David Blu facts for kids
Blu in 2017
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 18, 1980 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American / Israeli |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | USC (1998–2002) |
| NBA Draft | 2002 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2002–2014 |
| Career history | |
| 2002–2004 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 2004 | BC Dynamo Saint Petersburg |
| 2004–2005 | Benetton Treviso |
| 2005–2006 | Virtus Bologna |
| 2006–2007 | Fortitudo Bologna |
| 2007–2008 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 2008–2009 | Le Mans |
| 2009–2012, 2013-2014 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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David Blu (born David Bluthenthal on July 18, 1980) is a former professional basketball player. He is American and Israeli. David played for 10 seasons in the EuroLeague, which is a top basketball league in Europe.
He was known for being one of the best three-point shooters in EuroLeague history. David Blu played as a small forward and power forward. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Israeli Basketball Premier League Finals in 2011.
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Early Life and School
David Blu was born in Los Angeles, California. His mother was Jewish, and his father became Jewish. He played for the United States team in the 1997 Maccabiah Games. His team won a gold medal there.
David went to Palms Middle School. Later, he attended Venice High School and Westchester High School.
College Basketball Career
David Blu went to the University of Southern California (USC). He was a starter for the USC Trojans basketball team from his second year. He was one of the best players in the Pac-10.
In his final year (2001–02), David was recognized as an All-Pac 10 honorable mention. He scored about 12.1 points and grabbed 7.5 rebounds per game. He left college in 2002 to become a professional basketball player.
One of his most famous games was in 2001. He scored 27 points against Kentucky in an NCAA tournament game. His team, the USC Trojans, won that game.
Professional Basketball Journey
After college, David Blu decided to play professional basketball in Europe. He signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, an Israeli team in the EuroLeague.
Playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv (First Time)
From 2002 to 2004, David played for Maccabi Tel Aviv. He helped them win the EuroLeague championship in 2004. They also won the Israeli National Cup twice. In the 2004 EuroLeague Final, he scored 20 points. Maccabi Tel Aviv won that game by a lot of points.
After the 2004 season, the NBA team Sacramento Kings signed David. However, they released him before the 2004–05 season began.
Time in Russia and Italy
After leaving the Sacramento Kings, David joined the Russian team BC Dynamo Saint Petersburg. He played 8 games there.
Then, he moved to Italy to play for Benetton Treviso. He shot very well from both two-point and three-point range. In 2005, he signed with Virtus Bologna. He became one of their top players, scoring over 20 points per game.
After that, he joined Fortitudo Bologna, a rival team. During the 2006–07 season, he averaged 16 points in EuroLeague games. He also made over 53% of his three-point shots.
Return to Maccabi Tel Aviv (Second Time)
On June 15, 2007, David Blu returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv. He helped them reach the EuroLeague Finals in 2008. They played against CSKA Moscow.
Playing for Le Mans
In 2008, David signed a one-year deal with Le Mans in France. He played 10 games in the EuroLeague. He averaged 12.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Back to Maccabi Tel Aviv (Third Time)
In 2009, David Blu came back to Israel and signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv again. In the 2010–11 season, he averaged 8.9 points in the EuroLeague. He was named the MVP of the Israeli Basketball Premier League Finals in 2011.
In June 2012, David Blu retired from basketball for a short time. He wanted to finish his college education in the USA.
After graduating in 2013, he signed a new contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv. In 2014, Maccabi won the EuroLeague championship. This was the sixth time the club won, and David's second EuroLeague title. He scored 15 points in the semifinals against CSKA Moscow. In the championship game against Real Madrid, he scored 14 points. After this season, David Blu announced his retirement from professional basketball.
Playing for His Country
In 2010, David Blu played for the senior Israeli national team. His first game was against Portugal on July 19, 2010. He also played for Israel in the EuroBasket 2011 tournament. He averaged 12.8 points per game there.
Awards and Recognition
In 2006, David Blu was honored by being added to the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Blu in 2017
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Blu in 2010.
See also
In Spanish: David Blu para niños
- List of select Jewish basketball players
