Imported Bru: Going back for colder and darker
It was the middle of the summer and I was working out in North Carolina. I was getting back into the gym after a long absence from the game in preparation to play in the TBT basketball tournament with an old foe, Marshall Henderson from Ole Miss.
I had been in contact with my agents over the summer after having a very successful season in Norway. I won MVP of the league and put up video game numbers all year long: 24 points and 13 rebounds per game, shot 42 percent from 3 and had an efficiency rating of 32.5. I was hoping my body of work would land me a much more lucrative contract in a better league.
For those who do not know, professional basketball is based off of perception and unfortunately the Norwegian Basketball League is not respected in the professional basketball world. Despite having a great year, people did not think too highly of what I had done because the question would always be asked, "Well whom did he actually play against?" I was looking to get back into true professional basketball and would once again need to prove that I can produce against better competition.
Most teams in Europe really start offering import players (Americans) in the beginning of July all the way through late August, depending on when the league starts. I had some offers from teams in Norway, Luxembourg and some second-division teams in Germany but nothing that was going to be great money and a good basketball opportunity (league level and playing time). Big stats in a league that is not well-regarded meant this would be a crucial year in my professional career. It looked as if the big contract was not coming so I needed a great basketball opportunity.
During my season in Norway I kept in touch with former UW star Taylor Wurtz, who was putting up video game numbers in the neighboring country of Sweden. There was a first-division men’s team in her city and the coach had asked Taylor about my game and what my personality was like. After some nice words from Taylor, I was on a list of players that Jamtland BC was interested in for the next season.
The dialogue started in early June, and a contract was offered to me. It was not the highest-paying contract I was offered but was in a league that my agents felt I could do well in to continue building my basketball resume. I got along with the coach and felt like he was going to give me a great opportunity to play my game and prove how good I am. After enjoying my first go-around in Scandinavia, the appeal of going to a great country that had good health care, high living standards and would pay me on time and in full was a big factor as well.
On June 9 I officially signed my fifth professional contract and started to do my research on my newest destination. I would be heading to the town of Ostersund that is in the middle of the Sweden and about an hour away from Are (Oor-Ra) a famous ski town in Scandinavia. Unfortunately my newest employer would not let me have another epic weekend speeding down a mountain and enjoying Scandinavian apre ski.
I was really excited for the opportunity and was ready to make a splash in a better league. A little later in the summer I got some great news, as Taylor Wurtz had signed on for a second season in Ostersund, which meant I had at least one friend to eat with and did not have to flex my Steven Glansburg Swag too much in my return to the colder and darker north.
I continued working for Blue Moon the rest of the summer thoroughly enjoying the sunshine and warmth of North Carolina. I was well aware that I would be heading to the far north where sunlight and warmth would be limited for about six months or pretty much my entire stay in Sweden.
On my next blog I will discuss the making my fifth trip over the big ocean blue and meeting the giant mad scientist, my coach.
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