(CNN) -- He was an outstanding talent who never made it in the NBA, before he established himself as one of the most famous American players in European basketball history. But basketball is just one of the many talents in Darryl Middleton's locker. He's a co-owner of a Spanish restaurant where he also cooks. Middleton has come a long way since he had a dream of becoming a U.S. basketball star. As he puts it: "Everybody wants to go to the NBA." In 1988, drafted in the third round by the Atlanta Hawks with the 68th overall pick, Middleton appeared to have the world at his feet.
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Darryl Middleton is one of the USA's most successful basketball players outside the NBA
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Has played for 15 different European clubs in five countries over past 25 years
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Helped Marc Gasol become one of the NBA's top stars
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One of the oldest active players playing outside of the U.S.
"I love to make a guy get better and better and @placeholder was of those players I helped.