Maodo Lo (191-PG-1992, college: Columbia) Lo is a 29 year old 191cm guard playing his second professional season with Alba Berlin. Before coming to Berlin, he played two years with Brose Bamberg and two years with FC Bayern Munich. He is a German national player and has won 5 professional titles. He began his career at Central Hoops Berlin and played 4 years at Columbia (NCAA) amassing a total of 119 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before game 2 of the 2022 easyCredit BBL finals against FC Bayern Munich

Congrats on the massive 86-73 win over FC Bayern Munich in game 1 of the finals. It was a tight affair for 30 minutes, but Alba Berlin took control in the fourth quarter. What was key for getting the win?

I felt that we had more energy at the end and that was key. We supplied more pressure on defense and I think that It also wasn’t easy that Munich had had such a tough series against Bonn a few days earlier. That really played into our hands.

Your playing your second season with Alba Berlin. What kind of a feeling is it playing for the organization that didn’t give you the time of day early in your career?

At the end of the day, it’s Berlin. It’s home for me. I have absolutely no hard feelings that they didn’t recruit me early in my career. It is different for guys like Mattissek and Delow who played here since they were kids. I was taught a different school. But Alba Berlin represents where I grew up. I still feel like I have a very strong identification to Alba Berlin.

You have won 5 professional titles. Do you feel like your killer instinct and hunger to win more grows with every new title?

Yes of course. Once you start to win, you want to keep doing it as much as possible. Now I can win again. I want to win this title as much as my first one. I want to achieve the most possible in my career and get a certain level of satisfaction through it.

Alba Berlin has a very talented and deep roster, but how key is the guard rotation of Smith, Blatt and you for the overall success of the team?

It is big. I think that we have great chemistry. We are all super unselfish. This is a key component as we can all use our strength. They are all unselfish and so am I. I would say that none of us are really ball dominated. Once we see a guy open we get rid of the ball. I don’t think that I would be as successful somewhere else in a system where the play wasn’t unselfish. I flourish in the Alba Berlin system.

What kind of an experience has it been playing with Jaleen Smith? When he was a rookie in the Pro A you were already a Euroleague player. What strides have you seen him take in the BBL the last 3 years?

I think he has steadily improved the last years. He showed it in Ludwigsburg and has continued this season. He needed an adjustment period here at first, but that is normal. But he is really comfortable and is playing great. I’m really happy for him. He is a super human being. He is a pure soul.

Everybody has their special Luke Sikma story. What has been your coolest story with him?

Luke is also a special player. He personifies the Alba Berlin culture. There have been many special moments with him on the court. What I think is really special about him is that when something special happens on the court, he will smile or make a gesture and really enjoys the moment for that player. I think that it is rare to see a player do that where he is truly happy for someone.

You played two seasons with FC Bayern Munich. How vital were these two years for your basketball development. Which coach or player do you remember being instrumental for you there?

My first year we won a title and in the second season we had some problems. I think that Management was really key. People like Daniele Baiesi and Marko Pesic were very important. They allowed me to be the starting point guard for an Euroleague team. They had trust in me and gave me more responsibility. I thank them that they gave me a chance.

You were teammates with Ismet Akpinar who has made his way in Turkey as a Euroleague player. How much respect do you have for him? He sometimes gets lost in the German guard shuffle.

Ismet is a great guy. He is very determined and has a lot of talent. He is very quick and is a great shooter. I know his dream was always to play for Fenerbahce and he has achieved that. He has done something in life that many can’t say they have done. I think that one shouldn’t be concerned that he may get lost a bit in the guard shuffle for the German national team. He is one of the best behaved and well mannered guys I have ever met.

You began your career with Brose Bamberg. That first year wasn’t easy for you, but how much did you profit having so many high level guys around like Darius Miller, Daniel Theis and especially Greek legend Zisis?

It wasn’t easy at first because I had great competition at the guard position. And at the same time, I had to learn very much all at once because I came from college. I think that coach Trinchieri was very important. I learned so much from him. I think that Darius Miller and Daniel Theis also were important because they welcomed me with open arms. They gave me great advice. It was a blessing for me coming to a team that had so much talent.

In December 2016 you played your first game against Real Madrid scoring 13 points in 10 minutes while Luka Doncic had 16 points in the Spanish win. What was your impression of him. So many talented guys have surfaced in Europe over the years but would you have thought that he could become a top NBA player?

At that time all was still super new for me. At that time I was still trying to figure things out in my game. There was such an overload of information for me. I didn’t look so much into the future. I was in the moment. Looking back, I don’t think anyone would have expected it. But in his last season in Europe in 2017-2018 when he was MVP, people noticed. Then I was sure that he would be a great player. You can’t be able to be so good in Europe and not be special.

Before turning professional in 2016 you played NBA Summer League with the Philadelphia 76ers. I always wanted to know why you didn’t pursue the NBA more. Was the feedback after the Summer League not as inviting which led you to return to Germany or perhaps the Ivy-League not a strong enough conference to garner more interest?

I had a lot of fun at the NBA Summer League playing with NBA rules. At that time I was offered a partial guaranteed contract but at the same time also had an offer from a Euroleague team with Bamberg. I just didn’t want to take the risk and land in the D-League. I decided to take the safe deal with Bamberg. I think that if I hadn’t have had such a good offer from Bamberg, I would have gone the D-League route. Now looking back Bamberg was the right move.

You were teammates with Alex Caruso a guy who probably didn’t have the greatest chance to be in the NBA, but worked hard and has carved out a fine career. Do you ever wonder what might have happened to you had you tried to land a pre season NBA roster?

Yes I do. Honestly I don’t think there was much difference to Alex Caruso and I and there were also other examples of guys. There were guys like me that came out of school and played NBA Summer League and instead of me took a partial guaranteed contract and landed in the D-League. After a few years they landed in the NBA. I wonder what could have happened, but every guy has their own path. Sometimes you look back and think you made a wrong decision, but that wasn’t the case for me. I’m happy with the path I took. I gained many friends and had great experiences in the last years.

You played at Columbia from 2012-2016. How vital was this for your basketball confidence and game? How instrumental were these 4 years for your game. Who knows where you might have been had you remained in Germany?

Playing at Columbia for 4 years was very important for me. I think that If I would have stayed in Germany, I wouldn’t have become a pro. I had no perspective in Germany. No teams looked at me, not even Pro B teams. That is the reason why I went to the states. I love the game. I felt like my talent could be more recognized in the States. After my second season all the top BBL teams were looking at me.

You scored an amazing 37 points in a tough 85-83 loss against Princeton your junior year. Was that one of your tougher NCAA loses?

There were many tough loses. I regret never having made the tournament. We had a super talented team my senior year. We had enough talent to win the Ivy league title.

How did head coach Kyle Smith groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

He installed a lot of discipline and toughness in me. He gave me the chance to come to Columbia. I improved my skill set in terms of shooting. He was heavy on shooting drills. I had to improve a lot. We played the Princeton offense my last 3 years passing, cutting and shooting. In the 35 second shot clock we often took 32 seconds and then the defense would get tired and we got open shots. When I came to Bamberg I had trouble running the pick and role because I hadn’t seen it much. I had to learn to read the defense better.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Grant Mullins?

Grant is a great player. He was one of the best recruits that ever came to Columbia. He went to the university of California after Columbia. We were similar players at the time. He was the better shooter at the time. I think our 1-1 games were even.

You played at Wilbraham & Monson school. What memories do you have living in Springfield? How often did you visit the NBA Hall Of Fame?

I remember that. It was a culture shock for me. I’m an urban child. I landed in Boston and then took a car to school. I fell asleep in the car and when I woke up I was in the woods surrounded by trees. It was a totally different culture. The people were different and it was difficult to adjust at the beginning. But I met great people. I really could focus on school and basketball there because there was nothing to do.

What memories do you have of playing against Avon Old Farms school where I went to school? They were more known as a ice hockey powerhouse.

I don’t remember all the teams I played I’m sorry.

I have a lot of confidence in Gordon Herbert. Germany has really good chances for a medal at the 2022 European Championships. How confident are you that there will be better chemistry this time?

It has to be better. That is the most important. We will have the same group of guys and we have to learn from the past and just do better. I’m confident that we will be better. We are all smart. Making the same mistakes like in 2019 isn’t cool.

Could Franz Wagner be the glue guy between a medal and not?

Yes for sure. He played a great NBA season. He is a great talent that has many abilities at both ends of the court. He is a great dude and down to earth. He will add a lot of quality to the team.

Who is the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that went to the NBA?

CJ Mccullum who played at Lehigh. I had to guard him. He was crazy and insane. He didn’t look fats but he was crazy explosive. I wasn’t ready for him as a freshman.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

It is impossible to name just 5. But I can say that Darius Miller is one of the nicest people ever. He was always positive and never negative. I can’t understand how he could always be so nice. Even if he was mad he didn’t show it. His character was impressive.

Is Luka Doncic a top 3 NBA player?

I don’t know all the stats of guys like Giannis, Durant, Curry or Jokic. But I know that he is a superstar and one of the top players in the NBA.

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

I didn’t see it, but yeh probably. Sequels are always tough.

Thanks Maodo Lo for the chat.

Tags : MAODO LO, ALBA BE

Javontae Hawkins (196-G-1993, college: Fordham) is a 28 year old 196cm forward from Huntigton, West Virginia that finished his fifth professional season and first with the Telekom Baskets Bonn averaging 15,5ppg, 3,6rpg and 1,1apg. Last season he sat out because of injury. He played his third professional season with the HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim averaging15.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 79.4%. In 2018-2019 he played with Holargos B.C. (Greece-A1) playing 29 games averaging 11.7ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 77.5%. As a rookie he played with the Salon Vilpas Vikings (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 54 games averaging 14.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 40.6%, FT: 79.9%. He played NCAA basketball at three schools with S Florida from 2012-2014 playing 54 NCAA games, then had his break out season with Eastern Kentucky (NCAA) playing 30 games averaging 17.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 76.5% and finished at Fordham (NCAA) playing 31 games averaging 14.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 84.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the tough game 5 loss to FC Bayern Munich that ended his season.

Thanks Javontae for talking to germanhoops.com. The amazing season of the Telekom Baskets Bonn has ended after a 5 game series fight with FC Bayern Munich. Was this the toughest loss in your professional career?

I would say it’s up there along with losing in the finals my rookie year in Finland after being the #1 seed. It’s definitely top 2 toughest loss for sure.

The Telekom Baskets Bonn were down 0-2 and went to Munich with the backs to the wall and won 2 games. Do you feel like maybe the team reached their peak in these two games?

That simply just shows the identity and character of the coaches and players this season. We worked hard to prepare for games like these. No one likes to come be down 0-2 in the playoffs so we locked in and went and got 2 win against a very great team.

How good did it feel winning 2 games in a row in Munich. I can’t remember a team ever doing that.

It felt good. We are professionals just as much as the next opponent so we always played and prepared to win the game no matter who we are playing.

FC Bayern Munich had a good start in game 5, but as usual the Telekom Baskets Bonn never gave up and fought hard. How instrumental was the 27 point third quarter by Munich for helping carry them to the win?

It was very instrumental from their side because they knew coming off 2 losses in a row would fuel them to play smarter and harder in game 5.

When you look at the total stats, Bonn led some categories with an incredible 5 turnovers, shot well from outside and hit 9 more free throws. Was the main damage done in the paint where Munich shot 70% and had 5 more offensive rebounds?

For sure, them making lay ups and offensive rebounding gave them an edge.

You came mid way through the season. When you look back at this magical season how would summarize the character of this team?


Tough, professional, and togetherness is the character this team showed all year.

We have spoken about your teammates in a previous interview but please describe how valuable veteran Karsten Tadda was for the team. As always he showed his sniper qualities and defensive play in the final. Please describe how he is truly more than just a 3 and D player?

He’s a leader, he’s a guy who’s been around for a while now. His leadership and will to win played a huge role in our team this season.

You played for the first time with undersized and for years off the radar player Parker Jackson-Cartwright. Have you ever been teammates with a guy that had a bigger heart than him?

I’ve been blessed to have played with guys like Jaylon Brown, DeWayne Russell and now Parker Jackson-Cartwright. Parker is a true warrior he doesn’t play like his size, he has a contagious passion about the game of basketball to him. He’s by far the most talented point guard I’ve played with in my career, he’s going to do great things and have a great career. Beyond proud of him for this MVP season.

Is the next step getting an opportunity in the Euroleague a realistic thing or will his size scare off teams?

Any Euroleague team that doesn’t take PJC next year will regret it. I believe his size doesn’t matter because he displayed what he can do against Euroleague teams.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright played out his heart again and had real MVP numbers with 25/10/4 stats. What words did you find for your teammate after the loss?

I simply just told him how proud I was of him, playing through adversity half of the year, and reassuring him that he’s going to have a long successful career.

You had another solid season averaging 15.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 37.6%, FT: 77.5%. How would you summarize your season?

BLESSED! I thank God everyday for keeping me healthy and allowing me to have a promising and successful career/season. And it’s just a testament of hard work, it’s difficult to come back from ACL injury but with faith you can do anything. I’m a firm believer in that.

Stat wise it was similar to your season two years ago in Crailsheim. What steps did you take in your game considering the tough injury that you had last season forcing you to sit out?

The steps I took in my game was to do more while doing less, meaning learning my spots on offense, learning my opponents spots while defending them, and just working smarter and not harder. Using my pace to be effective.

You showed against Giessen and Frankfurt that you can step up your scoring to crazy proportions. Do you feel like your ready to make the next step as an explosive scorer?

I don’t label myself as a scorer, I just like the term basketball player. I go out and do what the team needs. Scoring is natural for me but I will never label myself as a scorer because I feel like I bring more to the table offensively and defensively.

Who was the toughest player that you faced this season on the court?

I would probably say Deshaun Thomas. He’s a legit 4 man who’s left handed and can score in the deep post in such an unorthodox efficient way.

It is no secret that your game clicks under tuomas Iisalo. Isn’t it logical to resign with the Telekom Baskets Bonn?


Awards/ My focus is to enjoy family time this summer and take my game to another level by improving my weaknesses.

You have played in countries like Greece and Finland, but were the Telekom Baskets Bonn the best fans that you have ever played for? Talk a little about your fondest memories with them?

100%. They were our 6th man. It’s none like the fans here at Telekom win or lose they are here to bring positivity and cheer you on.

On what area’s of your game will you be working on most in the lab this summer so you can continue to climb the basketball ladder?

Playmaking and just improving my shot more and more.

What are your plans for the summer. What place would you like to visit where you have never been before?

My plans are to enjoy my wife and family and get better at basketball.

What will a NBA title mean for the legacy of a Steph Curry and a Jayson Tatum?


I believe Steph would be considered in the goat conversation and Jayson Tatum would probably be the next best star in the league.

Thanks Javontae for the chat.

Jared Jordan (187-PG-1984, college: Marist) is a former professional player that had a 13 year professional basketball career. He began his career at Kingswood school in West Hartford and then played at Marist (NCAA) from 2003-2007 being named MAAC player of the year in 2007 and led the NCAA in assists twice. He began his professional career in 2007 in Lithuania with top team Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius (Lithuania-LKL) and played a season in the then D-League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He returned to Europe in 2009 and would play the rest of his career overseas until 2020. He was most of his time in Germany where he played 8 seasons for teams like the Telekom Baskets Bonn, Brose Bamberg and the Tigers Tuebingen. He also played in Greece with VAP Kolossos Rodou, in Spain with Gipuzkoa BC San Sebastian and closed out his career in Romania with BC CSU Sibiu. It didn’t matter where he played but as some say that guy is a walking bucket, Jordan was a walking dime as he led the easyCredit BBL in assists 6 times and also led the top European league ACB in Spain in assists and in Greece and Romania. He was a three time BBL allstar and is the all-time easyCredit assist leader breaking ex Lebron James teammate Dru Joyce’s mark in 2017 with his 1458th assist. He shared his memories playing against Rickey Paulding.

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

Hey miles, I am in West Hartford CT where we have lived since I retried a couple years ago. Everything is good here and nice to be settled back home.

You retired from the game in 2020. You have made the next step in your life and are in real estate. How is that new challenge?

Real estate has been really good so far. It has been a crazy market the last couple years but it keeps me busy and has a competitive side to it as well which I love.

You have been away from the game for 2 years. What do you miss the most?

It’s not easy playing for 13 years professionally and then just stopping. I do miss the game of basketball. I especially miss the daily routine and competitiveness. It was a great 13 years but I knew my time was over once covid hit.

Rickey Paulding had his farewell game on June 4. What is the first thing that you think about when you hear Rickey Paulding?

When I hear Ricky’s name the first think I think of is ultimate professional. He just always seemed to go about his business in such a professional manner that all you can do is respect him.

Have you ever seen a player that was able to play so well at such a high age?

What Ricky did was so impressive because he was so consistent for so many years. It’s not easy doing that but he made it look easy!

What do you think was your record against him? Were you above or below 500?

If I had to guess I was below 500 vs him unfortunately but we had some good battles over the years!

You were 7-12. You were 7-5 with the Telekom baskets Bonn, but your time with Tuebingen hurt your overall record as you were 0-6. How do you remember Rickey Paulding the competitor?

Hahah the 0-6 def hurts. I remember our battles and playoff games vs each other when I was in Bonn. Ricky was the ultimate competitor and always showed up when it mattered. He would always hit tough shots when it really counted.

You had very memorable games against him early in your career. In the 11-12 season you were 2-0 and had 18 and 15 assists games. What do you remember from these games?

I remember the 18 assist game playing in the old arena in Oldenburg. It was like a scorer getting hot and I found a rhythm and it just clicked. I was lucky guys made shots which is always key!

In the 12-13 season you lost a tough 5 game series to Oldenburg. What memories do you have from this series?

That was a great series. You know what sticks out was Kyle Weems having like 30 points in the first half in one of the games. I knew at that time that Kyle was going to have a great career!

What kind of legacy do you feel will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL. Do you feel there will ever be another American that will reach his longevity?

What Ricky has done and the respect he’s earned from everyone in Germany will be hard to match. He was one of the best players, competitors and professionals the BBL will ever see.

Please leave some closing words for Rickey.

Rickey, congrats on an amazing career! You were always one of my favorite players and the way you went about it was something I always admired. Enjoy life after basketball with your family and I wish you nothing but the best!

Igor Perovic is a retired basketball player that won the Euroleague and played most of his career in Serbia. He also played in France and towards the end of his career played in Germany in Wurzburg and 3 years in Tuebingen. He became a coach and coached 7 years in Tuebingen, one year in Elchlingen and the last 2 years with Kirchheim. He gave his memories about Rickey Paulding who he played against as a player and coached against.

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

I am coach in Kirchheim and I very happy here. I am working with nice people and we have great chemistry in the club.

You retired in 2008. What do you miss about being a professional player?

I don’t miss playing basketball because I am on the basketball court every day. I am teaching other players to play basketball the right way. To think about the game, to make good decisions on the court, to understand that this is the team sport.

You coached the Tigers Tuebingen for many years and other teams. Is there a new coaching challenge on the horizon for you?

There are always challenges in basketball. You want to improve. It doesn’t matter what competition you play the goal is always there. For me it is important to have good people around me.

Rickey Paulding is played his farewell game on June 4. What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

Ricky was the face of the league for many years. When I think about him the first thing that come to my mind is his fair play and how he never was part of something bad that happened in the game. He was an amazing player for sure, one of the best BBL saw in the last 15 years.

Have you ever seen a player who has been able to play so well at a high level at his age?

I don’t remember anybody that kept the level so high for such a long time. At least not in Europe.

In your last season as a player, it was the first season for Rickey Paulding with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. You lost both games with Tuebingen. In the first game that you played against him he scored 23 points. What do you remember being your first impression of him as a player?

I remember that he was flying around the court.

As a player what did you appreciate most about his game and as a coach what did you hate most?

He had a great athletic abilities and endurance. He could run fast and a lot. That’s not easy. He was an excellent transition player. In combination with his jump shot that was deadly. He was a modern 3-2 player. I think he was very good defender too.

What do you think your record was as a coach against him? Was it above or below 500?

I know we had won a couple of games against Oldenburg. I remember we beat them once in Oldenburg. That never was easy. They always had a very strong team so I am very pleased with my record against them.

It was 7-5 for Rickey Paulding and he scored in double figures in 10 of 12 games. Was there a game as a coach against Rickey Paulding that you will always remember?

7-5 for Rickey is very good record for us. They were German champion one time and very strong contenders every year. Rickey was our main target when we played against Oldenburg. We knew that we must stop him if we want to win the game. He was that good. It was many games to remember against Rickey. But for me the most memorable game was the game in Oldenburg 2010 when we won.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

He is for sure shoulder to shoulder with Wendell Alexis which means he is one of the best players ever in Germany. It’s hard to think that somebody will reach that longevity in BBL because Rickey was the combination of quality and loyalty. And it’s not only the player decision to stay in one club for such a long time. The club must want him to stay for 15 years and he would never be there for so long if he is not a great person.

Please leave some closing words for Rickey Paulding.

I want to thank him for great years on the basketball court and congratulate him for an amazing career. I wish Rickey and his family a great life. To be healthy and happy.

Jaleen Smith (193-PG-1994, college: UNH) is a 27 year old 193cm guard from Freeport, Texas that is playing his fifth professional season and first with Alba Berlin. He played the last two seasons with the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg averaging 15.2ppg, 5.0rpg, Assists-3 (5.3apg), Steals-2 (1.8spg), FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 87.5%; and 10.7ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.4apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 53.1%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 82,8% the season before. In 2018-2019 he played with the MLP Academics Heidelberg (Germany-ProA) averaging 12,7ppg, 3,9rpg and 2,7apg. In his rookie season with New Hampshire (NCAA) from 2013-2017 where he played a total of 120 NCAA games. He improved his scoring, rebounding and assists average each season and as a senior he played 32 games averaging 15.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 78.1%. He spoke to eurobasket about his memories of Rickey Paulding.

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

Just hanging out at home looking over film from our previous game against Ludwigsburg.

Alba Berlin won 3-0 against the MHP Riesen and are in the drivers seat. Alba Berlin is 6-0 in the playoffs. Are you guys close to peaking?

I think we’re playing really great basketball and we don’t care whose scoring because everyone can. On defense, we’re playing our best.

Rickey Paulding played his farewell game on June 4. What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?


One of the best Americans to play in the German BBL. Even when I started playing against him later in his career he was dominated us young guns lol.

Have you ever seen a player who has been able to play so well at a high level at his age?

He’s a machine and I’m definitely surprised he has been scoring the way he was through the season and holding his own. This makes me believe it doesn’t matter the age you are a baller is a BALLER.

You had a 4-1 record against Rickey Paulding and always played very well. Is there a game that you remember vividly concerning his game or an encounter you had on the court with him?

The first time I played him in Oldenburg, this was my first time hearing about him, I didn’t know what to expect. I started the game guarding him and probably the first 3 possessions he scored on me. I’m like wow I heard stories about how great he is and how he’s a Oldenburg legend but after that game I knew every time we played. I would have to battle with him and I tried to hold my own against him.

What about his game will always stay in your mind when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

He’s a bucket. He will cook anyone that’s guarding him.

Please tell a special story that you had with him on the court?

I don’t really have a special story about Ricky. Just always enjoyed playing against him.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

I don’t think there will be another Rickey Paulding. To stay loyal to a team his whole career and rise up with the team his whole career is something special. I don’t think there will be another one that will do that.

Please leave some closing words for Rickey Paulding.

Thank you Rickey for everything in German Basketball. You are definitely a legend in this league and I hope you enjoy retirement. Thank you for being a great role model to me and other Americans trying to follow your example.

Tags : JALEEN SMITH, ALBA BE

Braydon Hobbs (196-PG-1989, college: Bellarmine) is a 33 year old 196cm guard that just finished his 10th professional season and first with Monbus Obradoiro CAB Santiago de Compostela (Spain ACB) averaging 7.2ppg, 3.1rpg, 4.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 39.6%. He played most of his career in Germany for teams like Nurnberg, Giessen, Ulm, FC Bayern Munich and was 2 years teammates with Rickey Paulding with the EWE Baskets. He also played in Australia and Hungry. He began his basketball career at 8: New Albany, IN / New Albany High School and then played 4 years at Bellarmine (NCAA2). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his memories of Rickey Paulding.

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

I am back home in the states. Basketball has been well for me lately. I just finished up my 10th season in Spain.

Your played this season with Monbus Obradoiro CAB Santiago de Compostela. What kind of an experience has it been playing Europe’s top league ACB? What is the biggest challenge for you as a point guard to be successful on the court?

The ACB is the best league in Europe. It was a great experience for me competing at that level. Any team could beat another team on any given night. The biggest challenge was just adapting to the physical level the ACB demands. There are no plays or games you can take off.

You have had a real easyCredit BBL reunion with the Scrubb brothers and Kassius Robertson. What has it like being teammates with Philipp Scrubb? Can you beat him in shooting drills?

It was cool playing with some guys that came from Germany like I did. Philipp was a great teammate and he helped us a lot when he came from Russia. We didn’t do any shooting drills but he can definitely fill it up.

What kind of a feeling was it holding your own against real Madrid with 17 points in a tough 89-88 loss? Did a performance give a veteran like you added confidence?

It was nice to play good against Real Madrid but a win would have been a lot better. Like I said before, any team can beat any other team in the ACB, so every night teams have to be ready to compete or they will lose.

Rickey Paulding is playing his farewell game on June 4. What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

The first thing I think about when I hear Rickey Paulding is Pauldingburg.

Have you ever seen a player who has been able to play so well at a high level at his age?

I have definitely not seen anyone with his physical ability at his age. He was still dunking and practicing every day when I was in Oldenburg. It was incredible.

What was your first impression when you met him? Was his smile and personality instantly infectious?

My first impression of Rickey was how humble he was. Just a laid back guy who was extremely humbled about life and basketball.

What was your first impression when you saw him on the court? What was the first thing that really stuck out?

The first time I saw him on the court, his Oldenburg team, beat us pretty well and I felt like he didn’t miss a shot. He was fun to play against but even better to watch.

You played two seasons with him. Is there anything specific that you feel you were able to take from his presence on the court?

Playing with him two seasons was an honor for sure. I will take away from him his leadership and how humble he stayed at all times. He always showed great leadership in the toughest times.

In your two seasons he had so many great games. For instance exploding for 36 points in a loss against Crailsheim or hitting Bamberg and Munich for 36 points or 28 points against Alba Berlin. What game will you most remember from him?

There are so many great games that I experienced with him so it’s hard to pick just one. The game against Crailsheim was crazy because I just remember giving him the ball and he would go get a bucket. It looked so effortless, yet nobody could stop him. It was fun to experience.

What is your fondest moment with him on and off the court that you will never forget?

Going to the cup championship, in Berlin, was probably my fondest moment. We lost the game but I just remember talking with Rickey on the court afterwards. He just gave me the Rickey smile and shrugged his shoulders. We were proud in that moment, even though we lost.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

In this day and age, I do not see another American with that kind of longevity on any team. I could be wrong, and I hope I am but it would be tough. It takes a special someone like Rickey for that to happen.

Please leave some closing words for Rickey Paulding.

Rickey was an awesome player but a much better dad and person. I got to experience some great times with him off the court and enjoyed those moments. He will be a legend in Oldenburg and the BBL will miss him dearly. Congrats on the amazing career and enjoy your family and retirement.

Marko Scekic (207-F/C-1981, agency: BeoBasket) is a 41 year old 207cm power forward that is a retired Serbian player. He began his career in 1998 with Drina osiguranje Zvornik and retired in 2015. He played many years in Serbia and Bosnia, but also in countries like Poland, Italy, Slovenia and Germany. In Germany he played 2 seasons with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg and was teammates with Rickey Paulding helping the team win the 2009 BBL title. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his memories of Rickey Paulding.

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

I’m very happy you reached out to me. Right now I’m an assistant coach for my home town team in Bosnia. We play in the Adriatic league and this is my fourth year with the team as an assistant coach.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

The first thing that comes to mind is kindness. He was always a true friend. He has had an amazing career. He played at a high level for one team for a long time. I’m very happy to have been part of his career.

What was your first impression when you saw him on the court?

I didn’t expect him to be that athletic. When we began training camp, he was a little shy. Everyone had heavy legs at the start, but when the first friendly games began, he had so much athleticism.

He had so many amazing games in your two years, but was his play in games 3-5 against Bonn in the finals Rickey at his best?

He had so many great games when I was there and also so many more after I was gone. I remember watching a game some years ago where he sent a game into overtime with his three pointer. But yes those last games against Bonn were the toughest and best games from him. They had so much value.

How important has Rickey Paulding been for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in his 15 years? Where would they be without him?

He was so important for the organization. I hope they remain connected. Oldenburg is a nice city with very nice fans. I had two very good years there. It was like family for me there. Rickey is like family and that is why he and Oldenburg fit together so well. They match perfectly and are a great combination.

You played two seasons with him and helped win the 2009 BBL title. What was your fondest moment on the court with him?

I have many fond moments with him especially in those championship games. But I remember a play against Real Madrid where I passed the ball through the opponent and he missed the lay up. He ruined my assist That was my fondest moment (laughing)

What kind of a connection did you have with him? The guy was loved everywhere. Do you have a special Rickey story that shows exactly the kind of guy he was?

Rickey is a fun guy and likes to joke, but also shy. He is a very open guy and we had so much fun those two years. I can proudly say that he only dunked on me once in the two years in practice. I don’t even know why I tried to block him because he is so athletic.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

I don’t remember ever one player playing that long for one team. Plus he was loved on and off the court. Simply great.

Closing words for Rickey.

I wish nothing but love for Rickey and continued hard work off the court and now you will start a new chapter in your life.

It was 7.00 am the day after. The day after what? The magical Rickey Paulding (196-SF-1982, college: Missouri) farewell game in Oldenburg that chronicled his amazing and legendary career with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. I had to stay overnight in a suburb of Bremen about 75 kilometers away from Oldenburg, because all the hotels in Oldenburg were booked because of the German Harvest festival holiday named Pfingston. My family and I wanted to spend the Sunday, the day after in a beautiful amusement park with our son. I had only slept 5 hours, but wanted to get my running out of the way for the day. The weather was beautiful on Sunday morning, already 72 degrees with the sun already in full action and a soothing light breeze. When your jogging for an hour, I had a lot of time to reflect on the incredible Rickey Paulding evening and get new ideas for my farewell article. As I left the suburb called Oyten and was headed towards Bremen on my run, My mind momentarily shut off about Rickey Paulding and I focused on the word Oyten. Wait a minute, That name was familiar. A legendary name popped up from the German sports world Rudi Voeller.

So what do Voeller and Paulding have in common? Not much except that both are living legends. The man is a German football legend who helped win the 1990 World Cup with Germany and will always be remembered for scoring goals, getting spit on by Dutch player Frank Rijkaard and his legendary TV interview in 2003 with Waldemar Hartmann. Back in the 80’s German football magazine Kicker had a great campaign in that fans could send their autograph wishes to players. Every week there were new players featured on the last page of the magatine. As a kid who was a diehard autograph collector in the 80’s living in the States, I also collected German football players autographs when I was in Germany visiting relatives. I remember sending letters to countless players from the states then and getting responses and signed pictures sent back. The incredible thing was that as a novice kid, I didn’t check that you had to send a return envelope. I never did that, but it also would have been tough with American stamps. So many players sent me an autograph paying the stamp charge including then German national players like Harald Schumacher and Wolfgang Dremmler, but so did icon Rudi Voeller. I remember that I still had the envelope that Voeller had sent me. When I got home Sunday night from the weekend, I checked the envelope on the back, I read Oyten. Rudi Voeller must have lived in Oyten at the start of his legendary career in the early 80’s. To top off this look back and bring in some nostalgia, I have had dealings with his son Marco who is the manager of the Fraport Skyliners that I have covered for the last 15 years. I actually showed Marco the letter a few years ago.

So my thoughts about the Paulding evening were derailed for a moment. But for me this weekend belonged to Rickey Paulding not Rudi Voeller.

Let me back track 16 hours earlier. When you drive 4-5 hours to see Rickey Paulding why not combine it with another highlight off the court? Literally 2 hours before I entered the EWE Baskets big arena in Oldenburg, I was playing in the North Sea with my son Evan at Wilhelmshafen only 40 minutes away. The weather was great. So I went from the beach to the arena for the Rickey Paulding event. I don’t know how many times Rickey Paulding had to explain in the last 13 years after the magnificent 2009 BBL title why he never left Oldenburg, but it must have been very much. The normal bla bla of feeling comfortable there with my family is something he probably uttered just as much as the young folk of today taking a Lebron over Michael as the GOAT, but then again I could very well have understood that being so close to the water could also been a reason for the family to remain there. Leaving the very warm water wasn’t easy, but I finally wanted to taste the breathtaking atmosphere of the living room of Rickey Paulding. I arrived at 5.00 pm an hour before the festivities were to start and right away bumped into people I have met over the last 20 years. I remember visiting the small and big Oldenburg arena and actually was there for 12 games in that span calling games. I remember seeing Rickey Paulding for the first time in his first season in Oldenburg in the 2007-2008 season. It was actually only his second game in a EWE Baskets jersey against the Deutsche Bank Skyliners of Frankfurt. He contributed 12 points in a 76-65 win. I remember interviewing him after the game. Already there his million-dollar smile stood out and he had a full head of hair. I had other nice memories there seeing many great games including the playoff series against Frankfurt in 2009 as well having a very entertaining post game interview with Jacob Burtschi in 2013. Before I entered the big arena, I bumped into ex Player Dirk Madrich and Nigel Pruitt a guy I had recently covered in Frankfurt as well as some die hard fans that I had got to know over the years. Other people there that I recognized were head coach Mauro Parra, player Robert Drijencic son of ex Oldenburg coach Mladen, ex Oldenburg coach Sebastian Machowski, ex coach Ralph Held and legendary German referee Boris Schmidt. I also purchased a Rickey Paulding book that had been published about his 15 years in Oldenburg. Then I entered the big arena and was just overwhelmed. All fans in yellow wearing their yellow Rickey Paulding tee-shirts that had been produced for the evening.

They had added extra seating so as many fans could witness Paulding’s last farewell which would be 6,500 + fans. I wasn’t sitting long at my seat in the press area when a familiar colleague popped up with ex EWE Baskets press secretary Torben Rosenbohm who had been the press speaker for many years and had been there from the start of Paulding’s career in Oldenburg in 2007. I hadn’t seen him for ages. His place for the evening wasn’t next to me, but because there wasn’t an abundance of press people there which for me was not understandable, he decided to sit next to me and we talked all night about basketball. It was a lot of fun. He also was a part of the writing team for the Paulding book. It was very bad timing that the Oldenburg football team had moved up that afternoon to the third league so much of the buzz that day was around them. The local Oldenburg press had sent seemingly everyone to cover that event. There was hardly any press from outside Oldenburg there. I think I can almost say no one. That is absolutely a shame for me. When I heard some months ago that Rickey would be having a farewell game, I didn’t hesitate. I wanted to be there and also pay my last respects to the greatest American player to ever play in the easyCredit BBL.

The schedule for the evening was split up in two parts. The first part was the farewell game and the second part was the retirement ceremony and the hoisting of his #23 up to the rafters. Nobody knew beforehand which players would accompany Rickey on the court. It was supposed to be a surprise. The arena got dark and then all the players were introduced. One can only do so much in trying to get as many players from the last 15 years to be a part of the farewell game. The most notable ex players that came to support Rickey were ex top BBL players Julius Jenkins and Rasid Mahalbasic as well as ex BBL champion with Rickey Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje who was a legend at Georgetown and played a few years in the NBA. Other memorable players present were Marko Scekic, Milan Majstorovic, Robin Smeulders, Derrick Allen, Maxime De Zeeuw, Klemen Prepelic, Philipp Schwethelm and Jannik Freese. There were also other German players present like Harris Hujic, Kevin Smit, Dominik Lockhart, Jan Niklas Wimberg and Jacob Hollatz. It wasn’t a 40 minute game, but instead it was decided to have four five minute quarters. I had also gotten word that there would be a surprise player coming only for the fourth quarter. The teams were called team yellow and team blue. Paulding would play for both teams starting with team yellow for the first two quarters and then with team blue in the last two quarters.

If anyone had expected a hard fought battle, they would be in for a big surprise. This game was all for fun. Which is understandable. Defense was non-existent. You had some dudes in their 40’s who had played for years competing against guys in their early twenties who had just come off professional seasons. Rickey scored the first basket with an acrobatic lay in. The game was very slow and looked like a lazy Sunday at a rec center with middle aged guys huffing and puffing and the young bucks having mercy for their elders. Sniper Philipp Schwethelm who had played his first BBL game at age 16 with Cologne and never turned down a rim he didn’t like got hot nailing 4 three’s as he had never been so free in his basketball life with no defenders annoying him. The EWE Baskets ex big men Scekic and Majstorovic also got into the action scoring as they were a lot slower, but still had a good touch around the rim. Team Blue led 19-16 after one quarter. The second quarter remained tight with team blue having the slim lead for the most part, but team yellow fought back and led 35-33 at the break. In this quarter, ex Mr Ballerina as I called BBL legend Derrick Allen during his playing days because of his graceful, but sometimes hectic moves in the paint got many easy baskets. The only difference of now to then was that he made easy lay ups and had no slick ballerina moves because he didn’t have to out dance his aggressive defenders. 44 year old block master Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje also wanted a taste of the scoring cake and scored 3 buckets in a row. His last one was a hard one handed dunk on transition. Rickey was a dominant scorer in his career, but also a team player and even if his shots weren’t always falling, he allowed the others to shine on the scoring end. At the break Rickey had 9 points.

Even if there was no defense, this was not a high scoring game, but nobody cared as everyone wanted to see the ex Oldenburg players and everyone was having fun. In between shots, baskets and bricks, I had great conversations with Torben Rosenbohm about Rickey Paulding. I wanted to know from him if there was another reason besides the usual bla bla why a guy like him who could of played in the NBA and Euroleague never left Oldenburg. ‘I think what was really important for Rickey was that he was never afraid to be able to send out his kids in Oldenburg. He felt like his kids would be safe here. After he felt that, he never wanted to go. He just felt at home with his family in Oldenburg’, stressed Torben Rosenbohm. In the third quarter Rickey changed his jersey from yellow to blue, but yellow controlled the game. Ex Mr BBL triple double master Rasid Mahalbasic showed his versatility getting some baskets, but also offering up a few pretty alley-op bounce passes that were accepted with crushing dunks. Haris Hujic got going keeping team yellow at a distance with 7 points at 48-41. Mahalbasic served up another beautiful alley-op bounce pass to Rickey for the slam dunk. But team blue couldn’t make serious ground as Derrick Allen closed out the third quarter with back to back lay ins and the 52-43 team Yellow advantage. In the fourth quarter came the big surprise. Suddenly there wasn’t just one Paulding on the court, but two Pauldings. Rickey was joined by his 14 year old son Trey: He is supposed to be a gifted baseball player, but he showed he had some of that jump that his daddy had on the basketball court. In the first few minutes, it looked like Lebron or Jordan were on the court. Trey Paulding was a one man wrecking crew. Every play went to him. He scored 17 unanswered points. The first basket was a Paulding to Paulding combination as Rickey made the assist. After that Trey mostly made lay in’s, but also dropped a three pointer. After missing a dunk, he was helped by Mahalbasic to dunk the ball. Team yellow scored only one basket by Scekic. With 23 seconds to play team Yellow led 61-60 against Team Blue. It was the perfect scenario for a Paulding game winner, but that didn’t happen. Team blue called a time out, but that was it.The game simply ended. The two Paulding lost 61-60, but with 23 seconds to play, how fitting to end the game with the number that will never be worn again in Oldenburg.

Now there was a long break of about 30 minutes as the court was prepared for the farewell ceremony. A talented young orchestra was brought on the court. The young men and women were incredible. They played beautifully and two songs that really stuck out were the famous Africa by Toto and the legendary Bille Jean by Michael Jackson. Now the club had something very special prepared for Rickey as they had countless short interviews prepared with old teammates and opponents as well as 6 chapters showing the career of Rickey in Oldenburg on the video cube. My conversation with Rosenbohm was never dull. He gave me some fascinating insight about the Rickey years. I wanted to know from him when it will really sink in for fans that Rickey won’t be here anymore? ‘I think that first game next season will be very difficult. Nobody can predict how it will be without him. It will be a totally new dimension to what fans are used to. Nobody has ever experienced this before. It will be a new beginning. The club will need a new identity figure, but I think it will take a while before that happens. A situation with Rickey will never come again’, warned Torben Rosenbohm. Chapter one of the video tribute to Rickey was called Love and basketball. Here one learns how Rickey and his wife Kara met and how their love was born. A lot of chapter one has sweet back round information to their times at Missouri (NCAA) and you get great insight from their mothers. Chapter two is entitled from zero to hero. Here we learn about the first few years in Oldenburg how the start wasn’t easy, but with time he adjusted and was crowned in 2009 in only his second season with the BBL title. One guy that has to be commended is fellow BBL legend Alex King who also retired this season after 20 years. I covered him at the start of his career in Frankfurt and remember him being a young kid who had a lot to learn on and off the court. An ex coach there wasn’t the best influence and he left to go to Bonn and the rest is history. Who knows where he would be today had he not made that move. I haven’t seen a German player make such an incredible development on and off the court like Alex King. He won countless titles with Alba Berlin and FC Bayern Munich and became a solid German national player. Off the court he matured and became a part of the hand in hand basketball camp and is a guy you can have a conversation with. He has become such an eloquent speaker and in his interviews for Rickey showed incredible class and sportsmanship looking back at the 2009 finals series where Bonn was up 2-1 and chocked losing 3-2. In game 5. Every Oldenburg fan remembers the last seconds in game 5. Bonn up 70-67 with less than 20 seconds to go and Jason Gardner made a drive and lay in plus foul to tie the game at 70-70. Bonn had the game in their hands. But an Oldenburg free throw and Paulding steal sealed the club’s first title. Even in 2022 despite many titles, that loss didn’t sit well with King. King answered in his interview part with real grace and very fair. ‘I was so sure we would be champions’, said Alex King. Rosenbohm remembers that game 5 as if it was yesterday. ‘Everybody could rely on Rickey. When he got hot, he felt so free. Je Kel Foster was so important that season. He was that third element that had been missing with Rickey and Jason Gardner. With Foster there, Rickey had total freedom, but he also knew that he didn’t have to do everything. Knowing that helped him do everything right’, warned Torben Rosenbohm.

Chapter 3 was called Becoming a legend. Here the video on the video cub talks about Rickey helping win the 2015 BBL cup and his legendary buzzer beater in the playoff win over ratiopharm Ulm in 2017. It wasn’t Rickey’s best weekend during the cup win, but the club had a great supporting cast. His mother in law was at a wedding in Florida and was able to catch the game and went crazy half way across the world. His family often teased him that he never really was a guy that made the last shot as he had missed some, so making that shot against Ulm was a very sweet moment in the Paulding family. Another guy that also finished his legendary career this season with Rickey and Alex King was Ulm legend Per Gunther. He was a guy that was known for making the big shots, but that game against Oldenburg had to take a back seat to Rickey. ‘You always knew you had to watch Rickey Paulding. Even if he had 0 points at half-time, he could easily have 20 points in the second half’, remembered Per Gunther. Chapter 4 was called Oh Captain My Captain. This chapter had in depth analysis by ex teammates and opponents just how special Rickey was as a captain. Just hearing the tributes that these other players gave him is refreshing and very uniquel. ‘When you passed him the ball, you knew everything would be Ok’, said ex teammate Frantz Massenat. ‘Rickey was a great guy that helped everyone’, said Mladen Drijencic. ‘He always put the team first. He never spoke much. He always went forward. You didn’t have much choice but to follow’, stated ex Ludwigsburg guard David Mccray. ‘He never screamed, but when he spoke everyone listened. He led by example’, remembered Frantz Massenat. Chater 5 was entitled Pauldingburg. This chapter was about his standing in Oldenburg and what made him get that name Pauldingburg. When you have played 15 years in one place, it is obvious that his standing there is legendary. Rickey is Oldenburg. When you think of Oldenburg you think of him. If Rickey Paulding wanted to be mayor in Oldenburg he probably would win. I remember when Boris Becker won Wimbeldon in 1985, I read somewhere that the two things that people think of when they hear the word Germany is Beer and Boris Becker. In Oldenburg it is the same. Everybody in Oldenburg knows who Rickey Paulding is no matter what. The last chapter was Farewell my friend. Here were many many short farewell statement from ex teammates and opponents that were really emotional. It was very dark in the arena, but you knew there were tears flowing. ‘He was so competitive, but so fair. He was a role model on and off the court’, stated Bastian Doreth. ‘He had the complete package. He is at the top with the best guys that I ever played with’, said Frantz Massenat.

Now it was time for the final farewell. Before Rickey took the mic, it was time for EWE Baskets Oldenburg manager Herman Schuller to leave some lasting words. Everybody wanted to know if Rickey and his family would stay or head back to the states. It was made known that Rickey will return back home to the States, but on occasion return to Germany and helpt he EWE Baskets in some capacity in the organization. That was the best news of the night. I mean come on. Rickey lived in Oldenburg for 15 years. Oldenburg will always be his second home. Rickey is a Oldenburger. Schuller left some very impactful words, but something that is nothing new for any fan in the arena. Recently former Deutsche Bank CEO Jurgen Fitschen was in Oldenburg to meet with Schuller and was introduced to Rickey. He came in and said nothing. Then he just smiled. That is what Fitschen will always remember as well as everyone else whoever met Rickey. Then came the moment that everyone had dreaded. The hoisting of the immortal #23 of the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. 30 seconds of where hundred’s of Rickey moments were dancing in the heads of everyone. I wonder how many people in that gym were wondering ‘why not one more season Rickey’. I’m sure everyone was thinking that. As #23 was hoisted up to the other 3 EWE Baskets legends jerseys including Tyrone Mccoy and Daniel Strauch the applause was immense. Rickey then held a long 16 minute speech. Early in he spoke a few minutes in German, but for the majority he spoke his mother tongue. He talked in detail about Predrag Krunic who discovered him, Mladen Drijencic who was instrumental for him in the latter part of his career and his family. It was a heartfelt speech. And then he said thank you and left the court with his family and that was it. Rickey was gone. Unfortunately I didn’t see Rickey on this night. I had said my farewell to Rickey in Frankfurt and had him sign a few things. I had brought a few more things to sign on this night, but it just wasn’t meant to be, but I’m fine with it. I witnessed an incredible evening and saw how much love there was from a player to an organization and vice versa. From one legend to another ex CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said it best this same weekend after he announced he is leaving CSKA Moscow after winning many titles there. ‘I don’t say goodbye. Id say I’ll see you around’.

It won’t be any different with Rickey. He will be back in Oldenburg again and everyone will see him around. I know I will see Rickey again some day probably in an arena in Germany. Thank you Rickey for enriching my German basketball experience the last 15 years. Rickey you will never be forgotten.

Julius Jenkins (187-PG-1981, college: Georgia South) is a former professional player that had a 16 year career. He played in Belgium and Montenegro, but most of his career in Germany where he played 14 seasons for teams like Nurnberg, Alba Berlin, Brose Bamberg, EWE Baskets and Jena. In Germany he was a4 time BBL allstar and won 3 cups with 3 different teams, He also won 2 titles in Montenegro. He played college ball at Georgia Southern (NCAA). He spoke to germanhoops.com about his memories of Rickey Paulding who was his teammate for 3 years in Oldenburg.

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

I’m in Atlanta, Georgia and am an account manager. I have been doing this for 14 months.

You retired in 2019 at the age of 38. Do you feel like you could of physically played a few more years. In that time 3 BBL legends with you, Derrick Allen and Immanuel Mcelroy all seemed to retire.

I definitely feel like I could of played a few more years. There were a few perspectives I had about teams and Gm’s. But I had a great career. I have no regrets.

Are you still connected to basketball in some way?

I still talk to my guys and friends in the NBA. I know a lot of AAU guys in Atlanta. I think the time will come when I could go into coaching. But I needed a break from basketball.

Rickey Paulding is playing his farewell game on June 4. What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

Legend especially in Oldenburg. They call it Pauldingburg. It is just amazing everything that he accomplished there. He is an amazing person, husband, father and great friend.

What was your first impression when you met him? Was his smile and personality instantly infectious?

We were with the same agent so I knew who he was. I always knew that it would be a battle when I would go against him. He was a beast and I always knew that I couldn’t take it easy against him. I’m really glad that we could play together for 3 years. I always knew it would be a battle. We have great respect for each other.

You played three seasons with him. At that time you and him belonged to the top 5 players in a league. What did you always appreciate most about his game?

I always appreciated his professionalism, the way he approached the game and his knowledge. He always treated everyone with respect and was a calm spirit.

In your three seasons he had so many great games. Was the cup weekend in Oldenburg in 2015 your most memorable time with him?

The cup weekend was one of the most memorable times with him. I can’t recall all the great games. We played so much tag team. We would take turns having great games. It was really amazing what he could do on the court. He called me microwave. He would say let’s go microwave. It was fun times.

What is your fondest moment with him on and off the court that you will never forget?

The family and holiday time. I remember coming together and having cook outs and watching the NFL and NBA. This were the best times away from the game and seeing the kids grow.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

I would hope that somebody will come along like him and have a huge impact on a team for a long time and sustain the level that he had. But to do that is really tough. I had a great career, but I changed teams quite a few times. It is just really hard staying with one team. There will never be another Rickey Paulding.

Who won a one on one then in practice?

We never played 1-1 after practice. But in practice we went against each other. He got some and I got some. I don’t know who won more though. We always battled each other and pushed each other to get better.

Please leave some closing words for Rickey Paulding.

It was a real pleasure seeing your career and the impact that you had in Oldenburg and the Euro sports world. It is amazing to see everything that you accomplished. It inspires me to keep doing good in my daily life. To play that long for one club is unheard of. Now I wish you and your family all the best and that you will excel at everything you do now.

Maik Habelt has been connected to the EWE Baskets Oldenburg for 20 years. He has worked as a scouter for the easyCredit BBL team and also for their Pro B farm team. He has seen so many EWE Baskets games in his life and observed Rickey Paulding (196-SF-1982, college: Missouri) every weekend for the last 15 years. He shared his memories about Rickey Paulding

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

I’m currently enjoying the summer break and following the BBL Playoffs . After my break, I want to go back to basketball, which is why I’m very happy to be working as a scouter again.

Talk a little about your history with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. When did you start to follow the team and you also worked for the farm team

My first contact was in 2002 when I went to a home game and since then I have fallen in love with the sport and this club. 2 years later there was the opportunity to start there as a scouter and to help out with the farm team. There, Thomas Glasauer and later Mladen Drijenic brought me closer to the team. I accompanied the team at away games and took on more and more responsibility at home games. It was an incredible time with many great stories. I’ve had the privilege of meeting great people on and off the court. I was allowed to celebrate the climb to the Pro B and two championships. And I also got the chance to be part of the German national A2 team and the U18s and U16s.

As a fan who has worked with the EWE Baskets Organization, how tough was this season? How grateful are the fans for all the hard work and effort with Ingo Freyer?

It wasn’t an easy season. Especially considering it was Rickey Paulding‘s final season. Why now, why in Rickey’s last year. Mladen tried a lot but couldn’t bring success anymore. Ingo tried to make things very easy and got the players on his side. I think with a bit of luck he would have gotten us into the playoffs as well.

5 months ago basketball life in Oldenburg looked very sad. Now you have super head coach Pedro Calles. How positive does the future of the EWE Baskets Oldenburg look now?

Pedro is rightly one of the best coaches in the BBL. I got to know him in Vechta and he has very clear ideas about basketball. Right now, in year one after Paulding, he can usher in a new era.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Rickey Paulding?

His smile and coolness. He is always super friendly and polite when you meet him.

What was your first impression when you saw him on the court?

The boy can jump.

How important has Rickey Paulding been for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg? Where would they be without him?

That’s a very difficult question. All I know is that Rickey has played a big part in Oldenburg developing into a top 5 location over the past 20 years. He was important for the bond between fans and club. He showed some players that you can build something long-term in Oldenburg. No matter where you hear basketball and Oldenburg, you immediately think of Rickey Paulding.

The guy made so many incredible buzzer beaters especially against ratiopharm Ulm. What is your fondest moment with him on the court?


Final 2009 in game 4 against Bonn. He made this game. Brought the series back to Oldenburg and with it the chance for the championship.

Talk a little about his connection to the fans. I’m sure that you have a special story with him?

He was the fan favorite in Oldenburg, although that always made him uncomfortable. But at his last home game against Wuerzburg, he took his time and fulfilled every fan’s autograph request. He wanted to give something back to the fans and found it a great honor.

What kind of legacy do you believe will he leave in the EasyCredit BBL? Do feel that there will ever be another American that will be able to reach his longevity in that league?

He showed that something like this is possible. Rickey shaped the league in his own way. He was one of the most popular players in the league. He didn’t want to be a big star, he just wanted to play basketball and do his best.

Closing words for Rickey.

For me it was the greatest honor to meet Rickey. He was a role model for all of us. He made Baskets Oldenburg what it is today. No matter where you met him, whether in the EWE Arena or at his son’s games in the Haarenuferhalle, he was always polite and always smiling. Thanks Rickey