{{Short description|Tunisian basketball player (born 1986)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Salah Mejri<br />صالح الماجري | image = File:Salah Mejri 20251120 (2).jpg | caption = Mejri in 2025 | height_ft = 7 | height_in = 2 | weight_lb = 235 | league = | team = | position = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|6|15}} | birth_place = Jendouba, Tunisia | nationality = Tunisian | draft_year = 2008 | career_number = 50 | career_position = Center | career_start = 2006 | career_end = 2023 | years1 = 2006–2010 | team1 = Étoile Sportive du Sahel | years2 = 2010–2012 | team2 = Antwerp Giants | years3 = 2012–2013 | team3 = Obradoiro CAB | years4 = 2013–2015 | team4 = Real Madrid | years5 = {{nbay|2015|start}}–{{nbay|2018|end}} | team5 = Dallas Mavericks | years6 = 2015–2016 | team6 = →Texas Legends | years7 = 2019–2020 | team7 = Real Madrid | years8 = 2020 | team8 = Beijing Royal Fighters | years9 = 2021–2022 | team9 = Al-Jahra | years10 = 2022–2023 | team10 = Beirut Club | years11 = 2023 | team11 = Kazma | highlights = * EuroLeague champion (2015) * Spanish League champion (2015) * Spanish League Rising Star (2013) * 3× Spanish King's Cup winner (2014, 2015, 2020) * 2× Spanish Supercup winner (2013, 2014) * FIBA Africa Championship MVP (2011) * Lebanese Basketball League Champion (2022) | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}} {{MedalCountry|{{bk|TUN}}}} {{MedalCompetition|FIBA Africa Championship}} {{MedalGold|2011 Madagascar|}} {{MedalGold|2021 Rwanda|}} {{MedalBronze|2009 Libya|}} {{MedalBronze|2015 Tunisia|}} }}
'''Salah Mejri''' ({{langx|ar|صالح الماجري}}; born June 15, 1986) is a Tunisian former professional basketball player who represented the senior Tunisian national basketball team internationally. Standing at {{height|ft=7|in=2}}, he played at the center position. After a successful career in Europe, Mejri was the first (and so far, only) Tunisian NBA player when he joined the Dallas Mavericks in 2015 as a 29-year-old rookie. He stayed in the NBA for four seasons before returning to Real Madrid in the 2019 offseason.
==Professional career== ===Early career=== [[File:Real Madrid-Obradoiro Santiago mayo 2013CCropedtunecino0911.jpg|thumb|right|Mejri with Obradoiro in 2013]] Mejri started playing basketball at the age of 20 for Étoile Sportive du Sahel in the Tunisian Basketball League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/63462/sid/6232/tid/375/_/2012_Olympic_Men/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104214136/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/63462/sid/6232/tid/375/_/2012_Olympic_Men/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 4, 2014|title=Archive.FIBA.com Player Profile Salah MEJRI (TUN).|work=FIBA.com|access-date=November 21, 2015}}</ref> In September 2010, he signed a two-year contract with the Antwerp Giants of the Belgian League, and in August 2012, he moved to the Spanish League to play with Obradoiro CAB.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obradoiro tabs big man Salah Mejri|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/94512/obradoiro-tabs-big-man-salah-mejri.html|access-date=July 30, 2015|work=Sportando.com|date=August 14, 2012}}</ref> In May 2013, he was named the Spanish League's Rising Star.<ref>{{cite news|title=Salah Mejri es el Jugador Revelación 2012–13|url=http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=94072|access-date=July 30, 2015|work=ACB.com|date=May 14, 2013|language=es|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922071506/http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=94072|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Real Madrid === On July 8, 2013, Mejri signed with the Spanish club Real Madrid.<ref>{{cite news|title=Real Madrid announced Salah Mejri|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/103244/real-madrid-announced-salah-mejri.html|access-date=July 30, 2015|work=Sportando.com|date=July 8, 2013}}</ref> He became the first Tunisian player in the history of Real Madrid and the EuroLeague. In the 2014–15 season, Real Madrid won the EuroLeague championship, after defeating Olympiacos, by a score of 78–59, in the EuroLeague Finals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Real Madrid is Euroleague champion for record ninth time!|url=http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?gamecode=251&seasoncode=E2014#!report|access-date=July 18, 2015|work=euroleague.net|date=May 17, 2015}}</ref> Real Madrid eventually finished the season by also winning the Spanish League championship, after defeating Barcelona 3–0 in the league's finals series. Real Madrid thus won the triple crown that season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Real Madrid make it 4 out of 4|url=http://www.marca.com/en/2015/06/24/en/football/real_madrid/1435176357.html|access-date=June 24, 2015|work=Marca|location=Spain|date=June 24, 2015|language=es}}</ref>
=== Dallas Mavericks === On July 30, 2015, Mejri signed with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mavs sign pick-and-roll threat Salah Mejri|url=http://www.mavs.com/mavs-sign-pick-and-roll-threat-salah-mejri/|access-date=July 30, 2015|work=Mavs.com|date=July 30, 2015}}</ref> On October 25, it was announced that Mejri had made the Mavericks' 2015–16 opening-night roster.<ref>{{cite news|title=Salah Mejri, the center who made the Mavericks roster out of nowhere|url=http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2015/10/25/9607984/salah-mejri-the-center-who-made-the-mavericks-roster-out-of-nowhere|access-date=October 25, 2015|work=mavsmoneyball.com|date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> Three days later, he made his debut for the Mavericks, becoming the first Tunisian to appear in an NBA game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20151028/DALPHX/gameinfo.html|title=8 Dallas players reach double figures, Mavs rout Suns 111–95|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=October 28, 2015|access-date=October 28, 2015}}</ref> He played in five of the team's first eight games to begin the season, before not playing again until January 13, 2016. With the team's regular starters all rested for their match-up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Mejri managed 25 minutes off the bench, and recorded 17 points and 9 rebounds in a 108–89 loss to the Thunder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20160113/DALOKC/gameinfo.html|title=Durant scores 29, Thunder beat Mavericks; Westbrook ejected|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=January 13, 2016|access-date=January 13, 2016}}</ref> On January 24, with starting center Zaza Pachulia out injured, Mejri made just his eighth appearance for the Mavericks and started in place of Pachulia. In 29 minutes of action, he recorded 10 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks in a 115–104 loss to the Houston Rockets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20160124/DALHOU/gameinfo.html|title=Harden's triple-double leads Rockets over Mavericks 115–104|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=January 24, 2016|access-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref> On March 20, he recorded 13 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks in 32 minutes off the bench in a 132–120 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20160320/PORDAL/gameinfo.html|title=Nowitzki, Williams lead Mavericks past Trail Blazers 132–120|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=March 20, 2016|access-date=March 20, 2016}}</ref> During his rookie season, he received multiple assignments to the Texas Legends, the Mavericks' D-League affiliate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dleague.nba.com/news/assignments/|title=2015–16 NBA Assignments|publisher=National Basketball Association|access-date=December 12, 2015|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906020056/http://dleague.nba.com/news/assignments/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On June 30, 2016, Mejri underwent arthroscopic surgery for a right knee debridement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=19370|title=Mavs center Salah Mejri undergoes knee surgery|work=InsideHoops.com|date=June 30, 2016|access-date=June 30, 2016}}</ref> On February 1, 2017, he had 16 points and a career-high 17 rebounds in a 113–95 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400899402|title=Curry, Mejri lead Mavericks to 113–95 win over 76ers|publisher=ESPN|date=February 1, 2017|access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> He was re-signed by the Mavericks on August 3, 2018, to a one-year-contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-re-sign-center-salah-mejri/|title=Mavericks re-sign center Salah Mejri|publisher=mavs.com|date=August 3, 2018|access-date=August 3, 2018}}</ref> He was waived on February 7, 2019, to open up a roster spot for Zach Randolph who the Mavericks acquired in a trade,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mavericks acquire Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph|url=https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-acquire-justin-jackson-and-zach-randolph/|work=mavs.com|date=February 7, 2019|access-date=February 7, 2019}}</ref> but brought back three days later after Randolph was waived.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mavs sign free agent center Salah Mejri on Sunday|url=https://www.mavs.com/mavs-sign-free-agent-center-salah-mejri-on-sunday/|work=mavs.com|date=February 10, 2019|access-date=February 10, 2019}}</ref>
=== Return to Real Madrid === On October 10, 2019, Mejri returned to Spanish EuroLeague club Real Madrid for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Official Announcement: Salah Mejri {{!}} Real Madrid CF |url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2019/10/10/official-announcement-salah-mejri |access-date=10 October 2019 |work=Real Madrid C.F. - Web Oficial |date=10 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Salah Mejri in Real Madrid return {{!}} Real Madrid CF |url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2019/10/10/salah-mejri-in-real-madrid-return |access-date=10 October 2019 |work=Real Madrid C.F. - Web Oficial |date=10 October 2019}}</ref> He did not play in the ACB final tournament and was replaced by Juan Nunez.<ref>{{cite web |title=Real center Salah Mejri out for ACB final tournament |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/real-center-salah-mejri-out-for-acb-final-tournament/ |website=Sportando |access-date=11 June 2020 |date=11 June 2020}}</ref>
===China=== In September 2020, Mejri signed a one-year contract with Beijing Royal Fighters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Beijing Royal Fighters to sign Salah Mejri |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/beijing-royal-fighters-to-sign-salah-mejri/ |website=Sportando |access-date=September 5, 2020 |date=September 5, 2020}}</ref>
===Kuwait=== On September 16, 2021, Mejri signed in Kuwait with Al-Jahra of the Kuwaiti Division I Basketball League.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abduljalil |first1=Yusuf |title=Jahraa signs Salah Mejri |url=https://www.afrobasket.com/Tunisia/news/704951/Jahraa-signs-Salah-Mejri |date=September 16, 2021|website=Afrobasket.com |access-date=September 17, 2021}}</ref>
===Beirut Club=== On April 14, 2022, Mejri signed in Lebanon for Beirut Club of the Lebanese Basketball League.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boubaker |first1=Saber Ben |title=Basketball : Salah Mejri nouveau joueur de Beirut First Club |url=https://sport.tunisienumerique.com/basketball-salah-mejri-nouveau-joueur-de-beirut-first-club/ |access-date=11 May 2022 |work=Sport By TN |date=14 April 2022 |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
===Lakers=== In March 2023, Mejri made his debut for Kazma of Kuwait in the West Asia Super League (WASL), recording 19 points and 17 rebounds in a win over Shabab Al Ahli.<ref>{{cite web|title=New guys Mejri, Rector show way as Kazma hand Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai first loss|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/wasl/22-23/gulf/news/new-guys-mejri-rector-show-way-as-kazma-hand-shabab-al-ahli-dubai-first-loss|website=FIBA.basketball|date=7 March 2023|access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref> On 9 February 2024, Mejri announced his retirement from professional basketball.<ref>{{cite web|title=Basketball, L’immense Salah Mejri arrête sa carrière à 37 ans|url=https://www.ettachkila.com/basketball-limmense-salah-mejri-arrete-sa-carriere-a-37-ans/|website=Ettachkila.com|date=9 February 2024|access-date=10 February 2024|language=French}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{Euroleague player statistics legend}}
===NBA=== ====Regular season==== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2015}} | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | || 6 || 11.7 || .628 || .000 || .587 || 3.6 || .3 || .2 || 1.1 || 3.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2016}} | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | '''73''' || '''11''' || '''12.4''' || .642 || .333 || .590 || '''4.2''' || .2 || .4 || .8 || 2.9 |- | style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2017}} | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 61 || 1 || 12.0 || .642 || .000 || .576 || 4.0 || .6 || .4 || 1.1 || 3.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2018}} | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 36 || 4 || 11.1 || .491 || '''.324''' || .625 || 3.6 || '''1.0''' || .3 || .7 || '''3.9''' |-class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career | 204 || 22 || 11.9 || .603 || .293 || .590 || 4.0 || .5 || .4 || .9 || 3.4 {{end}}
===Playoffs=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;" | 2016 | style="text-align:left;" | Dallas | 4 || 1 || 19.0 || .700 || .000 || .417 || 3.3 || .3 || .8 || 1.3 || 4.8 |-class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career | 4 || 1 || 19.0 || .700 || .000 || .417 || 3.3 || .3 || .8 || 1.3 || 4.8 {{end}}
===EuroLeague===
{| class="wikitable" |- | style="background:#AFE6BA; width:3em;"|† | Denotes seasons in which Mejri won the EuroLeague |}
{{Euroleague player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Real Madrid | '''26''' || '''2''' || '''10.1''' || '''.603''' || '''.667''' || .545 || '''2.9''' || '''.1''' || .4 || '''1.1''' || 3.5 || '''5.6''' |- | style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2014–15† | 9 || 0 || 9.6 || .600 || .000 || .476 || 2.3 || '''.1''' || '''.4''' || '''.8''' || '''4.4''' || 4.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 | 6 || 0 || 5.0 || .500 || .000 || '''1.000''' || 1.2 || .2 || {{sort|-|—}} || .2 || 1.0 || 1.7 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 41 || 2 || 9.3 || .598 || .400 || .533 || 2.5 || .1 || .4 || .9 || 3.3 || 4.9 {{S-end}}
==National team career== Mejri is a member of the senior men's Tunisian national basketball team. He played center for the team in the 2009 FIBA Africa Championship, and helped the team to the bronze medal, and its first-ever trip to the FIBA World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/63462/sid/6599/tid/375/_/2009_FIBA_Africa_Championship_for_Men/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811172408/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/63462/sid/6599/tid/375/_/2009_FIBA_Africa_Championship_for_Men/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2011|title=Archive.FIBA.com 2009 FIBA Africa Championship for Men.|work=FIBA.com|access-date=November 21, 2015}}</ref>
In 2011, Mejri was named MVP, as Tunisia won the 2011 FIBA Africa Championship, and received an invitation to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. There, the team finished 0–5; however, he led all competitors in blocked shots, with 17, despite only playing in 5 matches (some teams played in as many as 8 matches).
== Awards and Individual Honors ==
* MVP of AfroBasket 2011<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Basketball, L’immense Salah Mejri arrête sa carrière à 37 ans |url=https://www.ettachkila.com/basketball-limmense-salah-mejri-arrete-sa-carriere-a-37-ans/ |website=ettachkila}}</ref> * Named in the All-Star Five (Center) of AfroBasket 2011<ref name=":0" /> * Best Shot Blocker of AfroBasket 2011<ref>{{Cite web |title=Les meilleurs joueurs par nation : Maghreb et Océan Indien |url=https://leroster.com/fiba-les-meilleurs-joueurs-par-nation-maghreb-et-ocean-indien/ |website=leroster}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *{{basketballstats}} *[http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=246 Salah Mejri] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825173236/http://acb.com/jugador.php?id=246 |date=August 25, 2013 }} at acb.com {{in lang|es}} *[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=005196 Salah Mejri] at euroleague.net *{{FIBA|new_id=161521|old_id=63462}} ([https://archive.today/20161212045755/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/pid/6045553/playerview.html archive]) * {{Olympedia}} * {{Olympics.com|salah-mejri}}
{{Navboxes|list1= {{Tunisia squad FIBA Africa Championship 2009}} {{Tunisia squad 2011 FIBA Africa Championship}} {{Tunisia squad FIBA AfroBasket 2015}} {{Tunisia squad FIBA AfroBasket 2021}} {{ACB Rising Star Award}} {{AfroBasket MVP Award}} {{Real Madrid Baloncesto 2014–15 Euroleague champions}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mejri, Salah}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:2010 FIBA World Championship players Category:2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup players Category:Al-Jahra SC basketball players Category:Antwerp Giants players Category:Basketball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Beirut Club players Category:Centers (basketball) Category:Competitors at the 2013 Mediterranean Games Category:Dallas Mavericks players Category:Étoile Sportive du Sahel basketball players Category:Expatriate basketball people in the United States Category:Kazma SC basketball players Category:Liga ACB players Category:Mediterranean Games bronze medalists for Tunisia Category:Mediterranean Games medalists in basketball Category:Obradoiro CAB players Category:Olympic basketball players for Tunisia Category:People from Jendouba Governorate Category:Real Madrid Baloncesto players Category:Texas Legends players Category:Tunisian expatriate basketball people in Belgium Category:Tunisian expatriate basketball people in Spain Category:Tunisian expatriate basketball people in Kuwait Category:Tunisian expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Tunisian men's basketball players Category:Tunisian Muslims Category:Undrafted NBA players Category:Beijing Royal Fighters players