Age:
27
Hometown: Ahvaz, Iran
Birthday: May 19, 1985
Height: 7-2
Weight: 265
Position: C
Experience: 4 years
Draft: Undrafted
2012-13 Salary: $1,300,000
Consult our advanced stats page for a glossary and discussion of the preceding metrics.
Season Outlook: It’s hard to make of what Hamed Haddadi brings to the Suns other than another big body in practice. Most likely traded for simply because his contract matched Sebastian Telfair’s in a trade with the Toronto Raptors that also netted the Suns with a second-round draft pick, Haddadi also replaces Luke Zeller in the frontcourt. Zeller was released from the team before the trade deadline to open up a roster spot for Marcus Morris.
— Kevin Zimmerman
Biography: A national star in his native Iran, Hamed Haddadi was the first Iranian player to make his way to the NBA. Haddadi has only played professional basketball in his native Iran before coming to the United States. He made himself available for the 2004 NBA Draft, but Haddadi remained overseas and last played for Saba Battery Tehran before signing with the Memphis Grizzlies as a free agent in 2008. Coincidentally, Haddadi debuted in the NBA against the Suns on Dec. 30, 2008. He has also spent time with the Dakota Wizards of the D-League.
Haddadi’s international fame grew as a leader of the Iranian national team, as he led the team to gold medals at the 2007 and 2009 FIBA Asian Championships — both times he was named MVP. With a Twitter following of more than 385,000, Haddadi blows social media guru Jared Dudley’s online fame out of the water.
— Kevin Zimmerman
Links to ValleyoftheSuns coverage of Haddadi: