No afterthought: Hamady N'Diaye

[doclinkin]

Mostly I just wanted to post this picture:



But watching the post-wiz-workout interview and the very few Rutgers clips available I like the kid, love his enthusiasm and energy. Another good attitude and having him on-squad scrapping for a roster spot will certainly help fellow french-speaking african KevAn SeraPHAN.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W28as1CZ2MY[/youtube]

While basketball may have consumed him, it never defined him. He relishes the opportunity to go to college and on scholarship, a chance most Africans don't have as he points out. Even in the midst of basketball season he has an internship.

...

"It's the one thing that I used to tell everyone, I don't want to be the typical basketball player," said N'diaye. "That's one thing I don't like. I don't want to be the typical person, the typical seven-footer, the typical African. I'm not a typical anything. I'm H and what I do as H off the court is the happiest person — smiles at everybody, talks to anybody I can and try to make everybody happy. I enjoy whatever is given to me. I had a tough childhood or whatever you call it where there are better things in life. You have to take the best out of everything. I'm in a country where opportunity is everywhere."

Here.

[CaPtaiN eYeSaNo]

He seems like a good kid. Hopefully he can contribute and stick in this league.

[willbcocks]

I get the impression that NBA players from Africa are generally the friendliest, most intelligent, and most humble players in the league.

Tall players from puerto rico...not so much.

[nate33]

^
Yup, the West Africans always seem like really good guys.

On the other hand, I was listening to the NBA Today podcast a while ago and Ryan Russillo said that most GM's don't much like the African players because they tend to be "soft".

[FAH1223]

^
Yup, the West Africans always seem like really good guys.

On the other hand, I was listening to the NBA Today podcast a while ago and Ryan Russillo said that most GM's don't much like the African players because they tend to be "soft".

Hakeem wasn't

[verbal8]

^
Yup, the West Africans always seem like really good guys.

On the other hand, I was listening to the NBA Today podcast a while ago and Ryan Russillo said that most GM's don't much like the African players because they tend to be "soft".

Hakeem wasn't

He wasn't soft or he wasn't a good guy?

[nate33]

Hakeem was drafted 25 years ago. He didn't really learn basketball in Africa (he played soccer). I think what Russillo meant was that current players who learned the game of basketball in today's African leagues tend to have a soft game.

[Hoopalotta]

I had been hoping that we'd get Hamed Haddadi just so that we would have someone that we could call "La Di Da Di".

This pick saves us a lot of trouble.

[fishercob]

La Di Da Di
Check out Hamady
He don't cause trouble
He don't bother nobody....

[JonathanJoseph]

La Di Da Di
Check out Hamady
He don't cause trouble
He don't bother nobody....

[willbcocks]

+1

Classic.

[Severn Hoos]

La Di Da Di
Check out Hamady
He don't cause trouble
He don't bother nobody....

Nobody bodda me eeder!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7PEMGuA6tw

[LyricalRico]

[WizStorm]

At the very least, this guy is smart enough to know which side his bread is buttered:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sport ... 92099.html

It was the first time that Booker got to meet Wall, while N'Diaye and Wall have been hanging out since Monday night, when they met at the hotel and had a late-night workout at Verizon Center from 11:30 - 1 a.m.

"It has already started," said N'diaye about the need to develop chemistry and relationships. "From the first minute, John walked into the hotel, and I walked into his room. We started talking and from there went to the gym and starting working out. I think that’s where it starts, when people get along on the team, it shows on the court. For me, that’s what I’ve been doing for a long time now. I just get along with everybody and work with everyone. That’s one of the most important steps."

[Rafael122]

Honestly, I don't expect much from this kid. Maybe garbage minutes, but I don't see this guy having a major influence on this team.

[hands11]

^
Yup, the West Africans always seem like really good guys.

On the other hand, I was listening to the NBA Today podcast a while ago and Ryan Russillo said that most GM's don't much like the African players because they tend to be "soft".

Works for me since I was looking for us to add Alabi

We add some serious length and toughness this draft.

[hands11]

Honestly, I don't expect much from this kid. Maybe garbage minutes, but I don't see this guy having a major influence on this team.

Way to early to tell. We haven't even finalized the roster.

But so far from what we can see, he is a quality kid, mature, ground and already putting in the work.

That along with his build is reason to be pulling for him.

[doclinkin]

Nice image of Seraphin and N'Diaye yammering in french together.

The set-up:

The punchline:

[Ruzious]

Pictures deceive, but If Seraphin's got a 7'3 wingspan, I can only imagine what N'Diaye's is. Those are long arms on a long human being.

And ya gotta LOVE his attitude. It's easy to pull for him.

[Benjammin]

Pictures deceive, but If Seraphin's got a 7'3 wingspan, I can only imagine what N'Diaye's is. Those are long arms on a long human being.

And ya gotta LOVE his attitude. It's easy to pull for him.

You don't have to imagine what his wingspan is; it's 7-6. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Ham ... iaye-1219/