I was the definition of a “Jack of All Trades, Master of None” kind of player, and honestly, I believe that’s what helped me carve out a long career overseas. Of course, there were other factors too, but you have to remember that I played in an era where the game was fundamentally different. Offenses were structured around 3-out, 2-in formations, with clearly defined roles for each position. There was little room for “Unicorns” like we see today.
At 6’8″ (204 cm) and weighing in at about 210 pounds (95 kg) soaking wet, I had decent handles, but I wasn’t Kevin Durant. When my shot was on, I could look like KD on a good day, but when it wasn’t, let’s just say I was far from KD. Picture a very poor man’s version of KD, if you will—only this was before KD, so I was doing okay for my size back then.
I could defend any player on the floor, but the question was always, for how long? I was deceptively strong, but I had no business guarding bruisers in the post. My size and timing helped me block shots, but not for 40 minutes straight. On the other hand, I could chase point guards around the perimeter thanks to my length and athleticism, but trust me, chasing those guys around screens was no picnic.
Two things worked in my favor: my athleticism and my instincts. But the best thing I had going for me was my ability to fill whatever role the team needed. I was a natural small forward, but over the years, I played every position on the court depending on the situation.
This versatility was both a blessing and a curse. As a pro, I often felt like I wasn’t good enough at any one position because I was constantly moved around. You never saw a point guard playing center or a center running the point, but there I was, learning plays for every position because I never knew where I’d be slotted next.
I remember playing in France when our big man got hurt. For weeks, I practiced all week in the post, only to end up playing small forward in the game. No reps at my natural position all week—frustrating wasn’t even the word!
But as I got older, I realized that what I once saw as a curse was actually my greatest asset. Had I been just a tall, athletic dunker, I wouldn’t have lasted very long overseas.
In the NBA, teams look for players who fit specific systems and roles. It’s probably advantageous to specialize and be really good at one thing. But overseas, it’s a different story. Longevity often requires you to be an all-rounder.
Take the Euroleague game I watched between Alba Berlin and Maccabi Tel Aviv last season, for instance. Maccabi often played with three guards on the floor—two of them being pure point guards. Sometimes, they even had three point guards on the court at once. Their power forward could’ve easily been a small forward on another team, and their center might’ve been a power forward back in my era.
The game has evolved so much that positions are more fluid now, and the traditional roles are less defined. Yes, both teams had traditional centers, but even those guys could step out to guard the pick and roll or knock down a three when necessary.
If one of those Maccabi guards got upset that he didn’t have the ball in his hands as much as a traditional point guard would, there’d be no place for him on that team. Sure, he could probably find a team where he’d have the ball more, but the European game is moving away from the floor generals like Chris Paul.
I have another example from my career. In England, I spent half a season as my team’s point guard after our starter got injured. The backup wasn’t ready to step up, and we also lost one of our bigs around the same time. The coach figured I was the best option to run the offense, especially since our shooting guard was more interested in getting his shots up than distributing the ball.
This was the first time I was asked to play exclusively at point guard, and to be honest, I was nervous. I was scared I’d look like a fool. But it ended up being the best move for the team, and we actually played better with me running the point. And yes, our shooting guard still got his shots up, haha.
The point I’m trying to make is that in America, players are often developed too early to specialize in one role because the goal is to make it to the NBA, where that’s important. But when those players come overseas, they run into trouble if they can’t adapt. I’ve seen plenty of talented players get sent home because they couldn’t adjust to the European style of moving the ball without dribbling the air out of it or taking every shot they touched.
That’s not to say specializing is always bad. Look at Mike James from AS Monaco, one of the top Euroleague players today. The guy is a phenomenal scorer, but he also knows how to distribute the ball and get his teammates involved. He can adapt, even mid-game, which makes him incredibly valuable.
So, what I want you to take away from this post is to be ready to adapt your game when you come to Europe. If you’re a shooting guard, be prepared to play all three perimeter positions. We’ve all seen how much inside players have evolved over the past 20 years. The game may be getting smaller, but there’s still a place for big players—you just have to adapt your skill set.
And lastly, let me leave you with the full version of the “Jack of All Trades” quote because I think it was written for players like me: “A Jack of All Trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”