Jacob Bates, right, with teammates, from left, Matt Attard, Darius George and Zekiah Owens.
In his second professional season with Starlites Basketball Club in Malta, Jacob Bates helped his team win the Super Cup, Knockout Cup and the league championship.
The former Centre College standout also helped Starlites win the league championship in 2022 in his rookie season after coming back from a knee injury at the end his senior season in 2020 when he was a Division III All-American and Southern Athletic Association Player of the Year after averaging 18.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Bates’ numbers actually dropped this year because of the talent on his team. He went from averaging 18.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 29 minutes per game his first pro season to 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 20 minutes per game this year. However, he had 31 points and 11 rebounds in Game 2 of the Finals.
Bates is now back in Kentucky and shared his thoughts on the championship, his overall season and the future.
Question: How great does it feel to have another championship in your second year of professional basketball?
Bates: It truly feels amazing. Winning championships is something I will never get tired of doing because there is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes that nobody sees and it is so rewarding when it finally pays off. We had another great team filled with talented local players and import players that play so well together and gel on/off the floor. We knew we could do it.
Question: Was it more difficult or easier to win the title this year?
Bates: I would say it was more difficult this season because our team dealt with serious injuries that caused key players to miss weeks/ months in the middle/ back end of the season. Having other guys step up in their absence was huge and a crucial part in our success this season.
Question: Do you feel you got better as a player this year?
Bates: I do. You could look at my individual stats and see that they were lower than last season, but I didn’t play nearly as many minutes as last season. I knew coming in that I wanted to do anything it took to win, and that there were already two talented American players getting those minutes, so I just wanted to do whatever I could do to fit in alongside those guys and make their jobs easier. I was able to wake up everyday at 6 a.m., go lift, go get shots up in the gym and have team practice. I took every chance I got to improve my game this season.
Question: How was this year compared to last season?
Bates: I had a different role coming in and I knew that. Coming in for the last three months of a season, you just want to do whatever is needed to win and I felt like I did that. We won two cups while I was here as well as the league finals. I have always taken pride in being a part of a winning culture from growing up to high school and in college and now here. There is nothing better than winning trophies with people you go to work with every single day!
Question: What were your teammates like this year?
Bates: I wanted to give a shout-out to my American teammates Darius George (Marshall University) and Zekiah Owens (American International) for making me better every single day in practice. They are great players with bright futures and even better people. It was an honor to get to play with them every single day. Also to my Australian/Maltese teammate Matt Attard (St. Francis/Illinois) for being one of the best shooters I’ve ever played with and another great teammate/ friend.
My coaches/ Maltese teammates/ the Starlites organization were truly fantastic and made this the best experience possible and couldn’t be more thankful for them. Also a huge thank you to my family and friends back home, I know they watched every game and were yelling at the TV just like if they were there. Their support keeps me going and gives me confidence to go out there every day and compete!
Question: Was this year as much fun as your first year in Malta or was this more business-like the whole time?
Bates: Yes, absolutely this year was a blast! Winning is fun, but there is also fun in getting to hang out and be around the people you have built bonds with. I was able to make new friendships and memories with new teammates and the community welcomed me back with open arms, and it feels like a second home. At the end of the day, it is a business but they didn’t make it feel as such. It was always love and joy.
Question: What lies ahead and could this second straight title lead to bigger opportunities for you?
Bates: I’m hoping that this will lead to bigger opportunities in other countries for the next season. I feel like I’ve proven I can help a team win games and be a true professional while doing that. I just need a team to take a chance on a D3 kid from Kentucky and I promise they would get everything out of me and more!
Question: What will you be doing the next few months?
Bates: I will be substitute teaching in Oldham County to make some money while school is still in session. Once the summer hits, I am planning on doing basketball training as a job in the Oldham County/ Louisville area for middle/high school/ college players who are looking to improve all aspects of their game.
I feel like from playing at these different levels, I can help players develop different parts of their game to help them reach their fullest potential to play at the next level if that’s what they are looking to do. Basketball is such a mental game as well as a physical one, and I think that needs to be addressed more in the training and preparation for people to improve!
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To see Bates’ season highlights, check his Twitter (@thebates20) or visit this link.
