For some ballers overseas nothing ever changes during the Xmas season. You either have the opportunity to go home or you don´t. For California native Juhwan Harris-Dyson (198-SG-1999, college: California), he has played 4 of his 5 pro seasons in Germany in Herford, Wulfen, Hagen and Bad Honnef while also grabbing a season of experience in Romania.I mean there is nothing nicer than to be home with family and relatives for Christmas, but having that option overseas to celebrate Xmas isn´t a bad option either as seeing how other cultures celebrate is definitely a delight. That he lives on the west coast isn´t exactly around the corner either. “I have actually spent all my Pro years overseas for Christmas. Of course I miss being home with my family but the last year the break hasn’t lined up where I have enough time to travel back home California is a long flight. I really try to enjoy in it and really dive into the holiday season here overseas. One thing I love is visiting different Christmas markets here in Germany”, stated Juhwan Harris-Dyson. He will keep his perfect record overseas alive this season as he will be in beautiful Bavaria for Xmas. “I will celebrate Christmas down south in Würzburg. Sadly I won’t be able to go home this Christmas but I’m looking forward to seeing my parents here in Germany at the end of the season”, smiled Juhwan Harris-Dyson.
For the Swiss army knife who has made the transition from the endless grind in the Regionalliga to the Pro B very well has always had traditional values and celebrated Xmas the way one always should. “For me Christmas is the celebration of Jesus on his birthday and what he has done for the world. My Christmas growing up was spent around family opening presents the night of the 24th going into the 25th. With a nice meal following on Christmas Day”, said Juhwan Harris-Dyson. Every kid has their favorite gift and it´s no surprise that his has to do with the game he loves most. “My favorite present was from my parents. They gifted me Lakers tickets for a Christmas Day game”, stated Juhwan Harris-Dyson. But Xmas is also about giving and he also remembers a Christmas where he made a family member very happy. “My favorite present that I gave a family member was to my little nephew. He really loves cars so I got him a truck to play with the look on his face was priceless”, remembered Juhwan Harris-Dyson.
The ex University of California (NCAA) player has spent the last years in Germany and always had a great time with all the amazing offerings in the Xmas time. It is a totally different experience for him in comparison to what people see in the States. “In America we are not really celebrating Advent and other things like this. We typically only celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. One thing I do miss about the states is the way people decorate their houses during this time of year”, stated Juhwan Harris-Dyson. The beautiful and unique Christmas markets remain a very popular activity not only with the locals, but also the ballers. “I’ve visited a few Christmas markets in the cities I’ve played in previously in Germany. This year I got the chance to swing by the Christmas market in Bonn to walk around and especially get on the Ferris wheel there. I’m also looking forward to checking the market in Köln off my list this holiday season”, added Juhwan Harris-Dyson. He has experienced the act of opening presents overseas now for years. But since he also had opened some presents on Xmas Eve back in the day seeing how it´s done overseas is nothing new for him. “It definitely gives you some anticipation through the day waiting for the night to open gifts. For me it’s not something out of the ordinary but for most Americans this can be something new for them”, expressed Juhwan Harris-Dyson. No matter if he is in USA or overseas, he can always get a dose of his favorite food, movies and music during the special holiday season. “Christmas cookies is one of my favorite things about the holiday. Sugar cookies are taking the top spot for me I’m a huge sweets’ person. For movies I have two depending on the mood I’m in. My two choices would be either Home Alone or The Grinch. For Christmas songs I have to go with probably the most recognizable song- “All I Want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey”, commented Juhwan Harris-Dyson. Even when he will be nestled on a couch somewhere during Xmas, he won´t forget how fortunate he is as there are millions of others world wide that won´t be celebrating the way he is. “I´m just wishing for peace in the world as there is a lot chaos going on currently”, stated Juhwan Harris- Dyson. With 2026 just around the corner, does he practice the classic New Years resolution? “I want to read more books and try to travel somewhere outside of Bonn/Rhöndorf at least once a month”, said Juhwan Harris-Dyson. I have an idea about the perfect book for him. He will just have to wait until the next home game.
If there is one word that would classify Brandon Cataldo (213-C-1991, college: Portland St.) best concerning his long 10 year career overseas, it would be chugging. He just continues to chug along from opportunity to opportunity giving his team all he can with points and rebounds. He began his basketball career in 2015 in Germany with 2 Regionalliga team Westfalen Mustangs and then saw many beautiful places including Italy for 3 seasons. He also spent some time in Ecuador, Iceland and Sweden and had a second tour of duty in Germany in Limburg in 2022. He also has spent time in Spain and is currently in his third season there currently with Hache Publicidad Moraleja (Spain-Tercera FEB). Before that he played 5 seasons with Portland State University. Usually guys that are overseas will get home for Xmas at one time or the other, but in his case it has never happened. Imagine the 34 year old last being home for Xmas when he was 19 years old? “*I haven’t been home for Christmas since around 2010 because I had games in college every year from 2010 to 2015. As an overseas player, it was always difficult to get back to the U.S. for Christmas during those years”, said Brandon Cataldo. Even if he hasn´t been home for ages, Xmas has a big meaning to him. “Christmas to me is all about family. I think it’s a time when we all come together and spend quality time. While gift-giving is a big part of the celebration for many in America for me, it’s always been about family”, warned Brandon Cataldo.
So it is no surprise that the big 214cm big man has very fond memories of how he celebrated Xmas as a kid in The States. “Christmas was always a great time with family! We would go to California to celebrate as a family on my father’s side, and it was always filled with very special memories. I’d say it was my favorite holiday growing up”, remembered Brandon Cataldo. The whole build up to Xmas was massive in the Cataldo family including Christmas Eve where so much was going on, even a visit from Santa Claus. “Christmas Eve was our big family party at my great-uncle’s house. Everyone gathered to play games, share a big dinner, and open presents. There were always tons of gifts, and my uncle would dress up as Santa, calling out each gift while we ran up to grab them before returning to our seats. It was always an amazing time”, stated Brandon Cataldo. That his favorite Christmas present of all-time has to do with Basketball is no surprise either. “My favorite present as a kid was an indoor basketball game with two nets. It was so much fun”, said Brandon Cataldo. He also has some real classics as his favorite Xmas movie and song while his favorite Xmas food is one that he could always eat and unfortunately hasn´t had often since he hasn´t been home for the longest time. “My favorite Christmas movie is the animated “Grinch” (the classic one), and my favorite song is “Jingle Bells.” It was definitely overplayed while I was growing up. My favorite Xmas food is Christmas bread toast. We only made it once a year, on Christmas morning, and it’s really good”, expressed Brandon Cataldo.
In his 10 year career, the big man has spent 2 Christmas´s in Germany and he always enjoyed his time there. Is Germany so different during the pre Xmas time than what he experienced as a kid? “*I would say that Germany has many similarities with the U.S., but the traditions are much more pronounced there, and the overall feeling during the pre-Christmas season is different for sure”, commented Brandon Cataldo. He also got a taste of the atmosphere and the delicious foods at the Christmas markets and was never disappointed. “We visited as many Christmas markets as we could in Germany, and they were all very cool! I try to avoid eating most of the foods at the markets because even looking at the wrong food can make me gain 5 pounds. The German sweets during Christmas are dangerously good for me . But it’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I wish the USA did more of that”, stressed Brandon Cataldo. On Xmas you think of others and remember all of the suffering going on. He has a special Xmas wish for the whole world. “My Christmas wish for the world is world peace. I hope that all the people of the world can go home and spend quality time with their families, and that everyone travels safely”, warned Brandon Cataldo. With 2026 just around the corner, he is also focused on how he wants to present him as an individual in the new year. “*I usually keep my resolutions to myself and my wife, but I can say that I’m on a good game plan for success right now. My focus is on staying healthy, improving my skills, and maintaining a positive mindset. I believe setting small, achievable goals helps me stay motivated throughout the year. I’m looking forward to making the most of this year and continuing to grow personally and professionally”, added Brandon Cataldo. So where will Brando Cataldo be for Christmas in 2026? Will he finally be home in California again? “This Christmas, I will be going to Barbados with my wife, her parents, and her sister to meet her family. We’ll be staying at her aunt’s house. I’m super excited about this trip”, said Brandon Cataldo. Ok so he won´t be home for Xmas, but he won´t be without family as being with family is the most important thing in life for Brandon Cataldo.
Anthony Watkins (194-PG-2000) isn´t only a special basketball player that has reached the highest level in Germany with the easyCredit BBL, but also has had a unique Christmas life that not many can say that they have had. As a boy that grew up in the States with an American father, but had a German mom, he witnessed Xmas from both cultures. “I got the best of both worlds. It was always just the three of us and the Christ kind on the 24th with some great world famous lasagna that my mom made as well as the presents from the Christ kind. Then on the 25th we’d go to Nanny’s (my dad’s mom) and watch the NBA games and eat some mac and cheese, collard greens (my favorite), cornbread, pies, turkey, dressing, and the works. I stayed away from the chitterlings though! I would get some presents there too, but the main event was on Christmas Eve. Once we got a bigger house and Nanny got older, we would host Christmas Day which was cool as well”, remembered Anthony Watkins. Christmas is all about family and that was always a big focus in the Watkins family. “Christmas means making time for one another. Coming from a family of ambitious and hardworking people, who spend a lot of their time serving others, it’s always great to see that energy go entirely toward the people closest and dearest for a few days”, stressed Anthony Watkins.
Usually Christmas Eve in the States is about being at home and just spending precious time with the loved ones. Eating scrumptious food, listening to Xmas songs and watching Xmas movies is also on the menu. “Lasagna is my favorite Xmas food and my mom’s gingerbread cookies that we have to hide from my dad for anyone to have a chance to get some. Polar Express has always been a classic for me, but there is also a Rudolph and the Reindeer Games VHS Tape somewhere that I used to love to watch during this season, and that’s probably the reason why Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is my favorite Christmas song”, said Anthony Watkins. However in the Watkins family, there is so much more to do than just eat and watch movies. Anthony and his dad actually had a very stressful day getting so much ready for Xmas. “Christmas Eve was when my dad and I went to work! We’d get up in the morning, driving through town to see if we could find a Christmas tree somewhere (results may vary) and somehow, we always found one my mom approved of. Once we brought the tree back, it was time to go through all the stores we could to get the gifts we needed for the night. After we got all the gifts, we’d grab some McChickens and a Sweet Tea off the dollar menu to “knock the dust off” and headed to Nanny’s to wrap the presents so we could hand them over to the Christkind in time to give to my mom. Those Christmas Eve missions are some of my fondest memories with my dad. And topping it off with presents and the world famous lasagna makes them unforgettable”, said Anthony Watkins. Getting presents is always special for kids, but sometimes it takes a little bit of disappointment before the real climax hits at least in the Watkins family. “The presents were always great, but what I loved more was the performances my parents would organize to give me special gifts. One example was when I got my Xbox One. I had gotten a controller for it, and didn’t see any gifts left under the tree. My mom had said she wanted to at least give me a piece of the Xbox even though they couldn’t get me the whole thing. The whole family was there (even my grandparents and uncle from Germany) and I remember being disappointed, but also still being grateful for what I had gotten. We sat around and talked about our gifts and other things for a while when Nanny went to “go smoke” (she hadn’t smoked in years I think) my dad said to go with her, which made it even more odd, but she didn’t come over often so I rolled with it. I went with her to the back porch and there it was: The Xbox One I had wanted for almost two years since it came out, in all its glory”, added Anthony Watkins. He also remembers his most cherished moment when he gave a loved one a gift. “Being able to gift the novel I wrote and dedicated to my grandfather to my grandmother and mom was a pretty special moment. It was something I had worked on for years and that took a lot of courage to publish. Now I’ve released the sequel and am working on part three, and my mom is actually helping me to translate book one into German”, commented Anthony Watkins.
Anthony Watkins grew up in Tennessee and turned pro in 2019. He came to Germany and in 7 seasons has played for 10 organizations. Currently he is playing for Pro B team Lok Bernau. There were Christmas´s where he could hop over the Atlantic, but also other times where he couldn´t. “I was able to go home to the States twice in my career and spend Christmas there, which was special! Almost felt like a mini off-season. Other years I’ve either spent the Holidays on my own or tried to get down to see my family in the Heidelberg area”, expressed Anthony Watkins. So where will the point guard spend Xmas this year? “I’ve got a beautiful lady in my life nowadays so we’ll definitely make sure she gets to see her family and then we’ll head down to see my grandmother and my mom, who flew in to catch some games and spend the holidays. We’re still planning right now and seeing how much time we will have off, but I’m looking forward to it”, stated Anthony Watkins. As a kid who grew up in the States, he has taken a liking to the pre Christmas activities in Germany. “It is always cool to see the Lebkuchen coming into stores in September. I always send a picture (or two) to tease my mom who has to wait until Christmas time. Here, Halloween is getting bigger, but there’s no Thanksgiving for example that comes after to bridge the gap, so Christmas vibes are more or less in full swing after Halloween (which is my birthday). The US does it big when the shift does happen, but that normally comes after Black Friday is done. In Germany it slowly ramps up I’d say”, stressed Anthony Watkins. He also has witnessed the Xmas markets. “I think they’re really cool! I don’t drink alcohol so the Glühwein is lost on me, but I’ll tap into a hot chocolate for sure and check out the different stands. Plus, as I mentioned, I have someone with me nowadays who would be quite upset with me if we didn’t go to any Christmas markets during the Holiday season”, smiled Anthony Watkins. He has seen Xmas from 2 sides, but could that moment ever happen where he would chose either the 24th or 25th to open the presents? “That idea of Christmas morning is a classic American image. But I enjoy both styles! It’ll be interesting to see what ideas we come up with when we decide to start a family, because I’d like to incorporate elements from both! It’s also funny to see/hear American rookies react to hearing that news for the first time. They never believe it”, stressed Anthony Watkins.
Ok so Tyseem Lyles (185-SG-1992, college: Mercy) didn´t decide to pull a lifer in Erfurt with the Basketball Lowen, but one could say that he has become a German lifer for his job of professional basketball player. His Pro B colleagues of Omari Knox and DJ Woodmore have played most of their career in Oberaching and Speyer while Lyles played in Erfurt for 4 years. All in all he is currently in his 8th professional season after having played in Hamburg and Karlsruhe as well and currently is calling south Germany home in Fellbach. It is no surprise that a lot of these American ballers overseas come from large families. Christmas´s in the States was always a very important part of their lives and that continues even when your overseas. The whole experience gives him special power. “Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year for many reasons, but my number one reason is gathering together with my family and loved ones. This seemed like the one time of the year no one had to work or do any kind of work. Everyone just being together. Christmas to me is love because it is cold, it is dark a lot earlier and on this day or leading to this day the warmth of togetherness from everyone gives you the bit of energy to you may need to push through the year or for guys like me make a stronger push through the second half of the season”, stressed Tyseem Lyles.
Especially in big familes, the whole Xmas experience is a massive production. For Tyseem his Christmas´s were always spent at his grand parents apartment in Brooklyn, New York. “Decorating the tree together a couple weeks before, decorating the big socks, watching a ton of Christmas movies and of course pretending not to see my mom carry in bags of toys. This was always the build up to Christmas Day as a kid”, remembered Tyseem Lyles. His grand ma made delicious food for all with sweet potato pie, baked macaroni, baked honey glazed ham, and stuffing. “It was always a time for good food, sharing gifts, playing games and telling stories. All of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents cramped in one 3 bedroom apartment for this holiday but for some reason it never felt crowded as a kid”, smiled Tyseem Lyles. However the most exciting time for him was Christmas Eve. “It was always extremely hard to go to sleep with all my cousins. All of us full of laughter during bed time, or even trying to “catch” Santa Claus eating the cookies but always being caught by our parents in the act. During the day we played board games or just went outside to play”, said Tyseem Lyles. It is no surprise that his favorite Xmas gift had to do with the game that he loves. “My favorite present I received as a kid was this game called NBA Streets for a game system called game cube. If I was not playing basketball outside I was watching or playing a game that had to do with the sport. I was also a big gamer as a kid so these were my two things. Basketball and games”, added Tyseem Lyles. Even if receiving a pretty gift is exciting, there is nothing better than giving something unique to your loved ones. “I have two favorite moments because I was really proud of both of these moments I remember saving a bunch of money for them. I bought my mom and my grandmother matching necklaces. I sold candy from the last Christmas to the next Christmas in high school just for this moment”, said Tyseem Lyles who lists Elf starring Will Ferrell, and Home Alone 2 as his favorite Xmas movie and his favorite Christmas song is Its beginning to look a lot like christmas or Feliz Navidad.
Even if guys playing in the Pro B have a 2 week break for Xmas, many don´t go home simply because they have established new family type relationships overseas and it isn´t any different with him. “I wish I was going back home for Christmas it’s been a while. But it is okay because it will still be a special day I am around love and great people. I will spend the Christmas with my girlfriend and her family. Also I will spend a great amount of time on FaceTime to talk with everyone from my family so I can see everyone and we can still share this day together”, expressed Tyseem Lyles. He has been overseas for almost a decade, but doesn´t see too much difference between what happens in the pre Xmas time in Germany and USA. “Christmas is a bit different for me these days only because I am older and currently living in another country. The only huge difference is the traditional foods for this day but are really good. For example the potato dumplings, red cabbage and with some I have had roasted duck. Knowing Santa does not exist is the only difference because the love is there we play games, and always have a great time”, commented Tyseem Lyles. A favotite place to hang out and mingle is at the famous German Xmas markets and it isn´t any different for him either. “My favorite Christmas market is the one in Hamburg. I experienced the christmas market in Stuttgart, Augsburg, and Erfurt so far”, said Tyseem Lyles. So how does he go about opening presents in Germany. Does he do it the German way or keep the American tradition? “I wish I had known this as a kid I would have been extremely happy because the amount of times I begged my mom to open them the night before. So as an adult I do it for that kid inside me, at least one present”, smiled Tyseem Lyles. With so much sadness going on in the world, he also has that special wish for the world. “My Christmas wish for the world is for everyone have all their needs and wants fulfilled without having to ever harm another person place or thing ever again”, warned Tyseem Lyles. 2026 is just around the corner and as always he wants to go into the new year remembering those very special people in his life. “My New Years Resolution is at the end of each day write at least 2 sentences or more about 5 things or people I am grateful for”, stressed Tyseem lyles.
When you’re an American baller playing overseas in lower leagues, there is one fringe benefit that one has over the Christmas holidays over guys playing in first and second divisions. Ok so there is a big difference in the pay, but when your grinding month for month for a monthly check of about 1000-1,500 USD, you can at least be home for the Xmas holidays. But when your playing in a top league like Urald King (198-F-1990, college: SE Oklahoma) is of the Romerstrom Gladiators in the easyCredit BBL in Germany,you don’t have the luxury of going home. You get to experience a totally different kind of festive holiday overseas. King is a 35 year old player who is your classic basketball globe trotter. He is currently in his 10th pro season that has taken him to countries like Iceland, France, Finland, Austria, Israel and Denmark. He has seen many different cultures and had the pleasure of celebrating 7 Christmas´s overseas with an eight happening this year in Trier. ““Christmas means to me the birth of Jesus and the celebration of religion and a time for family to come together and appreciate one another”, expressed Urald King.
Before he came overseas, he celebrated Christmas back home in West Monroe. Louisiana. If there will be a white Christmas in Trier this season is unlikely, but more likely than it ever will be happening in Louisiana. His Xmas celebration was always unique back home when he was growing up. “Christmas for me was always special. We didn’t have a white Christmas because the weather was always warm. My family would meet at my grandma’s house. I especially loved it because we had a big family and I had tons of cousins to play with”, said Urald King. One of the great moments for Americans is Christmas Eve. It is a moment for all to be together and be thankful for all that they have before the big stress of opening presents in the morning. Adults may really cherish the evening while kids are counting the minutes to morning. “Christmas Eve for my family meant just being around my mom and older brother and getting to open one present the night before Christmas”, stated Urald King. Presents play a big role especially for kids. But when Urald was a kid, he not only remembered getting incredible presents, but also giving a special gift to his mom. “My favorite present would have to be between a few things; a basketball goal, wrestling action figures, and Pokémon cards. I have given a lot of gifts over the years but if I had to say one that I gave a family member, it would be a ring I bought my mom. What’s so special about the ring is it has her, my brother, his daughter (my niece), my daughter, and my birth stones all in one ring”, commented Urald King.
This is actually his second season in Germany. He is one of those rare players that went from a lower league to top leagues in Europe. He began his overseas grind in 2015 with the TuS Bad Aibling Fireballs (Germany-2.Regionalliga). He had experienced the Xmas build up 10 years ago and now did it again in the beautiful Trier city that sits in a valley on the Mosel river. One of the coolest things to witness are the eccentric Christmas markets that can be seen in so many different places in Germany. “My experience with the pre Christmas in Germany has been going to the Christmas market here in Trier and Cologne and I love them. I’m looking forward to drinking some warm wine when we have some off days. The difference between Christmas in Germany and The States is we don’t have Christmas markets (at least that I know of). I didn’t get one this year but receiving an Advent calendar was interesting”, said Urald King. A big difference to Xmas in Germany and the States is when you open the presents. I remember annoying all my classmates in the States back in the day saying as a German that we opened presents on Xmas Eve and could go to sleep knowing what the presents were. “In America we share a similar experience, we open a gift at night however we focusing on waking up extremely early the next morning to open gifts”, added Urald King.
There are so many great aspects to Christmas besides the presents and being thankful for so much, but one has to satisfy their appetite somehow. A big negative aspect for Americans overseas is not having that home cooking from their family. “My favorite Christmas food is called “Chicken dressing” with cranberry sauce (can’t forget the cranberry sauce). My Grandmother and my ma make the best kind”, warned Urald King. Another big aspect to Xmas is music and movies. Music is probably even bigger simply because you hear the Xmas music all over the place from stores, to schools to Churches and of course Xmas markets. When it comes to music and movies, he has quite a few favorites. “I’d have to say some of my favs are “chestnuts roasting on an open fire”, “ Rudolph the red nose reindeer”, “all I want for Christmas”, “The Christmas”, and “Silent Night”. However I know I’m missing a lot, there’s so many good songs. Again, I can’t just pick one Christmas movie. Top 3 would be Home Alone (the first one), A Christmas Story, Friday After Next”, stated Urald King. But there is also that serious question during the Xmas period. Urald King and millions of people are all blessed to have food and presents on the table, but then again there are millions of others out there who are suffering. Wouldn´t be great if there could just be less suffering in the world? “My Christmas gift for the world would be, I know this sounds cliché but I would be world peace or for world hunger to end. After Xmas, there is only a week until 2026 comes upon us. Does he have any New Years resolution? “My New Years Resolution has been the same for the last 10+ years and that’s to keep growing and becoming a better version of myself”, warned Urald King.
Even If DJ Woodmore (190-SG-1992, college: VWU) has played in the very competitive German Pro B league almost his whole life, he is definitely a guy that could have played in the second division Pro A. He is currently in his 11th professional season and still miles away from retiring at age 33 and has played in the Pro B in 9 of his 11 seasons overseas. When it comes to the Christmas period overseas there is a big difference between leagues from the top to the lower. In Germany the first 2 divisions BBL and Pro A have to play during the holidays while in the Pro B, there is a 2 week break which allows American ballers to have that big decision between going home for some of momma´s home cooking specialties or staying abroad and experiencing a different kind of holiday time. It is only understandable that Americans will try to go home as often as possible especially when they have the opportunity, but DJ Woodmore hasn´t had that serious home sick feeling to Virginia. “This year I’ll go home after the Ludwigsburg game. For the first time in 5 years I’ll be able to celebrate with the family in person”, said DJ Woodmore. When he is in Germany, he has that one special spot where he always heads to have the classic German festive moment. “I’ll usually head to Bremen to celebrate with my girlfriend and her family. Before we met, I would stay in Speyer and celebrate with some friends in the city. It’s nice to have family everywhere“, stressed DJ Woodmore.
DJ Woodmore was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia and like most other Americans experienced special Christmas´s at home. Christmas doesn´t always have to be about religion, but for him it all has to do about his loved ones. “I’m not the most religious person in world, so Christmas has always meant a time for family. It’s always been the one time of year, we can all get together without any distraction from the outside. Great food, great vibes, great times”, commented DJ Woodmore. Every family has their own special Christmas and it wasn´t any different for DJ when he was a child. “It was always the best time of year. Jackson 5 Christmas album playing in the background. Opening gifts one by one. Then the whole day playing with the gifts we opened!! Best time. And still is”, warned DJ Woodmore. He also remembers what Christmas Eve was like in the Woodmore family as if it was yesterday. “It was always a relaxed day with the family. We try to get the last shopping done and then relaxing in the night listening to music or watching classic Xmas movies. We open 1 gift as an appetizer for the next day”, said DJ Woodmore. For some ballers getting that first basketball was the perfect X-mas gift as a kid, but for DJ it was something different. “I remember I got an electric motorcycle when I was like 12. Not a big one. But like a medium size one. My best friend down the street also had one. So we spent the next months riding together everywhere. It was easily one of my favorite gifts.”, remembered DJ Woodmore. Christmas isn´t only about receiving, but also about giving. Everyone has that favorite gift that they have given. “I think my favorite gift was giving my sister a new iPod. Her favorite color and she wasn’t expecting it at all. She loved it”, said DJ Woodmore. He will be home this year and one thing he is looking forward to is a special food from his dad and witnessing a certain song and movie pertaining to Xmas. “I really enjoy the ham my dad makes. But besides that, give me all the sweet stuff. Cookies cake chocolate. All of it. My favorite Christmas move would have to be “This Christmas”. And song would have to also be “This Christmas” by Chris Brown”, added DJ Woodmore.
The last 5 years the American has taken in the Xmas season in Germany and it is no surprise that the Christmas markets are his favorite thing to do. “That is my favorite thing to do in Germany by far. It’s always the best time of the year. The atmosphere and the Christmas mood is there all month long. And here in Speyer the Christmas market stays open until Jan 6 and becomes the new years market. So many Glühweins and Nutella Crepes for me to enjoy”, smiled DJ Woodmore. A big difference to Europe and USA is when presents are opened. Americans have to wait until the morning, but his family has a special tradition when opening presents. “I feel like it’s pretty similar. The only difference is that my family usually opens one or two small gifts on the night of Christmas Eve. It kind of builds the suspense for the next day. I think I like our tradition a bit more, because then we have the whole day to use our new gifts. Myself as a kid would have hated having to wait until the next day to ride my new bike or something for example. I´m curious to see if we’ll keep that tradition since I’ve been gone so long”, stated DJ Woodmore. After all the Xmas presents have been opened and delicious food devoured, people only have 1 more week before the New Year. Is he a classical new years resolution guy? “I do have new year resolutions which are trying to keep improving on my German and make more time for the people in my life. I say this every year but it’s very difficult to stay in contact with friends and family while living overseas. You get caught up in your own thing, sometimes going months and years without staying in touch with the people you don’t see regularly anymore. It’s an effort I need to be more conscious of”, stressed DJ Woodmore. It doesn´t matter if in Virginia or Bremen, he is always focused on his loved ones.
Robert Brown (203-F-1998, college: TxWes) is playing his rookie season overseas in Germany in the Regionalliga with the Aschaffenburg Baskets. He had the luxury of playing at 3 schools and experienced different coaches and different styles of play from 2017-2023. However one thing always stayed the same during those years and before that was how he experienced the whole pre Xmas time at home in the States. However for the first time in his life this year he is experiencing a totally different holiday season overseas in Germany. Luckily for him he can not miss Christmas this year in the States even though he is playing in the Regionalliga. Usually guys that are balling in lower leagues have a break during December 25th, but if he was playing in the North of Germany in the Regionalliga, then he would of experienced his first Xmas overseas, but because the Aschaffenburg Baskets play in the South-East North division, he will be idle from the court. He is so lucky because he will be at home with his loved ones. “Christmas means gratitude. It’s the time of year when I slow down, reflect on my journey, and appreciate the people who have supported me from the beginning. It brings perspective. I will go home for the break and celebrate Xmas with family and my birthday with family”, said Robert Brown.
It is absolutely no surprise that Christmas for Robert Brown is like for most other people on this earth. “Christmas growing up was always about family. We never needed anything extravagant—just everybody in the same place, good food, and a lot of laughter. Those were the moments that grounded me and reminded me what mattered outside of basketball”, stressed Robert Brown. Another thing that seems to be a tradition with other ballers families is a certain Christmas Eve ritual concerning presents. “I normally would have dinner and open 1 present before Xmas that was always a thing in my family normally on that day we just celebrate and enjoy each others company”, added Robert Brown. It´s also no real big surprise what his favorite present was as a kid. “My favorite gift was my first real basketball. That ball pretty much became an extension of me. I took it everywhere and spent countless hours with it. That gift played a big role in who I am today”, said Robert Brown. I remember so vividly how special it was giving my mom a Xmas present. Mothers are always there for their kids and it´s only logical to show how much you care and love them. “One year I surprised my mom with something she had wanted for a long time. Seeing her reaction reminded me how powerful it is to give back to the people who made sacrifices for me”, warned Robert Brown. Even if Christmas is all about giving, you can´t enjoy the whole experience without the correct nourishment. “Back home my favorite Xmas food is baked mac and cheese and sweet potato pie. Those two dishes instantly bring back the Christmas feeling for me”, said Robert Brown.
Even if the Chicago native who lists This Christmas as his favorite Xmas song and Home Alone as his favorite Xmas movie will be home for the holidays this year, he did experience the pre Xmas buzz overseas. “The pre-Christmas vibe in Aschaffenburg is really special. Everything feels more traditional—more cultural. In the States, the holiday season is bigger and more commercial. Here it feels more intimate, more about community”, stated Robert Brown. One thing you can´t miss or really not not witness are the incredible Christmas markets. It doesn´t matter if in Munich, Frankfurt or Dresden, each market has their own special flair. “They’ve become one of my favorite things here. The lights, the food, the atmosphere—there’s nothing like it in the U.S. It’s something you really have to experience firsthand”, warned Robert Brown. The Xmas time is also about thinking about what is going on in the world. There is so much misery around and not everyone will be home for Xmas and be with family. How can the world become a better place? “My wish is for more peace, understanding, and compassion. The world moves fast—if people slowed down and showed more kindness, things would be better for everyone”, added Robert Brown. 2026 is just around the corner and he knows exactly what his goals are for the new year. “My resolution is to keep growing, stay consistent, and continue pushing myself as a player and as a person. Every year is another chance to take a step forward”, stressed Robert Brown. With Xmas just a few days away, this season he will be opening presents on the 25th, but what would it be like for him opening all of them on the 24th? “It would feel different at first, but being overseas teaches you to embrace new traditions. I could adapt. That’s part of the journey of playing abroad”, commented Robert Brown. Who knows maybe one day he will open presents on the 24th? There are numerous Americans who found their sweeties overseas and have experienced how Xmas is celebrated there. Robert Brown is still young and still has a long career ahead of him to witness Xmas overseas in the future.
Bringing in talented guards had always been a strength of the Dragons Rhondorf so when William Christmas (196-G-1996, college: CPP) arrived in late summer 2021, I was quite confident that he would do his thing on the court like past guards like Sterling Carter, Kamron Taylor and Curtis Hollis. In the first 3 games, he didn´t disappoint filling the stat sheet like no other averaging 19.3ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.7apg, 2.7spg, 1.0bpg. The only problem with the scenario was that the Dragons were 0-3 on October 16th. But it wasn´t his fault. The Dragons were going the youth route that season and before he would know it, his season in Rhondorf would be history. Well at least his playing in games was over. Since the Pro B team could only use 1 import player, they chose 17 year old Ousmane Ndiaye who I remember being hyped like crazy by Yassin Idbihi, but he was right in his assessment. Ndiaye would go his way and reach Europe´s highest league ACB and currently is playing for Vanoli Basket Cremona (Italy-Serie A). So here was a decorated American player who had averaged 16/6/3 in his last 2 seasons at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (NCAA2) and reached 3 CCAA finals and now was sitting and sitting and sitting during games. I remember seeing him before games and he was always 100% professional and somehow stuck it through even though he must have been steaming inside the way Charles Jefferson aka Forrest Whitaker was after he found his beat up car next to the school steps in the classic Fast Times at Ridgemont high. “I was steaming inside. I´m such a competitor that I just wanted to play so badly. I loved Ousmane. He is such a talented player and playing at a high level. It was the right decision at the time. It is always tough coping with things that you don´t expect especially when you’re a rookie. You want that opportunity to show you can play. It was important that I got exposed to the business side early to expect the unexpected. I made basketball my refuge and just worked hard in the gym. I had that mindset that everything would work out in the end”, stressed William Christmas. Even 4 years later, he still believes he got a fair chance with the Dragons and is still very professional about what happened with the Dragons and that first pro experience helped him with a big strength that he has continued to cultivate whenever adversary was in his basketball life. “I felt like I got a fair chance in Rhondorf. I understood fully where they were going. They wanted to feature Ousmane. I felt like everyone was professional and I was treated in a professional manner. Everybody was supportive of me. It just wasn´t in God´s plan at that moment and I was Ok with it. I could live with it. I had no ill will against the Dragons. I think that I learned that I was mentally tough. I was capable of getting things done and grinding against the grain and swimming upstream. This is an important part of the journey that sometimes you have to fight against adversary against things that aren´t ideal. I proved to myself that I could do that. My dad was really important in this time in that he spoke life into my, kept me positive and always encouraged me. My dad never let me give up”, warned William Christmas. William Christmas has seen adversary in his career, but in the end his mental toughness has always stuck out and helped him Grow.
The California native who remembers ex MHP Riesen guard Justin Simon being his toughest opponent in the NCAA 2 was finally let go in January 2022 and resumed his career in Luxemburg with the BC Musel Pikes (Luxembourg-LBBL) averaging 29.7ppg, 10.8rpg, 3.6apg, Steals-5 (2.1spg), FGP-3 (64.5%), 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 75.8%. This new experience felt like being reborn and was a big step in his career as he proved he could bounce back after adversary. “It was important being able to get on the court and help build my confidence up again. That helped me believe that I have the capability to play. I really appreciated my time in Lessenberg and I did have a super productive period in a short time”, remembered William Christmas. He really exploded in Luxemburg. He scored in double figures in every game. He scored 30 points or more 7 times including a 44 point explosion, had 12 double doubles and a triple double against Arnatia.” My fondest moment was the 44 point game. I feel like I could have had 50 points. You dream about these kind of games as a kid. I came out for a while in the fourth quarter, because we were up by a lot. But to still score so much was amazing”, said William Christmas. Being a rookie is never easy especially after having a rough start like he had in Rhondorf, but he was more than blessed to have had great veterans like ex easyCredit BBL veteran Henry Pwono who was by his side guiding him in the right direction. “Henry is a high quality dude with a great character. It is always good having dudes like him that can speak life into you and tell you what you need to do to be successful. I had a third American with Terry Winn also had had experience overseas and like Henry spoke life into me. Both these guys were really important for my development as a rookie”, commented William Christmas.
The scorer who sees the Lakers, OKC, Houston, and Denver as NBA champion candidates in 2026 ended his rookie season with a bang and then continued the momentum in the next season with the Artland Dragons averaging 15.6ppg, 7.3rpg, 4.1apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 78.5%. Once again he had to prove himself and had a solid Pro A season another step up for him. “My Artland experience was very important as it was another step in my journey that also gave me lots of confidence moving forward. I felt like I was everything coming out of college. So all these experiences were vital for my journey. No matter if it was Pro B, Luxemburg or the Pro A. Each step helped build my confidence. With Artland, I had to be a leader and had to show up every day and be professional. Artland was my last choice at the end of the summer. I had no idea who Artland was. They weren´t supposed to be good. But coach Flo believed in me from the start”, expressed William Christmas. With Flo he meant coach Patrick Flomo who in a way saved his career. “I can´t thank Flo enough for the opportunity. Just hearing his name, I think that I should call him right now. He really aided my career. He trusted me to just play my game. He trusted me to the take the helm and just showcase my game. He was a big reason that I was able to take that next step to the BBL with Hamburg. I was just blessed to have great guys there. Assistant coaches Chase Griffin and Allen Ray helped me so much with my game. They still check in with me today”, said William Christmas. The Artland season ended with a bad taste in the loss to PS Karlsruhe in the playoffs. “I will always remember getting hurt in game 3 and losing the game. I then missed a few months. I still believe we would of won game 4 had I been able to play. It was hard for me that summer not being able to play. I wanted to work on my game. I had this fire to go out with a splash with my next team Hamburg”, added William Christmas. He had so many great teammates and with Demetrius Ward one that is now starting his coaching career. “I see him being a really good coach, because he can relate to guys. He was just really encouraging. It is so important to have guys like that on the team”, warned William Christmas. He twice scored 28 points in the Pro A against PS Karlsruhe and Nurnberg.
The versatile guard who lists ex NBA and current Euroleague player PJ Dozier as one of his best teammates of all-time continued to climb the basketball ladder reaching the easyCredit BBL in the 2023-2024 season balling for the Veolia Towers Hamburg. Once again he left his mark there averaging 12.9ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.6apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 59.5%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 75.9%;in the BBL and in the Eurocup averaged 9.9ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 76.7%.”Hamburg was a tough season. I still think we did better than many thought. We were 1 game away from making the playoffs. I think that my hard work paid off. I was aggressive, got downhill and used my speed best to my ability. I was also fortunate to have a great coach with Beno who gave me so much confidence to play my game”, said William Christmas. He was fortunate to battle so many ex NBA players in the Eurocup and faced Serge Ibaka and FC Bayern Munich losing a real tough 81-80 nail bitter where he scored 18 points in the loss. “My fondest moment was the Munich game even if we lost it. We played in the big arena in front of 12,000-14,000 people. I loved the aura and gravity of the game. It was a game littered with clutch shots and buzzer beaters. All in all, I had a great time with the Towers. We had great guys and I thought that we had good team chemistry”, remembered William Christmas. He scored in double figures in 26 of 36 BBL games including 28 points against Ludwigsburg and in the Eurocup scored 22 points twice against Besiktas and Venice. Last season he had another season where his mental toughness played an important role for him being able to overcome adversary once again. He split time with the NINERS Chemnitz (Germany-BBL)N averaging 8.7ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.3apg, 2FGP: 55.1%, 3FGP: 27.5%, FT: 69.8%,and in the Basketball Champions League) averaged 10.3ppg, 5.6rpg, 3.6apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 61.2%, 3FGP: 44.4%, FT: 55.6%; and in Feb.’25 moved to Limoges CSP Elite (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 7.2ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 60.5%, 3PT: 7.1%, FT: 88.9%. “I had a slow start and then found my game, but we had a mutual agreement that it would be better if I left. This experience again was important for my mental toughness. I grinded against adversary and felt like I was able to get out of the pit”, stressed William Christmas. He then took on a new challenge in France and came in mid season which is never easy, but in the end was able to take positives out of a tough situation. “We weren´t great, but this experience was a great example again of how my career has gone. The story always comes out the same. There is always some kind of adversary, some kind of mental road block. Last season I learned to be at peace with your situation. I learned once again to take the positives and just enjoy with what you have been blessed at learning. My teammates and fans were great. The coaches really cared. No matter if I played or didn´t, or we won or lost, I could always find refuge with my work. I would love to play in the Pro A in France gain and redeem myself. I just want to go where God leads me to”, warned William Christmas.
The flashy player who compares his game to NBA champion Shai Gillgeous-Alexander has started a new challenge in his fifth professional season with the Frankfurt Skyliners in the easyCredit BBL. “I´m really excited for a new challenge and to make this my best year yet. I believe that I can elevate my game beyond ´what people saw last year. I feel like that I´m a lot better than what I showed last season”, stressed William Christmas. Head coach Klaus Perwas believes that he can be a glue guy. Will his role be different than in places like Hamburg or Chemnitz? “I think that I will have a different kind of role here. I´m a veteran playing more with younger guys which wasn´t really the case with my last teams. I´m really eager to face the new challenge and grow with it. I feel like my experience will be vital. I think that I will be able to bring out the best in me and help give the young guys a nugget or 2 and help them elevate their game. I will have to show the young guys how things are run and I´m ready for it”, warned William Christmas. Teams usually want to bring in character type guys and Frankfurt definitely hauled in the jack pot with him as winning over stats is on his menu. “ I´m not going to say to much about that. I´m going to keep my personal goals to myself. But I do have big goals and that starts with winning as a team. I´m going to work my but of and let my game do the talking. Winning is the most important thing. The rest will fall into place”, stressed William Christmas. How crucial will his three pointer be this season? Last season he had trouble in the BBL and Pro A but shot very well at 44% in the Basketball Champions League. ”My shooting will be huge. I haven´t shot the ball particularly well the last few seasons. I will continue to work at it. You can aske any coach. It is a confidence thing. I will hit a lot this season. And if I don´t, so what. I don´t think that that makes a basketball player. I still do a lot of other things really well. That is why I have stuck around. But my shooting will be crucial this season”, warned William Christmas. Time has really flown by since his rookie experience in Rhondorf 4 years ago. He has achieved a lot in his career and he is far from over as he wants to make the Skyliners proud of him. “I ended up finding a lot of success playing in the ACB, Germany BBL and France. It´s a beautiful thing. Sometimes it´s hard to see God´s plan, but in the end everything happens for a reason. Both Ousmane and I had success. It´s just beautiful to see that we both had success. I just continue to pray that we both continue to grow and prosper”, warned William Christmas. It would be interesting to see Christmas and Ndiaye sitting at a table and shooting the breeze. Both would surely be smiling and laughing a lot about life. Christmas was right in 2021. He knew that in the end that everything would turn out right for him.
If you ever met Joe Asberry (196-F-1965, college: SF State) and had a conversation with him, you will notice at latest after 5 minutes just how charismatic this dude is. It really doesn´t mater what you talk about, he will always entertain you. I mean I would personally book this guy as a Santa Claus, because he could play the role perfectly. There are no disagreements from him either. I often ask players who the best Santa Claus would be on a team “ I would be the perfect Santa on Any team”, warned Joe Asberry. I could easily see him being a Santa Claus in malls in the United States. Just imagine reading a massive poster or even better a billboard “Joe Asbery on tour as Santa Claus”. I would definitely buy a ticket. Well maybe he would put me on the guest list (LOL). Imagine Joe being in a movie with an Eddie Murphy, my favorite comedian of all-time. That is an amazing thought. Joe Asberry will never have to make a Santa Claus debut simply because he has done it before in the past. “I have already been Santa Claus in Hannover when we took a team from Stadt Liga to Pro A in Hannover so I have a bit of experience. I was also the Ghetto Santa at Wally´s All Star Games in Bremerhaven so shout out to Wally, he made me a household name in Bremerhaven”, stressed Joe Asberry.
One thing Joe Asberry doesn´t lack is words when he is having a conversation. However once in a while, he gets right to the point with little words like in our Xmas interview, but that’s Ok. Any kind of input from Joe Asberry in speech or written is always memorable. Joe Asberry had a long professional career mostly in Germany and remained here to work as an MC, social worker, coach and mentor. At the moment he is employed by Pro A club Artland Dragons where he is a coach for various team in the youth sector and woman´s sector. Christmas is a part of the year that he really enjoys in Germany and he has a special definition for it. “ Sharing is Caring, that´s how I define Christmas. I appreciate the big Christmas Tree´s, and all the lights. I´s really Beautiful here in Germany”, said Joe Asberry. The Oakland native has celebrated Xmas on various continents and for him everywhere is home for Xmas. When it comes to where he will celebrate this year, he is of the spontaneous kind. “ Christmas in Artland, Berlin,or Las Vegas is all the same to me, it´s Magnificent. I´m not sure where I´m going to Celebrate Christmas this year yet. I don´t like to jinx myself, so I´ll let it touchdown first”, expressed Joe Asberry. He also has a fancy of visiting Christmas markets in Germany, but one kind of special gift, he still hasn´t been able to find at one. “I enjoy the Christmas Markets for sure. I can´t say I saw any good gifts. I didn´t see anything Basketball related! LOL”, laughed Joe Asberry. Since having witnessed Xmas in USA and Germany, he definitely stays away from the comparisons between both countries during the holiday season. “I don´t ever compare Christmas to America. If home isn´t where your Heart is, you might need to get your HEAD EXAMINED! LOL! You can´t compare Christmas in America to Christmas in Europe. It´s much more commercial in America, the idea is to make sells”, expressed Joe Asberry.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Joe Asberry in Berlin in 2024
One Xmas tradition that he carried over from USA to Germany was having that pajama feeling in the morning and then getting down to business with the gifts. “I always open all of my presents on Christmas Day”, smiled Joe Asberry. Even if his childhood was a long time ago, he still has fond memories of that time in the bay area. “Christmas with my Family was beautiful, good food, and a lot of presents. My most cherished moments were playing games of 21 in front of our house. My big brothers and big homeys would destroy me. That´s why I´ll never have a problem creating my own shot. When you hoop vs multiple defenders when you´re a kid, you won´t play like a ROBOT once you turn PRO or when your young guys on your team challenge Coach Joe to 1´s ! LOL”, stressed Joe Asberry. It is also no surprise that his favorite present as a kid is very much basketball related. “My most cherished present was my Basketball from my Big Homey Russ Boogie and my Big Bro Michael”, stated Joe Asberry. The season has been a struggle thus far for the Artland Dragons. The season began so well with a rapid 4 game winning streak, but then out of nowhere an annoying losing streak commenced which led to the dismissal of head coach Vincent Macauley. Pat Elzie took over and the losing continued. Currently the ex easyCredit BBL team is riding a brutal 10 game losing streak. The best Xmas gift for the club would be a win on the 29th od December in Koblenz against the up and down EPG Guardians. But that´s not all. Joe Asberry has a special Xmas gift wish for the club. “The perfect gift for the Artland Dragons is that we get big Yassin Kolo back healthy and DUNKS from Tahj Green,and Lamont West. Those two dudes are Elite Athletes without a doubt. Santa Will be in town, when my Man Brandon Thomas aka “BT” hits a 40 foot buzzer beater! Taylor Johnson hits a halfcourt shot, Buzz Anthony breaks someone´s ankles, Thorben blocks a shot, Jo Jo hits a fall away 3 out of bounds, Badu Buck puts a balla on Ice skates with his shake and bake moves, and Big Rob Oehle Dunks on someone and knocks them on the floor. PS JK,, Jonas, and AD,t he young guns, get some minutes LOL! All jokes aside, I just want all of my guys to stay healthy and keep fighting”, warned Joe Asberry. My perfect gift for Joe Asberry would be nothing, because he is everything you need to be. He is one of the most charismatic guys I have ever met. He is simply a great guy that has done so much good in basketball Germany and just enjoys life being around people and making them feel good. Thanks Joe for being who you are. Merry Xmas and all the best
One of the benefits I had as a kid was being able to open presents on Christmas Eve. I was born in the States to German parents and I never ever in my life opened up gifts on the 25th in the morning. I always loved the time in school leading up to Xmas and I could tease all my friends in school that I would got to sleep with a big grin on my face while the other kids would be trying to fall asleep having the night be like an eternity. Dragons Rhondorf second year man Kelvin Omojola grew up in the States and also had German roots as his Mom was German. However he wasn´t as lucky as I was. That USA tradition was kept up for the Omojola family. “When you do it in Germany I prefer the gift opening on Christmas morning, it just feels nostalgic to me. But trust me, especially being a kid, I begged my mom for us to open gifts on Christmas Eve! Being an adult now, I don’t care at all on receiving gifts but rather giving gifts”, stressed Kelvin Omojola.
Kelvin Omojola (183-G-1997, college: Northwest) is a 27 year old point guard that is playing his fourth professional season and fourth in Germany. He played his rookie season with the Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer (Germany-ProB) averaging 15.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 71.8%. In his second season he gained experience with PS Karlsruhe Lions (Germany-ProA) averaging 3.1ppg. He took a step back last season to the Dragons Rhoendorf (Germany-ProB)n averaging 12.7ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-2 (6.1apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 30.5%, FT: 79.5%. He led the team to the Pro B title and wants to repeat this season. He is a guy that has seen Xmas in Germany and a person that really believes in it´s values. “I would define Christmas as the season of giving as well as spending time with the people you love the most. Christmas has always been important to me. From the Christmas NBA Games to spending time with loved ones, it’s my favorite holiday by far”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. Last season he was in Bad Honnef for Xmas and enjoyed it again this season there. “It was very calm and quiet which I enjoyed”, said Kelvin Omojola. It is no surprise that he has had a mainstay in Germany the last years. Who can resist the Christmas markets in Germany? “I’ve been very fortunate enough to spend Christmas with my fiancé and my family in Germany. The weather and the Christmas Markets are the best things about Christmas time in Germany. It’s a lot different than celebrating in Las Vegas. The Xmas markets are mandatory! That is easily one of the best things about Christmas time in Germany. The nicest gift I’ve seen at the Christmas Market would have to be the variety of food and drinks! The dampfnudeln, glühwein, the different crêpes. You can’t go wrong with any of it”, stated Kelvin Omojola. ´He has experienced Xmas in both countries and he sees a big difference to both cultures. “Christmas is a huge holiday in both the states and Europe. I’m huge on family. Christmas in Germany is a lot more family oriented due everything being closed. It forces you to spend time with your loved ones. In the USA, specifically Las Vegas, everything is open! You spend a couple hours with your family and then it almost another day. I enjoy both though”, commented Kelvin Omojola.
The Las Vegas native remembers his childhood at Christmas in the states as well as I do stats of certain players and he has very special memories from then that still dance and swirl in his head today. “I remember spending time with my parents and sisters, my grandma, basketball tournaments, watching the NBA games with my Dad, everything. That quality time is the reason why I love Christmas so much to this day. What my family did special was on Christmas Eve started with having a light Christmas dinner and then Christmas Day we would open presents! After exchanging gifts we would watch the NBA games and just spend time with each other. I really do miss those moments”, expressed Kelvin Omojola. He is all about family and his fondest memory doesn´t have to do with presents. “The last time my Grandma came to Las Vegas and spent time with my family and I. She flew all the way from Munich so to be able to celebrate Christmas with her one final time before she passed was amazing”, added Kelvin Omojola. Every kid remembers their favorite gift. I remember getting a race track from Mattel toys and he also has a favorite. “A FIT BMX Bike! I’ll never forget it Miles”, stated Kelvin Omojola.
Basketball wise it hasn´t been the best of seasons for the Dragons Rhondorf. They have been very up and down and were sporting a losing streak of 4 of their last 5 games, but cleaned that up beating rising team Speyer shortly before Xmas. Hopefully for the club, this win was a wake up call to the second half of the season. They played as a team again and had their best defensive performance of the season. Defense had been their sore point. Maybe now they will develop a defensive identity. I asked him what would be the second best Xmas gift after that win. He misunderstood my question as I meant basketball related, but as Steve Harvey would say on Family Feud during fast money, “Good Answer”, I agree with him. “If my fiancé was here celebrating with me easily. Thankfully, I have my mom and younger sister flying in to celebrate Christmas with me, so that’ll be great”, said Kelvin Omojola. I would have picked Danas Kazakevicius as the best team Santa Claus. We both do lay on the same wave length with certain topics. “ Definitely either Danas or Antonio Pilpovic lol. Make sure you tell Antonio I said that”, laughed Kelvin Omojola. He had a great rookie season in Germany with Speyer and I remember him hitting Frankfurt in that season for 31 and 27 points. He had his break through season that allowed him the next step to the Pro A. In that last game against his ex team, he faced off against Virginia Wesleyan legend DJ Woodmore. He has had a major impact on his career. “I love DJ. Definitely a mentor for me both on and off the court. Everyone knows he’s a great player on the court with a high IQ and skill level. But off the court? He’s a genuine guy, hilarious, smart. DJ is of my top 3 favorite teammates I’ve ever played with in my basketball career”, warned Kelvin Omojola. I have 3 fun facts about them both. “Both have great smiles, both would pose greatly as Santa Clauses and both are great leaders. Merry Xmas Kelvin and DJ.
German Hoops 