Originally posted by radin119
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lol he hasn't been given a number yet.Please watch and Subscribe: -
TEHRAN (FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Men): The Iran U18 National Team playing the FIBA Asia U18 Championship for men has had a special supporter for their games these days in the form of star center Hamed Ehadadi, who a couple of a days ago signed with the Memphis Grizzlies for the NBA season.
Obviously, Hamed is the darling of the crowd too, with almost every person in the Azadi Stadium wanting a piece of him.
Of course it was this very venue that put Ehadadi into the limelight in FIBA Asia, when he along with Jaber Rouzbahani spearheaded the Iran team to triumph at the FIBA Asia U20 Championship for Young Men in 2004.
“It’s a dream come true,” the 217cm center began his conversation, talking to S Mageshwaran of FIBA Asia.
“Playing in the NBA has always been my dream. And this is the opportunity of a lifetime in any basketballer’s career,” he said.
“It’s up to me to utilize this opportunity.”
The 7ft 2in Ehadadi averaged 14.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 25.5 minutes in two games for the FIBA Asia champions against NBA competition at the 2008 Rocky Mountain Revue – where Iran played as a part of their Olympic preparations.
At the Beijing Games, the 23-year-old averaged 16.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks in five games for the Iran.
Ehadadi’s biggest moment came at the FIBA Diamond Ball for Men in Nanjing before the Olympics. The center had 20 points and 20 rebounds in a 72-70 upset of Serbia.
Dwelling more on the offers the 23-year-old said, “I tested with Atlanta Hawks and had an offer from Miami Heat. But I chose Memphis, because I want to play and not just sit on the bench.”
Iran’s National Team coach Rajko Toroman endorsed Ehadadi’s preference to Memphis over other teams.
“You see there’s not much pressure playing for Memphis. That will help Ehadadi settle down well,” Toroman said.
“It’s certainly a great thing for Iranian basketball. Ehadadi is very crucial in our preparations for retaining the FIBA Asia title next year and also the 2010 World Championship in Turkey,” Toroman added.
“I’m not going there just like that. I have a lot of things to prove to myself. And lots more to learn. So it’s very important for me to play,” said Ehadadi, who when he started playing basketball in his hometown Ahvaz (a south-western town in Iran, popular for sport), could not find shoes that fit his long feet.
“I hope I can do well. My aim is not to play for merely one or two years. I want to establish myself in the NBA make my people and country proud,” Ehadadi added.
Talking of “his” people, Ehadadi had a special word of gratitude for the president of the Iranian federation Mahmoud Mashhoon, “who is more like a father to me.”
“He’s very fond of me. And I have the greatest respect for him. I look up to him for anything in my life, not only basketball,” Ehadadi said.
“I also want to thank coaches Syed Fathi and Mehran Shahintab for what they have done to me as a player and as a human being,” Ehadadi said.
Syed Fathi was the man who, about a decade ago, took Ehadadi under his tutelage for special training before inducting him into the National cadet team. And it was under the resourceful Mehran’s guidance that he played at Saba Battery before the Memphis move.
“Of course, I can’t find words to thank my parents,” he said.
“Also there are numerous friends and well wishers who have backed throughout. If not for all these people I wouldn’t have even been playing basketball, forget NBA.”
Being the first player from this region to go to NBA, Ehadadi has already reached an iconic status among hordes of youngsters in West Asia.
“I know that,” he said about the adulation.
“But before I say anything to them, I want to do well in the NBA,” was his parting shot.
The Gentle Giant of Ahvaz has come a long way indeed!
S Mageshwaran
FIBA AsiaComment
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so anyone got the latest news on him??
Below is what i found...i suspect we'll hear something during their training camp
http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/gr...le-080917.html
Memphis, September 17, 2008 – The Memphis Grizzlies will begin their eighth season in Bluff City by holding training camp at FedExForum with the first practice scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 30.
The Grizzlies will conduct their training camp at the practice facility from Tuesday, Sept. 30 through Saturday, Oct. 4. The team is slated to conduct two-a-day sessions on Sept. 30–Oct. 3.
Schedule
Tuesday, Sept. 30
10 a.m.–12 p.m. and 5–7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 1
10 a.m.–12 p.m. and 5–7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 2
10 a.m.–12 p.m. and 5–7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 3
10 a.m.–12 p.m. and 5–7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 4
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
The Grizzlies will tip-off their eight-game preseason schedule on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at the Houston Rockets at 7:30 p.m. Memphis hosts the Washington Wizards opener on the following night in their home preseason at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8. See the full calendar.
Grizzlies’ 2008-09 season tickets start at just $5 and 6,000 season tickets can be purchased at $10 or less online or by calling (901) 888-HOOP. Eleven- and 22-game Power Packs are on sale now and with the purchase of select packs, fans will receive a Grizz Circle K Gas Card worth up to $150 while supplies last. Individual game tickets will be sold in October.Comment
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he is in dubai right now because he has visa problems. Memphis has sent a trainer to work with him.Comment
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its good to know there are players in the NBA who actually care about improving and ceasing the opportunity to improve
lol
just imagine what he can achieve, he is definitely a star in the makingGo Cows!Comment
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Originally posted by Demis-11 View Postits good to know there are players in the NBA who actually care about improving and ceasing the opportunity to improve lol
just imagine what he can achieve, he is definitely a star in the making
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