The Big Interview - Sean Flood

Interview

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Q1: You recently made the move back to Europe following four years playing in the States, how have you found the transition back to the European game? 

“I felt the transition back to the European style of the game was pretty smooth. It’s the style I’ve played for the majority of my career, so it’s comfortable to adapt to again once you get back into things really.”

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Q2: You played the 2020-2021 season with the Arvato College Wizards in Karlsruhe, Germany. What is the setup like there, and how does it differ from university teams in the States?

“It was a good set up in Karlsruhe but it’s tough to be on par with the set up in a US college. We had two on court sessions most days during the week which is different from college but something I loved. In college, there were more facilities available to us and more support staff around the team to help with any kind of problem that we may have had. The overall level of intensity in practice was less constant this season than during my time in college. Those college practices are no joke lol. In Germany it was more; get in, get your work done and get out.”

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Q3: The Arvato College Wizards were, until recently, coached by Irishman Daniel Nelson, what was your relationship like with him prior to moving to Germany, and how integral was he in enticing you over to Karlsruhe? 

“I had a good relationship with Danny prior to moving to play for him in Karlsruhe. I had played for him both here in Ireland and in Germany before so I knew what I was getting having him as a coach. Yeah it was definitely a nice situation to go into where you’ve worked with the coach in the past and I suppose it’s especially nice when it’s another Irishman to have a bit of the Irish culture in a foreign country.”

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Q4: Nelson recently left the Wizards and is now headed to Cyprus, will you be staying on as the lone Irishman in Karlsruhe set-up next season?

“Yeah I was very pleased for him when I heard that he was going to be coaching in Cyprus next season. In terms of myself, I think I’ll also be looking to move on and hopefully be able to take a step forward in my career for next season.”

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Q5: For people that are unfamiliar with this side of the sport: what does the process of looking for a new team entail?

“There’s a lot of uncertainty during the summer months when moving teams. It’s a lot of your agent reaching out to teams and teams reaching out to your agent to discuss the possibility of signing for their team next season. Trying to find the combined best situation is the most important thing. Things can be quiet one week and then really pick up pace then all of a sudden. Of course, your level of play from the previous season helps with things but it’s still a very uncertain time.”

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Q6: You were noted as being one of the top performers with the Wizards as you made a deep playoff run, averaging over five assists and 15 points through the season, you will no doubt want to carry that form wherever you go next season. When assessing potential new teams, what are some key team or programme attributes you look for, to help you continue performing to that level?

“Yeah it was nice to be able to put together a solid season as my first year as a professional. I would say one of the most important things I look for is what role I will have on the team and also the style of play that the coach likes. I want to be sure it’s a place I feel I can bring success to the team, and also be successful individually and reach individual goals I have set for myself. Playing for experienced and respected coaches is another important thing for me, so that I can learn from them and continually improve as a player throughout the season.”

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Q7: Your head coaches at both Longwood and the Wizards have been heralded as turning around their programmes and bringing success wherever they go, is this a trait you look for in a coach?

“Definitely! Playing for coaches coming into new clubs/colleges is appealing because they’re coming in determined, trying to prove and establish something. Both Danny and Coach Griff were two coaches who were very driven and knew exactly what they wanted to implement when coming into their new teams. I think knowing that and having your players know that has been why both coaches have been able to be so successful.”

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Q8: Longwood was not your first stop when you crossed the Atlantic, first spending two years at Santa Fe College in Florida. What was the transition from Junior College to NCAA Division 1 like?

“My time at Santa Fe was great and really helped prepare me for what the expectation for a college basketball player is. Coach Mowry at Santa Fe is someone who has such a wealth of experience in helping players become prepared and ready for their next step when their time at JuCo is finished. Of course there is still a transition period when taking a step up to Division I basketball and the demand required every minute of a day of practice and the details of what exactly you’re asked to do is probably the most notable. Thanks to Coach Mowry though I believe this transition wasn’t as difficult as the initial move from Ireland to the States. “

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Q9: You played with Templeogue here in Dublin prior to heading to the States, how important were your coaches at Templeogue in preparing you to go to the next level?

“My coaches from when I first started playing with Templeogue have played a pivotal role in the success I’ve had in my basketball career to date. I was able to take something valuable and learn from pretty much every coach I had during my time playing here for Templeogue. Coaches have always been willing to work with me and make sure I was in a position to reach my potential when playing for them.”

Sean Flood, right, with former Templeogue team-mate Puff Summers

 

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Q10: You’ve played in a lot of teams, in the States, Germany and Ireland, including international teams. Is there any one coach or player who has had a massive impact on your game or your career?

“I feel that on every team I’ve played on there’s a number of teammates you naturally become closer with and have a bigger impact on you than others. My teammates and coaches in the States had a different impact on me than teammates and coaches back here in Ireland because of the nature of the situation over there and here. I’ve been extremely lucky to have people back here who have been in my position before to show me the way to be as successful as possible. Really there have been too many who’ve had a significant impact on my career to name them all.”

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Q11: With playing in so many different teams, moving cities is not new to you. You did however make the move to Karlsruhe in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. Was there any difficulties settling into a new team and new city in the midst of the pandemic?

“Yeah it was a bit strange moving to live in a new country during the pandemic, different from what I’ve experienced in the past. As far as settling into a new city it was weird seeing everything closed and not being able to just explore the city a bit and visit different places that were recommended to me. Settling into the team was different too. Our contact off the court was very limited so trying to build a relationship with the lads and get to know them took longer because of this I would say. Sometimes the time away from the court can be more valuable to the team as the season goes on.”

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Q12: The Covid-19 pandemic meant there was no National League action here, what was it like in Germany with training and matches during a pandemic?

“Again, different from anything I’ve experienced in the past. We were very fortunate to be able to go ahead and have a season but there was a lot of protocol that needed to be followed to make it happen. Masks were mandatory everywhere other than the court, even on the team bus to away games. We had two separate pods that we were split into for the changing rooms before practice. Testing before games became the norm by the end of the season too.”

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Q13: With the European Championships for Small Countries coming up in August, do you think players, like yourself, that have been able to keep playing through most of the pandemic carry an advantage? 

“Coming into practice initially I would say those of us who were away playing this year had an advantage because we had the game reps and feel for the game but I think come tournament time everybody will be back to peak performance levels because of the steps we’re taking in our preparation for the tournament.”

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Q14: You’ve been back training with the international team for a few weeks now, how are the team’s preparations coming along?

“The preparation has been really good! The level has gone up each session and we are definitely taking steps forward every time we get together. We have a great group of lads all hungry to compete when we do get that opportunity.”

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Q15: You are involved in an international set-up that will keep you playing throughout the summer. Most players in leagues across Europe will not be involved with their respective national teams, how does your off-season, and then pre-season preparation differ from players not playing internationally? 

“It’s really a lack of an off-season compared to those not involved in international teams during the summer. Usually during the summer is more of taking a short period of time off and then getting back into some individual workouts to improve on aspects of your game for the next season and pickup whereas being involved in an international set up you’re still locked into team practices and staying sharp and switched on to game tactics as well as trying to still add to your game on top of that. For preseason it’ll just be a matter of rather than getting back used to the game reps and situations you’re going in with that all fresh after coming off the back of an international campaign.”

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Q16: Do you feel playing competitive basketball through the summer with the national squad will give you an advantage going back into pre-season training in a few months time?

“I feel the continuation of being in a team setting and still switched on to the idea of everything that goes with game prep will definitely stand to me going into preseason. Playing competitive basketball at a high level throughout the summer is absolutely something that anybody would jump at the opportunity of before going into a preseason.”

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Q17: You will be facing San Marino, Malta, Gibraltar and Andorra, do you see any of them as a particular threat? 

“All teams coming to play in the tournament will mean business so right away that makes everybody a threat. Having Malta back in the tournament after winning it three years ago is something that would stand out also. Being the host nation, I’m sure it means we’ll get everybody's best shot so that's something we’ll have to be well ready for.”

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Q18: Looking at your success playing in Germany, do you think we may start to see more and more Irish players heading to European leagues in the coming years? 

“It’s something I think we’ll see become far more common in the coming years. The number of Irish players going to play in college in the states grows every year and I’m sure in a few years we’ll see the number of Irish lads playing across Europe will follow this trend.”

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Q19: While the style of play differs massively between Ireland and the USA, what differences have you noticed in the game after playing in Germany, versus both Ireland and the States?

“The biggest differences I would say is the pace of the game, level of athlete and then basketball IQ also. In the States the pace and level of athlete is crazy. Teams really like to get up and down because that’s what suits the majority of players over there. Back here in Ireland and over in Germany the level of athlete isn’t as high but basketball IQ seems to be a lot higher. Things are a lot more calculated and structured with an emphasis on players making the correct reads.”

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Q20: Basketball has obviously afforded you lots of opportunities, including living in different countries. What advice would you offer a young player unsure of where to take their next basketball step?

“Basketball has been fantastic to me up to this point in my life but it all comes in time and with hard work. My advice to younger players would be to be consistent in how you work, be that at club/regional/national team practice or just individual workouts. Form good habits and allow them to transfer over into games. Approach things with a specific, and detailed plan so that you can stay focused on what you want to improve on, rather than trying to improve at 100 things at once. Take setbacks as they come but be stubborn enough to not accept them and stop you from reaching your ultimate end goal.”