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Versatile Benjamin Sadikovic(Dragons Rhondorf) Will Surprise Many With His Court Vision And Passing Ability

Benjamin Sadikovic (208-PF-2003) is a 22 year old 208cm power forward that is playing his first season with Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf. He played the last 2 seasons with the TSV Oberaching Tropics and last season averaged 5.8ppg, 4.1rpg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT-3 (50.0%), FT: 65.5%. He began his basketball career with TS Jahn Munich where he played NBBL. In his last season he averaged 11.7ppg, 10.0rpg, Blocks-3 (2.6bpg), FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 68.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.

Thanks Benjamin for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on signing with the Dragons Rhondorf. How thrilled are you for making this new step?

I’m really excited to finally take this next step in my career. I’m looking forward to the next two years with the Dragons Rhöndorf and I’m very curious to see how much I can grow and develop as a player during this time.

What were the main reasons for joining the Dragons Rhondorf? How key was having the double license opportunity with easyCredit BBL team Telekom Baskets Bonn?

Of course, the double license opportunity with Telekom Baskets Bonn played a role, but it was definitely not the main reason. Even without the BBL connection, Rhöndorf was already an attractive place for me because I can really put in the work and develop there. Also, from the very beginning, I felt very comfortable and truly welcomed by everyone I’ve met so far.

How have you followed the history of the Dragons Rhondorf the last years? You have a 0-2 lifetime record against them

I’ve always kept an eye on Rhöndorf, especially after they won the championship. I followed their games from time to time to see how they were performing. And yes, I definitely hope my record with the Dragons will be a lot better than my record against them!

How valuable is also the opportunity to be teammates with Daniel Mayr? What are you looking most forward to learning from him?

Daniel Mayr is a very experienced player who has made a name for himself in this league for years. I’m really looking forward to learning from him and picking up as much as I can. Especially, I want to see how he uses his length effectively on both ends of the court — that’s something I can definitely learn from and add to my own game.

How did the talks go with head coach Max Becker? What did you appreciate right away about his basketball philosophy?

Even though Max is still a relatively young coach, I was really impressed by our conversations. He has a great understanding of the game and is also a very approachable and pleasant person. I can tell he’s a highly dedicated coach who really focuses on helping his players grow and develop. I’m really looking forward to playing for him over the next few years.

What is your goal in the first season? To possibily be a solid role player in the Pro B

My main focus is to contribute to the team’s success and help us win games. At the same time, I also want to make a name for myself. I want to prove that I can compete at this level and that I’m capable of playing at even higher levels in the future.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm center. If you had to describe your game to another pro player from Germany or anywhere who would it be?

I would describe my game as a mix of different bigs. I have some similarities to players like Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Vucevic in terms of feel for the game and good positioning, but I’m also working on becoming more mobile and versatile like Bam Adebayo or Daniel Theis – being able to defend, run the floor, and play face-up.

You’re a big man that can score and rebound. Describe your game a bit. What other strengths do you have on the court?

I’m a pretty versatile player for my size. I can score inside thanks to my length, but I also have a solid shooting touch and can be a threat outside the paint. I think one of my underrated strengths is my court vision and passing ability – sometimes people don’t expect that from a big man like me.

Talk a little about your defensive game. What kind of a defender are you right now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

Right now, I’m mainly focused on zone and interior defense, where I can use my size and physicality to protect the paint and secure rebounds. But I definitely want to grow into a defender who can switch and guard all five positions. My goal is to become more mobile on the perimeter, improve my footwork, and be able to guard both bigs and guards effectively.

You played the last 2 seasons with the TSV Oberhaching Tropics Deisenhofen (ProB). You made good strides in your game. How did you game grow in the last 2 years?

Playing with TSV Oberhaching over the last two seasons really helped me become a more physical player. I’ve also made big improvements in my basketball IQ — understanding the game better, reading situations, and making smarter decisions on the court. I’ve developed a lot, but I know there’s still plenty of untapped potential in me, and I’m working hard every day to take my game to the next level.

How vital was head coach Mario Matic for your development? What was the most important thing that he taught you that helped your game?

Mario Matic played a big role in my development. He always pushed me in practice and took extra time to work with me individually. I’m really grateful that I had the chance to play under him and learn from him.

How vital was Fynn Fischer for your game? What were you able to soak up most like a sponge from his game?

I was able to learn a lot from Fynn. What really stood out to me was his post-up game – it’s amazing. He’s still a classic big man who loves to play with his back to the basket, takes advantage of every mismatch, and punishes every small mistake immediately. That’s definitely a skill I want to add to my game as well.

How cool was it being teammates with ultra teammate Omari Knox? What is your fondest moment with him on an doff the court?

Off the court, Omari is honestly one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. He’s just a great person and a great father, and it was always fun to spend time with him. But on the court, he was a completely different guy – the dog came out. He played with so much intensity and fire, and it was amazing to be his teammate. One of my favorite moments was against Ulm when he threw me an incredible bounce pass that led to a big dunk. That’s definitely a play I’ll always remember.

Janosch Koegler is a player every team needs. What will you miss most from his game and leadership skills?

Just like Omari, Janosch was an incredibly kind person that everyone could get along with. On the court, he was the glue guy who always kept the team together and constantly gave encouragement and confidence to everyone. He also had the ability to hit big shots in important moments, which was huge for the team. I’ll definitely miss both his leadership and his calm, positive energy.

Many of your best personal games last season were in loses, but you also had a 13/9 game in a win over Wurzburg. What was your fondest moment on the court in the Pro B?

Personally, I think one of my best games was actually our first game against Fellbach. Even though I didn’t score a lot, I had some really important rebounds and played great defense throughout the game. It was a tough battle, but we managed to win in the end, and that performance really meant a lot to me.

You didn´t play against Hannes Steinbach in that game, but against another young talented player with Clemons Sokolov.What memories do you have battling him on the court?

I think Clemons Sokolov has all the tools to become a really good player. He’s still young, and it will be interesting to see what kind of role he takes on in Würzburg now that Steinbach is heading to college. I definitely enjoyed competing against him on the court.

You began your basketball career with TS Jahn Muenchen U19 team (NBBL) averaging 11.7ppg, 10.0rpg, Blocks-3 (2.6bpg), FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 68.2% in your last season. What memories do you have of this time? Did you have a mentor?

It was an amazing and fun time where I made lifelong friends and really enjoyed playing basketball with them. Unfortunately, we didn’t make the playoffs that year, even though we had a strong roster. Urspring and Ulm were both very tough teams that season.

I didn’t have one specific mentor in the NBBL, but I was really lucky to have two people who helped me a lot. My coach, Timo Heinrichs, worked closely with me and really helped prepare me for the ProB level. On the other side, Philipp Bode supported me throughout my journey – from my time at Jahn all the way to Oberhaching – and taught me so much along the way.

Who is the toughest player that you ever battled that reached NBA or Euroleague?

I would say Noa Essengue was probably the best player I’ve had the chance to play against so far. Competing with him was definitely a great challenge and experience for me.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Philipp Bode, Omari Knox, Richard Freudenberg, Peter Zeis, Fynn Fischer

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

NBA: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan

Euro: Miloš Teodosic, Theo Papaloukas, Vassilis Spanoulis, Walter Tavares

German: Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schröder, Detlef Schrempf, Franz Wagner

Who is your GOAT?

LeBron James no question!

Thanks Benjamin for the chat

Versatile Naz Bohannon(Science City Jena) Knows That He Has To Become A Better Outside Shooter If He Wants A Long Career

Naz Bohannon (198-F-1999, college: Clemson) is a 26 year old 198cm forward playing his fourth professional season in Germany and first with Science City Jena. He played the last 2 seasons with Phoenix Hagen (Germany-ProA) averaging 12.4ppg, 6.6rpg, 2.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 60.8% and 13.3ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 12.5%, FT: 60.9%. He palyed his rookie season overseas with at Rasta Vechta (Germany-ProA) averaging 9.0ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.2apg, FGP-1 (73.4%), 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 55.2%. He began his basketball career with Lorain, OH / Lorrain High School and left as the all-time leading scorer with 1,385 career points with 872 career rebounds and guided the team to a three-year mark of 69-8. He then played at Youngstown State University (NCAA) from 2017-2021 and in his last year averaged : 16.5ppg, 8.2rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 59.8%. He played an extra season at Clemson University (NCAA) averaging 5.7ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 68.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer bout basketball.

Thanks Naz for talking to germanhoops.com. Before we start, I keep reading the nickname “A One Man Buffalo Herd”. Where did you get that name?

The name One Man Buffalo Herd is something that has come since I’ve been in Germany. My playing style and motor have to be the reason the fans have given me the name, either way I like it. At home my basketball peers call me “Bully” for the same reasons these fans call me Buffalo.

When I say the #26 what does that mean?

I don´t know.

Well it means you have played 26 Pro A playoff games in 3 seasons. What was your favorite playoff game?

My favorite playoff game out of my time in Pro A outside of the game I won a championship is either game 5 versus Kircheim or game 4 versus Crailsheim. Both games were win or go home situations and the atmosphere in the Ischeland was second to none. Those are games you look forward to when dreaming about being a pro.

Your playing your fourth professional season and first with Jena. Is it fair to say that Germany has become like a second home for you?

It is definitely fair to say that Germany has become a second home to me. If I can learn the language fluently maybe I can get a passport lol.

What do you enjoy so much about Germany? You played in Vechta and Hagen not real big places, but great basketball addresses

These two places in particular are a big reason why I love Germany. I’ve been blessed to be able to be in two amazing basketball cultures and this has made my career worthwhile. Outside of basketball I enjoy traveling through Germany and just enjoying everything the country has to offer. I love to learn so being immersed in a completely different culture than what I come from has been amazing.

After playing 2 seasons in Hagen, your now in the easyCredit BBL. Was the fact that you could play in the BBL the biggest draw that you had for playing for this organization?

Since winning a championship and not moving up with the team, playing in the BBL has been a pursuit of mine. Playing in Hagen not only gave me a chance to be able to do that, but a chance to do it in a place that it would mean a whole lot. I’m a huge legacy guy and I love places that embody grit and grind. Those were my draws for playing for Hagen.

You had a 1-3 lifetime record against Jena. What was so appealing to battle them each time?

The battles with Jena were wars. Every game had a great atmosphere and felt like a prize fight that went into the dog rounds.

How did the talks go with mastermind head coach Bjoern Harmsen. He first coached Jena when you were 9 years old. He has had a impressive coaching track record in Germany. What did you appreciate most about his coaching Philosophy?

The talks went pretty quick, but they were effective and efficient. We knew each other well from the battles we had and once we understood the feelings were mutual about working together it was an easy choice. I loved to play them because as a basketball junkie I could appreciate their offensive schemes and attention to detail to the game.

Your 198cm forward that isn´t afraid to bang with anyone inside. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I personally don’t do NBA comparisons but a lot of people say Draymond Green. However, I love watching guys that came before this huge analytical era. I believe anybody who can get to 6’6 or above, be physical, have a great IQ, and sharpen all aspects of their game can become mismatch nightmares.

Your physicality and leadership really stand out, but for me it´s clearly your versatility. You always had it already at Youngstown. Can you become even more versatile then what you already are?

As the 3 ball starts to fall for me I definitely can become more versatile. If I make the opponent respect me as a three point shooter it will only open up the rest of my game.

Your three pointer still is a work in progress. You only shot 12,5% last season with Hagen? What is your agenda on becoming a better shooter? Can it be more than just repetition? Do you ever work on changing mechanics?

I’ve spent the entire summer working on shooting and it’s definitely gotten improved. Away from repetition my shot is and has been about consistency and that means me shooting the ball the same way every time. That coupled with the mindset shift of actually shooting it. I grew up playing basketball at the park and our mentality always was if you can’t stop me from getting to the rim why would I shoot it. However, in this new age of basketball I have to adjust to shooting if I want a long career.

How would you classify yourself as a defender? What kind of a defender do you still want to become?

As a defender I believe I am versatile as well and that helps not only myself, but any team I’m on. As I go to higher levels I can become a better defender of shooting wings and the on ball defender of ball screens.

On what areas of your game besides your three pointer are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

I’ve been working on handling the ball better, my overall touch and becoming a better athlete. These things will always translate to higher levels of basketball.

You played the last 2 seasons with Phoenix Hagen. How enjoyable were these 2 years? How did you grow further under Chris Harris?

These 2 years were fun as hell. My 2 years at Hagen made that place home and it will forever be in my heart. Chris is my guy, outside of growing as a leader and learning how to manipulate the european game as a go to guy, Chris provided a space for me to grow as a man.

You played 2 incredible 5 game series against Kirchheim and Crailsheim. Was that Kirchheim series the most exciting time ever in basketball?

My most exciting time ever in basketball happened when I was 15 years old and playing in front of my hometown. My high school team was undefeated and it felt like we were living in a movie. Every game was sold out, we even sold out a college.

You had some incredible teammates in Hagen. Which player had the biggest impact on you. Perhaps Siler Schneider who you were teammates twice with?

Siler is my brother. That is definitely one of my all time favorite teammates. We were two hard nosed hungry kids from the mid west that gelled perfectly.

You played your rookie season with Rasta Vechta (Germany-ProA) averaging 9.0ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.2apg, FGP-1 (73.4%), 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 55.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My wakeup call from home had little to do with basketball actually. My wake up call was being in the grocery store for the first time and not being able to read the names of any of the groceries and being uneasy about asking for help because I wasn’t sure if someone spoke English.

What was so special with the Vechta team that won the Pro A title to reach the BBL?

The Vechta team was special because of how competitive we were. With no disrespect our practices were sometimes harder than the games. “Iron sharpens Iron” and we epitomized that.

You tried to play in the NFL. You worked out with Jacksonville. How was that whole process. What were the main reasons in the end that it didn´t work out?

That process was great and taught me a lot. It’s something I’ll forever be grateful for. In the end I was a product of the business and I’m not mad at that. I was in a situation where I needed longer to develop than what the team had to produce a winning situation.

You played at Youngstown State University (NCAA) from 2017-2021. You made a massive jump in your last season averaging 16.5ppg, 8.2rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 16.7%, FT: 59.8%. How did your game grow in the last season there?

My game grew in my last season because I became more assertive and focused. I already have a great work ethic but that year my son was born and it kicked me into an entirely different gear.

You had many great games there like scoring 32 points against Green Bay or having a monster 14/20 game against Central Michigan. What was your fondest moment there?

My fondest moment there is when I played on ESPN and made the game winning pass to beat the conference giant Wright St. I had 28 points 8 rebounds and 2 assists on a big stage and my entire community got to watch from home.

You played 1 more NCAA season with Clemson University (NCAA) averaging5.7ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 68.6%. You averaged 12 minutes less than the season before. What positives could you get from this season?

The season at Clemson prepared me to be a pro, specifically for the year at Vechta. Being on a team loaded with talent you have to be able to adjust and play a role even if it may be undesirable at first. While frustrated in the beginning of the year there, I grew to figure out a way to be successful in whatever time was awarded to me.

How did head coach Brad Brownell give you that last push and help prepare you for a pro career?

Coach Brownell’s grit philosophy not only helps be a pro, but helps in every aspect of life. Passion and perseverance towards a long term goal while paying attention to details,being tough and being team oriented can help you in just about any setting in your adult life.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Hunter Tyson?

In the few times we did play 1s we had great battles

Please list your personal NBA, German and Serbian Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?

NBA: Lebron, Shaq, Mike, Kareem

German: Dirk, Dennis Schroeder, Franz Wagner,

Serbia: Joker, Bogdanovic, Peja Stojakovic, Drazen Petrovic

Who is your GOAT?

My GOAT is Lebron. Simple and clear answer for me. As a basketball lover I am open to anybody else’s opinion.

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

I haven’t seen it, but I do think they should have left it alone.

Thanks Naz for the chat.

Chris Clemons(EWE Baskets)Learned From The Best From Harden And Westbrook And His Goal Overseas Is The Euroleague

Pic credit: Houston Rockets

I continue to have real fond memories of a G-League game I went to almost 4 years ago between the Maine Celtics and Capital City Go Go´s. I witnessed a pretty low scoring game under 100 and as usual after the game was hounding the players for selfie´s. I got some nice pics with some NBA players like Greg Monroe and Luke Kornet, but also was lucky to pose with some other fine players. With a few of them, I have had a special kind of connection after meeting them briefly on that very mild late November day as it had pushed 60 degrees. The years following that game, I would write articles on 2 Maine Celtics with Eric Demers and Deng Adel, both who are flourishing overseas. I actually still have contact with Demers to this day who has had success in Spain and who I have tried to help come to Germany. My journey with meeting players in the G-League and writing an article after they have moved on to overseas continued here with another player, I remember stopping and posing with a pic with Chris Clemons (175-PG-1997, college: Campbell). Clemons is an incredible player who is an undersized walking bucket and has seen it all. He played 40 games that season for Maine and surprisingly the game I saw, he played the least amount of minutes that season with only 17 and scored 5 points. He had 8 other games that season of 40 or more minutes. When I noticed that he was over seas in France, I got in contact with his agent and before I knew it, I had an interview with him. I always love saying the phrase, “it´s a small world when I inform guys that we had met before and now I´m interviewing them. It wasn´t any different with Clemons. He also had no problem naming Germany´s Euroleague teams Munich and Berlin when I asked him if he ever had any ambition of lacing up his sneakers in Germany. “Who knows, It might happen. You never know where basketball might take you. I never thought that I would ever play in France. The BBL is a good league to play in. I played with Tyren Johnson last season and this season he is in Germany. I want to get to the Euroleague”, warned Chris Clemons in April 2025. Clemons learned from the best from Harden and Westbrook and his goal is the Euroleague.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Chris Clemons in Portland, Maine 2021

The 175cm guard who lists Ja Morant as the toughest player that he ever battled in the NCAA was born on July 23, 1997 in Raleigh, North Carolina and idolized Allen Iverson growing up and tried to incorporate his lethal cross over into his own game. He played at / Millbrook High School and in his senior year averaged 24.9ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.2apg, 2.2spg. In his career there, he scored 1230 points which was the second highest in school history and had the single game record of 41 points. His explosive scoring continued at Campbell University (NCAA) where he played from 2015-2019 amassing a total of 129 games. He had a sensational freshman year averaging 18.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 84.4%. But his game really took off in his last 3 years as he averaged 25.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.6apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 82.5%, 25.1ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.0apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 36.9%, FT: 85.6% and as a senior had the ultimate individual season averaging 30.1ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.8apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 35.7%, FT: 86.9%. Were these 4 years some of the best times in his life? “I have had a lot of great years in my career, but my years in Campbell were great as well. I found a way in those 4 years to continue to keep getting better and what I needed to do to get to the NBA. I put in the work and always got better after taking part in some NBA pre draft work outs and never got complacent. I improved and in my last year went up 5,0ppg. My coaches believed in me and put me in a good position to be successful. I never took anything for granted”, stressed Chris Clemons. He scored in double figures in 128 of 129 games and owns the longest double-figure scoring streak (82) games among all active NCAA Division I players (8th-longest all-time). It is no secret that he owes a lot of his success to head coach Kevin McGeehan. “I´m so glad that he saw something in me, because I had on other offers. I believe he saw something very special in me. He gave me a lot of confidence in myself. I showed just how much I improved my game. He gave a lot of attention to my game and I can thank him 1 million times”, said Chris Clemons. His scoring consistency was incredible as he scored 20 points or more 92 times, 30 points or more 30 times, 40 points or more 6 times and had a 51 point game against UNC Ashville. One of his fondest memories was scoring 42 points against Liberty where he and teammate Marcus Burk hit 10 three´s a piece. “I still don´t know how that happened. It felt like we just took turns taking shots and nobody missed. We were on the road and it was a great team performance”, remembered Chris Clemons. 2 of his best accolades at Campbell was becoming the school´s all-time leading scorer and leading the nation as a senior in scoring, but which was greater for him? “I think that my biggest accolade was being the top scorer in the nation. I was already the school´s highest scorer before I was the nation´s top scorer. It is tougher to be the top scorer in the nation. To lead the nation in any category was tough. I will always be proud of that”, remembered Chris Clemons who recalls beating Marcus Burk is 1-1 battles in practice. Other achievements at Campbell included All-Big South Conf. Freshman of the Year -2016, All-Big South Conf. Second Team -2016, Big South Conf. All-Freshman Team -2016, All-Big South Conf. First Team -2017, 18, 19, Big South Conf. All-Tournament Team -2017, 19, Big South Conf. All-Academic Team -2017 NABC All-District 3 Second Team -2017 CIT All-Tournament Team -2017, USBWA All-District III Team -2018, 19, NABC Division I All-District 3 First Team -2018, 19, Mid-Major Madness All-Americans Honorable Mention -2018, Lou Henson All-Americans Team -2018, All-Big South Conf. Player of the Year -2019, USBWA All-America Third Team -2019, and Reese’s NCAA D1 All-Star Game -2019

The explosive guard who lists James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Andrew Eudy, Tyren Johnson, and John Wall as his 5 best teammates of all-time played at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft) averaging Score-1 (18.3ppg), 3.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.7spg and then played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas) averaging Score-4 (20.2ppg), 4.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 30.4%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 78.9%. He had to pay his dues as a rookie first earning an exhibit 10 contract, then a 2 way contract and on December 27th finally was handed a standard NBA contract. In his rookie season he played 35 NBA games for Houston averaging 4.8ppg, and also played also with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (NBA G League) averaging Score-4 (23.9ppg), 3.9rpg, 6.0apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 85.5%. He like every player had that instant NBA wake up call where he had to always be wide awake. “The NBA is so fast paced and we had a lot of veterans. You can get lost in so many things outside of basketball. If you aren´t always focused something could go wrong in an instant”, warned Chris Clemons. He made his NBA debut against the Miami Heat and was an instant bang scoring 16 points. “I remember my family being there. I remember not being surprised, but I was very excited because I knew that I would play. Generally you never know when you play so when you do play, you have to leave a lasting memory. I remember bringing a lot of energy and always telling myself you have to make every shot, so they will remember me in the next game and put me in again”, commented Chris Clemons. Not many guys can say that they were teammates with James Harden and Russell Westbrook. He couldn´t have had better guard veterans than these 2 to soak up as much as possible on a daily basis. “Those 2 are some of the best passers in the game. Learning how to read the game and where help is coming from was huge. Harden is an offensive guru and I learned how to execute the pick and roll and when to do isolation. I also learned how key preparation is every day. Even after partying, these guys were always so locked in. I don´t know how they did that”, expressed Chris Clemons. He also was teammates then with a lesser known German big man named Isaiah Hartenstein. He shares the same opinion as I in why it took him so long to get respected by NBA teams. “It really is crazy how long it took him to get to the place where he is now. He was a very intriguing guy. His biggest attribute is his energy. He is one of the best motors I have ever seen. He gets very rebound. I don´t know how he does it. I´m super happy for his success. He deserves everything because he has worked so hard”, warned Chris Clemons. In his NBA season he scored in double figures in 7 games including 19 points against Minnesota and 17 points against Atlanta.

The North Carolina native who lists Jordan, Kobe, Lebron, Shaq, and AI on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore missed the 2020-2021 season due to a Achilles injury. He rebounded in the 2021-2022 season playing with the Maine Celtics (NBA G League) averaging 21.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 5.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 41.8%, FT: 82.8%. He scored in double figures in 36 games and scored 20 points or more 19 times and 30 points or more 9 times and scored 41 points 3 times. He also set an NBA G League record for most points in a quarter on perfect shooting from the field with 27 points on 9–9 field goal shooting. He should have had an NBA call up, but didn´t. “Sometimes it has to do with timing. I don´t ever remember any other player putting up the kind of stats that I was putting up. After the season, I mis-picked some opportunities, but that is how it sometimes goes. I think at that time, I needed to score so we would win”, remembered Chris Clemons. He also had a 10 day contract from Atlanta, but didn´t play a game. He played the last 2 seasons in the G-League with Windy City averaging 15.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.8apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 33.3%, 3FGP: 44.7%, FT: 77.8% in his first season and in China and France. He continued to return back to the States for the NBA dream. Is that NBA dream still there now or is overseas his main priority? “I have been to the NBA and know what it takes to play there. I know that I could play there now. The NBA is so political and it is very difficult to get back there. Even if I did play G-League again, I would be passing up a lot of money of not playing overseas. I mean if I were to get a legitimate opportunity then I would take it. I´m very happy overseas being able to see new countries and cultures. The Euroleague is the second best league in the world and a place I want to reach”, warned Chris Clemons. He was fortunate to play under ex Euroleague player guard Henry Domercant and got an early introduction to how overseas basketball is played. “Henry talked about the overseas game a lot. I listened and learned from him. Things that he talked about was true. Everything he talked about involving practices, the language and fans was true. He was a really good influence on me without really being one. His coaching style was similar to what you see overseas. He really prepared me well”, said Chris Clemons. In his second season at Windy City he averaged 15.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 4.2apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 48.8%, 3FGP: 33.2%, FT: 78.3%30 minutes. Did he feel like he was close to an NBA call up or did he score too little in the minutes he got? “I don´t think that I scored to little. I think that I was always close to the NBA. It was just about waiting for that opportunity. What I really appreciate about the Maine Celtics was that when I got there, they told me exactly what I had to do to reach the NBA. I don´t think it is about scoring 30-40 points a game, but more like if you score 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game. I don´t think that The NBA looks at how much you score. Many don´t understand that and believe that if they score 30-40 points, that that will be their ticket to the NBA. They are confused with that, because they look for the role player and not the star. The most important thing for me was that we were winning when I was there”, stressed Chris Clemons. He also gathered further experience playing with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers (China-CBA) averaging 17.9ppg, 3.9rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 43.8%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 84.7%. “The experience was a lot different than Europe. You can´t drive there and you don´t have as much freedom. You can learn the language a lot easier in Europe. I have picked up enough French to be able to communicate, but you can´t just pick up Chinese. The fans are great. The atmosphere is great. It is similar to the NBA and how everything is set up. The Chinese want the Americans to dominate. That is why you often see crazy numbers by Americans”, added Chris Clemons. He scored in double figures in 18 of 26 games including a 55 point explosion against Shanxi L where he connected for 13 three´s. He also had the fortune of being teammates with a real character Taco Fall that many Celtics fans will never forget. “Traveling with him was really interesting. Everyone is small in China. It was a real spectacle when he was traveling. It was tough getting on buses and planes for him. He drew a lot of attention. He was a nice dude”, said Chris Clemons.

The North Carolina native who names Allen Iverson as his GOAT and felt that the original Coming To America was better than the sequel played his second season in Europe with Sluc Nancy Basket Pro (France-Betclic ELITE ProA) averaging 28 games: 15.0ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-5 (1.3spg), FGP: 39.0%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 86.3%. “Playing for Nancy was a real good experience. I have been very fortunate to have teammates that really enjoy each other. That has made the process a lot easier. It can sometimes be hit or miss overseas. My wife is here with me, so that has made the experience a lot easier as well. Each game in the Pro A is of high importance. The league is tight and the games are intense. The atmosphere is also great”, commented Chris Clemons. He also was fortunate having a veteran like Caleb Walker on his side and helping get adjusted and another big time scorer with Isaiah Washington on his side as well. “Caleb and I have a really good relationship. We hang out here and also have done it in the States. We are able to carry on a relationship past basketball. I think that he is a great veteran for anyone. He is also here with his wife and they have really been very helpful to my wife getting adjusted. We are very thankful for that. I love Isaiah and the person that he is. He is a really talented player. I like how he can create for himself and others. He is a really good dude to meet. He told me about Germany and how different of a role he had there. I think that we have a lot of similarities in our games. Unfortunately we haven´t played as much together on the court as I would have liked”, said Chris Clemons. Last season with Nancy he played 12 games averaging 16.0ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.1apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 82.1%. In the 2024-2025 season he showed that he needed no adjustment time. That consistency from Campbell seems to have rubbed over everywhere he has been as a professional player. “ I´m not the tallest guy so I have to be consistent in order to be successful at a high level. I have been very fortunate in my career to have been in great places and have had good people help me be effective in some way with my game”, stressed Chris Clemons. Often guys that come from the NBA have problems adjusting to the game, but he hasn´t had any problems. He fills the stat sheet like no other and has already proved to be a very good playmaker overseas as he has that good court vision already overseas that he also displayed in the NBA. “To be honest, it isn´t that much different. I just think that the court is more congested overseas and the spaces are tighter. I have always been a main focal point of the offense where ever I have played so nothing surprises me anymore. I have seen every kind of defense”, warned Chris Clemons. One dude who has paid his dues for years and now has finally reached the big time is TJ Shorts. He is 175cm just like Clemons. Wouldn´t it be something to see them go head to head in the Euroleague in the future? For now the Euroleague will have to wait as this season he is playing for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. His 52 points against Trier definitely will have turned heads from Euroleague clubs and even if the EWE Baskets started 1-6 in the BBL, he led his team into the BBL Cup top 4 with a game high 20 points. The season is still young and there surely will be more to come from Chris Clemons in a EWE Baskets jersey.

Will Yoakum(Bristol Flyers) May Be Able To Shoot Out The Lights But Can Also Make An Impact On The Defensive End

Will Yoakum (196-G/F-1998, college: Nova SE) is a 27 year old 196cm swing man from Ohio playing his third professional season overseas and first with the Bristol Flyers (United Kingdom-SLB). He played his rookie season in Germany with Pro A team SC Rasta Vechta (second team) averaging 5.5ppg, 1.8rpg, FGP: 54.5%, 3PT: 29.2%, FT: 70.0%. He also gained further experience in Mexico with Abejas de Leon (Mexico-LNBP) averaging 12.6ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 64.9%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 73.1% and played twice with Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico-CIBACOPA) averaging 13.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 77.9% and 18.6ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 62.8%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 75.4%. He began his basketball career at Max Hayes High School and then played 4 seasons at West Liberty State College (NCAA2) playing a total of 86 games. He then finished at Nova Southeastern University (NCAA2) averaging 20.4ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.5apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 60.4%, 3PT: 52.3%, FT: 83.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against the Mitteldeutscher BC.

Thanks Will for talking to germanhoops.com Your playing your third professional season and first with the Bristol Flyers (United Kingdom-SLB). What kind of an experience has it been for you? What have you enjoyed most about it?

It has been a great experience, I feel like it’s been something I have been working towards my past few seasons. I’ve enjoyed my teammates the most, I feel like I have 10 brothers.

The club has had a very good start in the SLB. It is an organization hungry to win. It hasn´t won a title since 2010. How hungry is this club for success?

This club is very hungry and it starts with our day to day approach, in practice we are very detail oriented. We know our ceiling and we feel we haven’t reached it yet.

The team has many Americans on the team. Does it at times feel like your back in the States and have that college atmosphere?

Yes at times, it feels like a college team with the amount of people that speak English. I’m used to a little bit of a language barrier with some players.

You have showed in the early going to be an integral part of the offense and success. What is your role? Are you the go to guy?

One of them for sure but we have a team with multiple guys that can score points in our system, our team does a good job of finding guys within our offense.

You have always been an incredible three point shooter, but in the SLB are shooting an amazing 61% and your picking your spots really well. What is your secret to being a great shooter?

Just being ready to shoot at all times and also finding open spots on the floor weather that be from three our inside. our bigs and guards are very good passers.

How much of a battle is it battling fellow American Cameron Holden? How do you make each other better?

He’s a great player and a winner. We live with each other off the court so we always are talking about what we can both do to be better for each other and the team, he knows where I am at all times on the court I feel like.

Last season you played with Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico-CIBACOPA) averaging 18.6ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 62.8%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 75.4%. How did your game grow in Mexico after getting Mexico experience as a rookie? This time you had 4-5 months vacation in comparison to the rookie season where you played a whole year without pause.

My game grew a lot, my rookie year I was on a very talented team and having the success I had was huge for my confidence. This past year I was on another great team and we won a lot of games, the style of play was great for me as we played very fast, I was able to assert myself as one of the key players from the beginning of the season. I played the 2/3/ and a little of the 4 in our offense at the beginning. although we fell short of our goal of winning the championship, it was a fun year full of great memories. I was able to play my game and my teammates were doing the same, it was a great mix of guys who all were very very talented but very selfless and cared about winning. Those are my brothers.

You played a great playoff series against Tijuana, but lost. It went back and forth for 7 games. What will you always remember from that series?

I will remember our grit. We were down 0-2 and fought all the way back to force a game 7. It felt like a movie. Each game was war, that is why you train in the offseason and why you put up extra shots or do extra conditioning.

You played your rookie season in Germany and Mexico and played 90 games. That is like an NBA player. Was that a tough experience playing from August 2023-October 2024?

It was a tough for sure playing that many games and being in a few different countries in one year. It also helped a ton, I learned how to play different styles, different concepts that are commonly used at the pro level.

What was your wake up call to being a rookie Overseas in Germany where you knew that you were far away from home?

I don’t know if I have one particular moment but reading street signs and driving with different speed limits in Germany was different.

You were teammates with Jack Kayil and Johann Grunloh. What memories do you have of them and could you see them being Germans in the NBA in the next years?

They both were great teammates of mine, very special players as well. I look forward to seeing them have success at the D1 level. I think they both can play in the NBA or Euroleague level someday with their IQ, talent, and creativity.

You then played with Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico-CIBACOPA) averaging 13.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 61.4%, 3PT: 41.1%, FT: 77.9% and with Abejas de Leon (Mexico-LNBP) averaging 12.6ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 64.9%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 73.1%. What was it like playing in Mexico? It is a league popular with Americans and continues to grow. How competitive is the league?

It’s a great league, there are a lot of ex- NBA or G league players in that league. There are many pros that are experienced. So it’s a good league to test your skill level against guys that have been at the top of the top for many years. There are a lot of very talented basketball players in CIBACOPA/ LNBP

You were teammates with ex NBA player Vander Blue. How enriching was it for you as a rookie seeing his play and soaking up as much as possible? What could you gain from his play?

Vander Blue was my Vet, He was a great voice to have around the team. He’s a winner and a leader. He knows how to play good basketball, I just would try and soak up as much from him my rookie year. I gained how much he liked good basketball and how much he looked for the right play or the best shot for the team. He has a winning impact on any team he plays for.

You had many great games in Mexico, but how special was your 28/11 game where you shot 7/7 from outside in the win over the Astros?

If I remember we were down 0-3 in that series so I just wanted to go out and play to win. But yeah it was a fun game for sure

You played at West Liberty State College from 2018-2022 and won the MEC title in 2022 and reached the NCAA 2 Elite 8 in 2021. How valuable was it playing for Ben Howlett? How did your game grow in those 4 years?

My game grew a lot while play at West Liberty. I got the freedom to play off the ball and become a better cutter as well and shot the ball a lot from the outside. Also I became a good offensive rebounder while playing at West Liberty. I played alongside some great players so it made my job easier. There were some ups and downs but Coach Howlett let me play my game from the time I was a freshman all the way until I was a 5th year.

You then played a graduate season with Nova Southeastern University (NCAA2) averaging 20.4ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.5apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 60.4%, 3PT: 52.3%, FT: 83.2%. Your winning ways continued with the SSC title and D-2 title. Was this season some of the best if not best time in your life?

It was a great time for me, winning a ton of games and being in Florida. A year I will never forget and a team I will never forget.

You beat your ex school West Liberty and ex teammates and friends. How emotional was that title? What will you always remember from it?

It was a physical game, both teams knew what they wanted to do and it came down to who was going to play that style the best. Definitely a full circle moment for me and my family, I wasn’t very emotional leading up to to but after I was pretty happy celebrating with my teammates.

How did head coach Jim Crutchfield give you that last push to help you become a professional? Your game made another jump?

The system that Coach Crutch put into play lets players read and react. Not thinking too much on offense, just playing towards your strengths. He recruited me out of high school so he knew my game so it was just a match from Day 1. He recruits players that can shoot the ball at a high level and play with a different type of edge. Playing at Nova gave me another opportunity to play with great players and perfect my craft of cutting, shooting threes, and getting out in transition. I would say my game has made a jump on the defensive side. At West Liberty and Nova we pressed the whole game and I didn’t get to show my on ball defensive impact but since I’ve been a pro I can show that and I think it’s gotten better since college. I also see myself playing with more patience on offense, making reads etc.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Lukas Speidel?

Good question, we would always stay after practice and get extra Jumpers up. Not a whole lot of 1v1, we were the old guys on the team so we didn’t want to beat each other up too much. But I think I beat him once maybe

Who the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA 2 or anywhere that reached the NBA?

I played against Gary Trent Jr. in High School

Dalton Bolon, my Teammate from West Liberty

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

No Order

Rj Sunihara Lukas Speidel Shane Hunter Jacob Calloway Terrell Brown

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore

Lebron

Kobe

MJ

Steph

Larry Bird

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James

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

I have not seen it

Thanks Will for the chat.

Jalen Riley(FC Porto) Will Never Forget His VEF Riga Days As That Is Where He Learned To Be A Champion

Jalen Riley (184-PG-1993, college: ETSU) is a 32 year old 185cm guard from Wisconsin playing his 11th pro season and second with FC Porto (Portugal-Liga Betclic,). He began his basketball career with Sauk Valley Community College (JUCO) and then played 2 seasons with East Tennessee State University (NCAA) an din his senior year averaged 20.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.7apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 40.1%, 3PT: 37.4%, FT: 82.7%. He turned professional in 2015 and played in Slovakia. He also played in countries like Spain, Iceland, Lithuania, France,Latvia, Greece, China and Poland. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against the Rostock Seawolves.

Thanks Jalen for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your 11th pro season, playing in

your 10th country and have played 260 + games. How much of a ultimate basketball

globetrotter do you feel like?

It feels cool to think about in hindsight but as you’re in it you don’t realize how many places,

countries and cultures you’ve experienced playing the game you love. So yea I definitely feel

like I’ve been able to see a lot of the world at this point and I’m truly grateful for the

experiences. Where I’m from its uncommon to say the least.

You are in your second tour of duty with FC Porto. What is it like being back? Has much

changed with the organization?

It´s been great so far, Porto is a great organization with a super rich history so just like my first experience it feels cool to be a part of something bigger than yourself again and try to etch your place in that history. There’s some new faces from before but mainly familiar ones that had warm welcomes for my return. Hopefully we can make a great run this season!

The team last won the league title in 2016 and the last 2 cups. Are the expectations higher

now then in 2020 when you were there?

Probably so, I believe the hunger for the championship is greater because more time has

passed since the last one. Overall I believe the standard for winning is always there and from

my last time to now I think it´s the same.

Does FC Porto have the best American point guard trio with you, Wespaun and Dunn? Not to

mention having Veteran Miguel Cardoso also? What do you appreciate most about their

games?

Yeah we have a really talented group, were working still now to gel & keep growing more

comfortable together so that we can bring out the best in one another on the floor. They’re all

great guys, great competitors. Wes is great getting downhill and making plays, elite defender.

Dunn is great for us on both ends shooting and rebounding and defending. Miguel is a really

high IQ guy & great playmaker for us.

You have been a walking bucket almost your whole life overseas. This seasons team have

many scorers. Could this be a season where you might focus on other areas of your game to

help the team be successful?

Yea I just try to do whatever is necessary to help the team. I know I have the ability to both

score & be a playmaker so whatever is needed is always what I’ll focus on delivering. That

can change week to week, game to game so I just have to be ready to contribute in whatever

way.

Last season you split time with at Peristeri BWin Athens (Greece-GBL) and Tasomix Rosiek Stal OstrowWielkopolski (Poland-OBL) averaging 17.0ppg, 1.7rpg, 3.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 86.1%. How tough was this season? After a tough time in Greece, you closed out the season well in Poland. What positives could you gain from this season?

Yea last season was a bit difficult, we welcomed my son here in Jan so with that happening I

decided to stay home until after his delivery date. The situation I took on in Greece wasn’t

ideal, I was brought in to replace some injuries but guys came back sooner than expected

and unfortunately I never received an opportunity to play. On a positive note I’m glad I was

able to shake the rust off in Poland and stack a couple months of playing good ball to finish

off the season. I want to carry that momentum best I can into this full season back in Europe.

You played the 2023-204 season with Jiangsu Nangang Dragons Nanjing (China-CBA) averaging
14.7ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 41.0%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 81.4%. What kind of an experience was the CBA league. How was this experience different than any other thing that you have seen overseas?

CBA was a very unique experience, even with having to play through an injury majority of the season I had a very productive year. It was cool to experience how different the culture is there. I didn’t know what to expect but the league was very well run, from the quality of the arenas, the quality of travel, the amount of gear the league provides the players. The style of play was a lot different than Europe, they try to emulate the NBA style of play more than European clubs. Quick shots, lots of transition play, and they have very high usage rates to their foreigners/best players. If not for changes in my personal life that didn’t align as well as Europe does I would’ve targeted a return.

In the 2022-2023 season, you played with PAOK Thessaloniki (Greece-GBL) averaging

10.6ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 34.7%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 77.8%; and in the BCL averaged

(17.9ppg), 3.0rpg, 1.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 45.8%, FT: 82.4%. Was this possibly your best season stat wise as a pro? How do you think did your game grow best here?

Yeah I believe I played some of my best basketball in Greece, especially in European competition. It was my first experience playing solely at PG. I feel like I grew my game a lot as a playmaker there and being able to get guys involved around me while also finding balance to stay aggressive individually. Greece has a very competitive domestic league as well so it was fun season with a lot of good high level matchups to be motivated for. The fans in Greece are amazing as well so it was a fun experience for sure

You scored 27 points in a loss to Euroleague team Olympiakos. Do you have special memories of this game? Even if you lost, You were the best player on the court full of ex NBA guys?

Yea that was a fun game, I missed our home regular season game against them earlier in the season due to injury so was excited to be able to play them in front of our fans. we were able to get a win vs Panathinaikos that yr at home so I really wanted to be able to get one against them as well. That was a very good team though so as I said before it was easy to be motivated to play. I always want to show I’m one of the best players on the floor if not the best every time I suit up, so that series was no different and I’m glad I was able to put forth some good performances against them in the playoffs.

You played the 2021-2022 season with VEF Riga (Latvia-LBL) averaging 13.6ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.9apg, FGP: 70.0%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 86.7%;in the BCL and in the EstLatBL averaged PPG-5 (15.4), 2.3rpg, 3.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 44.5%, FT: 80.0%. You won 2 titles here. What was so special about this team?

We had a great group haha super simple! To win at a high level you have to be talented & connected. We won all 3 available trophies that season and everyone from our roster has went on to do great things since. Vef was a high quality organization and will always be a cherished chapter in my career I learned how to be a champion there and have been able to carry that experience throughout my career since.

You had your first tour of duty with FC Porto (Portugal-LPB) in 2020-2021 averaging 16.0ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 39.4%, FT: 89.7%. You won the cup that season. How tough was losing that playoff series to Sporting? The last 2 games were only lost by a combined point total of 5 points. What do you think did you learn from this series?

Super tough, thankfully I don’t have too many but that is one of the biggest sore spots/what ifs in my career. It was my first experience playing true finals playoff (series) basketball and one I believe if I had been a bit more experienced we would have claimed the trophy. Until then I had only competed in final fours and 1 and done scenarios so the grind of playing series after series was new to me. We had some unfortunate calls that decided games in that finals series but we built a 2-1 series lead and that was on us we didn’t find a way to close it out. The cup win was great but the championship would’ve been a lot sweeter to bring back to Porto.

You were teammates with the great Larry Gordon. How special of a player was he and what will you always remember about him most?

Larry G was my guy, I was grateful to have shared the court with him in his last go around. Super talented, hard worker, played both ends of the floor & definitely a great teammate. I’ll always remember that he couldn’t guard me though but haha not too many people can so it´s all good LG. Hope retirement is treating you well brother.

You played the 2019-2020 season with Cholet Basket (France-Jeep ELITE ProA) averaging 11.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 35.6%, 3PT: 43.4%, FT: 85.2%. How tough was this season? Covid stopped the season, but you had a solid season in a top league in Europe.

Yea this was my first taste of high level competition in Europe, this was my jump in the water and sink or swim moment as a pro and I truly wish covid wasn’t a thing because I would’ve loved to seen that group finish the season. We had a great team, I think we were around 4th or so in the standings when it got cancelled. Of all my experiences except for maybe CBA china in Cholet I produced the most per minute I was being played. I was already confident going into my time at Cholet but that confidence took even more steps forward with that experience. Playing great games against teams like Asvel, Monaco, Tel Aviv, I knew or felt then I was able to compete with anybody in the world.

You played the 2018-2019 season with Palanga (Lithuania-NKL) averaging (26.0), 4.6rpg, 3.8apg, SPG-2 (1.9), FGP: 50.1%, 3PT: 39.9%, FT: 96.8%. How vital was this season in your career? You had to pay your dues in your first 3 pro seasons and then broke out in Lithuania. Did this season possibly save your career? You scored 30 points or more 18 times including 50 points against KTU winning 100-97. How special was this game in your career?

For sure my breakthrough season as a pro. I dealt with a lot of uncontrollable turbulence my first couple seasons, not uncommon to most rookies coming from the states with minimal connections, but the opportunity I had in Palanga completely changed the trajectory of my career. I was finally given an opportunity to be myself and truly showed myself as a player in Europe. I landed opportunities to move up to LKL early in that season and one of my best early career decisions was staying put & betting on myself to finish that season in a place I found comfort rather than throw myself into another unknown situation. I grew a lot of confidence and stability finally & played extremely well having an MVP season. I was able to put up respectively the best numbers in a single season in my career and opened up a lot of doors for myself the following summer which led to my jump to ProA France. The 50pt game was just a testament to how that season went for me. I had a lot of big scoring nights that year because I put in so many hours of hard work to build my craft in the 2 rough seasons prior to it. I knew I was capable of more and that season/game was just a culmination of that work really. Still my highest scoring mark in my career.

You played the 2017-2018 season with CB Cazorla Jaen Paraiso Interior (Spain-EBA) averaging (21.9), 4.7rpg, 4.1apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 83.4%. You played in the fourth league in Spain continuing to pay your dues. What memories do you have of this season. Were you extra in the gym this season ncontinuing to work on your craft?

Yeah very humble beginnings in Europe. I feel like I paid my dues early on and then some haha. I really just remember spending a lot of late nights in the gym we were in the countryside so it wasn’t much else to do besides play basketball or hang with the guys. Except for an unfortunate coaching change Cazorla treated me well & I’ve always viewed it as my 1st real playing experience as a pro. Every experience counts for something but whenever I’m asked where my career started its in Cazorla & Palanga. Made some great friends and memories there for sure.

You played briefly in the 2016-2017 season for Thor Akureyri (Iceland-Dominos League) averaging 18.2ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 58.3%. What memories do you have of Iceland. You were there only a few months. What was your coolest moment there off the court?

Not very many haha. It was a short-lived experience like majority of my 1st two seasons. I do remember the country landscape being very beautiful, lots of mountains and greenery for sure. Off the court I was lucky enough to experience seeing the northern lights while I was there as well, that was bucket list material.

You played your rookie season with BK Levicki Patrioti (Slovakia-SBL) averaging 5.5ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 15.4%, 3PT: 27.8%. You came very late into the season in March 2016. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

Everything. My first experience was very uncomfortable to be honest just as a young guy dealing with a lot of culture shock & instability. A lot of people don’t know my first contract was actually in LEB Gold Spain on a trail contract with Ourense. In hindsight the only decision I may have made differently would be staying in Ourense even if it meant playing for free because it would’ve saved me a lot of troubles. I played well during my time there and to my knowledge if they weren’t experiencing such financial troubles at the time I would’ve continued with the club. I had some questionable advisement to take the contract in Levice super late in the year direct from Spain and it proved to be one of the learning experiences that helped to shape the player I am today.

You began your college career at Sauk Valley Community College (JUCO) and in your last season averaging 19.3ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 40.4%, FT: 71.2%. Every guy that I have interviewed that played JUCO have said that it was a very tough grind, but one that they wouldn´t have traded the world with. How was it for you?

Super tough, but honestly some of my most valued experiences both on and off the court throughout my basketball career. The bonds you make sharing the JUCO grind are special and the basketball we played was all or nothing! You play good and make a way or you don’t and kiss playing basketball for a living goodbye. Very few people make it out from there, my story as a basketball player for sure stacks up with the best of them & I’m just grateful to look back at where I came from and appreciate where I’m standing now. S/o to 1307, that run at Sauk was legendary.

How valuable was it having AJ Sharp as your JUCO coach? How did he help your early basketball development

most?

I had the pleasure of being coached by Russ Damhoff during my time there. He pushed me and was the 1st coach I had since adolescence to really believe in me & see me as someone who could be a great player. He demanded a lot of me as a teenage kid just hungry to make it and I’m grateful for him pushing me. I was an All-American as a result and went from having 0 NCAA division 1 offers out of high school to taking multiple recruitment visits and earning full ride scholarships to continue my basketball dreams at the next level.

You then played 2 seasons at East Tennessee State University (NCAA) averaging 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 40.1%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 84.0% and 20.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.7apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 40.1%, 3PT: 37.4%, FT: 82.7%. How did your game grow in those 2 seasons?

My game grew so much! The 1st season was an adjustment period of just adapting to the increase in talent on the floor and more size/athleticism of the payers. I was trying to star in my new role as a 6th man and make the most of each and every opportunity. I didn’t go home after my junior year & stayed on campus all summer leading up to my senior year and I worked myself into such a comfort and confidence going into that year that everything just clicked. I still split time between starts and coming from the bench that season but it felt like every time we suited up for a game I was going to be unstoppable. I believe once conference play hit I was one of the top 5 scorers in the nation Avg. about 24/23ppg in SoCon. I was a huge jump for me but it was rewarding because I definitely put the work in and earned it.

You had so many great games in the NCAA like scoring 30 and 28 points against Lipscomb in your junior season. What was your fondest moment on the court?

I would say my fondest moment was when the fans/students rushed the court during our playoff game my junior season inside the old dome. I believe it was against either Lipscomb or UT Chattanooga. I had a huge dbl dbl that game and I had never experienced the crowd rushing the court before that night. Definitely one of my coolest moments in college!

How did head coach Murry Bartow groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Bartow was great for me, he challenged me all the time and was never the type to give you your flowers or satisfaction in the moment. He was a very fierce competitor just as myself and he put a lot of trust in me to come into that program and have the responsibility to deliver as primary option right away.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Rashawn Rembert?

Man we definitely had some battles. The group we had played king of the court almost everyday! Me, AJ Merriweather, Ike Banks, Desonta Bradford, Devin Harris, Petey McClain & more. 1v1 was a part of our culture & Shawn at the time was one of the greatest scorers to me, super smooth jumper I watched him set the record our junior year for made 3s in a season. He could play off screens, in the post, isolation, and was sneakily really athletic and would dunk on you. He pushed me to meet his level that offseason going into our senior year and I took the challenge to try and be the best player on the floor every open gym, practice, game because the season prior it was him.

Who is the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I only had a few that actually stuck some time in the league but off the top of my head I would say Josh Richardson from UT or Torrey Craig from USC Upstate

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

This is super tough and I don´t know if I can boil it down to 5 really because there’s no standout teammate like a Lebron or Steph that would be like automatic. I’ve shared the floor with some great players throughout the years each of them that come to mind brought something special to the table.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

My personal Mount Rushmore would be, Allen Iverson, T-Mac, Steph Curry, Kobe/KD

Who is your GOAT?

MJ, Lebron has become a very close 2nd but I’m Team Jordan

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

Yeah lol its cool they brought it back but I’m going classics all the way. Give me any of the

classics from the 90s early 2000s & I’m good

Thanks Jalen for the chat.

Hearing The Phrase Defense Travels And If You Can Defend Then You Can Play Anywhere In The World From Juwan Howard Stuck With Kevin Tumba(Antwerp Giants)

pic credit: Universidad Catolica de Murcia CB

Kevin Tumba (206-C/F-1991) is a 34 year old 206cm forward that has the Congo/Belgium citizenship an dis playing his second season with Antwerp Giants (Belgium-Pro Basketball League). He began his basketball career with Dexia Mons-Hainaut. He played most of his pro career in Belgium, but also played in Greece and France and parts of 4 seasons in the Spanish ACB with Universidad Catolica de Murcia CB. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against Rostock.

Thanks Kevin for talking to germanhoops.com Your playing in Belgium now since 2022. 6 years prior you were in Spain, Greece and France. How did these 6 years help your game on the court?

Those six years abroad were crucial for my growth, both as a player and as a person. Competing in Spain, Greece, and France exposed me to different basketball philosophies more tactical in Spain, more physical in Greece, more athletic in France. I learned how to adapt to any style, read the game faster, and take pride in doing the little things that help a team win. It also taught me professionalism how to stay ready every day, no matter the situation.

Your playing your second season with Windrose Giants Antwerp (Belgium-Pro Basketball League). What kind of an experience has it been and what you like most about this organization?

It’s been a really positive experience. Antwerp has a strong basketball culture, and the organization gives players everything they need to perform. What I appreciate most is the professionalism combined with a family atmosphere. Everyone here from management to the youngest players wants to win and grow. That energy is contagious.

The team hasn´t won a league title since 1973, but did win the cup in 2023. How big is your hunger to finally win that first pro chip?

Huge. Every player dreams of winning a title, but for a club like Antwerp, with so much history and loyal fans, it would mean even more. The cup is something, but we want more. I came here to help build something lasting, and winning the championship would be a statement that Antwerp is back where it belongs.

The team is very young, but there are some veterans with you, Schoepen and Kesteloot. What exactly is your role besides being a leader?

Leadership isn’t only about talking; it’s about setting a tone by giving the example every day: defending, working hard, staying locked in. I want to make sure the younger players understand what it means to be a pro consistency, focus, and respect for the game.

You have been a very special player your whole career. You were never an explosive scorer, but had other qualities. What do you feel allowed you to play 4 seasons in the ACB?

I always understood my role. I didn’t need to take 15 shots a game to impact it. Defense, screens, communication, rebounds, rim protection those are things every coach values. The ACB is a league of details, and I think my discipline and ability to do the dirty work kept me there. Being reliable is a skill too.

Two seasons ago you played with RSW Liege Basket (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 7.9ppg, RPG-4 (10.0), 1.3apg, 1.2spg, BPG-3 (1.5), FGP: 66.9%, FT: 44.3%; and in the ENBL averaged 6.9ppg, RPG-2 (8.7), 1.3apg, 1.2spg, BPG-3 (1.5), FGP: 68.8%, FT: 38.5%. How special was that season? Statistically it was your best.

It was very special, I was truly happy there. Liège gave me a chance to play freely again after a few challenging years abroad. The chemistry was great, and I felt trusted. Stats are nice, but what I really remember is how much I enjoyed competing every night and helping the team fight above expectations.

In the 2022-2023 season you split time with Circus Brussels Basketball (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 8.3ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.2bpg, 2FGP: 65.4%, FT: 53.6%, in Dec.’22 moved to RSW Liege Basket (Belgium-Pro Basketball League) averaging 5.0ppg, 5.2rpg, BPG-2 (1.5), FGP: 67.1%, FT: 38.0%. You had been away from Belgium for 6 seasons. What differences did you see in the basketball and competition level since you had left in 2016? The BNXT league was in place and had helped Belgium basketball.

Honestly, there’s still a lot of work to do. Consistency remains a challenge. Some teams are very professional, others still need to grow in terms of organization and competitiveness. Belgium has talent, that’s clear, but we need to keep pushing better infrastructure, improving the visibility, stronger clubs, and a culture that truly values development and winning

How tough was the 2021-2022 season? You split time with FOS Provence Basket (France-Betclic ELITE Pro A) averaging 2.0ppg, 1.5rpg, in Apr.’22 moved to Hellenic Coin Ionikos Basketball (Greece-A1) averaging 4.8ppg, 5.5rpg. What did you learn from that season?

It was a lesson in resilience. Things didn’t always go my way that season limited minutes, new environments but it reminded me why I love the game. I m a believer of Christ and I always say « control what you can control, for the rest trust the Lord », so you can always control your attitude and effort. Those moments test your character, and I came out mentally stronger

You played the 2020-2021 seaosn with Kolossos H Hotels Rodou (Greece-A1) averaging 4.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.1bpg. You were teammates with 207cm power forward Kerem Kanter the brother of Enes. What memories do you have battling him in practice?

Kerem is a tough guy strong, skilled, and very competitive (and very funny too). Our practices were intense, but always respectful. We pushed each other. I enjoyed that season because Greece is passionate about basketball, and you feel that every day.

You played with Universidad Catolica de Murcia CB (ACB) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 91 ACB games. How memorable were these 4 years playing in 1 of the world´s best leagues? Was this some of your most fun years as a pro?

Those were some of the best years of my career. Playing in Spain, especially in the ACB, is like a dream for any European player. The level is elite, every night you face world-class players. Murcia was like family to me; I grew so much there on and off the court. Murcia is a second home to me

In Feb 2017 you played your first time against Real Madrid and Luka Doncic who had 3 points and 4 assists in 19 minutes. He was a big prospect at that time, but would you ever have thought that he would become a top 3 player in the NBA?

Honestly, yes maybe not this fast, but you could see something special. His maturity at that age, his vision, and his control of the game were unreal. He made everything look easy. You knew he wasn’t just another young talent; he was different.

You never beat Real Madrid, but twice beat FC Barcelona once by 1 point and once by 3 points. What was your most memorable game against FC Barcelona?

The first win by one point was unforgettable. The atmosphere, the tension those are games you dream about as a kid. Beating Barcelona with a smaller budget team like Murcia showed what collective spirit can do. It was pure emotion.

You reached the Basketball Champions League Final 4 in 2018 losing a tough last game to AEK Athens 77-75. Was that one of your toughest loses ever in your career?

Definitely. We were so close. That team had HEART and we believed we could win it all. Losing by two points hurt a lot, but it also reminded me how small the margins are at the highest level. It still motivates me today.

You had so many great teammates in Spain including American veteran Delroy James. What player on those teams had the biggest impact on you?

Brad Oleson probably had the biggest impact on me during my time in Spain. He had an incredible amount of experience, and the way he approached the game being calm, professional, always in control really impressed me. Brad wasn’t the loudest guy in the room, but when he spoke, everyone listened. He taught me a lot about preparation, mentality, and how to take care of your body to last in this profession. Playing alongside someone like him helped me mature and see the game differently

You began your basketball career with Dexia Mons-Hainaut (D1). What do you remember from those early years. Did you have a type of mentor in those years? Perhaps a coach or a veteran like Ben McCauley?

Those were formative years. Everything was new, and I was just trying to learn. I was blessed to have veterans around who took the time to guide me guys like, Justin Cage, Josh Bostic who pushed me every day. They taught me how to act like a pro long before I was one.

You then played with the Stella Artois Leuven Bears (Belgium-Ethias League). There you were first and second best shot blocker in the league. How valuable were these 2 seasons for your basketball development under Jurgen Van Meerbeeck?

Very valuable. Jurgen trusted me and gave me real minutes. I could make mistakes, learn, and grow. That’s where I really found my defensive identity shot blocking, timing, positioning. Those two years prepared me for everything that came after. I will always be grateful to Jurgen

There you were teammates with Elias Lasisi and after 11 years again in Antwerpen. Plus you are teammates since years in the Belgium national team. Do you share a special relationship with him? Are you guys like brothers?

For sure. Elias is like a brother. We’ve shared so many moments from young prospects to national team teammates. We’ve seen each other grow as men, not just as players. There’s a lot of mutual respect and understanding between us.

You then played a full season with Proximus Spirou Charleroi (Belgium-Scooore League averaging 5.8ppg, 6.1rpg, BPG-2 (1.4), FGP: 56.2%, FT: 47.5%; and in the Eurocup averaged 8.6ppg, RPG-1 (9.9), 1.0spg, BPG-1 (2.6), FGP: 65.5%, FT: 56.0%. Once again you were a defensive stopper. What do you feel has been your career secret of being a top defender?

Effort and anticipation. Defense is about pride and focus and being ready before the action happens. I study tendencies, I communicate a lot, and I take every matchup personally. You might miss shots, but defense is 100% effort, and that’s something I can always control. But mostly my teammates and the coaching staff allowed to be that person and be a real captain in defense.

You then played NBA Summer League with the Miami Heat in Orlando and Las Vegas. What memories do you have of that time? It was a lot different time than it is now. Is there one moment from then that you still remember? Like possibly a meaningful conversation with someone?

One moment that stayed with me was a short conversation I had with one of the assistant coaches Juwan Howard. He told me, “Defense travels, if you can defend, you can play anywhere in the world.” It sounds simple, but it stuck with me. It reminded me that effort, discipline, and consistency are universal. That mindset has stayed with me ever since.

You played at 4 European Championships in 2015, 2017, 2022 and 2025. What memories do you have of these tournaments? Do you have a favorite one? In 2022 you lost to Slovenia despite 35 points from Luka Doncic.

Each EuroBasket was a different chapter in my career and in my life. 2015 was my first one and I was young, just discovering what it meant to compete at that level. Everything felt huge: the arenas, the players, the pressure. I was mostly learning, observing, taking it all in. By 2017, I felt more ready to contribute. We had a strong group, a real sense of brotherhood. Playing against the best in Europe guys like Gasol, Porzingis, it forces you to grow fast. 2022 was special because I think we had the group to do something very special. We had a lot talent and are group was also mature, we all knew each other everyone knew his role, but we came sort against Slovenian in Berlin. And 2025… this one feels like a turning point. Because I was the second oldest of the team, became a leader of the team, with a mix of young talent and experience. The competition is harder every year, but that’s what makes it exciting. You realize how far Belgian basketball has come, but also how much higher we can still go. My favorite moment is for sure the putback for the win of Matt Lojesky at Eurobasket 2015 against Lituania we won by 1 and we were able to go to the next round.

I remember guys like Herville, De-Zeeuw, Tabu or Von Rossom in the national team. Do you have one guy where you can say her was my favorite teammate in the Belgium national team?

Wow this impossible to answer for me haha

Who was the best player that you ever battled in Europe that reached the NBA?

Probably Luka Doncic

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

This one is very though

I would say

1 Facundo Campazzo

2 Brad Oleson

3 Loïc Schwartz

4 Dusan Sakota

5 Christophe Beghin

Please name your NBA, Euro and Belgium Mount Rushmore (best 4 player all-time in each one)

NBA, Jordan, Bird, Kobe, Olajuwon

Euro, Nowitski Pau Gasol, Dragic, Parker

Belgium, Eric Struelens, Christophe Beghin, Sam Van Rossom, Jonathan Tabu

Who is your GOAT?

Kyle Hines, because I spend so many hours studying his game, learning from his game. Maybe not for everyone but he’s my GOAT

Thanks Kevin for the chat.

People May Always View Andrew Funk(Antwerp Giants) As A Great Shooter But His Versatility Is A Big Part Of His Game

pic credit: Penn State

Andrew Funk (196-G-1999, college: Penn State) is a 26 year old 196cm guard from Warminster, Pennsylvania playing his third professional season and first overseas with the Antwerpen Giants(Belgium-Pro Basketball League). He played his first 2 pro seasons in the States in the G-League with Grand Rapids and Windy City and also played 5 NBA games with the Chicago Bulls. He began his basketball career at Archbishop Wood High School and then played at Bucknell University (NCAA) from 2018-2022 playing a total of 109 games. He then added an extra year at the The Pennsylvania State University (NCAA) averaging 12.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 86.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against the Rostock SeaWolves.

Thanks Andrew for talking to germanhoops.com. After playing your first 2 pro seasons in the States, you are now playing overseas for the first time with the Antwerpen Giants(Belgium-Pro Basketball League). Some guys will stay 1-2 years longer battling for the NBA dream. Did something occur at the last NBA Summer League where you were convinced it was time to go overseas?

I felt like after my second year was a good time to start looking for opportunities overseas, and really appreciated the journey I had to that point. I wouldn’t necessarily say it was anything that stemmed from my experience at NBA Summer League this past year, but more so the next step for me to make in my career if I could find a good situation abroad. My agent and I had conversations since the conclusion of my season in the G League last year, and agreed that this year would be a good time to make that jump to Europe.

What kind of an experience has it been living and playing for a Belgium pro basketball team? What have you enjoyed most about the experience?

It has been great to be in Antwerp so far and I have really enjoyed my first couple of months here. The club and all its supporters have been very welcoming and very fun to be around, and I really appreciate the way they made the transition for me coming from the United States much easier. It was a bit difficult when I first got here just adjusting to life in Europe after having been in the United States my whole life and being away from family and friends, but I feel very settled in now. It’s been cool to live in a new city and get to learn and participate in a new culture, and explore some parts of the world I would have never thought I would get the chance to.

What was your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I would say just the time difference and sometimes the challenges it presents when keeping in touch with my people back home. I have had a couple times where I go to call my parents or other family members after dinner here and didn’t realize that they were still at work or busy with their days, and it’s just been an adjustment in that aspect.

The Antwerp Giants(Belgium-Pro Basketball League) have 3 other really talented American guards. What exactly is your role on the team?

Our team has a lot of talented players, and specifically our guards all have unique skillsets that allow us to play off of each other and flourish using our individual strengths. Personally, I’ve had the opportunity to play more off the ball and serve as someone who spaces the floor with my shooting ability, while also being a threat using off-ball screens, staggers, etc. At our best, our offense presents a lot of chances to play off of closeouts or advantages created by others, and I think I fit into that type of style very well. My shooting is my biggest strength, so just being able to use that to make life easier on other guys and make shots when the opportunity is there has been my biggest focus.

You have had a solid start in the BNXT and BCL. Coming from stateside what was the toughest adjustment for you on the court?

The game is very physical and also tactical. It’s an adjustment getting used to the way the game flows, what fouls are called, what physicality can and cannot be used, while also keeping focus on our gameplan and how we want to attack the opposing team. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of learning new concepts and strategies on both offense and defense and hope to keep getting better as the year goes on.

The Euro game overtime should really fit your style. You demonstrated in the NCAA and G-League to be a versatile player. How big of a staple has versatility been in your game?

I definitely try to hang my hat on being able to produce in multiple ways when I’m on the floor. To this point in my career, I think most people would see that my shooting is likely my biggest asset, but that strength also opens up a lot of other areas of my game. I feel comfortable being able to put the ball on the floor and make plays, whether that is scoring or finding a teammate, and having that ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game can really help the team.

You played your rookie season with the Grand Rapids Gold (NBA G League) averaging 14.3ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.3apg, FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 39.2%, FT: 76.0%, and with the Windy City Bulls (NBA G League) averaging 11.3ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 66.7% and 5 NBA games. What do you remember being your wake up call to being in the NBA?

I think the biggest difference I noticed right away was just the overall speed of the game. NBA players are so quick and athletic, and you really have to sharpen your decision-making and process things at a very high level. A lot of things that you do in the G League were made very difficult in the NBA, whether that be being able to get off certain shots that would usually be wide open or having to be in the right position defensively at all times. You have to both think the game and react to it at an extremely high level in order to be effective in the NBA.

How tough is it in general being a versatile player in the G-League where it seems like everyone else is playing for stats to try to get to the NBA? How did you deal with this as a rookie?

The biggest thing I tried to focus on in the G League was playing to my strengths and showcasing what I could bring to an NBA team. A lot of that revolved around playing the game the right away and understanding how I fit into the offensive and defensive concepts we ran. At times it can be difficult to stick with this due to the roster changing frequently with guys coming down from the NBA team or the two-way contract players, and it could be easy for myself and others to sometimes try and be too aggressive when our opportunities did come around. It was an interesting dynamic to navigate, but I think I did a good job of finding that balance, and I was also with a great organization in Grand Rapids with a great coach in Andre Miller where I felt we were all given opportunities to succeed.

In Windy City you were only there for a short time and was teammates with NBA veteran Ryan Arcidicono. What was it like being teammates with him and seeing what he did on a daily basis?

Being with Ryan in Windy City was awesome, he is one of the best teammates I’ve had, especially in my professional career. Ryan and I are from the same area back home, and I actually grew up playing against his younger brother Chris, so I was very excited to be on a team and play with him. I learned a lot from the way he carried himself on and off the court, as well as how smart he was when it came to the game. He has been at the highest level of the sport for a long time, so being able to pick his brain and learn from him was a privilege.

What do you remember from your NBA debut against the Clippers. You only played 2 minutes, but saw close up how guys like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard operate?

That game versus the Clippers was my first real glimpse into how good the guys at the top level were. I remember watching those two guys in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard seemingly never missing a shot, how good they were getting to their spots, and just how skilled they were. I only played a couple minutes in garbage time, but it was one of the coolest moments of my career to get on the floor in an NBA game.

You had some real vets on the team with Andre Drummond, Nikola Vucevic and DeMar Derozan. Is it tough being able to interact with guys in general when your only there on a 10 day contract? Was there a player that you could bond with in your short time with the Bulls?

It was definitely tough coming in, especially due to the timing of when I signed with the team. It was late in February and they were focused on locking up a spot in the playoffs, so I just tried to do my best to come into work every day and put my best foot forward. The vets on the team were great teammates and it was very interesting to get that insight into their habits on a daily basis, especially that late into the season and how they would go about preparing for games and taking care of their bodies. I was able to bond with a few guys, but specifically the other two-way contract players Henri Drell and Adama Sanogo really helped me with the transition.

You played at Bucknell (NCAA) from 2018-2022. How valuable where these years for your basketball development playing for Nathan Davis. You made big steps in your game in your last 3 years. How did he help most with your game?

My years at Bucknell were very crucial to the development of my game as a whole. Coach Davis and the staff really helped me improve year over year and see progression in my game. I felt like every year I was coming back as a better player than the last, and I was able to affect a lot of areas of the game by the time I was a senior.

You had many great games at Bucknell including a 34 point explosion against Loyola MD. What was your fondest moment on the court?

I have a lot of fond memories from my time at Bucknell. My favorite moments on the court are probably when I got the chance to match up against my brother, who played point guard at Army West Point. We got to play each other four times because they were in our conference, and looking back and seeing the pictures of us playing against each other and all of our family members coming to the games to support us brings back a lot of good memories from that time.

You played one more season with The Pennsylvania State University (NCAA) averaging 12.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 41.2%, FT: 86.7%. You helped the team reach the NCAA tournament and scored 27 points in the win over Texas A&M. How special was this win for you? What will you always remember from this game?

My year at Penn State was really special, and I can’t say enough great things about my time there and the season we had. For it all to kind of culminate for me in that game was awesome. Penn State hadn’t been to the NCAA tournament in a decade, and to be able to get there and win our first round game meant a lot to the program. I’ll always remember getting back to the hotel with the team after the game and meeting my family in the lobby. I was so happy they experienced it with me and I was able to share a moment like that with them.

How did head coach Micah Shrewsberry help give you that last push towards a professional career? How did he help you most?

Coach Shrewsberry was one of the best coaches I’ve ever gotten to play for. He was so smart in putting us into the right positions to succeed and get the most out of everyone on the team. The biggest area he helped me in was just building my confidence to a level where I always felt comfortable out on the court knowing that he had my back. I felt like he never told me I took a bad shot, and would encourage me to keep shooting and keep going even when things weren’t going great. That really helped push me in the start of my professional career to keep that mentality and confidence moving forward.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Seth Lundy?

That’s a tough one, Seth and I have had a lot of battles over the years, going all the way back to high school where we would play each other every year with us both being from the Philadelphia area. Seth makes a lot of tough shots, I’d probably say he won the majority of our 1-on-1 games, but I’d like to think I got a few wins here and there. He’s a great player and one of my favorite teammates I’ve gotten to play alongside as well.

Who the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I would probably say Zach Edey, who was at Purdue when I was at Penn State. We played them three times that season, and he was just too big and very good at getting to his spots around the basket that it made it so difficult to slow him down. He had really good touch for his size as well and really punished any mistakes you made if you let him get the ball anywhere near the paint.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Collin Gillespie, Jalen Pickett, Walter Ellis, Cam Wynter, Alexander Rice

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore

Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry

Who is your GOAT?

Michael Jordan

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

I have never seen it but maybe I will give it a shot. Or maybe not if you’re saying they should have left it alone!

Thanks Andrew for the chat.

Jaedon LeeDee(Skyliners) Is Still Not Where He Wants To Be And Still A Sponge Despite Taking The BBL By Storm And Having A Historical 20/21 Game

Winning in Bamberg has never been easy for the Frankfurt Skyliners. There were times when Frankfurt seemingly went to Bamberg knowing they were going to lose. But sometimes luck simply changes. It is still to early to say, but perhaps in a few months when the Skyliners are a realistic playoff team, people may go back to the game in Ulm and say that was the turning point of the season. The win in Bamberg was the clubs second win in a row on the road, and to win in a very hostile environment did the team good. “This win feels really good. Who doesn´t like to win? We like to win on the road as it is one of our strengths as a team. We are continuing to gel more and our chemistry is also growing”, stressed Jaedon Le Dee (206-F-1999, college: SDSU). The team continues to sparkle on the road as they have won 3 of 4 games on the road thus far this season. Do they have a secret to being able to shine in other teams living room´s? “I don´t think that it is really a secret. We just go out and do what we do in practice. We practice very hard and the practices are very competitive. We just go out and play our game”, said Jaedon Le Dee. It is even sweeter when a player has a historical game as Jaedon Le Dee did having a 20/21 game especially on a court where Skyliner teams have had so much misfortune over the years.

The first quarter was back and forth with some lead changes but Frankfurt then went on a lethal 11-0 run to lead 22-12 and later led 27-17 after 1 quarter. So many guys contributed. Was that some of the best team ball this season? “I feel like we have shown all season long that we are well balanced. We have multiple guys score in double figures each game as well as play well on the defensive end. Another strong suit is our balance. That defnitely helps us on the road”, stated Jaedon Ledee. The Texas native LeeDee came into the Bamberg game having scored in double figures in every game and grabbed a whopping 10,7 rebounds down per game scored 5 points rapidly. Did he have any inkling that he was on course for a historical game in Bamberg? “It was normal and like any other game. I don´t really think about that during games. I just go out and let my instincts take control. I play aggressive and try to leave an impact on the game. I just turn my motor on and go”, smiled Jaedon Le Dee. In the second quarter Bamberg went on a massive run and trailed only 45-41 at the break. Cobie Williams exploded with 13 points. What were the main reasons for them being able to come back and why was it so difficult to contain American Cobie Williams who once averaged 18,9ppg with Louisiana Tech (NCAA). “Basketball is a game of runs and Bamberg plays well at home. A game has 40 minutes and if a team has any kind of basketball heart, then they won´t quit. We understand that when we have our foot on a team´s throat, then we have to crush them. Williams is a really good player and very dynamic. His coach trusted him and when you have as much talent and freedom like he has, then good things will happen”, warned Jaedon Le Dee.

In the third quarter the Skyliners really buckled down on the defensive end allowing only 13 points, but couldn´t get away from Bamberg simply because they also put more aggressiveness into their game as Frankfurt scored only 11 points. “We didn´t really make any real adjustments. We had been switching the 5 all game long and continued to do that. I think that we were just starting to settle in. Both teams actually had slow starts in the second half. But we finally got going and got our legs going. They showed that they had heart and weren´t about to give up. They fought until the end. No team ever wants to get blown out at home”, said Jaedon Le Dee. The game was like a delicacy as the back and forth battle continued into crunch-time. Coby Williams and Ibi Watson continued to make big plays as Bamberg trailed only 80-77 with 5 seconds to play. But Skyliner guard Will Christmas made the big block on Richard Balint to end the game. “I was down around the block. I saw Will chase down Balint and make the block. I was going to the rim to try to get the rebound and make a play. That was a big block by him to seal the win. Coach Perwas always calls him a Swiss army knife. He can really do it all. When he really locks down on defense, then he is a great defender. We wouldn´t be the same team without him”, warned Jaedon Le Dee. Two stats that really stood out where the incredible 52 boards and only allowing Bamberg to 12 free throws. Was one more vital than the other? “I feel like these 2 stats go hand in hand and are very important to win games. I´m glad we controlled the boards. We are defending well and if you can combine competitiveness and discipline, then that is a recipe for success. I like both stats that really contributed to our win”, commented Jaedon Le Dee. One thing that also continues to improve is the Skyliners work at the defensive end. In the games against Ludwigsburg, Vechta and MBC the team allowed 95 points per game, but in the last 2 games allowed only 73 points. What has been the secret to the team success getting stops especially in crucial spans of the game? “I feel like it is simply cohesion. We are starting to figure out our strengths and weaknesses more as a team. This is the first time that we are together as a team. I feel like the more we play and stay together, the better that we will get”, stressed Jaedon Le Dee.

Foto: Dmitrij Zibart | ZIBART.de

Anytime The Skyliners win in Bamberg, it is simply a giant experience, but also having a historical individual performance like Jaedon Le Dee had is more than just extra topping on a sundae, but a lifetime supply of jimmies. “It´s awesome and a really cool feeling. But I´m more glad that we won the game. 1 more game is down and off to the next one. I wouldn´t have been capable of having a game like that without my teammates”, remembered Jaedon Le Dee. Did the ex G-League player have any notion that he had so many rebounds near the end of the game? “ I had no idea how many rebounds I had at the end of the game. Isaiah Swope had told me I had had 9 offensive rebounds and had said that he had never seen that before. Usually that is a number that a team will get during a whole game”, added Jaedon Le Dee. The most rebounds that he had in the NCAA was 17 at SDSU against Washington and in the G-League 12 against the South Bay Lakers. Did he do any thing out of the ordinary to get a career high and show some of those Kevin Love qualities? “All I did really was go and chase the rebounds. Some days they bounce your way and other days they don´t. I had good effort in Bamberg and on that night balls bounced my way”, expressed Jaedon Le Dee. It isn´t often that a player that came from the G-League can make an impact so quickly in a top league overseas, but Le Dee´s 18/10 stats after 6 games show that he has special qualities. “I feel like overseas ball is similar to college ball in the States. I had great success in college. I have to give a lot of credit to my coaching staff. They work with me and prepare me well for each game. They informed me about the rules. I just take my talent with me on the court and put in the work. I still am not where I want to be. I´m still learning and being a sponge”, warned Jaedon Le Dee. His input has been really consistent. He has big plans with his game and in what direction the Skyliners will go. “Being consistent is still the biggest thing for my game. As a team, we have to see our far we can take it. The season is still young. If every player can be their best then we can go far”, warned Jaedon Le Dee. Often in the past, it has been guards that have made big impacts in the Skyliners´s seasons, but for once it is a big man with LeeDee. So far he has made it the Skyliners season so enjoyable to watch. It is still early in the season, but if his play continues and the Skyliners keep winning, then MVP chants will occur. It would be so refreshing to see the Skyliners make the playoffs again after last being there in 2018.

Alex Moeller Is Excited To Make Next Step With The EPG Baskets But Will Never Forget His Time With Bonn/Rhondoorf As The Most Formative In His Career

Pic credit: Art Giants Duesseldorf

Alexander Moeller (208-C-1998) is a 27 year old 208cm center that is playing the 2025-2027 season with the EPG Guardians Koblenz. He began his basketball career with the Telekom Baskets Bonn organization playing mainly for Pro B team Dragons Rhondorf, but also played 2 easyCredit BBL games for Bonn. In the last years, he has been played for teams like Duesseldorf, Iserlohn Artland Dragons and BG Goettingen where he played 7 BBL games. He has over 100 Pro B games experience and spoke to eurobasket about basketball.

Thanks Alexander for talking to eurobasket.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

Thank you very much for the opportunity. I’m in my hometown Xanten visiting my parents right now. I am happy to wind down a little bit, after I had a quite turbulent last season. But I am really looking forward to starting a new season with a new club soon.

Congrats on signing with pro A team EPG Guardians Koblenz. Your 27 years old. This will be your 7th team as a pro. Do you feel like a German basketball-trotter? You know a guy who just enjoys playing for many teams?

“I’m passionate about playing basketball, and my career path has involved moving to different clubs to find the best opportunities for my growth and development.”

You have 80 Pro A game experience. How excited are you for this new challenge with the EPG Guardians Koblenz?

I am very excited and looking forward to the upcoming season, the fans, and the city. I believe that I can continue to develop there and that we will function very well as a team, ultimately having a successful season.

What was the selling point that made you want to sign with the EPG Guardians Koblenz?

First and foremost, it was definitely Stephan Dohrn and KJ Sherrill. I felt very comfortable in my conversations with Stephan. I believe we share a very similar basketball philosophy. I’m also really looking forward to working with KJ again, as we’ve always gotten along very well and I value him as a person. Secondly, the beautiful city and the club with its ‘team behind the team’ were certainly a major factor.

How did the talks go with head coach Stephan Dohrn? What do you appreciate most about his basketball philosophy?

Stephan has a very clear basketball vision. From the very beginning, he clearly communicated what he expects and demands from me and the team in general. Also, as already mentioned, several points of his basketball philosophy resonated with me and align with my own views on the game.

How excited are you to be working with KJ Sherril? How have you followed his career?

I’m happy to work with him again. I have definitely followed his career throughout the years. We’ve known each other for many years now and used to be teammates in Rhöndorf. I’m happy to see him transitioning into coaching. I think he has great potential as a team coach and leader.

You had solid pro A seasons with the ART Giants Duesseldorf, but still looking for your real Pro A breakthrough. How confident that you can achieve this in 2025-2026?

I’m very confident. I don’t think I’ve reached my full potential yet. I can still develop my game and help lead the team, both on and off the court.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 208cm center. If you had to compare your game to a NBA or Euroleague player who would that be? “

To be honest, I’ve never really thought about that. I generally don’t compare myself to others and prefer to focus on my own game. But if I had to name someone, it would probably be players in the area of Ivica Zubac or Jakob Pöltl.

You’re a big man that can score and rebound very well. What other strengths does your game incorporate?

Usually, I perform best right under the basket when it gets physical. I also believe I’m a good passer, especially out of the pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop situations. And something I often hear about myself is, that people value my dedication to the sport and my understanding of the game.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can make an impact offensively in the Pro A?

I’m working on further refining my ability to read the game quickly and position myself more efficiently on the court. That helps me recognize scoring opportunities earlier and make better decisions, whether it’s finishing myself or setting up my teammates.

How have you seen your development as a defender in the last years. What kind of a defender do you still want to become?

A great deal of defense is simply based on experience. You have to be able to read the offensive player, and that’s an area where I’ve developed immensely in recent years. Overall, I’m satisfied with this development, but I want to become even better. Of course, this also involves improving my speed and athleticism, which I’m constantly working on, as it helps me defend certain situations more effectively.

Last season you split time with BG Goettingen and the Artland Dragons. How tough was this season with BG Goettingen? What did you learn about yourself as a player and person?

It was a very challenging situation for me personally. On one hand, I developed significantly during those six months in terms of my physical condition and speed. On the other hand, I didn’t really get the opportunity to show that progress on the court. As a person, I learned how to maintain my positive attitude. I just refocused on my own development, giving my all, and kept pushing forward.

You then finished the season with the Artland Dragons. How important was this time? You helped the team stay in the Pro A despite also going through tough periods with the team.

Even though I might not have been able to contribute on the basketball court as much as I had hoped, I believe I was able to help bring a sense of calmness to the team with my personality. I think that helped us work better together, especially towards the end of the season.

You played 2 seasons with the Art Giants Duesseldorf. How did your game develop in the Pro A and how vital were these 2 years for you?

The two seasons in Düsseldorf were incredibly beneficial for me. In the beginning, I had to adjust to the speed of the game and the tougher opponents. But from the midpoint of the first season, I was able to improve significantly. Specifically, my general athleticism and my ability to read game situations got much better during those two years. In general, I adjusted to the Pro A level quite well. Also, I learned to take on more responsibility, both on and off the court.

You witnessed the rise of Booker Colpin there. How special of a player is he and what was your nicest experience with him?

You could really see Booker’s development over that year. He was a very good player from the beginning on, but I believe he made huge strides mentally during that particular year, which ultimately helped him make it all the way to the BBL. It’s hard to name just one specific experience with him. He’s a great guy, a very kind person. We always had fun off the court, and it was always a pleasure to play with him because he was constantly willing to learn. That, I would say, made the experience of training with him very positive.

You played 2 seasons with Pro B team Iserlohn. How vital were these 2 years there for your development? Is it fair to say that you became a real pro player there?

Yes, you can definitely say that. Those two seasons in Iserlohn showed me the direction my career could take and also revealed how much fun the journey can be. I believe my development during that time clearly reflected that growth and showed what was possible for me as a professional.

How special was Toni Prostran? How much potential does he have as a head coach? Did you already see that coaching in him as a player?

Definitely. I spent a lot of time with Toni, just talking about basketball and understanding his perspective on the game. You could absolutely see his potential to become a coach even back then. I really enjoyed my time with him because he also made an effort to understand me, and you could tell he was genuinely trying to make other players better. That was a truly special experience for me.

You had your first tour of duty with Duesseldorf in 2019-2020. What do you remember about your battles in practice with Deion Giddens? How special of a player was he?

The practices and battles with Deion were always great. We immediately had a good connection and got along really well on a personal level. It was always fun, especially because he’s a completely different type of player than I am, which meant I learned a lot from him and how to play against different player types. On top of that, he has a really great personality. I believe that season was very formative for both of us, which inevitably led to the friendship we still have today.

You began your basketball career with Bonn/Rhondorf. How special was this time for you? Did you have a mentor in those early years?

The entire time in Bonn and Rhöndorf was the most formative period of my entire career. Being able to live that dream as a teenager, with the goal of one day becoming a professional basketball player and dedicating my whole life to it, shaped my personality and continues to influence me to this day. I am incredibly grateful that I got the chance back then to go to the Hagerhof school and play for the youth teams in both Rhöndorf and Bonn. That whole experience set the course for me and showed me that becoming a pro was a real possibility. When I then received a contract in Bonn and played in both the BBL and for Rhöndorf, it gave me that final push of motivation that has never left me since.

Regarding a mentor, in Christian Mehrens, I had truly the best mentor and one of the most influential people in my life. From the very beginning, he made it clear what I was getting into, he always worked hard with me, and he was there to catch me in difficult situations and build my confidence back up. I don’t think I would be where I am today without him.

How vital was German big man Florian Wendeler early in your career? What do you remember learning from him that helped you much as a teenager?

I was able to learn a lot from Flo, especially at the very beginning of my career. As a younger player, having to compete against a physically superior player every day in practice helped me immensely.

You had many great teammates with Bonn players like Gamble, Mayo or Polas. What Bonn player had the biggest impact on you in that time?

I would name three players. First, Julian Gamble, who significantly advanced my skills at my position. He showed me a lot about what I needed to do and was, of course, a great training partner. Second would be TJ DiLeo, who simply showed and explained a lot to me, specifically how I need to move as a big man to best support a guard. Third, to cover the mental and off-court components, was Tomislav Zubcic. He taught me so much about what it truly means to be a professional, how to interact with people, and he explained the business side of basketball and how to navigate it.

In the 2017-2018 season you were teammates with American Kam Taylor. If someone had told you in 2018 that in only a few short years that he would become a Euroleague player what would you have thought?

Yes, I would have believed it immediately. You could see right away with Kam that his basketball IQ was extremely high. The way he played with such intense effort, not just for himself but also for his teammates, made it clear that he was going to make it very far.

Who is the best player that you ever battled that reached the NBA?

I could name two, actually: Moritz Wagner and Isaiah Hartenstein. If I had to commit to one player, it would be Isaiah. The battles against him were always intense and we played against each other more frequently.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Benjamin Dizdar, Deion Giddens, Toni Prostran, Kameron Taylor, and Marijn Ververs.

Please name your personal NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore of your best 5 players of all-time?

That’s a tough one, but here are my picks:

• NBA: Derrick Rose, Kemba Walker, LeBron James, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal.

• Euro: Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Nikola Jokic, Jonas Valanciunas, and Pau Gasol.

• German: Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schröder, Franz Wagner, Patrick Femerling, and Detlef Schrempf.

Who is your GOAT?

LeBron James.

Thanks Alexander for the Chat

Michale Kyser Isn’t Chasing Wins But A Better Version Of Himself So He Can Grow And Help The EWE Baskets Compete For A Title

Michale Kyser (208-C-1991, college: La Tech) is a 33 year old 208 cm center playing his 11th pro season and first in Germany with easyCredit BBL team EWE Baskets Oldenburg averaging 8,7ppg, 3,8rpg and 1,2apg. He began his basketball career with Christian Life Center Academy and then played at Louisiana Tech (NCAA) from 2011-2015. He turned professional in 2015 and has played for 18 organizations in 10 countries, including USA, Canada, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, Israel, Spain, Turkey and Poland. He also played 3 years in the G-League.

Thanks Michale for talking to eurobasket.com. You’re a guy I have always wanted to interview. Over the years I have interviewed many of your former teammates overseas. I know you as a very experienced player. Tyrell Corbin mentioned you in one of my articles ‘My 5 best teammates of al-time are Eric Washington (Chemnitz German BBL), Gary Payton II (Golden State Warriors), Danuel House (Utah Jazz), Derek Cooke Jr (Gilboa Galil), Michale Kyser (Hapoel Holon). How does that make you feel?

It makes me feel good to be recognized, because I put in the work, but not comfortable at all. I know that I can achieve more. But it makes me feel good of course.

Did you ever imagine your career would take you to this point?

I think for me, I probably would have said that’s what I wanted, but to experience all the places that I experienced. I don’t think I would say that I would be here right now. But I thank God for putting me in this position, and I’m not stopping now. I want to just keep going, keep pushing myself to another level.

What drives you to keep playing at a high level, even into year 11 of your career?

You say that like 11 years isn’t normal,I think the thrill of knowing I can keep getting better. I don’t see myself declining – age or not. I’m jumping better now than I was when I was younger. I’m smarter, I study the game better, I can take criticism better. I just want to prove to myself that I have another level, and help my team get to a new high.

What has helped you evolve as a player from league to league?

For me the constant let downs the lack of opportunity, the year we like him, but he’s not good enough for another year to stay with us, then the next season you get calls like oh we should have kept you or we didn’t know what we had. I know I’ve played in a lot of leagues, but I wasn’t taught everything. I had to learn this game on my own. My goal each season is to be better than the last. I’ve been limited in some seasons, but in the ones where I was involved we were successful, I’m not chasing wins – I’m chasing a better version of myself, and a place where I can grow and help my team compete for a championship, so maybe that’s what it is, I’m not just trying to stack wins, because you can win as many games as possible if you don’t get Gold, what was it for a lesson? Ive had enough of those, I just want to keep getting better and leave a mark wherever I play.

What drew you to this new opportunity in Germany?

Yeah, I watched them last season. I had friends playing in Germany who said it’s a real basketball culture. That’s what I’ve always wanted. The coach reached out and told me he’s watched me over the years and saw my growth, and knows i can bring more which I’ve stated over years so, That helped my decision. My uncle was stationed in Germany for many years and he always told me it would be a great place for my family and as well a challenge to get better and take my game to a new place so that helped out a lot .

What stood out about coach Krunic in your conversations?

I liked how he knew exactly who I was as a player. He brought up my three-point shooting how he knows I can space and not many people know I can shoot it. People see me listed as a center, but I’m I’m really a forward, and can play anywhere on the floor. He knows l that, and how my goal is the same as his when it comes to winning, and that helped me decide. I’ve heard he’s hard-nosed, but those are the best coaches – the ones who push you. He’s got history with winning, and I want to do the same this season.

You have averaged double figures in a season only 5 times in your career.How vital has not only your offense, but other areas besides scoring been in your game?

I think that stat is something that I’ve had to back up a lot, in order to score points per game you have to either have the ball in your hands, receive it, or play big minutes to go get it from rebounds etc, for me I know I can achieve way more than stats say, especially with that being one of my goals for this season, but to answer your question. Defense is what I do right with it. Every time I step on the floor, it’s on my mind – to be one of the best defenders out there. Whether it’s guarding bigs or guards.

What type of defender are you now, and can you still improve?

Of course I can still improve. I’m faster, smarter, and more aware. God’s kept me healthy. If players who are considered the best at their craft are stating they can get better, I’m nowhere near better than the next man thinking i can’t improve as well. I’m always working to learn and push past my limits.

You hold the BCL all-time block record. How does that feel?

All glory to God. That record will probably be broken soon, and that’s okay. I study the greats – Giannis, Olajuwon, Mutombo, Rodman, Ben Wallace, KG, Watching them showed me how to be impactful defensively.

You played many seasons in Israel. Did that become like a second home to you?

Israel definitely has a place in my heart. I made history there. I was in Holon for about two years. I was supposed to go to Eilat last season, but the war changed that. I’m grateful for the experiences and people that believed in me.

You played in two leagues last year with Hapoel Holon (Israel-Winner League) averaging 7.8ppg, 4.4rpg, BPG-2 (1.5), FGP: 57.2%, FT: 83.1%; and in the Basketball Champions League) averaged 7.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.4apg, BPG-5 (1.1), FGP: 66.7%, FT: 87.5%What was that like?

It was a wild one for sure. From going to a last place team in the league to a top 4 and have the championship in my hands, but lost 3 games in a row, yea something i gotta just tip my hat off to the other team for achieving, but it was a wild experience for sure both places taught me a lot.

What was it like playing in the ACB?

That was one of the highlights of my career. ACB is one of the best leagues outside the NBA.I wish I could’ve played there longer. I learned a lot from Andrew Goudelock, it’s good to see him healthy and killing in Greece, i appreciate him for all the advice he gave while i was playing and when i wasn’t, he made sure i never got down on myself, and told me to just keep growing and working til my time was called. It was all exciting the good and bad, wouldn’t trade that time for anything, my youngest daughter was born there in Bilbao while i played, so that experience will always be with me.

What was it like battling ex NBA player Jeff Withey on a daily basis?

Yeah, we battled a lot before being teammates. I asked him questions about playing at Kansas or the Pelicans, i don’t compare honestly i think everyone has their own path, and while all reach for the same goals some get the short end of the stick. Besides that Shoutout to Jeff, and great dude on and off the court, I hope he wins a championship in Indonesia.

How was it guarding top Euroleague center Walter Tavares?

He’s huge, 7’2′ or 7’3′. It’s always a battle against him. But honestly, all the bigs in ACB are a challenge. It was a great experience.

What was special about that championship with Holon?

Man, that team was built different. We had Tyrus McGee, Joe Ragland, Chris Johnson, Guy Pnini, Adam Smith – a squad. We clicked off the court, and that translated on the floor. Everyone said we were crazy for thinking we’d win – and we did, so i hold that forever.

What made the Latvian title so memorable with VEF Riga (Latvia-LBL) where you averaged 12.1ppg, RPG-3 (7.1), BPG-1 (1.6), FGP-2 (72.9%), 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 70.6%?

Coach Janis pushed me to levels I didn’t know I had. My teammates believed in me. We were all locked in and all wanted to get better and we all pushed each other to be better, and won player of the year and to be that was the most favorite team i played on, we made a hard time with COVID less stressful, because you had a group of guys and staff that all wanted everybody to be their best even given the circumstances we were under with the curfew and no fans and no gatherings it was wow something I’ll never forget.

What did your time at Louisiana Tech and the NBA G League teach you?

At Louisiana Tech, I was raw. Didn’t know much, but I knew I wanted to make history. My thing was defense and dunking. That got me my opportunity with the Raptors. I only had two workouts and that’s just been the point of my career not really getting that opportunity, I know if I went about the agent process different I would have had a better shot at the NBA, as far as the g league just find your niche and be ready everybody wants to make it to the nba and they can if they have opportunity to showcase their ability while proving they can work and be patient. It taught me to not take any shot for granted, because you only get that exact time once.

What was your reality in the G League?

You think you’re doing everything right, and then boom – a guy with more history or training camp deal comes in and takes your minutes. You just gotta be patient and always ready. It’s not for the weak. I left because I had kids to provide for. If I didn’t, maybe I’d have stayed longer. But I had responsibilities, the g league is a dog eat dog world, just as same as overseas ball, but with a smaller window of opportunity.

What’s something people don’t realize about that business in the g league

It’s always business first. You’re not flying charter, you’re hopping buses and commercial flights. It’s about adapting and staying ready no matter what, and you need to be ready when your name is called, because if not you might not get the next one for a period of time.

What was your experience like playing for Aris?

Amazing. The fans were unbelievable. They welcomed me and my family – my oldest daughter was just born then. Playing in those big derbies, especially against Pana or Olympiacos, was wild. The fans were like a sixth man. Much love to Aris, it’s something about that color yellow i guess.

Tell me about your time with Enosis and later Kymi .

The team Enosis Paralimni saved my life, even though I went there, with no intellect on the country or team, the life style, I loved every moment, I got my license right before I moved there, they made me grow up and the coach challenged me constantly to be my best, as well as my teammates. I had fire in me due to prior being released by the SLC stars, as well as Rio Grande Valley Vipers who were in the finals with teammates like Onuaku, Chris Johnson, Isaiah Taylor, JP Tokoto, Dakari Tucker who I met prior in SLC, but I didn’t get a minute of it and saw them lose to my former team the Raptors 905 with NBA champs soon after Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. So when they Enosis called It was just my time to transition into a new place even though my salary was 1,000 usd. I was grateful, because after what I had experienced prior I just wanted to ball and then my oldest daughter being born after the summer I had with being released to not playing in the finals in Rio Grande to going on a china tour to get a deal, everything was moving fast until time stopped, I got a call from my girlfriend at the time, now my wife, that my oldest was about to be born, so I left that tour as it was coming to an end and saw the birth of my first child Mia. Sorry for the rundown, but that’s what led me to signing in Cyprus I didn’t have any place to go and they gave me a chance at life. I just got my jersey from them last year while I was in Holon. Even though I left, Enosis, they still showed me love and said they will honor me if I have the chance to come visit so it’s amazing to have left a mark there. So about Kymi I left Enosis, because my agent said it was the best decision to make if I wanted to make more money, well that extra 500 dollars changed the whole trajectory of my career. To playing with very elite guys playing in their first year to guys who were established like Thad McFadden, Gary McGhee, Ramon Harris, Lenzelle Smith, Teddy Okereafor, Cam Jones, that group was nice. I know if I was there first instead of being in Cyprus, we would’ve been in a better position, but that season changed the whole trajectory of my career, I’m grateful for everybody I played with during that time those teammates shaped me to understand european basketball the grind and what it took to be a pro overseas. I’m forever grateful for both those teams, and everything that led up to me playing there.

What was it like playing with Thad Mcfadden?

Man, he doesn’t miss. Those high-arching shots look like they’re going off the top of the backboard, then boom – straight through the net. He’s one of the greatest shooters I’ve ever seen, in Europe or anywhere. And he works at it. We still talk. I see he’s doing well in Mexico. I’m rooting for him to win another chip.

What do you remember most about your playoff run with Kymi?

Coming from Cyprus and helping that team go from bottom to a playoff spot? It was incredible. I made first team defense and second team all-league. Playing against Spanoulis, Bobby Brown – legends. We didn’t win, but I’ll always remember it.

What happened during your season with Salt Lake City where you averaged 3,3ppg and 3,8rpg?

It was tough. One of the worst seasons I’ve had. I didn’t play much, and people just looked at the stats and judged me. But I wasn’t given the opportunity. That’s kind of been the story of my career in some places – just not getting the shot to show what I can really do. Eventually, they released me and brought in a veteran big. That hurt – I didn’t know how I was going to take care of my family. But I bounced back. I’ve always bounced back.

What was your G League wake-up call?

Thinking I was going play and then seeing guys from training camp – like Bruno Caboclo, Norman Powell, Delon Wright – getting sent down. They were already in the system. I wasn’t. That’s when I learned it’s not always about who works the hardest – it’s business. That was my wake-up call. I could’ve gone overseas right then, but I was chasing the dream.

What was it like going up against Sim ?

That man is huge. I played against him in college, and once he sealed you, it was a wrap. But when we became teammates, he was a great dude – on and off the court.

Looking back, what do you remember most about Louisiana Tech?

We were top 25 – hadn’t been that in years. We should’ve been in the NCAA tournament. We would’ve made noise. But even with that, I’m proud. The NIT run, the teammates, the memories – I hold onto all of it. It’s been 10 years since I graduated, and I still love my Tech family.

You almost had a triple-double with blocks one time – what was that like?

Yeah, I was always trying to get 10 blocks, double-doubles, even a triple-double with blocks. I got close, and it just proved I could do it. Who knows, maybe I’ll hit that mark this season – with blocks, rebounds, and points too.

What did Coach Mike White mean to you? What did you take from him in your pro career ?

I was his first signing. He always told us to be our best and he wasn’t always the most athletic or tallest, but he worked hard and played just a harder. He made sure we practiced like that and anything less he’ll kick you out, not to waste your time or his. That’s what I took from him. I try to leave it all on the court like it’s my last game.

Who won those 1-on-1 matchups between you and Erik McCree?

I won or he won, I can’t say exactly how many, but from what I know it wasn’t easy. Shoutout to E though, it’s good to see he’s still doing great, and it’s awesome to see how far he’s gone thus far in his career.

Who ist he toughest player you’ve ever battled?

Michael Beasley. No question. Played games against him in runs during the summer and honestly he’s just different – his game, his knowledge, his skill. For me he’s the toughest, and one of the best I’ve seen.

Name five of your favorite teammates.

Speedy Smith, Raheem Appleby, Joe Ragland, Dakari Tucker, and Kyle Allman Jr., but love all my guys I had the chance to battle with thus far, I only answered that because you only gave me
5 haha

Who’s on your NBA Mount Rushmore?

No particular order – Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Magic Johnson and I’d say either Kareem, Tim Duncan, or Hakeem Olajuwon. I could even throw in Shaq. All legends. It’s hard to choose just five.

And your personal GOAT?

That’s tough. I’d say Mike is the GOAT, but I’m a huge Kobe fan, or honestly what else does LeBron have to prove for him to get his respect to say he’s the goat, I think in all it depends on preference of peoples era and basketball knowledge I think.

Thanks Michale for the chat.

German Hoops

Covering Basketball In Germany!

writing

Versatile Benjamin Sadikovic(Dragons Rhondorf) Will Surprise Many With His Court Vision And Passing Ability

Versatile Naz Bohannon(Science City Jena) Knows That He Has To Become A Better Outside Shooter If He Wants A Long Career

Chris Clemons(EWE Baskets)Learned From The Best From Harden And Westbrook And His Goal Overseas Is The Euroleague

Will Yoakum(Bristol Flyers) May Be Able To Shoot Out The Lights But Can Also Make An Impact On The Defensive End

Jalen Riley(FC Porto) Will Never Forget His VEF Riga Days As That Is Where He Learned To Be A Champion

Hearing The Phrase Defense Travels And If You Can Defend Then You Can Play Anywhere In The World From Juwan Howard Stuck With Kevin Tumba(Antwerp Giants)

People May Always View Andrew Funk(Antwerp Giants) As A Great Shooter But His Versatility Is A Big Part Of His Game

Jaedon LeeDee(Skyliners) Is Still Not Where He Wants To Be And Still A Sponge Despite Taking The BBL By Storm And Having A Historical 20/21 Game

Alex Moeller Is Excited To Make Next Step With The EPG Baskets But Will Never Forget His Time With Bonn/Rhondoorf As The Most Formative In His Career

Michale Kyser Isn’t Chasing Wins But A Better Version Of Himself So He Can Grow And Help The EWE Baskets Compete For A Title