Match TV and Viasat Sport commentator Viktor Shestopalov writes about the VTB League’s most interesting foreign players in his Stories from America series. Enisey guard Zabian Dowdell is the focus of his latest piece, a former Virginia Tech star from a small town in rural Florida.
***
If you go to a lot of Enisey home games and want to snap a picture with Zabian Dowdell and perhaps chat a little bit, walk up to the American guard with a big smile and shout out, “Hey there, Hokie from Pahokee!” Besides getting a nice pic or autograph, I promise you’ll become fast friends with the Pahokee, FL native, a small town on Lake Okeechobee.
Zabian got his nickname while playing for Virginia Tech, known for its distinctive Hokie mascot. There’s no easy translation for the word Hokie. Even Blacksburg natives, where the Virginia Tech campus is located, argue over the meaning. The word Hokie, in any case, was created at the end of the 19th century, when the university changed names and needed a new cheer. Coined by a student, O.M. Stull, others have claimed Hokie is slang for “turkey.” In any case, the Hokie from Pahokee sounds a lot like the Finnish name for Santa Claus, Joulupukki. Perhaps Dowdell should try his hand at playing Santa Claus over the holidays.
After an outstanding collegiate career, Dowdell followed a fairly typical career path. Undrafted, he spent some time in the NBA’s development league and even earned a few 10-day contracts before finally moving to Europe. It’s a typical journey for athletes trying to make a living from the game they love. Of course, he’s had plenty of highlights along the way. For example, during the 2007 Summer League, Dowdell managed to play for the now-defunct Seattle Supersonics. And don’t you dare tell me that Oklahoma City carried on the Supersonics tradition. Gary Payton and I aren’t having it.
Dowdell received more invaluable experience during his two 10-day stints with the Phoenix Suns in the 2010-11 season. He actually served as back-up point guard in Phoenix behind the legendary Steve Nash. There, he not only learned how to execute a no-look pass from Nash, he also learned a lot about how to lead a team and maximize your resources.
Dowdell took the lesson to heart. Since the beginning of his pro career, he’s always had a back-up plan. Once his playing days are over, Dowdell is going to become a full-time agent. He’s already in the business, working as a managing member of Sports Agent 411.
In the meantime, he has a few more years left on the court. Dowdell knows the advantages of playing pro basketball at an elite level. I don’t know as much about the European experience: I’m guessing conditions can vary by team, even within a single league. But in America, there are two options. If you play in the G-League, you make almost nothing and fly economy or ride the bus to away games, spending hours cramped in uncomfortable positions. Dowdell talks about how Tulsa 66ers teammates would fight over the coveted emergency exit rows on planes.
It’s completely different when you play for the Phoenix Suns, as everyone knows. Following road games, a huge luxury bus drives the team directly to a charter plane, where the players are treated to four-course meals with desserts and drinks. At this point in his career, I’m guessing the 33-year-old Zabian Dowdell has let go of his childhood dream of playing in the NBA. On the other, he’s no slouch when it comes to European basketball. Quite the opposite: It’s fascinating to watch the left-handed guard go to work. Do you remember him from his Zenit St. Petersburg days?
He does almost everything a right-handed player would do–shoots, drives, passes–but from the opposite side. I’d bet you have a hard time recalling any especially-skilled left-handed players in modern basketball. They are especially rare at the guard position. I can think of three off the top of my head: James Harden, Igor Kudelin and Chris Mullin. Mullin, to be fair, was more of a small forward, but like the first two, he could light it up from outside. Dowdell, of course, is not at the same level, but he’s plenty talented, especially alongside dynamic shooting guard and Enisey teammate Anthony Hilliard.
Dowdell thrived in a similar environment at Virginia Tech, combining with Jamon Gordon to create one of the most dangerous backcourts in the ACC. Much like his college days, Dowdell and Hilliard have wreaked havoc on opposing defenses. Earlier in the season, the duo lit up PARMA for 53 combined points.
I have no doubt the fans in Krasnoyarsk recognize the value these two players bring to the team, especially now that Enisey has shaken its slump and won back-to-back games to stay alive in the playoff chase. There’s still a chance for the Siberian club!
