Hasheem Thabeet Official Website

Grizzlies center Hasheem Thabeet and his coach Lionel Hollins are taking part in a Basketball without Borders Africa camp in Senegal in August. 

For Thabeet, the D-League is home, at least for a little bit, and he’s determined to make the best of it. People in the NBA are “definitely looking at it negatively,” Thabeet said. “ ‘He’s the No. 2 pick. He’s not supposed to be there. I can’t believe that guy is over there and he’s the second pick.’ But you got to go and work your way up there. I’m working my way up here, working on my confidence.

Thabeet sat on the court, emphatically smacking his hands on the floor. It was a rare show of emotion from the 7-footer. He was fired up. Thabeet appeared confident. The No. 2 overall pick from the 2009 NBA draft was aggressively making an impact on the game. And it wasn't just that Thabeet tied a career high with nine rebounds to go with four blocks on a night he seemed to swat away twice as many shots. It was the manner in which Thabeet controlled the paint. Thabeet attacked the opposition's shots at the rim instead of offering his usual delayed reaction. He also maintained good rebounding position for the 23 minutes he logged.

Grizzlies players visited with patients at LeBonheur Children's Hospital to spread Holiday Cheer.