NBA Basketball School players got a special guest at practice when former NBA center Hasheem Thabeet joined a training session and spent time on the court with our athletes.

Standing at 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m), Thabeet is one of the tallest players to have played in the NBA. He grew up in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and played college basketball at UConn. In 2009 the Memphis Grizzlies selected him second overall in the NBA Draft, and he became the first Tanzanian-born player to reach the league. Over his NBA career he also played for the Houston Rockets, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he was part of the Thunder team that reached the 2012 NBA Finals.

During his visit, Thabeet shared his journey with our players, from his early days in Tanzania to competing against the best in the world. He also shared some valuable points with us. He spoke about taking education seriously and finding your role on a team, then mastering it. He talked about digging deeper when the game gets hard, and trusting coaches who see your potential and want to help you reach it. Our players had the chance to ask him their own questions and learn more about what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

For our players, it was a chance to learn the game from someone who has lived it at the top. Moments like this are a big part of what makes NBA Basketball School different. Our players train with a proven program, and they also get to meet NBA legends and pro players up close and hear their stories. It’s an experience you’ll only find with us.

We thank Hasheem Thabeet for his time and energy, and for inspiring our players. We look forward to welcoming more guests to our courts.