Daniel Gilbert (basketball)
Encyclopedia
For the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise owner, see Dan Gilbert (businessman).
Daniel Gilbert is an American professional basketball
player, currently playing as a shooting guard
for Worcester Wolves
in the British Basketball League
, where he was built up a reputation as one of the finest swingmen
in the league.
Born in Detroit, Michigan
, on February 28, 1983, Gilbert attended the University at Buffalo, and in his senior year was part of the memorable Buffalo Bulls
team that, led by fellow guard Turner Battle
, went on an improbable run to the Mid-American Conference Championship, beating Western Michigan
in the semi-finals at the Gund Arena
in Cleveland. In the MAC final, the Bulls lost in overtime
to Ohio University
on a tip-in by Leon Williams with 0.5 seconds remaining, thus, the Bulls failed to clinch the automatic bid to the 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
.
Gilbert, considered to be one of the best defenders to ever don a Bulls' jersey, averaged 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals his senior season while also setting the school record for games played in a career (118).
Upon graduating in 2005, he went on to sign a professional contract with German
second division team FC Schalke. When interviewed after his signing, Gilbert said "I am excited about the opportunity to play professionally, I knew that I would play overseas some day, I am just surprised that it happened so fast." In his one season in Germany, Gilbert averaged 18 points per game, while recording his season-high 33 points in a 92-79 home victory over Rhöndorf.
For the 2006-07 season
, Gilbert made the move to England
, where he signed for Paul James
's Guildford Heat
side, who were only in their second year of existence. A major coup for the side, Gilbert became a pivotal player in leading the club to its first ever BBL title. He averaged an impressive 16.9 points in 33.9 minutes per game.
He returned for a second season to lead the Heat into the ULEB Cup
, the club's debut in European competition. He aided the team to their first trophy of the season, picking up the BBL Cup Winners' Cup
after defeating Plymouth Raiders
. In 2008 he signed for French
team Boulazac Basket Dordogne but after one year returned to Britain to play under Coach James once again for the Worcester Wolves
.
Daniel Gilbert is an American professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, currently playing as a shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
for Worcester Wolves
Worcester Wolves
Worcester Wolves is a basketball team from the city of Worcester which plays in the British Basketball League. The Wolves currently play at in the 800-seat capacity Sports Hall of the University of Worcester, although they are to use the new Worcester Arena as their home venue once completed in...
in the British Basketball League
British Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
, where he was built up a reputation as one of the finest swingmen
Swingman
A Swingman is a basketball term denoting a player who can play both the small forward and shooting guard positions, and, in essence, swing between the shooting guard and small forward positions." Swingmen males are often between 6'5" and 6'8" .John Havlicek, who played for the Boston Celtics in...
in the league.
Born in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, on February 28, 1983, Gilbert attended the University at Buffalo, and in his senior year was part of the memorable Buffalo Bulls
Buffalo Bulls
The Buffalo Bulls are the athletic teams representing the University at Buffalo in intercollegiate athletics. The Bulls currently play in Division I , and are a member of the Mid-American Conference for all sports except women's rowing who is in the Cononial Athletic Assocition . They have been a...
team that, led by fellow guard Turner Battle
Turner Battle
Turner Battle is an American former basketball point guard for the University at Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team from 2001 to 2005. Battle is credited with fueling the resurgence of the Bulls men's basketball program, which went from 5-23 during his sophomore season to a 23-win senior campaign...
, went on an improbable run to the Mid-American Conference Championship, beating Western Michigan
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
in the semi-finals at the Gund Arena
Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....
in Cleveland. In the MAC final, the Bulls lost in overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
to Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
on a tip-in by Leon Williams with 0.5 seconds remaining, thus, the Bulls failed to clinch the automatic bid to the 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St...
.
Gilbert, considered to be one of the best defenders to ever don a Bulls' jersey, averaged 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals his senior season while also setting the school record for games played in a career (118).
Upon graduating in 2005, he went on to sign a professional contract with German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
second division team FC Schalke. When interviewed after his signing, Gilbert said "I am excited about the opportunity to play professionally, I knew that I would play overseas some day, I am just surprised that it happened so fast." In his one season in Germany, Gilbert averaged 18 points per game, while recording his season-high 33 points in a 92-79 home victory over Rhöndorf.
For the 2006-07 season
British Basketball League 2006-07
The 2006-07 season, the 20th since its establishment of the British Basketball League, started on September 29, 2006 when reigning champions Newcastle Eagles began with a 85-83 loss away to Sheffield Sharks....
, Gilbert made the move to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he signed for Paul James
Paul James (basketball)
Paul James is a former professional basketball player and current head coach of British Basketball League team Worcester Wolves....
's Guildford Heat
Guildford Heat
Guildford Heat is a basketball club based in Guildford, England that currently play in the British Basketball League. Heat play their home games at the brand-new Surrey Sports Park and was formed in 2005 by fans of former BBL franchise Thames Valley Tigers, who folded during the same year...
side, who were only in their second year of existence. A major coup for the side, Gilbert became a pivotal player in leading the club to its first ever BBL title. He averaged an impressive 16.9 points in 33.9 minutes per game.
He returned for a second season to lead the Heat into the ULEB Cup
ULEB Cup
Eurocup Basketball is the second-tier level transnational professional basketball competition in Europe. The Eurocup is the level that is one tier below the Turkish Airlines Euroleague level...
, the club's debut in European competition. He aided the team to their first trophy of the season, picking up the BBL Cup Winners' Cup
BBL Cup Winners' Cup
The Cup Winners' Cup was a peripheral cup competition of the British Basketball League. It was a pre-season tournament competed over two legs, one home and one away, between the winners of BBL Cup and BBL Trophy from the previous season. Each leg was staged prior to the beginning of the regular...
after defeating Plymouth Raiders
Plymouth Raiders
The Plymouth Raiders, officially called UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders for sponsorship reasons, is South-west England's leading basketball team. Based in the city of Plymouth, they play their home games at the Pavilions arena and have competed in the top-tier British Basketball League since 2004...
. In 2008 he signed for French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
team Boulazac Basket Dordogne but after one year returned to Britain to play under Coach James once again for the Worcester Wolves
Worcester Wolves
Worcester Wolves is a basketball team from the city of Worcester which plays in the British Basketball League. The Wolves currently play at in the 800-seat capacity Sports Hall of the University of Worcester, although they are to use the new Worcester Arena as their home venue once completed in...
.
Career history
- 2009–present Worcester WolvesWorcester WolvesWorcester Wolves is a basketball team from the city of Worcester which plays in the British Basketball League. The Wolves currently play at in the 800-seat capacity Sports Hall of the University of Worcester, although they are to use the new Worcester Arena as their home venue once completed in...
- 2008–2009
Boulazac Basket Dordogne - 2006–2008 Guildford HeatGuildford HeatGuildford Heat is a basketball club based in Guildford, England that currently play in the British Basketball League. Heat play their home games at the brand-new Surrey Sports Park and was formed in 2005 by fans of former BBL franchise Thames Valley Tigers, who folded during the same year...
- 2005–2006
FC Schalke