Dusan Nikolic (191-PG-2005) is a 20 year old 190cm guard playing his fifth season with the Skyliners Organization. He played many years in the NBBL (U-19) team where he made big strides averaging 16.3ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 53.1%, 3PT: 23.8%, FT: 88.2% and PPG-5 (21.4), 5.0rpg, 3.0apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 76.5% in his last 2 seasons. Last season he played his first full season in the Pro B averaging 8.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.9%, 3PT: 21.4%, FT: 78.0%. He is also injured, but will return to action soon. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Dusan for talking to germanhoops.com. Your injured at the moment. How did it occur? I was very unfortunate getting injured during the first week of pre season. I suffered a foot injury.
What is your status and when will you be back in action? I´m in the process of making a full recovery. I hope to be in action in the next weeks.
How is the rehab going? What have you been doing?
My rehab has been going well. I have done a lot of foot exercises as well as well as calf exercises.
On what areas of your game did you work on last summer?
I mostly worked on my shooting and getting my body stronger and on my athleticism.
What are your personal expectations coming into the 2025-2026 season?
My expectations are to be a leader and take on even more responsibility than last season. As a team we want to play aggressive and quick. We want to win as many games as possible.
Last season you made a big jump in the Pro B averaging 8/3/1. How did your game grow? I got more experience and played with more confidence. I gained more responsibility with more minutes.
You became more of a leader. How did you see your development there? My leadership skills grew with time. A big help was Philip Hadenfeld. When he left for his semester break, I fell into the roll of being a leader. My communication got a lot better.
Your three pointer is still a work in progress. Last season in the Pro B you shot 21%. Will you shoot better this season? I hope so. New coach Markus Klusemann helped me a lot. We worked on my shot during the summer. He helped me with my mechanics first and then it was just reps, reps and reps. My shot feels good.
You had many big games last season like scoring 21 points against Coburg. What was your favorite game? My favorite game last season was the home game against Ulm. I did a bit of everything in that game.
What is your impression of the 2025-2026 Skyliners Juniors? This is a very interesting team. It is a lot younger than the last years. It will be exciting. We are young and wild.
The team is younger than ever. Will a lack of experience be a problem?
That is hard to say. I mean we are young, but enough guys who have played at the Pro B level. We won´t have the most experience in the league, but we will find ways to win.
What is your impression of massive 18 year old talent Lukas Smazak from the Czech Republic? Lukas is very intelligent and has a good game. He has a great passing game and his shooting is underrated.
If Jamie Edoka and Ivan Crnjac are out, will you be the go to guy? I don´t know. I hope so. My expectations for myself are that I would be.
What is your biggest wish this season as a player?
I just want to make another step in my game. I want to show and prove that I´m ready for the next step in a higher league. I want to be a leader and make a difference this season.
It is no secret that the last 2 seasons of the EPG Baskets Koblenz were nothing to brag about. In fact they were quite poor as both seasons ended with the club ending on the 16th position. Despite the non-success, the organization has always been ambitious. It is also no secret that the long term goal of the club is to play in the easyCredit BBL. Sport director Thomas Klein loves his team and will do anything to bring success. The last 2 seasons featured 2 coaches with Pat Elzie and Marco Van Den Berg that were able to bring in talented individual players, but that doesn´t guarantee winning. One hopes that one learns from it´s past mistakes. Thomas Klein´s first good mood was bringing in the success coaching duo from Rhondorf with Stephan Dohrn and KJ Sherril. My feeling that this season´s club could be a good one grew with every new signing that happened through out the summer. It seems like this time the club has learned from it´s past mistakes and have brought in the right mix from the guard position to the center position. My feeling that this could be a good season continues to be there as the team continues to grow in pre season. The team has individual talent, character and heart. “Almost every new player wants to prove themselves. They are all high character guys. They want prove themselves not with their ego´s, but as team players. They all want to play together”, warned EPG Baskets sport director Thomas Klein. This is thought was heightened simply by the type of players they have brought in. One can never be sure about the Americans, but with Calvin Wishart (188-G-1999, college: UCSB)t, Tim Smith Jr and Aleksa Kovacevic, the team has 3 winners. I will be bold and proclaim that this will be the best season ever for the EPG Baskets Koblenz. Ok one can only get better from landing on the 16th place the last 2 seasons, but still the Pro A is fiercely competitive where any team can beat any team on any night. The only place is up with this team and they will be better than 16th place. “I´m really looking forward to the season and have 100% a good feeling. I think the team is very homogeneous and we are stronger than the last 2 seasons. We are above average at the guard position. I think the team has shown that in pre season”, stressed Thomas Klein.
A big problem the last 2 seasons was the defense of the EPG Baskets Koblenz. At least last year they tried to focus and defend better and at times it worked, but as usual they never could truly establish a real defensive identity and 1-1 defense often hurt them most. In both seasons, they had the talent to score a lot, but still scored a lot less than what was expected. A big problem last season was the terrible three point shooting percentage. This season, the club wants to be able to combine offense and defense and be more consistent. If the formula worked once before in Rhondorf where Dohrn led the team to the Pro B title, why not do it again in Koblenz. “It’s pretty much the same concept here in Koblenz. With Stephan, he puts emphasis on defense. So we want that to be our identity, not just an offensive team. We know we can score, but we want to have consecutive defensive stops. That’s what wins games”, warned KJ Sherrill.. This season the club has really powerful guards with Wishart, Kovacevic, Hicks, and Buck, but also have very skilled big men who are very experienced. In the last years, the big men play wasn´t as focused on scoring. Will that change this season? “Our bigs maybe won’t be our outstanding scorers, but their presence under the basketball is what we need. Rebounding and being physical down low. Controlling the paint and setting good screens. With their experience, they are able to contribute to the game a whole lot and we are happy to have them with us”, stated KJ Sherrill. “We are very big especially at the positions 3-5, but even big at the position 2. We are very versatile and will play fast and be aggressive on defense”, warned Thomas Klein.
The clubs 2 best signings were most likely Calvin Wishartt and Aleksa Kovacevic. With Wishart, you have a motivated guard who showed last season that he was a top guard in the Pro B. He knows how to lead a team and is more than just a great offensive player, but gives all on defense. He could be a MVP candidate. Aleksa Kovacevic has BBL experience and is ready to have a great Pro A season so he can get back to the BBL. He played many years for Crailsheim and practiced on a daily basis with top BBL guards TJ Shorts, Trae Bell-Haynes and Dwayne Russell and learned from NBA coach Tuomas Iisalo. The Serbian is so hungry. He will rock the Pro A. Badu Buck has had his ups and downs as a pro, but had success with Dohrn in Rhondorf and will give important offensive qualities to the team, but most importantly leadership skills. Garrett Hicks comes to Koblenz after a strong rookie season in Georgia. Don´t let his Damian Lillard scoring fool you. He is more than that, but a guy who will do anything to help the team win. The team kept young guard Jacob Hanzalek from last season. He had trouble last season getting minutes and it won´t be easier this season, but he is a point guard that plays controlled that can hit the three pointer as well as make the big play on defense.
The team has a talented rotation at the forward position with 2 Germans and 2 Americans. Tim Smith Jr comes from the Dragons Rhondorf and has a great rookie season and wants to make the next step in the Pro A. He has shown in the pre-season that he can do that. He is a scorer and tenacious rebounder that is also an impact defender. He doesn´t talk much on the court, but leads by example. He most likely won´t have the Pro B stats, but will be consistent in the minutes he gets. He could be a glue guy type of player. DJ Jeffries came late to the team and is hungry for his pro break through. It is his first season overseas and he is more than motivated to have success after a very disappointing season in the G-League. His middle name could be Mr versatile as he fills the stat sheet with ease, but most importantly is a good defender that can guard many positions. He wants to be the next successful DJ in Koblenz. The team also brought in experienced Jonas Niedermanner. He like others on the team is very versatile and can shoot the three. The fan of Tadas Sedekerskis has 6 seasons of Pro A experience as well as BBL experience. Perhaps the most interesting signing was young 22 year old German Jannis Sonnefeld. After paying his dues in the Bamberg and Trier organizations, he had his Pro A break through in Paderborn last season averaging 9/7. He is also versatile and likes to shoot the three pointer. When describing the 2 centers Marko Bacak and Alex Moeller, all one can say is experienced. Bacak has 6 Pro A season experience and 4 BBL seasons with Oldenburg and was even teammates with BBL legend Rickey Paulding while Moeller proved in 5 Pro B seasons that he was a top center and during his 4 Pro A seasons was a solid role player. Bacak is another versatile big man that plays like Johannes Voigtmann while Moeller is the classic banger under the basket.
So what kind of a season will the EPG Baskets Koblenz have this season and where will they land? When looking at the schedule, one can´t say that they have an easy start. They have to face BG Goettingen and Crailsheim in the first 3 games. At least those games are at home. A good start would be ideal for the team. The club knows that you can´t look forward, but simply take it game by game in the Pro A. This should be a club that will average somewhere between 80-85 points. They also should be a strong rebounding team. They also should be a better three point shooting team after their horrible shooting season in 2024-2025. Scoring won´t be the problem, but can they be a well rounded defensive team? The club definitely have the versatility and good defensive players. It will be the job of the coaching staff to develop an identity quickly and then continue to develop it. “When you play fast and aggressive, you give the opponent more possessions. We will see more high scoring games than last season. Everybody thinks that coach Dohrn only concentrates on offense, but he is a very skilled defensive coach as well. I like how he really goes into detail”, warned Thomas Klein. I see this club having the potential of landing somewhere between 9-15. “I see us being somewhere between 10-12 this season”, added Thomas Klein. If they can develop through the season and refrain from getting injuries then they will have their best Pro A season ever.
It feels like an eternity since the last time the Skyliners made the easyCredit BBL playoffs. The last time the 2000 BBL cup winner reached the promised land not including the Covid season, they were led by the historic Gordon Herbert. Even if a guy like Gunnar Wobke surely could of predicted some things in the future when regarding Herbert, I’m sure nobody would ever have thought that the Canadian would be very responsible for the German national team having so much success. When the Skyliners bowed out to FC Bayern Munich in the spring of 2018, Franz Wagner was still a NBBL player, Isaac Bonga wasn’t even drafted by the NBA yet and Luka Doncic was still with Real Madrid. The Skyliners in the last 7 years have been an organization that have really struggled. It was even that bad, that the club had to play a season in the Pro A. The 2023-2024 was successful in that they moved right back to the BBL as that is definitely a feat. Teams like Bremerhaven, Giessen and Trier have stayed in the Pro A for years showing you can build yourself a rut in the Pro A.. Having enough money in the budget has always been a problem for the Skyliners. Often one reels in young Americans with little experience and just hope for the best. The best news story going into the 2025-2026 season is that they finally have Klaus Perwas as head coach. Perwas had always been the faithful assistant coach and once in a while even was interim head coach, but having the main responsibility was never his cup of tea. Somehow Wobke was able to persuade him to do the head coach job. Perwas is a coach that had been responsible for helping developing so many young Germans over the years and if there is 1 player that knows if Perwas can handle the head coaching job then it Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson who played there form 2009-2023. ‘ He was always cool and focused as an assistant coach. Now as head coach, we can see how he does everything his way. His defensive principles were always the same as Gordie Herbert. Now we will see how his offense will work. He has always been known as a defensive coach, but now we will see how the Skyliners offense works’, warned Quantez Robertson. With Perwas as head coach and a face lift with the roster, could this finally be the season again where the Skyliners make the playoffs?
You never really know what to expect when a club produces a fine house cleaning as they reeled in 7 new players. From the new players, the club have added a healthy mix of young and experience. But they also kept a healthy core from last year. Important is having that solid duo at the big positions with Lorenz Brenneke and Jacob Knauf. Both have experienced highs and lows over the years. Brenneke will bang inside while Knauf likes to sparkle form outside while also helping inside. The team added 2 really talented bigs with BBL experienced versatile Till Pape who played the last 2 years in Bonn and newcomer Ryan Hawkins who played in France and Italy the last 2 seasons and also sparkled with his versatile game while he shot 45% from outside in his last 2 seasons in the NCAA 2. The team also reeled in Radii Caisin and Jaedon LeDee for the forward positions. Casin played parts of 4 seasons in the BBL with 3 teams and played 96 BBL games, but never averaged more than 3,3ppg in a season. After 2 successful seasons with BC Raiffeisen Flyers Wels (Austria-BSL) where he averaged 18.8ppg, 7.6rpg, 3.1apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 82.2% last season, he is hungry for his BBL break through this season. With LeDee, the Skyliners could have a guy that will be one of their consistent scorers in the season while also grabbing many rebounds. He played his rookie season in the G-League and reached the NCAA final in 2023 with San Diego State University.
The Skyliners are also very deep and talented at the guard position. Going into the season, they have 3 players with BBL experience with Garai Zeeb, Will Christmas and Marcus Domask. Zeeb is going into his 7th season with Frankfurt and has 147 BBL games under his belt. He is a great team player that will give effective minutes form the bench. Christmas is like a mini Cinderella story. He began in the Pro B and via Luxemburg reached the BBL and became a solid player player. He fills the stats sheet and is a consistent scorer while Domask already had a short tour of duty last season with Frankfurt. He is another versatile player that has G-League experience and showed last season that he needs no adjustment time to the BBL. The club also added 3 more guards with 2 with no experience overseas with Logan Johnson and Isaiah Swope and Nahiem Alleyne who has experience in Greece and Poland and played at 3 NCAA schools including UConn and Virginia Tech. Johnson is probably one of the more interesting signings as he is the point guard and will run the team. His dunking and athleticism may stand out, but he knows how to lead a team a she showed as a rookie with the Oklahoma City Blue averaging 10.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 25.6%, FT: 76.1%. Isaiah Swope is a rookie and showed at 3 schools in the NCAA that he could adapt to any coach averaging 16/3/3 in his last 3 years. He is quick and gets to the hoop well. This could be Malik Parsons’s 2,0. Alleyne is a great shooter that averaged 38% from down town in 3 years at Virginia Tech. But as a rookie overseas had growing pains. The gritty defender is hungry for his overseas break through in Frankfurt. The Skyliners also have 2 talented young Germans with Ivan Crnjak and Jamie Edoka who had solid Pro B seasons in 2024-2025 and are planned for the main BBL rotation. However this Skyliners roster is talented and deep. The question is will they anything besides garbage time minutes this season?
So what will be the fate of the Skyliners this season. The excitement is massive simply because Klaus Perwas is the head coach from day 1 of a season. He has been known for being a coach who prides his team to play defense. One saw that philosophy under Gordon Herbert and with Denis Wucherer in the Pro A. It will be interesting to see how he wheels and deals with the offense. The club definitely have offensive weapons and should score much on a consistent level and it will be interesting to see how well the players are able to identify and accept their roles. The team has valuable shooting players but a team also with big men who finish at the paint. One can only hope they become more than just a shooting team. With the athleticism, the team should play fast as well. The team should be an above average rebounding team and sky is the limit at the defensive end. The club has many hungry players that will want to produce and have to not only execute on the offensive end. The Skyliners aren’t the only club with many new players, but there are so many other teams with the same scenario with new players. The question is always how well can these new guys get integrated to the easyCredit BBL and how well can the coach develop that correct team chemistry. The Skyliners have many guys with LeDee, Swope and Johnson where the potential to be successful is great. That is one of the exciting aspects to every season. Can some of these BBL newcomers break out or will they be flops. The Skyliners schedule in the first month is difficult to evaluate as it is hard to rate how well an Oldenburg and Ludwigsburg will play as they have many new faces. However MBC and Braunschweig are teams that have had success recently and won’t be cake walks. A good start to a season is always beneficial. Predicting where the Skyliners will finish is never easy. However I will bold enough to say that they won’t be 17th or 16th in May 2026. I see this team being a club that could be one on of the surprise teams this season, if many things go right and they aren’t hit by the injury bug. I see them somewhere from 8-14. It is finally time again for the faithful Skyliners fans to have joy again. The suffering in the last years simply has been to long There is that famous phrase on the US 1 $. In God we trust. Skyliner fans should etch ‘In Klaus Perwas we trust’.
I always knew that my interview sessions would never end with Quantez Robertson (188-SG-1984, college: Auburn, agency: Interperformances)n even almost 2,5 years after he retired. It is 2025 and I´m still interviewing him. This is my 76th interview/article since his rookie season in 2009. My love for him and his game is still there. And why not there are always interesting basketball topics to talk about. However never in a million years did I ever think that I would be preparing a few questions about his ex teammate Kimmo Muurinen who was his teammate seemingly ages ago in 2010-2011. I mean Kimmo was a very skilled player, but Finnish and more taciturn. It would be more fitting and logical to talk about guys like Jordan Theodore, Mike Morrison or Gordie Herbert who he had more dealings with during his Skyliner years. Muurinen who remembers nailing 50 free throws in a row and having Jordan and Magic as his childhood idols was one of those players that wasn´t flashy, but did what ever the team needed to win and was a great shooter as he shot 44% from the parking lot in his only easyCredit BBL season with Frankfurt. He was the kind of player that didn´t shy away from pulling a Larry Bird on the court and concentrated more on rebounding and defense and didn´t have to score consistently. “I think a hidden strength in my game is my dirty work like diving for loose balls that doesn’t get noticed as much”, said Kimmo Muurinen in 2011. When I told Quantez Robterson about slim Jesus, the first answer was Huh? Then I explained to him that Miikka Muurinen was producing a massive splash at the 2025 Euro especially with the dunk that went viral against England and seemed to pop up on everyone´s phone from Helsinki to Sydney, Australia. Miikka was 3,5 years old when he arrived in Frankfurt with dad Kimmo in late summer of 2010. “I remember his little son. Man that makes me feel old. Time shows that everyone has been growing over the years and kids then are showing their talent as players now”, chuckled Quantez Robertsonn. Tez as everyone calls him also remembers a funny experience with Kimmo Muurinen during training camp in 2010. “I think we were in the Czech Republic. I remember he was playing defense and was so tired. Some guy made a move on him and Kimmo just fell to the ground. He just said oh no no more legs. Gordon Herbert and Klaus Perwas were laughing”, remembered Quantez Robertson.
Quantez Robertson at Halloween in USA
I felt it was time to catch up with Quantez Robertsonn again after last talking to him shortly before Christmas 2024 when he was celebrating his 40th birthday and went down memory lane once again with me. I reach Quantez Robertsonn on a Saturday night as all I hear around him are kids and noises. Tez apologies saying he is at a volley ball game of his daughter. The ex Auburn guard who was a freak athlete during his playing days retired in 2023 and like every other ex baller has gotten used to not playing anymore or has he? “I would like to say retirement has gotten easier, but it´s still tough. Believe me if I could, I would love to jump on the court right away again, but I did retire because of injury”, stressed Quantez Robertsonn. It is never easy for retired players to keep their shape that they had when they were professional athletes. Often they will gain weight while others will really ballon in weight like guys Like Shawn Kemp, Shaq and Magic Johnson have. Tez has had a hinderance with his foot. “I don´t have the weight that I had as a player. I had surgery on my foot and that kept me doing a lot of physical activity. My foot is healed. I do a lot with my kids”, said Quantez Robertsonn. The last time we checked in with him he was coaching basketball at Tennessee Valley Community Christian, but since then he has found a new job in life. “I have stepped away from teaching kids for the time being. If the opportunity ever presents itself again, I might do it again. At the moment, I´m a warehouse manager at Alabama A& M”, stated Quantez Robertsonn. Of course he is very active supporting his 2 kids with their sports. His daughter plays volleyball, softball and basketball while his son plays baseball and football.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Tez Robertson
No interview with Quantez Robertsonn can happen without Skyliner talk. Once again the Skyliners have reeled in many new faces for the 2025-2026 season, but one thing hasn´t changed. Klaus Perwas is still there and for the first time in his career the head coach from the start of a season. That has to be a good omen for the season. “Yes it is. He was always cool and focused as an assistant coach. Now as head coach, we can see how he does everything his way. His defensive principles were always the same as Gordie Herbert. Now we will see how his offense will work. He has always been known as a defensive coach, but now we will see how the Skyliners offense works”, commented Quantez Robertsonn. One thing that we will never know is how the Skyliners history would have evolved from 2019 until now had Perwas became head coach in 2019 after Herbert had left. “I think that Klaus would have been able to have kept the tradition of reaching the playoffs alive. I mean it is always tough with personal and injuries, but I feel the history would have been different”, expressed Quantez Robertsonn. Since Tez´s departure, the club is still looking for an identity figure. Maybe it could be Garai Zeeb, but Tez had one guy in mind who left after 2 seasons. “I think that David Muenkat would have been a good choice. He was a beast at both ends and had many dunks. He got big blocks and was able to get the fans to their feet”, remembered Quantez Robertsonn. So after playing 14 seasons with the Skyliners organization and having hundreds of teammates, with what guys did he have contact with just in the last week? “I talked with Mike Morrison, Jordan Theodore and Aaron Dornekamp”, smiled Quantez Robertsonn. It is only logical that a Fiba winning team from 2016 never loses contact.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Tez Robertson in Frankfurt in 2024
Another topic that I have to share with Tez is the current 2025 European championships where Germany is seemingly marching to their next medal. They won a hard fought quarterfinal game against Slovenia. Despite a 39/10 game by Luka Doncic, Germany prevailed with a strong last quarter after not playing particularly well in the first 30 minutes. To have your 2 best players with Dennis Schroeder and Franz Wagner combine for only 11/37 and still win with 8 points shows just how many other weapons Germany has. It is amazing how incredible Germany´s track record is in the last 3 years with a Bronze at the Euro, Gold at the World Cup and a fourth place finish at the Olympics. “Germany has so much talent now with all their NBA and Euroleague players. They have so much experience. They are so tough now. Before this success, they didn´t get their top guys, now they have all their best players. They are able to show their real talent now”, warned Quantez Robertsonn. In German basketball one talks about guys like Detlef Schrempf, and Dirk Nowitzki as people who were very important for the sport. But in the last years, one has to put a Gordon Herbert with these names. “Gordie changed the culture and showed how to win. He brought a different demeanor and coaching style. Players simply love to play for him. He gets the best out of every player”, stressed Quantez Robertsonn. Tez is really proud to have been teammates with current German national players Isaac Bonga and Leon Kratzer. Was he like a mentor for Bonga? “I was a mentor for all the young players in Frankfurt. I showed them the ropes and tricks on the court. I didn´t work privately with any one player. I taught Isaac defensive concepts and helped his mobility and control on defense”, stated Quantez Robertsonn. He played a few seasons with Bonga and then saw him move to the NBA and Euroleague. “My fondest moment with him was when he was drafted. I told him that I wanted some adidas socks”, said Quantez Robertsonn. He also witnessed Leon Kratzer on a daily basis for 2 seasons in Frankfurt. Kratzer´s rise from then on with Bonn and Paris has been amazing. “Leon made big steps each season. He left a big impression in Frankfurt even if he made small steps on offense. He was always a problem on defense. It wasn´t easy to score on him with his rebounding and shot blocking ability”, added Quantez Roberson. In the States, the only thing that really counts in the basketball world is the NBA and Olympics. In 2027, Germany will be strong with their core of veterans along with most likely Isaiah Hartenstein and many young guys. How does he see a USA-Germany match up then? “USA will be strong. I mean we won´t have Lebron, but we will have our best players. And we have a scary young group of guys coming up. USA will still beat Germany”, smiled Quantez Robertsonn. That is still 2 years away. Now all Germany is concerned about is beating Finland in the semi´s and winning the Gold. I´m sure Tez will have his fingers crossed for Germany this weekend.
KJ Sherrill (203-F/C-1991, college: Augusta) is a 34 year old 203cm forward that enjoyed a 8 year pro playing career overseas. He played with the Bona Baskets Limburg, the SG Luetzel-Post Koblenz (Germany-Regionalliga), Dragons Rhondorf, Telekom Baskets Bonn 2 team, Herten and the Cuxhaven BasCats (Germany-ProA). He played college ball at Charlotte (NCAA) from 2009-2012 playing 75 NCAA games and also played a season at Augusta University (NCAA2). He was an assistant coach with the Dragons Rhondorf from 2023-2025 and now is an assistant with Pro A team EPG Guardians Koblenz. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his new coaching gig with the EPG Baskets Koblenz.
How refreshing is it for you to be reunited with Stephan Dohrn. Is the work more challenging at the Pro A level than at the Pro B level? It’s a pleasure to be alongside Stephan and Kai once again. I’m learning a lot from these guys along the way. The work load is a bit more in Pro A than Pro B, I’d say everyday is a challenge for me just because I’m still in my learning phase as a coach.
The team looks really good this season. The club has little Americans and more Germans and experience. How is your feeling about this team especially after beating one of the top Pro A teams Giessen? I think we have a great group of guys but of course we still need lots of work. It’s still early in preseason but we’re making the right steps in the direction we want to go. Improving day by day in practice so that we have better executions in games with our good roster. The win against Giessen was a confidence booster for us, but we don’t want to settle and we want to continue building from there.
Is the philosophy this season correct with hard nosed defense and free on the offensive end? That isn’t much different than what we saw in Rhondorf?
Yes it’s pretty much the same concept here in Koblenz. With Stephan, he puts emphasis on defense. So we want that to be our identity, not just an offensive team. We know we can score, but we want to have consecutive defensive stops. That’s what wins games.
The team had good bigs last season, but this season with Bacak, Moeller and Sonnefeld real experience. It seems like the bigs weren’t as fully involved scoring wise last season. Could there be a change this season?
Our bigs maybe won’t be our outstanding scorers, but their presence under the basketball is what we need. Rebounding and being physical down low. Controlling the paint and setting good screens. With their experience, they are able to contribute to the game a whole lot and we are happy to have them with us.
How fortunate is it for Jannis Sonnefeld to play with big veterans Bacak and Moeller? Could he be one of the big surprises this season? Sonnefeld is young but I would say he plays just as hard as the experienced guys. He will be a big factor for us this season and he has the perfect group of experienced guys to help lead him along the way.
I believe Calvin Wishart was the best signing? I heard MVP chants from someone during RheinStars game when he scored 8 points in 1 minute. Is he MVP material? With Calvin’s scoring ability, I think it’s possible that he could become MVP in the future, but all he wants to do is win and contribute to his team. So regardless MVP or not, he will be one of our main guys.
I really love the game of Aleksa Kovacevic. He was the team’s second best signing. Do you feel like he is on a mission to show all that he ‘deserves to be a BBL player with a great pro A season?
Aleksa could potentially be one of the best guards in Pro A. He’s capable of being a huge threat offensively and defensively despite his size. I love his aggressiveness and hard nosed defense. But offensively, I see him being very successful for us.
Badu Buck is a guy you know well from Rhondorf. He had some growing pains before Rhondorf but was reborn there. What kind of a role do you see him having in a stacked team this season something he adjusted well to in Rhondorf? Badu’s biggest role is that he is a leader. He may be the most vocal guy on the court and his experience helps make the game easier for others simply because he has such high IQ. He puts players in the right positions, the young guys especially look up to him and he does a great job leading them. In my eyes, maybe the best addition to the team. He’s our captain for a reason.
Tim Smith Jr is the other guy you know well from Rhondorf. Is he going to be this team’s version of the guy doing the dirty work especially under the glass? Tim is our slim reaper, similar to Kevin Durant. Tim may be one of the best shooters in the league, from inside and outside. He can score in so many different ways. His game is great to watch and I think he will have a major role on this team.
Garrett Hicks is a very special player. How lucky is the team to have him who can do it all on the court and can score in bunches? We were very pleased to sign Garrett. His abilities on the court for his size is like no other. Not only can he shoot from deep, his ability to attack the rim is very nice! He is for sure the most athletic on the team. Even though he hasn’t played many years in Europe, he is very professional and we are beyond happy that he is with us.
Do you have any added duties as assistant coach this season besides working with the bigs? Yes I have a bit more responsibilities than I had in Rhondorf. I am the skill development coach as well, so I’m in charge of all the group/individual workouts with all players, not just Big’s.
Are you like a mentor for Kai Schallenberg? What is it like working with him again?
I really enjoy working with Kai. He’s very enthusiastic and his love for the game says it all. I would honestly say we learn from each other and being that Kai is more experienced than me when it comes to coaching, I learn from him as well. We both are young and hungry to become better coaches and I think we have the perfect example to learn from, Stephan. I think I couldn’t ask for a better coaching staff to be a part of!
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Tim Smith Jr? Well being that Tim is a light weight compared to me, I think it wouldn’t even be fair if we played 1-1. I’d treat him like a baby, he’s too little. Love you Tim but it’s the truth!
Marko Bacak (210-C-1995) is a 29 year old 210 cm center that was born in Berlin, Germany and also has the Croatian Citzenship and is playing his first season with the EPG Guardians Koblenz. Last season he played with SC RASTA Vechta 2nd team (Germany-ProA) averaging 6.0ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 30.2%, FT: 61.5%. In his career he has played for Alba Berlin 2 and played 50 BBL games with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg as well as Eurocup and BCL. He also has gained experience with clubs like the wiha Panthers Schwenningen, Bayer Giants Leverkusen, Artland Dragons, and Trier. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Marko for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Koblenz. How good did manager Thomas Klein sell the incredible product EPG Guardians to you?
Thanks Miles for having me! After some good talks with coach Stephan I decided to visit the City and organization by myself. Thomas invited us for Lunch and we had good talks where he described their plan they have for the club for the future. I saw the potential the club has and that helped me in my decision at the end.
The club have struggled the last 2 seasons, but are extremely ambitious and want to reach the easyCredit BBL. What was the main reason for joining this organization? The trust from coach Stephan in my abilities and the potential the club has.
The first talks with head coach Stephan Dohrn went very well. What did you appreciate about his basketball philosophy most? The fact that he knows that first of all you need good guys before talent to be successful. And also knowing the strenghs of his players and giving them a certain amount of freedom.
You played the last 2 seasons against the EPG Guardians in the Pro A. What memories do you have of the games? Unfortunately most of them were negative hahah. With Trier we lost in Koblenz in a packed arena and great atmosphere, after we had a winning streak of 12 wins I think. With Vechta we lost the home game in overtime and in Koblenz we lost by 40 I think.
Your coming to a team where you most likely will be the oldest. How developed are your leadership skills and how else do you feel will you be able to help the team best with your game? I think I can help the team with my experience especially when comes to being a team on and off the court. Knowing that good team chemistry can really lift you up as a team. And on the court just trying to make the right plays and lead as an emotional leader.
How excited are you to be teammates with other talented German big man Moses Poelking? How well do you feel will you 2 guys compliment each other best?
I know Moses for a long time already, playing with him together at Alba Berlin in Regionalliga back in the days. He is great Player, working hard on the court with a good inside game. And a great person off the court!
In the last years you didn´t have as big as an offensive role in Trier and Vechta as in Artland. What do you feel like will your role be this season in Koblenz?
From the talks with coach Stephan I felt a lot of trust from him in my abilities. But I also got to earn my role from the start off the preseason on and forward.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 210cm center. If you had to compare your game to a Euroleague player who would bets fit the description? I would say maybe Johannes Voigtmann, being able to play inside, shoot and play for the team.
You’re a physical big man that can score and rebound. What other attributes does our game have? The last years I have been working on my shot a lot, to be able to space the floor if needed.
You’re a modern day big man. How big is versatility in your game?
It’s very important I would say, because it gives me flexibility depending on which team we play, and which Match ups I am facing.
Your turning 30 this season. On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game? Right now I am trying to get stronger and gain some weight. And my shooting of course, getting more consistent with my shot.
Last season you played with SC RASTA Vechta 2nd team (Germany-ProA) averaging 6.0ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT: 30.2%, FT: 61.5%. How tough was going from winning in Trier to losing in Vechta. What did you learn about yourself in this season?
It was not easy. Everything is easier when you are winning as a team. I learned that you need to focus on the positive things, because otherwise it will be tough especially mentally.
You were able to observe Johan Grunloh. How talented is the German center? He is very talented and a very nice and humble guy! He is a very hard worker doing a lot of extra work when nobody is watching, that’s how He added the 3p shot into his skillset. And he has a great feeling for the game with great instincts.
In the 2023-2024 season you played with the ROMERSTROM Gladiators Trier (Germany-ProA) averaging 4.4ppg, 3.2rpg. What was it like playing with Maik Zirbes? How beneficial were the daily battles in the paint against him?
Since I had to play and pratice on the 4 spot, I did not really had a lot of battles with him. But I can tell you if Maik got you sealed down low it’s game over, there is no way that you are getting back in front. You could really see that he was levels higher when it comes to his game inside the paint.
You played a season with the Artland Dragons (Germany-ProA) averaging 11.1ppg, 5.6rpg, FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 76.4%. You lost 1 4 game series to PS Karlsruhe. What memories do you have of this season?
All in all it was a great season! Even though the Ending was kind of disappointing. Most of the season we were locked in 3rd place and then somehow we lost the last 6 regular season games and ended up at 6th place, having to play Karlsruhe who were rolling at that point of the season. But still we had great guys on the team and a lot of fun! Shoutout to Pat Flomo, he is a great coach and I really hope he will be able to show it in the future, and even more he is a great person!
You played 2 seasons with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen (Germany-ProA) averaging 9.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 58.6%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 75.0% and 9.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 72.6%. You were very consistent in these 2 seasons. What was your fondest memory in these 2 years? The first season making it to the Pro a finals and earning the right to technically move up to BBL. That year and that team Was really special. Almost nice thinking back to that season.
How valuable was Hansi Gnad in your development? What was the most vital thing you learned from him center to center? I learned a lot from Hansi, especially when it comes to my inside game, but also overall. He was a fan of us bigs also doing a lot of guard stuff which helped us in all areas of the game. Also shoutout to Hansi, great coach and great person!
You played a season with the wiha Panthers Villingen-Schwenningen (Germany-ProA) averaging 10.4ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 77.2%. This was your break through season in the Pro A. How important was this season playing for Alen Velcic? He had 100% trust in you? It was a very important season for me being my first year in Pro a. I saw that I can compete on this level. And the trust I felt from coach Alen was the main reason I went there, and I am very thankful for the opportunity and trust from him. Great and special guy! Unfortunately the season ended earlier because of covid, I think we had a really good chance to make the playoffs and be a kind of “dark horse” team, since we really got rolling at the end.
You began your career with Berlin Sud (Germany-NBBL) and also played with DBV Charlottenburg 2. Do you remember having a mentor in this time?
I would say Christian Steinberg was my biggest mentor in my early days. He pushed me a lot in my younger years making me catch up all the other guys who were playing much longer than me. We still talk to each other on a regular basis and work out in the summers when I am in Berlin.
You then played 4 years with the EWE baskets Oldenburg playing 50 BBL games as well as Eurocup and BCL. How valuable were these years in your basketball development?
Very important. I got used to such a high level of basketball just from practicing with the BBL. And of course getting the chance to play BBL and european competition helped me a lot in my development as a player. Also in my 3rd and 4th year I had the chance to have individual practice with Elvir Ovcina. He helped me so much in developing my game and was like a father figure for us young guys. I am really thankful for meeting him.
You were teammates with some great bigs like Brian Qvale, Dirk Madrich and Rashid Mahalbasic just to name a few. Which player had the biggest impact on you? All of them were great players and I was able to learn a lot from everyone of them. But the biggest impact was for sure from Rasid Mahalbasic. He made everything look so easy. He reminded me so much of Jokic, especially with his passing skills.
You were also teammates with the legend Ricky Paulding. What was your fondest moment with him? I can’t really pick one moment. He was just a great guy. He cheered me up when I made a mistake, he was celebrating when I did something good and many more things. I think I don’t have one negative memory about him. Just a great player, person and leader.
You had many great games with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg including 13 points against Hapoel Holon winning 87-86. What memories do you have of that game playing against ex NBA guys like Glen Rice Jr, or Joe Alexander? Good memories looking back to that game. Rasid Mahalbasic was out for that game so I knew I will get minutes. Offensively everything worked out and gave me confidence. Playing against those guys you could really see what kind of quality they had. You had the feeling they are not even trying 100% and where still able to make a big impact on the court.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your career that reached the NBA or Euroleague? Yabusele when I played against him with the U20 Croatian National team. Back then he was already a physical monster. And Hartenstein playing him in Pro B, he was so young back then and already the best player artland had.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time`? Haris Hujic, Lucien Schmikale, JJ Mann, Joanic Grüttner-Bacoul, Dennis Heinzmann
Tough to just pick 5, there have been so many great teammates throughout my career.
Please list your personal NBA and Euroleague Mount Rushmore (5 best of all-time)
It really didn´t matter which teammate I mentioned to Kelvin Omojola during the last 2 seasons in interviews, he always showed this pure genuine happiness for that player´s game and character. I have seriously never seen a player like Kelvin treat his teammates with such utmost respect and always being positive. It didn´t matter if I asked him about Marko Rosic or Janne Muller, or others, he was always sprouting with positive energy when describing his teammates. Sure I have asked many other Americans about teammates or opponents over the years, but I have never gotten the crazy zeal that the Las Vegas has done. It made every interview with him an extra pleasure. It wasn´t any different when I asked him about Tim Smith Jr. (201-F-2000, college: N.Alabama, agency: 011 Sports) signing with Pro A team EPG Baskets Koblenz. “That’s amazing that Tim signed with the Guardians. I was so happy to see that. Tim is such a great player and now gets to showcase his talents at the Pro A level. He will have a great Pro A season and I hope that he gets BBL offers after he shows how he can dominate”, stressed Kelvin Omojola.
Tim Smith Jr. who hails from Ohio had a sold senior season at North Alabama averaging 9.4ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 79.2%, but you never know how a player will play coming overseas with the adjustment to a new culture and the euro game, but he had no problems in the German Pro B. He averaged 17.1ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.8apg, 1.0spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 57.0%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 82.5% and was a Eurobasket.com All-German ProB Group South Second Team selection. A big reason for his success was head coach Stephan Dohrn who gave him the trust from day 1. “Well trust is earned Miles. Tim isn´t a perfect player, no one is. But he earned Coach Stephan´s trust by playing hard, being skilled and wanting to get better and improve”, warned Kelvin Omojola. Often guys who had strong rookie seasons overseas, make the wrong choice in year 2 thus hurting their career. A player and agent have to work together to find the next great fit. It also helps when the same coach is coaching elsewhere. It must have been a no brainer for Tim Smith Jr. to follow Stephan Dohrn to Koblenz. “That was definitely a no brainer. When you find a coach that trusts and believes in you, you need to take advantage of it. That is very rare in professional basketball, so for Tim to get this opportunity so early in his career, he´s blessed”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. It wasn´t a great season for the Dragons Rhondorf in 24-25. They did reach their goal of the Pro B playoffs, but had little chance against top team Bayer Giants Leverkusen. It wasn´t easy for the Dragons to follow up their 2024 pro B title, but Tim Smith Jr. gave all he had and developed nicely as a rookie. However experiencing growing pains is something every player goes through and it wasn´t any different for Smith Jr. He withstood a coaching change and still finished the season strong scoring in double figures in 7 of 9 games. “Going through ups and downs are necessary. It only makes him a better player. Being able to handle adversary and bounce back, is not only part of basketball, but it´s a part of life. That is why Tim will always be successful both in basketball and outside of it”, commented Kelvin Omojola.
Kelvin Omojola and Tim Smith Jr. are different in one aspect. Omojola is a talkative guy while Tim Smith Jr. is more reserved and leads more by basketball actions. However his more quiet demeanor is deceiving. “Tim is for sure a big action guy, but he would speak up as well. For him it is just a matter of feeling comfortable and feeling like guys are on the same page as him. He wants to win and give 100% every time. It´s mandatory. And he needs his teammates to be on the same type of time”, stated Kelvin Omojola. In the Pro B, Tim Smith Jr. was the main scoring option and in a way the big fish, while in the Pro A, he will be a normal fish among other fish. He will be practicing with guys as good as him or possibly better. He most likely won´t have the big role that he had in the Pro B. Kelvin Omojola experienced going from a big Pro B season in Speyer to having growing pains in the Pro A with PS Karlsruhe averaging only 3,1ppg. “Tim will be able to handle it for sure. He has the skill level and coach that will support him. That’s the 2 biggest things. I wish I would have been able to play for coach Stephan in the Pro A. My impact would have been very much different compared to my year with PS Karlsruhe. But it´s a part of the story. If Tim ever needs any advice, he knows he can hit me up. That’s a no brainer. He will always be my brother”, warned Kelvin Omojola. Smith Jr showed in the Pro B that he was a 3 level scorer and he became somewhat of a Swiss army knife as a rookie. Will he be able to adjust to less minutes in the Pro A? “Yes he will. He is an extremely efficient scorer that can score at every single level on the court. He is also a great defensive player that plays above the rim. He will make a strong impact at the Pro A level and people will know his name and game”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. I´m very sure that Kelvin Omojola will keep tabs on his Koblenz season and always have the sweet memories of their Rhondorf season in the back of his mind. “All the moments we spent outside of basketball just talking about life were very memorable. He is really my brother for life and he knows that. I wish him nothing but success and happiness, because he deserves that. And he knows how I feel about him”, said Kelvin Omojola. Both Omojola who now has a new chapter in his life working at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Smith Jr who has made the jump to the Pro A have made new big steps in their lives. It simply couldn´t have happened to 2 better guys.
If Namori Omog (188-G-2006) who lists current EPG Baskets guard Calvin Wishart as his toughest opponent last season saved his best for last in last season´s NBBL playoff series against ratiopharm Ulm is unknown, but stats don´t lie. In the first 6 NBBL games, he scored a total of only 51 points while always seeming to be in the shadow of Ivan Crnjac and Jamie Edoka, but against Ulm, he literally exploded. He scored 71 points in total and averaged 23,0ppg. The only thing that was missing in the end was getting to the next round. His NBBL stats were 12.8ppg, 3.3rpg, 4.6apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 72.9% It is often that when you see a player move on, it is often instrumental how well he did during the last season against his new team that helped them make the decision to reel him in. Recently Namori Omog left his comfort zone of Frankfurt and signed with the ratiopharm Ulm organization as a double license player to play Pro B with Orange Academy and the perspective for BBL minutes with Ulm. Was there a feeling that Omog was on Ulm´s radar after that series? “I think that I was on their radar after my performance in the playoff series. I didn´t plan that though. But my goal going into the Ulm series was to definitely step up my game”, stressed Namori Omog. He had had a very strong NBBL season with Eintracht Frankfurt, but where was his feeling after the season in terms of remaining or seeking a new challenge? “I did have that feeling of possibly taking on a new challenge, but to remain in Frankfurt was still an option. But in the end, I decided it was best for my further development that I take on a new challenge”, said Namori Omog.
pic credit: Skyliners EV
It has to be 100% a no brainer for any young player to want to join the ratiopharm Ulm organization. How this organization has developed further in the last 6 years has been amazing. From Killian Hayes to guys like Jeremy Sochan, Juan Nunez, Pacome Dadiet, Noa Essengue to Ben Saraf have all been drafted by the NBA. And this season the club has hauled in the next big prospect from Italy with Diego Garavaglia. “Ulm was at the top of my list. I have a double license. My main role will be to play in the Pro B, but at the same time, I want to record my first BBL minutes”, warned Namori Omog. There were many reasons what made Ulm attractive for him not to mention the great facilities, reputation and all the young guys that made their way to the NBA in the last few years. “Jeremy Sochan´s development has been very impressive. He is surely a role model, but all in all, Ulm was very attractive for me with their great record of developing young players. I think Ulm is simply the best place for my development. Being able to practice with the BBL team and possibly play Eurocup was very attractive for me. I think that that will help me grow and become more known as a player”, stressed Namori Omog. The super speedy guard who doesn´t remember playing Jamie Edoka in practice 1-1 games last season, but feels the games would be 50/50 if played will concentrate 100% on basketball this season, but may take on an internship or help coach youth teams. He will be working intensively with Orange Academy head coach Florian Flabb who helped lead Ulm´s U-19 NBBL team into the Top 4 in Berlin last May. “I like how coach gives his players freedom. He knows the strengths of each player and how to help them implement it best into a system”, stated Namori Omog. There has been also a little house cleaning this season as new talents have arrived like Dutch player Yanu Slingerland. He knows that mentally he will have to be more than ready to compete daily against such tough competition a step above what he saw in Frankfurt. “I know Yanu. He is super athletic and physical for his age. He is a very good shooter which he recently demonstrated at the youth European Championships. I´m thankful that Ulm give young players a chance. I will have to use that chance to make an impact. I will have to continue to work hard and improve my game”, warned Namori Omog. He also understands what part of his game is most vital to improve this season. “My biggest personal goal with my game is to improve my shot. I have to get a more stable three pointer. That will make me more dangerous. I also want to grow as a leader in the Pro B”, commented Namori Omog.
The athletic guard who feels Germany will achieve a medal at the upcoming European Championships and reach the final had some good years in Frankfurt even if they weren´t always rosy. “I had my ups and downs in Frankfurt. I think that I really improved my mentality in Frankfurt. Before Frankfurt, I wasn´t as dedicated. I had to be more dedicated in Frankfurt and was forced not to see it as fun. I did a good job working on my strengths and using my speed better”, remembered Namori Omog. Last season he was part of the magnificent trio with Ivan Crnjac and Jamie Edoka. From the outside it seemed like he was a bit in their shadows. Did it feel like he had less support for his development than them and did he see easyCredit BBL perspective? “I do believe that there was BBL perspective there for me in Frankfurt, but to be honest I did have that feeling that my development wasn´t pushed as much as theirs. I wasn´t able to practice with the BBL team. I believe being able to do that would of really helped my game more. I also think that I deserved more Pro B minutes”, expressed Namori Omog. He was very blessed to have had a coach like Sepehr Tarrah who was able to get the best out of him. “He taught me exactly how much I can control an opponent by the amount of preparation I put in for each game and what advantages I can use”, added Namori Omog. He will most likely battle against former teammate Ivan Crnjac this year in the Pro B. Of course he followed his former teammate closely this summer at the U-18 European Championships where Germany only reached 7th place. It seemed like Crnjac wasn´t allowed to show his full game during the competition. “I think that the seventh place wasn´t so surprising. One saw after the first game that they weren´t going to be as strong as the U-19 team. I think that team play was lacking and their mentality didn´t work so well. I think that Ivan will learn from this low. I think an experience like this will make him stronger”, stressed Namori Omog. Who knows he may even bump into Isaiah Hartenstein before he heads back to the States who has found a love for the ratiopharm Ulm organization. What would he ask the newly crowned NBA champion first? “I would ask him what are the 2-3 vital things that I need to have in order to become a champion”, stressed Namori Omog. It will be interesting to see how well Namori Omog develops his game further this season under Florian Flabb. One thing is for sure, he has definitely picked a place where he can work on what it takes to become a champion.
Gavin Ware (206-F/C-1993, college: MSU) is a 31 year old 206cm forward from Mississippi playing his 10th pro season with Limoges CSP Elite (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). He played 4 seasons with JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). He has also gained experience in countries like Belgium and Japan. He began his basketball career at Starkville high school. He then played at Mississippi State (NCAA) from 2012-2016 playing a total of 124 NCAA games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Gavin for talking to germanhoops.com You finished your 9th professional season and 6th in France. Can one say that France has become your second home? Yes, France is definitely a home away from home. Unfortunately, I´m still learning French after being here for many years. But it works for me. Honestly, I never would’ve thought a kid like me from a small town in Mississippi would have the opportunity to explore the world in my lifetime. But 6 years later now I feel like a local French man. And the experience is amazing.
Your played your fourth season with JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). What is really interesting is that it was your third tour of duty with them. That is very rare. Have you ever thought about why you hadn´t just remained there from your first season in 2018?
Not often, but I tend to reminisce on the different routes I could’ve taken in my career. But time doesn’t go backwards. So whether it was a good decision or not, I have made the most of my career in a positive way.
What makes the JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) organization so special? What have you learned to appreciate most from the experience?
Dijon is a college town with all different professional sporting teams here. JDA being the biggest sports team here, we have a professional standard we have to respect. From meetings to practice to Gameday. We do things the right way and with the JDA identity. I have appreciated the acceptance I receive from the fans, coaches, and teammates. The people within this organization are caring, and have your best interest in mind. Even if there are problems, we tend to find solutions fairly quick.
One of your teammates with JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) was lifer and legend David Holston. How much fun was it playing with him and have you ever played with a point guard that could find you as good as he can? It’s just amazing to witness a guy who, despite being small in stature, is able to achieve such greatness throughout his career. Is a great guard to play with and he holds his teammates accountable.
What was it like playing with German veteran Christian Sengfelder and young German Joshua Obiesie? What have you learned to appreciate most about their games? I actually appreciate the German style of play. Chris is an absolute work horse when he steps on that court. Keeping up with him in practice is always a good test for our upcoming games for that week.
What was it like playing with young French player Allan Dekossi? Are you like a mentor for him? Allan is a very athletic player. You honestly have to be aware of where is he is one the court. With his highflying abilities you can get dunked on. We are teammates and good friends. Not necessarily a mentor but I do advise him and other guys on certain life things off the court.
One that really has stood out in your game in France is that in all 6 years where you have balled there you have averaged around 12/6. How important is consistency and efficiency as you continue to get older? It’s very important to keep that level of consistency throughout my career. First and foremost, this is a business. So in order to keep getting offers and moving up in my career I just have to “do my Job”. No one else can do it for me. If I want to succeed and live comfortably, every time I step out on the court I have to be a dog.
In 2023-2024 you played your second season in Japan and first with Fukuoka Rizing (Japan-B2 League), You had played previously in Japan 4 years ago. How much has the Japan B2 league grown in that time?
The Japanese league has grown tremendously. But the fans there have always supported teams in their respective city. It’s a very competitive league in the Asian region.
You had your second tour of duty with JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) 2021-2023 averaging 11.3ppg, 5.9rpg, FGP: 59.0%, FT: 68.2%; and in the BCL averaged 11.3ppg, 5.0rpg, FGP: 63.0%, FT: 64.7% and in your second season averaged 10.8ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 63.0%, 3PT-3 (50.0%), FT: 81.6%; and in the BCL: averaged 13.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.0apg, FGP-2 (70.9%), FT: 76.9%. Was this the best basketball that you played in your career?
I believe my first year with JDA Dijon was one of memorable time in my career because went to the playoffs and the team had such a great chemistry.
In the 20-21 season you played with BCM Gravelines Dunkerque Grand Littoral (France-Jeep ELITE ProA) averaging 12.8ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 63.0%, FT: 71.6%. What kind of an experience was that and what do you remember being your fondest moment there? Gravelines is a costal town so very quiet and peaceful in that area. I played there during covid so pretty much everything was shut down except for the gym, where I spent a lot of time.
In 2019-2020 you balled for the Kumamoto Volters (Japan-B2 League) averaging 18.9ppg, 12.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 60.5%, 3PT-1 (50.0%), FT: 66.4%. You were a double double monster and even eclipsed 20 rebounds in a game twice. Did it sometimes feel like being a man among boys?
Of course. I felt like Shaq during that time. Also it was my first year in the Japanese league so I had to make a name for myself being the new guy there.
In 2018-2019 you had your first tour of duty with JDA Dijon Bourgogne (France-Jeep ELITE ProA) averaging 12.4ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 58.2%, 3PT-1 (50.0%), FT: 79.8%; and in the BCL averaged 11.1ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 55.8%, FT: 75.9%. There you were teammates with the great Tarence Kinsey. What memories do you have of an older guy on the verge of retiring? Terrence is a very cool guy. He’s very laid-back but also he is about his business. His character lights up a room And he always kept the guys laughing in the locker room. I didn’t play with him much, but watching film and playing alongside him on the court was something to watch. Even though he was an older guy, you could still see the athletic abilities he had, and that was rare for a guy at his age.
In the 2017-2018 season you played with Levallois Metropolitans (France-ProA) averaging 12.2ppg, Reb-5 (6.6rpg), 1.0apg, FGP: 61.7%, FT: 73.6%; and in the Eurocup averaged 11.6ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 62.5%. After a strong rookie season in Belgium you adjusted well to a top league in France. How did your game grow that season?
Moving from Belgium to France was a big jump in competition. Belgium is a great league for first year professional guys. The French league opened my eyes to the competition that is in Europe. I had to figure out what type of player I was going to be in this league. When I came into this league, there were a lot of big men. However, I focused on my defensive abilities, and also my playmaking abilities. To have these qualities gave me an edge against my opponent.
You were teammates with ultra veteran Louis Campbell. What memories do you have of him and was that one of the other great point guards that you played with?
Louis played a big part in helping me understand the X’s and O’s of the game. Being in Europe for a long time and playing on great teams, he showed me how to be efficient and be a big presence once I’m on floor. Off the court he gave me advice about life and how I should carry myself as in American in Europe.
You plalyed your rookie season with Port of Antwerp Giants (Belgium-Euromillions League) averaging 13.6ppg, 6.5rpg, FGP: 59.6%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 69.2%;and in the FIBA Europe Cup averaged 13.8ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 82.9%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew you were far away from home?
Just landing on the plane in Belgium was a big wake up call for me. I had heard stories about the overseas life, but to live it was an experience that I will never forget. The way I ate and carried myself off the court had to always be professional. Because everyone in the city sees a big guy and automatically knows that he plays for the team in that city.
You had some great teammates with Jason Clark and Mike Smith. What made this team so special that won the cup?
Those guys were already vets once I finally came overseas. So learning from them on how to be efficient and successful in eurobasket really help me out a lot. It didn’t take us long to realize we had a good team that year. So we capitalized on everyone’s talents that game and came home with the cup.
You played at Mississippi State University (NCAA) from 2012-2016 playing a total of 124 games. You were a very consistent player but your game took a jump in your senior year. How did your game grow that season?
I had more responsibilities when it came to my final year at MSU. So I had to lead by example. So if I was going to make my team better, I had to give more than 100% every game.
As a freshman you lost to North Carolina and Kentucky. Do you remember a certain player as standing out most from those that would reach the NBA? Not really I can’t remember that far back. I don’t know who was on those teams then. But playing against those teams allows you to learn a lot about yourself as a player and your IQ in basketball.
How did head coaches Rick Ray and Ben Howland groom and prepare you best for a professional career? All the hard killer workouts and different training methods I learned while at MSU were the main thing that I took from college to the pros.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Travis Daniels? Me of course. Travis is a great pf/sf but in a 1v1 that’s all me lol.
Who was the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
Karl Anthony Towns
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
David Holston (pro) Bryce Washington (pro) Jacolby Mobley (high school) Ryan Pearson (pro) Ryan Anderson (pro)
What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Lebron, Steph Surry, Shaq, Kevin Durant, Kyrie
Who is your GOAT?
Because I’m a center, I’ll only speak for my position. The only answer is Shaq. He was an animal on the court. No one could stop him from scoring.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? –
No lol. They did an amazing job on the sequel. They brought back all the starts from the first one which made it so much more special.
Viktor Ziring (187-SG-1998) is a 27 year old 187cm guard that began last season with Giessen and then moved to the bayer Giants Leverkusen helping them win the Pro b title averaging 8.7ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 43.3%, FT: 64.3%. he began his career with the Giessen Pointers and Giessen 46ers youth teams and then played 3 seasons with Pro B team Iserlohn Kangaroos playing 56 games. He then played 2 seasons with the Depant Giessen 46ers Rackelos Second Team (ProB) and in 23-24 played with the EN Baskets Schwelm (ProB) averaging 8.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 4.3apg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 53.7%He spoke to german hoops.com about the magical 2024-2025 Leverksuen season.
Congrats Viktor on winning the Pro B title with Leverkusen. How does it feel coming in midseason from Giessen and winning the title?
It´s a great feeling. I never been in a situation like this before, where I changed teams midseason, but it was definitely worth it. It was a difficult step to leave my family and hometown during the season, but in the end it all worked out. This is my first title since I play on this level, so I will always remember this special season.
What a crazy season it was for you. In the first months you were focused on the Pro A with Giessen and then help win the Pro B title. How special was it accepting a role and succeeding? It was very special. I personally think I did a good job adjusting quickly to my new role in Leverkusen. I am just happy that I could help the team and didn’t stop the development, because they were already rolling before I got here. Despite that I think in the end I played an important role in giving the team more depth and winning the title as group.
You never lost a game with Leverkusen. What kind of a feeling is it never losing a game in a season?
That is really crazy. It really is an addicting feeling. You feel so great after every game. On the other hand, you know it won´t stay like this for forever, so you just keep working hard to extend that run as long as possible. That we pulled it off, to no lose a game since I got here, is just an incredible feeling.
Did you feel a special winning culture when you arrived in Leverkusen? How do you remember that first practice`?
There was definitely already a winning culture here when I arrived. The guys had only lost one game all season and I could tell from the start that they were super focused on winning. My first practice was rather easy because it was the day before game day, but even during this easier practice I could already see that everyone was super focused and locked in.
The team went 6-0 in the playoffs. What was key in winning the Pro B title? How big was the mental factor going into every game? Do you feel like the opponent was at times intimidated before the jump ball?
The key to winning the title was our defense. Every player on this team was a willing defender. That is also something I never witnessed in all of the other teams I played with so far. It was always a “our defense will win us this game” mindset. In general I had the feeling the whole team believed if we do our job nobody can beat us in this league. We can only beat ourselves. To be honest I don’t know if opponents were intimidated or not. I didn’t really pay attention to thoughts like this, because I was so focused on us and what we had to do.
How do you remember the celebration in Leverkusen after the game 2 win over Wolmirstedt? What was your fondest moment during the celebration?
The celebration on the court was just overwhelming for me. So many emotions, but at the end it was just pure happiness. A moment I will always remember was after the ceremony. All of a sudden everybody was on the court. And in the middle of all that celebrating I got the trophy. The first thing I did was go to my parents to finally celebrate with them. They supported me so much during this whole journey and they have always been there for me. To raise a trophy with them after all the hard work and support they put in was my favorite moment.
What was it like playing for 2 legends like Mike Koch and Hansi Gnad? What does each guy give to the players that helps them perform at the highest level?
It is kind of surreal for me. I never thought I would get the chance to be coached by 2 legends like this. I really try every day to pick up as much as possible from them. Obviously both know what they are talking about when it comes to basketball. I tried to ask as many questions as possible, get as many extra workouts in with them as I could. And they were always ready to work with me. They not only give you great advice or put effort in to make you a better player, but they also give you so much confidence. That was for me the biggest key. If these 2 say you can do something you believe it.
How vital was Donte Nicholas? Is he the ultimate teammate and Mr. versatile? You were already teammates with him in Iserlohn Without Donte we wouldn’t be where we are now. I know him now for so long and joked around with him about that he is a serious contender for being the ProB GOAT. He really does everything on the court. In addition to that he is just a great teammate off the court as well.
How vital was Dennis Heinzman, the anchor on defense? How many games were won by his play at both ends of the court? Dennis changes the whole game. When he is in the game our defense is just next level. Like you said he really is the anchor on defense, but at the same time he was just a force offensively and when it comes to rebounding on both ends. I think him and Donte both deserve to be MVP this season because it doesn’t matter on which team you put these guys they will turn almost any team into a contender.
How important was glue guy CJ Oldham? He does so much on defense, does little things not seen on the stat sheet and is a great leader. What was his biggest attribute for the title?
CJ really was a X-factor. He does all the things you don’t see in the stats. He can guard every position, he communicates a lot, he is a great teammate. He really is the ultimate glue guy and his great work ethic motivated me every day to do more. I believe without CJ it would be very difficult to play such a season because he always did what the team needed from him and there aren’t many players who will accept that role like he did.
What have you appreciated most about Sebastian Brach on the court? How did you like sharing the court with him?
Playing with Manni was very cool. He really made a big step this season. I can´t even say what I appreciated the most about playing with him because he does so many things well. He can score, gets everyone involved and plays great defense. It really was a lot of fun playing with him.
How valuable has the experience of Luca Kahl been and what do you appreciate most about his game? Luca was super important for this team. His experience that he brought from all his ProA years contributed a lot to the winning culture. What I appreciate most about Luca besides all his basketball skills is his leadership. He holds everyone accountable at all times and at the same time always leads by example. This also translates on the court. He plays with a certain calmness which helped the team to get organized and not to be in a rush in important moments. On defense he is always ready to defend the best guard of the opponent team.
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