Iran's Arsalan Kazemi still hoping to latch on with 76ers

LAS VEGAS - Turn back the calendar to June 27, 2013. Arsalan Kazemi became the first Iranian-born player drafted into the NBA when the Washington Wizards selected him 54th overall. Later that night, the Wizards traded him to the 76ers.

"I can't talk about it enough," Kazemi said a day later of making history. "[Iranians] are really excited, and this was my dream since 15 years ago. I get to [live out] my dream. And this keeps everyone else's dream alive back in, not just my country, but the region of the Middle East."

That dream has not been realized yet. The 6-foot-7 power forward had played for the Sixers only in summer leagues. Outside of that, the franchise, which holds his NBA rights, has stashed him overseas.

Kazemi played for Petrochimi Bandar of the Iranian League in the 2013-14 season.

He spent last season with the Chongqing Fly Dragon of the Chinese Basketball League. He is an undersized post player with subpar offensive skills, so one has to assume that the Sixers will assign him overseas once again this season.

However, Kazemi is at the NBA Summer League trying to show that he deserves consideration for a spot on the team's 15-man roster.

The 25-year-old takes averages of 5.5 points and 9.5 rebounds into a game against the New York Knicks Tuesday at the Thomas & Mack Center. His best performance came Sunday in an 85-76 loss to the Boston Celtics.

Kazemi finished with a game-high 13 rebounds to go with seven points, two assists and a steal.

What he lacks in size and athleticism, Kazemi makes up for with hustle, grit, and a high basketball IQ. He dove on the court for loose balls, took charges, and made heady decisions.

Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie "knows what I can do and what I can bring to the table," Kazemi said.

"I'm just trying to do that to perfection. I'm hoping that . . . it leads to being a part of this team."

But the Sixers already have seven post players on the roster in Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Furkan Aldemir, Joel Embiid, Jason Thompson, Carl Landry and Richaun Holmes. Another player, Jerami Grant, will see some time in the post. Holmes (elbow), Landry (wrist), and Embiid (a second foot surgery ahead) all have injuries.

Even with the injuries, Kazemi will have a tough time making the team.

But he has always had the odds stacked against him on the basketball court.

"He started at one university [Rice], transferred [to Oregon], played in the Pac-12 and played well. That's why he's here," said assistant coach Lloyd Pierce, who is coaching the summer-league team. "He's a competitive player. He's an energetic player. Any level of basketball needs a guy like that."

Point guard Tony Wroten is expected to return from a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee by the start of the regular season. He had surgery Feb. 3.

@PompeyOnSixers

www.philly.com/deepsixer