Interviews

Jimmy McKinney (I Will Never Forget The Fraport Skyliner fans and Organization)

Jimmy Mckinney is a 28 year old 192cm guard from St Louis. He is a is a solid knock-down shooter, but also can score from penetration and with rim-rattling dunks. He played at Vashon High School winning the State tournament three times. He played at Missouri from 2002-2006 with well known players like Ricky Paulding, Travon Bryant and Jason Conley. In his senior year he played 28 games averaging 12.6ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.3apg, FG: 40.6%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 78.2%. He turned professional in 2006 and joined the Deutsche Bank Skyliners. In his rookie season, he played 30 games averaging 12.3ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.6apg, 2FGP: 44.9%, 3FGP: 38.5%, FT: 77.2%. Mckinney played six seasons in Frankfurt playing a total of 215 games. Today it was announced that he had signed a two year contract with the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg. German Hoops had a chat with the American about his decision to leave the Fraport Skyliners.

The shock news came today for Skyliner fans that you had left them for the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg. How tough was it making this decision?

It was a tough decision. I had been with the Fraport Skyliners for six years and I had felt very comfortable with the organization. They had always treated me so well. The fans showed so much love for me in the six years, but it was a family decision to go.

Was the deciding factor at the end like so often in life money?

Like I said it was a family decision. It was a really tough decision. My agents Jamie Knox and Goran Kuzmanovic worked very hard for me this summer and had 7or 8 offers from BBL and Europe. I also had offers with more money. I sat down with my fiance and we wanted to come back to Frankfurt, but we just decided to go elsewhere. We made this decision together.

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John Bryant (ratiopharm Ulm) I Don´t Really Get The Chance To Showcase My 15-17 Footer

John Bryant is a 24 year old 208cm center from San Pablo, California that is playing his second season with ratiopharm Ulm. He played at Santa Clara from 2005-2009 and in his senior year averaged 18.1ppg, RebNCAA-2(14.2rpg), 1.1apg, 2.5bpg, FGP: 59.6%, FT: 78.7% . In 2009-2010, he played for the Erie Bay Hawks (D-League): 48 games: 13.2ppg, 9.5rpg, 1.6apg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 49.3%, FT: 77.6% . Last season, he moved to ratiopharm Ulm playing 34 games: 14.6ppg, Reb-1(10.9rpg), 1.1apg, Blocks-2(1.5bpg), FGP: 60.4%, FT: 74.2% . He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Ratiopharm Ulm is the Cinderella story this season. If someone had told you a week into preseason that ratiopharm Ulm would be so high in the standings what would you have said?

I would not have been shocked, but I would never have thought we would be so high, but I would have thought that we would be in the playoffs. We got the chemistry fast and brought in experience with Esterkamp and Swann that has made the team better

ratiopharm Ulm had a tough preseason. How much did you hate the coaching staff then, but how thankful are you now that you went through hell?

It was a tough preseason. Every day we were on the track or in the gym. We all were a bit angry at the start, but in the long run it did help this team become so good and we understand why coach did that and we are thankful.

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Ilian Evtimov (Chalon) Jimmy McKinney Has Been A Role Model For 6 Years And I Hope That The Skyliners Make The Right Decision To Keep Him

Ilian Evtimov is a 28 year old 201 cm forward playing his second season in France for Chalon already having won 3 French titles. He has the French-Bulgarian citzenship and played at North Carolina State from 2001-2006. In his senior year, he played 31 games averaging 10.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FG: 45.3%, 3PT: 40.8%, FT. After a short stint with Estudiantes Madrid in 2006, he played at VidiVici Bologna in the 2006-2007 season. He played FIBA EuroCup playing 15 games averaging 6.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 2FGP: 65.4%, 3FGP: 47.1%, FT: 72.2%; and playing15 games in the Italian league averaging 3.1ppg, 2.1rpg. In 2007-2008, he moved to The Deutsche Bank Skyliners playing 10 ULEB Cup games averaging 14.5ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 85%; and in the German League playing 44 games averaging 13.1ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.1apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 86.2%. In 2008-2009, he continued playing in Frankfurt playing 10 EuroChallenge: games averaging 8.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 70.0%; and in the German League playing 34 games averaging 8.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 43.6%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 74.6%. In 2009-2010, he played for BC Levski Sophia (Bulgaria-NBL): 1 game: 6pts, 5reb, 2ast, 3steals; Balkan League: 1 game: 3pts, 1reb, 1ast, 2steals; in Oct.’09 moved to Proteas EKA AEL Limassol (Cyprus-Division EuroChallenge: 13 games: 10.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 45.6%, FT: 83.3%: FT-2(90.9%). Last season, he played for Chalon playing 33 games: 11.6ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.9apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 50.5%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 84.2%. He spoke to German Hoops about the Chalon 2012 cup win.

Congrats on winning the 2012 French cup. You have won three titles with Chalon in your second season. Does this all feel like a sweet dream sometimes?

Yes it does. It feels great that we could keep the cup in Chalon for a second year. Now we are in the playoffs looking for our third title this season.

When you arrived in Chalon in 2010, did you ever think that you would win so many titles in such a short time?

No not at all. I was very ambitious, because I want to win so much. The titles we didn´t win, we went to the final.

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Kyle Hines (Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus) My Ex Teammates And The City Of Bamberg Showed Me Love After Winning The Euroleague

Kyle Hines is a 25 year old 198cm power forward from Sicklerville, New Jersey that is playing his first season with Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus (Greece). He is a powerful player who loves to attack the basket. Has a good 1-vs-1 game and likes to go inside. He is undersized to play the power forward, but his great wingspan (7-1) allows him to guard taller players and to intimidate. He’s also a great leaper and reads the opponent’s game well He played at NC-Greensboro (NCAA) from 2004-2008. In his senior year, he played 31 games: 19.2ppg, 9.1rpg, 1.4apg, 1.8spg, 3.1bpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3Pts: 12.5%, FT: 62.8%. He was invited to play at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft): 3 games: 17.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.3apg, 2.3spg, 3.3bpg, FGP: 78.6%, FT: 72.7%. He then had predraft workouts with Sacramento Kings and the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA). He then went to Europe to Italy and played with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 34 games: 16.9ppg, Reb-4(8.6rpg), 3.0spg, Blocks-2(1.8bpg), FGP-2(66.0%), FT: 58.5%. In 2009, he took part in the Orlando Pro Summer League (Oklahoma City Thunder). In 2009-2010, he stayed in Italy with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 40 games: 18.5ppg, 8.1rpg, Steals-2(3.5spg), Blocks-4(1.6bpg), FGP-3(64.0%), 3PT: 18.8%, FT: 57.8%. He played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (New Orleans Hornets) in the summer of 2010. Last season he played for the Brose Baskets Bamberg (Germany-1.Bundesliga): Euroleague: 10 games: 12.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 64.3%, FT: 46.7%; German League: 46 games: 10.4ppg, 4.6rpg, Blocks-3(1.2bpg), FGP-3(61.1%), 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 52.4%. He won the double with Bamberg last season. He spoke to German Hoops afterthe 2012 Euroleague win against CSKA Moscow.

Congrats on the 2012 Euroleague win against CSKA Moscow. What kind of feeling is it?

It is a great feeling winning with a great group of guys. We worked hard all season long and took the chance. Nothing was handed to us on this weekend. We earned the win.

What were your first thoughts as the siren sounded?

My first feeling was unreal. It was so hard to believe what we had just done coming back from 18 points in the second half.

With 18 points down, how big was the belief that Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus could come back?

We showed our character in this comeback. So often this season, we have fought against adverse conditions, but we never gave up and always continued to fight.

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Rich Melzer (You Have To Appreciate How Far FC Bayern Munich Went This Season)

Rich Melzer is a 32 year old 203cm forward/center from Minneapolis, Minnesota that is playing his first season for the New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig. He played at : Wisconsim-River Falls (NCAA3) from 2000-2004. In his 8 year professional basketball career, he has played in countries like New Zealand, France, Israel and Australia. He had his first tour of duty in Germany in the 2007-2008 season with Artland Dragons Quakenbrueck (Germany-1.Bundesliga): ULEB Cup: 2 games: 5.5ppg, 2.0rpg; German League: 1 game: 11pts, 2reb, 1steal. In his rookie season, he took part at the Washington Wizards training camp. Last season he played for Hapoel Holon (Israel-Premier League, starting five): 30 games: 16.8ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 75.3%. He spoke to German Hoops before the 2012 Beko BBL playoff series.

How surprised were you that the s:Oliver Baskets Wurzburg got past Alba Berlin 3-1? What was key in this series for Alba Berlin getting an early summer vacation?

I was a bit surprised but only based on the budgets of both teams. I know the Berlin supporters and management is less than pleased right now. But you can’t underestimate a team who plays as gritty and as tough and as scrappy as Wurzburg. They’re no fun to play against, especially at their place. I know Berlin has a higher caliber of all around players, but sometimes when you know you should win it makes it even more difficult to do so and can be a disadvantage as it was for Berlin this season. Kudos to Wurzburg as well for pulling together for the upset in the series.

Were you surprised by the easy time that ratiopharm Ulm had in getting past the New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig? What was key for Ulm advancing?

They’re a team that has obviously had great chemistry and synergy with one another and its only grown exponentially throughout the season. They trust in each other and they all play well together and it seems everyone knows their roles on that team. Aside from what I observed from the players while competing against them, they’re also well coached and to have a unit that close and willing to sacrifice for one another obviously has to be encouraged and facilitated from the coaches as well. Its no surprise in hindsight that they were able to for lack of a better word “cruise,” by us in the first-round. I give credit to all my teammates as talent-wise, we have what I believe to be one of the best group of players and veterans in the league and under most circumstances, would have shown a better effort to advance had we had the support system and ability to make adjustments faster like they did. The key for Ulms advancement is simple, they were better prepared than us and it continued to snowball for them through the season.

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Kyle Hines (Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus) It Was A Great Expereince Being Able To Play In Bamberg And Win 2 Titles

You are playing your first season for top European team Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus. Has this season been everything thing that you have dreamed of?

Yes it has. We have achieved many goals and have reached the Euroleague Final 4. If we continue to improve then I think that we can still achieve many things this season.

Is ist like a dream playing with top players like Joey Dorsey, Acie Law, Vassilis Spannoulis, Pero Antic and Lazarzs Papadopoulos?

For me its like a dream being able to play with them each day. For me it is a learning experience each day. They also have been a big reason why the team has improved so much this season. Half of the team is 23 or younger and they have benefited a lot from them?

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Jared Jordan (Telekom Baskets Bonn) Tony Gaffney And I Have A Great Connection On The Court

Jared Jordan is a 27 year old 188 cm pure point guard who understands how to run a team and has great court vision and leadership and hails from Hartford Connecticut. He played at Kingswood-Oxford prep school before going to Marist from 2003-2007. He really made a name for himself as he gave the word assist a new meaning as he was leading the nation in assists in his junior and senior years. In his last year, he played 33 games and averaged 17.2ppg, 5.9rpg and led the NCAA in assists with 8.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 42.5%, 3PT: 29.8%, FT: 69.0%. He finished as Marist’s all-time leader in assists with 813 and ranks sixth all-time in points with 1,538. It was no surprise that he was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round at #45. He was traded to the New York Knicks, but didn´t make the roster so he ventured to Europe and played at Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius and played in the Lithuanian league averaging 5.9ppg, 1.8rpg, 4.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 51.2%, FT: 75.0%, 3PT: 45.0%; and in 18 games in the Baltic League averaging 6.0ppg, 1.8rpg, Assists-4(4.4apg), 1.9spg, 2FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 41.7%, FT: 53.8% in 10 games. In the 2008-2009 season, he tried his luck again in the NBA landing with the New Orleans Hornets, but not making the team and playing in the D-league for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers playing 36 games and averaging 10.9ppg, 3.8rpg, Assists-2(9.0apg), 2.0spg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 28.0%, FT: 70.3%. In 2009-2010, he played the first time for the Telekom Baskets Bonn (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): EuroCup: 5 games: 6.4ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.4apg, FGP: 37.9%, 3PT: 10.5%, FT: 80.0%; German League: 37 games: 9.0ppg, 4.2rpg, Assists-4(5.3apg), FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 76.8%. Last season, he played for : VAP Kolossos Rodou (Greece-A1, starting five): 27 games: 6.3ppg, 2.6rpg, Assists-1(5.5apg), FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 23.2%, FT: 56.0%. He spoke to German Hoops before the playoff series against the Brose Baskets Bamberg,

A do or die 81-62 win against the Fraport Skyliners last weekend. Where would you rank this game in your all time do or die games?

This was one of the biggest wins in my career. All was on the line playing against a direct competitor. It was a good win for the club and me.

The first quarter was pretty much even, but the turning point came in the second quarter. What was key for this?

We picked up our defense. We allowed the Skyliners to nine points in the second quarter and 10 points in the third quarter. We understoon that we needed to defend better and up our intensity level.

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Ahmad Smith (Kirchheim Knights) I Am Not Worying About A Triple Double, But The Most Important Thing Is That We Win

Ahmad Smith is a 27 year old 194cm guard from Virginia that is playing fort he Kirchheim Knights. He played at St.Bonaventure(NCAA) from 2002-2006 and in his senior year played 28 games: ScoreA10-8(14.2ppg), RebA10-10(6.2rpg), AssistsA10-9(3.5apg), FGP: 41.0%, 3PT: 31.1%, FT: 59.8%. In 2006-2007, he played for Mardyke UCC Demons Cork (Ireland-SuperLeague): 9 games: 18.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 4.2apg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 60.8%. In 2007-2008, he played for SVD 49 Dortmund (Regionalliga): 6 games: 30.2ppg. In 2008-2009, he played for : BSV Wulfen (Germany-Regionalliga) 23.5ppg, 10.1rpg, 6.0apg, 3PT: 35.2%. In 2009-2010, he played for Hertener Loewen (Germany-ProB)29 games: 18.2ppg, Reb-2(8.7rpg), Assists-1(7.1apg), 1.2spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 69.5%. Last season, he played for s Oliver Baskets Wuerzburg (Germany-ProA): left before the season started, then moved to SVD 49 Dortmund (Germany-Regionalliga): 6 games: 12.8ppg, waived in Nov.’10, in Jan.’11 signed at Nuernberger Basketball Club (Germany-ProB, starting five): 15 games: 8.3ppg, 6.8rpg, Assists-1(7.1apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 39.1%, 3PT: 28.2%, FT: 69.1%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

You are playing your first season for the Kirchheim Knights in the German PRO A. What has been the secret of the success of the team?

We have experience and we all get along well on the team. We also like to make the extra pass and play good defense.

Who has been the most improved player on the team?

Nils Menck. He didn´t get as much minutes last season, but he is showing what he can do this season.

Besnik Bekteshi is your teammate. What can he achieve as a player?

I think when he gets a bit older, that he can become a solid Beko BBL player. If he continues to work hard, sky is the limit.

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Jerel Allen (BG Goettingen) Basketball Is My Love And Goal In Life

Jerel Allen is a 26 year old 193cm shooting guard/small forward from Detroit, Michigan that is playing for BG Goettingen. He played at Florida State form 2005-2007 with NBA Players Tony Douglas and Al Thornton. In the 2007-2008 season, he played for Neptunas Klaipeda (Lithuania-LKL, starting five): Baltic League: 12 games: 8.8ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.0apg, 0.9spg, 2FGP: 32.4%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT: 61.5%; Lithuanian League: 17 games: 11.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.4%, FT: 83.8%, 3PT: 30.2%. In 2008-2009, he played for : SK Dnipro Azot Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine-UBL, starting five): 38 games: 15.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 40.8%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 45.7%. In 2009-2010, he played for Kryvbasbasket-Lux Kryvyi Rih (Ukraine-Superleague), released in May.’10 : 23 games: 8.8ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 31.9%, FT: 73.3%. Last season, he played for the Rockingham Flames (Australia) playing 21games: 21.7ppg, 6.5rpg, 3.1apg, FG: 41.7%. He spoke to German Hoops about his season in Germany.

What was the first thing that you said to Isiah Swann when you saw him on the court in Germany?

I told him that we are going to get this game. I really felt like we could have beat ratiopharm Ulm at home.

How has Isiah Swann developed as a player since Florida State?

He has always been a good shooter. His team likes to play off him. He loves the game so much and he has played exactly how I expected he would in Germany. He is always growing as a player.

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Tony Gaffney (Telekom Baskets Bonn) Seeing The Cup Displayed 5 Feet From The Court Was All The Motivation I Needed To Keep Pushing Against Bamberg

Tony Gaffney is a 27 year old 204cm forward from Berkely, Massachusetts that is playing for the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He is a forward who brings a high level of energy and athleticism to any teams he joins. He is a tenacious rebounder and great defender. He was the Atlantic 10 Conference defensive player of the year in 2008-09, and one of the nation’s leading shot-blockers. He played at Boston University from 2004-2006 and then went to Massachusetts (NCAA) where he played from 2006-2009. In his senior year, he played 30 games: 11.5ppg, RebA10-2(10.2rpg), 1.7apg, StealsA10-2(2.0spg), BlocksNCAA-3(3.8bpg), FGP: 54.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 64.6%: Finished career at UMass ranked seventh all-time in blocks (174). In 2009-2010, he played for Altshuler Saham Galil Gilboa (Israel-Premier League): 1 game: 2pts, 2reb, 1steal, 1block, but left next month, in Apr.’10 moved to Boston Celtics (NBA). Last season, he played for the Boston Celtics (NBA), in Oct.’10 moved to Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey-TBL): Turkish League: 8 games: 6.0ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 63.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 80.0%; EuroChallenge: 3 games: 8.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.0spg; left in Jan.’11, same month acquired by Utah Flash (D-League): 38 games: 10.3ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.3apg, 1.4spg, Blocks-4(2.3bpg), FGP: 55.9%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT: 66.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after the cup final loss to the Brose Baskets Bamberg.

A second place finish at the 2012 Beko BBL cup weekend. What was your overall impression of the atmosphere in the Telekom dome?

The atmosphere in Bonn, at the dome was amazing this weekend. Every game sold out, fans from Bamberg, Braunschweig, Ulm, and most importantly Bonn, were in full force for the players it made the experience pretty memorable.

Did the Telekom Baskets Bonn know before the game against the New Yorker Phantoms that 3 players had a virus and couldnt play? Was it tough staying focused and not underestimating the opponent?

No we had no idea. We never underestimate an opponent, in a league like the BBL, any team can win on any night, as seen in Frankfurt, beating Bamberg (the top team in the league) then losing to Goettigen (the lowest seed in the league). You have to respect every team, because if you don’t show up to play every day, any team can beat you, let alone in the Top Four Cup playing against some of the best teams in the BBL.

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