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Poll: Champs
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Eurocup star Erwin Dudley nearly made the NBA, came back from a career-threatening injury and played alongside Gerald Wallace (Charlotte Bobcats) and Mo Williams (Cleveland Cavaliers) at university but what intrigued me most and had Martin Henlan jumping up and down with excitement in the Eurosport 2 commentary box on Tuesday was the information on the official Eurocup website listing "United Kingdom" as the centre's country.The listing got me dreaming of additional front court depth for Team GB to help in their tough group in Poland next year and so hidden amongst my questions to the former University of Alabama player I asked him about the story behind the listing.
"I have no idea," he began.
"Damn." I thought, I was gutted - any team could use a player who averaged 14 or more points per game in his final three years at such a prestigious Division 1 university.
"I was born and raised in Uniontown, Alabama," he continued, "I have only been to the UK one time so it was a mistake on their part."
But there is more to the 6ft 8in 27-year-old, who has become a stalwart for Turk Telekom in the last three years.
He explained he was confident of making the NBA before a horrific injury scuppered his chances: "I was invited to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament at the end of the 2003 season, my senior year. I went out to contest a shot and one of my teammates got there right before I did.
"I ended up landing on his foot, fracturing my knee cap. My injury was so severe that after two surgeries, some people believed that my career was over. But, I continued to put my trust and faith in God. Today, I am completely healed."
Dudley missed the entire 2003-04 season but his faith in God remained and increased when he travelled to Israel to play for Macabbi RLZ.
"God has always been a part of my life. I went to church weekly with my mother, but I really got into His Word my first year overseas. I had time to focus and get my life right."
Dudley's 19.7 points per game in Israel attracted widespread interest and he soon agreed to join Turk Telecom for the following season, a decision he does not regret.
"My agent presented me with an offer from Turk Telekom. I had heard good things about the club and so I decided to take the job.
"I really like Turkey. The Turkish people have been very good to me and my wife. It took me awhile to get accustomed to the Turkish cuisine, but now I really love the food.
"To me, the major difference between America and Turkey is the driving. When I first got here, I had never seen anything like it. People ran red lights with the cops, flicked their lights, and blew their horns if you sat at the light a second too long. Road rage is common in America and doing that at home could get you hurt. Adjusting to the lifestyle was not that hard. Turkey has become very westernised."
This year Dudley is averaging 14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in Eurocup action - shooting 59.5 per cent from the field.
The powerful big man who has won a lot of friends in Turkey explained what spurs him on: "My short-term aspiration is to win championships and finish the season healthy. My long-term aspiration is to continue be at the top of my game."
Dudley began life very differently. On his website he said: "My experience of growing up in the very small town of Uniontown, AL has molded me into the man I am today. My family was far from rich. I still remember picking okra during the summer, so I would have clothes for the upcoming school year. Looking back on my early years, reminds me of how far God has brought me."
He added in his interview with Basketball 24/7: "I started playing basketball in 1988 at the age of seven. We did not have clubs, only school games. My first game at Uniontown Middle School was exciting. I can still remember running up and down the court towering over my teammates and opponents.
"I chose basketball because it is the sport that dominates my community. The basketball program at my high school, Robert C, Hatch, leads the State of Alabama with 11 State Championships. It didnʼt hurt that I was 190cm (6ft 2in) at the age of twelve either."
His talented saw him ranked 65th amongst all High Schoolers in 1999 ahead of current NBAers Gilbert Arenas and Jamario Moon. His low-post power and skills took him to Alabama where he played with Wallace and Williams and he has a lot of praise for him former teammates.
"They are very talented players. I knew that if they were given the opportunity to play in the NBA, they would make the best of it. I am really proud of those guys."
And he hasn't yet ruled out a move to the NBA. He said he is confident he can make it and added: "If the opportunity comes, I will be ready."
It's just a shame if he does lineup alongside Luol Deng or Ben Gordan it won't be in a Great Britain shirt.
By Tom Rubashow
- To visit Erwin's website, click here.
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