Behdad Sami
Encyclopedia
Behdad Sami is an Iranian American professional basketball player. Behdad was the world's first Iran
ian basketball player to play professionally at any level in the United States
when he played in the minor-league American Basketball Association in 2007. In October 2010, he became the first Iranian to play pro basketball in Portugal.
where he attended for two years. Upon graduating, Behdad received a full ride athletic scholarship to Linn-Benton College in Albany, Oregon
where he played one season in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges
(NWAACC) prior to turning pro.
for the Georgia Gwizzlies
in the American Basketball Association (ABA) & also professionally overseas. Standing at six feet with only a 7 foot 4 vertical arm reach, his dunking vertical leap is measured at 46" and has a 40 yard dash time of 4.469 seconds. In SAQ (speed, agility, quickness) tests done in December 2008, he managed to touch a 10 foot 9 inch mark on a concrete surfaced facility. Sami has played in many different countries and different leagues around the world including major-league professional teams in Iran and Qatar. Behdad started the 2010 season with the San Diego Surf (ABA) but within the first month of the season was signed to play with the Guifoes Sport Club in Portugal's ProLiga.
"Quest for G; The Series". This was a reality show about training athletes, and turning them into Olympic ready athletes for their specific individual sport. Although Sami was selected for his accomplishments and athletic ability in basketball, due to the concept of individual sports, Sami, with the approval of Gatorade decided to attempt their trials for tennis because of his strong background in that sport.
. During the basketball off-season in recent years, he has ventured into the entertainment industry as an actor, producer, and writer. He is co-owner and co-founder of KTJB productions. Sami is currently an actor in the film production of “The Winner” which is set to release fall of ’11. In May of 2011, Sami posed for the NOH8 photo campaign, showing his support to the silenced men and women around the world. In February of 2011, Kallusive clothing began its sponsorship of Behdad, making him the first Iranian basketball player in the USA to be sponsored by a major clothing brand. Behdad is also endorsed by O.N.E Coconut Water which started their sponsorship in August of 2011.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian basketball player to play professionally at any level in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when he played in the minor-league American Basketball Association in 2007. In October 2010, he became the first Iranian to play pro basketball in Portugal.
High School
Sami graduated from Southridge High School in 2005. Prior to graduating from Southridge, Sami transferred from Lake Oswego High SchoolLake Oswego High School
Lake Oswego High School is a public high school in Lake Oswego, Oregon. LOHS is accredited through the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.-History:...
where he attended for two years. Upon graduating, Behdad received a full ride athletic scholarship to Linn-Benton College in Albany, Oregon
Albany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
where he played one season in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges
Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges
The Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges, commonly called the NWAACC , is a sports association for community colleges in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington, and the Canadian province of British Columbia....
(NWAACC) prior to turning pro.
Professional career
Behdad started his professional career playing point guardPoint guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
for the Georgia Gwizzlies
Georgia Gwizzlies
The Georgia Gwizzlies are a basketball team that currently plays in the American Basketball Association. They once played in various men's minor leagues: the Continental Basketball League , the American National Basketball League, and their original stint in the American Basketball Association...
in the American Basketball Association (ABA) & also professionally overseas. Standing at six feet with only a 7 foot 4 vertical arm reach, his dunking vertical leap is measured at 46" and has a 40 yard dash time of 4.469 seconds. In SAQ (speed, agility, quickness) tests done in December 2008, he managed to touch a 10 foot 9 inch mark on a concrete surfaced facility. Sami has played in many different countries and different leagues around the world including major-league professional teams in Iran and Qatar. Behdad started the 2010 season with the San Diego Surf (ABA) but within the first month of the season was signed to play with the Guifoes Sport Club in Portugal's ProLiga.
Gatorade - Quest for G; The series
In spring of 2009, Sami was hand picked from thousands of top athletes around the world to be apart of GatoradeGatorade
Gatorade is a brand of sports-themed food and beverage products, built around its signature product: a line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, distributed in over 80 countries...
"Quest for G; The Series". This was a reality show about training athletes, and turning them into Olympic ready athletes for their specific individual sport. Although Sami was selected for his accomplishments and athletic ability in basketball, due to the concept of individual sports, Sami, with the approval of Gatorade decided to attempt their trials for tennis because of his strong background in that sport.
Personal Life
Behdad is currently a bachelor and resides in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. During the basketball off-season in recent years, he has ventured into the entertainment industry as an actor, producer, and writer. He is co-owner and co-founder of KTJB productions. Sami is currently an actor in the film production of “The Winner” which is set to release fall of ’11. In May of 2011, Sami posed for the NOH8 photo campaign, showing his support to the silenced men and women around the world. In February of 2011, Kallusive clothing began its sponsorship of Behdad, making him the first Iranian basketball player in the USA to be sponsored by a major clothing brand. Behdad is also endorsed by O.N.E Coconut Water which started their sponsorship in August of 2011.