Wiltjer was selected in the second round (43rd overall) in the 1983 NBA Draft.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He later played 12 seasons professionally in Europe.[2][3][6] While playing for the Spanish Club FC Barcelona in the 1985–86 season, he won the FIBA European Cup Winners’ Cup.[1][2][3][7] While playing for the Greek Club Aris Thessaloniki, he won two Greek League championships and two Greek Cups in 1988 and 1989.[1][2][3][7] In the 1993–94 season, Wiltjer played for the CBA team Quad City Thunder,[4] who won the CBA championship that year.[11]
International career
Wiltjer represented Canada in many international tournaments, including the 1984 Olympics.[1][2][7][9] Wiltjer played well in these '84 Olympics, finishing second overall among all Olympians in rebounding that year.[1][2][9] These 1984 Olympics were notable because Canada finished 4th overall, narrowly missing a medal.[8][12][13] This 1984 bronze-medal game constituted the only time in 80+ years where Canada had a legitimate chance of winning an Olympic medal in basketball.[8] This bronze medal game was highly competitive, being tied 18 times with 12 lead changes, with Canada being within one point with less than a minute of play remaining.[8] Wiltjer "had a phenomenal game" in this important moment in Canadian basketball history, scoring 12 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.[8]
Wiltjer represented Canada in the 1983 and 1985 World Student Games.[7] In the 1983 World Student Games, Canada won the gold medal.[7][13][14][15] This constituted one of the finest moments in Canadian basketball history, being the only time in which Canada has won the gold medal in an international basketball tournament.[16] In the semifinals of this tournament, Canada defeated a talented US team led by future NBA legends Charles Barkley and Karl Malone.[13][14][15] In the 1985 World Student Games, Canada won the bronze medal.[2][7][13]
Wiltjer also represented Canada in three FIBA World Championships (1982, 1986, 1994)[1][2][7][9] where notably, Canada finished 6th in 1982.[12][17]
High school / college / university
Wiltjer attended Parkland Secondary School for high school, where in 1979, he led the team to Island championship and the semifinals of the BC high school championship.[7]
Witljer then played two seasons for Northern Idaho College (1979 - 1981).[4][5][6] Prior to 2009, he was NIC's only first-team NJCAA basketball All-American.[3] He led NIC to the most wins in school history in 1980 and a 10th place national finish.[3] He still ranks fourth in NIC career rebounding and field goal percentage.[3]
Wiltjer then transferred to the University of Victoria and after a mandatory year of non-play due to the transfer, he helped UVic win their fifth consecutive national championship in the 1983–84 season.[1][2][3][7] During this season, he was named a First Team All-Canadian, the CIAU Championship MVP and Canada West First Team All-Star.[4][10] He averaged over 20 points and 11 rebounds per game[4] and helped UVic go undefeated that season.[7]
Post career
Wiltjer was inducted into the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame (2023),[1] the Basketball BC Hall of Fame (2009)[2] and the Northern Idaho College Sports Hall of Fame (2009).[3]
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