Thabeet embraces life with or without hoops

MANILA, Philippines - There’s more to life than basketball and 7-3 Hasheem Thabeet, who earned $16.8 Million in five years as an NBA center, said yesterday waking up every morning to make a difference in this world is a blessing that drives him to grow as a human being.

Thabeet, 29, is in town getting ready to play for Mighty Sports in the Dubai Invitationals on Feb. 17-25. Coach Charles Tiu has assembled an all-star cast to compete in the 10-team tournament where each entry is allowed to play two imports at a time. Thabeet’s teammates are Kiefer Ravena, Jeron Teng, Jett Manuel, T. Y. Tang, Gary David, Willie Miller, Jerwin Gaco, Beau Belga, J. C. Intal, Chris Tiu, Marcus Douthit, Dominic McGuire and Justin Brownlee. The team works out in the morning at the Urdaneta court in Makati and will leave for Dubai on Thursday.

At practice, Thabeet said he doesn’t hold back and hide behind his NBA credentials. “I go hard whenever I’m playing in a game or at practice, that’s how I am,” he said. “It’s always an adrenaline rush for me. I catch the ball, dunk it, sprint back on defense, block a shot, chase down the ball and do it all over again. If there’s somebody who’s outworking me, I don’t like it because that means I’m being lazy. Before coming to Manila, I did research on the Philippines. My father was an architect so I’ve got an interest in architecture. From books and the internet, I looked over the buildings in Manila through the years. I’m amazed at the development. I know about Boracay and I hope I can get to visit. In Tanzania where I’m from, we’ve got the Zanzibar islands which are beautiful but I heard Boracay is beautiful, too. As for the PBA, I’ve watched some games on TV and they’re competitive. My former NBA teammate Daniel Orton played in the PBA but that wasn’t for too long.”

Thabeet said he’s looking forward to play in Dubai. “We’ve got a great group of guys on our team,” he said. “We’ve developed chemistry quickly. In basketball, it’s not just about athleticism or height. It’s more about basketball IQ and playing smart. Take a look at Beau, he’s a different kind of player but don’t underestimate him. There’s a reason why he’s in the PBA and you’ve got to respect that. Willie and Gary are great shooters and they make the game a lot of fun. I’ve heard about how popular Jeron is and that he’ll be the top overall pick in the next PBA draft. In Dubai, it’ll be an honor to represent the Philippines but I know all of Tanzania will be backing me up, too. We’re playing against quality players like my former NBA teammate Sam Young so we expect the games to be exciting.”

Thabeet was the second overall draft pick in the 2009 NBA draft after Blake Griffin and his name was called even before James Harden, Steph Curry, DeMar DeRozan and Danny Green. He played for Memphis, Houston, Portland and Oklahoma City in a five-year NBA career that ended in 2014. Among his teammates were Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge.

“I couldn’t believe I was drafted so high,” he said. “Some guys start playing at a very early age but I started at 15, didn’t really play much high school basketball, did three years at the University of Connecticut and suddenly, I was the second overall draft pick. Whether you’re No. 1 or No. 15 or whatever, you must have done something to deserve being picked. Playing in the NBA is incredible. It’s about working hard. Guys show up for practice at 8 a.m. when it’s supposed to start at 9. They work hard until 2 p.m. then attend to guest appearances, media interviews and family obligations. At night, there’s the game to play. The life isn’t easy.”

Last summer, Thabeet left his two sons for six months to focus on a conditioning program designed by Frank Matrisciano, known as Hell’s Trainer, and Milt Newton who has worked with Griffin, Zach Randolph and Gilbert Arenas. “This was about growth,” he said. “I learned about the values of rest, diet, dedication and sacrifice. I accepted humiliation. I challenged myself to go as far as I could. Then, I had workouts with Washington, Los Angeles (Lakers) and New York. I know Steph didn’t get to where he is without working hard and sacrificing. Someday, an NBA team will come calling, a team that needs a rim protector to be a big piece in the rotation. Vince Carter is 40 and he’s still playing. Dwyane Wade is 35 and he’s still playing. I’m turning 30 and I know I can still play in the NBA.”

Durant is Thabeet’s close friend and inspiration. “I’m in contact with K. D. all the time,” he said. “He knows I’m in Manila right now. We’ve got the same shoe size so he takes care of me. He always tells me to keep my head up.”

The opportunity to play overseas is a blessing, he said. “I love to play and basketball is giving me a chance to travel,” he said. “I’m meeting new friends and progressing in my life. I’m finding out what it’s like on the other side of the world.”? I lost my father when I was 15 and my mother had to sell clothes to take care of my brother, sister and me. What she earned wasn’t enough to feed us for more than a day so I had no idea about our future. I quit school at 16 to work in an internet cafe, opening emails for customers. I told my mother one day, I’ll go to the US, play basketball and take care of her and our family.”