KUWAIT (FIBA Asia Champions Cup) - There’s that certain deceptive look about Hamed Ehadadi. On court, the Saba Battery spearhead is as tenacious as any other center, of 217 cm height, can be in this part of the world. But off the court, the 22-year-old comes across as that naive, yet passionate, youth inspiring one to accord him the tag ‘The Gentle Giant of Iran basketball’.

“I have worked hard for everything in my life. But I think God has been very graceful in giving me the success to my hard work,” Ehadadi started the conversation with S Mageshwaran of FIBA Asia during an interview on the sidelines of the 19th FIBA Asia Champions Cup.

“When I started in Ahvaz (a south-western town in Iran, popular for sport), I couldn’t even find shoes my size,” he chuckled. “I would feel very embarrassed when my friends would mock me at my height. But today things have changed, all thanks to basketball.”

“Initially I didn’t even know what basketball was. I first thought I will become a goalkeeper in basketball, because I thought it was like football,” he chortled.

Ehadadi was first spotted, about a decade ago, by Saeed Fathi who took the tall player under his tutelage. A year of special training preceded Ehadadi’s induction into the Iranian cadet team. And the rest, as they say, is history.

History, indeed it was, when Ehadadi led from the forefront steering the Iranian National Team to their maiden triumph in last year’s FIBA Asia Championships at Tokushima (Japan), thus booking a berth in the Beijing Olympis. “It’s all like a dream,” Ehadadi reacted.

“From where I started, I couldn’t even dream that I would come this far. Let alone playing the Olympics, playing for Iran team itself was incredible for me. Now, this entry into the Olympics has changed my entire life,” he said.

Ehadadi has his agenda set for the Olympics. “It’s a great opportunity to play against some of the best teams in the world. Personally, I would have loved to play against the United States, which comprises the best players in the world. I hope we do well enough to play them in the advance stages,” Ehadadi said.

Ehadadi attributed his success to the current coach of Saba Battery Mehran Shahintab and the president of the Iranian federation Mahmoud Mashhoon along with “a lot of support from my family and friends.”

“Mr. Mashhoon is more like a father to me. He’s very fond of me. And I look up to him for anything in my life, not only basketball,” he said.

He also thinks imports are one of the factors that have helped the improvement of standards in basketball in Asia. “There are so many things I’ve learnt from the foreign players I’ve played with. When you practice with a player like Garth Joseph (of Dominica) it gives you the confidence that you can play against anybody else,” Ehadadi said. “He was also a fantastic person.”

Ehadadi also picked the Nikkah brothers – Aidin, who was killed in a road accident last year and Samad – as splendid supporters. “Watching Samad practice in itself is very motivational. Aidin too was a wonderful friend, but unfortunately we don’t have him amidst us today. With support from such players I’m sure I can continue my contribution to Iranian basketball.”

As the conversation steered to the subject of NBA I could spot a sparkle in Ehadadi’s eyes. “My next dream is to play in the NBA. It’s everybody basketball players’ dream to do so.”

“But all other dreams are put on hold. For now, my only goal is to contribute my best to the Iranian National Team in the Olympics.”

S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia