Malick Badiane
Encyclopedia
Malick Badiane is a Senegal
ese professional basketball
player. He plays mainly as a center
, but he can also play at the power forward
position. He is 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) in height.
, New Jersey
, United States
. There, he shined despite getting limited touches, emerging as one of the camp's top 30 players.
, in the German top level
), and averaged 11.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game during the 2002-03 season, making an immediate impact. He turned in a pair of 27-point performances and observers of the league believed that he blocked an average of two shots per game (blocks were not kept as an official statistic in the league).
Badiane then spent the next three years with the Skyliners
, moving to another side in the league, the Artland Dragons
, for the 2006-07 season. He would spend the 2007-08 season with JDA Dijon in the French Pro A
league.
and the next big center from Senegal, Badiane was not taken until late in the second round with the 44th pick by the Houston Rockets
. He would only appear (twice) in Summer League play for the Rockets.
Then general manager
of the Rockets Carroll Dawson
said in 2007 that Badiane was an intriguing prospect and that the Rockets still did intend to bring him to the NBA at some future point, after he had continued to develop his game and skills in Europe. Dawson claimed that Badiane still had value to the Rockets because at 6'11" and 240 pounds, he had a 7'4" wingspan, a 32" vertical leap, and was seen as a solid defensive and rebounding talent, playing both interior positions. Dawson also stated that Badiane "...is still very raw and still needs several years of skill development."
On February 21, 2008, Badiane's draft rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies
in exchange for the draft rights to Sergei Lishchuk. He played in the Las Vegas Summer League
with the Grizzlies' summer squad, and his play there earned him a spot on the team's training camp roster. However, after appearing in only one preseason match, he was waived. He then signed with the Anaheim Arsenal
of the NBA D-League.
, and has competed in the FIBA Africa Championship
in 2003, 2005 and 2007. In the 2005 tournament he helped lead the nation to the silver medal
.
Badiane also appeared at the 2006 FIBA World Championship
, which was held in Saitama, Saitama
, Japan
.
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese 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. He plays mainly as a center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
, but he can also play at the power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
position. He is 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) in height.
Early years
Badiane started his career playing for the US Rail Thies team in Senegal in the 2000-01 season. He emerged on the American basketball scene after an impressive showing at the ABCD Camp in TeaneckTeaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. There, he shined despite getting limited touches, emerging as one of the camp's top 30 players.
Europe
Badiane, then eighteen years old, signed with TV Langen in the German second division (acting as a farm team for the Opel SkylinersDeutsche Bank Skyliners
Skyliners Frankfurt, currently known as Fraport Skyliners for sponsorship reasons, is a basketball club based in Frankfurt, Germany that has played in the Basketball Bundesliga since 1999. They have won the national club competition 2000 and the national championship 2004...
, in the German top level
Basketball Bundesliga
The Basketball Bundesliga — commonly abbreviated BBL — is the highest level league of club basketball in Germany. The league comprises 18 teams. A BBL season is split into a league stage and a playoff stage...
), and averaged 11.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game during the 2002-03 season, making an immediate impact. He turned in a pair of 27-point performances and observers of the league believed that he blocked an average of two shots per game (blocks were not kept as an official statistic in the league).
Badiane then spent the next three years with the Skyliners
Deutsche Bank Skyliners
Skyliners Frankfurt, currently known as Fraport Skyliners for sponsorship reasons, is a basketball club based in Frankfurt, Germany that has played in the Basketball Bundesliga since 1999. They have won the national club competition 2000 and the national championship 2004...
, moving to another side in the league, the Artland Dragons
Artland Dragons
Artland Dragons is a basketball club based in Quakenbrück, Germany that plays in the Basketball Bundesliga. Their home arena is Artland Arena, which has room for 3000 spectators.-History:...
, for the 2006-07 season. He would spend the 2007-08 season with JDA Dijon in the French Pro A
Ligue Nationale de Basketball
The Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:...
league.
NBA
Although projected as a mid-to-late first round pick in the 2003 NBA Draft2003 NBA Draft
The 2003 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2003 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and...
and the next big center from Senegal, Badiane was not taken until late in the second round with the 44th pick by the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. He would only appear (twice) in Summer League play for the Rockets.
Then general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Rockets Carroll Dawson
Carroll Dawson
Carroll Dawson is a retired American assistant coach and general manager in the National Basketball Association. He worked for the Houston Rockets franchise for twenty-seven years until announcing his retirement in 2007....
said in 2007 that Badiane was an intriguing prospect and that the Rockets still did intend to bring him to the NBA at some future point, after he had continued to develop his game and skills in Europe. Dawson claimed that Badiane still had value to the Rockets because at 6'11" and 240 pounds, he had a 7'4" wingspan, a 32" vertical leap, and was seen as a solid defensive and rebounding talent, playing both interior positions. Dawson also stated that Badiane "...is still very raw and still needs several years of skill development."
On February 21, 2008, Badiane's draft rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
in exchange for the draft rights to Sergei Lishchuk. He played in the Las Vegas Summer League
NBA Summer League
The NBA Summer League is a period during which NBA teams come together to try out different summer rosters instead of their regular season line-ups. Typically, there is a mix of rookies and some of the younger bench players to see how well some players work with others...
with the Grizzlies' summer squad, and his play there earned him a spot on the team's training camp roster. However, after appearing in only one preseason match, he was waived. He then signed with the Anaheim Arsenal
Anaheim Arsenal
The Anaheim Arsenal was a professional basketball team which played in NBA Development League from 2006-2009. They played their home games at the Anaheim Convention Center, in Anaheim, California....
of the NBA D-League.
International career
Also a member of Senegal’s junior national sides, Badiane is an established member of the Senegal national senior teamSenegal national basketball team
The Senegal national basketball team are the men's basketball side that represent Senegal in international competition. The squad has comprised several players to have competed in the National Basketball Association, including Charlotte Bobcats center DeSagana Diop, and is considered, with those...
, and has competed in the FIBA Africa Championship
FIBA Africa Championship
The FIBA Africa Championship is the men's basketball continental championship of Africa, played biennially under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball, the basketball sport governing body, and the African zone thereof...
in 2003, 2005 and 2007. In the 2005 tournament he helped lead the nation to the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
.
Badiane also appeared at the 2006 FIBA World Championship
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
, which was held in Saitama, Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Player profile
Badiane has a long body and is considered one of Africa's most athletic players. Though he is not packing on a lot of weight, he has good definition. As an athlete, Badiane has better mobility than most of his counterparts. Although considered very raw, he is aggressive going after rebounds, blocking shots and running the floor.Personal
- Badiane has 18 brothers and sisters.
- He considers Kevin GarnettKevin GarnettKevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
his favorite player and the Dallas MavericksDallas MavericksThe Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
his favorite team NBA team.