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While Hasheem Thabeet has often been viewed as an NBA bust for his lackluster and short career, in Africa — more specifically his native Tanzania — he is seen as a pioneer, legend and role model. Back on “the continent,” Thabeet, the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NBA draft — selected ahead of such stars as James Harden, Stephen Curry and DeMar DeRozan — is still playing in the Basketball Africa League. “I wish I could have played longer [in the NBA],” Thabeet, 39, told Andscape in a phone call from Pretoria, South Africa. “Yes. It didn’t happen. So what? Life goes on. You got to keep it moving. I look at it as it was another step for me to learn something.”
Thabeet’s NBA career, however, spanned a mere five seasons as he struggled to adapt, averaging 2.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in 224 contests. After last playing in the NBA for the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2013-14 season, Thabeet bounced around in the G League, Japan, Taiwan, China and now Tanzania. “I was drafted so high, but I feel like I wasn’t the first priority, because you see these days you just don’t send a No. 2 [pick] to the G League,” Thabeet said. “So, I feel like there was so many things that happened to me where I was vulnerable. I didn’t know how to react, how to handle the situation. So, people can say whatever they want to say. It’s an opinion world these days. Everybody has their opinion. People who never played or played sports [on that level], they can say whatever they want to say. That is me now looking at it right now as a man.
“But as a young boy, of course I went through so much. So much frustration with myself. Frustration with the teams. There was a time where I felt like there was a breaking point. I stopped believing. You know what? I came from a very different world. I can’t put the burden on myself through this sport. I happened to fall in love with basketball. I got to keep it going. I can’t be like, ‘Oh, this is the guy who didn’t make it in the NBA and he quit in life.’ I’m different. I’m from a very different world.”
Thabeet, Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Olowokandi and Joel Embiid are the only Africans selected in the top three picks in NBA draft history. Thabeet is also the only East African to play in the NBA. “I was very inspired by the [African] guys who played before me,” Thabeet said. “Rest in peace to the great Dikembe Mutombo and many more that I’ve met in settings like Basketball Without Borders, Giants of Africa with Masai [Ujiri], NBA Africa with Amadou [Fall]. I’ll go to these meetings and then they look at me like, ‘Man, you made it.’ And then I’m like, ‘Man, what if I played in the NBA for 20 years? Then these kids will think I’m a basketball god with what I’ve done just a few years in the pros.’ But they’re looking at me [positively]? I got to keep going.”
Michael Scotto: Former No. 2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet is signing with the Kaohsiung Steelers in Taiwan, agent Jerry Dianis told @hoopshype. Thabeet will join former No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett on the team. Jeremy Lin previously played for the Steelers as well. pic.twitter.com/Tw2iJpatCz
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Former No. 2 draft pick Hasheem Thabeet signed with Chinese team Sichuan Blue Whales for the 2022-23 season.
Michael Scotto: Former No. 2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet is expected to play in China for the 2022-23 season, his agent Jerry Dianis told @HoopsHype. Thabeet has offers from multiple teams, including the Jilin Northeast Tigers and Fujian Xunxing Sturgeons.
Hasheem Thabeet is looking to make an NBA comeback, his agent Jerry Dianis told me on Saturday. The 7'3" big-man just won MVP honors while playing in Taiwan for the Hsinchu JKO Lioneers. "Bottom line Hasheem Thabeet was given a opportunity, and he killed it," Dianis told me. "MVP performance with career highs in points, rebounds, minutes played, assists and steals. Thabeet averaged 18.3 points, 14.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game.
"With the recent conclusion of his season in Taiwan, Hasheem is an unrestricted free agent," Dianis added. "He is in the best shape of his life as certified by his recent MVP performance. Hasheem looks forward to helping an NBA team that needs his athleticism and size off the bench. I have no doubt Hasheem will be inundated with worldwide opportunities."
JD Shaw: Former No. 2 pick Hasheem Thabeet has signed a contract in Taiwan with the Hsinchu Lioneers, agent Jerry Dianis tells @HoopsRumors. Story posting soon.
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Former No. 2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet has re-entered unrestricted free agency after a teammate in The Basketball Tournament tested positive for COVID-19 at the start of the month. Thabeet, 33, was set to compete with the “Playing for Jimmy V” team during the annual tournament, but event rules mandate that any team who receives a positive test be disqualified from competing in the bracket any further. Thabeet tested negative for the coronavirus, a person with knowledge of the situation said.
“What I can bring to a team right now is a defensive aspect in the paint,” Thabeet told Hoops Rumors. “You have to know your role. I believe I can bring in defensive plays at a high level. “I’m ready to control the paint and get back to playing at a high level of basketball. I really believe I can still play at a high level once I get that one chance, then we’ll go from there.”
Scott Agness: Mad Ants waiving 2009 lottery pick Hasheem Thabeet. The center appeared in nine games and averaged 4.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
Scott Agness: Mad Ants draft Hasheem Thabeet with the 18th overall pick of the #GLeagueDraft with a pick acquired from Windy City. Amida Brimah suffered a season-ending ACL injury this week.