Detlef Schrempf Extra

German basketball forward who became the first European player to win NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, starring for Dallas, Indiana, and Seattle

Detlef Schrempf was born in Leverkusen, West Germany in 1963 and attended the University of Washington. Dallas Mavericks selected him eighth overall in the 1985 NBA Draft. His 16-season career produced 14.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and three All-Star appearances. He won the Sixth Man of the Year award in consecutive seasons (1991, 1992) while with the Indiana Pacers — establishing himself as the premier reserve player in basketball. His versatility across multiple positions, combined with solid three-point shooting and efficient scoring, made him one of the most valuable rotation players of his era. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022. He became one of the first European players to demonstrate long-term success at a high level in the NBA, paving the way for the international revolution that Dirk Nowitzki would later lead. He appeared in the television series Entourage as himself. He remains a prominent figure in Seattle sports and business, having integrated deeply into the Pacific Northwest community after retirement.

Skilled shooter, excellent passer, versatile forward

First German NBA All-Star, model European player in NBA

• All-Star 3x
• Sixth Man of the Year 2x (1991, 1992)
• Olympic Gold Medal (Germany 1984)