00:00:00: [Musik]

00:00:10: Open Court mit einer neuen Folge. Herzlich willkommen, wir lieben schön, dass ihr dabei seid,

00:00:14: der Podcast des FC Bayern Basketball, dieser Podcast in Englisch. Und das hat einen Grund,

00:00:18: denn ich freue mich sehr, dass einer unserer neuen Spieler bei mir ist, Jack White. Er ist und

00:00:23: heute ist der Freitag, also gerade mal seit acht Tagen in Deutschland und hat wahrscheinlich schon

00:00:30: erste kleine Erfahrung gemacht hier und hat auch noch ein bisschen Jetlag oder nicht. Jack White

00:00:35: auf jeden Fall den so fern super spannender Spieler, weil er eine ganz interessante Basketball-Karriere

00:00:39: zum einen in Australien, zum anderen auch in den Vereinigten Staaten bisher in seinem noch

00:00:45: jungen Alltag gehabt hat. Er hat unter anderem auch einige NBA Spiele gespielt, 17 an der Zahl,

00:00:48: für die Denver Nuggets, für die Memphis Grizzlies und er ist jetzt bei den Bayern um bis zum Ende

00:00:54: der Saison in der BBL zu helfen. In der Euroleague darf er nicht spielen, konnte da nicht eingesetzt

00:01:00: werden, aber in der BBL will er natürlich helfen auf dem Weg zum Titel. Deswegen sage ich hier ab

00:01:05: jetzt auf Englisch, a very warm welcome to Jack White. Hi, how are you? Thank you, I'm good, appreciate you.

00:01:10: You have me all. It's great to have you. For sure, I would do my very best in Englisch, for sure.

00:01:14: Jack, so, what about the situation now? I think seven or eight days here in Germany, how do you feel?

00:01:20: Is that kind of jet lag? Yeah, feeling really good at this point. I was definitely waking up early

00:01:25: the first few days, but when it came to Sunday's game day, you know, woke up early, stayed up,

00:01:30: had shoot around, went back to the hotel for a nap, was up for the game, and then after that

00:01:36: I was good from there. So the first game was after a few hours in Germany, right? Yeah, first game.

00:01:42: So I landed Thursday night last week, and I had the game on Sunday, but the guys were playing in

00:01:49: Belgrade in the early game against Maccabi, another tough game. And then yeah, I was struggling for a

00:01:57: few days, but I'm good now. How interesting or maybe difficult is it to read up a team in a situation

00:02:03: of the season, in a moment of the season like this. At the end of the season, there's a crunch time

00:02:08: in the Euroleague, just before the playoffs in the BBL. How difficult is it to come as a new player?

00:02:14: Yeah, it's a unique situation, a situation that I haven't experienced before, but one that I guess I was

00:02:24: ready to sort of have a red hot crack at and see how I fit in. But I think for me coming in, I think

00:02:32: finding the balance between trying to be yourself, but at the same time trying to fit in seamlessly.

00:02:40: Obviously the team's already gone through a majority of their season, and as you said, at the tail end of it.

00:02:45: And for me coming in, I really wanted to be low maintenance, to fit in as well as I could, but at the same time

00:02:51: trying to be an aggressive, assertive player and bring my strength to the group, but not do it in a way

00:02:56: that disrupts, I guess, any flow that the team has to their season or anything like that.

00:03:01: And I think for me it was a good challenge to try and learn quickly how I could best fit myself in, trying to learn

00:03:09: how guys play by watching and experiencing that in practice, but got thrown into it pretty quick with the game Sunday

00:03:16: and Tuesday of the BBL games. And it's been fun so far. And I think for me coming here, I've never played

00:03:25: professional basketball in Europe. I've never been to Germany before. And I think...

00:03:30: -Never been before? -Never been before.

00:03:32: But I think it's... I've tried my best to do my part in making this transition as smooth as possible,

00:03:39: but it wouldn't be possible without having great people around, like teammates, staff.

00:03:45: Just everyone in the community has made my first week here feel very welcoming and just made me feel a part of this

00:03:55: at a high level when, obviously, it's a unique circumstance. So I'm very grateful for that.

00:04:00: And looking forward to just becoming more acclimated with the group and understanding how I can be as effective as I can

00:04:06: to help us win games. And ultimately our goal is to win the BBL and do as well as we can in Euroleague.

00:04:12: So I'm excited to experience that. Unfortunate that I can't play in the Euroleague games, but I think a good experience

00:04:18: for me to watch those games and then at the same time learn more about my teammates.

00:04:22: So then I can be a better player for our team in BBL games.

00:04:26: Later on we will talk about your personal career, your personal life for sure,

00:04:30: but now to have a new point after what you said, you have to bring your strengths to the team.

00:04:39: What is your strengths? What would you say?

00:04:41: I would say I'm a versatile player. I like to probably play the powerful position the most

00:04:45: and sort of be that undersized sort of versatile four.

00:04:49: I think I'm a really good athlete and I think I can bring my athleticism and strength and be able to use that

00:04:55: to my advantage in the BBL. But whether that be running the floor, getting easy baskets,

00:05:01: rebounding the ball at a high level is definitely one of my strengths.

00:05:04: But I guess having a good mix of being an inside and out player, I feel like I shoot the ball really well

00:05:11: and I can also put a lot of heat on the rim.

00:05:15: And I feel like I've done a good job of that in the first two games so far, just finishing some plays

00:05:19: and making my presence known, but definitely want to improve on, I guess, being a better rebounder.

00:05:24: And I think part of that is just understanding our sort of team tactics when it comes to that,

00:05:30: like the right time to go, the right time to sort of get back on defense and be safe.

00:05:35: And also just getting a feel of the league and how I can be effective in that.

00:05:40: But as well as that, you know, just hunting shots.

00:05:42: And again, what I'm talking about, like bringing my strengths to the group,

00:05:45: like I feel like I'm too good of a shooter, not to obviously shoot the ball in games,

00:05:49: but just understanding where I'm going to get looks and not forcing anything

00:05:53: and just trying to be, I guess, and make the transition as seamless as possible.

00:05:58: How was the first feedback from the coach, from Gordon Herbert?

00:06:01: It was good.

00:06:02: Everyone's been really good and positive with me so far.

00:06:06: I think more often than not, I'm more of my harshest critic

00:06:10: and understand where I can be better.

00:06:11: And I'm pretty quick to, I guess, realize that.

00:06:14: But everything's been really positive so far.

00:06:16: I think the main thing that they've been reinforcing to me is just continuing to be aggressive

00:06:20: and be myself like they've brought me here because of what I bring.

00:06:24: So not to sort of hold anything back, you know, be aggressive,

00:06:28: defensively, offensively, rebounding, running.

00:06:32: And, you know, obviously just tactically, I'm learning a lot of plays

00:06:36: and stuff about the team on the fly.

00:06:38: But, you know, the only mistake I can really make at this point

00:06:41: and what's been encouraged to me is just play hard.

00:06:43: If I play hard and make a mistake playing hard, like that's something that, you know,

00:06:47: I should live with in the situation and that they can live with.

00:06:50: But if I'm sort of tentative or playing on the back foot

00:06:53: or not being as aggressive as I should be, that's when I'm going to be making a true mistake.

00:06:59: So just thinking about that.

00:07:01: Gordy always is talking about the roles.

00:07:04: Every team member has a special role in his philosophy of a team.

00:07:10: Did you talk about with you about your role?

00:07:14: Yeah, I think, well, specifically, I guess just being like tough and rebounding

00:07:21: and defence, first of all.

00:07:22: And I think those are things that you can sort of control coming into a game.

00:07:27: Like, you know, you're not always going to hit shots.

00:07:28: You're not always going to have the ball in your hands.

00:07:29: But, you know, my communication out on the floor, my presence, my ability to be physical.

00:07:34: Obviously almost got fouled out in the first game.

00:07:36: But I think just feeling out how the game is officiated, the pace of the game,

00:07:42: how I can, again, be most effective as a player,

00:07:45: is still something that I'm trying to fine tune and work out how I can be the best I can be.

00:07:52: But ultimately, you know, being that defender, rebounder,

00:07:55: obviously we're a big down, Oscar's hurt.

00:07:57: And, you know, it's that tail end of the season when some guys need rest.

00:08:01: So just coming in and feeling a role there.

00:08:03: But, you know, being a threat from the perimeter, being aggressive.

00:08:06: And that's something that's been, I guess, reinforced to me from coaching staff,

00:08:10: frontoffice staff, just to come in, have fun, play hard and just be aggressive, be assertive.

00:08:16: Did you know one of your teammates now from the past?

00:08:21: I knew of a bunch of guys.

00:08:22: Like, I think that's the beauty of basketball.

00:08:25: It's a pretty, I guess, small world.

00:08:27: And like, you know, I played against...

00:08:29: So a big family in a small world.

00:08:30: 100%. So like, I played against Andy and Joe at the World Cup a couple of years ago.

00:08:36: With the national team.

00:08:37: And you lost.

00:08:39: I'm so sorry for...

00:08:40: Look, Germany beat everyone.

00:08:42: So I was on the line there.

00:08:45: So, you know, you know, you're a coach now from the opponent today.

00:08:50: But he has bragging rights over me.

00:08:51: So, but I'm pretty much knew of most of the guys just from being a basketball fan.

00:08:59: And, you know, like Carson and Shabazz and Devon, like I've known and seen for years.

00:09:05: And yeah, but it's been great getting here and, you know, meeting these guys in person.

00:09:10: And, you know, it's going to know them as people, as opposed to just basketball players.

00:09:15: Like, I think that's the beauty of this club.

00:09:17: I think it's made my transition, I guess, so smooth.

00:09:19: It's, you know, it's just high character people, first and foremost, from playing group to staff to coaches to front office.

00:09:29: Everyone that I've interacted with in this first week so far has just been good people.

00:09:33: So it's quite easy, then, to feel a little bit like at home.

00:09:40: Oh, 100%.

00:09:41: And I think, you know, that makes all the difference.

00:09:44: And has for me coming in so late to something that's already, you know, an established team, an established group.

00:09:50: And then, you know, me as an outsider coming in, like, how can I fit into all this?

00:09:56: It definitely makes things a lot easier for me when people are so welcoming

00:10:01: and embrace me as a person as well and my strengths and what I can bring to the group.

00:10:05: But then it counts on the court, right?

00:10:07: 100%.

00:10:07: And it just gives me more confidence to go out there and do my job.

00:10:10: And, you know, I'm able to communicate with my teammates on the fly.

00:10:13: And you need to sort of build these relationships quick.

00:10:16: Because, you know, when you're out there competing, you've got to be able to give direct messages in the heat of the moment.

00:10:23: And things get emotional.

00:10:24: Guys are, you know, obviously fierce competitors.

00:10:27: And, you know, as we all are, and, you know, when you cross that line, it's sort of, you know, you've got to be in that mode.

00:10:33: So I think, you know, our ability to sort of just joke around and sort of get to know each other really quick

00:10:38: has been helpful for me to, you know, feel comfortable in doing that out on the court.

00:10:43: What not nobody knows.

00:10:45: You played the full season, the last season in Australia.

00:10:47: Right.

00:10:47: And you became second at the championship.

00:10:50: And the season now in Australia is over.

00:10:52: So you come to Germany after the season in Australia.

00:10:56: So first of all, congratulations to the second place there.

00:10:59: I think that was for you as a player with a terrible loss in the fifth game of the final round.

00:11:04: But you decided then after the season, OK, I don't make holiday.

00:11:08: I don't make vacation, something like that.

00:11:10: I go now to Europe.

00:11:11: I will play.

00:11:13: I want to play basketball, more basketball.

00:11:16: What is the reason?

00:11:17: So many players then go to holiday or something like that.

00:11:20: And you said, no, I want to go to Germany to play basketball.

00:11:23: Why?

00:11:24: Yeah.

00:11:25: Well, yeah, I was definitely had the thought in my head of trying to have a holiday or something like that.

00:11:29: You know, I'm 27 now and I've I've never done that for myself.

00:11:32: So it was definitely something I was thinking about myself and my girlfriend.

00:11:35: And, you know, I was disappointed after the loss and just wanted to give my body a quick rest as well.

00:11:42: Like I've sort of been nonstop for five years now without holiday, without holiday.

00:11:48: Wow.

00:11:49: So, but like I love basketball.

00:11:51: So it's, you know, it is what it is.

00:11:53: But yeah, it took like a week, had a wedding, had like a weekend away with my girlfriend's family,

00:12:00: which was nice and then came back and sorry to interrupt, but a week is nothing.

00:12:04: Oh, it was a full basketball.

00:12:06: It felt like a lot for me.

00:12:08: All right.

00:12:09: But I remember like landing.

00:12:10: So we went to Sydney and then landed back off of that on like Sunday night.

00:12:14: And I was on the phone, a coach her.

00:12:17: But I told personally, yeah, at the airport and we were talking.

00:12:22: It was the first time you had him on the phone.

00:12:24: Yeah, he just called me as soon as I landed and spoke with him for sort of 10, 15 minutes

00:12:29: and then called my agent and then, you know, decided, you know, this sort of situation was going to be

00:12:35: a positive thing for me and a good thing for me to experience.

00:12:38: So yeah, went from there.

00:12:40: And before I knew it, I was signing contracts on Monday and found myself here on Thursday.

00:12:45: What did your girlfriend say?

00:12:48: Well, I was hoping that she was going to be able to come with.

00:12:51: Yeah, on the trip.

00:12:52: But just with her work, she wasn't able to travel

00:12:55: right away, which was unfortunate.

00:12:58: But she's holding it down right now at the house.

00:13:02: And she'll be out here next month towards the end of next month.

00:13:05: But she's used to what she's used to that you are around the plane basketball around the world.

00:13:10: Yeah, she understands it and she encouraged it.

00:13:12: Like she she understood that it'd be a good opportunity for me, which, you know, I'm super fortunate for her.

00:13:18: And, you know, it's relatively like I've known her for a long time.

00:13:21: But like the relationships still, I guess, pretty fresh.

00:13:24: So now she's elite when it comes to that and encouraged me.

00:13:29: And I think for me personally, like I feel bad and like I feel like I'm an

00:13:35: I'm an inconvenience for my partner.

00:13:37: And I'm sure a lot of guys kind of feel that way because, you know,

00:13:41: there's so much uncertainty with our career and where we're going to play next.

00:13:45: And, you know, it's a pretty, I guess, unique thing about our job compared

00:13:49: to other jobs in terms of stability and stuff like that.

00:13:52: So now she's she's been great with that thus far.

00:13:56: And she's getting, I guess, a taste of what most important thing.

00:14:00: The most important thing in a life that the girlfriend is happy with.

00:14:05: Yeah, for sure.

00:14:07: In Germany, we say happy wife, happy life.

00:14:09: I say that everywhere.

00:14:12: But she actually has like a little bit of a German background, which is cool.

00:14:15: And she's never been in Munich.

00:14:17: So I've been talking it up in my first week so far, telling her that she'll

00:14:20: love it here and everything like that.

00:14:22: So I'm excited to have her here at the end of next month.

00:14:26: And she can experience like the finals basketball out here.

00:14:28: And and then maybe after this season is done, we can take a couple weeks.

00:14:32: So the aim is the championship in Germany, right?

00:14:34: 100 percent. 100 percent.

00:14:35: Yeah, well, especially after losing in Australia, I need one this year.

00:14:38: So fortunate enough to be in a position, you know, we're able to get one.

00:14:42: And yeah, super realistic goal for us.

00:14:47: Every fan of my Munich basketball is very happy to hear that.

00:14:50: And for sure, this is the goal for the whole Club, for the whole

00:14:53: organization and especially for the fans as well to celebrate at the end of the

00:14:57: season, the title and the BBL.

00:14:59: What was your first thought when Coach Herbert was on the phone?

00:15:03: You landed in Sydney at the airport.

00:15:05: You said you never talked to him before on the phone or something like that.

00:15:10: So what did he say? Hi, is Gordon Herbert?

00:15:12: I want to talk.

00:15:13: Yeah, did he did he introduce himself?

00:15:17: Yeah, how does that go?

00:15:19: How does how is this going on?

00:15:21: Yeah, well, it was I kind of had a hunch.

00:15:24: It was him, my agent hadn't told me what I literally just hopped off the plane.

00:15:28: And I was at like the baggage claim, waiting for bags.

00:15:31: And then I had this number call and I assumed it was him.

00:15:35: And yeah, I just picked it up. It was just super organic.

00:15:39: He was like, you know, hey, Jack, you know, being talking, trying to get this done.

00:15:43: You know, I think you can fit in this way.

00:15:46: You know, we play X, Y and Z and think you can bring X, Y and Z.

00:15:51: And now it's just like a pretty easygoing chat.

00:15:55: And I think I think that's a good thing about Coach is he's not like super

00:16:00: sort of like in your face.

00:16:02: I think he understands like at the end of the day, like we're all professionals as well.

00:16:06: And a lot of the onus of the group is on the players.

00:16:10: Like at the end of the day, you know, like the tactics and everything like that.

00:16:15: Like he takes care of, but like when the ball is thrown up,

00:16:19: like it's us players out there and we need to sort of get things done.

00:16:23: So I think, you know, he puts a lot of respect and trust in his playing group.

00:16:27: And I think, you know, that's a sort of relationship that goes both ways.

00:16:30: And I think is a really positive thing.

00:16:32: And he was a player as well.

00:16:34: Yes. And very early he moved from Canada to Finland.

00:16:37: So he knows what does it mean to go to the other end of the world?

00:16:42: 100%. And so, yeah, I think like just that sort of conversation with him,

00:16:47: like made me feel a lot more comfortable.

00:16:49: And I think it says a lot about a club when your head coach is contacting a player directly.

00:16:54: And as you said, like with three quarters through your league season, BBL.

00:16:59: And like he's taken the time to talk to me and things that I can help the group.

00:17:03: Like it meant a lot for me and gave me more confidence in the situation.

00:17:07: So yeah, pretty much got to work straightaway.

00:17:11: I did my research on the team and tried to understand, you know, the style of play

00:17:17: and how I'd be able to fit in the city and things like that.

00:17:20: Whether I'd be able to get my girlfriend to come over with me and flights

00:17:23: and just sort of taking care of my stuff in Melbourne and the house

00:17:28: and making sure everything was, you know, sort of sorted there.

00:17:33: And now it's living from a bag.

00:17:36: And living from a bag.

00:17:37: But, you know, I'm out of the hotel, which isn't good.

00:17:39: So feeling a bit more put together.

00:17:42: Stephke's got me sorted with all the gear and stuff.

00:17:45: So, you know, I got some fresh Adidas shoes on.

00:17:49: I don't know what the pronunciation is out here.

00:17:52: Adidas, we say it in Australia.

00:17:54: It's Adidas. Adidas. Adidas.

00:17:56: Very good. I'll work on it. Yes.

00:17:59: This is quite perfect. Wunderbar.

00:18:01: I mean, what about your German? Wunderbar?

00:18:03: Danke bitte.

00:18:05: You're okay.

00:18:05: Oschwald.

00:18:06: What? Danke bitte.

00:18:09: Oschwald. Exit?

00:18:10: Oschwald? Exit?

00:18:12: Exit. Ausgang.

00:18:13: Ausfahrt.

00:18:15: Auf der Autobahn.

00:18:15: On the motorway.

00:18:16: 11, 14, 17, 18, 19, also 13, 18, 19, 19.

00:18:20: I got some stuff.

00:18:23: A working burger.

00:18:24: You don't need much more.

00:18:25: Some bad words.

00:18:28: But really we're going to say those.

00:18:30: Not here in the podcast.

00:18:30: No, never. Never in the podcast.

00:18:32: Let's talk about you in your personal career.

00:18:37: Wann starten du Basketball?

00:18:39: Wie alt war du?

00:18:41: Ich war 5 oder 6 Jahre alt.

00:18:42: 5 Jahre alt?

00:18:43: Sehr jung.

00:18:44: In Australien haben wir ein paar ...

00:18:47: Sie nennen es Aussie-Hoop.

00:18:49: Aber es war "Billyball" als ich als Kind war.

00:18:52: Es war eine Introduktion zu Basketball.

00:18:56: Mein Vater war ein ziemlich guter Referee.

00:19:00: Meine Mutter spielte etwas lokal und so.

00:19:03: Basketball-Referee?

00:19:04: Ja.

00:19:04: Okay.

00:19:06: Er war auf der staatlichen und nationalen Stelle.

00:19:09: Er war ziemlich gut.

00:19:11: Als ich als Kind ein bisschen sportlos war,

00:19:17: spielte ich Tennis und Cricket.

00:19:19: Basketball und Australien-Football.

00:19:22: Ich war hier vorhin mit euch.

00:19:24: Wir hatten eine kurze Konversation vor unserem Podcast.

00:19:29: Wir haben hier ein Video,

00:19:30: wo du dir etwas über Australien-Football zeigen kannst.

00:19:32: Ja.

00:19:33: Für uns in Deutschland ist es ein bisschen wie Rugby.

00:19:36: Ja, es ist ein bisschen wie Rugby.

00:19:38: Aber es ist wahrscheinlich ein bisschen mehr dynamisch.

00:19:40: Mehr dynamisch als Rugby?

00:19:42: Ja.

00:19:42: Okay.

00:19:43: Aber ja, ein großer Sport in Australien.

00:19:46: Es ist viel Spaß.

00:19:48: Aber nicht einfach auf dem Körper,

00:19:50: weil du dich in alles und alles getäckert hast.

00:19:52: Aber ja, ich war schon ein junger Jahre alt.

00:19:56: Ich war definitiv nicht so gut als Basketball,

00:19:58: als es die anderen Sporten gab.

00:20:01: Es war vor allem die Australien-Football-Scheinung.

00:20:04: Ich war schon sehr jung.

00:20:05: Es war mein Lieblings-Favorite.

00:20:07: Ich liebe es sehr.

00:20:08: Ich konnte nicht die Balle aus meiner Hand bekommen.

00:20:10: Ich habe dann decideckt,

00:20:12: als ich 12 oder 13 Jahre alt war,

00:20:14: dass ich wirklich Basketball besuchen wollte.

00:20:16: Ich wollte eine Karriere machen.

00:20:18: Du kennst deine Talent?

00:20:20: Wann?

00:20:20: Eines oder dein Vater?

00:20:21: Oder war du ein spezieller Coach?

00:20:22: Nein, ich habe schon started Basketball als ich 14 war.

00:20:28: Ich war mit einem localen Stadl-Team, der "Tropsyde Energy".

00:20:32: Sie haben mich definitiv unter den Wagen genommen,

00:20:35: und sie haben mich viel verbessert.

00:20:36: Ich war bei der Spotscheinung 6'3,

00:20:41: bei denen ich 14 oder 15 Jahre alt war.

00:20:45: Ich war natürlich sehr froh,

00:20:49: in der Höhe zu gehen.

00:20:50: Das ist eine Sache, die mit Basketball hilft.

00:20:53: Es war toll.

00:20:54: Deine erste Position war die 5?

00:20:57: Ja, die waren so alt.

00:20:59: Ich war mit einem kleinen Stadtverteidigung.

00:21:04: Der Tor-Relgen.

00:21:05: Das war 2 Jahre nach Melbourne?

00:21:08: Ja, 2 Jahre nach Melbourne.

00:21:10: Ich war oft nicht der größte Spieler in meinem Team,

00:21:13: sondern nahe es zu mir.

00:21:16: Es war ein großer Spiel von der ersten Zeit.

00:21:18: Ich hatte das Versatilität mit meinem Spiel.

00:21:21: Ich konnte immer sehr gut mit dem Spiel schießen.

00:21:24: Ich war ein guter Athlet.

00:21:26: Ich konnte viele Positionen spielen,

00:21:30: wie ich jetzt bin.

00:21:32: Ich habe dann mit meinem ersten Stadtteam gespielt,

00:21:37: als ich 14 oder 15 Jahre alt war.

00:21:41: Ich war also unter 16 Jahre alt.

00:21:43: Von dort habe ich diese Teams gemacht,

00:21:49: und ich wollte mehr und mehr.

00:21:51: Ich wurde mehr und mehr verabschiedet.

00:21:53: Es war wohl nicht bis wir unter 18 Jahre alt waren.

00:21:59: Ich hatte einen guten Tor.

00:22:02: Ich ging nach dem Australian Institute der Sport.

00:22:07: Ich hatte eine Scholarschaft, da zu gehen.

00:22:09: Ist es wie eine Schule?

00:22:12: Es ist wie eine Sportacademie.

00:22:14: In den USA gibt es auch Academies.

00:22:17: Nicht alle Jungs spielen in der Schule.

00:22:19: Es gibt auch Academies.

00:22:21: Ich habe dort nach der Schule gespielt.

00:22:25: Ich war für zwei Jahre alt.

00:22:27: Mein künstlerischer Nationalteam, Adam Capehorn,

00:22:31: war der Coach der Programme.

00:22:34: Er hat mir eine Scholarschaft geöffnet.

00:22:36: Es ist ein volles Zirkus.

00:22:39: Ich war für zwei Jahre alt.

00:22:42: Es gab nicht viele,

00:22:44: aber ich war 18, 19, 20 Jahre alt.

00:22:47: Ich war in der NBA.

00:22:49: Als ich in der League in Australien war,

00:22:54: war es nicht heute.

00:22:56: Es gab ein Pathway für junge Jungs.

00:22:59: Es gab nur eine gute League.

00:23:04: Es wurde besser und besser.

00:23:07: 100 %

00:23:09: Es gab 6 oder 7 Jahre,

00:23:13: die League hatte einen neuen Partner.

00:23:15: Er hat ein tolles Job,

00:23:17: die in Australien und mit einem schönen Tag in die League gewonnen.

00:23:21: Er hat ein besseres Produkt.

00:23:24: Er hat auch einen Pathway für junge Jungs.

00:23:27: Lamo Le Ball, Josh Giddy,

00:23:30: RJ Hampton, Alex Saar.

00:23:34: Es gab viele hohe Qualitätsprosperzene.

00:23:37: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:23:41: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:23:45: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:23:48: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:23:51: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:23:54: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:23:57: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:00: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:03: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:06: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:09: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:12: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:15: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:18: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:21: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:24: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:27: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:30: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:33: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:35: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:38: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:41: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:44: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:47: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:50: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:53: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:56: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:24:59: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:02: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:04: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:07: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:10: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:13: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:16: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:19: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:22: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:25: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:28: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:31: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:33: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:36: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:39: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:42: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:45: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:48: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:51: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:54: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:25:57: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:00: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:02: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:05: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:08: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:11: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:14: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:17: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:20: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:23: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:26: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:29: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:31: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:34: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:37: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:40: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:43: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:46: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:49: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:52: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:55: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:26:58: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:00: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:03: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:06: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:09: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:12: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:15: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:18: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:21: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:24: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:27: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:29: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:32: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:35: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:38: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:41: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:44: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:47: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:50: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:53: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:56: Er hat eine gute League und einen tollen Pathway für die Jungs.

00:27:58: ein bisschen ein Gehirn aufzuhalten!

00:28:02: going somewhere and start my professional career there and I see our college finished and I went

00:28:07: over there and played nine games broke this finger was out for a month and then in my second game

00:28:14: back tore my Achilles so that was an unfortunate start to my professional career but you know

00:28:23: it's part of basketball you know it's you know brings a certain risk and toll on your body and

00:28:30: you never wish that sort of stuff on anyone you know like the ACLs and your Achilles and

00:28:34: things like that like the most serious injuries definitely suck but again like similar thing

00:28:40: that I was talking about before like you know you go through these sort of challenging situations

00:28:44: you see what you're made of and it's weird man like I think tearing my Achilles and me going to

00:28:50: a dark place and then having to you know sort of reemerge is and embracing that challenge of

00:28:58: trying to come back better with something that helped me and yeah definitely felt like I came back

00:29:03: better and more athletic and more confident after the injury and I definitely couldn't have done it

00:29:09: on my own like the medical staff that we had in Melbourne were unbelievable strength conditioning

00:29:15: coaches teammates like the support I had I think too like being in Melbourne like sort of close to

00:29:20: family and friends helped me a lot with you know mentally remaining positive

00:29:27: and yeah so came back from that in just under nine months which was really good timing for

00:29:33: an Achilles injury and yeah went through that second season at Melbourne United had a pretty

00:29:40: solid year and got an invite to go to Summer League and had a really good week at Summer League

00:29:47: and yeah got the two-way contract from there with the Nuggets which was a dream come true and again

00:29:53: pretty surreal like six months after I'd come back from the Achilles injury it was crazy yeah

00:29:59: so your way was for the Summer League and so I think the basketball nerd the basketball fans in

00:30:05: Germany knows about the Summer League and there's some there are some opportunities to watch Summer

00:30:10: League games here in Germany as well and this is another first step try to to get a contract in

00:30:17: the NBA you get a two-way contract that means that you have to you are able to play for the first

00:30:22: team for the Denver Nuggets and for the G-League team the second team as well as you did and that

00:30:28: was the year I think when the Denver Nuggets in 22-23 became champion right so you were a member

00:30:35: of the championship team so congratulations for us with coach Michael Malone yeah and he was fired a

00:30:40: few days ago there was a big surprise for you as well right this is completely crazy especially

00:30:45: this stage of the season do you have do you have some contacts to to some of the former teammates

00:30:50: yeah I haven't asked them about it you haven't I haven't yet no I've just sort of let the situation

00:30:57: but settle hopefully okay so we can watching from afar I don't have any insights yes yes

00:31:02: yeah no okay so I don't have to ask about the insights but I think that was a completely crazy

00:31:09: situation after a season like that because they have a good they have a good season as well with

00:31:13: the biggest chances in the playoffs now coming up coming up but let's talk about these guys you

00:31:19: played with in the Denver Nuggets team Nicola Jokic for sure Michael Porter Jr. and Gordon

00:31:24: Jamal Murray these are superstars and with them to play with guys like that especially with Nicola

00:31:32: Jokic how is that how does that feel special I think again like going into that sort of environment

00:31:40: my first NBA experience you sort of don't know what to expect it's like a paradise or

00:31:49: yeah well like I feel like as an international and I feel like I know maybe Europeans can sort of

00:31:54: relate but you know you think like NBA like ego a lot of money like you know kind of standoffish

00:32:01: whatever but you know I got to Denver and like worked out pretty quick like everyone's just

00:32:07: normal people and I think that's a credit to I guess the recruiting and the draft process like

00:32:14: who the nuggets bring in obviously when your best player is Nicola and he doesn't care about himself

00:32:21: like if you're if you're a selfish player then that stands out even more when your best player

00:32:29: is so selfless he is yeah and I think you know that just sets a great culture within the group and

00:32:39: the playing group and like obviously you need to have talent to win but I think you know having

00:32:46: that sort of good team culture in that good locker room and a good mixture of vets like Jeff

00:32:51: Green Deandre Jordan ish Smith Reggie Jackson when he came in later in the season like these are

00:32:58: all guys that had never won before but had been like incredible pros for years and years and years

00:33:06: and like just wanted to do whatever they could to help the team win and

00:33:10: like same with like Nicola doing everything you could like Aaron Gordon doing everything good

00:33:16: like MPJ Jamal like everyone had a role to play and everyone embraced it and I think that was a

00:33:23: beauty within the group is like you could talk to anyone in the moment nothing was taken personally

00:33:27: because like everyone got along off the court and like everyone was just good people and I think

00:33:33: you know it just made the experience for me is my first time in the NBA like that much more special

00:33:37: was you know being a part of such a great group and like being friends with everyone like I'm

00:33:43: like I could text Nicola tomorrow and like he'd hit me back and we like still you know talk smack

00:33:50: to each other and like Jamal and like just regular guys how is that how is that do you have the mobile

00:33:56: of Nicola for example in your phone now yeah so we could we could we could phone him now

00:34:00: no we don't do but I could but like I texted him for his uh for his birthday and he replied back

00:34:06: and he sent me a picture he's just had a son oh wow but like you know he doesn't have to talk to me

00:34:12: like I was just with him for a year like I'm just some random Aussie guy that like he's just like

00:34:17: our lockers were next to each other in the locker room so like we got to spend a lot of time and

00:34:21: no he's just a cool regular dude and people ask me about him all the time it's just like for sure

00:34:26: man like he's just like I don't have anything to tell you about he's just normal like he's just

00:34:32: incredible at basketball but it's abnormal what he's playing sometimes oh he's quite he is ridiculous

00:34:38: but like he just watches horse racing on his own I know he goes back to his family hangs out with

00:34:44: his kids and you'll see him at practice tomorrow and like when the season's done he's just going back

00:34:50: to Songbo he's racing horses he's always talking about that don't know yeah but he's just like family

00:34:58: like very down-to-earth guy funny like great teammate like great player but like great teammate

00:35:04: these the whole teammates from the Denver Nuggets team of 22 23 as you explain it um is that the

00:35:11: reason that this team became champion because it was a perfect group I think a large part of the

00:35:17: thesis at the thesis is you have to be a perfect group when you want to become champion I think so

00:35:23: and I think like I think be part of it like obviously you need to have the talent you need

00:35:27: to be good at basketball to be able to win games you need to have certain luck and uh

00:35:33: well I suppose luck but like being injury-free like you need to be healthy and you know need to be

00:35:38: available to play and like we definitely had uh you know a really good year and again like that

00:35:44: doesn't happen without guys taking care of themselves without medical staff doing their job so

00:35:50: there's part of the group as well yeah but it's like it's a credit to everyone and uh

00:35:55: but yeah I think like having good people around and like you know it's a long season you play 82

00:36:01: regular season games you're gonna have losses you're gonna have losing streaks you're gonna have

00:36:06: great wins like things are gonna be up and down but if you come back to the locker room and like

00:36:11: you look around the room and you have good people there and like people pick each other up and like

00:36:15: actually care about each other they go such a long way during that long of a season um and being

00:36:21: able to be successful and having like like true bonds and like friendships with your teammates

00:36:25: I think it's so important to to winning and and having a good culture and a good locker room and

00:36:30: to have a good locker room to have a good culture to have a great group yeah I think that's the reason

00:36:34: why Germany became world champion in 23 as well I think you can ask your actual coach now and he

00:36:40: will he will say yes that was the reason for that hundred percent and you could tell like just playing

00:36:44: against them like they're so together like no external distraction or you know whatever the

00:36:52: other team is doing could like it's always like worried about us like what can we do what can we

00:36:58: control I think uh like that sort of mindset and it's like drilled into you and you know obviously

00:37:03: the coach reinforces that but again like you got to have good people like no one's gonna want to

00:37:09: be a great teammate to you if you're a bad person so I think if you have you know in FIBA like 12

00:37:15: people that are truly locked in and good people and um want to play their role to the best of

00:37:21: their ability for the betterment of the group and not because I want to do this now I think uh you

00:37:27: know you've got a pretty good recipe for success from from your point of view what of this um do

00:37:34: you find now here in Munich from your first impression I think it's the same thing so this

00:37:41: is a great group 100% and like I talked to you at the start like I've been here for a week yes I feel

00:37:47: like I'm boys with everyone and like joking around with all the fellas and and like I feel like I'm

00:37:53: pretty good at I guess like talking to people and you know joking around and you know like sort of

00:37:57: the the Aussie guy and whatever but but you're very open-minded yeah you know like but for them too

00:38:03: like for them I'm the outsider coming in three quarters of the way through your season like

00:38:08: I've never played with any of these guys before like no one knows me uh and so uh you know like

00:38:14: it like part of it's on me to like be a good guy and show good intentions and you know like I guess

00:38:21: you know try and demonstrate who I am as a player and obviously as a person as well and who I am in

00:38:27: a locker room as a teammate and just yeah as a person in general um but again like I can't give

00:38:33: enough credit to the group for how like I've been received and like just from the first practice like

00:38:39: we practiced last Saturday we have a game on Sunday like I'm straight into it um haven't really had

00:38:45: all that much time to adjust but I think it's been good and I feel like it's sort of forced us to

00:38:50: get this thing moving pretty quick and um yeah I'm loving the experience so far loving the people

00:38:57: it's a great locker room it's a fun group to be a part of uh coaching staff has been unbelievable

00:39:02: get me up to speed this is especially because of father and son yeah cool it's a gory Anderson

00:39:07: Daniel yeah but now like good people like like everyone's funny everyone's got a good sense of

00:39:14: humor everyone's very like personable and approachable which is good for me like you know obviously I've

00:39:19: had a bunch of questions and for sure trying to make sure like I'm doing everything the right way

00:39:24: and I don't want to be questions about basketball or questions about Munich or Bavaria Germany

00:39:29: everything yeah everything and I think uh you know like Gordy and and Danny are obviously not from

00:39:36: here so like you know there's plenty of you know talking to Carson talking to Shabazz Depp like

00:39:41: there's guys that aren't from here that have obviously like acclimated to the way of life here

00:39:46: in Munich um so yeah like just trying to I guess embrace the culture embrace the city

00:39:51: trying to have uh you know the most complete experience I can go on back to your time in the

00:39:56: NBA and as I said you had 17 games some of them in Denver and I think you had a 10 days contract

00:40:03: in the last season in Memphis Memphis there was a kind of um crisis team last year very difficult

00:40:09: season because of many many injuries um they had 33 players um during the whole season in the roster

00:40:16: many many players uh got a two 10 days a contract one of them were you um Taylor Jenkins was the

00:40:23: coach that he was fired a few weeks ago as well come crazy now with Thomas Isalo there's an

00:40:29: assistant coach last year was in Paris and he had a former BBL career here in Bonn and in

00:40:34: Kreitzheim now he's the head coach or the interim's head coach for the for the Memphis Grizzlies

00:40:38: he was the assistant in this season not your assistant coach for the days um but that was a

00:40:44: crazy situation for us as well to see this here from Europe um many many experts didn't understand

00:40:50: why that happened but nobody has insights so it's yeah this is kind of the business there um

00:40:55: but how difficult is it as a player to come to a team with a 10 days contract I always ask this

00:41:02: myself when I commentate the NBA games for the German television and and there's a new player

00:41:07: for there are so many examples and I always think about that okay 10 days yeah what a fuck up

00:41:14: contract no it's to say that it's uh no it's weird and like we were talking about like this is unique

00:41:20: but like that's weird and crazy this is weird and I like I had a really good experience with uh

00:41:28: with the Grizzlies and like I knew kind of a handful of the guys like Luke Kanada went to college

00:41:33: with Scotty Pippin Jr like you know I played with him in LA I was by Lakers though yeah so uh like

00:41:41: I knew some of these guys and like the GM of the team was a Duke guy so knew of him and um that was

00:41:48: a thing like when Taylor Jenkins got fired like I was so confused I thought he was like perfect

00:41:53: for the club incredible communicator incredible mind for the game um great person so like definitely

00:42:00: shocked me when I heard the news about most wins as a head coach in the Grizzlies history which

00:42:06: was wild and like they're a franchise that's sort of been building and building and building and

00:42:10: and he's been a big part of that so uh no it's definitely unfortunate to see

00:42:15: that decision be made but again that's sort of the nature of the NBA and like speaking in 10 day

00:42:20: contracts like it's just you never know what to expect like things happen so quick like people move

00:42:27: on so quick it's definitely in my eyes like a superstar league like you know there's probably

00:42:35: a handful of untouchable guys otherwise you know like you see Luca gets traded and um Anthony Davis

00:42:42: and like it's you never know what to expect um so it's a bit of a yeah it's wild over there but

00:42:50: in Europe it's much calmer yeah well same in Australia as well same in Australia so what is

00:42:58: your personal plan um now here for sure as you said the goal is to win the championship in German

00:43:03: and to be be Elvis by Munich for sure but it's what is your personal uh hope from this time here in

00:43:09: Germany or do you have any plans for for the next year do you I think you have a contract for the

00:43:15: next season in Melbourne as well yeah I did I had a player option for next year but I opted out um

00:43:21: I think like the the beautiful thing about this experience is that one like it's a great opportunity

00:43:27: for me to come into play continue to learn and improve um incredible opportunity opportunity

00:43:33: for me to come in and contribute to winning and try and win a championship with this group um

00:43:38: you know it would have been great to be able to play obviously your league games and see how I

00:43:43: sort of fit in that realm but um I think just watching from the sidelines gives me a good

00:43:49: taste of what it's like at least yeah but the goal is to play your league as well for sure yeah if

00:43:54: I'm if I'm gonna play in Europe then I want to play your league so do you have any what is what

00:44:00: what did you so you have the contract until the end of the season for sure but now from the first

00:44:04: impression the first week the first day in Munich is there an opportunity to have a link to have

00:44:10: you maybe longer in this group or I think I think so but you know I'm gonna put my best foot forward

00:44:15: for the rest of this season and then uh yeah hopefully make good impressions with the coaching

00:44:20: staff team front office uh everyone in the sort of basketball community here like obviously me

00:44:26: coming here this late like and what I've said to you so far in the podcast like I'm a big fan of

00:44:32: this place I think Munich's a beautiful city and it's my first time in Germany first time obviously

00:44:38: experiencing life out here and um I'm enjoying it so far and would definitely be open to um

00:44:45: you know extending beyond this season um and I think that's like one thing I wanted to sort of

00:44:53: um opt out of my player option in Melbourne is that you know I'm 27 28 years old and sort of coming

00:44:59: into the prime of my career and really want to see if I can experience different things and you

00:45:03: know continue to improve and um you know I want to play the next Olympics I want to play the next

00:45:08: World Cup I want to be the best player I can for my national team and try and be Germany at the

00:45:13: next World Cup and um maybe that's a long-term goal as well because the Olympics 32 Brisbane

00:45:23: I think this is a dream for an Aussie player as well right oh absolutely so you know by that

00:45:27: think about that but then you are about 34 34 but that's as good but that is okay so hopefully I'm

00:45:34: still you know kicking pretty good and looking looking the part but uh but yeah like if I'm you

00:45:40: know have goals in my mind for how my career to pan out and you know again which which which goals

00:45:46: which goals do you have in your mind I want to play the next two Olympics I want to play the

00:45:51: next two World Cups return to the NBA potentially if it's the right situation all right I think uh

00:45:57: you know I definitely want to get at least one more crack at it to see you know if I can get in

00:46:02: a good situation and um you know like when you're a kid and you're a basketball player it's like

00:46:08: NBA NBA NBA um but like I don't want to be in the NBA just to be there and then just be on the

00:46:15: end of a bench like you know I've torn my Achilles I had an up and down college career like I'm

00:46:21: really trying to play and contribute to winning and be a part of something special and you know

00:46:25: see how good I can be continue to improve so I can play for my national team and try and win a

00:46:30: medal for my national team that's uh that's my ultimate career goal all right I want to represent

00:46:36: Australia at as many international events as I can and um but with this experience would you

00:46:42: say it is better for you as a person as a basketball player to to play in Europe or to play in Australia

00:46:48: or to sit on the bench on the NBA oh Europe or Australia for sure it's always better to play

00:46:56: right always better to play and that's well that's been my experience like it might be different for

00:47:01: other people and you made that yeah I don't know each to their own but definitely for me like you

00:47:06: know like being in those situations where you're in the game and there's pressure there's stakes

00:47:11: like that's there the situations you want as a competitor right um so I definitely want to be a

00:47:17: part of that like it sucks that you know my team in Australia we lost the championship this year but

00:47:22: like what an incredible opportunity to be able to come here and you know try and compete for one and

00:47:26: you know and win the BBL like I'd love nothing more than than that sort of opportunity that redemption

00:47:33: for me personally after losing a tough one um like for the rest of my career like I just want to be

00:47:39: remembered as a competitor and a winner someone who'd try to keep improving and learning and

00:47:45: made the most of each of his experiences and ultimately like you know just working hard and

00:47:52: but they told you how hard it is to win the championship in Germany yeah yeah we see there are

00:47:57: some good teams we saw the BBL Polkár with the the the cup right where Bayern Munich lost the semi

00:48:03: final a few weeks ago I think it was in the beginning of February so in Germany we have so many

00:48:09: teams everybody can beat everybody yeah yeah I think uh I think that makes a great league and I

00:48:15: think uh like similar thing in Australia like the team that won it like wasn't great last year

00:48:22: but like you know they play the right way they play hard um again anyone can beat anyone and I

00:48:28: think it just makes for a great league it makes for a great product for the spectator for the fan of

00:48:32: the sport uh but it makes you have to bring your A game every night or else you're gonna get exposed

00:48:38: so I think uh and I think that's how it should be anyway like you know again like

00:48:42: you can't play basketball forever like your body just can't handle it like

00:48:47: like if I'm turning 28 this year like let's say I have 10 hopefully 12 years we'll see how my body

00:48:56: holds up but like these years go by quick like feels like yesterday I was just in college and now

00:49:02: I'm you know about everybody everybody knows that time is flying time flies so like you can't take

00:49:08: this for granted so every game like you got to you got to make sure you bring it or else you're

00:49:13: gonna get exposed um so yeah and again like we're so fortunate to be able to do what we do

00:49:20: and I don't think like you well I don't think I'll truly realize that till after it's all done

00:49:28: and I'm probably trying to hold on for for too long and like play local competition or like whatever

00:49:34: but yeah I ultimately want to win and I think you talk about having good groups like

00:49:41: winning that with a good group man like there's there's no better feeling than that

00:49:47: because like you know you deserve it everyone's had each other's back

00:49:52: and you have that like memory together it's pretty special

00:49:58: at the end of every podcast here I asked my guests for the for the top three players or coaches in

00:50:07: your career or and not not only teammates maybe LeBron James would be able as well so what are your

00:50:14: your perfect three basketball players or coaches um you know

00:50:23: that I've played with or against or been coached by or anyone on anyone you saw on television

00:50:30: everything is possible and you know we had every answer about that here

00:50:35: yorkic yorkic

00:50:38: okay you told us why do you mean to tell you why no no you told us I was gonna say everyone knows

00:50:48: you told us in this podcast can I give you I'm gonna give you three coaches

00:50:55: yeah and three players yeah okay three coaches Adam Cape Horn the Australian national team

00:51:03: coach that gave me the scholarship to the AIS jeez over 10 years ago now that's crazy

00:51:12: coach K and then Dean Vikram and my coach at Melbourne okay

00:51:18: they're all probably probably the three most influential players on me so the the coaches

00:51:27: okay and then players so I got york yorkic

00:51:30: Chris Golding who's that one of the most incredible if not the most incredible shooter

00:51:40: I've ever seen you played with him Melbourne United Melbourne United okay he actually played for

00:51:45: Paris two or three years ago to finish their season like similar to what I'm doing he's a shooter like

00:51:51: Andy Obst yeah okay like same same bracket all right unbelievable I think Andy knows him

00:52:00: yeah they would they would have to know each other they would they would know each other yeah and then

00:52:06: damn

00:52:08: because it's like I would ask yeah this is tough because I'm thinking about like I play with Jason

00:52:16: Tatum in college I play with Zion Williamson in college uh like RJ Barrett in college

00:52:23: okay these are all crazy guys my boy Grayson Allen Luke and uh

00:52:29: did you say did you saw the batter beta from Josh Giddy a few Josh Giddy a half court like

00:52:35: half court Josh like two weeks ago Dyson Daniels doing crazy things in the NBA this year yes yes

00:52:40: like Jamal Mari I love I love more okay then I will ask you the last questions who's the goat

00:52:48: Michael Jordan or LeBron James I be switching up

00:52:55: in terms of like

00:53:00: here's what's tough for me because I'll be thinking about I think Jordan his impact on the game

00:53:06: and everything like that was more monumental at the time and I think the NBA is definitely like

00:53:15: had like a small decline recently I think like the NBA was gone crazy especially in the 90s when

00:53:22: Jordan was the face of the league and everything like that so I don't think that can be discounted

00:53:26: so I think Jordan is probably the greatest in that respect but like you talk like longevity

00:53:36: career like LeBron is like absurd like so I don't think that can be discounted

00:53:43: I think because I grew up in this era like I've watched more LeBron so I think I'm going to be

00:53:50: biased to that because I've seen him do some crazy stuff in my lifetime but yeah I wish

00:53:56: I don't think you'll rarely hear people say I wish I was older so I could sort of grow up

00:54:02: seeing both so you wish you could be as old as me yeah I'm 45 you know yeah like I wish I could

00:54:12: have seen like Jordan growing up and like what he was doing like live and in person because of that

00:54:17: I'm always I'm always team Jordan like because of that and I respect that because yeah yeah like

00:54:22: that's like core memories and like you grow up like watching that stuff and it's like and like he

00:54:28: was like he's the guy so but then like for me growing up is like always like Kobe and LeBron and

00:54:35: and these guys so I think it all I think it all depends on like yeah when you grow up

00:54:41: when you grow up it does honestly but like obviously both incredible incredible players

00:54:47: so it's so great to have you here it's great to to hear some some experience about your career

00:54:56: as you said at the end now you played with Jason Tatum with Zion Williams and all these guys

00:55:01: the experience in the NBA the experience and the in the nbl and and and then now in the BBL

00:55:07: here in Germany so we are so happy to have you here thank you so much all the best for the two

00:55:12: or three months now in Munich and maybe we will see you again next season otherwise we will see you

00:55:19: on television um you're a great sympathetic guy thank you for the interview thank you for the

00:55:23: podcast I appreciate it thank you and thank you for the the english I tried my best jack white

00:55:29: when you liked it what a cool guy then like to leave a few stars there and send us a

00:55:36: like a rating or whatever open court there is next time again with jens and steffen that is

00:55:40: completely clear around sports and we will hear each other again in this season there I am very sure

00:55:46: that was it for this moment thank you bye bye and ciao

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