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http://www.presstv.ir/detail/157139.html'Grizzlies discriminating against Haddadi'
Memphis Grizzlies' Iranian center Hamed Haddadi has been deprived of many of the privileges enjoyed by his teammates due to his nationality, his family says.
“During our recent conversations, Hamed has more than once complained that he is deprived of privileges because he is Iranian,” Haddadi's brother Ahmad said on Saturday.
Ahmad Haddadi told IRIB that his brother “has to pay for anything within the club,” which is otherwise free for other members of his team.
“For instance, the Spanish player does not pay a dime for his purchases,” he said in an apparent referral to Marc Gasol.
“Even with his three-year contract with the Memphis [Grizzlies] he hasn't been allowed to play for the team as much as he did last year,” the brother of the 7-foot-2 player said.
Despite having received offers from European teams such as the Spanish League club FC Barcelona, Hamed Haddadi is likely to extend his contract with the Memphis Grizzlies until 2013.
The first Iranian NBA player joined Memphis in 2008. He was signed after becoming the only player to average a double-double (16.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks) in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Haddadi also helped Iran clinch its first Olympic basketball berth since 1948 after he poured in 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Lebanon in the 2007 FIBA Asian Championship in Japan.