Pic Credit: Maxima Roma

Aaron Holiday (184-PG-1996, college: UCLA) is a 30 year old 184cm point guard playing his first season overseas for new Italian club Maxima Roma. He played the last 8 seasons in the NBA playing a total of 528 games for teams like the Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets. He began his basketball career with Campbell Hall High School and also played AAU with Cali Supreme. He then played at UCLA (NCAA) from 2015-2018 an dthen was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 23rd pick. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against the Frankfurt Skyliners.

Thanks Aaron for talking to germanhoops.com. After eight years in the NBA, you’re playing your first overseas season with Maxima Roma. Did you lose faith in the NBA?

No, I didn’t lose faith in the NBA. Right now I’m here in Rome, and my focus is on this team and helping us be the best we can be.

You couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful place to play overseas than Rome. What have you enjoyed most about Rome? Is there a favorite place that you have discovered in the first months?

Rome is a beautiful city. I haven’t done too much sightseeing yet because we’ve been in-season, but I did get to see the Colosseum. That was pretty cool.

You joined new team Maxima Rome. What kind of an experience has it been? The club is a rookie and so are you overseas. What have you enjoyed most about the organization?

The experience has been really good. It’s our first year together and we are getting better day by day: I’ve enjoyed seeing us grow, both as players and as an organization. It’s a different game from the NBA, and I’m still learning, but my teammates and coaches have done a great job helping me prepare for both EuroCup and LBA.

What has been the biggest adjustment for you so far on the court coming from the NBA? Have you noticed that there is overall less space to operate?

I wouldn’t say there’s just one thing. The spacing is different, but it’s all been a learning experience. I’m doing my best to adjust quickly and figure out how I can help my team win.

You’re averaging 5,0apg in both Serie A and Eurocup. With so much talent on the team, can you concentrate more on your good playmaking than having to score?

I don’t really go into a game thinking about one over the other. I just try to make the right play. We have a lot of talent, and that makes my job easier. I let the game dictate whether I need to score or get my teammates involved.

After high school you played 3 years at UCLA reaching 2 NCAA tournaments. How do you remember these years? What kind of player did you become there?

I loved my time at UCLA. Those three years helped me grow up on and off the court. I developed a lot as a player, and that’s where I really prepared myself to play professionally. I’m grateful for my time there.

What memories do you have of assistant coach Tyus Edney? He had an incredible career overseas. How did he help your game most in your last season at UCLA?

Tyus was someone I leaned on at UCLA. He was a great coach and a great person, and I could talk to him about things on and off the court. He’s one of the best point guards to ever come out of UCLA, so I tried to learn as much as I could from him.

You had some really big games at UCLA like having the winning shot with 0,2 seconds to play against Wisconsin as well as beating Kentucky to end their 42 game home winning streak. Which one of those wins meant the most to you?

Those were both great moments at UCLA. It’s hard to pick one. Honestly, I was just happy we got those wins.

How did head coach Steve Alford groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Alford had us playing fast, with a lot of NBA concepts. One thing he always talked about was “pace and space”, and that stuck with me. He taught us how to push the pace while keeping the floor spaced so the ball handler could get downhill. That’s something I’ve been able to use in the NBA and now overseas.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Lonzo Ball?

It’s hard to say, because we never had the chance to play one-on-one.

You played 3 years with the Indiana Pacers. What do you remember being your wake up call to being in the NBA?

Honestly, probably moving from California to Indiana and dealing with the winter. That was my first real experience with snow, and I was scared to drive in it. I had a Challenger, and every time I hit the gas the back end would slide out. It took me a few weeks, but I figured it out.

How special was playing that game against the Pelicans and having your other 2 brothers present? How would you describe each brother in one sentence?

That was a blessing and one of my favorite games I’ve ever played in. It felt like we were back in the front yard playing together. The only person missing was our sister. I’d describe both of them as my heroes: growing up, all I wanted to do was be like them.

You had many special games with the Pacers like giving Lebron James a 42 point loss or beating Minnesota 141-137 scoring 22 points. What was your favorite own performance?

Probably the game in Brooklyn when Justin and I both scored at least 20. Having a good game is always nice, but getting to share a night like that with my brother made it special.

In your fourth season you split time with Washington and Phoenix. What was it like sharing the floor with legend Chris Paul. What do you remember being the most important thing that you soaked up from him on the court?

CP is one of the best point guards to ever play, so I tried to learn as much as I could during my time there. His leadership really stood out. He made sure everyone knew where they needed to be, and he expected a lot from every player.

You played the 2022-2023 season with the Atlanta Hawks. What was this experience like playing with a top guard like Trae Young? Did you guys have some battles daily in practice? I’m sure you pushed each other much.

My time in Atlanta was great. I got to compete with one of the best point guards in the NBA every day in practice. Trae sees the floor so well and can shoot from deep. Going against him every day was good for me.

You played the last 3 years with the Houston Rockets. You had many memorable games against teams like OKC, New York, and Phoenix. What was your fondest moment on the court with the Rockets?

What stands out most is what we built together: we believed in what we were doing before a lot of people on the outside could see it. It felt good to be part of that. I get that same feeling here in Rome. We’re building something special!

You had played many times against Kevin Durant and last season you were teammates with him. What kind of a guy was he and did you have any meaningful conversations with him?

KD is a great player and a great person. He’s easy to talk to and willing to let you pick his brain. Being able to ask questions and learn from someone like him was one of the best parts of having him as a teammate.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in the NBA?

My brothers, Jrue and Justin.

Please list your 5 best teammates of all-time.

I’ve had too many great teammates to narrow it down to five. I’d probably put my brother Justin at the top, though. Getting to have him as a teammate was special.

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore.

MJ, Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, and Kareem. I know that’s five, but those are my guys.

Who is your GOAT?

I don’t really get into the GOAT debate. I’d rather just appreciate guys for how great they are during their time in the NBA.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

Yeah, I’ve watched both multiple times. I enjoyed both of them: they were funny and a good watch.

Thanks Aaron for the chat.

Sahmi Willoughby (192-F/G-2001, college: Marietta) is a 25 year old 192cm guard from Ohio that is playing his second pro season and first in Germany with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. He played his rookie season with Lahti Basketball (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 8.7ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 80.0%, played also at Team Pajulahti (Finland-1st Division) averaging 22.4ppg, 14.0rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 72.7%. He began his basketball career at Reynoldsburg high school and then played at Marietta College (NCAA 3) from 2019-2024 playing a total of 113 games and as a senior averaged 12.6ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 64.9%. He got early basketball experience playing with the Great Falls Electric (TBL) averaging 9.8ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 60.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

The Dragons Rhondorf suffered a tough 83-74 loss against undefeated team Reutlingen. Did you have the thought of what could have happened had the Dragons not started so slow into the game on the ride home?

Even though we started slow, we picked it back up late first quarter so I feel like that didn’t contribute to the loss.

The Dragons Rhondorf were in the hole quickly down 12-0. How tough is it preparing hard all week and then starting like that? What went wrong in the first minutes?

The first few minutes we weren’t dialed in and they got some easy buckets and we couldn’t get a bucket at all.

The Dragons Rhondorf fought hard and trailed 26-23 after one quarter. Young German Max Von Saldern gave good scoring input. What do you like most about his game?

Having Max is very beneficial and contributed to the game very well. I knew what he could do in pre season so it was no surprise that he made an impact right away. I love that he plays freely and at his pace

The Dragons Rhondorf stayed with Reutlingen well in the second and third quarters and trailed 64-57 after 30 minutes. Why couldn´t the Dragons be more consistent and get over the hump?

It just started with that fourth quarter where we had too many turnovers and missed defense of rebounds that changed the whole outcome of the game.

Reutlingen began with a 7-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to lead 71-57. They then managed the lead well. Allowing easy baskets and turnovers hurt the Dragons in crunch-time. What else hurt the team of getting the win in crunch-time?

The turnovers really hurt us in the beginning that we dug ourself a hole that was hard to get out of

You had a tough shooting game going 1/7 from the field. Was the aggressiveness from you lacking a bit or did they scout you well?

I think it was a me thing and couldn’t get any shots to fall. They were good shots and shots I know that I can make but they just didn’t go in

The next game is a must win against Weimar with another road game. What will be key to getting the win?

They key thing to win this game is playing with our identity for the full 40 minutes. That is something that we lacked in pre season and lacked in games too. I feel like we played with our identity but when you have those quarters like we didn’t the first few minutes of the 4th it’ll be hard. It will be about stringing all those things into a full 40 minutes and turn this thing around.

Thanks Sahmi for the chat.

After the EPG Baskets Koblenz celebrated their best Pro A start in their brief Pro A history winning 3 of their first 4 games, the club has hit rock bottom in the last few weeks riding a 3 game losing streak. The club lost positive rookie point guard Tyren Moore for the season and their replacement Frankie Collins didn´t survive the try out phase. After the tough 107-86 road loss to BG Goettingen, the team needed to produce a positive answer again in their living room. However basketball timing wasn´t great as their next opponent were the top team in the league with the Kreisbau Kirchheim Knights who already had great team chemistry despite having 8 new faces. The EPG Baskets were like a wounded animal and had nothing to lose. On a cool Monday evening and all of German Pro A watching, The Kresibau Kirchheim Knights played a solid game first half as the EPG Baskets Koblenz held firm trailing only by a bucket at the break, but in the second half demonstrated how to manage the lead in pretty fashion as they strolled to the 92-81 victory led by Desmond Watson (196-G-2003, college: Loyola, IL)´s lethal 29 point game. “We take each opponent tough. We came out slow, but did a good job regrouping and in the end got the win. We remain undefeated and we are so confident as a team. I don´t see us losing to anybody. We play every game like it´s our last”, warned Kreisbau Kirchheim Knight guard Desmond Watson. The EPG Baskets Koblenz played a good game without a true point guard, without Jannis Sonnefeld and without Stephan Dohrn in the second half, but just couldn´t get over the hump in the second half. “This loss really hurts. I can´t believe coach got ejected. That was insane. We did a good job playing in the flow the whole game. We played hard against the number one team. I think that we can really build off this loss and will be ready against Bochum”, warned EPG Baskets Koblenz guard Chase Johnson.

Mason Kraus at the FT line

The EPG Baskets Koblenz came out strong in their living room ready for a fight as they took the quick 12-6 lead. It helped that their three point shooting was popping at the start as ex Dartmouth (NCAA) guard Jayden Williams and ex Santa Clara (NCAA) center Camaron Tongue connected while Romanian national player Dragos Diculescu made an offensive rebound and put back while Canadian Mason Kraus and ex Leverkusen center Ferenc Gille made free throws. Kirchheim came into the game allowing only 11 turnovers per game, but Koblenz´s aggressive defense forced them early on to some turnovers. However Kirchheim found better to an offensive flow getting a 20 footer and dunk from Ohio native Desmond Watson and a trey from ex Jena forward Julius Wolf. The Kreisbau Kirchheim Knights got some steals which led to transition baskets and the game was dead locked at 12-12. Kirchheim was making good decisions and scoring very well in the zone. The game remained tight until the end of the first quarter as Koblenz got a trey from Diculescu and 2 baskets from Chase the Machine Johnson, but Kirchheim was more aggressive on the boards and got offensive rebounds and put backs from ex Dresden forward Lukas Zerner and ex Ludwigsburg guard Johannes Patrick. Patrick also added a turn around shot right before the buzzer sounded for the 28-26 Kirchheim advantage after 10 minutes. “We did a good job matching their physicality and also defended the first pass well. We did give up a few offensive rebounds though”, stressed sport director Thomas Klein. The Kreisbau Kirchheim Knights shot 82% from the two point range and 17% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 43% from the two point area and 57% from outside and had 4 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

CJ Hines from outside

In the second quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz got the lead back and led for the most part, but lost it at the end to trail 47-45 at the break. The Kreisbau Kirchheim Knights began with a quick 3 point play as ex ratiopharm Ulm forward Christoph Phillips made a lay in and free throw for the 31-26 advantage. However the EPG Baskets Koblenz punched back and strolled out on a lethal 10-2 run to take the 36-33 lead. Koblenz continued to defend well forcing a few more turnovers and forcing the guests to tough shots, while continuing to attack the paint area with authority as Camaron Tongue led the charge with 6 points with 2 lay in´s and a hook shot while Gille scored on transition and 2018 NBBL winner Badu Buck also scored inside. Koblenz kept the offensive pressure on also scoring from outside as ex easyCredit BBL player Jonas Niedermanner made a trey for the 41-34 lead. However Kirchheim never lost their cool, but just kept plugging away and closed out the first half with a 13-4 run. EPG Baskets Koblenz head coach Stephan Dohrn was ejected with his second technical foul and the guests took advantage of that. Kirchheim plays as a team, but they also have incredible isolation players and they showed their total talent as Atlanta native CJ Hines dropped a trey while Watson made a tough turn around shot as did ex Northern Oklahoma (JUCO) forward Tyrel Morgan. Zerner also added a lay in for goof measure. Koblenz gave good effort on the defensive end, but the opponent simply made tough shots. The game would of surely looked different for the EPG Baskets Koblenz had they had had other Pro A opponents. “Watson held them in the game. The team gave a good effort and stuck together. I was very surprised by their showing. It was a totally different performance than the last 2 games”, stressed Thomas Klein. The Kreisbau Kirchheim Knights shot 68% from the two point range and 22% from the three point range and had 15 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 60% from the two point range and 38% from the three point range and had 12 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

Badu Buck with the runner

In the third quarter the Kreisbau Kirchheim Knights went on a run and from then on managed the lead well, but could never totally shake the EPG Baskets Koblenz as they led only 70-64 after three quarters. Ex BG Leitershofen forward Dragos Diculescú began the third quarter with a lay in tying the game at 47-47. Despite his 8 turnovers, the Romanian national player had a 16/5/3 game and was super aggressive, but a little unlucky in some of his decisions. Then came the turning point of the game as the Kreisbau Kirchheim Knights went on a commanding 12-3 run to lead 59-50. In the run, they got incredible input from CJ Hines who added 8 points and two three´s. The confidence of Kirchheim grew with every new bucket while Watson continued his walking bucket mentality adding a thunderos dunk on transition and a lay in. The Koblenz defensive intensity sunk as did their 1-1 defense and overall help defense. However Koblenz then stepped up their defense understanding the urgency getting two monster blocks from ex Kirchheim forward Jonas Niedermanner on Hines and Watson while Gille blocked Wolf. However their defensive presence couldn´t spark their offense as Kirchheim also defended with a high intensity and passion. Diculescu added a trey and Kraus a lay in, but Desmond Watson always had an answer with big shots making a lay in to keep Koblenz at bay at 66-59. He ended with 29 points and displaying another normal day at the office. “Your correct. This was just another day at the office for me. I just keep pushing every day and stay prayed up”, warned Desmond Watson. Kraus then added a trey, but Watson was aggressive again and stroked home a three pointer for the 69-62 advantage. “Watson is a great player. He was definitely the game changer tonight”, warned Chase Johnson. Williams made a lay in and Watson a free throw ending the third quarter. “We played our game. We played good defense and got stops. We came together and played hard”, added Desmond Watson. “They have been so hot now for 8 games. They keep hitting big and contested shots. We just couldn´t get stops”, commented Chase Johnson. The Kreisbau Kirchheim Knights shot 63% from the two point range and 29% from the parking lot and had 25 rebounds and 16 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 62% from the two point range and 35% from the parking lot and had 21 rebounds and 14 turnovers.

Johannes Patrick from downtown

In the fourth quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz continued to fight, but they just couldn´t produce that last game changing run while the Kreisbau Kirchheim Knights continued to manage the lead well and sailed into the sunlight with their 8 win in a row. Chase Johnson began the last frame with a clutch trey as Koblenz trailed 70-67. However as usual in this game, the guests always had an answer and overpowered them with a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 76-67. Kirchheim added two dunks by Watson and Alston while Patrick made a lay in. Koblenz had lost a bit of their defensive intensity not hedging hard enough. The game now became a game of little runs as Koblenz answered with a 4-0 run including a big trey by Buck, but Kirchheim punched back right away with a 6-2 run as Watson made a lay in, Alston a turn around shot and Zerner a lay in for the 82-73 lead as Koblenz could make no ground. Koblenz had Kirchheim at 5 team fouls and got free throws from Kraus and Johnson, but the guests kept punching back with Morgan free throws and a Watson trey for the 87-77 lead with a minute to go. Koblenz didn´t play bad, but they just couldn´t get a big defensive play. Kirchheim ended the game with a 5-0 run as Phillips and Wolf made lay in´s. “We did a great job staying together and following the game plan. We played good defense´, got rebounds and held them to one shot”, expressed Desmond Watson. “We weren´t tired at the end. It was just the way of the game. They played great defense and hit big shots”, said Chase Johnson. The Kreisbau Kirchheim Knights were led by Desmond Watson with 29 points while CJ Hines added 20 points while the EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Dragos Diculescu with 16 points while Camaron Tongue had 13 points. The Kreisbau Kirchheim Knights shot 54% from the field and 29% from outside and had 31 rebounds and 20 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 45% from the field and 36% from outside and had 27 rebounds and 23 turnovers.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Igor Pperovic in Koblenz in 2025

Igor Perovic (194-G-1974) is a former player that currently is in his seventh season as coach of German Pro A team Bozic Estriche Kirchheim Knights. He has previous coaching experience with the Tigers Tuebingen where he coached from 2009-2015. As a player he played in countries like Serbia, Montenegro, Israel and Germany where he played 5 seasons with Tuebingen and Wurzburg. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the game against the EPG Baskets Koblenz.

Thanks Igor for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the incredible 7-0 start of the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim (Germany-ProA). How good is basketball life for you at the moment?

I´m very happy with my team and how they started. The results couldn´t be better. There are many reasons to be satisfied.

After the tough Pro A final loss last summer, did you come in more focused and hungry into the 2026 summer signing period and have kept that going into the season?

The 2026 playoffs were amazing that had a lot of success, fun and memories. We obviously would have liked to have won the title. But Hagen was clearly the best team during the regular season and playoffs. They deserved to be champion. If someone had told me before the season that we would reach the final, I would have called it a miracle. We were young last season and had 5 rookies. We had an incredible development. This summer we had little time to recover, but I already knew guys like Watson and Alston, because they had played with my ex player Braden Norris in the NCAA. I had gotten great feedback from Norris on them. I watched 30-40 of their games. I also knew they were good character guys. I had no doubts in signing them. I have no extra special motivation because of losing the final. As a competitor, one always wants to win each game. We realized very quickly at the start that we have good players and people and could have success.

You have an amazing ability to get the right point guards the last years as guys like Richard Williams, Michael Flowers, Braden Norris and last season Philipp Russell were guys that gave a big impact. Now you have CJ Hines. How do you consistently always know which point guard fits best?

I was a point guard and I guess I have a knack for knowing who fits best. The point guards that I had in the past were all different. For example Braden Norris was more an old school pass first guard while a Michael Flowers was more a scoring point guard. I just see what I have and then use it. I never try to make one of my point guards into something they are not. I try to always get the best out of each player.

CJ Hines has been scoring wise well. He only averages 2,6apg. How have you seen his development?

We have very high expectations of CJ. He has a good body, is strong, athletic and can score. It is all a process for him. He has to know to get 100% on every possession at both ends. That is his biggest challenge. I feel he can always shift up another gear.

The EPG Baskets need a new point guard as Frankie Collins wasn´t a fit. Do you have a tip?

Even if I did, I won´t tell them. Maybe after the game I would tell them.

The Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim (Germany-ProA) are 7-0. That isn´t easy in the competitive Pro A. Has the start surprised you just a little bit?

I saw our players in pre season. I realized right away that they aren´t only good players, but also good people. They are all very coachable. This helps a lot when building a new team. We have very physical players which also helps. I feel like we also have some of the best guards in the Pro A. They have proved that they can play at high levels. I´m not surprised of our great start, but maybe it is a bit too much.

You have 8 new players and are 7-0. That is amazing. How were you able to form such a good team chemistry so early on?

We have a good quality with our players and all have the right mind set. It makes it easier to have success when all are smart and there are no egos.

How difficult is it as a coach to lead an unbeaten team? What is the biggest challenge for you?

I think that the biggest challenge is getting better in each practice and staying on the ground with our feet. You also have to be smart and stay disciplined. We have good players and good people, but still each game is a big challenge in this league. You have to respect each opponent. I put a lot of pressure on my players when we prepare. We can´t take anyone lightly. If your not 100% ready, then you will lose.

Most wins were by larger margins. How well is the defense coming along? The teams allows 75 points per game and last weekend kept ex BBL team Heidelberg to only 64 points. How good is the defense now and what needs to get better?

Our offense is already very good. We need more time with defense. The first six games were all high scoring while the last game against Heidelberg was different. We didn´t have a good offensive game and it was low scoring. Heidelberg was well prepared against us. Our defense in the second half was amazing. We showed our physical potential. Lukas Zerner didn´t score any points, but his defensive game was crucial in our success. We have some players that don´t score much, but their defense is very important for us. Christoph Philips was very important for us as well.

I believe you asked me during the 2025-2026 playoffs about Desmond Watson, because I covered him in Frankfurt last season. Low and behold you signed him. How special of a player is he on the floor?

He is a very special player. He has all the tools to be great in Europe. He is so skilled, has excellent ball handling, can defend 1-3 and can really do it all. He is easy to coach. I can only compliment him.

We know what Tyrel Morgan can do, but how vital has Philipp Alston been? Is he like a glue guy?

He is an amazing athlete that has a great basketball body that can play at any level in Europe. Sometimes he plays to fast to recognize certain things on the court. He just needs to read the game a little better.

The next opponent are the EPG Baskets Koblenz? They had a good start, but now injuries have plagued them. What is your impression of them?

It is never easy when you lose the point guard. But they also lost an important German player with Jannis Sonnefeld. They still have a good roster. However I believe that we are the better team and can beat them. We have to be mentally and physically prepared.

How dangerous will they be? They are like a wounded animal with nothing to lose. What will be the key to winning?

We can´t underestimate them. I hope we will be healthy. Of course they could win, but if we can play the way we usually do then we will have a good chance to win.

We go back 20 years to 2006. Could you beat AJ Moye in a 1-1 game with your IQ?

I would win a shooting contest and him a 1-1.

Thanks Igor for the chat.

Pic credit: Schwelmer Michi

Jonathan Almstedt (208-C-1999) is a 27 year old 208cm center that is playing his second season with the ETB Miners Essen (ProA) averaging 4/1 stats. Last season in the Pro B he averaged 8.0ppg, 5.1rpg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 57.6% and helped the team win the Pro B title. He has previous Pro A experience having played 3 seasons with the ROMERSTROM Gladiators Trier (ProA) playing a total of 89 games. Previously he played 2 seasons with SG DJK Saarlouis-Roden/BBF Dillingen (Regionalliga). In the 2023-2024 season he played with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (ProB) averaging 6.0ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 84.2% and in the 2024-2025 season played with the EN Baskets Schwelm (ProB) averaging 12.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 68.8%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 57.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

The 2025-2026 season was such a special season for the ETB Miners. Why was this team so special?

It´s really the fact that we had such a good chemistry in the Team. I can´t remember one time that we had a real dispute or something similar. It was just a great group of guys who appreciated each other and wanted to have a good time on and off the court.

The team lost only 5 games during the regular season. Was there a game during the season where you then knew, we will win the whole thing?

Our motto was to go from game to game. So that in head it was probably before the last game.

How vital was head coach Lars Wendt for the success? What was his biggest ability as a coach to be able to help bring success to the team?

One of his biggest strengths is that he is open to speak to players and listen to their opinions or ideas. He is also willed to get feedback about how we players feel about certain things and that makes it easier to speak to him if for example the team felt sore that day because the practice the day before was really intense. That way he was able to adapt the intensity. I would say that’s a skill not every coach has.

How special was it sharing the back court with Mychael Paulo? What part of his game will you always remember best?

Mychael is great guy as well. Not the most talkative guy, but he is speaking by his actions on the court. I´m talking about clutch 3s and wild and-1s. Oh yeah and I can´t forget about his reliability from midcourt. I never saw anybody hitting halfcourt shots that consistently like Mychael. The Harlem Globetrotters might be a thing for him after his professional career.

How valuable was sniper guard Marc Friederici? What besides his scoring helped the team be successful?

Marc is/was a really important guy and probably the hardest worker in our team. This guy lives and dies for basketball on and off the court. I would call him our allrounder. He makes an impact on both sides of the court. On offense he attacks the basket and shoots his threes and on the other side he defends like crazy. Not to forget his athleticism and ability to rebound/collect the ball (while I tried to box out the Bigs ??). So all in all a great guy who does more than just shoot threes.

How valuable were bigs Ben Uzoma and Niclas Sperber? What was each player´s biggest attribute for the success?

Ben is just a beast in the paint. Once he is in there its´ tough to get him out of there. His presence in the zone on offense and defense is a huge advantage in this league and I´m very happy I had him in my team again and not like last season as an opponent. Captain Nic is the guy who kept us all together and the most important link between us players and coaches. On the court you never know what he will do next. With his abilities to shoot but also to post up and score with his back to the basket he is really difficult to guard.

Which player was the most improved during the season?

Gabriel Jung is the answer. Nothing more to say about that. I mean look at how he led the team in the games and saved us in some intense Moments in a lot of games. Actually I also do not want forget about Reik and Lukas who in my opinion also did a great step, by playing more confident and energetic in games and practices.

You averaged 8,0ppg and 5,1rpg in 20 minutes. How content were you with your season in Essen?

I´m really happy about how the season went. Of course there is always something that you don’t like about your personal game or something you wished would have been better. But who am I to not be happy after what we achieved this season and like I said earlier I always wanted to play in a team that plays to be promoted or win the title.

How did you feel did your game grow this season with a winning team? Did your leadership skills grow as well?

That’s a good question. I think in every team and every season you learn something new that you can and should add to your game. I got a lot of input for my postgame by Raffi Wilder. He showed me that it does not always have to be those fancy moves in the post but that the basics can be really important and can bring you already far. I think my role as a leader wasn’t that important this season because we already had a lot of experienced guys like Nic, Marc; Q or Ben. Of course here and there I tried to give some advices if asked but all in all I just watched and learned for myself.

What was your second favorite game of the season after game 2 of Orange Academy?

Probably the second mainround game against Schwelm in Schwelm. It´s always special to play against former clubs and this one was even more special because I met a lot of familiar faces. Another one that’s stuck with me is the second game against Frankfurt in the first round of the playoffs.

In the 2024 season you played with the EN Baskets Schwelm (ProB) averaging12.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 68.8%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 57.9%. You doubled your scoring average from your Iserloh season. This was your break out season. What steps did you make with your game in Schwelm?

Schwelm gave me a bigger role with more playing time and responsibilities. Schwelm brought me the fun in playing Basketball back. I lost that a little bit during my Time in Iserlohn. I think that’s the biggest point in how those numbers in Schwelm doubled. I just felt good and was happy to give something to the Ttam even though we fell short of our goal to reach the playoffs.

After 3 seasons in the Pro A with Trier you moved to the Iserlohn Kangaroos (ProB) averaging 6.0ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 84.2%. Were you a little disappointed that you weren´t more of a focal point in the offense?

Like I said, Iserlohn was a little hard for me, but I don’t want to miss the time I had and the people I met. I think out of everything you experienced you can take something positive and that’s what I did.

Who won a 1-1 in practice in Iserlohn in 2023 and now in 2026 in Essen in practice you or Ben Uzoma?

The question is rather am I allowed to shoot or not. I would say it’s a friendly 50:50 between me and Ben.

You played 3 years in the Pro A with Trier never averaging more than 4,5ppg in a season. How do you have these 3 years in your memories. How did your game grow further in these years?

I have Trier in great memories and I am still very grateful for that time. I came there as a guy who played basketball for maybe 2 years and got the opportunity to start my professional basketball career in the second division in Germany. I was surrounded by teammates who played basketball for half their life and started young by playing JBBL and NBBL or at colleges. I never did that, I played most of my life as a semi good goalkeeper in youth football and suddenly I was in an organization for professional Basketball. How did my game grow during these years? Well I think I basically got it there and had the opportunity to go step by step. At the end I just wasn’t ready for what the organization was planning and needed to go my way and I think that was the right decision by both sides.

You played for Jermaine Bucknor in Trier and a year later he was NBA champion with the Boston Celtics. How crazy was that and what will you always remember when you hear his name?

Buck is a Legend in Trier and I think he will always be. Personally I will always remember his professionalism and his support towards anybody who asked him for help. I´m a little sad that we never shared the court but it is what it is. He is a great guy and I wish him all the best for his future as a coach.

Before you went to Trier you played some seasons in Saarlouis. How do you remember these years. How valuable were the battles in practice with veteran Muharem Mujkanovic? How vital was his presence?

Those years were my first years in basketball and I learned all my basics there. I basically went form Landesliga to Regionalliga in two years and got a lot of input in a short period of Time. Guys like Hari played a big role during this time: He showed me what Postgame is and started off showing my first couple moves.

When you look back at your Saarlouis days, what did it mean you be teammates with Mr Regionalliga Ricky Easterling? How amazing a player was he?

I think at that time I didn’t really realize how good of a player Ricky was/is. But in retroperspective it´s been some nice two years with him. Like Hari he is one of those guys I looked up to at that time, like probably every youth player that came or still comes out of that Saarlouis/Dillingen program. Me and Ricky always have to laugh nowadays when I come back to watch a game and we always talk about the time back then. Who knows if he is still balling with 50 in a couple years, maybe we will have a reunion haha.

Who is the toughest player that you ever played against in your career that reached the NBA or Euroleague?

To be honest I cant remember that I played against somebody who now is playing in the NBA or Euroleague. But who knows maybe in the future I will see somebody hooping there.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

That’s not fair…but I try:

Austin Wiley, Quashawn Lane, Marco Hollersbacher, Dan Monteroso, Chris Frazier

Please name your NBA and German Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?

NBA:

Dirk Nowitzki, Nikola Jokic, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

German:

Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schröder, Andi Obst, Franz Wagner

Who is your GOAT?

Just for the ragebait: Nikola Jokic

Site note: I´m really not that much into the NBA rather now than in the past

Thanks Jonathan for the chat.

It was Halloween 2026 and it was relatively quiet in the Dragon Dome in Bad Honnef where Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf play their home games in terms of costumes. One will see a greater amount of costumes during the Carnival time, but heck it´s Halloween. There should be something going on. I even had a monster mask with me, but only wore shortly for a photo. There was even a young man who had really bad burn marks on both cheeks, I still don´t know today if that was part of a Halloween act, but it sure looked real. There really was very little going on in terms of costumes, but this night basketball was on the menu in the Dragon Dome as the Dragons Rhondorf faced the winningest club in the easyCredit BBL history with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen who have celebrated 25 titles. It was a tough 93-78 loss for the Dragons who played a good first half, but were run over by Leverkusen in the second half as their experience and hot shooting by American Brandon Maughmer was too much for the team who fell to 3-4. One player who couldn´t participate was young German Tom Viehofer who was in action that day as well in NBBL (U-19) play as he helped Team Bonn/Rhondorf beat the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim 93-68. He delivered a potent 15/6/2/2 game in only 17 minutes. He was able to watch the Pro B game and he as well as most other people in the arena had no Halloween costume on display. “I would go and get candy on Halloween in the past. However today I had to play a game plus support the pro B team. Basketball was my focus. I don´t remember having a favorite costume, but I do remember Gummi Bears being my favorite candy”, smiled Tom Viehoefer (188-SG -2009). He has faced some tough young players so far in his career as well in the Pro B, but is there one player in this world that could give him a scare not on Halloween, but on the court? “Oh yes definitely Carlik Jones of KK Partizan Mozzart Bet Beograd (Serbia-KLS). He is an athletic beast “, stressed Tom Viehoefer who has had the pleasure of visiting cities like New York, Houston and Dallas and watch NBA games and James Harden.

Tom Viehoefer who lists 2026 AST winner and teammate Dusan Ilic as the toughest player that he has ever faced and Lebron James as his GOAT was born on August 9th, 2009. He began with basketball at a young age, but really was only connected to the game by his older brother who also played. He began to play in the U-8 in the Telekom Baskets Bonn organization. It is no surprise that his early role models as players in German basketball were players in the Telekom Baskets Bonn organization with Janne Muller and Sam Nellessen. It is also no jolt that his two mentors are coaches in the same organization. “Max Becker is a mentor for me. It helps that he began to coach at age 17. He helps me with my emotions while Tom Becker helps me be focused on my basketball goals”, said Tom Viehoefer. Currently he attends the Tannenbusch sport school in Bonn. This season in the NBBL, the German is having a super season averaging 18/6/3/2 stats while shooting a respectable 34% from downtown. “I have a different role this season with the NBBL. I´m more of a creator and driver. Last season, I was more of a shooter”, stated Tom Viehoefer. The ambitions are very high with the NBBL team this season especially after their JBBL U-16 team won the German title last season. “The NBBL Top 4 is definitely our goal. We have a new player with Max Von Saldern who is a big up grade. We have great team chemistry and we all want to win”, warned Tom Viehoefer. One guy that he can have duels with at every practice is young talented guard Oliver Papez who helped lead the JBBL team to the title last season. “I know Oliver since a long time. I already played against him at age 9. He is a great shooter and can always create a shot. He is never negative and a great teammate”, commented Tom Viehoefer.

Max Becker, Tom Viehoefer, Tom Becker

The Pro B spark plug who lists Malik Idbihi, Marvin Nduche, Carlo Schmid, Remi Voelkers and Leonard Frantzen as his 5 best teammates of all-time is also a fixture with the Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. The team is up and down at the moment and he knows what the club has to do to be more consistent. “We have a young team. I feel like that when we play our game, we can beat anyone. We have to stick to the basics. When we have the lead in a game, we have to build on it and not lose it”, stated Tom Viehoefer. He is averaging 4,3ppg, and 1,7rpg in 13 minutes time. “My role in the Pro B is that of a combo guard. I can bring up the ball, but also take my shots”, said Tom Viehoefer. So far in this season, he has hit some big three´s of the bench and is currently shooting 33% from the parking lot. Does it surprise him how successful he has been with his shooting? “No I´m not surprised. I have the utmost confidence in the work I have put in with my shot. I have had that my whole life. Plus I get the trust and confidence from Max Becker. I always give my best”, warned Tom Viehoefer. Is there a teammate where he is most keen in soaking up as much as possible? “I try to learn as much as possible from Mychael Paulo. His game is similar to mine. He is super humble and I have a lot of faith in him. He tells me what I do wrong”, stated Tom Viehoefer.

The young 17 year old who lists Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore and Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schroeder, Franz Wagner and Isaac Bonga on his personal German Mount Rushmore doesn´t have the typical comparison of an NBA player that he tries to model his game after, but it is always nice not to hear the typical NBA stars. “I´m a big Los Angeles Lakers fan. I would say my best comparison is Austin Reaves. I like his game. We both have the ability to create shots”, smiled Tom Viehoefer. When one watches him compete on the floor, there is no secret what his two biggest strengths are. “My shooting and left hand are my best qualities in my game”, said Tom Viehoefer. His shooting is something that he wants to continue to build on and develop further this season. “I need more consistency in my shot. I´m always working on my shot. I´m in the gym every day with Marvin Ndouche and Malik Idbihi”, added Tom Viehoefer. He is also aware that in order to keep moving up the basketball ladder, he can´t be one dimensional, but also bring his A game on the defensive end. “I´m not the most physical player, so I have to find other ways of helping. I hustle a lot and am a pest”, smiled Tom Viehoefer. He also is aware of what he needs to continue most with his game at the moment. “I have to improve my playmaking and make better decisions on the pick and roll”, warned Tom Viehoefer. At the moment, he is having good seasons in the NBBL and Pro B, but what are his long term goals? Is Pro basketball an option for him? “Yes becoming a pro is my main goal. But I do have a plan B. I would like to work with kids and help them develop. But at the same time, still be able to share my love of basketball and play”, warned Tom Viehoefer. It will be interesting to keep monitoring his basketball development this season in the NBBL and Pro B. His main focus now is to help the Dragons Rhondorf back on the winning track and help lead the NBBL team Bonn/Rhondorf to new heights with a trip to the NBBL Top 4.

Sahmi Willoughby (192-F/G-2001, college: Marietta) is a 25 year old 192cm guard from Ohio that is playing his second pro season and first in Germany with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. He played his rookie season with Lahti Basketball (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 8.7ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 80.0%, played also at Team Pajulahti (Finland-1st Division) averaging 22.4ppg, 14.0rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 72.7%. He began his basketball career at Reynoldsburg high school and then played at Marietta College (NCAA 3) from 2019-2024 playing a total of 113 games and as a senior averaged 12.6ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 64.9%. He got early basketball experience playing with the Great Falls Electric (TBL) averaging 9.8ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 60.0%. He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk about basketball.

The Dragons Rhondorf suffered a tough 93-78 loss against the Bayer Giants Leverkusen. How tough was this loss to digest? The Dragons played well for 30 minutes, but a game has 40 minutes.

That was a tough loss against Leverkusen. We know we had a chance but we have to find a way to string together a full 40 minutes of basketball

The Dragons Rhondorf came out cold in the third quarter allowing a 19-3 run. How can one explain a start like that into the second half? Keeping the three point line in check was a problem.

In the third quarter, we had some costly turnovers that changed the game. That effect lead to the defensive of end and they were capitalizing off our mistakes.

In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf couldn´t get over the hump and Branden Maughmer poured it on hitting many shots. Did the Dragons run out of gas?

I wouldn’t say we ran out of gas but when you see those tough shots go in after playing 15-20 seconds of defense it kind of effects you mentally

Could the Dragons get anything positive out of the loss to build on for the next game? The overall shooting percentages were ok.

The positive thing we can get out of this game is that we can compete with top teams when we play good basketball but we have to play good basketball all the time and not just sometimes

You had 5 points and 3 rebounds in 28 minutes and took 4 shots. Was the few shots on them for denying you the ball well or were you not aggressive enough?

I will give props to leverkusen, they were heavily denying me and was hard for me to get the ball, I could have been more aggressive but they made it tough for the guards to even get the ball to me

The next opponent doesn´t get any easier with 6-0 Ravens Reutlingen. What will be key to starting a new winning streak?

I will say nothing is impossible in the basketball world. We just have to keep our head forward, block the noise and lock in this week. Be extremely focused and dialed in practices, film sessions and walk throughs. Our key thing to winning this game is being fully focused on the defensive end, which will lead to offense. Everything will come together

Have you been surprised how popular Halloween is in Germany?

I’m not that surprised, I feel like Halloween is popular all over the world

Thanks Sahmi for the chat.