BREAKING:  Seconds after the following photo was taken, Hamed Haddadi tore his shackles in half, ate the trainer trying to subdue him, and smashed through an Izod Center wall in East Rutherford, New Jersey.   Haddadi then crossed the Hudson river and was last seen heading towards New York City.

No, I’m just trying to be funny.  This picture reminds me of the movie King Kong when they corralled the huge monster, brought him into a theatre to show him off to startled New Yorkers, only to eventually break free and terrorize the Big Apple.

It’s just a Memphis Grizzlies’ trainer doing resistance training with Hamed Haddadi, the first Iranian to ever play in the NBA, before his game against the New Jersey Nets on January 7th, 2009.   Thus far, the 7-2 Haddadi has played in three NBA games, and in roughly 11 minutes of play.  Hamed has missed his only field goal attempt, hit both his free throws, and pulled down five rebounds.

Ehadadi came out of nowhere last year when he led the Olympic field in both blocks and rebounds as the Iranian basketball played in their first Olympic Games in 50 years (Iranian basketball last appeared in 1948).  Because of his accomplishments, Haddadi is currently nominated for Interbasket’s Asian/Middle East Player of the Year – see all the other nominees here.

Links and Resources:  Hamed Ehadadi the next big thing (Interbasket),  Vote: The 2008 All-World Team (Interbasket), 2008 Asian/Middle East Player of the Year (Interbasket)