Fadi El Khatib

Infobox NBA Player


position = Guard/Forward
nicknames = The Lebanese Tiger, Fadi El Khatir (Fadi the Dangerous)
height_ft = 6
height_in = 6
weight_lb = 210
weight_kg = 105 kg
team = Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
nationality = Lebanon
birth_date = birth date and age|1979|1|1
birth_place = Beirut, Lebanon
career_start = 1998

Fadi El Khatib ( _ar. فادي الخطيب), born January 1, 1979, is a Lebanese basketball player currently playing for Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut in the Lebanese Basketball League. He is also a member of the Lebanon national basketball team that participated in the 2006 FIBA World Championship which took place in Japan.

Fadi El Khatib was the 7th best scorer in the tournament, averaging 18 points per game. His performances in the World Championship affected his team's status because in Lebanon's victories El Khatib averaged 32 points per game, but in Lebanon's defeats El Khatib averaged 10 points per game. His nickname is the "Tiger". He is married with 2 sons. Fadi was well known due to the truimphs with Sagesse, in which 3 Asian cups and 2 Pan Arab cups where lifted by him.

Teams

By 1997, Khatib joined Sagesse Beirut, signing a three year contract; which was renewed by 7 more years. However, following try-outs with the Sacramento Kings (NBA), negotiated also with Los Angeles Clippers after invitations of such teams by the years 2002 and 2003. The Clippers signed him to like a 10 day contract and was on the edge to play, but Sagesse held him back for the 2003-2004 season and joined Syria's Al Ittihad Aleppo for 2004-2005 season; which he later left for Sagesse.

In 2006, he joined Lebanon's Blue Stars and signed with Ukraine's SK Cherkassy Monkeys. Khatib returned to his native Lebanon and helped Sporting Club Al Riyadh Beirut to their third title at the International Dubai Tournament.

2008 Olympic Qualifiers

Khatib led Lebanon in their hopes of qualifying for the 2008 Summer Olympics via the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament; however, following a pre-tournament injury to Joe Vogel, Khatib conceded that Lebanon did not have the "slightest possibility of winning" against host Greece. [ [http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/08/diamBall/wom/news/inte/p/newsid/26574/FE_news_inteArti.html El Khatib: ‘Against Greece we really don’t have slightest possibility of winning’] ] Indeed, Lebanon lost 119-62 to Greece on the opening day of the tournament. After another loss to Brazil, Khatib and Lebanon failed to qualify for the 2008 games.

Playing style

Al Khatib started as center once he joined Sagesse, but it wasn't long before he took control of the forward side too. He's known of his physical abilities and playmaker's techniques which led him to be on the highest Asian basketball scorers.

One year prior to the Clippers' invitation, he made a name for himself at the international level by averaging 17.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.6 steals at the last version of the World Championships in Indianapolis. Despite his excellent individual showing there, Lebanon finished last in the tournament.

Fadi was known of his score points shinned again and at the 2006 FIBA World Championship where 18.8 ppg were in his league.

Later in 2007, Lebanon's 29-year-old leader decided this off-season to try his hand at hoops in Europe, playing for Ukrainian EuroCup team SK Cherkassy Monkeys.

He averaged 12.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in four EuroCup games before being released in January.

Accourding to FIBAgame.com, Fadi said that the basketball level in Ukraine is better than in Asia. Fadi focused on the point that the teams in the International Dubai Tournament are good enough to play in Europe thus giving credit to the participents.

Al Riyadi-Sagesse Controversy

On 5 August, 2005, while Riyadi club tends to negotiate with its traditional rival, Sagesse club, the conditions related to national player signing of two different contracts, the green team’s club insisted that El Khatib signed the contract in the Lebanese Basketball League. On the other hand, Riyadi club expressed great distress as to what has been agreed upon assuring that it will go forth with the law suit, Sagesse refused to make any statement.

Riyadi club assured that the two clubs are on good terms, but the problem is with El Khatib and the Lebanese Champions will settle the matter in court. Fadi would then join Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut in March 2008.

Awards and Achievements

* Lebanese League Champion -98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04
* Arab Cup Champion -98, 99
* Lebanese National Team -98-02, 05-07
* Asian Club Championships -99(1), 00(1), 01, 04-(1)
* McDonald's Open -99
* Asia ACB All-Star Game -00,01
* Lebanon Military National Team -00
* West Asian Championship 1st place -00,01
* Lebanese Cup Winner -95, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03
* Asian Championships -99(6), 01(Finalist), 02, 05 (Silver, Asia-Basket Best Forward, Asia-Basket All-1st Team)
* All-Asian Championships 1st Team -01
* World Championships in Indianapolis (USA) -02
* Dream five of Asia -03
* West Asia MVP -2001,2002
* Dubai International Tournament -04 (Best Scorer)
* Lebanese Cup Finalist -04, 06, 07
* Lebanese League Regular Season Runner-Up -04, 06, 07
* Asia-Basket.com All-Lebanese League Player of the Year -04
* Asia-Basket.com All-Lebanese League Domestic Player of the Year -03, 04, 06
* Asia-Basket.com All-Lebanese League 1st Team -03, 04, 06, 07
* Asia-Basket.com Lebanese League All-Domestic Players Team -04, 06
* Syrian League Regular Season Champion -05
* World Championships in Japan -06: 5 games: 18.8ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.0apg, 1.8spg, 2FGP: 41.6%, 3FGP: 11.8%, FT: 84.8%
* Asian Games in Doha -06
* Lebanese League Finalist -06, 07
* Asia-Basket.com All-Lebanese League Forward of the Year -07
* Asia-Basket.com All-Lebanese League All-Domestic Players Team -07
* Asian Club Championships -07 (Quarterfinals)
* William Jones Cup Tournament -07

See also

*List of Lebanese people
*Lebanon national basketball team
*Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
*National Basketball Association
*EuroBasket

References

External links

* [http://www.fibagame.com/pages/eng/fc/news/inte/p/cp//langid/1/newsid/23707/arti.html]
* [http://www.interbasket.net/players/el-khatib.htm]
* [http://www.asia-basket.com/player.asp?Cntry=LEB&PlayerID=10550&AmNotSure=1]
* [http://www.internationalbasketball.com/lebanon2006.html International Basketball.com: Lebanon Basketball 2006]
* [http://www.asia-basket.com/leb/leb.asp?NewsNo=21 AsiaBasket.com: Lebanese National Teams preparations - July 7, 2006]
* [http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2005/09/lebanon_roll_in.php Ya Libnan: Lebanon rolls into Basketball Championship Semifinals, 15 September, 2005]