RJ Gunn(Inter Bratislava) Has The German Connection Having Played For Dru Joyce And Torell Martin Helped Change His Life

- November 12, 2024

POSTED BY: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

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RJ Gunn

RJ Gunn (201-G/F-1999, college: Duquesne, agency: Players Group) is a 25 year old 201cm forward from Columbia, South Carolina playing his second professional season and first with Inter Bratislava (Slovakia-Tipos SBL). He played his rookie season with LWD Basket Leeuwarden (Holland-DBL) averaging 9.5ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 47.0%, 3FGP: 34.5%, FT: 85.2% in the BNXT league and played with Corsarios Cartagena (Colombia-Liga W) averaging 14.4ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 77.3%. He began his basketball career at Irmo high school and then played 4 years at Lenoir-Rhyne College (NCAA2) an din his last 2 seasons averaged 19.6ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 49.9%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 74.1% and 16.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 81.0%. He then finished at the University of Duquesne (NCAA) averaging 8.1ppg, 3.4rpg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 69.2%). He spoke to eurobasket before a ENBL game against Bamberg.

Thanks RJ for talking to eurobasket.com. Your playing your second pro season and first

with Inter Bratislava (Slovakia-Tipos).What has it been like playing with this organization that

has won 13 titles? What have you enjoyed most about the organization?

It’s been great. I think playing for an organization like this when we play in Slovakia everyone

is out to get us and it makes it fun and competitive to know you have that target on your back at

all times. We have some great people in this organization who understand how hard we work and they do a great job of working hard right alongside us players by making sure we are prepared to play

and helping us take care of our bodies through the long season.

After being in Holland you now are playing in Slovakia. How have you taken in the culture of

Bratislava? Is it like a culture shock compared to Columbia, South Carolina?

Being from Columbia I wouldn’t say Slovakia is a culture shock but compared to Holland the

lifestyle is different. I can walk around without having to check for the bike riders and I am slowly

starting to learn some words and pick up on phrases in Slovak because there everyone doesn’t

speak English as well as the people in holland.

Inter Bratislava (Slovakia-Tipos) last won a title 5 years ago. Do you feel that need to win again

from the organization? How high are the expectations?

We know that there is a rich history here in this organization but we don’t feel pressure to win. I

think we are confident with the group that we have that we will win.

The club has a good mix of Americans and Slovakian players. What exactly is your role on the

team? Are you the go to guy?

I wouldn’t necessarily call myself the go to guy because we have a lot of talent but I recognize

my importance to the team. I would say my role is to create space on the floor and create miss

matches offensively and defensively take away advantages by being able to cover multiple

positions.

What has it been like being teammates with Dontay Caruthers and Isaiah Cousins? How

important is their veteran leadership and what do appreciate most about their games?

Their experience has helped us tremendously especially being our main ball handlers because

they can make the right plays at the end of the shot clock. The leadership they provide is

needed and they both have different styles. Dontay is very vocal and helps us keep our

communication up. Cousins is a gym rat so it creates a competitiveness within the team to stay

in the weight room and on the court and I listen and observe from them and work to implement

those things into my DNA as a player.

What has it been like being teammates with Justin Mccall and Bryant Thomas? What do these

young players give the team that you appreciate the most?

They both bring energy and competitiveness to the games and practices. It’s natural for things

to become routine and a little repetitive as you have more and more practices with the same

teammates and going over some of the same things in practice but they both bring energy and

competitiveness that keeps things fresh and you have to be prepared to give your best because

they go hard every possession every day.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 201cm forward If you had to compare your game to an

NBA player who would best fit the description?

I’m not exactly sure what current NBA player my game resembles but I think my game

resembles some older or retired players. The best comparison I think is Rashad Lewis; he

played very simple and efficiently. He also stretched the floor and created mismatches because

of his versatility and size.

You are a great scorer, but also a versatile offensive player. Talk about other strengths in your

game?

Offensively I think I’m underrated as a passer because I don’t have a lot of assists which to me

doesn’t always mean you’re a good passer. My passing makes it difficult to double team me in

the post because I try to be patient with the ball to make the right pass

You have been a solid three point shooter, but this year exploded shooting 50% and better in

both competitions. How do you explain this massive increase in shooting percentage?

I have been focusing on shooting the same shot every time and also a lot of form shooting. I

have also been taking the right shots as well as having teammates who look for me and get me

the ball on time and on target.

What kind of a defender would you call yourself right now and where do you still want to take

your defensive game to?

I can be a great defender at times and I have made strides on the defensive end thanks to

watching more film and working on positioning. Also staying focused and understanding the

scouting report on each player since I switch onto a lot of different players throughout the game.

The main thing I am getting better at is playing defense through screens which again is staying

focused and having the right positioning to be able to create the right angles to stay in front of

the defender when there is an on ball or off ball screen.

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

game?

My lateral quickness and positioning on defense to become a better on ball defender so I can

cover shifty guards better and also be better in pick and roll defensive coverages on the ball to

be able to help my team play bigger lineups where I may play the 3 in those situations.

Also my ball handling and reading the floor which will make me even more of a threat

offensively because I haven’t been the player handling the ball in pick and roll but my last year

at Lenoir Rhyne coach Sullivan and I talked about it and started working on it then and in the

off-seasons I have continued it.

Last season you played with LWD Basket Leeuwarden (Holland) averaging 9.5ppg, 4.3rpg,

1.4apg, 2FGP: 47.0%, 3FGP: 34.5%, FT: 85.2%. What do you remember being your wake up

call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

To me the most challenging thing was balancing the life I have at home while I’m in a

completely different country because family is very important to me. It is difficult living in such a

different time zone because it is almost like I am keeping up with 2 days at one time. The day in

Europe and I was 6 hours ahead so one my last practice ends I am trying to keep up with home

and their day is basically just starting.

Last summer you played with Corsarios Cartagena (Colombia) averaging 14.4ppg, 5.6rpg,

1.4apg, FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 77.3%. What kind of an experience was it getting added

experience before coming back overseas for year 2?

I think that experience helped me grow as a professional because at times a lot was asked of

me and I had to mentally prepare and perform at a high level every game. Also the schedule

was 2 games a week and back to back so it helped me learn to prepare my body for any

situation.

You played at Lenoir-Rhyne College (NCAA2) from 2017-2021 and made a big jump in your

game in your last 2 seasons averaging 19.6ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 49.9%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT:

74.1% and 16.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 81.0%. How did your game

grow in your last 2 years?

The main thing for me was my body. I spent a lot of time on strength and conditioning during

both of those summers. I met 2 people, Carlos Powel and Torrel Martin who both played

professionally at a high level for a long time and they completely changed my life and gave me

the guidance I needed to know what it means to be a professional.

You had a massive game against Clayton State scoring 36 points. What memories do you have

of that explosive day? You won 103-99.

It’s funny that most people don’t know I was not having a good game in the first half so what I

remember the most was getting chewed out by my head coach Everick Sullivan and my

roommate Davion Bradford and they were completely honest about how bad I was and I took

that anger out on the court and we won the game

How vital was Everick Sullivan in your basketball development at Lenoir-Rhyne? Did he give

you the keys to the team in year 3?

Coach Sullivan was very hard on me and had high expectations of me coming into the

program and that’s one other reason I started working on my body and focusing on more than

just on the court. By my 3rd year he could see the changes I made and how serious I was and I

don’t think he had to give me the keys I just did whatever we needed to win the games. He also

played professionally and he helped understand the jump I needed to make to have a chance.

You added a season at the University of Duquesne (NCAA) averaging 8.1ppg, 3.4rpg, FGP:

44.6%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 69.2%. How important was it getting an extra season and playing for

Keith Dambrot? How did he help give you that last touch of knowledge before turning pro?

More than anything else Coach Dambrot taught me to do my job. He is very intense and every

practice you can hear him screaming on the side and it was a bit of a shock at first but over time

I realized what he was looking for was consistency every day. He challenges you by trying to

get under your skin and It definitely helped me play with more passion and a better motor. When

I decided to go to Duquesne I told them I wanted to be a pro and Coach Dambrot and the entire

staff from the 2 years I spent there guided me and taught me to be more professional.

Dru Joyce is head coach now. He was an assistant in his first year when you were there? What

will you always remember about him as a coach? Did you know he won 3 state titles with

Lebron James?

What I will remember about Coach Joyce is his willingness to listen to the players and his

honesty. There were some tough conversations I had with coach, even talking to him while I

played with LWD basket. The first year was challenging and he listened to me and gave me

advice on how to be better and what my focus should be on. He was honest and didn’t sugar

coat it. I appreciate having that relationship. I think if you are a real basketball fan and know anything about Lebron James you know who coach Joyce is and it surprised me but while I was there coach Joyce can still hoop.

You scored 7 points in a 77-52 loss against NCAA powerhouse Kentucky. What memories do

you have of that game and what Wild Cat player impressed you the most?

What I remember most about that game was thinking about the journey I had from Lenoir

Rhyne to them and feeling proud to have gone through the obstacles to get to a division 1

school and play against a historical program like Kentucky when so many people felt I wasn’t

good enough it felt good to compete against them to test myself. The most impressive player from that game was Sahvir Wheeler because of his ability to control the game. We came out with a lot of energy and the game was close. We were a good team but once he got on the court he was able to get everyone involved offensively and their energy changed and they were more focused. He seemed like the leader of the team because that’s when the game was no longer in our control.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Tre Williams?

Me and Tre had a lot of battles in practice because we have different play styles. He’s a

monster in the paint and I step out in the perimeter a lot but I’ll say I won overall because I hit

more 3s.

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

My 2nd year at Lenoir Rhyne I couldn’t stop Grant Williams. We played Tennessee in an

exhibition game at the beginning of the year and I made some quick fouls because he was

smart and played with a lot of patience.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

In no particular order I’ll go with college. Darrius Simmons (Lenoir Rhyne), Davion Bradford

(Lenoir Rhyne), Corey Thomas (Lenoir Rhyne), Tre Clark (Duquesne), Dae Dae Grant

(Duquesne).

Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore?

Lebron James, Micheal Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Who is your GOAT?

Lebron James he’s the best at doing it all and has met the highest of expectations and maybe

even exceeded what people thought his potential was.

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

I saw the sequel and I think it was ok but a classic is a classic. I think the concept was good

and it helped some young up and coming actors.

Thanks RJ for the chat.