Quick Facts
Biography
Salah Al-Mejri (Arabic: صالح الماجري; born June 15, 1986) is a Tunisian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He represents the Tunisian national basketball team internationally. Standing at 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m), he plays at the center position.
Professional career
Mejri started playing basketball at age of 20 for Étoile Sportive du Sahel in the Tunisian Basketball League. In September 2010, he signed a two-year contract with the Antwerp Giants of the Belgian League, and in August 2012, he moved to the Spanish League to play with Obradoiro CAB. In May 2013, he was named the Spanish League's Rising Star.
On July 8, 2013, Mejri signed with the Spanish club Real Madrid. He became the first Arabic and Tunisian player in the history of Real Madrid and the Euroleague. In 2014–15 season, Real Madrid won the Euroleague, after defeating Olympiacos 78–59 in the final game. Real Madrid eventually finished the season winning the Spanish League championship, defeating Barcelona 3–0 in the final series. With that trophy, they won the triple crown.
On July 30, 2015, Mejri signed with the Dallas Mavericks. On October 25, 2015, it was announced that Mejri had made the Mavericks' 2015–16 opening night roster. Three days later, he made his debut for the Mavericks, becoming the first Tunisian to appear in an NBA game. He played in five of the team's first eight games to begin the season, before not playing again until January 13, 2016. With the team's regular starters all rested for their match-up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Mejri managed 25 minutes off the bench, and recorded 17 points and 9 rebounds in a 108–89 loss to the Thunder. On January 24, with starting center Zaza Pachulia out injured, Mejri made just his eighth appearance for the Mavericks and started in place of Pachulia. In 29 minutes of action, he recorded 10 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks in a 115–104 loss to the Houston Rockets. On March 20, he recorded 13 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks in 32 minutes off the bench in a 132–120 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers. During his rookie season, he received multiple assignments to the Texas Legends, the Mavericks' D-League affiliate.
On June 30, 2016, Mejri underwent arthroscopic surgery for a right knee debridement.
Career statistics
| Legend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | ||
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage | ||
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | ||
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance Index Rating | ||
| Bold | Career high | ||||||
Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the player participated for the team during the season. He also played in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.
| † | Denotes seasons in which Mejri won the Euroleague |
Euroleague
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Real Madrid | 26 | 2 | 10.1 | .603 | .667 | .545 | 2.9 | .1 | .4 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 |
| 2014–15† | Real Madrid | 9 | 0 | 9.6 | .600 | .000 | .476 | 2.3 | .1 | .4 | .8 | 4.4 | 4.8 |
| Career | 35 | 2 | 10.0 | .602 | .500 | .512 | 2.8 | .1 | .4 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 5.4 |
NBA
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Dallas | 34 | 6 | 11.7 | .628 | .000 | .587 | 3.6 | .3 | .2 | 1.1 | 3.7 |
| Career | 34 | 6 | 11.7 | .628 | .000 | .587 | 3.6 | .3 | .2 | 1.1 | 3.7 |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Dallas | 4 | 1 | 19.0 | .700 | .000 | .417 | 3.3 | .3 | .8 | 1.3 | 4.8 |
| Career | 4 | 1 | 19.0 | .700 | .000 | .417 | 3.3 | .3 | .8 | 1.3 | 4.8 |
Tunisian national team
Mejri is a member of the senior men's Tunisian national basketball team. He played center for the team in the 2009 FIBA Africa Championship, and helped the team to the bronze medal, and its first ever trip to the FIBA World Cup.
In 2011, Mejri was named MVP, as Tunisia won the 2011 FIBA Africa Championship, and received an invitation to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. There, the team finished 0–5; however, Mejri led all competitors in blocked shots, with 17, despite only playing in 5 games (some teams played in as many as 8 games).