Esteban Batista
Encyclopedia
Esteban Damián Batista Hernández (born September 2, 1983, in Montevideo
) is a Uruguay
an professional basketball
player currently with Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball League
and Euroleague. He is also the first ever Uruguayan to play in the NBA.
in 2001. He then moved to the second division of Spain, the Spanish LEB League
in 2003.
on September 12, 2005. He made his NBA
debut on November 2 of that year, going scoreless in 6 minutes of play time against the Golden State Warriors
. In his first NBA season, Batista averaged 1.8 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game in 8.7 minutes per game, in 57 games played.
On September 26, 2007, Batista signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Boston Celtics
. On October 16, 2007, however, Batista was waived by the team.
, he signed with the Euroleague
club Maccabi Tel Aviv.
club Triumph Lyubertsy
in December 2008, but left the club shortly thereafter for personal reasons.
at the summer of 2009. In January 2011, he signed with the Euroleague
club Caja Laboral
.
. During the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, which was held from August 22 through September 2, in Las Vegas
, Batista averaged 20.8 points per game and 12.4 rebounds per game.
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
) is a Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player currently with Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball League
Turkish Basketball League
The Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
and Euroleague. He is also the first ever Uruguayan to play in the NBA.
Pro career
Batista began his pro career in the Uruguayan LeagueLiga Uruguaya de Basketball
The Liga Uruguaya de Basketball is the most important basketball league from Uruguay.-List of Champions:...
in 2001. He then moved to the second division of Spain, the Spanish LEB League
Liga Española de Baloncesto
Liga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league...
in 2003.
NBA
Batista was signed as a free agent by the Atlanta HawksAtlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
on September 12, 2005. He made his NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
debut on November 2 of that year, going scoreless in 6 minutes of play time against the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. In his first NBA season, Batista averaged 1.8 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game in 8.7 minutes per game, in 57 games played.
On September 26, 2007, Batista signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. On October 16, 2007, however, Batista was waived by the team.
Israel
On the same day that he was released by the CelticsBoston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, he signed with the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
club Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Russia
Batista joined the Russian Super LeagueRussian Basketball Super League
The Russian Basketball SuperLeague is a men's professional basketball league that was the pre-eminent league of Russian professional basketball until 2010...
club Triumph Lyubertsy
Triumph Lyubertsy
BC Triumph Lyubertsy Moscow Region is a Russian professional basketball team that is located in Lyubertsy, Moscow Oblast, Russia. The club competes in the PBL. Their home court is SH Triumph.-History:...
in December 2008, but left the club shortly thereafter for personal reasons.
Spain
Batista signed a three year contract with Alta Gestión FuenlabradaBaloncesto Fuenlabrada
Baloncesto Fuenlabrada, S.A.D. is a professional basketball team based in Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain, currently playing in the Liga ACB. The club was founded in 1981 as C.B. Fuenlabrada, and promoted to the Spanish Top Division in 1996...
at the summer of 2009. In January 2011, he signed with the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
club Caja Laboral
Saski Baskonia
Saski Baskonia, S.A.D., known as Caja Laboral for sponsorship reasons, is a Spanish professional basketball club from the Basque city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain...
.
Uruguayan national team
Batista is a member of the Uruguayan national basketball teamUruguay national basketball team
The Uruguay national basketball team is the basketball side that represents Uruguay in international competitions.Uruguay's best achievement in basketball was obtaining the bronze medal in the both the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics.-Current squad:...
. During the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, which was held from August 22 through September 2, in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Batista averaged 20.8 points per game and 12.4 rebounds per game.