Becoming One of the Greatest British Shooters of All Time – With Sam Stiller – Ep. 49
For Episode 49 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with one of the greatest shooters to ever come out of England, Sam Stiller.
Stiller had a pro career that spanned over two decades both domestically and in Israel, whilst also representing England and Great Britain internationally.
After retiring from playing eventually got into coaching, where he helped take NASSA from Division 4 to Division 1 from 2010-2013, whilst picking up three consecutive Coach of the Year Awards, and then picking up another one in 2016-17 with London Westside.
Stiller has since moved to Israel, where he has resided for the past two or so years to be closer to his kids and is currently eyeing a return back to the UK. A ‘gym rat’, Stiller can still be found in gyms working on his game!
Note: there is part of the podcast (at around the 1 hour mark) where Sam discusses dropping 52 at Rough & Ready. After seeking clarification since the recording, it turns out it was actually at the Hosana Pro-Am, not Rough & Ready.
In this hour and a half episode, hear from Sam Stiller on:
- Why he currently lives in Israel and is planning on returning to live in the UK
- How he would describe his game
- Being a gym rat and where he got his work ethic from
- Trying to make the transition to full time coaching
- How the Harlem Globetrotters first inspired him into playing ball
- His early start at Quintin Kynaston school
- The importance of the YMCA gym in Tottenham Court road
- His first England call up at 15 years old, playing for the U19s at the famous Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim
- Playing against a young side featuring Arvydas Sabonis and losing by 69
- Playing with Pete Scantlebury
- The flash to his game and show-boating
- Turning pro around 18 years old and playing with the men
- Not going to the US on scholarship for college but the role playing in the States in the summer had on his game
- Summer scrimmages in LA with Norm Nixon, Reggie Miller, and Clyde Drexler
- Cross-court shooting competitions with Kiki Vandeweghe
- The current state of the BBL and how it compares to his day
- His favourite players growing up and how he would follow the NBA before the internet
- The lay of the land of Division 1 in the early 80s
- Competing in Europe with the famed Kingston side in the early 90s
- His memories of playing for the legendary coach Kevin Cadle
- How he got offers in Israel off the back of Kingston’s European campaign and made the switch to abroad
- Why he believes he could still drop points in the BBL to this day
- Playing in the Maccabiah Games for GB and beating USA
- Legendary games at North London College
- Playing with Alton Byrd
- Players he would put in a British basketball Hall of Fame
- And much, much more!
As always, I’d love to get your feedback, come back after you’ve listened and lets get some discussion going in the comments.
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