TEHRAN (2016 FIBA Asia Challenge) - Few players in Asia can boast of having made an impact on the world of basketball as much as Hamed Haddadi has.

The 2.18m native of Ahvaz, Iran has been a fixture of Team Melli's men's national team since 2006, and since then has become one of the most iconic players from the continent. He has transcended boundaries and cultures, finding success not just in his native country, but also in other places like China and the NBA.

There is no doubt that Haddadi has been the most dominant big man in Asia in the post-Yao-Ming era, leading Iran to numerous podium finishes and championships. With Haddadi at the vanguard, Team Melli have reached unprecedented heights, playing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and in two FIBA Basketball World Cups (2010 & 2014).

This year, however, with Haddadi already turning 31, the big guy will take on an elder statesman role with the Iranian national team. Similarly revered teammates from his golden generation (e.g. Samad Nikkhah Bahrami, Mahdi Kamrani and Hamed Afagh come to mind) have all but given way for a younger set of players to step in, and Haddadi will be expected to be the sage whose years of experience should help temper his upstart teammates’ hot-blooded approach to the game.

This doesn’t mean, however, that Haddadi will be a mere cheerleader from the sidelines. On the contrary, he shold still figure prominently for Iran, and, without a doubt, he continues to be a potentially unstoppable force who could almost single-handedly carry the team to the nexus of the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge. Heck, he may even win another MVP trophy along the way.

FIBA.com recently got to talk to Haddadi.

FIBA.com: Will Iran make the hat-trick next month in Tehran?
Haddadi: It's been a long time Iran wasn’t hosting a main basketball event. Our aim is to play the best we can and to win title for third time at home.

FIBA.com: Will you aim for the MVP award once again?
Haddadi: Becoming MVP is one thing, but I only think about Iran winning the trophy. I will do everything within the team system so we can reach our goal.

FIBA.com: Iran has a young team; what do you think of them?
Haddadi: The average age of our team is lower now, and we don’t have experienced players like Samad, Mahdi and Hamed Afagh. Yes, the team is younger, and for these young players, this is a good opportunity to gain experience and show their talents.

FIBA.com: Which teams are you looking forward to face?
Haddadi: All the teams are good, and every game is a great challenge for us. We look at all teams the same way.

FIBA.com: Besides Iran, which teams are favorites to win the FIBA Asia Challenge?
Haddadi: Any team who comes here wants to win the trophy; no one comes to lose. Iran, China, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines, Kazakhstan and Jordan are the ones favored in my opinion to reach the top 8.

FIBA