Kamar Baldwin (185-G-1997, college: Butler) is a 24 year old 185 cm guard from Winder, Georgia playing his second professional season and first with BG Goetingen. Last season he played his rookie campaign with Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey-BSL) playing 17 games averaging 6.4ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 27.6%, FT-2 (94.7%); and played 8 BCL games averaging 6.1ppg, 2.6rpg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 60.0%: He began his basketball career with Apalachee High School. He then played at Butler University (NCAA) from 2016-2020 reaching the NCAA Sweet 16. In his last three seasons he averaged 16,0ppg, 4,0rpg and 3,0apg. He spoke to eurobasket after the huge 92-91 win over medi Bayreuth.
Congrats Kamar to the crazy 92-91 win. Some 100 kilometers away a dude had a quadruple double scoring 100 points in a Regionalliga (4 division) game. But the opponent had only 5 players and soon after only three guys as two fouled out early. How crazy is this news flash for you?
That is crazy to score 100 points. That guy’s competitiveness was at an all-time high. He had a real will to win. It was obviously tough for the other team. All you can do in a situation like that is play the best defense possible and hope they miss and get the rebound and try to score.
BG Goettingen had a 12 man rotation and 10 guys played while medi Bayreuth had only 6 players. You could have lost the game in the fourth quarter with a buzzer beater by Anim. You knew going in that they would have 6 guys. Was it difficult going into the game not to underestimate them?
Yes it was. It is always hard going into a game like that where they don’t have a full team. You tend to think they will get tired. We did a good job coming out of the gate leading by 20 points. You have to give Bayreuth a lot of credit playing to their strengths and coming back and competing very hard.
Can you ever remember in your career playing against a decimated rotation in your career or even being on a team that had to step up with an undermanned rotation?
I remember in my senior year when we played against IUPUI, we came in with 8 guys. I injured myself and then another guy got injured and we finished with 6 players. We did a great job sticking together to get the win.
BG Goettingen led 11-0 and soon 40-22. Did it feel like a practice game at the beginning?
No it didn’t. We just did a good job getting it going quickly and getting to the hole and getting stops. We also took advantage of getting out on transition and getting easy baskets.
Medi Bayreuth fought back in the second quarter and were only down by 6 points at the break. What were the main reasons for allowing them to come back like that?
We had three turnovers in the first quarter and six turnovers in the second quarter. They did a good job getting in rhythm and getting comfortable. We made it difficult for them, but they made tough shots and fought their way back into the game.
Medi Bayreuth head coach Raoul Korner said that ‘nothing will stop us from competing’. And that is what exactly happened. Bayreuth even took the lead. Did the game effect your mentality?
No I don’t think it effected us mentally. We knew that we had a job to finish the game strong and found a way to win.
BG Goettingen definitely must have been effected mentally as Philipp Hartwich missed key free throws. As a leader how do you feel did the team heed your advice best?
Phil missed four free throws, but later made two very important free throws. I told the guys it is a mind set and not about X’s and O’s. I told them to keep competing and needing to have the will to win the game.
Medi Bayreuth never gave up and were playing totally on adrenaline. Have you ever been in a position where you played totally on adrenaline not really knowing what was happening?
I guess so. Once I get in the zone and get going, I feel like nothing can stop me. I feel good with each shot that I put up.
BG Goettingen could have lost the game, but Sacar Anim’s buzzer beater was only rated as a two to send game in OT. When he let it fly were you thinking it was a three?
I thought it was a three. But then as the buzzer sounded and I saw the referee signal it was a two, I was relieved. At that point, I knew that we had the right mind set to be able to win it in overtime.
Cam Wells made it exciting giving Bayreuth the lead with 21 seconds to play. What was your impression of him? He is a guy who put up very good stats at Citadel at the same time Steph Curry played, but never made the NBA, but has had a great career overseas. From all positions overseas, is it fair to say that most likely the guard position that has the most talent?
There are a lot of great guards overseas. Many just don’t make the NBA or get an opportunity. When your playing overseas, you need to be prepared day in and out. You are always facing good guards every night.
With 21 seconds to play, BG Goettingen had the chance to win the game. Were you the first option? And were there a surprise option?
We had no timeout. We went right into it. I had the ball and dribbled the clock down. With about six seconds to go, I called for a screen, but they didn’t switch and they did a push and under. I took a step to my left and took a pull up jumper that fell with 0,6 seconds to go.
You made your bread and butter shot from the mid distance. Did you know it would go in?
It felt good going out of my hands. I thought that it could be a little short, but it then ended hitting the back of the front of the rim and falling in.
You have made incredible buzzer beaters in the NCAA like against Villanova which is my favorite and this season against ratiopharm Ulm, but where do you rank the one against medi Bayreuth?
This ranks also at the top. Just being able to compete at a high level and get the win is why we play. Our big goal is to reach the playoffs. This win wasn’t pretty but we will take it any day.
Cartwright-Jackson and Shorts are the two heavy MVP favorites, but if BG Goettingen make a big run with a winning streak, you could really be mentioned with him. Do you feel yourself like a MVP candidate?
I’m not worried about personal accolades. My biggest goal now is to make the playoffs and make a run and see where we go from there. The accolades always come at the end of the season. If I am MVP great if not ok.
Jeff Roberson had a great game with 15/12 stats. How refreshing has his game and him been as a teammate for you?
Jeff has been great. He had a great game in Frankfurt and was really good against Bayreuth also. He is an inside presence and gives us extra possessions. He made a huge pass near the end for the three pointer by Jake Toolson. He is a great teammate that is always helping others and is always smiling. He is a real competitor that brings it every day in practice.
Medi Bayreuth gave an incredible showing. Please give some parting words to their great effort.
I think Bayreuth played great. They came to us and really competed. They made no excuses and competed at a high level. I have a lot of respect for their performance.
Thanks Kamar for the chat.
Tags : KAMAR BALDWIN, BG GOETTINGEN, GERMAN BASKETBALL
