When you look back at the last 15 years in the German BBL and try to name the real dinosaurs of the league, guys that stuck around longest and provided fans with numerous memorable experiences, you couldn´t put up more than two hands. Guys that come to mind at once are great players like Chris Ensminger and Bernd Kruel who have retired as well as the Science City Jena legendary trio of Derrick Allen, Julius Jenkins and Immanuel Mcelroy all outstanding players that are still battling with the best in their late 30´s. Another guy that you have to add to this list is Demond Mallet. He didn´t have the BBL longevity of an Ensminger, Kruel or the Jena Musketeers as he played only 7 years in Germany, but overall he belongs to a rare breed of player that played until he was 40 and can look back at a spectacular 17 year career. Demond Mallet is a player that will always be remembered for never losing that competitive edge as he had that obnoxious game face mask that he never took off on the court, but when you met him off the court, you always felt like he was your best buddy. He had that never ending winning mentality and gave the word leader a new meaning. He truly was the man in European basketball. It wasn´t only winning many titles in Germany, Spain, Belgium and Israel that will keep in the hearts of many, but the way he approached the game and how he handled himself off the court where he was the ultimate role model for all. Mallet played for 17 seasons in Europe and finally has decided to hang up his sneakers at age 40. He always wanted to retire at age 40. Thursday Februry 22 was his 4oth birthday and on Friday Februry 23rd he will be honored with a special retiurement ceremony in Bamberg before a Euroleague game against Euroleague team Crvena Zvezda.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing Demond Mallet in Frankfurt in 2006 after a Cologne win