Andray Blatche
Encyclopedia
Andray Blatche is an American
professional basketball
player in the NBA
for the Washington Wizards
.
in South Kent, Connecticut
. He declared for the 2005 NBA Draft
out of high school, and while originally thought of as a first-round prospect, he slipped to the second round and was taken by the Washington Wizards
with their only selection, the 49th pick.
on September 25, 2005, and as a result missed training camp. He recovered successfully and played his first game with Washington versus Seattle
on November 11, 2005, scoring five points in a 137–96 Wizards victory. Given that he did not play college basketball
, the Wizards split Blatche's playing time between the Roanoke Dazzle
, their then-affiliate in the NBA Development League
, and the Wizards in the 2005–06 season.
With the injuries to Wizards centers
Etan Thomas
and Michael Ruffin
, Blatche was occasionally pressed into service as a backup center in the 2006–07 season.
On August 17, 2007, the Wizards re-signed Blatche to a multi-year deal, terms of which were not disclosed.
During the 2007–08 season Blatche continued showing improvement, and with center Etan Thomas
out with a season-ending heart condition, his minutes increased.
On January 9, 2010, Blatche was fined $10,000 by the Washington Wizards for participating in Gilbert Arenas
' antics before a game on January 5, 2010 against the Philadelphia 76ers
. Arenas was being investigated for a prior incident involving guns in the Wizards' locker room, but made light of the accusations by pointing his finger at his teammates, as if he were shooting them. His teammates were photographed smiling and laughing with him.
On February 28, 2010, he scored a career high 36 points on 17-31 shooting during the Wizards' 89-85 victory against the New Jersey Nets
. Blatche has continued to be the starter on the team, and his stats significantly improved. He is a dominant rebounder, and he has shown that he can be a potent scorer.
Andray Blatche just missed a triple-double as he had 20 points, a career-high 13 assists, nine rebounds and two steals in the Wizards' 109-99 victory over the New Jersey Nets
on April 4.
On September 24, 2010, Blatche received a contract extension that will pay him $35M over the next five years.
, Blatche was shot in an attempted carjacking
that took place near his home in Alexandria, Virginia
. A passenger, police said Blatche was ordered out of the car by men who emerged from a van and was shot before he could fully exit. Blatche's mother, Angela Oliver said he was shot once in the chest, but that the bullet did not hit any vital organs. He was released from hospital two days later. As a result of his injuries he missed the Wizards' training camp, although he could walk on his own three days after the shooting and one day after being released from the hospital. He appeared in only 29 games as a rookie.
On August 2, 2007, Blatche was charged with sexual solicitation
in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
after allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover
police officer. The solicitation charge was dropped after Blatche followed court orders and attended a day-long seminar for men who solicit prostitutes.
Blatche was arrested on June 4, 2008, in Virginia
on charges of reckless driving
and driving on a suspended license for the third time. Blatche was going 86 mph in a 70 mph zone in a Mercedes
on Interstate 85
. He was released on bond.
In June 2011, Blatche established the Andray Blatche Foundation and went on a charity mission to Jamaica
where he donated sneakers, basketballs and gave a $50,000 check to Jamaican schools.
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Washington
| 29 || 0 || 6.0 || .388 || .231 || .833 || 1.3 || .3 || .2 || .2 || 2.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Washington
| 56 || 13 || 12.2 || .437 || .148 || .612 || 3.4 || .7 || .3 || .6 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Washington
| 82 || 15 || 20.4 || .474 || .231 || .695 || 5.2 || 1.1 || .6 || 1.4 || 7.5
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Washington
| 71 || 36 || 24.0 || .471 || .238 || .704 || 5.3 || 1.7 || .8 || 1.0 || 10.0
|-
| align="left" | 2009-10
| align="left" | Washington
| 81 || 36 || 27.9 || .478 || .295 || .744 || 6.3 || 2.1 || 1.0 || .9 || 14.1
|-
| align="left" | 2010-11
| align="left" | Washington
| 64 || 63 || 33.9 || .445 || .222 || .777 || 8.2 || 2.3 || 1.5 || .8 || 16.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 383 || 163 || 22.6 || .463 || .235 || .733 || 5.4 || 1.5 || .8 || .9 || 10.0
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Washington
| 2 || 0 || 12.5 || .667 || .000 || 1.000 || 3.5 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 4.5
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Washington
| 6 || 0 || 14.8 || .429 || .000 || .333 || 3.3 || .2 || .3 || 1.0 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 8 || 0 || 14.1 || .481 || .000 || .385 || 3.4 || .1 || .2 || .8 || 3.9
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
for the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
.
High school
Blatche attended Henninger High School in Syracuse before attending the South Kent SchoolSouth Kent School
South Kent School is a private boarding school for boys in South Kent, Connecticut, United States. The school is located on a campus in the hills of Litchfield County. It was founded in 1923 as a joint venture between Reverend Frederick Herbert Sill, headmaster of Kent School, and two of his...
in South Kent, Connecticut
South Kent, Connecticut
South Kent is a village located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, alongside the border with New York, and within and part of Kent, Connecticut. South Kent has its own Post Office whose ZIP code is 06785. South Kent is also home to South Kent School, a private prep...
. He declared for the 2005 NBA Draft
2005 NBA Draft
The 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues...
out of high school, and while originally thought of as a first-round prospect, he slipped to the second round and was taken by the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
with their only selection, the 49th pick.
NBA career
Blatche was shot in a carjackingCarjacking
Carjacking is a form of hijacking, where the crime is of stealing a motor vehicle and so also armed assault when the vehicle is occupied. Historically, such as in the rash of semi-trailer truck hijackings during the 1960s, the general term hijacking was used for that type of vehicle abduction,...
on September 25, 2005, and as a result missed training camp. He recovered successfully and played his first game with Washington versus Seattle
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
on November 11, 2005, scoring five points in a 137–96 Wizards victory. Given that he did not play college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
, the Wizards split Blatche's playing time between the Roanoke Dazzle
Roanoke Dazzle
The Roanoke Dazzle were an NBA Development League team based in Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.A.. In operation from the inaugural D-League season of 2001-02 through the 2005-06 season, the Dazzle marked the return of professional basketball to Roanoke since the Virginia Squires called Roanoke home in the...
, their then-affiliate in the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
, and the Wizards in the 2005–06 season.
With the injuries to Wizards centers
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
Etan Thomas
Etan Thomas
Dedreck Etan Thomas, commonly referred to as Etan Thomas , is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association.-College:...
and Michael Ruffin
Michael Ruffin
Michael David Ruffin is an American professional basketball player who plays for Obradoiro CAB in Spain. At 6'8" and 248 lbs, he plays as a forward/center....
, Blatche was occasionally pressed into service as a backup center in the 2006–07 season.
On August 17, 2007, the Wizards re-signed Blatche to a multi-year deal, terms of which were not disclosed.
During the 2007–08 season Blatche continued showing improvement, and with center Etan Thomas
Etan Thomas
Dedreck Etan Thomas, commonly referred to as Etan Thomas , is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association.-College:...
out with a season-ending heart condition, his minutes increased.
On January 9, 2010, Blatche was fined $10,000 by the Washington Wizards for participating in Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Jay Arenas, Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association . He plays as a point guard and shooting guard....
' antics before a game on January 5, 2010 against the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
. Arenas was being investigated for a prior incident involving guns in the Wizards' locker room, but made light of the accusations by pointing his finger at his teammates, as if he were shooting them. His teammates were photographed smiling and laughing with him.
On February 28, 2010, he scored a career high 36 points on 17-31 shooting during the Wizards' 89-85 victory against the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. Blatche has continued to be the starter on the team, and his stats significantly improved. He is a dominant rebounder, and he has shown that he can be a potent scorer.
Andray Blatche just missed a triple-double as he had 20 points, a career-high 13 assists, nine rebounds and two steals in the Wizards' 109-99 victory over the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on April 4.
On September 24, 2010, Blatche received a contract extension that will pay him $35M over the next five years.
Personal life
On the Sunday morning of September 25, 2005, three months after the Wizards selected him with the 49th overall pick in the NBA draft2005 NBA Draft
The 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues...
, Blatche was shot in an attempted carjacking
Carjacking
Carjacking is a form of hijacking, where the crime is of stealing a motor vehicle and so also armed assault when the vehicle is occupied. Historically, such as in the rash of semi-trailer truck hijackings during the 1960s, the general term hijacking was used for that type of vehicle abduction,...
that took place near his home in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. A passenger, police said Blatche was ordered out of the car by men who emerged from a van and was shot before he could fully exit. Blatche's mother, Angela Oliver said he was shot once in the chest, but that the bullet did not hit any vital organs. He was released from hospital two days later. As a result of his injuries he missed the Wizards' training camp, although he could walk on his own three days after the shooting and one day after being released from the hospital. He appeared in only 29 games as a rookie.
On August 2, 2007, Blatche was charged with sexual solicitation
Solicitation
Literally, solicitation means: 'urgently asking'. It is the action or instance of soliciting; petition; proposal. In criminal law, it most commonly refers to either the act of offering goods or services, or the act of attempting to purchase such goods or services...
in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
after allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover
Undercover
Being undercover is disguising one's own identity or using an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization to learn secret information or to gain the trust of targeted individuals in order to gain information or evidence...
police officer. The solicitation charge was dropped after Blatche followed court orders and attended a day-long seminar for men who solicit prostitutes.
Blatche was arrested on June 4, 2008, in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
on charges of reckless driving
Reckless driving
Reckless driving is a major moving traffic violation. As a legal term, it is used within the United States. This offence has been abolished in the United Kingdom and replaced...
and driving on a suspended license for the third time. Blatche was going 86 mph in a 70 mph zone in a Mercedes
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
on Interstate 85
Interstate 85
Interstate 85 is a major interstate highway in the Southeastern United States. Its current southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with Interstate 95 in Petersburg, Virginia, near Richmond...
. He was released on bond.
In June 2011, Blatche established the Andray Blatche Foundation and went on a charity mission to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
where he donated sneakers, basketballs and gave a $50,000 check to Jamaican schools.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Washington
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
| 29 || 0 || 6.0 || .388 || .231 || .833 || 1.3 || .3 || .2 || .2 || 2.2
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Washington
| 56 || 13 || 12.2 || .437 || .148 || .612 || 3.4 || .7 || .3 || .6 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Washington
| 82 || 15 || 20.4 || .474 || .231 || .695 || 5.2 || 1.1 || .6 || 1.4 || 7.5
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Washington
| 71 || 36 || 24.0 || .471 || .238 || .704 || 5.3 || 1.7 || .8 || 1.0 || 10.0
|-
| align="left" | 2009-10
| align="left" | Washington
| 81 || 36 || 27.9 || .478 || .295 || .744 || 6.3 || 2.1 || 1.0 || .9 || 14.1
|-
| align="left" | 2010-11
| align="left" | Washington
| 64 || 63 || 33.9 || .445 || .222 || .777 || 8.2 || 2.3 || 1.5 || .8 || 16.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 383 || 163 || 22.6 || .463 || .235 || .733 || 5.4 || 1.5 || .8 || .9 || 10.0
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2006–07
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
| align="left" | Washington
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
| 2 || 0 || 12.5 || .667 || .000 || 1.000 || 3.5 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 4.5
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
| align="left" | Washington
| 6 || 0 || 14.8 || .429 || .000 || .333 || 3.3 || .2 || .3 || 1.0 || 3.7
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 8 || 0 || 14.1 || .481 || .000 || .385 || 3.4 || .1 || .2 || .8 || 3.9