When the news surfaced that, Hasheem Thabeet, is headed to the Development League (D-League), the reaction among Tanzanians especially the users of social networks such as Facebook and blogs were overwhelming. I guess the big question in lots of folk’s minds was; what is a D-League? Does it suggest that he is no longer going to be playing in the usual NBA league? Well, it depends on a lot of things. You can read more about the D-League and its implications or benefits to Hasheem career by clicking here and also here.
The social networks such as Facebook and blogs were immediately stuffed with comments and opinions. Some were wishing him a “quick comeback “to the NBA, while some couldn’t hesitate to throw jabs on him in the sentiment of “we told you”.
I guess the news was “worth the talk”, because not only Hasheem is the first Tanzanian ever to play in the NBA, but also the highest draft pick ever to go to the D-League. Thabeet, who has played sparingly in his rookie season, averaging 2.5 points in 10.3 minutes over 50 games, has been optioned to the Dakota Wizards. He made his debut yesterday when Dakota Wizards played Erie Bayhawks. Dakota Wizards won 108-103.
Before his debut in the D-League, I had caught up with Hasheem with only one question in my mind; about his reaction following the demotion to the D-League. This is how it went;
BC: Hasheem, what is your reaction to this whole thing of moving to the D-League?
HASHEEM THABEET: My reaction about D-League…Uhmmm… well I’m excited to participate in the D-League. I’m looking forward to playing and maximizing this opportunity to be on court and use the skills that I have developed thus far rather than to be on the bench.
Right now the key for me is consistency court time as I am still learning the Pro Game. I know Coach Hollins has my best interest at heart so I’m happy with his decision which I believe is to make sure that I stay active.
Now I know this is the time for the haters and all the doubters to talk and say whatever they have because they have been waiting to bring me down for a minute. So it’s my downtime and I promise I’m not backing back. It’s a new saga that has started. Plus I’m still be getting the same cheque… it’s not like they are not gonna pay me the usual. So I’m still good and soon I’ll be back!!! And oh by the way, I’m only going there for 6 games. So I will be back sooner than they are thinking.
**BC would like to wish Hasheem all the best in the D-League and eventually his return to the NBA.
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22 Responses to ““I AM STILL GOOD AND WILL BE BACK SOON”-HASHEEM THABEET”
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Ni vizuri kukuona uko positive nafikiri Rehab really works!! Only my advise najua watasema na wamesema muhimu kujua nini Unatakiwa kufanya muangalie Tyreek Evans siku ya Draft alikuwa mnyonge kuona hajaitwa mpka 4th round pick when he got pick anawaonyesha watu kuwa he deserve to be 1st round pick.he works hard he shined every games he has no time for twitties and other stuff which can put his mind out of games.My point is Hashimu remember where you’ve been through until you got there,fanya mazoezi kwa bidii punguza kuparty be serious hayo mabo ya kutwites and other stupid blogs live them alone do ur things.critisize you mighty ignore them but on other hand affected you psychologicaly.Hautakiwi kujigamba unapata same cheque unatakiwa kuonyesha kiwango na media to write about you in positive way and not negative.Jaribu kujiwekea extra program fot trainning kam akina kobe japokuwa ana mafanikia makubwa NBA still has extra time to practice apart from Lakers.
Dont let haters talk.Dont lat all negative prediction comes true.Work hard kijana
Hasheem when you see or hear people say whether good or bad about you I know you might be angry and think that they are hate you,It might be some they do but most of Tanzania wishes u good future.
Being the first Tanzania to join NBA isnt a minor thing so anybody has the right to say the same as when we heard previous on Tigger Wood scandle, people do say you just stick on what you pursure and desire for,however dont close ur ears to hear and work on the good comments from Tanzania guys.
I believe ur better and still ur able to do much better than even before.
Make this to be the lesson knowing that all us we learn through mistakes.
Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward.
God Bless U.
kijana
kujana haterz,u stil got da same cheque and all dat haitakiwi hakuna aliyetaka upelekwe d league ni wewe ndio umefanya yote sidhani kama ungekazabuti ungepelekwa huko,alafu hukutakiwa kuongea hayo hayo ni maneno ya kushindwa kijana,usitengeneze chuki kwa watu walio kuwa wanafurahia mafanikio yako,watch ur mouth kijana fanya mambo kisomi,fanya mazoezi sana kutoka d-lg kurudi tena nba unatakiwa ufanyekazi ya ziada maana kunawatoto wengi wanaitaji hiyo nafasi kutoka kilapande ya dunia,lasivyo utarudi bongo kucheza r.b.a!!hela sio kitu kitu kikapu kijana ingekua hela wakina lebron wasingekaza kivile usionyeshe kuwa upo kwa ajili ya hela onyesha love ya mpira kijana utafanikiwa sana!!its ur boy D-MONEY FRM WEST COAST
This guy never got it and he never will…. I mean worrying about paycheck? instead of other important things?
“I’m still be getting the same cheque… it’s not like they are not gonna pay me as usual”. Kwa kweli hiki ni kipindi cha kuwaza zaidi career yake na sio pesa tena. Nafikiri anahitaji mwanasaikolojia amuweke sawa katika kipindi hiki la sivyo ataharibu zaidi!
This guy should not respond to haters like that…he’s creating a good reaon for pple to hate him further.
it also goes to show how much he is in it for the money rather than for the love of the game…same pay check??? gosh u sound like a kid responding to haters like that!
hasheem im from Tz i love to see all my Tz pple prosper and making my country known. I’m proud of you and Tz. but if u carry on with silly comments like that you gonna lose respect from a lot of pple.
get a PR manager or just dont tlk back at all.
Don’t blame haters because it is your fault! And please don’t be excited to be into D-League! Look this it takes even more than 2 years for a person in D-league to get back into NBA! You have to admit that you are lazy! And Please don’t be a liar cause you will not get the same pay check in D-league….It might be a quarter of what you got in NBA (acha kuwadanganya waTZ) D-league wanalipwa $25,000 a year sasa unasema eti utapewa the same check! People love you but unapojishaua hakuna wa kukufagilia!! My advice; go to gym make sure that you stay active na sio kuumia kila mara! This is America wanakupa pesa yao lakini hawataki visingizio…..na acha matanuzi kijana (not too much)!
Dude…!
Your statements tells us a lot now about you.
Seems you don’t get it and seems you don’t know what you suppose to do.
Six games in D-league?really?haters they brought you down?really?,the same money?really? “you are immature”
All Tanzanian wish you the best,until then..work hard…!!
nadhani kijana anahitaji msaada wa kisaikolijia kama alivyosmea anon hapo juu, nimeshtushwa sana na kauli yake kuhusu haters!! jamani hivi hao haters ndio waliokupeleka huko au umejipeleka mwenyewe mbona huo ni uswahili uliopitliza angalia kauli zako zisikufanye ukapoteza wapenzi wako. halafu nadahni pia kijana anapenda sana malumbano kuna wakati niliwahi kumsikia kwenye TV akilalamika kuwa kuna watu ambao wanajidai wamenisaidia kufika marekani wakati sio kweli sikuona kama alikuwa na haja ya kuwajibu hao watu yeye angekaa kimya tu kama alikuwa anaujua ukweli, malumbano si kitu kizuri kabisa halafu wewe bado mdogo na midomo ya watu ni simu. kwa ushauiri hiyo ulitakiwa uichukulie kama challenge na ukaachana na haters. inaelekea unaishi kwa ajili ya watu.
i think this is time to you to grow up and be gentle man and look for good adviser,kijana umeteleza kaza buti usianguke,yote umeyatafuta,unaacha kuangalia proffesinal yako unacheka na kenge mabua lazima uvune any way it’s just a part of plan do wat you have to do for the best and not for the worth in life.god blees you in D league the same cheque
Mie kama mama nakushauri mwanangu achana na mambo ya kulumbana kwenye blogs wewe hata wakikunanga just keep quite na uendelee zoezi utafika tu jazba haitokusaidia najua utaweza tu tena soon inshaallah!
Mr. Thabeet as a big fun of yours from Kenya I’d like to give you just a few tips.First of all the haters did not bring you down.Your skills did.Haters have no control over coaches’ decisions.Secondly,please cut this crap about “getting the same cheque”.You come across as very arogant.Remain humble and stay positive.We all know you will be back.Finally,the best way to deal with “haters” is don’t respond to their criticisms.This will only help validate their negative opinions.Goodluck to you ndugu yetu!
Mungu alikupandisha daraja ya juu ukaona haitoshi na kutaka ya juu zaidi, kwenye harusi ya mtoto wa waziri Mkuu Pinda jamaa alikwa amekaa kwenye kiti kama mtu aliyechoka sana sasa mama aliyeambatana nae sijui alikuwa mama mzazi au shangazi akauliza kama jamaa angeweza kwenda kutoa zawadi kwani alikuwa anasikia usingizi, akaambiwa kuwa haiwezekani yeye kutoa zawadi kabla ya rais, bila kujua itifaki yule mama akauliza kwani kuna ubaya gani Hashim kutoa zawadi kabla ya Rais! maskini hata itifaki hawajui au ndio tayari alishakuwa level moja na Rais wetu, angalia jinsi mungu anavyotupaniga daraja azitakazo na si tuzitakazo. omba dua za watanzania tulio nyuma yako na utafanikiwa achana na haters
Hasheem Thabeet Learns The D-League Is Harder Than It Looks
by Mike Prada • Mar 3, 2010 10:06 AM EST
The NBA Developmental League is a foreign world. A world where barely anything is given to you, unlike in college, where you got coddled. (To prove this point, one D-Leaguer once told me players got just $35 a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is a far cry from the NBA).
Hasheem Thabeet is coming from a different world, one where he was a high draft pick from a great college program. Much was given to him, and in return, much was expected. Thus far, however, he hasn’t delivered on those expectations, so the Grizzlies sent him down to the D-League, where he’s finding you don’t get anything given to you. Not even equipment bags for sneakers.
He had just made his debut with the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League, but he was still finding his way. Where was the equipment bag for his sneakers?
“Hasheem, this is the D-League,” Wizards coach Rory White told him. “And in the D-League, you carry your own sneakers.”
Welcome to the D-League, son.
Unaweza soma zaidi kupitia hapa
http://www.sbnation.com/2010/3/3/1334708/hasheem-thabeet-dleague-nba-developmental-league-grizzlies-dakota-wizards-shoes
Naona huyu aliporudi nyumbani na kutamba jamaa walimroga…hajakua na shuleni ni kilaza kweli. Hapo ni ZERO. Mtaniambia
The plush surroundings of all those Ritz Carltons and Four Seasons have disappeared. These days, Hasheem Thabeet(notes) rests his head in a two-star motel in chilly Bismarck, N.D. Gone, too, are the charter flights and all the legroom they afforded.
Eight months ago Thabeet was celebrating his selection as the second overall pick of the NBA draft. He now holds a new distinction: the highest pick ever to be sent to the NBA’s Development League. That’s not to say Thabeet has lost all his star power: In honor of his arrival, the Dakota Wizards discounted general-admission tickets for Wednesday’s game to $2.
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Hasheem Thabeet (center) is the highest NBA draft pick to ever play in the D-League.
(NBAE/ Getty Images)
For Thabeet, the D-League is home, at least for a little bit, and he’s determined to make the best of it.
People in the NBA are “definitely looking at it negatively,” Thabeet said. “ ‘He’s the No. 2 pick. He’s not supposed to be there. I can’t believe that guy is over there and he’s the second pick.’ But you got to go and work your way up there. I’m working my way up here, working on my confidence.
“When the time comes, I’ll be able to answer the call.”
The Memphis Grizzlies decided they couldn’t pass on Thabeet’s potential to become a shot-blocking giant when they drafted the 7-foot-3 center. A second-team All-America from the University of Connecticut, Thabeet drew comparisons to former NBA defensive great Dikembe Mutombo(notes). In doing so, however, the Grizzlies passed on more NBA-ready prospects like Tyreke Evans(notes), James Harden(notes), Jonny Flynn(notes) and Stephen Curry(notes).
Thabeet’s high draft selection earned him a $4.5 million salary for his rookie season, and he admits to feeling immense pressure to succeed immediately. His contributions, however, were much more modest: Before being sent to Dakota, he was averaging 2.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and two fouls in 10.3 minutes per game. He’s struggled to adjust to the quicker pace of the NBA and his offensive skills still need considerable refining.
“People are expecting a lot from you,” Thabeet said. “Your teammates back from high school and college. Your college coaches, everyone that knows you. They’re all expecting a lot from me. That’s a lot of pressure. But now I have to look at it as motivation to work even harder. They sent me out here. I got to show them, ‘OK, this is not where I belong.’ I just have to keep working hard and my time will come.
“I put myself into this situation. Now I got to deal with it.”
Thabeet’s rookie season reached a low point when he recently lost his place in the rotation to second-year center Hamed Haddadi(notes). Thabeet’s confidence needed a boost, and for that, he needed minutes. So the Grizzlies decided to send him to the D-League for six games. Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said Haddadi benefited from his stay in the D-League last season, and the hope is that Thabeet will do the same.
“We’re looking to give Thabeet playing time and experience,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. “We’re looking for development.”
In Dakota, Thabeet is playing for the league’s smallest-market team in a city with frigid temperatures and a black population of .028 percent. After playing two games in Fort Wayne, Ind., the Wizards flew to Detroit and then to Minneapolis on commercial planes before finally reaching Bismarck. Not quite the posh non-stop charter flights Thabeet was accustomed to taking with the Grizzlies. If Thabeet gets bored, he has the Kirkwood Shopping Mall and Dakota Zoo nearby to hang out.
“It’s pretty cool, but there is not much really to do,” Thabeet said. “I’m just focused on what brought me here. I’m on a mission and I want to show people what I’ve been working on.”
Thabeet’s arrival has generated some interest in Bismarck.
About 20 media members showed up for his introductory news conference. Ryan Carlson, the Wizards’ director of group sales and media relations, had 40 ticket requests from friends for Thabeet’s home debut, which drew a crowd of 2,544, about twice as large as normal. Thabeet didn’t disappoint, totaling 18 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks in a 109-81 win over Albuquerque. Afterward, he was greeted by several fans waiting in line for his autograph. Through three D-League games, Thabeet has averaged 15 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocks while shooting 68 percent.
Dakota coach Rory White said Thabeet remains a “work in progress.” “Right now, it’s all about getting him some confidence, and the only way to do that is to get him some minutes in a real game,” White said.
Thabeet hasn’t grumbled about his D-League assignment. Born in Tanzania, he hasn’t forgotten that he began playing organized basketball just seven years ago. It’s not too long ago that he was emailing coaches and schools, begging for an opportunity to play in the United States.
To Thabeet, this is just another stop in his long, unusual journey.
“This is my job,” Thabeet said. “I just got to come out here and do what they want me to do – my job. I got to continue to work on my weaknesses and get better on them.
Man..this is one issue that has NBA followers asking them selves, kana jamaa ni bigest bust ever au vipi.
Kiufupi tu katika articles za nyumba kama wadau mnakumbuka nilikoment kuhusu huyu jamaa kama akaze buti, na ingekua vizuri zaidi kama angepata kucheze timu yenye veterani ili asome game kwani mdau bado ana muda mdogo sana kwenye hii gemu, pia nilisema kama Mark Gassol ni the most emprove young center na itakua vigumu sana jamaa kumuweka benchi kwa jitihada zake, na kama asipoangalia na tabia yake ya kujirusha ataozea benchi….
mdau hapa akajibu kwenye interview nyengine kama kuna watu wanongea sana, he was second pick in a draft for a reason, that’s why he get 4.5 Mil kwa mwaka kwani Memphis wanajua potential yake.
Sote tunajua kama mara nyingi siku ya draft huwa huna choice ya kwenda timu unayotaka kwahiyo pengine usingeweza kupata timu ya veterans kwa mfano blair kwenda spurs, na naamini kama hakuna mtanzania hata mmoja anayetaka usifanikiwe.
Dude u have to MAN UP. NBA sio ligue yaki lele mama, u have to put number on board, either diffensivelly or offensivelly. and Dude ur numbers succs.
labda sisi wengine tunaongea sana au kama unavofikiria kama ma heita, basi hata wataalamua wa hili gemu kama charles Barkleys na Cris Webber nao wanasema ovyo,
Nba unajajiwa kutakana na statistics zaco na averaging 2.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and two fouls in 10.3 minutes per game is NOT good statisticly, for some one who was chosen 2nd overall on draft day, thats why you find you self in D-Ligue.
Personaly i still have faith in you, i still think you have the cutting edge to deliver ndani ya NBA..and i hope you get another chance..probably you will this season, lakini you have to be tough MR..or that could be the biggest pay check you get while ur in NBA.
Now you should prove a point to these people who put you there, i have seen some of your highlight from D-ligue…Son get that elbow jumper cumming, dominate diffensively then u will be the one to watch.
Kawaida ya NBA Center huwa wanachukua muda kujiestablish, kama Boggut wa Bucks.. u just have to make sure u take your chances when you get back son,,muumize kichwa kocha wako..mpe number za haja, chip in dakika za Gassol..+ i Rank you much better than Hadadi, push him aside and take back your number Son, U was born to do this son.. thats why ur 7-3..
Next time im watching NBA highlight i want Crish Webber to say something like ” If u want to score on Memphis hoop u have to overcome that Mount KILIMANJARO OF TANZANIA” the tollest mountain from AFRICA.
Man up Son.. u got the whole Nation watching you watu hawachukii wanataka ufanikiwe ili ufungue milango kwa wengine.
http://readbetweenthebaselines.blogspot.com/ hii ni kwa ajili ya waosha vinywa!!! hamjui hata mnaongelea nini, kazi kuropoka tu.. naomba uwaonyshe articles kama hizi jeff ili waache kuongea uharo.
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010
Why Send Thabeet to the D-League? So we don’t have a blog called FreeHasheem
(Photo from Yahoo)
Here’s an update about Hasheem in the D-League by Marc J. Spears. From the article:
People in the NBA are “definitely looking at it negatively,” Thabeet said. “ ‘He’s the No. 2 pick. He’s not supposed to be there. I can’t believe that guy is over there and he’s the second pick.’ But you got to go and work your way up there. I’m working my way up here, working on my confidence. “When the time comes, I’ll be able to answer the call.”
Take that however you want it, but I believe it. He’s not getting playing time in Memphis and the Grizzlies are fighting for a playoff spot, so putting Hasheem in game action in the NBA to learn on the fly isn’t quite an option at this point in the season.
I’ll repeat that.
Putting Hasheem in game action in the NBA to learn on the fly isn’t quite an option… at this point in the season.
People seem to think this automatically means that Hasheem Thabeet is a BUST and that the Memphis Grizzlies are dummies who should have picked Tyreke Evans or James Harden or ANYONE ELSE not named Blake Griffin. But for reasons already stated, hey it’s just not happening AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON. I keep saying that. Because people think that going to the D-League means you are in the D-League forever. False. Your team can call you up whenever they want you back, which for the Grizzlies is if they fall out of contention for the playoffs!
Let’s look at some other players who after being drafted, were assigned to the D-League:
Jose Barea, January 17, 2007 (Wiki) – After appearing in only 12 games getting less than 5 minutes, the Dallas Mavericks sent their undrafted rookie to the D-League, called him back two weeks later. He still didn’t get a lot of playing time, but he did get more, appearing in 21 games for the second half of the season. He now averages 20 minutes a game for a playoff bound Mavericks team. Again, undrafted. D-League success.
Aaron Brooks, December 6, 2007 (NBA.com) – After appearing in 2 games, getting 3 minutes in one and 30 seconds in the other, the Houston Rockets sent their 1st round 26th draft pick to the D-League, called him back a week later, and proceeded to play in every game for the next two and a half months. He had a bell curve going from 5 minutes to 10 to 20 at the top in the middle of January, and then back to around 5 minutes at the start of March. He now averages 36 minutes and 20 points as a starting PG for the Rockets. D-League success.
Jordan Farmar, March 31st, 2007 (NBA.com) – After getting sporadic play behind… Smush Parker, the Lakers sent Farmar to the D-League to get some game action. After his first D-League game, the Lakers called him back to the team, that day to play against the Kings. His second season, he played in all 82 games and averaged 9 points and 3 assists playing behind Derek Fisher. Now he’s struggling on the bench not getting the bulk of back up PG minutes with Shannon Brown but he’s still averaging 18 minutes. He also won a championship! I’d call this a D-League success. He’s probably going to be the next starting PG for the Lakers.
Marcin Gortat, November 20, 2007 (NBA.com) – The 2nd round draft pick hadn’t played in a single game. The Magic sent him to the D-League and didn’t call him back until March. He still hardly played. The next season, he doubled his minutes to 12 per and was made famous in the playoffs and Finals against the Lakers. So much so that Dallas offered him the mid level exception to play significant minutes for the Mavericks who needed a big man behind (or even to start in place of) Erick Dampier! The Magic matched which was so idiotic (but I won’t go into that again, see my previous posts: Orlando Offseason, Gortat Update). He can play, it’s just the Magic only play him 12 minutes. I label this a D-League success.
I could delve into more draftees/rookies being sent from their team to the D-League and getting better (Brandon Bass, Ramon Sessions, Martell Webster). I could delve into D-League success stories where players started out in the D-League and got signed to NBA teams (Rafer ALston, Chris Andersen, Matt Barnes, Jamario Moon, Mikki Moore, Von Wafer). But my main point is that the D in D-League stand for development, not dog house, not dunce, not dumbass draft choice, but development. Of course we’d like to see Memphis play Thabeet but they have a chance at making the playoffs and he’s not there yet. Sending him to the D-League gets him solid game action and playing time. He will NOT be another infamous #2 draft pick, such as Darko Milicic.
My tangent – Darko Milicic
(Photo from NY Times)
Why didn’t Detroit send Darko to the D-League? Granted there were no D-League teams near Michigan at the time (Wiki), he seriously could have used the playing time. His rookie season he averaged 1.4/1.3/.2, 4:40 minutes in 34 games for the playoff bound (eventual champions) Detroit Pistons. Doesn’t this sound familiar? Why would Larry Brown give him decent minutes to a young PF/C for a team trying to get into the playoffs and win a championship? Why would Marc Lavaroni give decent minutes to young C Thabeet, for a team trying to make the playoffs. Compare the numbers: Thabeet this season – 2.5/2.9/.1, 10 minutes in 50 games. Better than what Darko was putting up.
The D-League would have kept Darko in game shape and he would have gained valuable in game experience, which is exactly what Hasheem will get. Hasheem shouldn’t be ashamed of going to the D-League. He should be thanking the Grizzlies for a chance at some real playing time. If he didn’t go to the D-League, he’d still be laughing stock of sports writers and in 3 years, he’d be the next Darko. There is no blog called FreeHasheem and if Hasheem takes the D-League seriously, which it sounds like he is, there won’t be need for one. He said “When the time comes, I’ll be able to answer the call.” I believe him.
hasheem kikwete alikujaza ujinga ambao one day utajutia i like u mate it was a big step foward lakini mimi sikupendezewa na habari nilizo sikia kutoka bongo if u knew that u had already won the bingo ungekaza buti ukafanya mazoezi makali kusudi uwe fit than ever,i tell u what uku UK wachezaji wanajitolea kutokwenda holiday anabaki camp anafanya mazoezi ili msimu ukianza awe ready SASA WEWE UNAENDA BONGO I DON’T KUSHOOO OFF AWU I’M NOT AGAINEST U BUT U MADE A BIG MISTAKE BUT U ARE STILL YOUNG U CAN COME BACK STRONGER THAN EVER.ALL THE BEST
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