A revival of sorts for the Jesse Owens sports legacy

Owens' contract with Alba runs for a year, with the option of extending for another. During this time, he hopes to add to the family's sporting record in Berlin. His presence has started a buzz among the media and some local editors expect his story to generate even more interest as the basketball season gets under way and the public realizes who he is.

Beyond bearing a famous name, Owens's talent alone gets himself noticed by the media and basketball fans alike. The team's first public practice session since he joined Alba drew a large crowd. Intensely focused while on the court, Owens stood out with his crisp, strong movements. He effortlessly handled the ball and played tricks as if it was the easiest thing in the world. Yet his abundant skill doesn't overshadow his down-to-earth attitude and he warmly talks with bystanders as he walks off the court.

Alba won seven German championships in a row starting in 1997 and is looking to reclaim the crown this season. Owens promises to work hard to achieve that goal and "to do whatever the coach expects me to."

He certainly has a busy daily practice schedule. Living in a nearby apartment building with the rest of the team, he spends about five hours every day on the courts or in exercise rooms.

Coach Rödl has expressed his appreciation of Owens's team spirit. It helps, too, that one of Owens's former teammates from Greece is also playing for Alba – something Rödl says will help the team's chemistry.

Team chemistry is hard to come by in Germany these days since last year's amendment to German basketball league rules, says former Alba player Sascha Leutloff. Now, a team only needs to have two Germans with no limits on the number of foreigners who can join and they only have to commit to a year with the team.

That, says Mr. Leutloff, makes it easy for young American players fresh off the NCAA circuit but just shy of NBA talent – who can be hired for much less than a good German player – to come to Germany for a year and then leave.

Owens has yet to decide how long he'll be playing in Berlin.

But at every point in his career – from his stint on an Italian team in 2004 to his time with a Spanish premier league team in 2005 to joining an NBA development team in February only to sign on with a top Greek team in April – he unabashedly acknowledges God as being the guiding force in his life.

"If you truly have faith, you understand that things happen on God's account," he says, noting that sometimes the things one really wants aren't best for that individual.

"So I just focus on the task at hand, and on having really strong faith," says Owens, his steady, calm gaze suggesting a humility and sincerity not always associated with NBA players. "That's what keeps me going."

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