Houston Rockets Assign Hasheem Thabeet to NBA Development League Affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Published on March 21, 2011 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
NEW YORK, Mar. 21, 2011 - Houston Rockets center Hasheem Thabeet was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets' NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today. The assignment marks the 48th time in the 2010-11 season an NBA player has been assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate, and it is the second assignment for Thabeet, a second-year pro out of Connecticut.
Thabeet, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, is the 34th NBA player to be assigned to the NBA D-League this season, which is an all-time high. The Memphis Grizzlies, who drafted Thabeet, assigned him to the Dakota Wizards last season, where he averaged 13.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.8 blocks in six games.
Thabeet (7-3, 263) has appeared in 115 career NBA games, averaging 2.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.9 minutes. As a rookie with Memphis last season, Thabeet led the NBA in blocks per 48 minutes with 4.84 (min. 60 games). He also averaged 11.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in five games with Memphis' 2010 NBA Summer League team. Thabeet has appeared in two games with Houston since joining the Rockets via trade on Feb. 24.
The first Tanzanian-born NBA player, Thabeet played three collegiate seasons at Connecticut, averaging 10.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.17 blocks in 100 games. Thabeet led the Big East in blocks all three seasons, and his 4.17 average ranks 11th in NCAA history. Thabeet was an AP All-America Second Team selection and the Big East Co-Player of the Year in 2008-09. He was also named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and National Defensive Player of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in both his sophomore and junior seasons.
Thabeet joins the Vipers for the team's home game tonight against the Idaho Stampede. Rockets fans can keep track of Thabeet and the Vipers by logging onto NBA.com/dleague to watch every game live, online, for free.
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