berlin

Gian Aydinoglu(Kirchheim) Is 100% Sure That He Wouldn’t Be The Player He Is Today Without Having Had The Guidance From Alba Berlin

Pic credit: Nina Sander

Gian Aydinoglu (189-PG-2003) is a 23 year old 189cm guard that is playing his first season with the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim (ProA) and helped lead them into the Pro A final. He began his career in the Alba Berlin organization and helped them win the NBBL title in 2022. He then played 3 years with the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig playing a total of 35 easyCredit BBL games and 6 Fiba Europe Cup games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

You played many years in the Alba Berlin organization. How vital were these early years in your basketball development?

Those years were very important for my development. The foundation for my game, mentality and ideology was set there. Vladi Bogojevic was instrumental in my development as I had him as a coach in the JBBL and NBBL. One really sees how good of a job Alba Berlin does with the youth program simply with the success the players have had since. You haven´t seen that kind of success consistently again anywhere else. I give a big thanks to Alba Berlin that I could play there. I wouldn´t be the player I am today without Alba Berlin

How vital was Vladi Bogojevic for your development as a player?

Vladi comes from the old jugo school. I remember that I was scared to go to practice when Vladi was my coach in the JBBL. But I mean that in a positive way. I will never forget when he told me that I could practice with the BBL team Alba Berlin. He lives in my area in Berlin and when I go home in the summer, we always meet and have a coffee and talk about the good old days.

In your last season with Alba Berlin, you had your break through with SSV Lokomotive Bernau (ProB) averaging 10.0ppg, 1.6rpg, 2.8apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 58.7%, 3PT: 22.7%, FT: 68.7% and played also at ALBA Berlin U19 team (NBBL) averaging 9.2ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.9apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 59.1%. You really stepped up your game in the last 2 months in the Pro B. Did head coach Rene Schilling give you more trust?

Yes he did. I made my break through in my last year in 2021-2022. I think that my hard work and play rewarded me with more minutes in the Pro B. I remember that we didn´t have a good season and had to play in the playdowns in order to remain in the Pro B. Bernau had fired the point guard and Rene came to me and told me that he had trust in me and the other young guys like Nolan Adekunle and Rikus Schulte to carry the team. We did that and were able to stay in the Pro B.

You helped Alba Berlin win the 2022 NBBL title. What do you remember being so special about that team?

I think that one can see how special that team really was just by looking what happened to the players. Rapique made it to the Euroleague with Alba Berlin, Nils Machowski will play at UConn, Chris Tilley reached March Madness with Ohio State, Schulte was averaging near 20 points then in the Pro B, and Bayram is in the Pro A like me. That also shows what kind of a coach Vladi Bogojevic is. His old Jugo school helped everyone.

What was it like sharing the playmaking duties with Kaya Bayram? Do you follow his career now?

Yes of course I follow his career. We are still good friends today. Kirchheim and Tubingen aren´t so far away. We met last pre season in Stuttgart and had a coffee. I still have good contact to every one of my NBBL teammates from that winning season in 2022.

You then played 3 seasons with the Basketball Lowen Braunschweig. What kind of a player did you become in those 3 years?

I had my first pro B experience with Bernau and practiced with the BBL team, but with Braunschweig it was my first time being part of a BBL roster from the start of the season. It was definitely different. I worked a lot on my body and that showed in my debut season. I was totally fearless. I remember that Sananda Fu always said, that if I play then I will score points. I always played my game. The negative thing was that I had injuries and I lost my rhythm and always had to find it again. It wasn´t easy coming back from injury. Braunschweig did a good job developing young Germans. I remember that Dennis Schroeder was very close to the organization. His motivation for the club also gave me motivation. Every German player wants to achieve what Dennis Schroeder has achieved.

You never averaged more than 1,7ppg in a BBL season. Did you get a fair chance there?

I did get a fair chance in Braunschweig, but injuries set me back. It is difficult for a 19-20 year old to get minutes in the BBL. A lot happened in these 3 years. We fought to stay in the league my first year and in the second season, we were in the playdowns. Then in my third year, I left half way in the season to Kirchheim. Nobody thought then that the team would be fighting for a wild card now.

What was it like playing for Spanish head coach Jesus Ramirez. How did he help your game most?

The biggest problem was that he didn´t know exactly what kind of a player I was. Maybe he had a different picture of the kind of player I was. He helped me with discipline and the notion of being the first at practice and last to go. But I had already learned that with Alba Berlin.

What teammate had the biggest impact on you in the 3 years in Braunschweig?

The players that had the biggest impact on me where David Kramer because of his individual qualities, Braydon Hobbs because of his IQ and the Tischler brothers because of their work horse mentality.

You had many good games in the BBL and Fiba Europe Cup. What was your fondest moment?

I will never forget my BBL debut in Bayreuth as well as my first game in Berlin. I had gone to games there as a kid and then I was playing there- I also liked playing In Bursa. My family comes from there and there were many people watching me there.

You took a step back to the Pro A. Is the easyCredit BBL still your goal?

The easyCredit BBL is still my goal.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in your life?

David Kramer was never fun to defend.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Braydon Hobbs, David Kramer, Tischler´s, Luke Sikma, Jilson Bango

Please name your NBA and German Mount Rushmore?

Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Steph Curry

Dennis Schroeder, Dirk Nowitzki, Maodo Lo, Franz Wagner

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James.

Thanks Gian for the chat.

Jamie Edoka(Skyliners) Knew 100% That His Corner 3 Was Going In When He Released It For His First BBL Points Against Alba Berlin



Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.DE

Jamie Edoka (195-G-2008) is a 195cm point guard that plays for the easyCredit BBL team Frankfurt Skyliners. He just completed his Pro B season averaging 10,oppg, 3,7repg and 2,6apg as well as leading the NBBL U-19 team into the playoffs. He played his third easyCredit BBL game against Alba Berlin and registered his first BBL points. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the loss to Alba Berlin.

Thanks Jamie for talking to germanhoops.com. Happy Easter. How did you spend easter?

Yesterday I was in Berlin with the team. Today I was home with my family. We all got together and had a nice Easter meal.

You suffered a tough 89-68 loss on the road to Alba Berlin. Did the team still have the Rostock loss on their minds?

I don´t think that the Rostock loss was still in our heads. That was a tough loss to Rostock where we fought very hard and should of won, but we were focused for Alba Berlin and wanted to compete and win.

What was it like entering the Uber arena? Was it as overwhelming as in Munich?

I actually think that Berlin was more overwhelming. My feeling when I entered the area was wow. I have never been in such a big and modern arena like that. It was shocking.

Alba Berlin took a rapid 8-0 lead. Did their aggressiveness going inside overwhelm Frankfurt?

A bit. They were very present from the start. They overran us from the start. They defended very aggressively and forced us to many turnovers.

Malik Parsons kept Frankfurt in the game with his overpowering individual qualities. Where would the team be without him?

That is hard to say. He is an incredible individual 1-1 player. He has helped us a lot this season with his 1-1 qualities. He is a very important building block on the team.

In the second quarter, Alba Berlin remained very aggressive on offense and Frankfurt didn´t execute well on offense. What was giving you as a team the biggest problems executing on the offensive end?

The Alba Berlin guards pressured us very well. We had problems getting into our plays. They denied well and their defensive awareness was excellent.

In the third quarter Alba Berlin continued to be overpowering and led as much as 21 points. How tough is it trying to come back by so much in an atmosphere like Berlin?

It is always a big challenge to play in Berlin. It is one of the toughest places to play in the BBL. The fans are loud and plus they are a Euroleague team that has good quality. Alba Berlin often had the momentum and it is hard to come back against that.

What was on your mind in the fourth quarter? The game was over. Did you think that you would get in?

I had played 3 minutes in the second quarter and had had a good feel of the game. I was supporting the team from the bench and was hoping to get back in. When I did go in again, I was very happy.

What was it like defending a player like Martin Hermannsson? What is most difficult in trying to slow him down?

He is a quick playmaking guard. He is high level that hits tough shots and also few up some alley oops. He can create for himself and others.

You got your first BBL points at the 1,42 minute mark. What did that feel like?

It was a good feeling. When I got the ball in the corner, everything felt good. I didn´t hesitate and shot it right away. At first I didn´t realize that it went in. I realized it when I was running back and saw my teammates clapping and shouting.

Did you know it was going in when you released it?

I knew 100% that it was going in

Do you get the green light to shoot from Klaus Perwas when your open`

I have the green light. He always preaches to not think about it, but make the right decision- I knew right when I got the ball that I would shoot it.

How much hunger do you have now to get the next basket?

I have much hunger. I know that I still have a long way to go to be able to play at a high level. I have been fortunate to play Munich and Berlin in only my third BBL game. I know what I have to do to be able to play at a high level and see how far I am from guys like Theodore or Parsons. With every new practice and game, My fire inside continues to grow.

What did you learn from the bench in the Alba Berlin game? I´m sure you learn something new every game?

I was impressed how Alba played the help defense. They always had an eye open. I watched how well Hermannsson reads the pick and roll and is able to make the right decision. I also try to learn from Theodore and Parsons how they make their hesitations.

Has Jordan Theodore been like a mentor for you? Did he take you under your wing?

I wouldn´t say that he has been a mentor. He is an older teammate that has taken me under his wing in a certain way. We don´t have the typical veteran/rookie relationship. I often ask him for advice and he is always willing to help me.

The team had 22 turnovers. What do you believe did the team learn from the loss?

I think that the Alba game was a good test to see where we stand now at the end of the season. We had a way better second half taking care of the ball.

What was your impression of Alba Berlin? Will they make the playoffs?

I think so. They had a tough start to the season, but have recovered. They belong to the better teams in the last months. They are fine now.

Frankfurt next plays Rasta Vechta who they beat 80-74 on the road. What will be key to getting the win?

Important now is that we can recover from the double week. We will strive for good practices this week so we will be ready for Vechta.

Who will reach the NBA final and who will win it?

I have Oklahoma City vs Boston with the Thunder winning.

Thanks Jamie for the chat.