Picked 2nd in 2009 draft by Memphis, between Blake Griffin and James Harden, he's been teetering between watching from the bench and playing well in the D League. He's played 22 minutes total this year spread over 5 games. He sounds like an interesting guy to have a few beers with: Born Feb. 16, 1987 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania… Full name is Hashim Thabit Manka… Name is pronounced Ha-SHEEM Tha-BEET… Name in Arabic means “destroyer of evil”… Son of Mr. Thabit Manka (deceased) and Rukia Manka … Has one sister, Sham, and one brother, Akbar… After growing up as a soccer player, began playing organized basketball when he was 15 years old… Is the first Tanzanian-born player to be drafted by an NBA team… Has met Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on several occasions and regularly stays in contact with him via text message… The tallest player in UConn and Memphis Grizzlies history… Earned money for his family as a runway model in Dar Es Salaam… Facilitated his own college recruitment by finding and emailing college coaches through Google… His iPod is engraved with his nickname and number, “Hasheem the Dream 34,” honoring Hall of Famer and NBA career blocked shots leader Hakeem Olajuwon… Trained with members of the US Navy Seals in preparation for the NBA Draft… Memorized the preamble to the United States Constitution in high school in Swahili before memorizing it in English… Ran a half-marathon when he was 13 years old… Along with current New Orleans Hornets’ player Emeka Okafor, helped raise $20,000 for Okafor’s “One Million African Lives” initiative as part of a “Read and Raise” Fundraiser in urban Hartford, Conn. schools… Repeated guest visitor at the Housing Center for Special Events at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families… Heavily involved in the Husky Sport Program at UConn, visiting various community centers and speaking to children on nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyle choices and academic excellence… Scored two goals in a charity soccer event against such NBA players as Phoenix’s Steve Nash and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Baron Davis in Vancouver, B.C., Canada on Sept. 19, 2009… Faced current teammate and former Missouri star DeMarre Carroll in the 2009 NCAA West Regional Final… Faced current teammate and former Pittsburgh star Sam Young in Big East competition several times throughout his college career. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hasheem_thabeet/bio.html
Nic ironically told me about a month ago that he could NEVER play in France because Tha-beet means "your cock" in French! Said he HAS to tell him once he arrives!
Nic is already passive in games. Now he has to yell "Your Cock" to demand the ball. Makes a guy stop demanding a ball.
My French is pretty rusty, but I'm pretty sure Babbit, means "little cock" in slang terms ... Nic must crack up every day at practice.
I haven't been following at all. But why does Thabeet suck so bad? I know he had very little exposure to Bball before going to UConn, but he's been around the NBA for a few years now, and should have picked up the game. Is he somewhat salvageable?
I've been following him since he was in college, not a peep about the trade, also half his posts are in another language I can't read. You can follow him @hasheemthedream if you are curious though.
If he can learn to Block Shots consistently a modern day Theo Ratliff would be solid. [video=youtube;HtZjAQM6uh0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtZjAQM6uh0&feature=youtu.be[/video]
