Jamar Wilson – one of the nicest guys in basketball

If there would be a Top 10 or Top 5 list of the nicest or friendliest people I have met in all my time covering basketball, Jamar Wilson would definitely be one of the names right the on the top of the list. Player who was always there with a smile, whether it was after a gruelling practice session, a bitter defeat in a tournament, after an overnight flight back from an away game .. if you needed someone to give you a smile and a ‘pick-me-up’ – Jamar was somehow always there when he was playing for Susijengi (and no doubt with his teams around the world as well).

But now approaching 40 years of age, he has hung-up his sneakers and is now taking the first steps on coaching, getting his coaching badges done and being an assistant coach with Tapiolan Honka in the Finnish First Division (so second tier of the domestic game).

I headed to HonkaHalli in Tapiola where he spends many hours these days, not as a player – but one of the people helping the next generation become better players and teaching what he has learned over the years as a pro around the world. And looking from outside in – these players truly are blessed to have someone like Jamar teaching them the skills of basketball and how to become better players and what it takes to reach the top level of the game domestically and internationally.

After finishing his playing career, Jamar had promised himself a year off the sport – and moved into the corporate world .. but as he says :

‘What I realised during that year, was that staying away from basketball was impossible’

Coaching at Honka offers something peculiar as well for him, as on the roster of the team are two players who shared the court as players with Jamar in the Finnish National Team – Susijengi. When asked how it is to now be coaching these players and how the coach-player relationship works. He has nothing but praise for the two veterans in their team – Carl Lindbom and Tuukka Kotti.

‘It has been a lot more easier than I had imagine, it is lot down to their character and what kind of personalities they are ….. there are times when I have maybe caught myself being in huddles with them where I probably was not meant to be…’

Seems like there are still some situations where the ‘basketball PLAYER’ Jamar Wilson does come to the fore 🙂

Jamar might not at the moment be with the Susijengi, but myself – I still am there with my cameras recording the memories and moments. So when I tell him that what started with his time on the team ‘the downhill Thursdays and Fridays’ – they are still being carried on by the next generation and quite often during the end of training .. I have heard the shouts ‘DOWNHILL!!’ echoing in whatever gym the team is practicing that week. And as Jamar says..

‘ … that’s the way it goes. The Legend continues!…’

Jamar naturally also watched the World Cup on TV last autumn, and has lot of respect how the team performed and how the Finnish team is now playing at the highest level of International basketball.

‘ To think where we’ve come as a country… to think that we’ve actually earned the right to play at this stage… it’s huge for basketball in this country, it’s huge for me as fan and the kids today who are looking up to the new generation of Susijengi ..’

There is so much stories one could keep writing about Jamar, and maybe that is a subject of another post and another video – but this time, there is nothing better than letting Jamar tell everything in his words on the video. So PLEASE PLEASE – have a look/listen to the interview, it might be long but where Jamar gave a lot of his time to create memories for us as Finnish basketball fans, maybe we can spend few minutes listening him talk about what there is to come from him and me personally – I am so thrilled to see him back in the game and excited to see where the future will take him.

Jamar – it is ALWAYS a pleasure to see you and talk to you – and I hope we’ll meet again soon! Nothing but respect for you as a player and as a person!