Cavaliers' free agent Loren Woods spent last season playing in Iran and is back in the States fighting to make the Cavs' roster.
Cavaliers' free agent Loren Woods, right, blocks Leon Powe's shot during the Win & Gold Scrimmage last weekend. Woods, who played basketball in Iran last season, is hoping to make the team as a backup center. Last season, Loren Woods regularly got recognized and greeted by fans on the street, played in front of sold-out crowds, and was on the best team in the league.
It was quite an experience, even for a veteran pro like Woods, mostly because it was happening in Tehran.
Right now, Woods is fighting to win a roster spot with the Cavaliers. The 7-foot-2 center and former first-round draft pick has played parts of six different seasons in the NBA and is trying to beat out challengers 10 years younger to make the roster as a training camp free agent.
But last season, Woods spent time in the Iranian Superleague, one of a handful of Americans who played in the sometimes controversial country as its populous becomes more and more interested in basketball.
Basketball is becoming a big deal in Iran. The Iranians have won the past two FIBA Asian Championships, beating out China both times. And the NBA also has its first Iranian player, Hamed Haddadi, who is about to start his third season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Woods, for a time, was part of an explosion of the sport for the Tehran-based Mahran team last season.
"For a while, I think I was the tallest person in Iran," Woods said. "But it was a little like being a superstar in the NBA; I hadn't had that much attention since college."
When the call came that there was an opportunity, Woods -- who appeared in an NCAA Tournament final at the University of Arizona -- considered some of the same things any American might about moving there.
Is it safe? How will an American be treated? How will the heavy government influence affect his life? Will he be able to get in and out of the country when he wants? And will he be able to communicate with his family and friends?
The answers turned out to be all positive and, other than a few hassles, Woods said he left Iran thinking positively about it.
"I knew the situation would be somewhat difficult with all the political things that were going on, but it panned out and actually ended up being one of better experiences of my professional career," said Woods, who also has played extensively in Europe.
"When you just read about it or see it on TV, you can't picture it, but once you get there, it's a pretty normal place to be."
Loren Woods.Normal is a bit relative. Because of the language barrier and just for general safety, a representative of Woods' team accompanied him when he was out in public. But that is standard procedure for Americans on some European teams as well.
"Most of the places in the world right now, being an American is always seen as the best thing," Woods said. "Just like anywhere in the world, there's good people and there's bad people. I got to meet a lot of people who understand the United States and respected me as the person."
"I always stayed current with the political things going on just to be sure. But there was never a problem. Dubai was an hour-and-a-half away [by plane] if anything did happen, so I had a safe haven to go to if I needed it."
The games themselves were varied, not unlike the NBA. Woods said in some cities, crowds would be overflowing and very much into the game. In other cities, he played in nearly empty arenas.
"As a whole, the Iranians appreciate sports whether it is soccer or basketball," Woods said. "They have a pretty decent sports organization."
Woods averaged 15.5 points and 12.3 rebounds for Mahran. He probably won't be putting up numbers like that for the Cavs, who are looking at him as a potential third center. At age 32, Woods is competing with younger and quicker players for the role. Right now, he's battling through a sore Achilles that knocked him out of Thursday's preseason game.
But that sort of adversity likely won't impact Woods much, especially after all of his basketball experiences.
"I could have stayed home, but I love to play basketball; that is why I went to Iran and why I'm here now," Woods said. "It ended up being one of the better experiences of my professional career."