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Called for Traveling: My Nomadic Life Playing Pro Basketball around the World
Called for Traveling is a pro basketball journey that spans four continents, seven countries and twelve teams over eleven hilarious and adventurous years. After playing his college ball at Penn State, Tyler Smith had a path in mind of where he wanted his pro basketball career to lead. Bringing his own toilet paper to away games, courts made of concrete, and fully-geared riot police at every stadium were not part of his original dream.
Where were all the big contracts people talked about? Would he even have a job next season—or next week? And would he be playing for free this month because the team didn’t feel like paying him?
In this highly unstable and unorthodox overseas lifestyle as a professional basketball player, Smith draws readers in quickly with his humor and ability to share his clever stories that seem outrageous, but are 100 percent true. His attitude and faith are tested relentlessly through bounced paychecks, injuries, and the seemingly endless frustrating reality of people around him speaking a language he could not understand.
From Italy to Japan to Uruguay, and even the NBA, the challenges and adventures only accelerate as Tyler’s wife and kids are added to the overseas equation. His unique story is highly engaging whether or not you’re a basketball junkie. Called for Traveling is an honest and entertaining inside look at one man’s journey playing pro basketball around the world.
Where were all the big contracts people talked about? Would he even have a job next season—or next week? And would he be playing for free this month because the team didn’t feel like paying him?
In this highly unstable and unorthodox overseas lifestyle as a professional basketball player, Smith draws readers in quickly with his humor and ability to share his clever stories that seem outrageous, but are 100 percent true. His attitude and faith are tested relentlessly through bounced paychecks, injuries, and the seemingly endless frustrating reality of people around him speaking a language he could not understand.
From Italy to Japan to Uruguay, and even the NBA, the challenges and adventures only accelerate as Tyler’s wife and kids are added to the overseas equation. His unique story is highly engaging whether or not you’re a basketball junkie. Called for Traveling is an honest and entertaining inside look at one man’s journey playing pro basketball around the world.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published October 24, 2017
11 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 21, 2018
I look at the sports books in the new books shelves at the local public library mostly seeing books about cycling or perhaps baseball - I am not someone who follows basketball (at all) although I went to a small middle school so was obliged to play at least at that point. And in high school, the houses where I hung out had a backboard over the garage so it was an occasional time-killer - but I don't really understand much about how the game is played when played seriously.
But I figured a book like this is probably mostly about the challenges (and perhaps misadventures) of living in various countries as the rental American player among more established national players. Which worked out to be about right. The discussion of basketball strategy and descriptions of some games hardly requires much basketball knowledge.
Mr. Smith has a likable writing style - the narrative flows along well. He doesn't dwell on his upbringing; just enough is provided to make certain things clear. He talks about the mechanics of how he went about finding work overseas as a not-quite-good-enough-for-the-NBA player. He ends up playing in the Netherlands, Uruguay, Argentina, Italy (briefly), Thailand (also briefly) and Japan. He also was a try-out member of the Utah Jazz for one pre-season and played in the NBA's so-called D-league (in effect, minor league) for a while - all this lasted about a decade that he describes chronologically. During some of the time he is accompanied by his wife, and eventually by his first daughter. More of the day-to-day descriptions are about the logistics of being abroad as an American player than about particular games.
Until the last year in Japan that he spent with his daughter there who was just old enough to attend pre-school and allow some more varied interactions with locals that he describes, the focus is almost entirely on how he interacts with these countries through basketball. At first I was a little surprised by how limited his experiences and insights (if you will) are but then when you think about it, he is just in each of these places for the basketball. So perhaps it is more surprising that he picks up anything about the local culture at all. And most of the stories he tells have some humor, which he does well.
Smith is what I guess can be referred to as a born-again Christian (he doesn't provide details); that is, he occasionally interrupts his story to point out the role God or Jesus played in the outcome - these moments are brief enough that they can be ignored without difficulty if that isn't your sort of thing. Overall he seems to be a non-judgmental sort of fundamental Christian. He notes that the Japanese as a nation seems to act in very Christian ways yet somehow almost none of them are (Christians). Apparently this was something for him to ponder.
After I was done, I thought there were aspects of being an ex patriot player-for-hire in this way that he could have described but didn't - and if he had, the book might have been more interesting - but it is a nicely readable book. And I admire a (former) professional athlete who writes a book this engaging running more than 300 pages on his own.
But I figured a book like this is probably mostly about the challenges (and perhaps misadventures) of living in various countries as the rental American player among more established national players. Which worked out to be about right. The discussion of basketball strategy and descriptions of some games hardly requires much basketball knowledge.
Mr. Smith has a likable writing style - the narrative flows along well. He doesn't dwell on his upbringing; just enough is provided to make certain things clear. He talks about the mechanics of how he went about finding work overseas as a not-quite-good-enough-for-the-NBA player. He ends up playing in the Netherlands, Uruguay, Argentina, Italy (briefly), Thailand (also briefly) and Japan. He also was a try-out member of the Utah Jazz for one pre-season and played in the NBA's so-called D-league (in effect, minor league) for a while - all this lasted about a decade that he describes chronologically. During some of the time he is accompanied by his wife, and eventually by his first daughter. More of the day-to-day descriptions are about the logistics of being abroad as an American player than about particular games.
Until the last year in Japan that he spent with his daughter there who was just old enough to attend pre-school and allow some more varied interactions with locals that he describes, the focus is almost entirely on how he interacts with these countries through basketball. At first I was a little surprised by how limited his experiences and insights (if you will) are but then when you think about it, he is just in each of these places for the basketball. So perhaps it is more surprising that he picks up anything about the local culture at all. And most of the stories he tells have some humor, which he does well.
Smith is what I guess can be referred to as a born-again Christian (he doesn't provide details); that is, he occasionally interrupts his story to point out the role God or Jesus played in the outcome - these moments are brief enough that they can be ignored without difficulty if that isn't your sort of thing. Overall he seems to be a non-judgmental sort of fundamental Christian. He notes that the Japanese as a nation seems to act in very Christian ways yet somehow almost none of them are (Christians). Apparently this was something for him to ponder.
After I was done, I thought there were aspects of being an ex patriot player-for-hire in this way that he could have described but didn't - and if he had, the book might have been more interesting - but it is a nicely readable book. And I admire a (former) professional athlete who writes a book this engaging running more than 300 pages on his own.
October 21, 2017
I'm not a reader of sports nonfiction, but since I watched Tyler play while he was at PSU and was a fan, I was motivated to read. And I wasn't disappointed! Tyler's wit and descriptions of playing time were fun to read. Reading about his "can-do" attitude and perspective on life was key to moving me forward in the book. Any reader, but especially students who read the book should get to two pages for the key take aways:
P. 309 "I learned that I really only had control over two things, my attitude and my work ethic. I couldn't allow outside influences such as people and situations to determine my life. If I did, then my mind and emotions would be all over the place, I'd be stressed, and I would miss out on an incredible journey.
"Of course, I wanted more influence over things such as my job placement, my health, and an endless number of things. We all do. But the reality is that there is more to life than just being comfortable.
"Perhaps the biggest secret learned through it all was figuring out how to just appreciate where I was and who I was with at any given month. My adventure was taking me to places I never thought I'd go, to do things I never thought I'd do, and to meet people I never knew existed. It was opening my eyes to not just different cultures but different ways to handle life's maddening curveballs. Remember the injuries, being cut by teams, and lack of toilet paper?"
And the other keeper part for me was the time Tyler played with Olumide Oyedeji. Tyler describes the work Olu does with youth in Nigeria and the slogan used at his basketball clinics: "Pick a book, not a knife. Shoot the ball, not a gun." (p. 325)
So copies of this book will end up in the Mt. Nittany Middle School library, Grace Lutheran Church library and look out Joe Walker, this might be interesting read for your HS team.
P. 309 "I learned that I really only had control over two things, my attitude and my work ethic. I couldn't allow outside influences such as people and situations to determine my life. If I did, then my mind and emotions would be all over the place, I'd be stressed, and I would miss out on an incredible journey.
"Of course, I wanted more influence over things such as my job placement, my health, and an endless number of things. We all do. But the reality is that there is more to life than just being comfortable.
"Perhaps the biggest secret learned through it all was figuring out how to just appreciate where I was and who I was with at any given month. My adventure was taking me to places I never thought I'd go, to do things I never thought I'd do, and to meet people I never knew existed. It was opening my eyes to not just different cultures but different ways to handle life's maddening curveballs. Remember the injuries, being cut by teams, and lack of toilet paper?"
And the other keeper part for me was the time Tyler played with Olumide Oyedeji. Tyler describes the work Olu does with youth in Nigeria and the slogan used at his basketball clinics: "Pick a book, not a knife. Shoot the ball, not a gun." (p. 325)
So copies of this book will end up in the Mt. Nittany Middle School library, Grace Lutheran Church library and look out Joe Walker, this might be interesting read for your HS team.
September 26, 2021
I discovered I shared some roots with author Tyler Smith when we met at a book fair. His adventures around the world were not just basketball stories, but insights into a host of countries he played and the challenges with which he was confronted. It was not the smoothest of roads - injuries, culture shock, balancing family with his livelihood, and the basketball challenges to boot.
Yet he met it all with the positive attitude and faith in a refreshing (and effective) way that we do not see often enough in professional sports in particular or life in general. His writing and storytelling is engaging, funny and delivers profound life lessons we'd able well served to pay attention to. It's a great book for sports fans, but is a fine read for others, too.
Yet he met it all with the positive attitude and faith in a refreshing (and effective) way that we do not see often enough in professional sports in particular or life in general. His writing and storytelling is engaging, funny and delivers profound life lessons we'd able well served to pay attention to. It's a great book for sports fans, but is a fine read for others, too.
August 22, 2020
This was a fun book to read! The author did a wonderful portraying his travels as he played basketball. The stories were very entertaining that will make you laugh. I like the authors attitude about all of his situations he encountered. His wife was a good sport to travel to all the countries the author played in. Well done!
January 12, 2025
Smith does an excellent job exploring the weirdness and wonderfulness of international basketball in his memoir. Although he finds himself as a writer about half way through, Smith's humourous and insightful descriptions of his journey make for an enjoyable read. Certainly worth picking up for basketball fans!
June 24, 2020
I don’t think I’ve ever laughed to the point of tears rolling down my cheeks while reading a book...until this book! It’s a great read, well done Tyler! I loved all of the details about the different countries and different people you encountered. This book was so entertaining and educational!
May 8, 2022
I made it about 20-25 pages into the book before the author's incredibly annoying habit of trying to be continually funny made me give up this read. This is actually an interesting topic, perhaps another globe-trotting basketball player could write about their experiences.
March 8, 2020
Great book about a long overseas professional basketball career! Sometimes getting paid is a real struggle! The author even played for Kobe Bryant's father.
May 18, 2023
Liked it a lot . Travel and basketball - two of my favorite subjects .
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews