DOB: 21 January 1963
Place of birth: Leverkusen
Height: 206cm (6-9)
Weight: 97kg (214lbs)
Position: Forward

One of the most successful players in the history of German basketball, Detlef Schrempf was a huge talent and the man who blazed the trail for the likes of megastar Dirk Nowtizki to follow.

For when Schrempf was treading the NBA boards in the eighties and becoming the first German player to do so, he was also one of the early pioneers from overseas to participate in the big league. Back then, the NBA was not exactly dripping with European stars it is right now.

The NBA was a league that he went on to have a major impact in – attaining All Star status on several occasions during an astonishing 17 seasons which also made him a household name in his homeland.

His outstanding versatility was his prize asset and at one time he was tipped to be another ‘Larry Bird’. While that comparison never quite materialised in terms of eventual production, he still carved out his own fine legacy with some memorable performances both for his respective NBA teams and also the German National Team.

Schrempf was just so classy and with such an extensive armoury, guarding him was always a nightmare for his opponents. He pretty much had it all due to his size and inside skills while his perimeter game was just as effective. In fact, at one stage in his career in Dallas, it was his three-point shooting that was viewed as his main threat.

It remained that way for most of his career although as well as his devastating accuracy from deep, he also got better inside. He went on to shine for a host of NBA teams including the Pacers and Sonics in particular – the latter of which added him to their All Time Greatest roster only last year.

The forward played for his country regularly during the eighties and nineties, appearing in a number of major tournaments including the Olympics and quickly established himself as the marquee player.

At the age of just 22, he announced his arrival to the basketball with over 15 points per game at the 1983 European Championships and from that point onwards, just got better and better. Mention German basketball greats and Schrempf is right near to the top of that list - so much so that Schrempf is currently on the candidate list for the FIBA Hall of Fame.