{{Short description|Iranian–American basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography | image = Behdad_sami_in_Portugal_free_image.jpg | caption = ''Behdad Sami'' | position = Point guard | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lb = 200 | league = | team = Free Agent | number = 20 | nationality = Iranian - American | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|6|20}} | birth_place = Iran | highschool = Southridge High School | college = Linn-Benton Community College | draft = | draft_year = | draft_team = | career_start = 2007 | career_end = 2014 | years1 = 2007 | team1 = Georgia Gwizzlies | years2 = 2008 | team2 = Kaveh Tehran | years3 = 2009 | team3 = Al Wakrah | years4 = 2010 | team4 = San Diego Surf | years5 = 2011 | team5 = Guifoes Sports Club | awards = *First Pro Iranian Player in USA History *First Pro Iranian Player in Portugal History *(3x) Best Defensive Player *ABA Dunk Contest Nominee (2007) *ABA All Star Game Nominee (2007) *Most Inspirational Player }}
'''Behdad Sami''' (born June 20, 1986) is an Iranian American professional basketball player.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/fantasy/pickone2007/pickone_033009.html|title=NBA.com "Honored first Pro Iranian"|website=NBA.com |access-date=2009-04-30| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090429015608/http://www.nba.com/fantasy/pickone2007/pickone_033009.html| archive-date= 29 April 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>''Breaking News from the ABA'', SLAM Magazine, Issue 121 p. 24.</ref> Behdad is the world's first Iranian basketball player to play professionally at any level in the United States when he played in the minor-league American Basketball Association in 2007.<ref name=slam>{{cite web|url=http://slamonline.com/online/columnists/2007/11/the-big-league/|title=SLAM Online Article|date=July 2007|access-date=2007-11-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ABA Basketball|url=http://www.insidehoops.com/aba.shtml#ixzz16v2Vm3dI|publisher=Inside Hoops|access-date=13 December 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101219215018/http://insidehoops.com/aba.shtml| archive-date= 19 December 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/09/14/haddadi.camp/|title=NBA.com Behdad featured article|website=NBA.com |access-date=2009-09-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927063807/http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/09/14/haddadi.camp/|archive-date=2014-09-27}}</ref> In October 2010, he became the first Iranian to play pro basketball in Portugal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Portugal/basketball.aspx?NewsID=207289|title=Behdad signs with Guifoes Sports Club|access-date=2010-10-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.planetabasket.pt/dev/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12731%3Airaniano-vem-para-portugal&catid=76%3Aproliga-noticias&Itemid=202|title=Sami and Guifoes Club make history|access-date=2010-11-02}}</ref>
==High School and College== Behdad graduated from Southridge High School in 2005. Prior to graduating from Southridge, Sami attended Lake Oswego High School for two years, but due to complications between him and the varsity head coach, he later decided to transfer. Sami's transfer was a result of one specific incident, where the varsity head coach referred to him as "Osama bin Laden" during practice.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20040512/weboswego12/lake-oswego-district-investigating-boys-basketball-coach|title=Lake Oswego District investigating boys basketball coach|access-date=2004-05-12 | work=The Seattle Times|date=2004-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://koin.com/2015/01/06/ex-player-lake-oswego-ignored-shoff-issues/|title=Ex-player: Lake Oswego ignored Shoff issues|access-date=2015-01-06|work=Koin News|date=2015-01-06|archive-date=2015-01-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110050045/http://koin.com/2015/01/06/ex-player-lake-oswego-ignored-shoff-issues/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/clackamas-county/2015/01/07/shoff-lake-oswego-basketball-fired-sami/21382201/|title=Former Lake O student says coach called him 'bin Laden'|access-date=2015-01-07|work=KGW News|date=2015-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110031356/http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/clackamas-county/2015/01/07/shoff-lake-oswego-basketball-fired-sami/21382201/|archive-date=2015-01-10|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://highschoolsports.oregonlive.com/news/article/4224707300348795426/mark-shoffs-rise-and-fall-at-lake-oswego/#comments|title=Mark Shoff: The rise and fall of Lake Oswego's boys basketball coach|access-date=2015-01-16 | work=Oregonlive|date=2015-01-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/246237-113880-lake-oswego-high-dismisses-boys-basketball-coach|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322224328/http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/246237-113880-lake-oswego-high-dismisses-boys-basketball-coach|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 22, 2017|title=Lake Oswego High dismisses boys basketball coach|access-date=2015-01-08 | work=Portland Tribune|date=2015-01-08}}</ref> Upon graduating, Behdad received a full ride athletic scholarship to Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon where he played one season in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) prior to turning pro.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/recruiting/wide/index.ssf?/recruiting/bbasketball-05.frame|title=2005 Oregon Basketball Recruit signees|access-date=2005-10-25|work=The Oregonian}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
==Professional career== Behdad started his professional career playing point guard for the Georgia Gwizzlies in the American Basketball Association (ABA) & also professionally overseas.<ref name=slam /> Standing at six feet<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zww.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3558998|title=Behdad Sami ABA Dunk contest|date=13 November 2007|access-date=2007-11-13}}</ref> with only a 7-foot 4 vertical arm reach, his dunking vertical leap is measured at 46" and has a 40-yard dash time of 4.469 seconds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3731692|title=Behdad Sami rejoins the Gwizz|date=23 October 2008|access-date=2008-10-23| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081026075136/http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3731692| archive-date= 26 October 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> In SAQ (speed, agility, quickness) tests done in December 2008, he managed to touch a 10-foot 9-inch mark on a concrete surfaced facility. Sami has played in many different countries and different leagues around the world, including major-league professional teams in Iran and Qatar.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.asia-basket.com/team.asp?Cntry=Qatar&Team=3394&Page=4|title=Qatar D1 Al Wakrah|newspaper=www.eurobasket.com |access-date=2011-01-07}}</ref> Behdad started the 2010 season with the San Diego Surf (ABA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=ABALIVE&t=c&s=basketball&p=NewsStory&newsID=11329|title=Behdad signs with ABA's San Diego Surf|access-date=2010-10-19}}</ref> but within the first month of the season was signed to play with the Guifoes Sport Club in Portugal's ProLiga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guifoessportclube.com/2010/11/behdad-sami-e-reforco-do-guifoes-sc.html|title=Behdad Sami, huge addition to Guifoes Club|access-date=2010-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326103534/http://www.guifoessportclube.com/2010/11/behdad-sami-e-reforco-do-guifoes-sc.html|archive-date=2011-03-26|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFJzuvScWjs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/IFJzuvScWjs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=VIDEO:Behdad Sami highlights from Guifoes vs Angra (Portugal)|website=YouTube |access-date=2010-11-14}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Following his season in Portugal, Sami received results indicating he had played his season in Portugal on a broken shin. Due to this injury, he has been forced to sit out the entire 2011–2013 season, and undergo rigorous physical therapy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asia-basket.com/Iran/basketball.aspx?NewsID=269419|title=Asia Basketb-Behdad Sami Interview|access-date=2012-04-26}}</ref>
==Gatorade - Quest for G; The series== In spring of 2009, Behdad was hand-picked from thousands of top athletes around the world to be a part of Gatorade "''Quest for G; The Series''". This was a reality show about training athletes, and turning them into Olympic ready athletes for their specific individual sport. Although Sami was selected for his accomplishments and athletic ability in basketball, due to the concept of individual sports, Sami, with the approval of Gatorade decided to attempt their trials for tennis because of his strong background in that sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gatorade.com/default.aspx#program?s=quest-for-g-the-series&es=boot-camp-begins|title=Gatorade Quest For G; The Series|access-date=2009-08-24| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090802111724/http://www.gatorade.com/default.aspx| archive-date= 2 August 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>
==Off The Court==
===Personal life=== Behdad was an actor in the film production of ''The Winner'', which released Winter of 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU4Bltp2SZw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/yU4Bltp2SZw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=The Winner (Short Film)|website=YouTube |date=24 February 2012 |access-date=2012-03-24}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In May 2011, Sami posed for the NOH8 photo campaign, showing his support to the silenced men and women around the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noh8campaign.com/photo-gallery/familiar-faces-part-2/photo/18588|title=Behdad poses for NOH8|access-date=2011-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noh8campaign.com/article/professional-iranian-basketball-player-behdad-sami-speaks-out-about-why-he-posed-for-the-noh8-campaign|title= Behdad Sami NOH8 interview|access-date=2011-04-05}}</ref> Behdad was co-owner and co-founder of KTJB Presents production company. In May 2012, KTJB released its first stop-animation official music video for rapper David Banner, which featured singer Chris Brown.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYnW2fVCiFE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/eYnW2fVCiFE |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=David Banner ft. Chris Brown "Amazing" official music video|website=YouTube |date=17 May 2012 |access-date=2012-05-17}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2012/05/18/david-banner-amazing-video-chris-brown/|title="Amazing" music video article|date=18 May 2012 |access-date=2012-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/david-banner/767733/amazing-featuring-chris-brown.jhtml#artist=1215664|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527172914/http://www.mtv.com/videos/david-banner/767733/amazing-featuring-chris-brown.jhtml#artist=1215664|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 27, 2012|title="Amazing" MTV featured|website=MTV |access-date=2012-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehundreds.com/rob/2012/06/02/ktjb/|title=The Hundreds Interview|access-date=2012-06-02|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729161347/http://thehundreds.com/rob/2012/06/02/ktjb/|archive-date=2012-07-29}}</ref> In 2019, Behdad starred in the film ''Trunkful'', which was also accepted into the Miami Urban Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t-JBx7B5PfQ&feature=youtu.be |title=Trunkful Trailer|website=YouTube |date=23 November 2019 |access-date=2019-11-23}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
===Legendary Rejects=== In 2014, he founded Legendary Rejects which focuses on video games, apps, and entertainment. Get 'Em was the first video game title he created and released in 2016 for the Apple iOS and Android platforms. Behdad wrote, produced, and directed Get 'Em, as well as created the music and was a voice actor in the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-strange-story-of-the-pro-basketball-player-who-broke-his-leg-and-made-a-video-game-thats-gta-with-dogs-925/|title=VICE Article|date=23 October 2015 |access-date=2015-10-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geek.com/games/a-pro-basketball-player-made-grand-theft-auto-for-dogs-1660166/|title=GEEK Article|access-date=2016-06-30|archive-date=2016-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703004002/http://www.geek.com/games/a-pro-basketball-player-made-grand-theft-auto-for-dogs-1660166/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.behdadsamiinteractive.getem&hl=en/|title=Get 'Em Android Link|access-date=2016-10-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/get-em/id961889853?mt=8%2F|title=Get 'Em iOS Link|website=iTunes |access-date=2016-07-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://behdadsamiinteractive.com/|title=Behdad Sami Interactive Home Page|access-date=2016-01-01}}</ref> On October 19, 2017, Behdad wrote, designed, and published the Get 'Em children's graphic novel, on iBooks.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.apple.com/us/book/get-em/id1288837750|title=Graphic Novel Link|access-date=2017-10-19}}</ref> On June 21, 2018, Behdad Sami Interactive released the Get 'Em iMessage stickers app. The stickers' app has artwork from the actual video game and graphic novel iBook.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/get-em-stickers/id1390709681|title=Stickers app link|website=iTunes |access-date=2018-06-21}}</ref> In addition the Get ‘Em franchise and spin-off games, Legendary Rejects also released a movie streaming app in 2023.
===Sponsors=== In February 2011, Behdad received his first sponsorship deal from Kallusive Clothing (which no longer exists).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://kallusive.com/2011/02/pro-iranian-ball/|title=Kallusive clothing sponsors Behdad Sami|newspaper=Kallusive |access-date=2011-02-01}}</ref> Behdad was also endorsed by O.N.E Coconut Water, which started their sponsorship in August 2011. He was an ambassador of the "Liquid Revolution" which promotes and encourages people to live a healthy lifestyle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bevnet.com/news/newswire/2011/behdad-sami-joins-the-liquid-revolution-with-o-n-e-coconut-water/|title=O.N.E Coconut water sponsors Behdad Sami|date=August 2011|access-date=2011-08-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/5/prweb9461333.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504080203/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/5/prweb9461333.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 4, 2012|title=Behdad Sami liquid revolution|access-date=2012-05-01}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sami, Behdad}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Iranian expatriate basketball people in the United States Category:Iranian men's basketball players Category:Point guards Category:American people of Iranian descent Category:Sportspeople from Beaverton, Oregon Category:Basketball players from Portland, Oregon Category:American music video directors Category:Southridge High School (Beaverton, Oregon) alumni Category:Lake Oswego High School alumni Category:American video game developers Category:Video game publishers Category:Indie game developers Category:Iranian people in the video game industry Category:American video game designers Category:Male video game actors Category:Video game directors Category:Video game musicians Category:Video game writers Category:Video game producers Category:Comics publishing companies Category:Iranian children's writers Category:American children's writers Category:Sportspeople of Iranian descent Category:Iranian Basketball Super League players Category:Kaveh Tehran BC players Category:21st-century Iranian sportsmen