John Amaechi

Manchester Magic star

I was with Utah Jazz for about two years before moving to Houston and then home to Manchester.

I was in the NBA longer than any other Briton.

The season lasts from late October through to July with around three or four games a week.

So it wasn't a glamorous life all the time. It was very hard work.

Training began at 10 in the morning and then usually we would make appearances later in the day within the community, such as at schools.

When I was at Utah, two men I had the pleasure of playing alongside was Karl Malone and John Stockton.

Meech made many new friends in the States

Karl had been at the club for 19 years and it was 20 for John so they've got bags of experience and I learned so much and was inspired by both.

And playing against two of the best players in the world - Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neil - wasn't bad either.

I've seen many ups and downs in basketball and there were good and not so good seasons where I didn't play so much.

But the game in America made me much more positive.

The money was incredible, but more importantly my attitude towards life and general approach to things has improved amazingly.

Meech intro

Starting out

Coming to America

NBA low down

League of its own

Jazzy in Utah

Did you know?

Meech is out of this world as a player. That might explain his favourite TV programme being Star Trek

Want to contact the Meech?

INTERNET LINKS >>
::	John Amaechi official site
::	NBA
::	Utah Jazz
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