I'm talking about talented guys who just never got on track due to the short sightedness of their coaches, owners, or contract disputes. I would like to nominate the former Indiana Hoosier, 7 foot 1 inch Center hailing from Munich Germany, Uwe Blab. After being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks as the 17th overall pick in the draft, great things were expected but management was clearly too impatient and myopic to give the big redhead a chance.
Blab had his breakout year during the 1987-1988 campaign playing in 73 games and averaging well over 2 points per game while dominating the paint with almost 2 rebounds per game and 29 blocked shots for the year. The Master of Swat, as he was referred to by a growing Dallas fan base, was starting to attract the attention and respect of his peers. After a 113-101 victory over the Pacers, Celtics captain and future hall of famer Larry Bird noted, "We had a good solid win tonight. They've (Pacers) got a good group of young players. They like to bang down low." A clear reference to Blab's physical style and relentless determination. Yes, Blab was now raising eyebrows from his peers around the league. But Dallas management clearly had a different kind of player in mind as his numbers plummetted the following year playing in only 37 games but still managing 3 steals for the year.
After only 5 seasons, this promising young hoopster saw his career finished due to a Pacers management team focused primarily on points on the board rather than integrity in the locker room. Some believe it was still too early for the NBA to accept a foreigner like Blab. One highly placed NBA executive, when asked about the NBA scouting players from foreign countries, said at the time, "If they can play, they'll get a spot on somebody's roster." The operative word of course, being if. If is a code word for doubt. It was clear the NBA just wasn't ready to allow any foreign player, regardless how talented, into their American game. Call it xenophobia, call it ignorance but I call it the death of a young man's dream to play and succeed in the NBA. Uwe Blab, a portrait of excellence in a league who refused to let his legend grow.
Blab had his breakout year during the 1987-1988 campaign playing in 73 games and averaging well over 2 points per game while dominating the paint with almost 2 rebounds per game and 29 blocked shots for the year. The Master of Swat, as he was referred to by a growing Dallas fan base, was starting to attract the attention and respect of his peers. After a 113-101 victory over the Pacers, Celtics captain and future hall of famer Larry Bird noted, "We had a good solid win tonight. They've (Pacers) got a good group of young players. They like to bang down low." A clear reference to Blab's physical style and relentless determination. Yes, Blab was now raising eyebrows from his peers around the league. But Dallas management clearly had a different kind of player in mind as his numbers plummetted the following year playing in only 37 games but still managing 3 steals for the year.
After only 5 seasons, this promising young hoopster saw his career finished due to a Pacers management team focused primarily on points on the board rather than integrity in the locker room. Some believe it was still too early for the NBA to accept a foreigner like Blab. One highly placed NBA executive, when asked about the NBA scouting players from foreign countries, said at the time, "If they can play, they'll get a spot on somebody's roster." The operative word of course, being if. If is a code word for doubt. It was clear the NBA just wasn't ready to allow any foreign player, regardless how talented, into their American game. Call it xenophobia, call it ignorance but I call it the death of a young man's dream to play and succeed in the NBA. Uwe Blab, a portrait of excellence in a league who refused to let his legend grow.
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