Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Richie Williams in Frankfurt in 2014

Kirchheim may only have a population of 39,000, but you can be sure that in the wee hours of April 4, 2023 one person was awake with Richard Williams Jr. (178-PG-1987, college: SDSU) of the Kirchheim Knights. Staying up late isn’t a suitable thing to do for an athlete and even less when your 35 years old. Ok so sometimes when you have a baby, doing the nightly chores with the wifey is commendable, but often there is role play when the basketball player needs his basketball beauty sleep. But there are rare occasions when a baller will stay up way past his bed time. I mean if his home team is in the NBA final and going for that chip then it can be tolerated as well as when the alma mater was in the final of the 2023 NCAA tournament. That was exactly the case as Richie as his friends call him was up and witnessing if his ex school San Diego State University could win that first NCAA championship. I bet even if he would have been up 72 hours straight before the final, he would of still managed to stay up and watch the game. There was simply too much excitement brewing up within him and nothing was going to deny him seeing this monumental event in the history of San Diego State University. ‘Of course I stayed up. It’s my hometown and my alma mater, so it was bigger than just a game for me. As a competitor, I was upset they lost, but I was happy for them being able to make it that far.’, stressed Richard Williams Jr..

The flashy guard is one of those guys that just continues to keep chugging along as a professional at age 35. The diminutive 178cm guard has enjoyed a 14 year professional career and last season played for Kirchheim for his third season. He has spent most of his time in Germany having suited up for clubs like Hannover, Rasta Vechta, Frankfurt, Hagen and Karlsruhe, but he also has played in other countries like Mexico, Iceland, Czech Republic and Finland and has amassed more than 400 professional games. He played at San Diego State University from 2005-2009 amassing a total of 127 NCAA games. He helped his school have success winning the MWC title in 2006 reaching the Big Dance and reached the NIT final 4 in 2009. The school never lost having success as it reached the NCAA tournament 9 more times after he left. It is only obvious that he never stopped supporting the school. ‘I’ve been watching San Diego State play since I was kid. I knew by the time I was in high school where I wanted to go. With time difference, I can’t watch as much as I would like but social media keeps me up to date’, stated Richard Williams Jr..

San Diego State University had a magical season winning the MWC title over Utah State and then started their Cinderella run at the BIG Dance. ‘I knew they had high expectations because of the returning players and transfers they had. When you have seniors leading your team, you give yourself a chance at doing something special’, said Richard Williams Jr.. They began the NCAA tournament with a grind out win over Charleston and the beat Furman convincingly by 23 points. Then they had another tough battle against Alabama but pulled out a 71-64 win. Then came 2 incredible games back to back where one could say the basketball God was looking down on them. First they survived a tough 57-56 victory over Creighton and then won a 72-71 buzzer beater thriller over Florida Atlantic University. Junior Lamont Butler became a living legend with the winning shot that Williams surprisingly didn’t watch Live on TV. ‘I saw the highlights in the morning. I was up jumping around as if it were happening in real time. I was juiced. His buzzer beater pretty much gave him a special stamp forever. The way he performed in the tournament was a boost of confidence for him. I’m expecting him to take more of leading role next season’, expressed Richard Williams Jr.. Unfortunately San Diego State University ran out of gas losing the final 76-59 to UConn. ‘I thought San Diego State defended well. But the name of the game is putting the ball in the basket more than the other team. Just not enough offense to get it done’, commented Richard Williams Jr.. The team is one that will always be remembered as having 12 equal players as there was no star as only one player averaged in double figures in scoring. Team came first before anything else. ‘ They truly play a team game. You can’t key on one player. No ‘star’ made them dangerous. You don’t really know who to key on’, said Richard Williams Jr..

Even though San Diego State have been consistent visitors at the BIG Dance in the last 15 years, reaching a final for the first time gives the school some more status. Reaching a final can slowly help them lose the underrated label. ‘The attention you get being on the biggest stage in college hoops can do wonders. San Diego State has been a respected school but still underrated. I hope Coach Ducther was making some recruiting calls on his way to Houston’, added Richard Williams Jr.. But is the future rosy for them? They will be losing key players Bradley, Trammel. Ledee, Johnson and Mensah to graduation. ‘They’re loosing some keys players but there is still talent there. They always find a way to come back stronger. The program is in good hands’, warned Richard Williams Jr.. As more success comes to the school, more kids will want to play for head coach Brian Dutcher. Williams knows all to well that Steve Fischer laid down the foundation for success. ‘ They’ve been working together longer than I can remember. I expected nothing less. There was no better person to be the successor once Coach Fisher stepped down, than Coach Dutcher. And it’s showing’, stressed Richard Williams Jr.. You have to wonder how a Richard Williams Jr. would have faired in Dutcher’s system in 2023? ‘ I don’t see it being much different. The philosophy for San Diego State hasn’t changed since I’ve been there. I would have been the same pesky defender and game manager’, warned Richard Williams Jr.. Thanks to coach Steve Fischer for grooming and Preparing Richard Williams Jr. for a long professional career. He has made San Diego State University proud.

Dakota Mathias (193-G-1995, college: Purdue) is a 27 year old 193cm guard from Elida, Ohio playing his sixth professional season and first in Germany with ratiopharm Ulm. Last season he played with the Memphis Hustle (NBA G League) averaging 16.1ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.9apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 54.9%, 3FGP: 40.5%, FT: 84.9%, in Apr.’23 signed at Lenovo Tenerife (Spain-ACB). In the seasons 2019-2022, he played a total 13 NBA games with the Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies. He also played with G-League team Texas Legends. He played his rookie season with Divina Seguros Juventut Badalona (Spain-ACB) averaging 8.5ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 37.3%. He began his career with Elida high school and then played a total of 141 NCAA games with Purdue. He spoke togermanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Dakota for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I’m feeling good. I’m in Indianapolis training and getting ready for the season.

Congrats on signing with 2023 BBL champion ratiopharm Ulm. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it’s basketball? I’m sure you know many guys that have played in Germany over the years.

My former teammate at Purdue Trevion Williams will be my teammate this season in Germany. It’s exciting playing for the team that won the league. I have heard good things about the BBL. The fan base is great as well. I’m excited to get going.

How much are you looking forward to playing against your ex teammate Carsen Edwards in Germany? What did you always appreciate most about his game?

I’m excited to be able to play against him this season. We were teammates for 2 years at Purdue. I liked how he could score in so many ways. He could do it all.

After being in the NBA and G-League for some years, was there a particular event or feeling why you came overseas now? I’m sure you haven’t given up on the NBA yet

You can always get back to the NBA. For me Ulm was a great opportunity. The organization has a great reputation. It is a great club that is dedicated to the players and city. I couldn’t pass it up.

You could of gone anywhere in Europe. How big did their title last season play a role in you signing?

Ulm winning the title played a big role also for me coming. You always want to compete and win.

How did you enjoy the talks with Anton Gavel? He is an up and coming coach that won many titles in Germany with Casey Jacobsen a guy who had an incredible career overseas and NBA?

We talked on the phone. He is a great guy. I’m excited to be able to learn from him. He had a lot of success as a player and coach. I have to pick his brain.

Let’s talk about your game. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

I try to emulate my game after JJ Reddick. I watched his on and off ball and his quick release.

Your shooting stands out, but you can do so much more. How big is versatility in your game?

My shooting is my most important strength, but passing is also one of my best strengths. Playing off the pick and roll and being a good decision maker is important in my game.

Talk a little about your defense. What kind of defender are you?

I think that I’m a solid defender on and off ball. I think I play with a high IQ on defense. I can improve pressuring guys more and making them uncomfortable with the ball.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game most?

I can always improve all aspects of my game. I’m always working on my shot, quick release, getting the ball on the ground and pull ups.

You played your rookie season with Divina Seguros Juventut Badalona (Spain-ACB) What do you remember being your wake up call to being in Germany where you knew that you were far away from home?

I didn’t have one. At the end of the day we are there to play basketball.

You only played 12 ACB games and had injury woes. How tough was your rookie season? What did you learn about yourself?

I had a tough injury. The season was tough, but I moved on and continued to work on my game to get better.

What memories will you always have from veteran Luke Harangody? Did he take you under his wing a bit when you arrived?

He showed me the ropes. He actually only lives 2 hours from me. He was a veteran and helped me with the systems and just gave me a lot of advice.

In your second pro season you went back to the States and played with the to Texas Legends (NBA G League) averaging 17.9ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 49.5%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 82.7%. What do you remember from that season and do you feel like you were ever near a NBA call up?

I thought I was close to a NBA call up. I had a great G-League season. I shot the ball at a really high rate that season and was efficient.

In the 20-21 season you finally made the big show playing 8 games for the 76ers. You had strong games against Denver and Atlanta and had 7 points in your debut against the Cavs. What do you remember from your debut?

It was huge playing there because I’m from Ohio. I had family and friends there. It was really exciting to score those first points. It is what you always dream of as a kid

What will you always remember most about Dwight Howard that the masses don’t necessarily know about him?

He was great. He taught us the little things that were important on the court. He was a great vocal leader.

In the 21-22 Covid season you played 5 games for the Grizzlies and 4 games for the Texas Legends. How tough was the season during Covid and what positives could you take from a time where the world was in disarray?

This time was tough for everyone. I was just grateful for everything that I had. It was great getting called up. I really enjoyed my time in the Grizzlies organization. They are a great organization.

What was it like being teammates with Ja Morant. What was the coolest wow moment you ever saw from him on the court?

I remember the first game against the Brooklyn Nets. He came down on transition and made a big dunk. His athleticism was off the charts. You saw something like this everyday. It was surreal to watch.

Last season you played with the Memphis Hustle averaging 16.1ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.9apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 54.9%, 3FGP: 40.5%, FT: 84.9%. This was another strong season. Does the 132-130 win over Lakeland where you scored 36 points still pop into your mind at times?

Yes it is. I obviously had a huge statistical game, but even better is that we won. We were down early and fought back. I shot the ball at a high rate.

Jay Scrubb had 42 points in that game. He went from JUCO to the NBA and is still trying to stay. How much does a guy like that force you to grind just a bit more in every new practice?

At the end of the day you are thankful to be able to play the game.

You played at Purdue from 2014-2018 reaching 2 NCAA Sweet 16’s. Which runner was sweeter?

I can’t pick one. It is so hard to win at the tournament. Both wins were a great feeling.

You had many great personal games against Arizona and Minnesota just to name a few, but what was your fondest moment at Purdue?

My fondest moment was my junior year where we played our rival Indiana and winning the Big 10 title in our arena.

How did head coach Matt Painter groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He was very influential in helping me understand all the little details, how to prepare, having little drills and knowing scouting reports. These are all things that control winning.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Carsen Edwards?

You will have to ask him. Our battles went back and forth. We played more three point contests. He wills ay he won, but I won.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced on the court in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

DeAngelo Russel was very tough.

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I had a lot of teammates. I can’t limit to 5

Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Jordan, Kobe, Steph Curry, Lebron

Who is your GOAT and why?

At the moment I don’t have one. It’s a tough pick between Jordan and Lebron

Did You See The Sequel of the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I haven’t seen it

Thanks Dakota for the chat.

Tags : DAKOTA MATHIAS, RATIOPHARM ULM, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Photo credit Christian Becker

Chavares Flanigan (194-F-1996, college: UW-Parkside) is a 27 year old 194cm guard from Illinois that completed his fourth professional season and first with Rasta Vechta averaging 6.6ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 57.4%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 80.9%. Last season he played with German team Uni Baskets Paderborn (Germany-Pro A) averaging 11.5ppg, 4.3rpg, 5.2apg, Steals-2 (2.2spg), FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 72.9%. In his second pro season he played with Gimle BBK Bergen (Norway-BLNO) averaging 14.3ppg, 5.5rpg, Assists-3 (4.6apg), Steals-1 (2.9spg), FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 50.0%. He split his rookie season with the Surrey Scorchers (United Kingdom-BBL) and with Gimle BBK Bergen (Norway-BLNO) averaging 16.8ppg, 5.4rpg, 3.5apg, 2.5spg, FGP: 72.5%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 84.2%. He began his basketball career at Glenbard North High School and then palyed at the University Of Wisconsin Parkside (NCAA 2) from 2014-2019 playing a total of 103 games and as a senior averaged 13.7ppg, 4.8rpg, 5.6apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 78.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after helping the team win the Pro A and reach the easyCredit BBL:

Thanks Chavares for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on winning your first pro title with Rasta Vechta. If someone had told you in September you will be Pro A champ what would you have thought?

If someone told me that, I would have believed them because when Vechta reached out to me about playing for the club, they made it clear that the goal was to win the championship. With the roster we had, I was confident about our chances of being successful in the league.

How rapidly did you notice in the fall that there was a winning culture in Vechta? What is so special about the organization Rasta Vechta that you won’t see in other places?

I noticed in the beginning of the season when we started out on a seven game win streak. Rasta’s great facilities and staff is what makes them special, also this plays a part to their winning culture.

The club went into the season with high expectations and rolled over the competition. How important was it for your game coming into this winning culture and performing well at ahigh level?

This was very important to me. I wanted to take that next step in my career by playing for a high level club. My goal coming in was to do whatever the club needed me to help the team win. My only focus was to win and do my part.

The Pro A finals are always 2 games with the winner having the best scores in the 2 games. How strange was that 78-78 score in game 1? Were you still waiting for the OT period to come?

It was a little strange but we as a team knew before going into Game 1 that it could end in a tie.

Was the 78-78 more an advantage or disadvantage from your perspective for Rasta Vechta or for the Tigers? You as a team must of felt very confident with the incredible fans going into the second game?

The tie in Game 1 was more of an advantage than disadvantage because we did not have to make up points in Game 2 and we had the chance to play with our fans behind us.

Vechta had the 8 point lead in the fourth quarter but the guests made a furious comeback and trailed only 63-61. What do you remember going through your head at that time?

I remembered thinking that we have been in this position before and not to worry. Tuebingen is a great team so I knew that they would not give up at any point in the game. My team remained calm and did what they needed to do to win the game.

How highly can you credit the season of Tuebingen? What did you respect most from the team?

Tuebingen is a very all-around Team. They can score inside and outside, they play aggressive defensive throughout the whole game, they shared the ball well and they are were ve well coached. They are a team with good chemistry and they made the last two games for us tough to play.

How was the celebration night? When did you finally go to sleep and what will you never forget from the party night?

The night of the celebration was fun for me. We celebrated with the fans outside of the Rasta Dome after the game. It was great seeing the happy faces of the people who supported us so much throughout this long season. I will never forget celebrating with my teammates and all the chants we were singing through the day.

Rasta Vechta reminded me a lot of top Pro B EPG Baskets Koblenz who won the pro B title. They like you had a very deep and talented roster. They had an incredible chemistry. What was your team’s biggest strength?

I think our team’s biggest strength was our depth. We had ten pros with six of them being Americans, so we could throw a lot of combinations at teams. Each game could had been someone’s night to shine.

Two of the team’s main components were Joel Aminu and Tajuan Agee. Talk a little about what you appreciated most from them on the court?

Joel was one of our best defenders and scorers so he showed a great example on both ends of the floor. He was fighting through injuries throughout the season but came back just as strong before. Tajuan was our enforcer on the floor and one of the vocal leaders on the team. Every game and practice he gave it his all and did everything you needed him to do to help us win. What I respect most about these two guys was their work ethic and how great of teammates they were off the court.

Who was the team unsung hero and who improved the most?

Julius Wolf was the team unsung hero. He sacrificed many things coming to Rasta from Jena after having successful years there. He did a lot of dirty work on the floor that probably went unnoticed and his experience helped our team in the locker and on the floor. Ryan and Andrew improved a lot in their own ways that people probably didn’t see. Ryan played not his usual position as starting point guard on a talented team and had a great season. Andrew had to play a different role than he did in the past and was one of our best shooters with one of the highest percentages.

Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 6/3/1/1 stats. What was your summary of your play for Vechta?

The numbers are not as good as I hoped they would be but the results of the season made it worth the decline in numbers. All I wanted was to win the league and help Rasta return to the BBL. We finished the job and I am extremely proud of my team.

How did you get adjusted to your role. As a professional you had never played so little minutes in your career. Was it tough for you?

It was tough for me to get adjusted to my role. With nine other pros on the team, it took some time for me to find what I can do to help. But I knew each player on the team was sacrificing something for our end goal, which was winning a championship.

You have always been a versatile player. How do you feel did your game develop on a team that had so many talented players?

My game developed by doing the most I could with a smaller amount of time. I always tried to be efficient on the floor and do what the team needed on both ends of the floor.

You also have always been a very passionate and aggressive defender. How did your game grow in the Ty Harrellson defensive system?

Coach Ty taught me a lot. He helped me with better positing on and off the ball. More speaking and being vocal on defense is something he emphasized to me this season that I added to my game.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the German pro A this season?

Jordan Barnes was the toughest player for me. He can score the ball and get to his spots so well. He also gets his teammates involved with his passing ability. It was tough to stop him.

You played your first 2 pro seasons in Norway for Gimle BBK Bergen (Norway-BLNO. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a professional overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

The language barrier and the physicality of the game were the big wake up calls that I was not home/in college anymore. I adjusted but it still took some time to get used to.

You lived 2 years in Norway. What did you learn to appreciate most about the country?

The people there welcomed me with open arms. Everyone was kind and generous toward me. I learned a lot about European basketball from my coach, Audun Eskeland. My teammate and former college teammate, Espen Fjrestad, made the transition easier for me and his family are like a second family to me.

Last season you played with the Uni Baskets Paderborn (Germany-ProA) averaging 11.5ppg, 4.3rpg, 5.2apg, Steals-2 (2.2spg), FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 72.9%. What will you never forget from the tough playoff series against Jena?

How competitive and intense each game was. That was my first time playing in a playoff atmosphere like that. Going to five games against a well-experienced Jena while being the underdogs was something special.

You played at the University of Wisconsin Parkside (NCAA2) from 2014-2019. You made a huge jump in your game in your senior year. How did your game grow in those 5 years?

I just worked on my game and waited for my opportunity during those 5 years. Each year I noticed I was improving and I had a great coaching staff who believed in me. Redshirting my senior really helped me get the jump I needed to play well.

You were teammates with Kendale McCullum for 3 years. How proud are you of his career path? Is he like a brother for you?

I am extremely proud of Kendale and everything he has accomplished. I have known him for about 12 years now and knew he was a special player. He is one of my closest friends still today. We are constantly talking and supporting each other during our seasons

How did head coach Luke Reigel groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Reigel showed me what it takes to win. I had a successful college career with him and we won a lot of games. He taught us how to be great teammates on and off the court. He put me in the best position to succeed.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I played with too many great teammates to just name five

Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant Lebron James Magic Johnson and Shaq

Who is your basketball GOAT?

Has to be Michael Jordan

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

Yes, I saw it and I did not think it was good. It is sad because my family and I love the first one. I hope they stop making sequels to classic movies.

Thanks Chavares for the chat.

Tags : CHAVARES FLANIGAN, RASTA VECHTA, GERMAN BASKETBALL

If you were to do a survey of which 2 NBA superstars get named most as the GOAT in 2023, you will most likely have Michael Jordan and Lebron James leading the pack by a high margin. Both guys dominated their eras with Jordan getting the reputation as having the best killer mentality and winning 6 finals in a row while Lebron is labelled as the best all-around player to ever touch a ball. But there are also other guys worthy of having the GOAT title. Obviously Steph Curry is a player named a lot more now through his incredible shooting and winning in the last years, but also a guy like Larry Bird is named from the older folks. My GOAT is Larry Bird. I’m maybe a bit biased since I’m from Boston and grew up with him, but his winning, incredible shooting, passing, rebounding and versatility really stood out for a guy who at first glance wouldn’t win any positive words from people who had never seen him play making that first impression of how he looked on the court physically. Many have stated that Larry Bird belongs to the greatest shooters of all-time while Steph Curry is without a doubt the greatest shooter of all-time being the NBA’s all-time three point leader and having shot 40% or better in 12 seasons while Bird only did it 6 times in his career. One has to mention though that Bird won 3 NBA three point shooting contests at the Allstar game to Curry’s 2 wins. When you ask the young basketball hoopers of today, you will get Lebron as the GOAT and rarely Michael Jordan. I had to ask young FC Bayern Munich phenom Ivan Kharchenkov (198-SG-2006) a question that should of received a lightening answer, but didn’t. I remember his NBBL (U-19) coach Paulo Prestes telling me some months ago that you have to shut off the lights in the gym, or he will stay for hours just putting up shots. I asked Ivan with whom he would rather be locked in the gym with Larry Bird or Steph Curry? He let out a loud ohhhhh. I was expecting a rapid Curry, but no. He actually had to think about it. ‘That is a tough question. Steph Curry is the greatest shooter to ever touch a basketball. His long range shots are amazing. Larry Bird is old school and had a great mentality. But I would have to take Steph Curry’, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov. Ivan Kharchenkov has a little old school in him for thinking for a moment about Bird and Curry with whom he would want to be locked in a gym with.

The 16 year old German who will turn 17 on September 20th still has a long way to go to be able to shoot three’s the way Bird And Curry have, but so far the young kid has continued to develop very well as he goes into his first complete pro season with FC Bayern Munich. He comes from a very well known family as his father Alexander won the World Cup Gold in 1974 Over USA and John Lucas and his half brother Nikita played 20 years professionally including 6 years in the easyCredit BBL. Ivan who is a mix between Luka Doncic, Devin Booker and Steph Curry began his basketball career at TS Jahn Munich. He already displayed in young years that he had the absolute scoring gene scoring 84 points against Bamberg at age 12 and when he was 11 years old scored 105 points of his team’s 107 points in a contest. He came to the mighty FC Bayern Munich in 2017. He made his pro debut in the 2021-2022 season only 5 days after turning 15 scoring 16 points against Pro B team EPG Baskets Koblenz. He had no difficulty adjusting to new levels playing against men as in the Pro B he averaged 12.7ppg, 1.8rpg, FGP: 52.7%, 3PT: 32.8%, FT: 75.0%, and in the NBBL (U-19) averaged 10.9ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.4apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 19.5%, FT: 80.6%. Unfortunately for him his season was cut short as he sustained an injury and missed the second half of the season. In the Pro B he scored in double figures in 9 games including 25 points against Frankfurt and in the NBBL scored 22 points against Bamberg. He came back fit in the summer and helped lead the German U-16 national team to a Gold medal in the Division B at the Euro championships in Sofia, Bulgaria averaging 13.3ppg, 5.5rpg, 2.9apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 66.7%. He scored in double figures in 7 of 8 games at the U-16 Gold run and hit Romania for 23 points. He was named to the eurobasket.com first team

The 198cm shooting guard who already is a 3 level scorer and remembers American Omari Knox as being his toughest opponent in the Pro B returned back in the 2022-2023 season fully charged and ready to go. He upped his game in the Pro B scoring in double figures in his first 6 Pro B games including 21 points against Hanau and in the NBBL also found his groove scoring 17 points against Ibam and Jena. He made a half court shot in Frankfurt at the end of a loss. ‘That shot is in my top 3 of all-time craziest shots. I also had a buzzer beater at the U-14 level and a three pointer and 1 bank shot for the lead in another game’, said Ivan Kharchenkov. In between he made his easyCredit BBL debut with FC Bayern Munich against MBC scoring 5 points in 4 minutes in a 82-69 victory becoming the youngest player to ever play a BBL game. But then came the unexpected again as he injured himself again on November 27th in a NBBL game against the Tornados. He then was out 4 months. ‘It was tough suffering another injury again. I did the best I could of the situation. I took that opportunity to finish Real school. The most important thing that I took from that injury was that I really have to learn to respect my body. You can’t play without your body working’, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov. He returned as good as new from injury and played 3 more Pro B games and possibly had his best all around game so far in the Pro B hammering Speyer with 26 points and adding 7 boards, 5 dimes and 3 steals. He also played 2 more BBL games including having a superb game against the EWE Baskets scoring 13 points in 19 minutes including dropping 3 three’s. ‘I have great memories of that game. I was in the starting 5 and Dewayne Russell scored 39 points. I remember wanting to be solid on defense and do my job and on offense be ready to shoot’, said Ivan Kharchenkov. He knows that that game was vital in his development, but knows that he still has a long way to go. ‘I need to go step by step. That was a little step in the right direction’, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov. He ended the NBBL season with a real highlight playing in the NBBL top 4 in Frankfurt. But he didn’t leave Frankfurt with a medal, but instead losing against eventual winner Alba Berlin 83-66 having a 12/4/4 game. You could read the disappoint on his face after the loss. ‘I took 3 days off after the loss. I was very sad and mad the first day, but soon after back in the gym playing’, added Ivan Kharchenkov.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber With the whole Kharchenkov clan With papa Alexsander and son´s Nikita and Ivan at the NBBL top 4 in Frankfurt in 2023

The talented German who lists Jordan, Curry, Lebron and Kobe on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore came to the 2023 European Championships as the captain of the U-18 team. They came into the tournament on fire beating Croatia and Poland without problems. The wins continued against Turkey, Sweeden and Greece. In the game against Greece, he exploded with 27 points on 8/13 shooting and was 9/11 from the free throw line. ‘I rate this as one of my top 5 best games ever. I actually missed my first 3 shots. But then I began to play. Everything began to fall with the flow of the game’, commented Ivan Kharchenkov. But in the semi-finals they had to counter with Serbia who was playing at home. They had played them before the tournament and knew what to expect, but just couldn’t execute the game plan the way they wanted to. ‘We never found our offensive game. I felt like we played pretty good defense. They went on a run which we stopped, but we just couldn’t score enough points to win. I felt we were well prepared for their physicality’, stated Ivan Kharchenkov. Despite the tough loss, Germany stayed calm and gave all they had against France winning 67-59 and taking home the Bronze medal. He had a 11/4/2 game, but was only 4/17 from the field and couldn’t hit the ocean from down town going 1/9. ‘I have to admit that I was a little nervous. It was a big game. I didn’t make shots early so I played for the team. Guys like Anderson, Kayil and Gruenloh took responsibility. I came back strong in the second half and hit key shots’, added Ivan Kharchenkov. Standing there having the Bronze medal is a great feeling and one that he will remember for his entire life. It wasn’t the Gold, but a medal is a medal and it was still a massive achievement. ‘My first feeling getting the medal was wow, we are the third best team in Europe. We proved everyone wrong’, said Ivan Kharchenkov.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Ivan Kharchenkov in Frankfurt in 2022

For the explosive guard who won’t shy away from bullying on the court felt that the team was very special. ‘We had a real good preparation going into the Euro championships. We had a tight game against Italy and had problems with Serbia. We went into the tournament with the attitude of defense first and making the first punch. We didn’t have many individual strengths, but played together as a team which was most important. We were like a family and we fought hard’, expressed Ivan Kharchenkov. Head coach Christian Held was also vital in the success as he told the team from day 1 exactly what their path would be. ‘He was very direct. He knew exactly what he wanted from us. He wanted us to play effective defense and play as a team. I got total trust from him’, said Ivan Kharchenkov. Team Germany had key offensive players like new Vechta guard Jack Kayil and future Michigan (NCAA) guard Christian Anderson as well as Johan Gruenloh who was the defensive stopper that almost averaged 4 blocks per game. ‘Johan was very important on defense. He was a bit nervous in the first games and was in foul trouble. But in the important games, he came through for us. He is a big time defender, roller and team player. He did so much for the team. Jack is always 1A on defense. When he is free he shoots and knows when to find his teammates. Christian doesn’t have it easy in today’s age with his height, but he is an excellent shooter. It is unfair to compare him to Dennis Schroeder at that age. They are different players. All 3 players were always able to take responsibility when we needed it’, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. He finished playing 7 games averaging 17.1ppg, 4.9rpg, 2.0apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 84.6% and was named to the eurobasket.com first team. ‘I don’t have any real complaints about my game. I felt like I was as consistent as I could be. I gave confidence to my teammates in that they knew they could rely on my scoring. I know that I didn’t play as well against France, but other than that my game was ok’, stated Ivan Kharchenkov.

The versatile guard who lists Dewayne Russell as his toughest foe on the court that he has played against so far in the easyCredit BBL is excited about the new season. He finished school and now can focus 100% on FC Bayern Munich. He will train every day with the easyCredit BBL and earn minutes as well as play Pro B. What are his goals this season and will he play NBBL? ‘I want to breathe some BBL air and in the Pro B I want to help the younger guys. This will be my third season in the Pro B and I want to be a good role model. I’m not sure if I will play NBBL, but I think I could’, said Ivan Kharchenkov. He showed already flashes last season of his abilities at the easyCredit BBL, but knows exactly what he has to work on so he can continue to develop his game and get more minutes. ‘I have to learn to play team defense first. That is a big focus of mine. On offense, I have to work on off ball and making smart decisions’, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov. He will be learning from coaching legend Pablo Laslo who has won 2 Euroleague titles with Real Madrid. The kid is remaining very realistic and has no expectations. ‘All I want is a fair chance. I have to show him what I can do. He came to Munich to win’, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. ‘Ivan left a great impression at the Euro. He is very developed for his age. He was captain as being one of the youngest on the team. That says a lot. He has a very professional work ethic and works very hard in practice. He did a great job leading the team. All around he gave a very positive impression. It wasn’t always easy for him in the last years due to injury. I saw good development this summer from him’, stressed German U-18 head coach Christian Held. He is a massive German talent, but so far his name hasn’t popped up on any NBA Mock Drafts. One guy who’s name has is Spanish sensation Hugo Gonzalez of Real Madrid. For some strange reason, both guys haven’t met yet on the court. ‘I saw him play at some U-12 and U-14 tournaments, but never played against him. I think we have a similar style. He is more athletic and I shoot a bit better. I would really like to play against him’, added Ivan Kharchenkov. Wouldn’t it be a delight if they would actually see some minutes in a Euroleague game this season? So what about the GOAT question? Will Ivan Kharchenkov continue to have that old school vibe or will he remain with Lebron James as his GOAT? ‘Michael Jordan is my GOAT. He was unstoppable. No matter what you tried against him, if it was food poisoning, double teams or hard fouls, you couldn’t stop him’, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. You just have to love the old school touch of Ivan Kharchenkov. How often in 2023 do you see a 17 year kid pick Jordan over Lebron? It just isn’t happening.

Tags : IVAN KHARCHENKOV, FC BAYERN MUENCHEN, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Earl Rowland (189-PG-1983, college: SMC) is a 40 year old guard from California that recently completed his 18th professional season. He began his basketball career at Palma High School and then played at three schools called California State University Dominguez Hills (NCAA2), Hartnell College (NJCAA) and Saint Mary’s College of California (NCAA). He began his professional career in 2005 and has played in countries like Australia, Latvia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Israel, Russia, Iran and Poland. He played 2 seasons in Germany for the Artland Dragons and for the Telekom Baskets bonn. Last season at age 39, he played for Tauron GTK Gliwice (Poland-EBL) playing 27 games averaging 15.2ppg, 3.9rpg, Assists-2 (7.9apg), 1.0spg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 29.5%, FT: 81.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks EJ for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you? You just completed your 18th pro season and your 40. I guess your wheels just aren’t falling off yet?

Everything is good Miles. My season has finished so I’m home in Madrid. I feel the best I have in years so I guess not.

You had a stellar season with Tauron GTK Gliwice (Poland-EBL) averaging 7,9apg. How well can one rate the Polish league? I think that was the most assists you ever averaged in a season as a professional. You had 16 assists in a game. Did the playmaking dog in you finally get released?

My team played in the PLK, which is the top league in Poland. I’m not %100 sure but it probably is the first time I averaged over 8 assists. I’ve led some leagues in assists before and been close a couple other times throughout my career. My playmaking developed a lot over the years as the game slowed down.

What kind of an experience was the ACB playing with Malaga and Fuenlabrada. What was your fondest moment there?

The ACB is a great league. The knowledge of the game, skillsets, atmosphere and pace are all high level.

You also played a season in Iran? Did you have any cool stories from a visit in a palace?

I was only in Iran a couple months for the playoffs. We were basically in a bubble so I didn’t see much but everyone treated me well in my time in Tehran

How much longer can you still play? Will you be back in 2023-2024?

I feel great and have plenty to offer a team. I’d love to play another year.

The Telekom Baskets Bonn once again couldn’t pull out a final. It was another loss to Ulm in their sixth try? Is there a jinx? I compared them to the Buffalo Bills once.

Bonn had a great run this year, especially winning the Champions League title. They had a tough ending in the German league but their season was still a success.

You helped the Telekom Baskets Bonn reach the final in 2009. Bonn is back in the final for the first team as they had an incredible season. Do you still follow your ex team?

I follow all my former teams from afar. Bonn will always be a special place to me though, that was one of my favorite seasons.

The 2008-2009 Bonn was a special team that finished the regular season in fourth place. What do you remember being this team’s biggest strength?

That team was really well put together. We had talent, toughness, chemistry and a competitive edge.

The team had 2 ex NBA players with Ken Johnson and Vincent Yarbrough and a third player by the name of Brandon Bowman who I felt should always have made it. How important was his play for the success of the team?

Bobo is easily one of the most talented players I’ve played with. He had an extraordinary season, I can’t remember him losing a matchup

How will you remember John Bowler most? He was an unorthodox player that also had a original character and humor.

John had great energy, he always seemed to be in a good mood. He didn’t ace the eye test but he really had game too

What memories will you always have of Ken Johnson? Was he the gentle giant of the court?

Ken was a great athlete with super long arms and exceptional timing. I was surprised when he didn’t block a shot

Bonn began the playoffs by sweeping Ulm. Could the series have changed for the worse had Bonn not won game 2 71-69?

It always gets tricky in the playoffs. Ulm came ready to play and gave us a nice test.

Is Jeff Gibbs one of those guys that you will never forget playing against? How does a 22 centimeter advantage that Ken Johnson still give a big man problems? Was he one of the greatest undersized bigs you ever saw?

Jeff Gibbs was special. Dude was only a little taller than me but definitely was a problem

The Alba Berlin series was crazy. Bonn won the first 2 games combined by 5 points and looked like the final was an easy bet , but then they strapped up the defense and allowed Bonn to average 40 points in the next 2 games. What did they change up?

I can’t remember all the details but Alba was tough. Winning game 5 in their Arena felt like a movie.

Then came the crazy final against Oldenburg. Bonn was always up a game, but Oldenburg always fought back. Was the 71-70 loss in game 5 your toughest loss in your career?

Yea, that one still hurts when I think about it. It took me forever to even be able to watch it.

Talk a little about the last seconds. How do you remember witnessing them?

The momentum kept swinging back and forth. From being up 3 on the road with less than 30 seconds left to watching the other team celebrate. Basketball is an amazing sport but it isn’t always sweet.

What was the difference in the series? Could Bonn had won the series keeping Ricky Paulding better in check?

We did everything we needed to do to win except close.

Please name your starting 5 of favorite Bonn teammates?

That whole team was special, we really were a unit.

Who won a 1-1 you or Winsome Frazier?

Frazier won’t like my answer so I’ll stay quiet on that one haha. He could really score though

Who do you remember being the toughest player that you battled in Germany?

There were a lot of good players in the league but I think Julius Jenkins was the guy everyone was trying to catch at that time

How would the 08-09 Bonn team faired against the 22-23 team?

I haven’t seen the current team play live but I’m sure it would be a good series.

Thanks EJ for the chat.

Tags : EARL ROWLAND, TAURON GTK GLIWICE, GERMAN BASKETBALL

photo credit Nico Genslein

How often has one heard how important first impressions are? It is something that affects you in so many aspects of life. Obviously giving a lasting first impression at a job interview is something that always helps. Meeting someone and how they act can also leave a lasting impression. I once had two lasting impressions that couldn’t have been more different. It is has been no secret that the 2 best point guards since 2010 for UConn have been Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier. They helped the school in Storrs win 2 of the last 3 NCAA titles. I collected autographs as a kid and came back to it sporadically as an adult as I became involved with basketball overseas. Back in 2013, I witnessed a good but not NBA superstar yet with Kemba Walker when he was with Charlotte ignore everyone around him and board the team bus as if he was in his own galaxy. Then some years later in 2018, I saw Shabazz Napier who then was with Portland and now in 2023 is experiencing the glitz of Milan come out and mingle with people and have conversations with them as if it was a normal thing to do with strangers. Of course Walker came over as a complete A hole while Napier was a real cool dude. Of course when you don’t really know the two guys, you shouldn’t make judgements. I mean many NBA guys don’t sign and it is a normal occurrence. But for Enosch Wolf (214-C-1990, college: UConn) who is one of only 4 Germans that ever won a NCAA title, he can calm all haters and confirm that both are real good dudes. ‘Kemba was in his own galaxy at UConn but not in a negative way. He stayed on the ground and didn’t think that he was better than anyone else. He spoke to everyone and never showed that he was the star. Everyone knew he was going to go to the NBA. After a win we would go and party except Kemba. He had to be careful what he did. All eyes were on him. He had to be careful not to have any slip ups. He was always focused and locked in. Kemba was a good guy. Shabazz was also a super nice guy with a strong character. He was a great shooter. He had this special self-confidence. He came from the worst area in Boston called Roxbury. You would think guys like that would have that gangster aspect, but he was the complete opposite. He had a great heart. It doesn’t surprise me that you had a positive experience with him’, stated Enosch Wolf. UConn was crowned 2023 NCAA champion and Enosch Wolf didn’t even know his former school was in the title game.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Shabazz Napier in Boston in 2018

Enosch Wolf who remembers Steven Adams as being his toughest cover in the NCAA is a 32 year old 214cm giant that played his 10th professional season with German Pro A team Giessen 46ers and announced his retirement after the season. He began his career with BG 74 Goettingen and was already playing Regionalliga 2 basketball at age 17. After 3 years at UConn, he returned back to Germany in 2013 and since has had a solid professional career. He reached the easyCredit BBL playing a total of 18 games with the Telekom Baskets Bonn and medi Bayreuth and also played 9 Eurocup games. He spent most of his career in the German Pro A having amassed over 200 games with teams like the Kirchheim Knights, Hamburg Towers, Tigers Tuebingen, Romerstrom Gladiators Trier, and Rasta Vechta. He also was briefly in Spain and Luxemburg. I reach Enosch on a Tuesday night after his practice with the Giessen 46ers 15 hours after his alma mater UConn won their 5th NCAA title. You would think that a guy who won March Madness would be glued to the television set the same way Germans were to the tv last summer when team Germany was doing their magical Euro run in Cologne and Berlin, but surprisingly he wasn’t. Even if the starting time of 3.00 am in Europe was late, there are enough diehards that would have stayed up. ‘For me it was too late. I haven’t watched as many sports anymore in the last years. I have to be honest that I just don’t have the time. I have stopped following certain basketball teams on Instagram. And besides I didn’t leave UConn on the best terms’, stressed Enosch Wolf. Exactly something did happen at UConn. He had a bad experience off the court and was suspended by the team. He was able to stay but didn’t get his scholarship which prompted him to return back to Germany. He didn’t even know that UConn was in the final. ‘On Monday night my ex teammate Ryan Schwieger of Rasta Vechta congratulated me to UConn winning. Then I googled and saw that UConn had only reached the final. Then I wrote him saying we were only in the final. He wrote back saying don’t worry they are playing a small team and will win easily’, smiled Enosch Wolf. Schwieger was correct that UConn would have no problems as they easily disposed of San Diego State 76-59.

The basketball giant who often heard comparisons to Pau Gasol about his game, but as a player always wanted to be like Lamar Odom played at UConn from 2010-2013. At that time it was becoming more sexy for young Germans to try a different route than the normal way in Germany, but to go overseas and get a solid education and be able to play basketball. ‘I remember the summer before I went to UConn as being crazy. Georgetown was a choice and I was slated to visit Georgia State and Penn State, but then didn’t. I then decided to go to UConn simply because Nils Giffey had committed and I thought it would be cool to have 2 Germans playing together’, stated Enosch Wolf. In his 3 year career, he would only play a total of 37 NCAA games. He took the good with the bad. There were great times in his 3 years, but if he had known earlier that playing time would be scarce, he probably would have gone elsewhere. ‘Coming in I had no idea that I would play so little. The UConn system wasn’t right for me. I think Georgetown would have been better. Andre Drummond got a lot of minutes. I thought it would get better my third year, but I still saw few minutes. Obviously the lifestyle and experience were very positive. It was great to see how professional everything was and the travel and practices was very worthwhile for me’, remembered Enosch Wolf. He averaged 13 minutes and 3,4ppg and 3,4rpg in his last year and scored twice in double figures against Wake Forest and North Carolina State where he battled against a young Lorenzo Brown now a top player in the Euroleague. ‘The game against UNC State was one of my best. Even if we lost, we played 2 games in 2 days in the packed Madison Square Garden in New York’, said Enosch Wolf.

The big man who has Kobe Bryant as his goat will never forget the 2011 March Madness run where UConn beat Butler. The 24 hours after the win was an experience that was beyond insane.’Storrs is in the middle of nowhere and basketball is all that the fans had. The women are also successful. UConn have a big following in New England and are like the Patriots in college basketball there. When we won it we were in Houston. I remember the locker room being full of alumni. The bus and hotel after was crazy. Former player Hasheem Thabeet took care of us during the night going to parties. We slept like 2 hours. Then we flew home. The governor of Connecticut welcomed us on the runway at the airport. On the way back to Storrs, there were already 2011 NCAA national champions signs on the free way. Then we met all the cheering fans at the Gampel pavilion. That was over at 2.00 pm. After that was the first time where we had a few hours to relax in our dorm rooms. After that we partied for a week’, laughed Enosch Wolf. He also will never forget the ankle breaker by Kemba Walker and the daily battles with future NBA beast Andre Drummond who was 3 inches smaller but 30 pounds heavier at the time. ‘Of course I watched it from the bench. That is a play you see every year on Instagram and other places. It was crazy. What Kemba did in the Big East tournament was crazy. UConn was the first play in team to win it all. It had never been done before and he was a big part of it. We won 5 games in 5 days. The ankle breaker was against Gary McGhee who would later play in Germany in the BBL. Andre lived from his athleticism. He didn’t understand the pick and roll, but he didn’t have to. He got every rebound and dunked everything. He was like a big baby in a man’s body. He was always in a good mood’, remembered Enosch Wolf. Even if he didn’t play much under legendary head coach Jim Calhoun, the German has nothing but the utmost respect and love for him. ‘He helped me most mentally. I knew after playing for him that no matter where I would go after UConn, I would survive anywhere. I remember Rudy Gay coming to talk to us and saying. The NBA is a cake walk after you have played for Jim Calhoun. He was a hard coach, but as soon as basketball was over for the day, he was a really nice guy. I am 100% sure that if I was having a bad phase in my career, I could call him at anytime and he would help me find a job’, warned Enosch Wolf.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Niels Giffey in Cologne at the Eurochampionshsips in 2022

The ex Tuebingen center who lists Kobe, Jordan, Lebron and Lamar Odom on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore looks back on his UConn days now a decade later with mixed feelings. He is only 1 of 4 Germans that has ever won a NCAA title and that is something he did and something nobody can take away from him, but it isn’t an accomplishment that he ranks as his best in his career. ‘Winning the NCAA title was a cool and untypical accomplishment and was crazy back at the time. But now it is something that I’m not as proud of. I played like 1 minute in the whole March Madness. When you don’t play, it is difficult to get that feeling you accomplished something. I’m very thankful for the experience, but I don’t really have the feeling that I did something for it’, stressed Enosch Wolf. He knows that if certain situations hadn’t happened, he could have joined Nils Giffey as only 2 Germans to have ever won 2 NCAA titles, but not having stayed is something that hasn’t troubled him the last decade. ‘It would have been nice if I could of stayed a fourth year, but now I don’t care anymore. I put myself in a bad situation then. I wasn’t focused then on basketball the way I should have been. I have had a good life since UConn. I’m more a fan of enjoying life and being happy then being unhappy about something that didn’t happen’, expressed Enosch Wolf. One fond memory he will always have is having been teammates with Niels Giffey for 3 years at UConn. ‘There isn’t one memory really that I cherished most. The whole experience as 2 Germans going through life at UConn and winning a NCAA title together was very special. We made our first steps together at UConn and experienced many things together. I remember we did a trip to the New Jersey coast and lived in a vacation house. We did this and so many other things together’, remembered Enosch Wolf. You wonder how often Giffey and Wolf meet now and talk about the good old days? You know there would never be a dull moment.

Tags : ENOSCH WOLF, JOBSTAIRS GIESSEN 46ERS, GERMAN BASKETBALL

One thing that one can never take away from Mike Nwabuzor (188-G-1996, college: NMHU) is that he will be forever be linked to Lebron James even if they never played against each other in a real professional game, but in a pro Am game in Los Angeles in July 2022. Nwabuzor is one of thousands of very talented guards on this planet that hasn’t reached a high level overseas yet, but continues to get closer as he will play in Germany for Pro A club Artland Dragons. He is another one of many that had to pay his dues in the JUCO and have that seemingly neverending climb up the basketball ladder as his trek is still far away from reaching the top. The 193cm guard has been living the overseas dream and even if it has been a struggle having played in Germany and North Macedonia, he has never given up to have to prove himself and demonstrate his nonending love for the game. It wasn’t any different last summer when he suddenly found himself going head to head against Lebron James in a summer time Pro Am game in Los Angeles under the watchful eyes of family, friends and legends like Draymond Greene and Baron Davis. At the end of 40 minutes his stat line read 17/8/7/3/3 which would of made many guys envious. ”I feel that I performed at a high level on the biggest stage and that speaks volumes about my preparation and the work I put into my craft. I played a full all around game , which is me in a nutshell. I’m a playmaker and defender that can score the basketball and get my teammates off as well. My one regret and probably biggest moment is coming down the line and taking off to dunk right in front of Bron and I missed the dunk by an inch. Ball went in the rim and popped out when I pulled the rim down. Other than that, great all around game. I was composed , confident , and strategic in my attack offensively and defensively’, expressed Mike Nwabuzor. There aren’t many guys on this planet that can say that they have played against Lebron James that never set foot in the NBA. Obviously for him being able to observe the king get the record is an extra special meaning for him. ‘It just validates the game we played even more. To be able to say to say I shared the court with the NBA’s all time leading scorer holds a lot of weight’, stated Mike Nwabuzor. It was definitely an experience he will never forget.

Now let’s fast forward 7 months later to Feb 2023. Lebron James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer breaking the record of ex Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar that stood 38 years. He had one advantage over all those poor ballers overseas that were in time zones 9 hours and more away in that he didn’t have to be dead tired and be up in the middle of the night to witness history. Instead he was back in the States and could enjoy the game with a cool drink. He had been preparing religiously for the Basketball Africa League where he suited up for Seydou Legacy Athletique Club Conakry averaging 16.8ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 92.3%. When one sits down and tries to digest a long standing record like this, one really has to be able to comprehend what it really means for someone to have broken this record. ‘It’s hard to put into perspective. I don’t think we will really understand until LeBron retires. I also don’t see anybody breaking this record because of how much longer Bron will play’, stressed Mike Nwabuzor. It is truly a shame that the young generation can’t fully understand or appreciate the legacy that Kareem has had over time with his incredible skill set. ‘I have watched full games of games in the 80s and 90s courtesy of NBA TV so it allowed me to understand these older legacies and I think Kareem paved the way for many things in the basketball world’, expressed Mike Nwabuzor who’s favorite Lebron moment was his block against Andre Iguodala in the 2016 finals.

The big question coming into the Oklahoma Thunder game was, was he going to break it against Shai Gillgeous-Alexander or in the next game against the Milwaukee Bucks. It must have been clear to everyone when Lebron James came in all black that the record would fall that night. He didn’t disappoint any of the home crowd fans as he scored 38 points in 26 minutes. No one can really argue that it wasn’t a normal day at the office for the 4 time NBA champion. ‘Normal day for sure. Although I think they were kind of force feeding him the ball instead of playing the game. It still is something he would’ve accomplished either way’, said Mike Nwabuzor. Lebron James made his record breaking points with a routine step back jumper over Kenrich Williams. One has to wonder what would have been happening on social media had he set up on the base line and made a sky hook in Kareem manner. ‘Honestly I was hoping and expecting him to do a sky hook to honor or show up Kareem, however you want to look at it. The one foot fade is one of his patent moves so I’m not surprised. I think that social media would have its way with that narrative. So many different avenues people good go with that’, said Mike Nwabuzor. Also with the crafty and versatile Russell Westbrook on the court, one could of expected a fancy dime to forever be remembered and linked with the bucket. But instead it was no special pass. All ballers agree that his pass won’t be remembered in 20 years, but his triple doubles surely will. ‘I don’t think anything will trump the feat of triple doubles that Russ accomplished in those years. Those are seasons and times you could never forget’, warned Mike Nwabuzor. One thing that one can speculate about is how much the ball will be worth. Billions may be a bit unthinkable, but what about millions? ‘That ball will definitely be worth millions but it won’t be leaving Bron’s possession , I know that for a fact’, warned Mike Nwabuzor.

It took almost 40 years for the record to be broken. Will it take another 40 years or perhaps longer. Can this incredible record ever be broken? ‘I personally don’t think it can be broken because I don’t see another player playing as long Bron and at as high of a level’, added Mike Nwabuzor. The game has changed over the last years where there is so much more scoring, more possessions and more three pointers. One guy who could possibly compete for the record is Luka Doncic, but he will have to be durable and become a physical specimen like Lebron so he can play many many years. ‘Luka does have a good head start but I don’t see him playing more than 20 years in this league’, warned Mike Nwabuzor. The GOAT debate has been going on for more than a decade between Jordan and Lebron. Does Lebron’s record finally give him the GOAT status? ‘I give him the goat of our generation for sure. It’s hard to argue who is the best because I am a big fan of both’, commented Mike Nwabuzor. He may never face him again on the court, but just in case he would, he will be prepared on and off the court. ‘I would approach him the same way I approach anybody else. At the end of the day, he is still human. On the court, my wish would be that we worked out together and then played 1s after. As for off the court, I’d like to get a workout with him in the weight room and see what he’s doing to be able to keep on playing at this level in year 20’, stressed Mike Nwabuzor. One day he will be able to tell his grand children that he played against the NBA all-time leading scorer Lebron James and nobody will be able to take that away from him.

Tags : MIKE NWABUZOR, LOS ANGELES CHEATERS (DREW LEAGUE), GERMAN BASKETBALL

Dylan Travis (190-G-1993, college: FSC) is a professional basketball player that has made the transition from overseas ball to being a 3×3 professional player in the States as well as playing for the USA national team. The Omaha native played at Midland University (NAIA), Iowa Central Community College (JUCO) and Florida Southern College (NCAA2) before embarking on a professional career overseas. He played in Germany for Rot Weiss Cuxhaven and the ScanPlus Baskets Elchingen (Germany-ProB) and in Australia for the Western Port Steelers (Australia-Big V D1) and Waverley Falcons (Australia-NBL1). He spoke to germanhoops.com about Lebron James becoming the NBA all-time leading scorer.

Lebron James has beaten Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA all-time scoring record. Did you stay up to watch history?

I did stay up and watch this. I could not miss watching that historic moment on tv.

How does one put this record into perspective best? It stood almost 40 years? –


So many great players came before Lebron, it just shows how hard it is to do this. To stay healthy and produce for that many years and counting is incredible.

He scored 38 points in 26 minutes. Was it another normal day at the office?


He definitely was out to get the record and LA needs the wins to make the playoffs. Which equaled a big night.

How much is that ball going to be worth?

I don’t know, but a lot of money. Hopefully he gets to keep it for himself.

Russell Westbrook made the pass. Do you think that in 20 years the pass could be remembered more than his triple doubles?

Definitely not.

His record breaking basket was a step back over Kenrich Williams. Is that the kind of shot you expected knowing the kind of player he is? Or would you have expected a dunk for the spectacular finish?


It was just Lebron making a play like he always does.

There obviously is a lot of respect for Kareem, by the basketball world, but what would have happened on social media if Lebron had gotten the record with a sky hook shot?

haha social media would’ve gone crazy for that and it would’ve been iconic. Almost would have looked staged though.

Kareem is such a gentleman. You didn’t grow up with him, but what does his legacy mean to younger guys? Can they even understand what that guy did?

To be honest I don’t know much besides he was obviously a great player. I never got the chance to watch him play. But when your name is prominent for decade after decade that means something.

Lebron will have more than 40,000 points when it’s all over. Back in 1984 people said it would never be broken? Will this record be broken?

I don’t think so! But who knows maybe I’m no better than those folks in the 80’s.

If Luka Doncic continues to play to 40 stays fit and becomes a physical specimen like Lebron, could he dethrone him?

Luka is a great player and I enjoy watching his game. Hopefully he can stay healthy.

Does this record finally give Lebron the GOAT status over Michael Jordan?

I stay out of those convo’s I just appreciate both of them.

What is your favorite Lebron moment that you witnessed live or on TV?

His chase down block in the finals is something I will never forget. Or when he decided to go to Miami. I’ll never forget I was in high school with my AAU team on a trip and we had to stop what we were doing to watch the announcement.

Thanks Dylan for the chat.

Tags : DYLAN TRAVIS, WAVERLEY FALCONS, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Foto credit Christian Becker

Ryan Schwieger (198-G-1999, college: Loyola, IL) is a 24 year old 198cm guard from North Carolina that completed his rookie season with Rasta Vechta averaging 14.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.1apg, FGP: 63.1%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 80.6%. He began his basketball career at Weddington high school. He then played at Princeton (NCAA) from 2017-2020 improving his scoring average each season. He played his senior year at Loyola University of Chicago (NCAA) playing 33 games averaging 9.2ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 80.4%. he spoke to germanhoops.com after his rokkie season.

Thanks Ryan for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on winning your first pro title as a rookie with Rasta Vechta. If someone had told you in September you will be Pro A champ what would you have thought?

Rasta is a club that expects to compete at the highest level and puts forth the effort to do so, so even back at the beginning of the season we all had championship expectations. It would’ve been great to know we were going to win that early on! But it’s still tough to win any championship and doing so in my first year is a blessing.

How rapidly did you notice in the fall that there was a winning culture in Vechta? What is so special about the organization Rasta Vechta that you won’t see in other places?

I knew before I even joined the team that Rasta will not settle to be a mediocre club, and that was only confirmed getting there in the fall. I think in Vechta there is a real culture around the team that makes you feel proud to wear the jersey and play in front of those fans every game.

The club went into the season with high expectations and rolled over the competition. How important was it for your game coming into this winning culture and performing well at a high level?

We started off the season very well in large part to the leadership and play of the returners / vets. Tajuan Agee, Joel Aminu, and Chip Flanigan in particular dominated our first game against Artland and the next few, which really set the expectation for the younger guys like myself that we were on a mission that season

The Pro A finals are always 2 games with the winner having the best scores in the 2 games. How strange was that 78-78 score in game 1? Were you still waiting for the OT period to come?

I really can’t believe we tied a basketball game even now, but at the same time it almost felt inevitable in a way. Tuebingen was such a good team and we had been neck and neck all season and I mean the tie really was the fairest representation of the teams at that point I think.

Was the 78-78 more an advantage or disadvantage from your perspective for Rasta Vechta or for the Tigers? You as a team must of felt very confident with the incredible fans going into the second game?

I think tying the first game was sort of a win for us. Especially with how the game went, we were down in the first half and came back to end in a tie. I think even if they had won by one point, it would have been a totally different feeling between games 1 and 2 even though score-wise it’s not that big of a difference. Coming back to our home arena and our fans it did feel like we have all the advantage and we were in a great position to win.

Vechta had the 8 point lead in the fourth quarter but the guests made a furious comeback and trailed only 63-61. What do you remember going through your head at that time?

They actually did the same thing in the first game we played them in Vechta where Julius Wolf hit the game winner at the buzzer. I think they took the lead late in both games. But I know the guys that we had on our team and know that we have the ability to make big shots and get big stops so I wasn’t too worried. It was more about withstanding their run and not losing our cool.

You made some massive shots in crunch time. How confident were you feeling with your game and how good did it feel getting the call where anyone else could have been the go to guy?

Honestly I wasn’t really thinking about my game at all, at that point all that matters is winning the game however you have to do it. Joshka Ferner made a big 3 to put us back in the lead. I ended up scoring a layup and some free throws but it’s really because the defense has to worry about guys like Joshka, Joel (who scored 30+ points the last 2 games), and Tajuan that I was able to have success late.

How highly can you credit the season of Tuebingen? What did you respect most from the team?

Tuebingen really was an awesome team. Hard to say what I respect the most but it seemed like they were always the team that we kept our eye on all season and knew that we would have to get past them to win the championship. Of the four games we played them we won one at the buzzer, tied a game, they won by 10 or so and we won by 7 or 8 in the last game. So in my mind the teams were literally right there with each other all season and we just pulled it out in the end.

How was the celebration night? When did you finally go to sleep and what will you never forget from the party night?

The celebration was great. Rasta fans know how to party.

Rasta Vechta reminded me a lot of top Pro B EPG Baskets Koblenz who won the pro B title. They like you had a very deep and talented roster. They had an incredible chemistry. What was your team’s biggest strength?

I think our biggest strength was our competitiveness. From day 1 of practice we were going at each other and competing so much that it almost got too much at times and we had to dial it back. But once we got to the games and especially the playoffs, there was just no way that we were going to lose.

Two of the team’s main components were Joel Aminu and Tajuan Agee. Talk a little about what you appreciated most from them on the court?

Like the question before, these two guys were probably the most competitive and never were okay with losing in anything. Once it got to game time with these two guys on our team, I knew we would be in good shape. As players also they both really carried us a lot during the season. Tajuan’s physicality and scoring ability, combined with his unselfishness, made him such a problem for other teams and he would just impact the game so much. Joel was similar in the guard position. His confidence and shot making were huge for us down the stretch, especially in those two 30 point games, but I think his impact on defense was underrated and really allowed us to dominate teams on both ends.

Who was the team unsung hero and who improved the most from the young Americans?

Unsung hero maybe Siler Schneider? It’s hard to say because I think as a team we recognized and appreciated everybody for what they brought. Siler coming in during the season brought such a great attitude, along with his ball handling, playmaking and scoring, that he had the ability to kind of guide the team at times and keep us playing well and together. Also hard to say who improved the most. Naz , Andrew and I all were important to us winning in different ways. Naz is a matchup nightmare for other teams who also changes games with his energy and motor. Drew’s scoring and shooting ability along with his defense and athleticism make him so impactful on both ends that he could carry us in games. They both could.

Let’s talk about your game. You averaged 14/2/3 stats and shot 41% from outside. What was your personal summary of your rookie season in terms of your game?

My shooting numbers are good but I’ve really got to improve the passing and rebounding. I think the assists will come naturally but I do think I’ve got to focus a lot more on rebounding the ball especially for my size

You were very consistent as a rookie. How tough was it being that scorer you knew you were despite playing on a team where many guys could score and had the ball in their hands?

The only difficult thing for me was balancing scoring and setting guys up. I learned how to do it better as the year went on but can still really improve at that. The great thing was that we had such versatile players that it allowed us all to incorporate our strengths into the game really. Julius, Tajuan, and Naz were great playmakers as bigs, so it let the guards play off the ball and score. And then Robbie and Joshka and other guys were elite at scoring the ball efficiently so it helped really open up the court.

You have continued to improve your three point shooting percentages. How do you feel did your game grow in general in the German pro A?

I felt I got a lot better this season. I worked a lot with the coaches individually and then just through competing at practice and in the games they let me play through mistakes and learn on the fly. So Im really grateful for how much they helped me improve.

What was it like working together with head coach Ty Harrellson. How did he help let your game grow best this season?

Coach Harrelson was a player himself, and a big point guard, so he really understood what position I was in and he always knew how to help me. He also really lets his players play their game and doesn’t try to take anything away from them so it lets you play confident and free, which is the best thing you can feel as a player.

Who was the toughest player that you faced in the German pro A this season?

Mike Flowers gave us about 40 in Vechta so i’m going to go with him.

You played 3 seasons at Princeton (NCAA) and improved your stats each season. How blessed were to play for Mitch Henderson? What kind of a relationship did you have with him and how did your game grow under his guidance?

I have a great relationship with coach Henderson. Both on and off the court. He taught me how to compete, how to be in shape, and how to really improve and get better. Off the court though he taught me a lot as well, how to make good meaningful relationships and how to really care for the people around you.

In your second season you lost by 51 points to Duke (NCAA). Do you remember having a wow moment seeing Zion Williamson up close?

Zion is legit. RJ Barret was the only who really killed us though. Definitely the biggest loss of my career. Did you have to bring that up ?

You then finished at Loyola University of Chicago (NCAA) averaging 9.2ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 80.4%. How special was it winning the MVC title beating Drake? What will you always cherish from that title?

Playing at Loyola was awesome. They have a culture of winning that is really great to be a part of. I’ll really just cherish the time I spent with my teammates and coaches there and how much I learned from all of them.

How did head coach Drew Valentine groom and prepare you best for a pro career?

I think the world of Drew. I really think he is a special coach that will be great for years to come. He does a great job of balancing the relationship of being your coach and holding you accountable, to being family off the court and helping you as much as you can with whatever he can. I’m forever thankful for letting me come to Loyola and be a part of their program

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Aher Uguak?

Me of course. We used to play everyday after practice and he never beat me one time. He’ll deny it though.

Who was your toughest player you face din the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I’d have to say RJ Barret. Chimezie Metu also really killed us when we played USC.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Chip Flanigan , Lucas Williamson, Richmond Aririguzoh, Amir Bell , Tate Hall

Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore?

Michael Jordan , Lebron, Kobe , Magic

Who is your basketball GOAT?

Mike

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

Yes and no.

Thanks Ryan for the chat.

Tags : RYAN SCHWIEGER, RASTA VECHTA, GERMAN BASKETBALL

Timothy Clifford (211-C-1986) is a former professional player that played 1 season with the Telekom Baskets Bonn in the 2008-2009 season playing 29 BBL games averaging 1,9ppg and 1,0rpg and played 12 Eurochallenge games averaging 3,7ppg and 1,7rpg. He began his basketball career at Walpole High School and then played at Holy Cross (NCAA) from 2004-2008 playing 114 NCAA games and as a senior averaged 18.0ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.2apg, 0.7spg, 2.3bpg, FGP: 57.1%, FT: 78.2%, 3PT: 33.3%. He looked back on the magical Bonn season of 2008-2009 during the 2023 BBL finals.

Thanks Tim for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

Living near my hometown with my wife Jess and our 3 kids Jack, Jameson, and Maggie. Im working as a Middle School history teacher. Our family is happy and healthy. Life is good. I play the occasional men’s league with some former players but it’s just for fun now. It’s more about my kid’s sports now. My oldest loves hockey.

You retired in 2009. You played one season but went out almost in style reaching the BBL final. Could you have played longer or did you get some kind of other good opportunity off the court that you simply couldn’t give up?

I could have played longer but it seemed like a better long term plan to pursue my career in education and for my wife to work toward her career in Anesthesia.

How have you been keeping busy since you retired in 2010? Do you still have some kind of ties to the game?

I have been mostly focused on career and family. I coached a few years at the high school level but gave it up when my oldest son was born. Otherwise I read, spend time with friends, and play the occasional men’s league. Mostly I give my time to my kids.

You played at Holy Cross from 2004-2008 and had the pleasure of playing with 3 great guards with Kevin Hamilton, Keith Simmons and Torey Thomas. How do you remember them best?

As good teammates, good leaders, and good people.

In your junior year you lost a tough 57-45 game to Duke. What memories do you have of that game playing against future NBA guys like Gerald Henderson and Lance Thomas?

I remember that the Cameron Crazies weren’t as bad as the Bucknell fans.

Who was the toughest center that you battled in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

The center from Dayton OH who I played my senior year, can’t think of a name though.

You came to Bonn in 2008 after having a sensational senior year averaging 18/5. Did you expect your rookie season to be easier than how it went? You hardly played for head coach Mike Koch.

I didn’t go in expecting much playing time. I knew I was a backup.

I can imagine one of your most memorable BBL games was the win against Bamberg where you had 9 points. What do you remember form that game?

Not a thing. I know that sounds funny but it was a lifetime ago.

You helped the Telekom Baskets Bonn reach the final in 2009. Bonn is back in the final for the first team as they had an incredible season. Do you still follow your ex team?

I don’t but I wish them and the city all the best. It was a lovely place to play and live. My memories of the city are fond and will always stick more than any particular game.

The 2008-2009 Bonn was a special team that finished the regular season in fourth place. What do you remember being this team’s biggest strength?

Comadre among players and good coaching

The team had 2 ex NBA players with Ken Johnson and Vincent Yarbrough and a third player by the name of Brandon Bowman who I felt should always have made it. How important was his play for the success of the team?

Obviously important to the team.

How will you remember John Bowler most? He was an unorthodox player that also had a original character and humor.

As a good friend and a good teammate.

What memories will you always have of EJ Rowland? The guy just completed his 18th season at age 40. I guess his wheels never fell off.

He was a really good leader and quality person.

Bonn began the playoffs by sweeping Ulm. Could the series have changed for the worse had Bonn not won game 2 71-69?

Yes.

Is Jeff Gibbs one of those guys that you will never forget playing against? How does a 22 centimeter advantage that Ken Johnson still give a big man problems? Was he one of the greatest undersized bigs you ever saw?

He was a great player but Germany was full of great bigs.

The Alba Berlin series was crazy. Bonn won the first 2 games combined by 5 points and looked like the final was an easy bet , but then they strapped up the defense and allowed Bonn to average 40 points in the next 2 games. What did they change up?

In the playoff they picked up the intensity

Then came the crazy final against Oldenburg. Bonn was always up a game, but Oldenburg always fought back. Was the 71-70 loss in game 5 your toughest loss in your career?

It was certainly up there

Talk a little about the last seconds. How do you remember witnessing them?

It’s been a while but it was an emotional moment.

What was the difference in the series? Could Bonn had won the series keeping Ricky Paulding better in check? 
Yes.

Please name your starting 5 of favorite Bonn teammates?

They were all such lovely people I can’t choose.

Who won a 1-1 you or John Bowler?

Me

Who do you remember being the toughest center that you battled in Germany?

Chris McNaughton

The Telekom Baskets Bonn are down 01 in the best of 5 series against Ulm. What is your prediction?

I’m late replying but I hope they pulled it out!

Thanks Tim for the chat.