Former second overall draft pick Hasheem Thabeet is in Charlotte working out for NBA teams, tweets Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Thabeet worked out in front of representatives for the Rockets, Raptors and Pistons.
Thabeet, 31, has not appeared in an NBA game since the 2013/14 season when he played in 23 games with the Thunder. The 7’3″ center from Tanzania, drafted by the Grizzlies in 2009, also had stints with the Rockets and Trail Blazers.
After three productive seasons with the University of Connecticut, Thabeet failed to translate that success to the NBA. While Thabeet played in 68 games as a rookie and 66 games in 2012/13, he never averaged more than 3.1 PPG in a season.
Following a two-year run with the Thunder, Thabeet bounced around several organizations, including the Pistons and 76ers. Thabeet also had several stints in the G-League. In recent years, Thabeet has suited up for the Yokohama B-Corsairs of the Japanese B.League.
CBS Sports’ Reid Forgrave recently profiled Thabeet, who has been working out with the intention of making an NBA comeback. Thabeet is training with Keith Williams, an NBA trainer and skills coach who has worked with DeMarcus Cousins, Markelle Fultz and Kevin Durant.
Forgrave also noted that Thabeet had already worked out for the Raptors, Bucks and Sixers. It remains to be seen if Thabeet can complete an NBA return and adjust to the current style of play.
If he couldn’t fit in the NBA 10 years ago. He is definitely not going to fit in today’s NBA
He’s intruiging because he was pencil thin… If he’s put on some weight, he could be worth a look as a 3rd center.
Damn, good for him!
Agreed. Should at least catch on in the G-League and keep working towards NBA
Harden, Rubio, Curry, Derozan are just a few of the players who went after Thabeet
It is such a curse to have the #2 overall draft pick in the 21st century. Out of 18 picks, only Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge developed into stars. Oladipo might get there too. But all the rest are pretty much role players at best. That’s about a 15% hit rate.
Dangelo russell just made an all star as well
I forgot about Russell, but he definitely belongs in that second tier with Oladipo. However, neither of those players became good for the team that drafted them. They both flopped a bit, but managed to right the ship with new teams.
Oladipo might get there?
I can’t stand it when people ask questions that have already been answered.
Yes, he MIGHT get there. He had one good year, but he is not what I would call an established star yet. He’s on the right track, but he still has a way to go.
I would love to see him do well. I would like him to develop a sky hook!
Just wasnt good enough to leave on the court in extended minutes. Liability on offense, not nearly as dominant a defender as he was in college.
Unless he’s working on shooting the 3 he’s wasting his time. But if he can turn himself into a skinny 7’3″ dude with long range, he can find a job.
He only grabs 8 boards in the China league. Shot Zero 3s.