, 4.2apg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 42.2%, FT: 86.1%. Last season he played for Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez (France-ProA) playing 36 games: Score-1(17.9ppg), 2.1rpg, 5.1apg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 38.4%, FT: 89.9%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Champions League game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.

Mike thanks for talking to German Hoops. You are playing your first season in Turkey with Besiktas. How refreshing is it having such normal warmer temperatures at this time of the year? Something you never witnessed in Chicago, Germany or France the last years?

Thanks for having me. It’s very refreshing to have had such wonderful weather, but it is starting to get cold. Last year in Pau, France the weather was warm for the majority of the season.

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Tyrone Nash(Ironi Nahariya) My Last Game With Tuebingen Against Phoenix Hagen Felt Like A Playoff Game

Tyrone Nash is a 28 year old 203cm forward from Queens, New York playing his sixth professional season and first with Ironi Nahariya (Israel-Winner League). He started his basketball career with Notre Dame (NCAA) in 2007 and played 118 NCAA games until 2011 and as a senior played 34 games averaging 9.5ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 48.7%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 68.9%. He started his professional career in 2011 with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen where he played for three seasons playing 99 BBL games and in his last season there played 33 games: 10.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 68.4%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for SPO Rouen Basket (France-ProA): 11 games: 8.3ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 55.1%, FT: 50.0%. Last season he returned back to Germany to play for the Basketball Loewen Braunschweig (Germany-BBL) playing 34 games averaging 10.9ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 58.5%, 3PT: 24.0%, FT: 66.7%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Champions League game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Tyrone thanks for talking to German Hoops. Your playing your first season in Israel for Ironi Nahariya (Israel-Winner League). You played the last years mostly in Germany and one season in France. In terms to weather how close are you to living in a paradise atmosphere?

It is really great waking up to sunshine everyday and having the beach literally across the street from me. I can see why a lot of players choose to play here.

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The Fraport Skyliners Hand Gordon Herbert Welcome Back Present With Massive 81-74 Champions League Win Over Aris

There are some players that play in the Fraport arena like German national player Per Guenther who has been annoying the Fraport Skyliners since 2008, but then again there are players that played there once and then don´t return for many years as Michael Jenkins did. Jenkins came into the BBL in 2009 after playing at Winthrop(NCAA) and his rookie season with BC Buducnost Podgorica (Bosnia-1A) and then made a splash with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen averaging 14.0ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.3apg, Steals-3(1.9spg), FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 72.6%. In the time from 2009-2016, the Kinston, North Carolina native gathered valuable experience in Belgium for two years, Italy for two years and in Turkey for two years. He even had a taste of the NBA being a part of the Oklahoma Thunder in training camp in 2014 and playing catch and picking the brains of future NBA legends Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. A little more than 85 months ago on October 18^,2009 Jenkins made his first appearance in the Fraport arena getting plastered with Tuebingen by Frankfurt 98-66 as he supplied the losing squad with 11 points. Back in that game he had teammates like Lebron James friend Romeo Travis and Bane Ratkovica that are still playing today while Frankfurt had guys like Aubrey Reese, Greg Jenkins, Seth Doliboa or Dominik Bahiense De Mello all retired now. Jenkins also battled against Pascal Roller and Marius Nolte who usually watches the Champions League game from various area´s in the arena. Dinosaur Derrick Allen was also on the floor and is still chugging around in the paint in Germany displaying his never aging ballerina moves. There was only one player on the floor from 7 years ago that was also present in 2016 with Frankfurt and that was current Fraport Skyliner captain Quantez Robertson who was a young pup fresh out of Auburn(NCAA) and was a rookie showing the BBL his first taste of his freak athleticism as he finished with 10 points, eight boards and three steals. Both guys met again with the biggest difference that Robertson has called Frankfurt his home since then while Jenkins has gotten around. The Fraport Skyliners were reeling finally to get a win again as their 6 game BBL losing streak had effected the club and had to meet up with Greek powerhouse Aris the ex team of Gordon Herbert and they came up with a special welcome back gift for their coach who had been out for a while as they stepped up in crunch time shocking Aris 81-74. After the big win Quantez Robertson was already playing daddy for Autumn on the court, but had big words for Michael Jenkins whom he opposed as a rookie in 2009. “I really didn´t even remember him until assistant coach Klaus Perwas said during video that he played in the league once. He made some tough three´s and got going early and stayed with it until the end”, stressed ex Auburn(NCAA) guard Quantez Robertson. For Michael Jenkins there was no happy return to the Fraport arena as his record there fell to 0-2, but remembered Quantez Robertson. “It doesn´t only feel good to play here, but just being able to play each day is a blessing. It is always good playing against familiar faces like him and being in Germany in general”, added Aris guard Michael Jenkins.

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Michael Jenkins (Aris Thessaloniki) Durant And Westbrook Treated Me Like A Guy That Belonged There

Michael Jenkins is a 30 year old 192 cm guard from Kinston, North Carolina that currently is playing his ninth professional season and first with Aris Thessaloniki (Greece-A1). Last season he played for Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey-BSL): 17 games: 15.1ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 86.2%; FIBA Europe Cup: 13 games: 12.3ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.0apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 41.9%, FT: 88.9%. He played at Winthrop(NCAA) from 2004-2008. He didn´t play as much his first two seasons, but got increased playing time in his junior and senior years. As a junior, he averaged 14.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PTConf-1(41.5%), FT: 70.2% in 34 games. In his senior year, he played 34 games and averaged 13.9ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 41.6%, 3PTConf-6(36.8%), FT: 71.3%: and finished his career as the 10th leading scorer in Winthrop history with 1,253 points. With Winthrop, he was the Big South Conf. Regular Season Champion in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and won the Big South Conf Tournament from 2005-2008. He was named to the Big South Conf. All-Tournament Team in 2007 and 2008. In his first professional season 2008-2009, he was drafted by the Albany Patrons of the CBA and in November 2008 signed with the Albany Patroons playing 3 games and averaging 6.7ppg, 2.0rpg, FGP: 47.4%, but left during the season and moved to BC Buducnost Podgorica (Bosnia-1A) . In the 2009-2010 season he came to Germany and played for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen averaging 14.0ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.3apg, Steals-3(1.9spg), FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 72.6%. In the 2010-2011 season he played for Belgacom Liege Basket (Belgium-D1) playing EuroCup Qualifying Round: 2 games: 11.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 12.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 40.7%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 84.6%; Belgian League: 13 games: 12.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.5apg, Steals-1(2.8spg), FGP: 43.8%, 3PT: 29.6%, FT: 78.3%. In the 2011-2012 he played for Optima Gent (Belgium-D1) playing 29 games: 13.0ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.6%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for Centrale del Latte Brescia (Italy-Lega2): 38 games: 17.0ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.4apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 79.6%: In the 2013-2014 season he played for Pallacanestro Cantu (Italy-SerieA) where he played 33 games: 10.0ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 87.5%; Eurocup: 16 games: 11.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 39.2%, 3PT: 45.1%, FT: 63.6%.In the 2014-2015 season he started the season with the Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA), released in Oct.’14, in Nov.’14 signed at Oklahoma City Blue (D-League): 14 games: 13.7ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.1apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3FGP: 44.3%, FT: 84.8%, in Dec.’14 moved to Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi (Turkey-TBL) 15 games: 15.5ppg, 3.9rpg, 4.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 87.0%. Last season he played for Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey-BSL): 17 games: 15.1ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 55.2%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 86.2%; FIBA Europe Cup: 13 games: 12.3ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.0apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 41.9%, FT: 88.9%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Champions League game in Frankfurt against the Fraport Skyliners.

Welcome back to Germany. You have been busy in your career with German Hoops as this is your 18th interview with me. It´s always a pleasure to talk with you. How are you and do you feel that you are in your prime now at age 30?

What’s up Miles, and thank you! It always feels good to be back in Germany whether for a game or just during a layover in the airport. Gives me a chance to buy an apfelschorle and eat some currywurst (lol). I’m doing very well. A lot has changed in my life since we last spoke I’m sure, and being 30 now is definitely one of the biggest changes. I still feel like I’m 26 or 27 on the court though, so that’s definitely a positive.

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Jordan Sibert(PAOK Thessaloniki) The NBA Is A Real Business And You Can´t Dwell On The Past

Jordan Sibert is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Cincinnati, Ohio playing his second professional season and first in Europe with PAOK Thessaloniki (Greece-A1). Last season as a rookie he played in the NBA Pro Summer League in Orlando (Orlando Blue): 3 games: 11.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg. He then was signed by the Orlando Magic (NBA), released in Oct.’15, then moved to Erie Bay Hawks (D-League): 44 games: 13.1ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 87.1%. He started his basketball career at Ohio St. (NCAA) in 2010 and played a total of 49 games. He then finished his last two years at Dayton (NCAA) and as a senior played 36 games: 16.1ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 61.0%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 78.8%. He spoke to German Hoops a day before the Champions League game against the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in Oldenburg.

Jordan thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome to Germany. Is this your first time in Germany. I guess the weather reminds you a bit of home Cincinnati at this time of year?

Yes this is my first time here. It reminds a lot of home with the grey skies and cold.

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Devaughn Akoon-Purcell (Bakken Bears) We Approached Frankfurt With The Mindset That We Are Better Than We Have Been Playing

Devaughn Akoon Purcell is a 23 year old 196cm forward from Orlando, Florida playing his rookie season with the Bakken Bears (Denmark-Ligaen). He started his basketball career at Eastern Oklahoma State College before moving to Illinois St. (NCAA) in 2014 where he played 28 games: 12.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 77.1%. In his senior year he played 31 games: 14.2ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 47.7%, 3PT: 26.0%, FT: 71.2%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 71-65 win against the Fraport Skyliners in Champions League play.

Devaughn congrats on the huge 71-65 win. It was the first win for the Bakken Bears in the Champions League. How good is it to get that monkey off your back?

Getting our first champions league win feels more than good. Hopefully it gives us the motivation to put a couple of wins together in a row.

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Michael Dixon(AEK Athens) My Passing Ability Will Become More Valuable As I Progress And Move Up As A Professional

Michael Dixon is a 25 year old 186cm guard that is playing his third professional season and first with AEK Athens (Greece-A1). He started his basketball career in 2009 with Missouri (NCAA) playing a total of 104 NCAA games. He transferred to Memphis (NCAA) and as a senior played 34 games: 11.8ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 84.4%. He started his professional basketball career in 2014 with Sigma Barcellona (Italy-A2 Gold), only pre-season, then moved to Dzukija Alytus (Lithuania-LKL): 15 games: 10.8ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.5apg, 2FGP: 39.6%, 3FGP: 41.1%, FT: 85.0%, in Dec.’14 signed at Pieno Zvaigzdes Pasvalys (Lithuania-LKL): 23 games: Score-1(16.0ppg), 3.0rpg, 3.7apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 79.1%; Baltic League: 7 games: 13.4ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.9apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 56.1%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 85.7%. Last season he played with CEZ Basketball Nymburk (Czech Republic-NBL) playing 19 games: 14.5ppg, 2.8rpg, Assists-4(4.7apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 57.0%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 81.3%; FIBA Europe Cup: 11 games: 16.7ppg, 4.5rpg, 4.8apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 63.5%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 84.6%;: VTB League: 31 games: 14.4ppg, 2.7rpg, 4.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 88.1%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Champions League game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in Ludwigsburg.

Michael welcome to Germany. Last season you played in the Czech Republic. Did you ever make a road trip to Germany or is this your first time here?

I played in a preseason tournament with Nymburk last season in Jena. I remember we lost to Braunschweig. The landscape is pretty similar to the Czech Republic. I couldn´t really see much since we had the normal routine of hotel and gym. I have learned that the BBL is very similar to the NBA and how it´s run. The teams in Germany have very nice logos and nice buses. A nice bus picked us up at the airport today. I also like how players get paid on time in Germany. That is why we play so we can get paid.

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Devaughn Akoon Purcell (Bakken Bears) My Job Is To Go Out Every Night And Play My Heart Out

Devaughn Akoon Purcell is a 23 year old 196cm forward from Orlando, Florida playing his rookie season with the Bakken Bears (Denmark-Ligaen). He started his basketball career at Eastern Oklahoma State College before moving to Illinois St. (NCAA) in 2014 where he played 28 games: 12.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 77.1%. In his senior year he played 31 games: 14.2ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 47.7%, 3PT: 26.0%, FT: 71.2%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Champions League game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Thanks Devaughn for talking to German Hoops.You have not needed any adjustment coming overseas as you are tearing up the Denmark-Ligaen and playing very efficiently and strong in the Champions League. What has been toughest for you playing twice a week and in two different competitions and levels?

Playing twice a week and due to all the traveling has been tough. But as a professional taking care of your body plays a major role in how you perform. So I’ll say trying to eat the right things, stretch as much as possible, and lift weights consistently.

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Ekene Ibekwe Leads The Fraport Skyliners Shutting Down Ex Team CEZ Nymburk 74-61 In Champions League

It was seven months ago that American Eugene Lawrence suffered one of his worst BBL defeats of last season in Frankfurt, but at least the American from Brooklyn, New York who only has to travel 21 miles in the summer to get from his home to Englewood, New Jersey to pick the basketball brain of Champions League opponent Jordan Theodore or to trade secrets about best groomed bald heads and could still boast that his 37 point demolition against Bamberg was worse than the 78-48 loss at the hands of Theodore and the Fraport Skyliners last season. In that game, the Fraport Skyliners shared the ball around nicely while the Telekom Baskets Bonn had a cold shooting day and were totally outplayed and worn down by their stellar defense of last season. Lawrence matched the point total of Theodore with nine points, but dished out only one assist as his playmaking was severely flawed by the aggressive Frankfurt defense. Last season, losing was a habit for Lawrence with the Telekom Baskets Bonn, but this season he returned back to an old stomping ground with CEZ Basketball Nymburk (Czech Republic-NBL) where he won his only two titles in 2012. In the Czech Republic NBL league, he has helped the team register a perfect 10-0 record and their only loss was in Champions league play against Banvit and Theodore last week 75-69. In that loss, Theodore was his usual self-supplying 15 points, six boards and seven assists while Lawrence countered with 11 points. If Lawrence had the audacity to inquire Theodore after the loss some questions about how to beat Frankfurt is unknown, but one thing is for sure, Lawrence returned back to Germany with a massive chip on his shoulder after being swept by the Fraport Skyliners last season and getting creamed in the Fraport arena by 30 big ones. However once again, Lawrence had no fortune in the ex living room of Theodore as a huge second half and comeback by the Fraport Skyliners where they outscored CEZ Nymburk 44-21 helped win their second Champions League game 74-61 moving to 2-2 in group play.

After the loss, Lawrence departed from the locker room sniffling a bit as his cold wasn´t unnoticeable and his mood wasn´t either as he was more than disappointed by how his team collapsed in the second half. “I think that the third quarter killed us. We had too many turnovers and missed layups all game long. On the road, you must always be cautious of everything. We gave Frankfurt the momentum in the third quarter and it carried over until the end. We had a good second quarter, but Frankfurt punched first in the second half and kept coming”, stressed CEZ Nymburk point guard Eugene Lawrence. The Fraport Skyliners totally lost control of the game in the second quarter, but came back in the third quarter turning the game around and finishing strong to earn the win. “Coach Perwas told us at halftime to stay with it. We have worked too hard the last weeks to keep handing games away. Too often we are a good team for 20 minutes, but the other 20 minutes of not being a good team. We were more consistent and wanted it more and it paid off. It was all about better communication on offense and defense and it was the best game of the season where we did that”, explained Fraport Skyliner guard Kwame Vaughn.

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