Jamshidi’s return gives Iran boost ahead of hectic basketball schedule
The addition of veteran Mohammad Jamshidi to Iran’s national basketball training camp has provided Greek head coach Sotiris Manolopoulos with an extra boost ahead of a congested continental schedule.
The 35-year-old Jamshidi has been recalled to the national team after a lengthy absence, with the experienced forward expected to add a touch of experience to the young squad for the decisive FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers and September’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Jamshidi has represented Iran at some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Olympic Games, while also winning multiple medals at the FIBA Asia Cup. His most recent appearance for the national team came during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers.
The veteran will now have the opportunity to play under Manolopoulos for the first time since the Greek coach took charge of Team Melli.
Jamshidi’s recall comes after an impressive campaign with Naft Zagaros Jonoubi last season, with his strong scoring numbers seeing him remain one of the most prolific scorers in the Iranian Basketball Super League.
He has returned to camp in good shape and with plenty of motivation ahead of a demanding schedule.
One of the main talking points at Tehran’s Mashhoun Hall in recent weeks has been the individual discussions between Manolopoulos and Jamshidi, with the Greek coach regularly offering tactical advice to the veteran.
Aware of the value of having an experienced player on the court during difficult international windows, Manolopoulos has spent considerable time working with Jamshidi and sharing his tactical ideas.
It remains to be seen what the reunion between Iran’s Greek coaching staff and the veteran star will produce in the upcoming competitions.
Having won the first-round group thanks to double wins over Syria either side of an impressive victory against Jordan in July, Iran will resume the World Cup qualifiers against New Zealand in the second-round Group E opener in Pasay, Philippines, on Aug. 28, before taking on the Philippines two days later.
A back-to-back silver medalist in 2014 and 2018, Iran will chase a fourth medal in six editions when the basketball event at the upcoming Asian Games gets underway on Sept. 10.
Iran have been drawn into a tough group alongside Jordan – the silver medalist at Hangzhou 2022 – Chinese Taipei, which reached the semifinals in the previous edition, and Qatar.