Two Iranian basketball players in this year's NBA draft

[persiantiger]

First one is Hamid Haddadi from Peykan. He is 7’2” . The other one is Jaber Rouzbahani who is from Zob Ahan. This guy is 7’4”. Jaber is a monster, he was named best player in asia and scored 82 points in 1 game all by himself! :eek:

He can even make 3 point shots!

http://www.nba.com/news/early_040514.html

I hope they both get drafted, it would be nice to see some fellow persians in the NBA.

P.S I had never noticed the basketball forum but while im here might as well say this: Go lakers! :D

[JG]

Here's a long article about Rouzbahani, apparently the better prospect of the two.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/8680185.htm?1c

He averaged 12.8 points, 8 rebounds, and almost 5 blocks per game at the Junior World Championships last year...unfortunately Iran finished last.

[Excape Goat]

I actually heard of the two of them. The NBA scouts were impressed by their performances at the Asian qualfying during the Junior World Championship. They matched up well against two other NBA prospects from China.

[gomichigan24]

http://nbadraft.net/jaberstory.asp

here is another story on one of the players. Good to see a Iranian going to the nba, i was beginning to wonder if we played basketball

[odg78]

Talk of this kid making the NBA is no “jibber-Jaber”.
--Great stuff!

[skipshady]

Jealous.

http://nbadraft.net/profiles/jaber/jaber010.jpg

[odg78]

Jealous.
--You want to get slammed by a 7' Iranian? Not my cup of tea, but who am I to judge?

[persiantiger]

http://nbadraft.net/jaberstory.asp

here is another story on one of the players. Good to see a Iranian going to the nba, i was beginning to wonder if we played basketball

Thanks for the great article

I didn't know he had the most blocks in that youth world tournement thats pretty good, and he stopped yao eh not bad for an 18 year old(he was probably 17 at the time) i hope to see him in nba soon, any infos on the other guy?

i thought he was 7'4 but the site says 7 '5, ********ing huge!
http://nbadraft.net/profiles/jaber/jaber005.jpg
shaq watch out soon this could be you getting blocked;)
http://nbadraft.net/profiles/jaber/jaber004.jpg

btw we do play basketballl man lol in fact the final four in asia i think it was last year or this year were all persian teams. Oh and a couple of our club teams actually have a few american players in em I think our basketball teams are the only teams in which we have americans in.

[persiantiger]

Here is a pic of him against yao

http://www.asiansportsnet.com/images/rnd1_game3_148363_3.jpg


I found another good article on him.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/8680185.htm?1c

this one includes an interview with him too

Tall Tale

By Jay Heater

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

SAN PABLO - A collection of local basketball players watched in amazement as Iran's Jaber Rouzbahani displayed the particular talent that might earn him millions of dollars.

Standing flat-footed in the Contra Costa College gymnasium, Rouzbahani thrust his hands upward and grabbed the rim. For those who have never stretched a tape measure from the driveway to the rim, that's 10 feet.

"I've never seen anyone do that," said Drew Gooden, the El Cerrito High School grad who is a 6-foot-10 forward for the Orlando Magic. "But I've never seen anyone dunk without having to jump, and he can do that, too."

At 7-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Rouzbahani figures to draw attention when the NBA draft begins June 24 at Madison Square Garden in New York. At this stage -- Rouzbahani turned 18 on Monday -- he is no Yao Ming, but what NBA coach wouldn't want to develop a player his size?

"I think he has a lot of upside and potential," said Gooden, who worked out with Rouzbahani last week at Contra Costa College. "His size is a gift in itself, that and his length. He has that eight-foot wingspan.

"Without a question somebody is going to draft him. Those guys don't come around too often."

Realizing that potential, Oakland-based agent Aaron Goodwin, who represents LeBron James, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Gary Payton among others, had his associate, Hashim Alauddeen, recruit Rouzbahani and bring him to the United States in February. Alauddeen, who handles international recruiting for Goodwin, has a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern studies from Cal along with a master's in African-Asian studies.

Rouzbahani moved into Alauddeen's Richmond home. Personal trainer Ansar Al-Ameen, who has worked for NBA players such as James, Abdur-Rahim, Gooden and Carmelo Anthony, was hired to mold him into draft material.

After a practice Wednesday at Contra Costa College, Rouzbahani was asked about the sport that brought him to America. He spread his massive hands apart and cupped them as if he were holding imaginary basketballs. Then he smiled.

"The first time I put a basketball into my hands, I knew I would like it," Rouzbahani said through Alauddeen, who translated from Persian to English. "I knew I would be playing basketball for life, I just didn't know I would get paid."

When Rouzbahani, who spent most of his youth as a soccer goalie, first touched a basketball at the age of 14, he had more pressing problems than trying a new sport. He had a pituitary gland disorder that caused him to grow faster than normal. He shot past seven feet at 15 and continued to grow.

About 18 months ago, doctors removed Rouzbahani's pituitary glands, a surgery that finally halted his growth and should assure him of a healthy future.

Now he hopes to capitalize on his unusual size.

"I definitely feel that I'm working with a guy who will be drafted," Al-Ameen said. "Imagine him at 21 with 30 more pounds of muscle and with an NBA coach teaching him every day. And it's been scary how quickly he picks up things."

Al-Ameen wishes he could communicate better with Rouzbahani, but their workouts have gone well despite the language barrier. Meanwhile, Rouzbahani has picked up some English.

"Hello ... How are you ... I'm sorry," Rouzbahani said proudly.

Oh, and there's that other important word.

"Foul," he said with a smile.

Actually, yelling foul won't help much in the Contra Costa College gym, where the athletes play hard without whining about contact. The competition has included Gooden, some former and current college players, and playground legends such as "Hook" Mitchell.

What has Rouzbahani learned by training with these characters?

"They try to dunk on me," he said through Alauddeen. "(The game is) faster, and they argue and cuss at each other."

At first, Rouzbahani had trouble dealing with a much different playing environment than he experienced in Iran.

"He didn't want to hurt anyone," Al-Ameen said. "Now he's getting physical. That's the important part of all this. It teaches you to be hungry."

Contra Costa College coach Virgil Watson said it's obvious that Rouzbahani is hungry to learn.

"Some of the guys in this gym, you tell them to do something and they look at you funny," Watson said. "We've got guys who know the language and you can't get them to do what you ask. You show him something and he picks it right up. His upside is incredible."

Rouzbahani, who has been invited to attend the NBA Pre-Draft Camp from June 8-11 in Chicago, said he has been afforded a tremendous opportunity. "I am a representative of the youth of Iran."

That's a load for a kid who has been smacked in the face with a huge culture shock.

Playing for the Zob Ahan Club Youth Team, a professional team in his hometown of Isfahan, Rouzbahani quickly became a recruiting target of professional coaches from all over Europe. Those coaches told his parents of the money to be earned on the European circuit.

But Alauddeen tried to persuade Rouzbahani's parents to send him to the United States even though he could promise them no money.

"His parents knew nothing about basketball," Alauddeen said. "I wanted to make a good impression so I brought them lots of photos of LeBron James, Payton and Abdur-Rahim. They didn't know what I was talking about. They were like, 'What can you do for us?'"

Alauddeen's wife, Iranian Zahra Rezapour, became the edge that Alauddeen needed. He met her during one of the many visits he made to Iran to complement his studies at Cal.

"He wouldn't have come if not for her," said Alauddeen, who told Rouzbahani's parents that he and his wife would host their son at their Richmond home.

Then came the matter of getting permission to move Rouzbahani to the United States.

"Getting him out of Iran was not as difficult as getting him a visa to come to America," Alauddeen said. "After Sept. 11, it has become much more difficult. But he understood that, and people at the U.S. Embassy in Iran were very good to him. He received an invitation to come to the United States from the NBA and then he received a six-month visitor's visa.

"His mother was extremely happy that he has the opportunity to better his family. These people are poor. But she also felt that he could help change sports in Iran. The only important sport there now is football (soccer)."

The Iran Basketball Federation also is pleased that Rouzbahani will represent Iranians in the United States.

"Contrary to what politicians might say, I think in general people want to see an exchange of cultures," Alauddeen said. "He could be the first person from the Middle East to play in the NBA. But the Iranian Basketball Federation did advise him not to talk about politics."

For a teenager, Rouzbahani has handled everything quite nicely since arriving at San Francisco International Airport.

"I think he was nervous," said Alauddeen. "He was trembling at U.S. Customs, but everyone there was so kind. They talked to him and gave him a great welcome. It surprised me."

Alauddeen said those positive feelings continued in his Richmond neighborhood and around Contra Costa College. "People in this community adopted him."

When Rouzbahani isn't playing basketball, he is often invited to some of the homes of the players he has met at Contra Costa College. There they play video games, which often transcend language barriers.

Rouzbahani also enjoys attending movies with Alauddeen.

"The movies help educate him about America," Alauddeen said. "And he loves popcorn."

Rouzbahani has been to several Warriors games. He also flew to Portland to see the Los Angeles Lakers play the Trail Blazers. At a Portland hotel, Rouzbahani was able to meet Shaquille O'Neal.

"Shaq saw him from across the lobby and walked over and shook hands with him," Alauddeen said. "He said to him, 'You're the kid from Iran.' We just looked at Shaq. Shaq walked away saying, 'I know everything.'"

Such moments have been exciting for Rouzbahani, but he still misses home.

"I miss See-O-Seh," he said.

Alauddeen explained that See-O-Seh is 33 tiny bridges all connected, and a place considered to be one the most beautiful spots in Iran.

"There is a saying in Iran -- Isfahan Nifs agahaan -- that means half the world's beauty is in Isfahan," Alauddeen said. "He misses that."

If Rouzbahani makes it to the NBA, he certainly will have the money to visit when he wants. He will be a huge celebrity in his homeland.

"I'm not in the NBA and I'm already famous (in Iran)," he said. "Although I don't like (being famous) a lot."

Raymond King, a former Cal point guard and a teammate of Rouzbahani's last season on the Zob Ahan team, said Rouzbahani might have to get used to being famous.

"He is a good, calm kid with a good attitude," King said. "He has a lot of potential if he works hard. He needs to have the right trainers and right people around him. And, of course, he has that height. You can't teach that."

King, who spent four months playing in Iran, knows what it's like to play in a foreign country.

"I'm Muslim, but you always wonder what it will be like," King said. "The media makes it seem like everything in Iran is bad. I was treated very, very well."

Rouzbahani isn't so naive as to think everyone will welcome him to a new country. He said he saw an HBO special on former Celtics great Bill Russell that commented on how Russell helped make things better for black players in the NBA.

"I would like to do that same for players from the Middle East," he said.

He has high hopes. "I have no doubt I can do this if I work hard and grow."

[Excape Goat]

Iran finished 5th in the Asian championshp behind China, South Korea, Qatar and Lebanon. Qatar and Lebanon has great professional leagues with many foreign players. They are actually Asian powerhouses. Iran was the surprise team of the tournament. They matched up well against China and beat Japan. Yuta Tabuse was not with the Japanese NT.

At the Asian Youth Championship, the two Iranian giants actually played well against Tang Zhengdong and Yi Jianlian. Tang will probably become the next Chinese NBA player, but would be no more than a backup. Yi is considered to be a future first round draft choice. That was when I took noticed.

As of now, Rouzbahani is expected to be 2nd round pick!!!!

[gomichigan24]

hmm maybe the lakers can take him and groom him as the replacement to shaq

[JG]

Interview with Rouzbahani:

http://www.asia-basket.com/iri/iri.asp

Excerpt:

What would be the first thing you'd buy with the money of an NBA contract?

JR: I would buy a big house for my family and get a driver's license and buy Hummer for me.

[hawk_claw]

wow...i dont mean to be too judgmental....but many international players like this don't reall survive in the NBA....jus look at darko milicic.....i read a huge ESPN magazine article on him.....and he is hardly playing for the Pistons....Maybe these guys are really good...but i just don't see them being too big in the NBA

[astabooty]

wow...i dont mean to be too judgmental....but many international players like this don't reall survive in the NBA....jus look at darko milicic.....i read a huge ESPN magazine article on him.....and he is hardly playing for the Pistons....Maybe these guys are really good...but i just don't see them being too big in the NBA


ummm... darko is 18yrs old and is coming from a different culture and style of basketball. not everyone is lebron james.

[Excape Goat]

The two Iranian kids will only be a second rounder at most. They canot be compared to Milicic. Both supposed to have the giantism disease.

[Hecho en Mexico]

wow...i dont mean to be too judgmental....but many international players like this don't reall survive in the NBA....jus look at darko milicic.....i read a huge ESPN magazine article on him.....and he is hardly playing for the Pistons....Maybe these guys are really good...but i just don't see them being too big in the NBA
darko is a loooong term project for the pistons.

[hawk_claw]

darko is a loooong term project for the pistons.

i dont see him improving in Detroit...he should join a young team who will need him in the long run

[skipshady]

i dont see him improving in Detroit...he should join a young team who will need him in the long run
You do realize that if Darko grew up in America, he would be going to college this fall? And you're judging him after just one year? Silly.

Detroit was ready to win now, and didn't mind having someone sit on the bench for a year or two. No need to rush him.

[microbrew]

Darko is STILL eighteen years old (as of today). Having said that, GMs are still rushing to draft tall atheletic international projects in the hope of finding the next Dirk Nowitzki or Pau Gausol.

I have to admit, some of these mystery big guys lead me to think that teams are looking for the next Gheorghe Muresan (sans Billy Crystal). The NBA has a long history of 7+ ft. tall stiffs and washouts. That's hardly anything new. For example, I'm thinking of the late Yinka Dare and Benoit Benjamin.

[Excape Goat]

In Turkey, they have a 8 ft tall player named Sultan Kosen. He will be the next freak show to enter NBA. He does not even play basketball until last year. He is now with Galatasaray.