“It’s true. I have been exchanging emails with Joe Dumars [Detroit Pistons’ President], who has asked me to come in summer,†revealed Khatib, who is 32 years old. He added: “I don’t know yet if I am going. Playing in the NBA is something professional players dream of, but I have a family and I am starting a new project here.†[Source]
My friend was telling me the Pistons are serious about it and are being critisized for bringing in a 32 year old basketball player with no NBA experience. I never really liked Khatib but I wish him luck and hope he’ll be joining them soon.
He was already deprived from this chance some 10 years ago when he was playing for Sagesse. That’s probably the last chance he’ll ever get to join the NBA.
The Detroit Fans however don’t seem very happy about it. [Link]
That’s pretty cool but I can understand why Detroit Fans would be upset. 32 years old is pretty old in NBA years and for someone to come in from a country no ones heard about with zero NBA experience and isn’t 8feet tall… it doesn’t make sense for the fans.
Dailystars photo of him isn’t helping… is that white hair??
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Sports/Basketball/2012/Jan-19/160430-detroit-pistons-in-contact-with-lebanons-fadi-al-khatib.ashx#axzz1kMQPKDw1
“He was already deprived from this chance some 10 years ago when he was playing for Sagesse” is not really accurate, Lebanon is not a professional league, Fadi went to the try outs and he sucked, that’s why they didn’t take him, he’s a good player but too slow to be an NBA player. If he was really good enough and the NBA wanted him, don’t you think he would have made a big fuss about how Sagesse didn’t let him?
Bilal,
He made a fuss about it and negotiations stopped after he was unable to get a release paper from his club Sagesse.
Also, with his age he would be a great fit with Dallas, the team with the oldest average age of 30 🙂
Detroit are too young for him, 27!
I hope he does it. I mean it’d be cool for Lebanon. I’d support the Detroit team for his sake.. and considering there’s lots of Arabs and Lebanese there– they could expand on their fan base with Arabs 😛
That is incredibly amazing!!! Wael Khatib deserves it, he has been playing since forever and it’s about time someone notices his talents!
But with his family thing going on, I am not sure if he’s gonna accept the offer.
Who’s Wael el Khatib?
Fadi’s kid brother. 😛
Haha, I am sorry guys, I meant Fadi El Khatib. My bad.
Go, go man, Lebanon there is no future here!!
what issue with his family?