Thomas Kelati Explained

Thomas Kelati
Position:Shooting guard / small forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:5
Weight Lbs:210
Nationality:Polish / American
Birth Date:27 September 1982
Birth Place:Walla Walla, Washington
Highschool:Walla Walla
(Walla Walla, Washington)
College:Washington State (2001–2005)
Draft Year:2005
Career Start:2005
Career End:2018
Years1:2005–2006
Team1:Dexia Mons-Hainaut
Years2:2006–2008
Team2:Turów Zgorzelec
Years3:2008–2009
Team3:Unicaja Málaga
Years4:2009–2010
Team4:Valencia
Years5:2010–2012
Team5:Khimki
Years6:2012–2013
Team6:Valencia
Years7:2013
Team7:Laboral Kutxa
Years8:2014–2016
Team8:UCAM Murcia
Years9:2016–2018
Team9:Stelmet Zielona Góra
Highlights:

EuroLeague records since the 2000–01 season

  • Most 3-point field goals attempted in a game

Thomas Kelati (born September 27, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player of Eritrean heritage. In 2010, he gained Polish citizenship through his wife and is eligible to play on the Poland national basketball team in international competition. He is a tall and played both shooting guard and small forward.

Professional career

Kelati began his professional career in 2005 with the Belgian League club Dexia Mons-Hainaut. He then moved to the Polish League team Turów Zgorzelec in 2006 (two runners-up in Polish league, reached the final round in the ULEB Eurocup). In 2008, he joined the Spanish ACB League club Unicaja Málaga.

In July 2009, Kelati signed a two-year contract with the Greek A1 League club Olympiacos Piraeus.[1] [2] However, his contract was later canceled by the club before Kelati played even a single minute for them, due to him not passing his physical and medical exams. Olympiacos replaced him on their roster with Von Wafer.

As a free agent, Kelati then signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as a training camp invitee on September 30, 2009,[3] but was later waived. Then he played for Power Electronics Valencia for whom he signed after being waived from the Los Angeles Lakers.[4] In 2010, he won the ULEB Eurocup playing for the Power Electronics Valencia. On July 23, 2010, he signed a two-year deal with BC Khimki.[5] With BC Khimki he won VTB United League in 2011 and Eurocup in 2012. In May, 2012 he left BC Khimki because of his contract ending.

In June 2012 he signed a two-year contract with Valencia Basket.[6] He left Valencia in June 2013.[7] On September 29, 2013, he signed a two-month contract with Laboral Kutxa.[8] After the contract expired he left the team.[9]

In February 2014, he signed with UCAM Murcia for the rest of the season.[10] In July 2014, he extended his contract with Murcia for two more years.[11]

On August 8, 2016, Kelati signed with Stelmet Zielona Góra.

Honours

Individual

Turów Zgorzelec

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.sport24.gr/html/ent/885/ent.304885.asp Sport24.gr Olympiacos signs Kelati.
  2. http://www.euroleague.net/euroleaguenews/transactions/2009-10-signings/i/55237/3694/olympiacos-signs-thomas-kelati OLYMPIACOS signs Thomas Kelati.
  3. http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/093009_kelati_signing.html LAKERS SIGN THOMAS KELATI.
  4. http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/091021lakers_waive_kelati.html Lakers Waive Thomas Kelati
  5. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/73970/180 BC Khimki adds Thomas Kelati
  6. http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/home/transactions/eurocup-2012-13/i/98349/7363/valencia-basket-brings-back-kelati VALENCIA BASKET brings back Kelati
  7. http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/101892/thomas-kelati-leaves-valencia.html Thomas Kelati leaves Valencia
  8. News: LABORAL KUTXA adds Kelati for two months. 29 September 2013. Euroleague.net.
  9. http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/109342/thomas-kelati-leaves-laboral-kutxa.html Thomas Kelati leaves Laboral Kutxa
  10. http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/111200/thomas-kelati-signs-with-ucam-murcia.html Thomas Kelati signs with UCAM Murcia
  11. http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/129154/thomas-kelati-extends-with-ucam-murcia-until-2016.html Thomas Kelati extends with UCAM Murcia until 2016