While contemplating on which obscure player I should next from my database, Nick looked through the roster of the game, NBA Hoopz, for DreamCast. Then he said...
NICK: "EVAN ESCHMEYER, I forgot about him!"
So did I.
I had always wondered what happened to him. Then again, maybe I just forgot...
Eschmeyer went to Northwestern University where he had a great college career (averaged 21 and 10 his junior year). The 6'11" center got drafted in the second round (34th overall) by the New Jersey Nets. He played two seasons with them and had his best season with the Nets, averaging 3.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 18 minutes of burn. I actually really knew him better in the 2K basketball games because I liked playing the Dallas Mavericks against my friend's L.A. Lakers. I used Eschmeyer as the back-up to (ha ha) Shawn Bradley. But Eschmeyer never really played much because of knee injuries. In the two years he played with the Mavericks, he only played 48 games. Because of those bad knees, he had to retire in 2004.
From this recent interview of WNUR Sports of Northwestern University, Eschmeyer said he is involved with the Northwestern basketball program. He said he was basically being a friend to the coaches and players of Northwestern basketball, helping out however he could. He said he's also trying to help Northwestern players get into the NBA, seeing as very few from that university have made it to the NBA.
At least, Eschmeyer seems healthy at the age of 33.
Tonight, I will be at Staples Center with my buddies, Peter and Dave, to watch the Clippers take on the Chicago Bulls. Will definitely live-tweet from there. And I'll have a blog entry about the game tomorrow.
