 A month ago, few were predicting the potential impact of Brose Baskets Bamberg or an undersized big man who last played in the Italian second division on the immediate future of Europe's top competition. Four weeks into the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season, however, Brose Baskets has earned a place at the table and rookie Kyle Hines is making a name for himself, too. Brose is 2-2 in Group B, having already upset last season's runners-up, Olympiacos, and nearly done the same to Real Madrid on the road last week. Hines, a power forward standing less than 2 meters, has made an incredible 29 of 40 two-point shots so far - including some spectacular dunks - to rank first in the Euroleague with a 76.2% shooting percentage and second in scoring at 16.8 point per game. To say the least, Hines and his team have arrived - and they plan to keep making the most of a special opportunity. "For me to get this opportunity, first to play for the German champions, was great in itself. Then to play in the Euroleague was like the icing on the cake," Hines told Euroleague.net. " But to play in the Euroleague was pretty much the deciding factor for me. I knew that I wanted to become a Euroleague-caliber player for the rest of my career and that play with Brose would give me the opportunity to showcase by abilities."
Kyle, first of all, Brose Baskets has surprised a lot of people just getting to 2-2 In Group B so far. Any surprise for you guys?
"I think that we didn't really know what to expect. Only three of us, prior to this, had even a little bit of Euroleague experience, so it was tough for us to know. But at the same time, we were confident and knew we had a good team. If we played well together and did the necessary things, we had a feeling we could compete successfully."
You would have been 3-1 if not for a heartbreaking OT loss in Madrid last week. What affect did that have on the team?
"Of course, we wanted to win. Madrid is looked at as one of the top teams in the Euroleague. So of course we wanted to beat them and we had opportunities to do so in the game. We could have won, but we let a couple of those opportunities go by. On the one hand, we allowed them too many offensive rebounds, and on the other, if there were some baskets we had converted better, we would have won. We kind of took it as a positive in the end. We were playing one of the toughest teams in the Euroleague on the road, and we were right there the whole game. We know now that if we keep doing what's necessary and get stops at the right time, we can beat these teams, even the ones at the highest level."
What is the mood up there in Bamberg about what you guys are accomplishing in the Euroleague?
"Everybody is excited here, for sure, but not just here. The majority of Germany is with us, and the fans we meet around the country have been excited for us. The history of Germany basketball in the Euroleague competition hasn't been a great showing as far as I hear. For us to beat Olympiacos and play well on the road against Real Madrid has been noticed. People are excited about us getting a chance to show something good as representatives of German basketball."
This is your first season playing for Chris Fleming. What affect does he have on this team's success and confidence?
"He plays a major part in it, for sure. He's our coach, our leader. He instills confidence in us and lets us know we can play with the guys in this league. He tells us all the time that we're a good defensive team that can defend anyone. So as long as we bring that defense, we will have the opportunity to win games. He's helped us instill the confidence and swagger we have going into the games. We arrive ready to play. We're not focused on the names on the front or back of the other team's jerseys. We're focused on doing our best to win."
You came directly from the second division in Germany. How do you explain making things look easy so far in the Euroleague?
"Well, first, it's definitely not easy, but I really can't explain it. I always go out and try to do the best possible for my team to put us in the best position to win basketball games. I wouldn't have expected myself to do this well, this early. I think that a lot of hard work from previous seasons is coming together for me at the right time now. Also, our team is giving me the opportunity to do a lot of different things. Coach Fleming has done a great job of highlighting and using my strengths, and that's a huge part of it."
 It looks like you've always been a high-percentage shooter, but 72% through four games is quite amazing. How is that happening?
"I am finishing well to this point. A lot of tough shots taken while being defended are going in. Also, I am just moving a lot and getting opportunities to score in places where I am comfortable with my ability to score. A lot of Euroleague centers and power forwards are bigger than me, but the one thing I have is that I'm quicker and faster than them. We figure that if we get them moving and into dynamic situations, it'll be easier for me. So we exploit those matchups in these games. Once I get them moving, it's not so predictable where I am going to come from. It's not just post-ups, but me using pick-and-rolls, different angles and coming from different areas toward the basket."
What did you think when you got the call from second-division Veroli in Italy to a Bamberg team bound for the Euroleague this season?
"It was basically what I was hoping for, but never knew if it would happen. Coming into this year, I wanted to aspire to play at a higher level. For me to get this opportunity, first to play for the German champions, was great in itself. Then to play in the Euroleague was like the icing on the cake. I knew the team I was coming to had a great nucleus, with just about all the players from last year returning. When I signed and Reyshawn Terry came, I thought we would have a rare opportunity to repeat as German champs and do well in the Euroleague. But to play in the Euroleague was pretty much the deciding factor for me. I knew that I wanted to become a Euroleague-caliber player for the rest of my career and that play with Brose would give me the opportunity to showcase by abilities."
What did you learn in four Turkish Airlines Euroleague games so far?
"Every game has been tough. The physicality of the Euroleague is definitely something we had to get used to. You can see the difference in us from our first game in Rome until now. We went there and we just weren't used to that physicality and level of play. But after that experience, in the last three games with Spirou, Olympiacos and Real Madrid, we've played well. We got used to the physicality and the speed of Euroleague games. It's just the way you have to play to compete. Our big goal is to compete in every game, and we are doing that."
Now come back-to-back home games now with Unicaja and Virtus Roma. Could they be decisive in a 10-game season which you guys finish with 4 of 5 games on the road?
"Every home game that we play is going to be key for us, especially knowing how difficult it will be to win on the road in the Euroleague. We thought coming into the season that if we can win every home game, we'd have an opportunity to advance to the Top 16. Now, as you see in the standings, everyone is close, with a couple of 2-2 teams. If that pattern continues, it will probably come down to the last couple games. So you know in that case that every home game, early or late, will be important. If we have an advantage at home, and so far this season we haven't lost there, we have to take it."
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