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.

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.

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.

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