Uwe Blab

Uwe Blab, nicknamed 'Burning Skyscraper', was a German basketball pioneer who, alongside Detlef Schrempf, became one of the first Germans to have a lasting NBA career in the 1980s.

Uwe Blab and Detlef Schrempf, both drafted in 1985, became the first Germans in decades to establish themselves in the NBA, with Blab representing West Germany at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and a reunified Germany at the 1992 Barcelona Games — two bookmarks on a stretch of German and world history that few athletes navigated across both sides.. He went on to play college basketball at Indiana University under coach Bob Knight, helping the Hoosiers win the 1983 Big Ten championship and reach the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight in 1984, averaging 16 points per game as a senior. Standing 7-foot-2, Blab was drafted 17th overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1985 NBA Draft. Nicknamed 'Burning Skyscraper' for his red hair, he and fellow 1985 draftee Detlef Schrempf became the first Germans in decades to establish themselves in the NBA. Blab spent four seasons with the Mavericks before finishing his five-year NBA career with brief stints for the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, posting career averages of 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Blab represented West Germany at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, finishing eighth, and returned for a reunified Germany at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, finishing seventh. After his NBA career ended in 1990, he continued playing professionally in Italy and Germany, including with Alba Berlin, before retiring in 1993.

Tall, physical center with a strong post presence

A pioneer for German basketball in the NBA, paving the way for later stars like Dirk Nowitzki and Dennis Schröder

• First-round NBA draft pick (1985)
• First-team All-Big Ten (1985)
• NCAA Big Ten champion with Indiana (1983)