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Hamed HaddadiIranian professional basketball player
Date of Birth: 19.05.1985
Country:  Iran |
Content:
- Hamed Haddadi - Iranian Professional Basketball Player
- Early Career and Success in Iran
- Attempted NBA Draft and European Offers
- Joining the NBA and Achievements
- NBA Career
Hamed Haddadi - Iranian Professional Basketball Player
Hamed Haddadi is an Iranian professional basketball player, currently playing for the National Basketball Association (NBA) team, the Memphis Grizzlies. He plays as a center and has also represented the Iranian national team, becoming the champion of Asia in 2007 and participating in the 2008 Olympic Games.
Early Career and Success in Iran
Haddadi began his professional basketball career in Iran, playing for various clubs. His last club in Iran was "Saba Battery" from Kazvin, with whom he won the Asian Champions Cup in 2008 and reached the finals of the Iranian Super League. He also achieved success with the Iranian national team, winning the Asian Championship in 2007.
Attempted NBA Draft and European Offers
In 2004, Haddadi entered his name for the NBA draft but was not selected. In 2007, he received interest from the Serbian basketball club, "Partizan," but he declined the offer to move to Europe.
Joining the NBA and Achievements
During the summer of 2008, Haddadi received invitations from multiple NBA clubs. However, he decided to delay his decision until the end of the 2008 Summer Olympics, where the Iranian basketball team qualified for the first time since 1948. He also participated in the NBA Summer League and the pre-Olympic tournament, "Diamond Ball," in Nanjing.
At the Beijing Olympics, where Iran finished 11th, Haddadi emerged as the leader in average rebounds (11.2) and blocks (2.6) per game. On August 28, 2008, Haddadi signed a contract with the NBA team, the Memphis Grizzlies, becoming the first Iranian player in the league. He served as the backup center for Marc Gasol and Darko Milicic.
NBA Career
On November 25, 2008, Haddadi was sent on an assignment to the NBA Development League team, the Dakota Wizards, but was recalled to the Grizzlies after a month. In his debut NBA season, Hamed played in 19 games, averaging just over 6 minutes on the court.
