TBB Trier

James Washington (Boras Basket) Dru Joyce Had The Most Impact On Me When I Was With Trier

James Washington is a 28 year old 182cm guard from St Louis Missouri that is entering his sixth professional season and first with Boras Basket (Sweden-Basketligan). He played at W.Illinois (NCAA) from 2006-2008 and then transferred to Middle Tenn.St. (NCAA). In his senior year he played 32 games: 14.0ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.8apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 39.6%, FT: 86.4%. He started his professional basketball career for TBB Trier (Germany-BBL) in 2011 and played 23 games averaging  5.7ppg, 1.8rpg, FGP: 38.8%, 3PT: 29.7%, FT: 80.0%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for BG Topstar Leitershofen/Stadtbergen (Germany-Pro B) playing 15 games averaging 20.0ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.5apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 83.5%. In the 2013-2014 season he moved to KFUM Nassjo Basket (Sweden-Basketligan) playing 36 games averaging 17.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.9apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 48.5%, 3FGP: 38.7%, FT: 83.6%, in Mar.’14 moved to VOO Wolves Verviers-Pepinster (Belgium-Ethias League) playing  9 games averaging 13.1ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 36.8%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 86.1%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for Solna Vikings (Sweden-Basketligan) playing 36 games averaging 15.3ppg, 2.2rpg, Assists-4(5.7apg), Steals-5(1.8spg), FGP: 45.0%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 82.4%. Last season he played for Jolly Jadranska Banka Sibenik (Croatia-A1) playing 18 games averaging 16.2ppg, 2.7rpg, 4.7apg, 2FGP: 53.2%, 3FGP: 41.2%, FT: 86.2%, in Mar.’16 moved to Chorale de Roanne Basket (France-ProB, starting five): 13 games: 8.8ppg, 2.5rpg, 4.6apg, FGP: 44.9%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 70.4%. He spoke to German Hoopsabout basketball.

 

 

 

 

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

Thanks for having me. I’m currently in Sweden right now. Just signed to Boras Basket. My summer was good, as I got to spend time with my family, travel some, and play some summer ball.

Did you see Jimmy Mckinney this summer? He hasn’t signed yet and I fear he may retire. Do you have any latest scoop on what he is up to`?

I’ve seen Jimmy a lot this summer, he’s like a big brother to me. But unfortunately for Europe and specifically German BBL fans, J Roc has chosen to retire. He is now coaching at our old high school and helping in the community with working out younger kids. Played pick up ball with him this summer and he still has it.

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Derek Raivio (Playing for Sasa Obradovic Made Me A Better Person And Player)

Derek Raivio is a 31 year old 190cm combo guard who is in his ninth professional season and started the season with Sluc Nancy Basket Pro (France-ProA). He averaged 10,3ppg, 1,5rpg and 5,0apg in the France pro A. He played at Gonzaga from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 34 games averaging 18.0ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 45.3%, 3Pts: 40.9%, FT: 96.1%. He reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2006. He started his professional basketball career in 2007 with the Cologne 99ers averaging 8.0ppg, 1.9rpg, 3.2apg, 2FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT-3(91.7%). He then played for TBB Trier from 2008-2010. In the 2010-2011 season he played for Erie Bay Hawks (D-League): 25 games: 4.9ppg, 1.0rpg, 2.8apg, in March’11 moved to Fort Wayne Mad Ants (D-League): 13 games: 7.7ppg, 1.8rpg, 4.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 40.8%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 75.0%. In the 2011-2012 season he played for Shinshu Brave Warriors Nagano (Japan-BJ League, starting five): 46 games: 18.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 3.7apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT-2(87.4%). He then played two seasons for Okapi Aalstar (Belgium-Ethias League). Last season he played for CEZ Basketball Nymburk (Czech Republic-NBL): VTB United League: 28 games: 6.3ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 42.2%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 90.0%; Czech Rep. NBL: 25 games: 8.0ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 42.5%, FT: 74.4%; Eurocup: 14 games: 6.2ppg, 1.6apg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 44.0%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Derek thanks for talking to German Hoops. You last played for a German team TBB Trier in the 2009-2010 season and since then in countries near Germany like Belgium, Czeck republic and now France. How often have you visited Germany in your free time and was Cologne one of the destinations?

My wife and I really enjoy visiting Germany. We’ve visited Germany many times in our travels. Two of our favorite cities are Munich and Cologne. We like the food and way of life.

At almost age 31 is it not soon time to remain with one team until you end your playing days or do you still like that basketball nomad life well into your 30s?

I’m only 30 at the moment, and turn 31 in a couple of days. My wife and I enjoy the different cultures and nuances of different countries. However, what I´ve learned over my career is if you find a niche you’ve got to stay there and take advantage of it. It can be difficult to find that, so when you do you must not take it for granted.

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Brandon Gay (TBB Trier Helped Me Become A Professional)

Brandon Gay is a 30 year old 203cm forward that recently finished his his second season for  Szolnoki Olajbanyasz (Hungary-A Division). In hiss econd season he played 18 games: 7.3ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 59.0%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 78.6%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 11.5ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 46.2%, FT: 91.7%; Adriatic League: 21 games: 8.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 65.7%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT-1(91.3%)He started his basketball career with San Diego (NCAA). In 2005-2006 he turned professional and played his first two seasons for TBB Trier. He then played three seasons for the Antwerp Giants (Belgium-D1). His best season was his first season where he played ULEB Cup: 10 games: 13.8ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.9apg, 2.6spg, 2FGP: 53.4%, 3FGP: 41.2%; Belgian League: 35 games: 14.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.9apg, 2.1spg, 2FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 84.0%. In 2010-2011, he played for VOO Verviers-Pepinster (Belgium-D1, starting five): 31 games: 10.9ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT-2(44.3%), FT: 80.4%. Last season he played for Sokhumi Tbilisi (Georgia-Superleague, starting five): Georgian League: 2 games: 18.5ppg, 10.5rpg, 4.5apg, 2.5spg; Eurochallenge Qualifying Round: 2 games: 14.0ppg, 4.5rpg, in Oct.’11 moved to Szolnoki Olajbanyasz (Hungary-A Division): Hungarian League: 30 games: 9.5ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 41.3%, FT: 87.9%; EuroChallenge: 14 games: 8.9ppg, 3.1rpg, FGP: 51.4%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 91.7%. He caught up with German Hoops some months ago and talked about his season in Hungary and basketball career.

Brandon where are you currently and how is your winter going?

What’s up Miles, I’m in Szolnok, Hungary playing for the second season in a row. The winter hasn’t been how I expected it to be but we are working hard to get our season turned back around.

You are playing your second season for Szolnoki Olajbanyasz in Hungry. How do you like  this country and league?

The country is good, I’m in a smaller city than other teams I played for and that I live in but that just means there is a larger focus on the basketball team. This season we are in the Adriatic League and Euro Challenge, we will join the Hungarian league after the Adriatic season is over. Every game its really good competition and as a player you cant ask for more than that.

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TBB Trier making German Player Development An Institution

When closely examining Beko BBL teams, it seems like each club has its own special kind of task that people can identify with besides trying to win games and getting their seats filled. For example, the Brose Baskets Bamberg win, win, win and if not then already fans question the job of their coach without being realistic, Phoenix Hagen have their own run and gun system that works to perfection where mascot Felix could come in from the bench and help contribute, the Walter Tigers Tuebingen giving young unknown NCAA rookies a chance and helping heighten their markt credit each year or TBB Trier who are still looking for a new playoff birth since their last in 2004, but instead elate their fans by signing young Germans and watching them develop and being a perfect example for the league how it should be done. Since Henrik Rodel stepped on board in 2010, he has had a fettish for bringing over ex Alba Berlin German players and help them mature for a lower budget player. He brought over Philipp Zwiener giving him confidence and into one of the top German players in his two seasons there as well as making Andreas Seiferth into a solid Beko BBL bigman and giving him minutes. He also gave players like Oliver Clay and Oskar Fassler minutes. Both have moved on, but have an important role with their new teams Wurzburg and Giessen. This season, he got huge talent Bastian Doreth on loan from Munich and Mathis Monninghof from the NCAA and both have been vital contributing. He also helped make Maik Zirbes into an Euroleague player. Now if one is bored over the summer, one could play Basketball lotto and try to come up with names of German players that might land on the Mosel in Trier and become German basketball household names. “I think that it is great that Henrik Rodl has had the courage and been able to play with young German players the last years and giving them minutes. I think that it is important that other Beko BBL teams take TBB Trier as an example and follow their path. The Trier players develop further through playing time. Good examples are Monninghoff and Seiferth. In the last years came a good cut and good direction with the 6-6 rule. I hope that more teams will have trust in German players”, added SC Rist guard Ismet Akpinar.

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What German Player Will Henrik Rodl Mold Into A Household Name This Season With TBB Trier?

When examining the 1993 NCAA champion Henrik Rodl on the sidelines during games , he often has that stoic mimic as if he is just being read his rights or if someone has just surprised him with the statement that winning that illustrious title 19 years  against Michigan was only a fluke. Despite his 43 years of age, his facial expression sometimes could fall for an unhappy young boy who was just told that his NBA 2K12 X box 360 had accidently been crushed by the movers. However one topic where he would put his hand into a fire to support is developing young Germans. Since the arrival of Rodl in 2010, the club TBB Trier has been a kind of figure head for the design of making young German players better. It would be a major injustice if one would not hold Rodl not accountable for shaping Germans like Maik Zirbes, Philipp Zwiener or Andreas Seiferth into better and experienced players. Zwiener had retreated from Alba Berlin in 2010 and quickly became a Beko BBL force with the German Mosel team. Zirbes went from a little known hulking basketball project into a bigger and stronger player with NBA Draft potential and now is playing for a Euroleague team with the Brose Baskets Bamberg. “We have never had a kind of team like we had when I was there. We have had good people the last two years that have known how to play with each other. It is very important that each player can play with each other. We didn´t have that before Rodel came. Coach Rodl has done a great job giving young German players playing time which I profited from. I think that every coach in the Beko BBL should work like that. I have learned so much from him. He gave me the chance to play and let my self confidence grow. I like how he talked with me and treated me”, added ex TBB Trier center Maik Zirbes.  Andreas Seiferth is another young German from the Alba Berlin stable who in three years on the Spree never played more than 8 Beko BBL games, but immediately last season was flung into the Beko BBL zoo being able to play 34 Beko BBL games. This season, he is the starting center averaging 26 minutes per game. This season, Rodl has another new batch of German players and most interesting with Bastian Doreth and Mathis Monninghoff. Both are hungry and want those desirable minutes and that important role on the team. Doreth had to fight injuries the last two season with FC Bayern Munich and was never able to really break through the deep roster there. This past summer German national coach Svetislav Pesic gave him trust and gave him many minutes  averaging 12,5. Doreth has the grit and dedication to become one of the big German surprises this season. Monninghoff  is another talented player that has gained experience in the NCAA with Gonzaga and recently with the German national team as they continue to go more young. He is also a player that will get his minutes and is burning to prove doubters wrong for his decision to depart Gonzaga early and head back to Germany. It will be interesting once again to see how the German cracks buckle down and perform under the watchful eye of 1993 European champion Henrik Rodl. “Rodl is a type of mastermind who has success making young Germans better especially when you look at Maik Zirbes and the other Germans that have played for TBB Trier. He gives young Germans opportunites and works with them at getting better which a lot of coaches in the Beko BBL don´t do. Doreth and Monninghoff will get a chance to play and learn as they go and it is up to them what to do with their pour nifty. They will learn the game and get experience.”, warned BV Chemnitz guard John Bynum.

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Will This Be The Last Time The Fraport Skyliners Experience Maik Zirbes In The Green Of TBB Trier?

There always comes a time when young German players will move from lesser teams and smaller markets to bigger teams and bigger markets. For some players like Tibor Pleiss or German wunderkind Dirk Nowitzki going from a Cologne-Bamberg-Oklahoma City or Wurzburg-Dallas happens quicker than for other players. Players like heiko “Give me the ball at Ostbahnhof if you want” Schaffartzik going through six Beko BBL teams to finally land back where he started at with 8 time Beko BBL team Alba Berlin and finally getting minutes or German national player Philipp Schwethelm landing with the most famous German sports name FC Bayern Munich via Rhein Energy Cologne and Bremerhaven take a little longer to get to that most desired luxury address. There is one Giant German talent who wears the green and happens to seem to be almost as big as the famous American jolly green giant who is the symbol for a Minnesota valley canning company is TBB Trier 205cm center beats Maik Zirbes. There have been rumors that he may be headed to Bamberg next season if Tibor Pleiss goes to the NBA. With only a few games left in the beko BBL regular season, many diehard TBB Trier fans who will miss the playoffs will be enjoying every last moment with Zirbes in the paint as Bamberg fans will with Tibor Pleiss. The 22 year old German is playing his third season with TBB Trier and has increased his minutes, points and rebounds from last season. “Maik has developed the most for sure. He works extremely hard and has gotten results. He is getting better with his back to the basket but his pick and roll defense is getting better as well”, stressed TBB Trier guard John Bynum. Pleiss made the adjustment from Cologne to Bamberg, but could Zirbes also make the adjustment to a bigger market? “ I think Maik can do whatever he puts his mind to. He has a great work ethic and I am sure he will succeed where ever he goes. In my opinion he just has to stay patient and continue to improve each aspect of his game and don’t listen to what everyone is saying about his game.he can and will succeed no matter where he decides to play at next season”, expressed John Bynum. If Zirbes does depart, he will be dearly missed and always remembered as a guy who always came to play and wanted to learn, but Bynum doesn´t believe the rumor until something is official is stated. “My nicest memory on the court has to be his block last season against Bonn. And as far as off the court, he was my personal driver for the whole season when I had trouble with my license and he is always smiling for sure. He is a great teammate on and off the floor and he works hard and has gotten the results this season because of his work. As far as the rumor goes I don’t know anything about the rumor. They are good as nothing until it happens”, warned John Bynum. The question is, can Zirbes follow Pleiss one day to the NBA? “I think he has potential to play in the NBA but it is up to him how far he wants to take it. He has caught attention of people this season and now it is up to him to not just be satisfied but to get better and take advantage of the door possibly being opened”, stressed John Bynum. Zirbes helped his market value today as he got two Beko BBL awards as Best German budding star and most improved.

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TBB Trier Give EJ Gallup A Sweet Farewell With A 64-54 Grind Out Win Against The Fraport Skyliners

Whoever said, you can only be a Lebron James or Kevin Durant to have a whirlwind basketball career with so much happening like the James and Rashard Lewis rumors about foul play and a girlfriend last summer or Durant seemingly being headed to every team in Europe even BBC Bayreuth, but even a Beko BBL player like EJ Gallup has had a very exciting 2011 going from the restaurant business to playing in the IBL with the Albany Legends to TBB Trier for a few months after being a away for three years. Recently, the American confirmed that he will be heading back to the States to pursue a coaching career. After TBB Trier was unable to send him on his way with a win at home, the team had one last chance winning in Frankfurt and the club from the Mosel river was as focused as Green  Bay Packer quarterback Aaron Rodgers is to follow in the footsteps of New England quarter back Tom Brady for a perfect regular season, Justin Bieber telling David letterman that he can smell a weasel concerning the woman who claims that she is fostering his baby or Chester Frazier is getting back to playing professional basketball with the s. Oliver Baskets Wurzburg after being away from the professional ranks for a season going back to Illinois(NCAA) helping as an assistant coach as Gallup as his teammates grinded out a big 64-54 win. Gallup played only four minutes, but is just happy to leave the floor as a winner and has fond memories of teammate dru Joyce.. “This was my first win here in this arena. With Ulm, I left as a loser here. This win was nice. I understand that since I am leaving, coach doesn´t want to keep building the team after I go. I remember Dru showing me the ropes in UIm and when I came to Trier, he was first guy I met and helped me out. I consider Joyce a good friend”, stressed Dru Joyce. After the tough win Joyce was stretching on the floor and had some time to reflect about EJ Gallup. “I am excited that we got him the win. This was a big win for us and him. I remember my rookie season in Ulm, he helped me out when I came in. I remember him showing me how to drive manual. He really looked out for me”, added Dru Joyce. “We will miss Gallup a lot. He helped us out so much on the court. He is a great guy and I wish him the best of luck”, stressed TBB Trier guard John Bynum.

It had been 46 day and 8 losses since the Fraport Skyliners last won a game and that was only accomplished do to a buzzer beater from Justin Gray which has been simply dubbed the shot and with the overall play of Frankfurt vastly improved over the last games, the team was hoping for a success experience, but were disappointed again as they played a more than solid defensive game, but mustered only 54 points losing their ninth game in a row and entering the deregulation a place they hadn´t seen since the Charles Barton era of 2006. “Big today was that we stayed together as a team from the start until the end, but we had way to many turnovers and didn´t rebound as much or as good than in the past. We have to keep positive, not feel sorry for ourselves and keep fighting”, stressed ex NBA player Jermareo Davidson. For TBB Trier they were riding a three game losing streak and so far in the Henrik Rodel era had never lost more than three games in a row and showed a solid effort for 40 minutes. “We played consistent for 40 minutes, kept our style and didn´t let Frankfurt put us under pressure”, stressed TBB Trier center Maik Zirbes. Lebron James friend Dru Joyce has lost enough games against Frankfurt in his career including two last season as a Dashaun Wood was in control and knows how Frankfurt feels now. “I really feel for Frankfurt. You never want to lose so much. I know many guys in the team and they worked very hard tonight and left it on the floor. I know that when they are healthy, that they have the talent to win many games”, warned Dru Joyce. Jon Leuer friend and teammate Keaton Nankivil was at the game to support him and was in awe of the hard fought game. “I saw two good teams today and they did good things on the court. Frankfurt lost some steam in the second half, but every game is tough and Frankfurt just has to move on to the next game”, stressed ratiopharm Ulm forward Keaton Nankivil.

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Where Will The Journey Of TBB Trier End With An Added Concentration On German Players And Extra Focus On Team Defense?

The biggest successes with TBB Trier are already 13 and 10 years old as they were able to hoist the Beko BBL cup twice in 1998 and 2001, but since then the club has been as far away from consistency and the Beko BBL playoffs as Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are of reconcilatation, as any one could ever imagine Leborn James playing a pick up basketball game at a community college in his home state where they lit his jersey on fire last season after he announced going to the Miami Heat or Charlie Sheen ever will have of returning to Two and a half men after his death on the show. The last time that TBB Trier were able to taste some post season air, The Opel Skyliners were still searching for their first BEKO BBL league championship, Skyliner Justin Gray was still practicing with NBA superstar Chris Paul daily at Wake Forest, Lance Armstrong was about to win an unprecedented six consecutive Tour De France, The Montreal Expos organization was still playing in Canada before moving to play in Washington D.C and Lindsay Lohan was still far away from becoming a usual guest in the tabloids as 2004 was the last time the Mosel river club had reached the promised land as they finished at position seven. In the seven seasons since their last playoff appearance the team has averaged a 12th place finish in those years. “It has been a pity that TBB Trier hasn´t been in the playoffs for a while, but we that budget wise, we don´t belong there. It may sound crazy, but if you look at the budgets of other teams, you can see it like that. We were close last year making the playoffs and it hurt that we didn´t make it. This season we are young so making the playoffs is a big challenge”, stated TBB Trier center Maik Zirbes.

 

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Face To Face With EJ Gallup (TBB Trier)

EJ Gallup is a 26 year old 193cm guard from Gloverville, New York. He is playing his first season as a member of TBB Trier. He is a very positive player on the court, who plays with talent and personality. Has great offensive skills and knows how to do at the defensive side. He started his basketball career at Albany (NCAA2) in 2000 and played there until 2002. He then transferred to Co.Carolina (NCAA) where he played until 2004. In his senior year, he played 29 games: 17.2ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 43.4%, FT: 89.6%. He started his professional basketball career in 2006 with Albany Patrons (CBA). He then moved to Germany in the same season playing for ratiopharm Ulm (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 10 games: 4.7ppg, 2FGP: 35.3%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 2-3. In 2007-2008, he returned to Ulm playing 34 games: 12.2ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 87.3%. He stepped away from the court from 2008-2011 before returning last summer to play for the Albany Legends (IBL, starting five): 17ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.6apg, 3PT: 56%(1). He spoke to German Hoops this summer about basketball.

Congrats on your new job with TBB Trier. After 3 years absence from the Beko BBL, how does it feel to be returning back to Germany?

It feels great, Im happy to be back in Germany, and excited to be playing for TBB Trier.

In the 2007-2008 season you played with Ratiopharm Ulm having a solid season averaging 12.2ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 87.3%. Why did you leave the basketball world then?

I had a great experience in Ulm, but for me at that time I decided to go in a different direction than basketball and opened a bar and grille.

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A Conversation With John Bynum(TBB Trier)

John Bynum is a 33 year old 191 cm guard from Visalia California that will commence his second season with TBB Trier. He is a good fighter, fast and good in offensive playing. He is great athlete who can shoot the ball with consistency from 3 and finish with authority on the break. He is a tremendous defender on the ball. He played college basketball at College of the Sequoias Junior College:from 1996-1998 and then transferred to Metropolitan St. (NCAA2): and played there from 1998-2000. He started his professional basketball career in 2001 in the Uk for the Solent Stars (United Kingdom-NBLConf): 31 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assist. In 2002-2003, came his first tour of duty in Germany for BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga): 24.7ppg, 9.2rpg, 6.7apg, 3.5spg. In 2003-2004, he played for the Ulriken Eagles (Norway-BNLO): Regular Season: 14 games: 20,1ppg, 8,1rpg, 2,5apg, 2,9spg, 0,4bpg.In 2004-2005, he was back in Germany playing for BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-2.Bundesliga): 30 games: Score-5(26.0ppg), 7.7rpg, Ast-4(5.4apg), 1.7spg, 2FGP: 55.5%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 63.6%. In 2005-2006, he played for InterCollege Etha Engomis (Cyprus-A1): only pre-season, then joined COOCOON Baskets Weiden (Germany-2.Bundesliga, starting five): 8 games: 15.6ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.0apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 51%, left in Jan.’06 and later that month signed at Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 21 games: 7.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 56.5%. In 2006-2007, he played for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 31 games: 5.7ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.2apg, 2FGP: 43.1%, 3FGP: 25.0%, FT: 55.9%. In 2007-2008, he played for USC Heidelberg (Germany-ProA, starting five): 14 games: 14.4ppg, 4.4rpg, Assists-5(4.6apg), 2.3spg, 2FGP: 54%, 3FGP: 27.3%, FT: 58.5%, left in Jan.’08 due to shoulder injury, in Feb.’08 moved to Digibu Baskets Paderborn (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 13 games: 6.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.4apg, 2FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 70.0%. In 2009-2010, he played in the PRO A for Proveo Merlins Crailsheim (Germany-ProA, starting five): 27 games: 16.9ppg, 7.1rpg, Assists-3(5.4apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 62.8%.  Last season with TBB Trier, he played  35 games: 6.9ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 24.0%, FT: 64.3%. He sat down with German Hoops to talk basketball this summer.

It has been more than 4 months since you last played a Beko BBL game. How has your summer been? Were you able to do some things this summer that you haven´t been able to do the last years?

Well my summer was great it went by extremely fast but I got to get back to California and spend time with the family and although I didn’t travel that much it was good to be home and just relax a little bit.

How does an offseason training session look like for John Bynum?

Offseason training is mostly a lot of playing really. I am not big in working on certain individual things, for me it’s about keeping in somewhat shape and keeping a ball in your hands and not get too lazy.

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