3x3 - Interview with Dan Cramer, the Flying Dutchman

DENVER (3x3) - Not many people can say that they are a member of the Dutch Hall of Fame and scored 50 points in a college game or played against players such as Tony Parker's father, Detlef Schrempf or even Holger Geschwindner the man who taught Dirk Nowitzki how to play basketball. Well the Colorado native Dan Cramer just happens to be that man.

After a very successful basketball career during the 70's and 80's in Europe, he moved back to Colorado. From then on he has been intensely involved with the promotion of 3x3 basketball as well as many others sports throughout the USA and the world. 

In our exclusive two part interview, Cramer talks about his love for the game of basketball and reveals his involvement in 3x3 basketball.

Organizer's Profile
Name/Surname: Dan Cramer
Studies: Denver University - BSBA degree & accounting major
Current activities: President / CEO Team Championships International a division of Lagardere Unlimited, which oversees 40 Hoop It Up events & current President of the Friends of Denver Basketball association.


FIBA:  How did your professional basketball career start in Europe and more specifically in the Netherlands?
Dan Cramer: It's kind of an interesting story. I graduated from the University of Denver and I held a scoring record there, scoring 50 points in a game. That gave me a chance to tryout with the Nuggets in Denver. Then I travelled to Europe and played there for ten years from 1974 to 1984. When I got out of school I had a degree in business and I was offered a job by KPMG, an accounting firm.

My first three years I just played basketball and then my fourth year I talked to KPMG and said "hey can I work for you in your Amsterdam office?", so they let me do that. I worked for KPMG in Holland, in a couple of their offices and at the same time I was able to play basketball. They both worked with me which was very kind.

FIBA: What did you do after your playing days in Europe?
Dan Cramer:  When I came back in the United States in 84, I went back to work for KPMG as an accountant and became a manager there. At the same time I started a sports company "Cramer Productions", I started doing TV productions of High School basketball, football games. I had a TV show that I would do, which featured High School athletes. I had thought that they didn't get that much recognition and that's the real soft spot in America; High School sports. We recognised those athletes; we did this for maybe ten years.

In 1989-90 someone came to me and said "hey you think we can do 3x3 basketball?" and I said "well sure!" so we started doing 3x3 basketball. At that time it was a company called "Roundball Ruckus", that was the basketball event we did. A few years later we started 3v3 soccer. I said if we could do this for basketball then we could do the same with soccer. The concept was basically you had no goalies, a smaller field and high scoring so we called it "Kick It". We grew our business; Hoop It Up was also there.

I did not originally start Hoop It Up, it started and I took it over. In 2000 we merged our companies together, my basketball and soccer, their basketball and soccer they also had football. So we merged and I've basically been running it ever since.

I've been around 3x3 basketball for 20 plus years. In the end I got back to my passion, which was basketball but it was also working with young people. I coach some young teams now, youth teams I've coached in the past and it's been an opportunity to be around basketball. It's provided a living for me the last 20 years, I've been very blessed!

FIBA: Do you still play basketball and even 3x3 basketball?
Dan Cramer:  I still play basketball, I don't play in the tournaments anymore but I used too. As matter of fact about 5-6 months ago I had my hip replaced, so that I could continue to play. I just started to play again; I mean I truly love the game of 3x3. I think it's great; it's a great way to teach the youth how to play basketball because of all the elements of it - the passing, the cutting and training on how to shoot. I obviously was a shooter so the game is designed for somebody to hit the three point shoot. If you can hit that shot it's huge because you get two points for that and everything inside the ark you get one point. There's a real premium on being able to be a good outside shooter.

I think that's good for the game of basketball. The other cool thing is that every player has to be counted on; you know sometimes when you play soccer with eleven players well some player might never touch the ball the entire game. If you have a weaker player sometimes he might not have that many opportunities. Now I'm not talking about the professional level I'm talking about the amateur level. But in 3x3 basketball all the players really have to contribute with defense, offense. I think it really develops the player and besides I think it's entertaining.

Read part 2 of FIBA's interview with Dan Cramer.


FIBA