giorgi-shermadini The Draft Review - The Draft Review
  • Name: Giorgi Shermadini
  • Position: Center
  • Height: 7-1 (2.16m)
  • Weight: 250 (113kg)
  • Pro Team: Union Olimpija (Slovenia)
  • Nationality: Georgian
  • Birthplace: Natakhtari, Georgia SSR, Soviet Union
  • Birthdate: 4/2/1989
  • Drafted: Declared for the 2008 NBA Draft but withdrew... Automatically eligible for the 2011 NBA Draft but was not drafted by an NBA franchise...
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Background: The game of basketball in Mtskheta (in the Republic of Georgia) is well liked, yet is a difficult sport to gain acclaim, as coaching and resources are limited. At the urging of his parents, Shermadini was introduced to basketball agent and former coach, Jamlet Khukhashvili. And through personal coaching and interaction with his older brother, Joso, who is also a professional basketball player, Shermandini improved his game.

In the next three years he dominated the Republic of Georgia's top professional league, averaging 32.6 points, 16.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game. His stats were tremendous averages that sounded like old fish tales. But what was once viewed as an absurd internet rumor became fact when actual game clips where posted on the YouTube, showing Shermadini score an amazing 76 points in one game. He is also credited with scoring 52, 54, 60 and 89 points in other games during those three years.

With news of Shermandini’s feats circulating through the basketball community, Nike invited him to join the world team in its prestigious all-star game, the Hoop Summit, in 2007, yet an injury to his meniscus required surgery, causing him to decline the opportunity.

In 2008 Shermadini declared for the NBA Draft, but later withdrew due to concerns with his injury and his level of competition which caused many to believe his stats were inflated and did not give a true representation of his abilities. Seeing that his critics would always have an issue with the lack of talent in his home country, Shermadini and his coach/agent Jamlet Khukhasvili signed a contract with Greek powerhouse Panthinaikos.

While his playing time has been sporadic, head Panthinaikos coach Zeljko Obradovic has brought him along very slowly these past two seasons. Shermandini’s numbers may suggest he is a bust among better competition, but when you dig deeper you'll find that Panthinaikos, at the urging of Coach Obradovic, made sure the team restructured his contract to include more money and years. With this newfound commitment by the team, many are anticipating a substantial year for the Georgian big man.

 

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Statistics

SEASONS

GP

FG%

3PT%

FT%

SPG

BPG

RPG

APG

PPG

2005-06 Maccabi Tbilisi

20

N/A

N/A

N/A

1.2

3.0

14.7

2.8

28.5

2006-07 Maccabi Tbilisi

20

N/A

N/A

N/A

2.6

3.4

16.4

4.7

35.1

2007-08 Maccabi Brinkford Tbilisi

20

N/A

N/A

N/A

2.3

3.2

18.4

4.8

33.5

2008-09 Panathinaikos

4

66.7

00.0

82.3

0.5

0.5

4.5

1.0

9.5

2009-10 Panathinaikos

18

68.4

100.0

73.7

0.4

0.4

2.5

0.2

4.3

2010-11 Union Olimpija

21

68.5

---

76.4

0.6

0.8

4.5

0.6

8.4

Totals

103

N/A

N/A

N/A

1.4

2.2

11.1

2.6

21.7

 

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