Here we have a catch-up interview with Behdad Sami (183-G-86, college: Linn Benton CC), who became the worlds first pro Iranian basketball player to play at any level in the USA when he signed with the Georgia Gwizzlies back in 2007. Since then, Behdad has played professionally in 4 countries as well as a couple other stints in the American Basketball Association, and NBA-DLeague workout camps prior to playing in Portugal last season.
How has your career progressed since it began in 2007?
Well, it has definitely been a tough road. No one sees the underdog story and especially what happens behind the scenes. Everyone always sees NBA players and it looks so magical, yet no one pays attention to the sacrifices, dedication, and tough route us overseas ball players take. Its not easy to just get up and leave, and be gone 6-9 months out of each year, but I do it to eventually reach my main goal of the NBA. Ive had some bumps in the road but I cannot complain. Im living my dream of playing basketball for a job, travel the world, and meet people who I consider friends, that I would have never knew existed.
What happened in Portugal? You started the season on a high note, but comparing stat wise to your previous years, it wasnt as good of a season.
Portugal was a roller coaster ride for me. I came in to a team who had just been moved up to the pro league. I wanted to bring all the leadership and skill to help them win as many games as possible. Prior to coming to Portugal, I was having difficulties with my shin, what I assumed was shin splits. Starting the season, I had a couple great games. I felt very comfortable with how I was playing and my stats at the beginning. As the season went on, my shin got progressively worse and it was to the point that before each game and practice, I was taking 4-6 ibuprofens each practice/game day. My shin started heavily affecting my gameplay. There were moments where I couldnt even jump a couple inches off my right leg. However, despite all the pain I was in, I practiced and played everyday and still gave my all. I dont make excuses for my gameplay, and I will admit, I had a bad season last year, but what basketball player hasnt had a bad season? Im looking forward to playing next season and playing the way I know I can, which is at the highest level.
Why didnt you play this 2011/12 season, any specific reason?
YES!!! Besides the NBA lockout domino effect, the main reason I couldnt play is my shin. As I mentioned before, my shin was terrible while I was in Portugal. Little did I know that the ENTIRE season in Portugal, I was playing on a broken shin! When I got back to Los Angeles, I went to one of the best soft tissue specialist in the nation and after a couple MRIs, CT-Scans, and X-rays, the results showed that I not only played my entire season in Portugal on an actual broken shin, but had 5-8 individual stress fractures to go along with it. The worst part was finding out that I could have actually snapped my shin in half and ended my career, thank God that didnt happen. Im currently being treated everyday and doing major physical therapy getting myself back to 100%. Due to this injury, I had to turn down deals from Germany, Mexico, and a couple other countries this last year. I didnt want to play and risk not only having a bad season, but having a career ending injury.
So what are your plans now? What will you do once your shin is healed?
The most important thing is that Im 100% healthy before I contact agents and teams. I want to be able to give them 100% of me and not be limited to what I can do. Im currently feeling better everyday and will be season ready by July and I plan on making a huge comeback, not only for myself, but for my career. I dont like the stats I put up last year especially when I know I can play 10x better than that, broken shin or not. My goal is to get signed to a high level team, and do what I know I can, which is help lead my team to victory. I plan to keep working hard and taking it day by day until I get my chance to get back out there and eventually get to the NBA stage.
Foolad Mahad and Petrochimi post two victories at the start of the 14th WABA Champions Cup - May 15, 2013
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Foolad Mahad and Petrochimi post two victories at the start of the 14th WABA Champions Cup. The Iranian teams are with 2-1 record after three games played.
In Day 1 Foolad Mahad overcame Champville 84:83. Both teams scored 12 points each in the first period, while Foolad Mahad took 1-point advantage at the halftime due to 24-23 rally in the second frame. Jeremiah Massey (202-F-82, college: Kansas St.) scored 18 points in the losing effort. Petrochimi meanwhile overcame Al Karkh from Iraq 77:70 [read more]
Foolad Mahad and Petrochimi post two victories at the start of the 14th WABA Champions Cup. The Iranian teams are with 2-1 record after three games played. In Day 1 Foolad Mahad overcame Champville 84:83. Both teams scored 12 points each in the first period, while Foolad Mahad took 1-point advantage at the halftime due to 24-23 rally in the second frame. Jeremiah Massey (202-F-82, college: Kansas St.) scored 18 points in the losing effort. Petrochimi meanwhile overcame Al Karkh from Iraq 77:70. In Day 2 Champville outscored Petrochimi 84:78. Jeremiah Massey scored 29 points to lead all the winners. Khatib posted 16, while Jeleel Akindele (216-C-83, college: Chicago St.) netted 13. In Day 3 Petrochimi beat their rivals Foolad Mahad 87:86. On May 14th Foolad Mahan outscorted Duhok 95:89 and today Petroshemi won over Duhok 89:80.
By cooperation of MR Agency Inc. and Haylett Sports , Petrochimi Imam Harbor could sign NBA Player Eric Dawson (206-F-84, college: Midwestern St.), for WABA Tournament during May 2013. Dawson after leaving San Antonio Spurs, went to Philippines and played for Meralco Bolts with great performance by having more than 50 points in some games and after that joined Petrochimi at Iraq for WABA tournament [read more]
By cooperation of MR Agency Inc. and Haylett Sports , Petrochimi Imam Harbor could sign NBA Player Eric Dawson (206-F-84, college: Midwestern St.), for WABA Tournament during May 2013. Dawson after leaving San Antonio Spurs, went to Philippines and played for Meralco Bolts with great performance by having more than 50 points in some games and after that joined Petrochimi at Iraq for WABA tournament.
Petrochimi , Champion of Iran 2012-2013 season, is participating this tournament with Mehran Hatami as Head Coach and some famous players as : Hamed Afagh , Hamed SohrabNejad , Ali Doraghi , Tyrone Brazelton , Ali Jamshidi .
Eric Dawson's some Awards/Achievements: Chinese ABA Marco Polo Cup Championship MVP -11 NBA D-League - Impact Player of the Year - 12 ALL NBA D-League 1st Team - 12 ALL NBA D-League Defensive 1st Team -12 D-League West Conference Runner-Up -12 D-League Champion -12
Petrochimi Bandar Imam Harbour added Tyrone Brazelton (185-PG-86, agency: Higher Vision Sports, college: W.Kentucky) to thier roster for WABA clubs Championships. Tyrone Brazelton started this season Nuernberger Basketball Club (Germany-ProA) ( Germany second league (!!) ) then moved to BC Odessa (Ukraine-Superleague). Tyrone Brazelton has also played in Latvia , Poland,Ukraine and D-League [read more]
Petrochimi Bandar Imam Harbour added Tyrone Brazelton (185-PG-86, agency: Higher Vision Sports, college: W.Kentucky) to thier roster for WABA clubs Championships. Tyrone Brazelton started this season Nuernberger Basketball Club (Germany-ProA) ( Germany second league (!!) ) then moved to BC Odessa (Ukraine-Superleague). Tyrone Brazelton has also played in Latvia , Poland,Ukraine and D-League. Tyrone Brazelton Awards/Achievements: All-NJCAA D1 1st Team -06 NJCAA D1 All-Star Game -06 Sun Belt East Division Regular Season Runner-Up -07, 08 Sun Belt Tournament Semifinals -07 All-Sun Belt 2nd Team -08 Sun Belt All-Tournament Team -08 Sun Belt Tournament Winner -08 NCAA Sweet 16 -08 Polish Cup Finalist -09 Polish League Regular Season Champion -09 Polish League Champion -09
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