Fraport Skyliner Danilo Barthel took part in the 2014 NBA Summer League in Orlando and Las Vegas. I take a look back at his experiences in both places from game to game.
German Players
The 2014 NBA Summer League Danilo Barthel Watch Game Five Against The Oklahoma City Thunder
In the home land of Danilo Barthel in Germany, the last days have been buzzing with soccer talk and the world cup final between Germany and Argentina approaching while in Orlando, Florida where the Heidelberg native is taking part in the Summer League, he can easily focus on basketball, basketball and basketball. He will be able to concentrate on this big sports event on his free day on Sunday in Las Vegas when he can sit back at noon time with a Vegas Strip Dog or paella valenciana and wash it all down with some Powerade or Gatorade while enjoying some more records being done by Thomas Mueller or Miroslav Klose. However Before he could relax in Las Vegas before taking the court again, he had to take care of some last business in Orlando with his last NBA Summer League game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Barthel competed against some well known basketball names like Andre Roberson, Mitch Mcgary or Nolan Smith, but there was one player he knew all to well about as he had lost twice last season to Michael Stockton and Ludwigsburg by not more than a combined three points in both games. In the first meeting Ludwigsburg were behind by 15 points until Americans Keaton Grant and CJ Harris pulled out their reserves and took apart the Fraport Skyliners while in Ludwigsburg, it was Coby Karl who drew a technical foul on Quantez Robertson and Adam Waleskowski that hauled down an offensive rebound and made the put back for the bitter 77-76 loss for Barthel and Frankfurt. Stockton and Barthel didn´t overly shine on the court then in Germany, but now had another chance to battle on the court as the German didn´t want to leave the court a loser against the Washington native three times in a row.
Dominik Spohr (BG Goettingen) I Would Fight Every Single Second On The Court To Help My Team To Stay And Get Established In The BBL
Dominik Spohr is a 25 year old 198cm forward that is playing his first season with BG Goettingen. He started his basketball career in 2004 for BBV Hagen (Regionalliga). He then helped Phoenix Hagen move up to the Beko BBL in 2009 playing 24 games: 2.0ppg. In three years in Hagen he played 64 Beko BBL games. Last season he played for the Giessen 46ers playing 29 games: 5.6ppg, 2.0rpg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 75.6%. He spoke to German Hoops after helping BG Goettingen win the German Pro A title.
Dominik congrats on winning the 2014 Pro A title with BG Goettingen. After a big title in the States, the famous players say afterwards “Im going To Disneyland. Where would you want to go after this big title win against Crailsheim?
We had 1 or 2 little partys to go to and celebrate the chip.
BG Goettingen had the slim 35-33 lead at halftime. In the second half, BG Goettingen was able to pull away and get the win. What was key for getting the win at home in Goettingen?
The key was our defense and our unselfish style on offense.
Dominik Spohr (BG Goettingen) This Might Be The Biggest Game In My Career So Far And I Think The Chance To Remain Unbeaten At Home Is Pretty Much Unique
Dominik Spohr is a 25 year old 198cm forward that is playing his first season with BG Goettingen. He started his basketball career in 2004 for BBV Hagen (Regionalliga). He then helped Phoenix Hagen move up to the Beko BBL in 2009 playing 24 games: 2.0ppg. In three years in Hagen he played 64 Beko BBL games. Last season he played for te Giessen 46ers playing 29 games: 5.6ppg, 2.0rpg, FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 75.6%. He spoke to German Hoops before the final game in Goettingen for the Pro A title.
Dominik thanks for talking to German Hoops. Recently you helped BG Goettingen move up to the Beko BBL. How was this time different than with Phoenix Hagen in 2009. Was one more sweeter than the other?
It was equally sweet but my role this year was different. Back in 2009 I was a lot younger and not that experienced. I think I helped my team much more this year than I had been able to do in Hagen.
How do you like the German Pro A policy of the soccer like rules of two final games that are decided on the point total difference in both games?
I don’t like it at all. It should be either another series like in the BBL or a real final. One game one winner!
Dirk Mädrich (SC Rasta Vechta) Pat Elzie Never Stopped Believing In Me And I Grew Up As A Player
Dirk Mädrich is a 30 year old 212cm center that is playing his third season for SC Rasta Vechta after moving down two classes form the Beko BBL to the Pro B in 2011. He started his basketball career in 2001 with BG Dorsten (Regionalliga). He then played three seasons for Braunschweig. In 2004-2005 he moved to Bamberg where he helped Bamberg win their first Beko BBL title. He then moved back to Braunschweig for a season and in 2006-2007 left Germany and played for Strasbourg IG (France-ProA): ULEB Cup: 13 games: 4.1ppg, 2.8rpg; French League: 31 games: 4.5ppg, 2.7rpg. He then played for the Artland Dragons form 2007-2009 helping them win the Beko BBL cup in 2008. In 2009 he played for AEP Olimpiada Patron (Greece-A2, starting five): 5 games: 8.8ppg, 3.6rpg, FGP: 75.0%, FT: 87.5%, then moved to Konstantin Elephants Grevenbroich (Regionalliga, starting five): 4 games: 12.5ppg. In 2010-2011 he played for LTi Giessen 46ers (1.Bundesliga): 30 games: 3.4ppg, 1.9rpg. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball recently.
The most asked question to you this season has to be, was moving to SC Rasta Vechta the best decision in your basketball career?
That has been asked often and it was my best decision and the turning point in my basketball career. I had the choice of having a small role for a big team or be a small fish in big water or go back a step and take on some responsibility at Vechta. The concept of Pat Elzie worked and we have a great team now. I made a big step in the last three years. I am more robust, conditioned and grew up as a player with Vechta.
Why has Pat Elzie been so successful with SC Rasta Vechta?
Pat Elzie is a players coach that gives you confidence and stands behind you when you make a mistake. Before I came to Vechta, I never got a real chance anywhere or was injured. Elzie never stopped believing in me.
Bernd Kruel (Phoenix Hagen) Pascal Roller Was A Great Teammate
Bernd Kruel is a 37 year old 209cm center that will be playing his 17th season in Hagen this upcoming season. He started his carrer with Brandt Hagen in 1993 and played there until December 2003 as team withdrew from the Beko BBL. He then joined the Opel Skyliners in January 2003 and helped the team win the Beko BBL title in 2004. He helped the team reach the 2005 Beko BBL final. He then played for the Telekom Baskets Bonn from 2006-2008. In 2008, he returned back to Hagen to play for Phoenix Hagen and helped the team reach the Beko BBL in 2009. The German spoke to German Hoops about basketball during the last season.
Since 2006, you have returned back to Frankfurt many times to play your ex team. Is it still special to return back?
Yes it is still special to come back to Frankfurt. I have many nice memories from my Frankfurt time and I see many old friends.
You are 37 now and you return back each season to continue your career. I guess there are still enough fish in the river Volme in Hagen for the big storch to eat?
Yes there are still many yummy fish in the Volme. I feel good and am fit physically.
DraftExpress: European Roundup: Schroeder Shredding German Defenses
Kevin Bright (I Want To Be Consistent Over A Whole Season At A High Level)
Kevin Bright is a 19 year old 198cm swing man from Mannheim Germany. He played for Erdgas Ehingen/Urspringschule from 2007-2012 playing a total of 83 German second division games. In the 2011-2012 season, he played 25 games averaging 8,5ppg, 2,9rpg and 2,5apg. He will be attend Vanderbilt university in the 2012-2013 season. German Hoops sat down with the German to talk basketball.
After moving up to the PRO A last season, Erdgas Ehingen finished the season in 11th place. Can one be happy with the end result?
We had some problems at the start, but we beat some top teams in the second half of the season. All in all, one can be satisfied with the season.
You scored 24 points in the first game at MBC. What will you always remember from this game?
I will remember the great atmosphere in their arena. Even though that we lost, we showed that we could play with atop team.
In your first PRO A season, you averaged 8,5ppg, 2,9rpg and 2,5apg. How satisfied were you with your own season?
I wasn´t too happy with my season. I had some bad games, but I think that I learned from my mistakes and the PRO A was a good experience and preparation for the NCAA.
Nino Garris: Pascal Roller Could Read A Play And Knew Things On The Court Before They Happened
Nino Garris is a 32 year old 200cm forward that is playing in the German Regionaliga for TV Salzkotten. He is a very athletic player with a lot of European experience(Euroleague, Uleb Cup,), great competitor, can defend very hard and he´ll gets rebounds in a crowd because he´s tough.
A complete team player, who plays smart and hard. He started his basketball career with Paderborn in 1996. He then played one season for TuS Lichterfelde before moving up to Alba Berlin in 1999 where he played until 2005. With Alba Berlin, he played a total of 132 Beko BBL games and 38 Euroleague games. He was German champion four times and cup winner twice with Alba Berlin. He then played for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners from 2005-2008 where he had to fight with injury woes. He played a total of only 52 Beko BBL games and seven ULEB cup games. He finished his Beko BBL career with his hometown team Paderborn Baskets in 2008-2009. He spoke to German Hoops about the Pascal Roller farewell game January 28th.
It has been a while since you last played in the Beko BBL. Do you miss it?
I wouldn´t really say that I miss it. It was a nice time in my life, but life goes on and I have a new chapter in it now.
How is it playing in the German Regionaliga with TV Salzkotten. Do young opponents sometimes ask you for basketball advice?
After I retired from the Beko BBL in 2009, I took about 1.5 years to see what I would do. I also didn´t play to much active sport, so I gained about 20 kilos and was having back pain. But after a while it was clear that I could never stay fully away from basketball, because I love it too much. I then joined TV Salzkotten which keeps me fit. Here and there people will ask me what is was like as a player, but I really dont get asked so much.
Waves, Basketball And Tagalong In Hawaii For Christian Standhardinger
If at first you don´t succeed, then try try again is the famous quote by WC Fields which has been heard as much in sports movies in Hollywood as Lebron James has been dreaming about when he can finally present a few of his homies an NBA ring in Cleveland, but another guy who might have this famous quote engraved somewhere in his mindset is German Christian Standhardinger. Standhardinger is a 22 year old 203 cm forward from Munich that simply will not give up with the NCAA dream. The big German kid who is a very talented player that is able to stretch the floor with his three-point accuracy as well as get to the hoop with a quick first step and a variety of finishing moves in the paint came to football country at the University of Nebraska in the fall of 2009-2010 to become a house hold name in the college basketball world in the NCAA.
Despite starting in the fall of 2009-2010 at Nebraska, it took him a while to really get started in a Nebraska uniform, because he had violated the rules of amateurism and by the time that had all been taken care of, he had missed enough games that wasn´t really helping a struggling team that was craving for that savior. The German was able to play 16 games as a freshman averaging 8.1ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP: 40.9%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 78.3%. However as any basketball player can be hot or cold, he also made good use to this name having stellar games like producing 25 points and grabbing 8 rebounds against Iowa State, but there were other games where he seemed to disappear on the court as if he had been caught stealing a bundle of corn from a field from his Nebraska´s girlfriends father.
German Hoops 