Hasheem Thabeet (born Hashim Thabit Manka on February 16, 1987)[1] is a Tanzanian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA. At 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m), Thabeet is the tallest active player in the NBA.[2] He was drafted as the 2nd pick overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2009 NBA Draft after playing with the Connecticut Huskies. Thabeet was the tallest player ever to play for the Huskies. He did not begin to play basketball until the age of 15, when he began to watch pickup games in Tanzania. When first recruited from Tanzania, Thabeet was fluent in Swahili and French but knew little English.[3] Position Center League NBA Personal information Born February 16, 1987 (age 27) Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Nationality Tanzanian Listed height 7 ft 3 in (221 cm) Listed weight 263 lb (119 kg) Career information College Connecticut (2006–2009) NBA draft 2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies Pro playing career 2009–present Career history 2009–2011 Memphis Grizzlies 2009–2010 →Dakota Wizards (D-League) 2011–2012 Houston Rockets 2011 →Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League) 2012 Portland Trail Blazers 2012–present Oklahoma City Thunder Career highlights and awards 2× NABC Defensive Player of the Year (2008–2009) Consensus second team All-American (2009) Big East Co-Player of the Year (2009)