So, I was sitting around today, figured I’d give the old memory banks a bit of a workout. You know, just a little practice session to see what I could dredge up. The name that kinda floated into my head was Jiri Welsch. Yeah, Jiri Welsch. Remember him?
My first thought, just trying to pull from pure memory, was “NBA guy, European.” That much was clear. I had this vague image of him in a Celtics jersey, I think. Or was it the Warriors? He definitely bounced around a bit, that much I felt sure of. It’s funny how some names stick, but the details get real hazy over time. That was the whole point of this little exercise, though. To see what was still rattling around in there.
So, after my initial “blind recall,” I did what any curious cat would do. I went and had a little poke around, looked at some old box scores, that kind of thing. Not really “research,” more like checking my work, if you know what I mean. Wanted to see how much of my memory was playing tricks on me.
And yeah, the Celtics part was right. He was there. But he started with the Golden State Warriors, that was the first stop. Then Boston, then the Cleveland Cavaliers for a bit, and also the Milwaukee Bucks. Man, he really did make the rounds in his few years in the league. It’s tough for a lot of guys, especially coming over from Europe back then. Different game, different everything.
What I spent a bit more time on during this “practice” was trying to remember his actual game. He wasn’t a flashy scorer, not from what I recall or what I saw in a couple of old, grainy clips I dug up. But the thing that kinda stood out, looking back, was he seemed like a smart player. Decent size for a guard, could handle the ball, and he seemed to have pretty good court vision. A solid passer, for sure. Maybe not a star, but one of those useful pieces a team needs.
It’s interesting, this whole process. You think you’ve forgotten someone, and then you spend a few minutes focusing, and bits and pieces start to come back. Then you confirm a few things, and the picture gets a little clearer. He had a pretty long career back in Europe too, before and after the NBA. That says something about his quality and love for the game, I reckon.
So, that was my Jiri Welsch rewind for the day. A good little mental jog. It’s not always about the superstars, sometimes it’s good to remember the guys who put in the work, had their moment, and played the game hard. Keeps the basketball knowledge sharp, or at least, less dull. Definitely better than just staring at the wall, right?
