Alright, let’s talk about Blake Schilb. I first started paying attention to him, I think, during his time playing over in Europe. You hear about guys carving out nice careers overseas, and Schilb’s name just kept popping up.
It wasn’t like he was some high draft pick everyone knew about. He came out of Loyola Chicago, not exactly a basketball powerhouse factory, you know? But that kind of made following his journey more interesting for me.
His Game – What Caught My Eye
What really stood out to me whenever I caught highlights or managed to watch a game was his versatility. He wasn’t just a shooter, wasn’t just a passer. He was this big wing, like 6’7″, but he could handle the ball almost like a point guard. A real point-forward type.
That passing ability was pretty slick. He had great court vision, could make plays for others. And yeah, he could definitely shoot it too. That combination made him a tough matchup. He wasn’t super flashy, just really solid and smart on the court. Knew how to play the game.
Tracking His Career
I remember trying to keep track of where he was playing. It felt like he moved around quite a bit, which is common for guys playing internationally. It was like:
- Okay, now he’s in the Czech Republic…
- Then boom, pops up in France, playing really well for Chalon. I think they won the title when he was there, or came close.
- Then Serbia with Red Star… big club, big pressure there.
- Turkey with Galatasaray… another major spot in European hoops.
- Back to France, then Spain…
It takes a certain kind of player, a certain toughness, to adapt to all those different leagues, different countries, different styles of play. I always found that impressive. He wasn’t just surviving; he was often a key player on good teams.
Czech National Team Stuff
And then there was the whole Czech national team thing! Getting citizenship and playing for them in big tournaments like EuroBasket and even the World Cup. That was kinda cool and unexpected, seeing an American guy become such an important piece for a European national team. Showed his commitment and how well he integrated over there.
So yeah, Blake Schilb. Maybe not a household name for casual NBA fans, but if you follow international basketball even a little bit, you definitely came across him. He put together a really long, successful pro career doing his thing. A solid, versatile baller who knew how to contribute to winning teams. Always enjoyed watching him play when I got the chance.
