It was December 2015, and it was just another normal game for the Fraport Skyliners playing Swedish team Sodertalje Kings in Frankfurt as their vicious Fiba Europe Cup season continued as they were blowing away opponents as if they were fish bait. It wasn´t any different with the Kings as they were beaten with ease 95-64. Frankfurt was led by future World Cup champion coach Gordon Herbert and their German big man duo and future Euroleague players Johannes Voigtmann and Danilo Barthel who combined for 43 points. All in all, Frankfurt had 6 guys score in double figures and still dominated despite being without future Euroleague player and leader Jordan Theodore. However there was another news story in this game that was complete minor then, but in a way would change his basketball life. The talk was of Skyler Bowlin (190-G-1989, college: MSSU) who at that point was 26 and was no newcomer at all, but already a seasoned veteran who was in his fifth pro season and had won 2 titles in Denmark. But this game was a huge changing point in his career as Giessen 46ers head coach Denis Wucherer was in the stands and had observed his masterpiece game in a losing cause by steering home 18 points, gotten 3 boards, dished out 5 dimes had a steal and had picked his spots so well shooting 7/12. The reason it was a major turn in his career was because up to that point, he had played in lower leagues, but the next season would begin a 5 year run in a top 5 league in Europe with the German EasyCredit BBL. He would find his mark in Germany playing for 4 teams and gave consistency and winning a new name. Wucherer loved his play and the next season he played with Giessen and the rest is history. “That’s exactly what happened. I spoke with Denis recently and we talked about that. Denis was the one who gave me a massive opportunity to play in the Bundesliga and I’m forever grateful to him. We still keep in touch quite a bit thankfully“, stressed Skyler Bowlin. Who knows where Bowlin´s career may have gone had Wucherer not been in the stands. I´m sure it would of still been great. However now after an incredible 14 year pro career, Skyler Bowlin has decided to retire at age 35. He was truly one of those rare players overseas that combined a special high level of character and basketball skills.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber meeting Skyler Bowlin for the first time in Frankfurt in December 2015

Skyler Bowlin who lists Erick McCollum, Peyton Siva and Alexey Shved as his 3 toughest opponents overseas is a Arkansas boy who began his basketball career at Greene County Tech High School and then had a stellar 4 year career at Missouri Southern State University (NCAA2) where he was MIAA player of the year, first team and defensive player of the year as a senior. He was also named to all MIAA defensive team all 4 years. Defense would become a massive staple in his game overseas and right away in our first interview before that Fiba Europe cup game in Frankfurt, his big strength was used right away as my interview title. “I was taught growing up that if you can´t play defense than you can´t play at all”. “Defense was the pillar of my game I think. What I have found out is, to get to the next level that’s always the first question a coach asks after seeing someone’s stats. It was so important to my career that I wasn´t a huge target on the defense end”, warned Skyler Bowlin. He turned professional in 2011 and right away began to pay his dues as a player. He played his rookie season in Germany that later would become his second home for the BG Topstar Leitershofen/Stadtbergen (Germany-ProA) averaging 12.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.3apg, Steals-2 (2.0spg), FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.5%. It was a solid season, but not great season, but he was just getting warmed up for the first real chapter in his basketball career. He would play the next 3 seasons with Horsens IC (Denmark-Ligaen) where he showed his consistency something that he would maintain his whole career starting in the NCAA 2. In his 3 seasons there he averaged 17/3/6 stats and won the double in his third season. “Consistency was so important. I always tried to keep a level head and work hard every day so that’s a big reason why I was able to keep the same level”, said Skyler Bowlin. Those 3 seasons were very important in his development as his role was a lot different then than what it became in Germany. “In lower leagues you have to be a different player than when you make it to the bigger leagues. In Denmark early in my career that was the role that I was asked to play and I was lucky enough that I did that well. As I got older and in better leagues and different situations I had to learn that not everyone can be the leading scorer and play 35 mins a game. I’m definitely more well rounded and mature as a player at this point in my career”, remembered Skyliner Bowlin. Even after 4 pro seasons, he still seemed to be off the radar and played the next season with the Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 10.8ppg, 2.3rpg, 4.9apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 58.8% in the Fiba Europe Cup and in the Swedish Basketligan averaged 14.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 4.3apg, Steals-5 (1.6spg), FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 40.6%, FT: 78.3%. He helped the club win the league title.

Except for a season in Greece and Poland, the guard who lists Felix Hoffman, Jordan Hulls, Karsten Tadda, Mike Kessens, and Darko Jukic as his 5 best teammates of all-time then played the next 5 of 6 seasons in Germany with teams Giessen, Jena, Wurzburg and Bonn. In Jena he was very fortunate to have been able to catch the latter part of the careers of real basketball legends Immanuel Mcelroy, Derrick Allen and Julius Jenkins. “My 3 old guys!! Man, that year in Jena was so fun with those guys. I also keep in touch with them a bit as well. They all 3 were so different in their approach and personalities and really showed me how to become and even better professional”, stressed Skyler Bowlin. He then played 2 seasons with Wurzburg where he reached the Fiba Europe Cup final in 2019. In Wurzburg, he found truly into the hearts of the fans. “If it wasn’t for Covid I think I would have tried to spend the rest of my career in Wurzburg. I loved everything living and playing there. The fans and the love for basketball are some of the best”, remembered Skyler Bowlin. In his 5 years in the easyCredit BBL he averaged 9,0ppg and 3,0apg and continued to show his consistency. In his last season in Germany, he played for the then up and coming Telekom Baskets Bonn. In his last season, he helped the team reach the BBL playoffs losing a tough playoff series to FC Bayern Munich. It is a shame, he didn´t stay there as there was serious magic brewing up there with Tuomas Iisalo as in the next season they would win the Basketball Champions League. “I think we surprised everyone that season with Bonn and you knew with Tuomas Iisalo as our coach that things were only going to get better and better. So no, it didn’t surprise me at all. Tuomas is just an absolute genius when it comes to the physical and mental part of the game. He pushes you beyond your limits and the growth that comes individually and as a team is limitless. All of his teams feel like they are the toughest guys on the court at all times”, commented Skyler Bowlin. I personally would have loved to have seen him play in a Skyliners uniform, but that unfortunately never happened. “I don’t think I ever really got close to signing in Frankfurt to be honest. It would have been a great experience I’m sure. In Giessen we had some nice rivalry games against them”, expressed Skyler Bowlin. He never won a title in Germany, but it was a very special time in his career. “Playing in Germany and in the Bundesliga changed my life. I played against some of the best basketball teams and players on the planet outside of the NBA. The fan support, the professionalism, and the level was always top notch and something I never will forget. I hope I can get back to Germany one day on the coaching side”, added Skyler Bowlin.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Skyler Bowlin in Bonn, Germany in 2021

After Germany, he still had 1 chapter left in his basketball career and that was finishing out his career in style playing with top Danish club Bakken Bears Aarhus (Denmark-BasketLigaen). He racked up 3 league titles in a row and also helped win an international title with the European North Basketball League title in 2024. In his 3 seasons with them he averaged 10/2/4 as his consistency remained until the end. He couldn´t chose one greatest moment, and choosing a favorite league title was difficult as well. “I can’t ever choose a favorite, but we really had to struggle this year to get to this point, so this one was definitely satisfying”, said Skyler Bowlin. In only 3 years in Aarhus, it has become more than just a second home. “At the moment Aarhus is home. I love it here. We bought a house, the city is one of the best small cities in Europe, and the people in the city and the club are the best”, stated Skyler Bowlin. He played with many great coaches and none better than Anders Person to close out his career with. “Anders was great to play for. He gives guys a lot of freedom and allows guys to fail in order to learn. He was always a calming presence who had us prepared. He’s an even better person. I’m very happy that our paths crossed”, added Skyler Bowlin. Instead of adding a 4th season there, he decided to retire despite still being fit. “I could have absolutely continued playing. My body still feels great actually. Of course there are things that have changed, like the amount of time it takes me to recover, but as far as speed and movement I am just as fast today as I was 5-6 years ago”, stressed Skyler Bowlin. It usually is family that forces a player to retire, but he actually saw it the other way with family. “You know a lot of people ask me if the reason was to spend for time with my family, and to be honest I feel like being on the playing side gives you more time with family that probably any other job. I’m so blessed to be able to take my kids to daycare and a lot of days pick them up and put them to sleep. Of course there’s small travel here and there and games, but I’ve been so lucky to have spent so much time with my kids. Moving to Bakken was a great decision. It was mainly for family reasons and to have my kids be around more family, but Bakken also continued to give me the opportunity to play European competition at a high level”, said Skyler Bowlin. It will be interesting to see what the American will do down the road for work. “I plan on for sure staying inside basketball! The what and where are the big questions. I’m taking some time and figuring out what the next move will be”, said Skyler Bowlin.

In 14 professional seasons, he played in 6 countries and played more than 500 games winning 7 titles. How would he like to have basketball fans remember him? “I hope fans remember me as someone that played his butt off every time they saw me. I hope they saw the joy and passion that I played with also. As a person I hope they saw that I always try to have a smile on my face and treat people the right way”, stated Skyler Bowlin. He just had a big effect on a lot of people especially players. I don´t know how often he was mentioned in my interviews by other players in the last decade, but it was often. Last season after Julius Albus helped win the Pro A title with PS Karlsruhe, he had this to say about Bowlin. “He had a big impact on me. He wrote me congratulating me after the final win. He watched the game and was happy for me. He was a great player and character. He showed every day how he would work on his own game and always try to help his team. He was a big role model for me and inspired me to work hard”, stressed Julius Albus. Another great example was Parker Jackson-Cartwright. “He is the same each day. He never has a bad day. He has the best energy that I have ever seen and is one of the top 5 best teammates of all-time for me. I can get emotional just talking about him. He is so unselfish. We grew an unbelievable bond. I’m so thankful I could play with him”, stressed Parker Jackson-Cartwright. After playing in the NCAA 2 and starting his pro career in Germany in the third division, he is a guy that never took anything for granted. His life in basketball the last 14 years is something that he will forever be grateful for. “Basketball gave me things that I never thought was possible. I got to travel the world for 14 years. It led me to meeting my wife and giving me 2 children. It led me to making friends that I will be in contact with for the rest of my life. It taught me how to deal with difficult and almost impossible situations and make the best out of them. I’m truly grateful for every single up and down the last 14 years”, warned Skyler Bowlin. The only thing that remains now is to say farewell to Skyler Bowlin. He wasn´t far off on how many interviews we have done since the first one almost 10 years ago. He predicted 10 and it was actually 12. That first interview that we did seemed like it was only yesterday. “Time has flown man. It’s pretty crazy to think I’m retired from professional basketball and it’s been a 14 year journey. I would have never imagined basketball would have taken me this far”, said Skyler Bowlin. Thanks Skyler for a great career and It was a pleasure covering you. I will always remember you as a player that gave all you had and always sunk big three´s against Frankfurt. As a person you had a unique special character and were a true professional. “Thanks so much Miles! I’ll remember you as a guy that has so much passion for basketball and spent a lot of long hours calling games and representing Frankfurt and German basketball as a whole as good as anyone! Thanks for everything“, said Skyler Bowlin.