Aboubakar Zakai?

[damelo]

Abou is going to play for Gravelines this year as their second center.

[JCM]

This name popped up on espn's draft preview.

Aboubakar Zakai
7-1, 220 | Age: 21
Country: France
Born: Niamey, Niger

http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2009&playerId=19392&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnbadraft%2fdraft%2ftracker%2fplayer%3fdraftyear%3d2009%26playerId%3d19392

Never heard of this guy, and couldn't find out much more on google (guessing the name could be spelled differently).

So anyone know this kid and where he plays?

It is Aboubakar "Roger" Zaki

http://www.keyhoops.com/asp.net/main.players/card.aspx?player=24401&mode=averages&season=0

[damelo]

Niger has a NT?

[Aegis]

I don't think so.
I can't confirm, but I don't remember him ever ditching the club during the season or pre-season to go with the NT, so unless Niger had games scheduled in july, he probably has never played for them yet.

[vaslover]

So guys, did he play ever for Niger NT or not yet?

[damelo]

What I read about him is that his family owns one of Niger's most important newspaper. So, I think he has not too many financial problems.

About the Nigerien, I was not sure about English version, but it is this way in French though.

[Aegis]

it's Zaki, not Zakai. He is said to be 2m15 / 2m14 on lnb.fr / Nancy's site.

He averages 1.2 pts 0.7 rebounds in 4 minutes. Hardly NBA material. Most of the Nancy fans had a good laugh when they learned he was in the draft.


As said before, he was scouted for his athletic abilities rather than basketball abilities and he is kinda new to the game. His defense is naive and weak and he hasn't anything to show in offense (beside dunking when he is put in position thanks to a good pass from a teammate). He is also not a great rebounder.

Our coach doesn't make the youngsters play too much, so he doesn't play much. He even lost the small bit of trust the coach had and he is playing less and less. (he played 10+ minutes in the first 3 games, but his playing time kept diminishing even though our american center Rod Benson was sucking and couldn't adapt to the team / european game)
He is now the fourth center in the roster (behind the 2 full-fledged centers (Benson was replaced) and power-foward Samnick who can also play center at times) and even when Julian (our first center) is injured, the other players have to be threatened by the fouls for him to even get to play.

He is rumoured (you know how rumours go, can't be sure if it's really deserved or not) to think very highly of himself. What's sure he is lazy and doesn't seem very concerned during the warm-up before the games. He spends most of it shooting 3-pointers.

Anyways, I think he'll withdraw from the draft. He is just trying to make his name more known so he can find a new team (I don't think he'll still be under contract next year and we won't give him a new contract since the coach consider him as freaking useless).

oh, and sorry for the weird spelling / grammar. It's 4:30 AM

[rikhardur]

Ha you got me krikit I thougt it had been a spelling mistake

[krikit]

You're forgetting Olajuwon

Olajuwon = Nigerian = Nigeria
Zakai = Nigerien = Niger





thanks for the info damelo & Silver.

[rikhardur]

the firts Nigerien to become pro basketball player

You're forgetting Olajuwon

[damelo]

He is called Abou Zaki in Nancy.

he is tall, not 2m20, a little less, the firts Nigerien to become pro basketball player, but not very skilled. I didn't see him play this year, but a few times last two years, and at first he seemed to be just starting playing, but improving quite well. Still, he'll never be a very technical guy. He is tall, that is his main skill at the Pro A level.

http://lnb.fr/index.php?pid=9&from=2008&id=A34282&type=1

His percentages increased! Whouhou!
Next year, his role may increase with Julian's retirement(maybe, maybe not).

[Silver]

Nancy Champion of french league (Z.A. Aboubakar) :

http://www.bbcd.org/stats_equipe.php?num=10&Div=1&JD=1&JF=26

[krikit]

This name popped up on espn's draft preview.

Aboubakar Zakai
7-1, 220 | Age: 21
Country: France
Born: Niamey, Niger

http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2009&playerId=19392&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnbadraft%2fdraft%2ftracker%2fplayer%3fdraftyear%3d2009%26playerId%3d19392

Never heard of this guy, and couldn't find out much more on google (guessing the name could be spelled differently).

So anyone know this kid and where he plays?