Interviews

John Roberson (ES Chalon-Sur-Saone) We Have Guys Sacrificing Their Own Numbers For The Team And That Is A Beautiful Thing

John Roberson is a 27 year old 180cm guard from Plano Texas playing his fifth professional season and first with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-ProA). He started his basketball career at Texas Tech in 2007 where he played until 2011 playing a total of 129 NCAA games and as a senior played 30 games averaging 14.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 4.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 38.6%, 3PT: 40.8%, FT: 83.3%. In the 2011-2012 season, he started his professional career and played for Zlatorog Lasko (Slovenia-Telemach League) Slovenian League: 3 games: 3.3ppg, 1.3rpg, 2.3apg; Adriatic League: 6 games: 5.3ppg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 36.4%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 85.7%. IN the 2012-2013 season he played for BBC Monthey (Switzerland-LNA, starting five): 3 games: 17.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 5.3apg, 4.0spg, in Nov.’12 moved to Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan): 36 games: 12.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 5.3apg, 4.0spg, FGP: 49.7%, 3PT-2(51.9%), FT: 91.7%; EuroChallenge: 4 games: 4.3ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.5apg, 1.5spg. He remained with the Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan) the last two seasons winning two league titles and played 29 games averaging 18.0ppg, 3.4rpg, Assists-3(6.2apg), Steals-5(1.8spg), FGP: 52.6%, 3PT-1(51.2%), FT: 89.7%. He spoke to German Hoops at the Fiba Europe Cup final 4 in Chalon, France.

Thanks John for talking to German Hoops. Since the loss on the road in Strassburg over Easter, Chalon rebounded and had a 5 game winning streak, but got it snapped with a 100-83 loss against Le Mans. That was the most points Chalon gave up this season. How can one explain a breakdown on defense like that at near the post season?

Against Le Mans we played bad defense as a team. Sometimes you have those games, but the important thing is how you bounce back, and we did that against Pau.

This week Chalon will prepare for the Fiba Europe Cup at home. How thrilled are you that the final 4 will be in your home court and what is special about your fan base that will give the team a big advantage?

We are very happy that the Final 4 will be on our home court. We have the best fans in France and I know it will be a full arena. I know they will make a lot of noise and I cant wait to see the atmosphere.

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Chris Iles (My Skillset Quickness Leadership And Competitiveness Gives Me The Tools I Need To Succeed At The Next Level

Chris Iles is a 26 year old 180 cm guard that just completed his rookie season in Germany with BBC White Devils Cottbus (Germany-Regionalliga). He played two years at Nicholls St. (NCAA) playing a total of 61 NCAA games and in his second season played 30 games averaging 8.5ppg, 1.7rpg, 3.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 37.1%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 77.8%. He finished his college career at Xavier (LA) (NAIA). He spoke to German Hoops after his rookie season in Germany.

Chris thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how have you been enjoying your summer?

Hello Miles. I appreciate you taking the time to interview me. Summer is going well. I am currently in Houston working out. I fly back to Hamburg, Germany on July 9 to join my girlfriend and daughter, who live there.

When you watch other games now like in the BBL or Euroleague, could you see yourself reaching a level like that in the future?

Yes, I do. I have been playing against guys who play in those higher leagues all my life. I’m just taking the long way and starting from the bottom and grinding my way up. Especially since I got a late start.

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Chris Babb (ratiopharm Ulm) My Goal Is Obviously Always To Try To Get Back To The NBA But I Won´t Force It

Chris Babb is a 26 year old 196cm shooting guard from Arlington, Texas playing his third professional season and first with ratiopharm Ulm. He started his basketball career in 2008 with Penn St. (NCAA) playing a total of 63 NCAA games. He then moved to Iowa St. (NCAA) where he played from 2011-2013 and as a senior played 33 games: 9.1ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.8%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 74.5%. In 2013 he started his professional basketball career with the Boston Celtics (NBA) playing 14 games: 1.6ppg, 1.2rpg, also played at Maine Red Claws (D-League) playing 33 games: 12.0ppg, 6.1rpg, 3.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 44.1%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 78.8%. Last season he played for the Maine Red Claws (D-League) playing 47 games: 15.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 36.9%, FT: 78.3%. He spoke to German Hoops before game three against the EWE Baskets Oldenburg.

Thanks for taking some time to talk to German Hoops. Congrats on the 2-0 lead against the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Many had Oldenburg favored, but how vital has the mindset of ratiopharm Ulm been for having the 2-0 lead?

Our mindset has been good. We had been battling injuries, but now everyone has been healthy. We just have been very focused going into the series with Oldenburg and in the first two games. We have done a good job sticking to the game plan moving the ball well and playing good defense.

Ratiopharm Ulm stole the first game in Oldenburg 90-81, but the home team played you very tough. How key was containing the paint area in game one where Oldenburg had their difficulties?

That was huge. Their big man Brian Qvale is great at finishing on the pick and roll. We did a good job as a team taking away the paint from Oldenburg. Paulding has been shooting well, but we still did a good job picking our spots and playing the best defense that we could and not let them get out on transition.

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Janek Schmidkunz (Giants Nordlingen) There Wasn´t One Point In The Season Where I Thought I Didn´t Wanted To Be Here

Janek Schmidkunz is a 26 year old 183cm point guard that is playing his first season for the Giants Nordlingen. Last season as a rookie he played for the MLP Acaaademics Heidelberg. He started his basketball career with Central Hoops Berlin (Regionalliga) in 2008. He then also got further experience at ALBA Berlin II (Regionalliga). He then went to the states and played at Amer.Internat. (NCAA2) from 2010-2014 playing a total of 86 NCAA games and as a senior played 26 games: 10.9ppg, 2.1rpg, FGP: 38.5%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 61.5%. He spoke to German Hoops after the bitter 78-77 loss against Ehingen ending his season.

Thanks Janek for talking to German Hoops. A tough 78-77 loss to Ehingen to end the season.Head coach Mario Matic told me 5 hours before tipoff that he was very confident that his team would win. How confident did the team feel that it would give a lot better effort then in game one?

I think we shared his view on the game. It kind of reflects the way we went into our games all season and especially during the playoffs. Especially looking at the things that we did not do well in game 1, we knew playing at home with the great support of our fans, we would play a much better game.

Does the bitter loss effect lessen a bit when you think how hard the team fought from 15 points down in the first half to almost winning the game at the end instead of being beat by 20 points to end the season?

I think at first you are somewhat shocked that the season ends and especially it being a one point game you don’t realize it until that buzzer sounds. However, we did gave it our all and that is what I told everyone stepping on the court for the second half. So there are no regrets and I think it makes me proud that we played the way we did.
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David Sturner (Dresden Titans)By The End Of The Season We Could Have Any Five Players On The Court And Play Our Game

David Sturner is a 206cm power forward/center playing his first season in Germany for pro B team Dresden Titans and currently is averaging 11,4ppg and 6,4rpg. He started his basketball career with Orgeon State playing 13 NCAA games and then moved to S.Oregon (NAIA) and as a senior played 31 games: 14.6ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 56.2%. He started his professional basketball career recently with the West Adelaide Bearcats (Australia-Central ABL) before coming to Germany. He spoke to German Hoops after the bitter 98-96 loss to Frankfurt ending his season.

David thanks for talking to German Hoops A tough 98-96 loss to the Fraport Skyliners Juniors to end the season. Does the fact that the Dresden Titans came back from 19 points to almost win the game ease the hurt somewhat instead of having been blown out?

My pleasure as always, Miles. I wouldn’t say the comeback eases the hurt, but it was definitely a testament to our resiliency and shows how much fight we have as a team.

I came back from my training run in Chalon, France to check the score and was shocked to see that Frankfurt was up by 20 points in the second half. Did the Dresden Titans wake up on the wrong side of the bed?

It’s hard to say what went wrong in the first 20 minutes. We didn’t come out aggressive and let Frankfurt impose their will upon us.

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Brandon Lockhart (Giants Nordlingen) The Bond We Had On And Off The Court Is What I Will Remember Most About This Team

Brandon Lockhart is a 25 year old 185cm guard from St Louis, Missouri that is playing hiss econd professional season and first with German team Giants Nordlingen. AS a rookie he played for BK Levicki Patrioti (Slovakia-Extraliga) playing 34 games: Score-5(16.7ppg), 3.8rpg, Assists-5(4.3apg), Steals-1(3.0spg), FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 28.5%, FT: 78.9%. He played at Drury (NCAA2) from 2009-2013 and as a senior played 35 games averaging 12.5ppg, 3.9rpg, 6.1apg, 2.9spg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 48.3%, FT: 77.1%. He spoke to German Hoops after the tough 78-77 loss to Ehihgen ending his season.

Thanks Brandon for talking to German Hoops. A tough 78-77 loss to Ehingen to end the season. Head coach Mario Matic told me 5 hours before tip off that he was very confident that his team would win. How confident did the team feel that it would give a lot better effort then in game one?

We knew that it would be an extremely tough game because Ehingen is a really talented team. Our confidence was pretty high because we believed that we would play better in game two. Also knowing that we would be playing at home provided us with more confidence.

I could say that I would rather lose by 20-30 points, but at the end of the day, a loss is a loss. So however you lose that leads to your season ending is going to be a tough pill to swallow.

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Jordan Taylor (Alba Berlin) Nobody Expects Us To Win Except Us So I Feel Like We Don´t Have Pressure Going Into The Frankfurt Series

Jordan Taylor is a 26 year old 187cm point guard from Bloomington, Minnesota playing his forth professional season and first with Alba Berlin. He started his basketball career at Wisconsin(NCAA) in 2008 where he played until 2012 reaching two NCAA Sweet 16´s and played a total of 136 NCAA games. As a senior he played 36 games averaging 14.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 36.9%, FT: 78.5%. He started his professional career in 2012 with Virtus Roma (Italy-SerieA) where he played until 2014. Last season he played with Hapoel Holon (Israel-Winner League) playing 37 games: 14.4ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.8apg, Steals-4(1.9spg), FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 73.9%. He won the 2016 Beko BBL cup title with Alba Berlin earlier this season and spoke with German Hoops before game one against the Fraport Skyliners in Frankfurt.

Thanks Jordan for taking some time to talk to German Hoops. When you look out your hotel room does the skyline of Frankfurt remind you a bit of Bloomington, Minnesota?

Yes a little bit.

If someone had told you before the season started that two Jordan´s you and Jordan Theodore would already have a title combined before the start of the playoffs what would you have thought?

I wouldn´t have thought to much about it so early in the season. But then again he and I have very big expectations to always want to win. I have known Jordan since he was 13, so us having won two titles already hasn´t been so much a surprise.

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Daniel Berger (Ehingen)Frankfurt Can Be Dangerous With Any Lineup

Daniel Berger is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Medford, Oregon playing his rookie season with Team Ehingen Urspring (Germany-ProB). He started his basketball career with Chemeketa community college an dthen moved to Utah State(NCAA) where he played 59 NCAA games from 2011-2014. As a senior he played with BYU-Hawaii (NCAA2) playing 20 games: 14.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 48.4%, FT: 79.2%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Pro B final against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

Daniel congrats on reaching the Pro B final sweeping the Giants Nordlingen. After winning the first game 69-60, did you expect such a nerve wracking game 2?

Thanks Miles. I expected the game to be a battle. It was do or die for them so I knew it would be a tough 40 minutes.

Ehingen had the comfortable 45-31 lead at halftime. What was key for getting the comfortable advantage at halftime?

Our offense was flowing so well in the first half. We played together and were able to get some easy baskets. Also getting stops usually leads to a more productive offense.

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Andrew Jones (Dresden Titans) Frankfurt Didn´t Ruin My Birthday Because I Am Able To Play The Game I Love

Andrew Jones is a 32 year old 191cm shooting guard that has been a professional basketball player since 2007 and has returned back to the Dresden Titans this season. He played at Miles(NCAA2) and has played in Germany for most of his professional career with four seasons with the Dresden Titans and three seasons with the BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga). He also gained experience playing with teams like Marietta Storm (SEBL), BC Celtics (SEBL), C.B. Aridane (Spain-EBA) and Universidad Tecnologica Equinoc. Quito (Ecuador-National League). Last season he played for BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 19,9ppg, 6,5rpg and 3,9apg. He spoke to German Hoops after the tough 98-96 loss to the Fraport Skyliners Juniors ending the Dresden Titans season.

Andrew thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 98-96 loss to the Fraport Skyliners Juniors to end the season. Does the fact that the Dresden Titans came back from 19 points to almost win the game ease the hurt somewhat instead of having been blown out?

Yes it was a tough loss. However, those young guys came to play and you have to give them credit. It hurts to lose an important game like that no matter score.

I had a good feeling with our team the week prior. So, we definitely didn’t underestimate their ability to win.

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Jordan Talbert (Giants Nordlingen) I Think My Physical Presence On The Court Improved

Jordan Talbert is a 25 year old 198cm forward from Little Rock, Arkansas that is playing his second professional season with the Giants Nordlingen. He came to Germany as a rookie last season and played with the Giants TSV 1861 Noerdlingen (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games: 21.6ppg, 9.6rpg, 3.2apg, 2.0spg, Blocks-4(1.5bpg), FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 78.4%. He played his college career at Missouri SO(NCAA2) from 2010-2014 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 11.7ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.1spg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 70.1%. He spoke to German Hoops after the season ending 78-77 loss to Ehingen.

Thanks Jordan for talking to German Hoops. A tough 78-77 loss to Ehingen to end the season. Head coach Mario Matic told me 5 hours before tip off that he was very confident that his team would win. How confident did the team feel that it would give a lot better effort then in game one?

We were definitely confident that we would come out and play better than we did in game 1. Unfortunately they came out just as motivated to elevate their game also.

Any type of loss hurts. I think the close ones cut a little deeper but it’s better than losing by 20.

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