Jacob Calloway
Juneau’s Jacob Calloway was the missing piece for Valur of the Icelandic League as the team captured its first championship in 39 years.
The Alaskan joined the team in February and helped Valur win 14 of 17 games, including a 73-60 victory over Tindastoll in a decisive Game 5 of the Finals.
“It feels unbelievable,” he said. “Not many people get a chance to even play in a championship in Europe, so I just feel blessed to win it.”
Calloway, of Thunder Mountain fame, came off the bench to contribute 7 points and 8 rebounds in the clincher and averaged 16 points and 7.8 rebounds in the Finals.
Valur hadn’t won a title since 1986 and stood at 9-7 after 16 games before signing Calloway, who proved to be the last piece of a championship puzzle.
“The celebration was crazy,” he said. “Popping champagne all night.”
Mom look I’m a champion pic.twitter.com/eDHusx03ba
— Jacob Calloway (@Mangoj14) May 19, 2022
Calloway said No. 3 seed Valur was predicted by local media to lose in the first round, but swept in three games No. 6 seed Stjarnan, which featured former Texas Tech University starter Robert Turner III.
In the semifinals, Valur swept No. 2 seed Thor Thorlakshoefn, which featured guard Glynn Watson Jr., who scored 1,500 points at the University of Nebraska.
“It’s a good league,” said Calloway, who played at Southern Utah University. “Americans in this league have some crazy good resumes from high majors.”
The best-of-5 Finals was a trip. Three games were decided by five points, two of them came down to one possession and one went to overtime.
In a pivotal Game 4, Calloway pumped in 27 points and hit two 3-pointers inside the final 20 seconds, including this one late to force OT.
Game 3: #Tindastóll (1-2) #Valur
👉 score: 83-80
❌ FT I
❌ FT II
🚫 3PT
✅ 3PT (Jacob Calloway) 😯😯😯OVERTIME. pic.twitter.com/vv27psL0ur
— basket2⃣4⃣ (@basket24gr) May 15, 2022
Valur lost 97-95.
“Yeah, Game 4 was crazy,” Calloway said. “Hurt to lose that one.”
He ended up getting the last laugh as Valur clinched the championship with a win in Game 5.
Calloway scored a career-high 38 points during the regular season – tied for seventh all-time among Alaskans at the pro level.
Notable career highs for pros from Alaska
50 – Jason Kaiser, Australia, 1996
50 – Travante Williams, Georgia, 2017
49 – Jalil Abdul-Bassit, Mexico, 2021
48 – Ramon Harris, China, 2011
41 – Carlos Boozer, NBA, 2008
39 – Kyle Bailey, Latvia, 2006
38 – Peter Bullock, Norway, 2014
38 – Jacob Calloway, Iceland, 2022
36 – Travis Thompson, Thailand, 2018
35 – Roderick Wilmont, G League, 2011
35 – Colter Lasher, Australia, 2018
35 – Derrick Wilson, Sweden, 2019
35 – Daishen Nix, G League, 2021
Calloway has also played professionally in Switzerland, Czech Republic and Colombia.
Will he return to Iceland for another season?
“I haven’t really thought about next season yet but it feels good to be back at a high level,” Calloway said.