Nov 25 2008
Iranian Basketball Player Joins the Grizzlies
Iranian basketball player Hamed Hadadi has shown interest in playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. The 7′2” Hadadi is Iran’s basketball team’s best player and he proved his skills during the last Olympics.
Yahoo Sports quoted the NBA legal councel, however, reminding the Grizzlies that “a federal statute prohibits” dealing with “Iranian nationals.” Hamed Hadadi responded that though he has received many offers from European teams, his dream is to play in the NBA. Yet, by November 2008, the Grizzlies and Hamed Hadadi were able to cooperate so as to enable the Iranian basketball player to land in Memphis and join their team. Perhaps that this collaboration between Iran and the United States is a precursor to other collaborations to come that may better the relationship between the two countries.
