Olympiacos Piraeus

Kyle Wiltjer (Olympiacos S.F.P. Pireus) I Really See Myself Being Able To Score At The Position Four

Kyle Wiltjer is a 25 year old 208cm forward from Canada that is playing his first season in Europe with Olympiacos S.F.P. Pireus (Greece-A1). Last season as a rookie he played with the Houston Rockets (NBA) playing 15 games averaging 1.1ppg, He played also at Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League) playing 31 games averaging 20.7ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 85.1%. He started his career at Kentucky(NCAA) in 2011 and played two seasons playing 73 games and winning the 2012 NCAA tournament. He then finished his NCAA career at Gonzaga (NCAA) in 2016 playing 36 games averaging 20.4ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 43.7%, FT: 85.7%. He spoke to German Hoops  about basketball.

Kyle thanks for talking to German Hoops. You next play Brose Bamberg in the Euroleague. In the first game in Bamberg, you suffered a tough 67-65 loss and could have won the game with a Brian Roberts shot. You played three good quarters, but Bamberg kept you to 7 points in the fourth points. Why did the game end up so close at the end?

It was a tough game for us as Bamberg played really well. We just came up short which was too bad as we want to win every game.

You had 11 points in 10 minutes. How happy were you with your break out game in Europe?

I was very happy I could break out in this game. Seeing shots go in is a good feeling. I just have to shoot my open shots and be confident.

Was this your first time to Germany? What dealings have you had with the country Germany and have you had friends playing here in the past?

It was my first time in Germany. Bamberg is a great city. I have a close friend playing in Bamberg with Augustine Rubit. He has shared his experiences that he has had playing in Germany.

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Kyle Hines (Olympiakos Pireus) Bamberg Will Always Have A Place In My Heart

Kyle Hines is a 26 year old 198cm power forward from Sicklerville, New Jersey that is playing his second season with Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus (Greece) winning the Euroleague final last season. He is a powerful player who loves to attack the basket. Has a good 1-vs-1 game and likes to go inside. He is undersized to play the power forward, but his great wingspan (7-1) allows him to guard taller players and to intimidate. He’s also a great leaper and reads the opponent’s game well  He played at NC-Greensboro (NCAA) from 2004-2008. In his senior year, he played 31 games: 19.2ppg, 9.1rpg, 1.4apg, 1.8spg, 3.1bpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3Pts: 12.5%, FT: 62.8%. He was invited to play at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft): 3 games: 17.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.3apg, 2.3spg, 3.3bpg, FGP: 78.6%, FT: 72.7%. He then had predraft workouts with Sacramento Kings and the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA). He then went to Europe to Italy and played with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 34 games: 16.9ppg, Reb-4(8.6rpg), 3.0spg, Blocks-2(1.8bpg), FGP-2(66.0%), FT: 58.5%. In 2009, he took part in the Orlando Pro Summer League (Oklahoma City Thunder). In 2009-2010, he stayed in Italy with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 40 games: 18.5ppg, 8.1rpg, Steals-2(3.5spg), Blocks-4(1.6bpg), FGP-3(64.0%), 3PT: 18.8%, FT: 57.8%. He played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (New Orleans Hornets) in the summer of 2010.In 2010-2011 he played for the Brose Baskets Bamberg (Germany-1.Bundesliga): Euroleague: 10 games: 12.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 64.3%, FT: 46.7%; German League: 46 games: 10.4ppg, 4.6rpg, Blocks-3(1.2bpg), FGP-3(61.1%), 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 52.4%. He won the double with Bamberg. Lasts eason in Greece he played Euroleague: 22 games: 9.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 51.9%, FT: 57.6%; Greek League: 34 games: 8.6ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, Blocks-4(1.1bpg), FGP: 57.4%, FT: 64.4% He spoke to German Hoops after winning his second Euroleague title.

Congrats Kyle for your second Euroleague win. Nothing against athletes Dennis Davis and Shonn Greene, but are you now the most famous person in your hometown Sicklerville, New Jersey?

I don’t really know. You would have to ask the town. There have been some well known people from my town. A kid won an Olympic gold medal at the last Olympics. I am happy though to be listed with them.

Are comebacks in your blood?

I think that our team has had experience in making comebacks the entire Euroleague season. It just shows the character of the team to be able to comeback and not be afraid or panic in uneasy situations. We never plan comebacks. We would rather be in games where we had a comfortable lead, but it seems that things always work out for us.

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Kyle Hines (Olympiakos Pireus) It Is Amazing That Two Players Reached The Euroleague Final One Year After Leaving Bamberg

Kyle Hines is a 26 year old 198cm power forward from Sicklerville, New Jersey that is playing his second season with Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus (Greece) winning the Euroleague final last season. He is a powerful player who loves to attack the basket. Has a good 1-vs-1 game and likes to go inside. He is undersized to play the power forward, but his great wingspan (7-1) allows him to guard taller players and to intimidate. He’s also a great leaper and reads the opponent’s game well  He played at NC-Greensboro (NCAA) from 2004-2008. In his senior year, he played 31 games: 19.2ppg, 9.1rpg, 1.4apg, 1.8spg, 3.1bpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3Pts: 12.5%, FT: 62.8%. He was invited to play at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft): 3 games: 17.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.3apg, 2.3spg, 3.3bpg, FGP: 78.6%, FT: 72.7%. He then had predraft workouts with Sacramento Kings and the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA). He then went to Europe to Italy and played with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 34 games: 16.9ppg, Reb-4(8.6rpg), 3.0spg, Blocks-2(1.8bpg), FGP-2(66.0%), FT: 58.5%. In 2009, he took part in the Orlando Pro Summer League (Oklahoma City Thunder). In 2009-2010, he stayed in Italy with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 40 games: 18.5ppg, 8.1rpg, Steals-2(3.5spg), Blocks-4(1.6bpg), FGP-3(64.0%), 3PT: 18.8%, FT: 57.8%. He played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (New Orleans Hornets) in the summer of 2010.In 2010-2011 he played for the Brose Baskets Bamberg (Germany-1.Bundesliga): Euroleague: 10 games: 12.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 64.3%, FT: 46.7%; German League: 46 games: 10.4ppg, 4.6rpg, Blocks-3(1.2bpg), FGP-3(61.1%), 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 52.4%. He won the double with Bamberg. Lasts eason in Greece he played Euroleague: 22 games: 9.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 51.9%, FT: 57.6%; Greek League: 34 games: 8.6ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, Blocks-4(1.1bpg), FGP: 57.4%, FT: 64.4% He spoke to German Hoops before the 2013 Euroleague final

Congrats on the amazing 69-52 win against CSKA Moscow to reach your second Euroleague final in a row. How blessed are you at the moment?

This was a great win for our team. I feel so blessed not only to have been in two back to back final four´s, but now in my second final. It is amazing that only one team in the history has won it back to back and now we have the chance.

Many had CSKA Moscow to win it all. Did Olympiakos Pireus go into the game with less pressure?

We feel very comfortable as underdogs. Our coaches had us ready with a good game plan and we just executed the way we had to. This was probably our best defensive showing of the season. Holding a team to under 60 points that has so much offensive fire power is amazing.

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Kyle Hines (Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus) My Ex Teammates And The City Of Bamberg Showed Me Love After Winning The Euroleague

Kyle Hines is a 25 year old 198cm power forward from Sicklerville, New Jersey that is playing his first season with Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus (Greece). He is a powerful player who loves to attack the basket. Has a good 1-vs-1 game and likes to go inside. He is undersized to play the power forward, but his great wingspan (7-1) allows him to guard taller players and to intimidate. He’s also a great leaper and reads the opponent’s game well He played at NC-Greensboro (NCAA) from 2004-2008. In his senior year, he played 31 games: 19.2ppg, 9.1rpg, 1.4apg, 1.8spg, 3.1bpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3Pts: 12.5%, FT: 62.8%. He was invited to play at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft): 3 games: 17.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.3apg, 2.3spg, 3.3bpg, FGP: 78.6%, FT: 72.7%. He then had predraft workouts with Sacramento Kings and the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA). He then went to Europe to Italy and played with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 34 games: 16.9ppg, Reb-4(8.6rpg), 3.0spg, Blocks-2(1.8bpg), FGP-2(66.0%), FT: 58.5%. In 2009, he took part in the Orlando Pro Summer League (Oklahoma City Thunder). In 2009-2010, he stayed in Italy with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 40 games: 18.5ppg, 8.1rpg, Steals-2(3.5spg), Blocks-4(1.6bpg), FGP-3(64.0%), 3PT: 18.8%, FT: 57.8%. He played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (New Orleans Hornets) in the summer of 2010. Last season he played for the Brose Baskets Bamberg (Germany-1.Bundesliga): Euroleague: 10 games: 12.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 64.3%, FT: 46.7%; German League: 46 games: 10.4ppg, 4.6rpg, Blocks-3(1.2bpg), FGP-3(61.1%), 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 52.4%. He won the double with Bamberg last season. He spoke to German Hoops afterthe 2012 Euroleague win against CSKA Moscow.

Congrats on the 2012 Euroleague win against CSKA Moscow. What kind of feeling is it?

It is a great feeling winning with a great group of guys. We worked hard all season long and took the chance. Nothing was handed to us on this weekend. We earned the win.

What were your first thoughts as the siren sounded?

My first feeling was unreal. It was so hard to believe what we had just done coming back from 18 points in the second half.

With 18 points down, how big was the belief that Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus could come back?

We showed our character in this comeback. So often this season, we have fought against adverse conditions, but we never gave up and always continued to fight.

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Kyle Hines (Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus) It Was A Great Expereince Being Able To Play In Bamberg And Win 2 Titles

Kyle Hines is a 25 year old 198cm power forward from Sicklerville, New Jersey that is playing his first season with Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus (Greece). He is a powerful player who loves to attack the basket. Has a good 1-vs-1 game and likes to go inside. He is undersized to play the power forward, but his great wingspan (7-1) allows him to guard taller players and to intimidate. He’s also a great leaper and reads the opponent’s game well He played at NC-Greensboro (NCAA) from 2004-2008. In his senior year, he played 31 games: 19.2ppg, 9.1rpg, 1.4apg, 1.8spg, 3.1bpg, FGP: 55.6%, 3Pts: 12.5%, FT: 62.8%. He was invited to play at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft): 3 games: 17.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.3apg, 2.3spg, 3.3bpg, FGP: 78.6%, FT: 72.7%. He then had predraft workouts with Sacramento Kings and the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA). He then went to Europe to Italy and played with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 34 games: 16.9ppg, Reb-4(8.6rpg), 3.0spg, Blocks-2(1.8bpg), FGP-2(66.0%), FT: 58.5%. In 2009, he took part in the Orlando Pro Summer League (Oklahoma City Thunder). In 2009-2010, he stayed in Italy with Prima Veroli (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 40 games: 18.5ppg, 8.1rpg, Steals-2(3.5spg), Blocks-4(1.6bpg), FGP-3(64.0%), 3PT: 18.8%, FT: 57.8%. He played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (New Orleans Hornets) in the summer of 2010. Last season he played for the Brose Baskets Bamberg (Germany-1.Bundesliga): Euroleague: 10 games: 12.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 64.3%, FT: 46.7%; German League: 46 games: 10.4ppg, 4.6rpg, Blocks-3(1.2bpg), FGP-3(61.1%), 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 52.4%. He won the double with Bamberg last season. He spoke to German Hoops before the Euroleague Final 4 in Turkey.

You are playing your first season for top European team Olympiakos S.F.P. Pireus. Has this season been everything thing that you have dreamed of?

Yes it has. We have achieved many goals and have reached the Euroleague Final 4. If we continue to improve then I think that we can still achieve many things this season.

Is ist like a dream playing with top players like Joey Dorsey, Acie Law, Vassilis Spannoulis, Pero Antic and Lazarzs Papadopoulos?

For me its like a dream being able to play with them each day. For me it is a learning experience each day. They also have been a big reason why the team has improved so much this season. Half of the team is 23 or younger and they have benefited a lot from them?

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