Former No. 2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2013/14 season, but he remains determined to return to the league, according to David Cobb of The Memphis Commercial Appeal, who reports that Thabeet is working out up to three times a day and is attempting to expand his offensive game.
“One thing that might be shocking to people is the past few months and few years that I haven’t really been playing, I’ve been working on my shot,” Thabeet said, per Cobb, who notes that the 7’3″ center is looking to develop a reliable jumper from the 15-23 feet range. “Just to be able to score away from the basket, rather than just posting up and shooting hook shots.”
Considered a rim-protecting defensive specialist out of UConn, Thabeet appeared in just 224 total games for the Grizzlies, Rockets, Trail Blazers, and Thunder, averaging 2.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 0.8 BPG in 10.5 minutes per contest. His last stint on an NBA roster came in the fall of 2014, when he joined the Pistons for training camp.
The big man, who is still only 32 years old, played most recently in Japan for the Yokohama B-Corsairs. He also worked out for NBA teams during the 2019 All-Star break, as we previously relayed.
While Thabeet’s return to the NBA looks like a long shot, he remains optimistic about his future, and figures to be on the lookout for a training camp invite as teams fill their 20-man rosters during the coming offseason.
“There’s so many things I believe I can do,” Thabeet told Cobb.
I’d like to see him play in summer league. He’s such a dinosaur in today’s game with his style of play, so it would be interesting how he would go against young athletic players fresh out of college.
Well, one thing that could help him is the fact that the NBA continues to get smaller and smaller. One issue that Thabeet always had was his inability to add weight to his frame.
In a perfect world, he could definitely fill a role as a defensive back-up 5, similar to the role Nerlens Noel occupied for the Thunder last season…
Also, if he’s able to get down a reliable jump shot, and focus on improving his passing game, then he could be a decent pick n roll player too…
Even though, he is about as fast as a turtle, there’s still a place for Thabeet in today’s NBA. He just really has to show that he’s in game shape, he locks down that jumper, and that he’s able to run the floor consistently without getting winded for 15-18 minutes a game…
He will probably end up on someone’s expanded roster, and from there it’s up to him.
I don’t understand why you say he is just 32 like that is young in basketball.
Best option for him is to play as an import for aclub team in Asia and to be the “naturalized player” of an Asian country for FIBA tournaments. Like what Andre Blatche did (Chinese club; Philippines national men’s team).
His jump shot, or lack of it, wasn’t his issue in the NBA. Or at least not the major one. General cluelessness with respect to the game? Who knows. The numbers weren’t so much ugly, as they just weren’t there. Between missed assignments, turnovers and fouls, he couldn’t stay on the court.
He is most likely broke and hurting for money so hoping he can sign a non gauranteed contract and make a few bucks when he’s cut,or a few 10 day contracts.
And I am still hoping to become a billionaire