NBA stars descend on Manila

MANILA, Philippines - It isn’t just Gilas’ naturalized player Andray Blatche, France’s Tony Parker, Boris Diaw and Nicolas Batum and Canada’s Tristan Thompson, Joel Anthony and Cory Joseph brandishing NBA credentials in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the MOA Arena starting today.

Although they’re the most popular major leaguers in the competition, there are others with NBA lineage like France’s Mickael Gelabale, Nando de Colo and Joffrey Lauvergne, Senegal’s Hamady Ndiaye, Turkey’s Omer Asik and Semih Erden and Canada’s Anthony Bennett and Tyler Ennis. Their presence adds luster to the tournament and takes the action on the court to a higher, more competitive level.

Blatche, 29, played nine years in the NBA with Washington and Brooklyn straight out of high school, averaging 10.1 points in 564 total games. He was an import with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association the last two seasons and may be considering a return to the NBA. A reliable source said several NBA teams are reaching out because it’s rare for a player his size to be as versatile. Suiting up for Gilas at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, Blatche was No. 2 in scoring (21.2 points), No. 1 in rebounding (13.8) and No. 1 in double-doubles (5). There’s surely a place for Blatche somewhere in the NBA.

Parker, 34, has played 15 NBA seasons, all with the San Antonio Spurs. At this point in his NBA career, Parker has bankrolled over $133 Million compared to Blatche’s $39.7 Million. He’s signed to play for the Spurs until the 2017-18 season. Parker said he hopes to play four or five more years with the Spurs then retire to live in San Antonio. He stands to earn $30 Million the next two seasons. Parker saw action for France at the 2012 London Olympics where Les Bleus finished sixth after losing to Spain, 66-59, in the knockout quarterfinals.

Parker averaged 11.9 points with the Spurs last season, his lowest clip since norming 9.2 points as a rookie in 2001-02. What he’s proudest of is his four championship rings with the Spurs.

Diaw, 34, was the Atlanta Hawks first round pick in the 2003 NBA draft. Before joining Parker at San Antonio, the 6-8, 235-pound power forward suited up for Atlanta, Phoenix and Charlotte. Diaw’s father Issa is from Senegal while his mother Elisabeth Riffiod was a French women’s national team player. In the NBA this past season, Diaw averaged 6.3 points and shot 55.4 percent from the field.  He has played only on one San Antonio championship team in 2014.

Batum, 27, is a 6-8 forward who was the Houston Rockets’ first round pick in the 2008 NBA draft. He played his first seven years with Portland and last season, moved to Charlotte. Batum’s contract was recently renewed by the Hornets to the tune of $120 Million for five years. Batum hit at a 15.5 clip for France at the 2012 Olympics.

Gelabale, 33, is a 6-7 forward who played two seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2006-07 and 2007-08 before the franchise transferred to Oklahoma City then returned to see action for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2012-13. Like teammate Flo Pietrus, Gelabale was born in the French overseas territory Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.

 De Colo, 29, is a 6-5 sharpshooting off-guard who was the Spurs second round pick in 2009 and played for San Antonio and Toronto. Lauvergne, 24, was Memphis’ second round pick in 2013. The 6-11 center has played the last two seasons with Denver.

Ndiaye, 29, was a former PBA import with Kia in last season’s Governors Cup where the 7-foot center averaged 17.6 points and 15.2 rebounds. Before moving to the PBA, Ndiaye was with the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings. Senegal’s NBA star Gorgui Dieng of Minnesota declined to play in Manila.

Turkey’s NBA veterans are the 7-foot Asik and 6-11 Erden. Asik, 29, has played six years with Chicago, Houston and New Orleans, earning a total of $39.7 Million. He is contracted to play four more years with the Pelicans to earn an additional $47 Million. Asik was Portland’s second round pick in 2008. Erden, 29, was the Boston’s second round pick in 2008 and has played for the Celtics and Cleveland on a two-year salary of $1.2 Million.

 Two other Turks were drafted in the NBA. Cedi Osman, 21, was Minnesota’s second round pick last year and Furkan Korkmaz, 18, was Philadelphia’s first round choice this year. Oklahoma City’s Enes Kanter and Ersan Ilyasova are from Turkey but they opted to skip the Manila qualifier. NBA veterans Hedo Turkoglu and Memo Okur, both Turks, are now retired from basketball.

Thompson, 25, played a key role in the Cavaliers’ ascent to the NBA throne last season. The 6-9 power forward/center from the University of Texas is a late addition to the Canadian roster. Thompson was born in Canada and his parents are from Jamaica. Joseph, 24, is also a University of Texas product. His father is from Trinidad and Tobago. Joseph was the Spurs’ first round pick in 2011 and played on San Antonio’s 2014 title squad before transferring to Toronto last season. 

Anthony, 33, is a 6-9 center who played on the Miami Heat title teams in 2012 and 2013 with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Although undrafted, Anthony has played 10 years in the NBA, seven with Miami, one with Boston and two with Detroit.

Bennett, 23, is from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and has played for Cleveland, Minnesota and Toronto in the last three NBA seasons. The 6-8 forward was the NBA’s first overall draft pick by Cleveland in 2013. Ennis, 21, suited up for Phoenix and Milwaukee the last two NBA campaigns, averaging 4.1 points in 79 total outings.

Canada’s head coach Jay Triano played for the national team in three Olympics. Triano, 57, was the Raptors head coach and Portland assistant coach before joining the Phoenix Suns as the associate head coach starting next season. He coached Canada at the 2000 Olympics and 2002 World Cup. Triano was once head coach of the Georgia national team.