Professional Basketball Career
After graduating from college, Gottlieb went undrafted in the NBA draft but was made the No 1 pick of the Oklahoma Storm in the 2000 United States Basketball League Draft. Gottlieb's season with the Storm would be successful as he led the USBL in assists and helped the Storm to a 2nd place finish in the team's inaugural season (losing to the Dodge City Legend in the USBL Championship Game). Gottlieb then took his basketball career overseas, which included a stop in Israel after signing with Maccabi Ra'anana. Gottlieb played professionally internationally, in France, Russia and Israel.
The Idaho Stampede of the Continental Basketball Association signed him on Nov. 28, 2000, prior to training camp and then released him on Dec. 13, 2000, two days before their opening game. On Dec. 28, he signed with the Salina Rattlers of the (now defunct) International Basketball Association and played in six games (four starts) before the team released him due to Gottlieb's intent to play overseas. In February 2001, he joined Ural Great Perm of the Russian Basketball Federation and helped the team win the league championship. Following Ural's season, Gottlieb traveled to Israel and won a Gold Medal as the MVP for the United States team at the Maccabiah Games. In the title game, the US team defeated Israel 82-71. He then played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Summer League and then was invited to return to the Oklahoma Storm. However, he and new coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did not see eye-to-eye and he was released before the season began. Following his release, Gottlieb played the 2001-2002 with the Israeli team Maccabi Ra'anana.
Read more about this topic: Doug Gottlieb
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