James Milliken

James Milliken (APOP Paphou) Bernau Wanted To Change My Role To Being Just A Defensive Player

James Milliken is a 25 year old 188cm guard from Siler, North Carolina that is playing his rookie season in Cyprus with APOP Paphou (Cyprus-Division A). He started the season in Germany with Lok Bernau, but left in pre season. He started his basketball career with Cowley County CC (JUCO). He then made the jump to the NCAA to  Creighton and played 65 games from 2014-2016. In his junior year he played  30 games averaging 9.3ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 77.6%. In his senior year he played 35 game averaging  9.7ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 70.6%. He spoke to German Hoops  about basketball.

James thanks for talking to German Hoops. From Germany to Cyprus. How blessed are you that you were able to find a new team after your short stay in Germany?

I am very blessed to have found a team really quick after my stay in Bernau!

You were only with Lok Bernau in the pre-season. It was a short stay. What were the reasons for your time being there cut very short?

And my time being cut short was more of a decision between both parties

You played with some very talented German players with Lok Bernau. Did it seem like the club was focusing more on them at your position?

I am a scorer and they wanted to change my role to being just a defensive player based off of the history of players I have defended! But yea I think offensively they had plans for other players and it just wasn’t something to further my career being that it was already a pretty low level league

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James Milliken (Lok Bernau) I Always Had A Chip On My Shoulder Playing against Kris Dunn

James Milliken is a 24 year old 188cm guard from Siler, North Carolina that will be playing his rookie season in Germany with Lok Bernau. He started his basketball career with Cowley County CC (JUCO). He then made the jump to the NCAA to  Creighton and played 65 games from 2014-2016. In his junior year he played  30 games averaging 9.3ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 77.6%. In his senior year he played 35 game averaging  9.7ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 70.6%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball earlier this summer.

James thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I am in Raleigh North Carolina at the moment and it’s been going pretty good!

Congrats on signing with SSV Lok Bernau. How relived are you finally be a professional basketball player. Were the last 16 months from your last NCAA game against BYU were you scored 10 points an eternity?

Yes it felt like the longest I’ve been away from basketball in my life so I was definitely relieved.

How difficult were the last 16 months? Last summer you were let down by an agent and had to sit out the season. Were there ever moments were you wanted to quit? What kept you positive?

No I never thought about quitting I knew it was going be a process to go out finding agents on my own so it was a learning experience and I think that having that year off it made me better and more aggressive.

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