“Baku surprised me with its beauty.”

According to Offsideplus.az, former Sheki basketball player Samir Stewart shared these thoughts. After departing from Azerbaijan, he gave an insightful interview regarding the country, the local league (ABL), and his career.

The American legionnaire admitted that he had no prior knowledge of the country before arriving:

“First, I’d like to mention that I previously knew nothing about a country named Azerbaijan. However, upon arrival, I saw that Baku is an incredibly beautiful and modern city. With its architecture and spirit, it reminds me of Chicago in the US.”

Evaluating the level of the Azerbaijan Basketball League (ABL), Stewart emphasized the presence of ambitious clubs:

“There are teams in the league with high budgets and strong rosters consisting of both foreign and local players. Clubs like Sabah and Absheron Lions are clear examples of this. I regret that I couldn't continue this exciting competition until the end due to an injury.”

The former captain recalled his days at Sheki with fond memories:

“Although the smaller coaching staff compared to other clubs created certain challenges, the discussions I had with our head coach about basketball formed a sincere and professional bond between us. My relationship with my teammates was also excellent. I am grateful to both the club and the ABL management for the trust shown in me and the opportunity provided.”

Stewart, who previously played in the Polish and Bosnian-Herzegovinian championships, also spoke about his adaptation period in Azerbaijan:

“Basketball is played with the same rules everywhere, so adjusting on the court wasn't difficult for me. The main challenge wasn't basketball-related, but personal. The 9–10 hour time difference between me and my loved ones in the US made communication quite difficult.”

It should be noted that Samir Stewart had to part ways with the Sheki club mid-season due to a serious injury.