TEHRAN – Iran national basketball center Hamed Haddadi says that playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) was once his dream.

Then came the year 2008, when the Memphis Grizzlies signed free-agent Haddadi, and he remained a member of the NBA team for five years.
“Playing in the NBA was my boyhood’s dream. I recall waking up at 6 am to watch the NBA matches. One day my coach told me that he has received a three-year contract from the Memphis Grizzlies for me. I couldn’t believe that my dream had come true. My first year in America was spent in a perplexed state of mind. I could not believe that I was living my dream, playing against my childhood’s super stars,” Haddadi said.
Iran basketball team have yet to win the Asian Games, however, Team Melli have already claimed one silver and three bronze medals in those games.
“There is no guarantee to win the gold medal, but we are determined to end the title drought in the Asian Games,” Haddadi stated.
“We lost to South Korea in the final match of the 2014 Asian Games. This time, though, we want to collect the title in Jakarta,” the 2.18m Iranian basketball player noted.
Haddadi has also played in Chinese basketball club Sichuan Blue Whales in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
“Basketball is the first sport in China, nevertheless, the Chinese football clubs are among the highest-paid teams,” Hadaddi concluded.