Detlef Schrempf: The greatest German player in NBA history… not named Dirk Nowitzki | FPP

Detlef Schrempf moved from Germany to the US to attend his senior year at Centralia high school, this kicked off the beginning of the first truly great success when It came to European NBA players. Schrempf played 4 years for the University of Washington Huskies, where he helped lead them to their first tournament appearance in almost a decade, alongside fellow German Christian Welp. Schrempf was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1985 NBA draft where he was stuck behind established players like Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman and Derek Harper, and even though he played on some great Mavs teams of the 80s, he never got a chance to show how good he was. But when he was traded to the Indiana Pacers in 1989, he finally got a chance as he would team with players such as Reggie Miller, Chuck Person and Rik Smits in a sixth man role, where his stint with the pacers would see him win back to back sixth man of the year awards, as in 1991, he became the first European to win the award. He also gained his first All star selection in 1993, again becoming the first European NBA all star in history. He was eventually traded to the Seattle Supersonics where he had his most team success as part of the great Sonics teams of the late 90s that included Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp and Hersey Hawkins which culminated in an NBA Finals appearance vs. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and the 72 win Chicago Bulls. Schrempf would also rack up two more all star selections in Seattle. Schrempf spent 2000 and 2001 on the Portland Trailblazers in a bench role, where he would join another legendary European in Arvydas SAbonis, before callin it a career after 16 seasons in 2001. And when it was all said and done, Schrempf had an extremely successful career full of accolades and a 10 year stretch where he averaged over 15 points on over 47% shooting every season. And a career like that needs to be talked about, so that’s why today’s video is looking at The Grand Teuton, Detlef Schrempf. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): License code: KM6PUEOIEPBY9PST *Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use“ for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS