| Club Maristes Champville | |
|---|---|
| Guard/Forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth | January 1, 1979 |
| Place of birth | Mazboud, Lebanon |
| Nationality | Lebanon |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| Pro career | 1998–present |
| League | Lebanese Basketball League |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's basketball | ||
| Competitor for Lebanon | ||
| FIBA Asia Championship | ||
| Silver | 2005 Doha | Team |
| Silver | 2007 Tokushima | Team |
Fadi El Khatib (Arabic: فادي الخطيب), born January 1, 1979, is a Lebanese basketball player currently playing for Champville SC in the Lebanese Basketball League. He is also the current captain of the Lebanon national basketball team that participated in the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis in the United States, in the 2006 FIBA World Championship which took place in Japan, and in the 2010 FIBA World Championship held in Turkey.
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By 1997, Khatib joined Sagesse Beirut, signing a three year contract; which was renewed by 7 more years.
After the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis, many NBA scouts were impressed by Fadi's shooting range, strength, athletic ability, physical and mental toughness such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets.
In August 2005, a legal dispute rose between two rival teams, Riyadi club and Sagesse clubs, over conflicting contracts signed by Khatib, with Sagesse club insisting that its contract was valid as it was signed at the Lebanese Basketball League. On the other hand, Riyadi insisted on going to courts if necessary.
In 2006, he joined Lebanon's Blue Stars and later in 2007, at 29, he decided to play professionally in Europe, for Ukrainian EuroCup team SK Cherkassy Monkeys.
Khatib returned to his native Lebanon and helped Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut to their third title at the International Dubai Tournament. In 2009-2010 season, he joined Lebanese club Champville SC.
Fadi El Khatib started playing with the Lebanese national basketball team in 1999, he helped in Lebanon qualifying for the first time to the FIBA Asia Championship that same year, Lebanon ended up in 7th place. In the 2001, 2005 and 2007 FIBA Asia Championship, El Khatib helped Lebanon reach the second place and the fourth place in 2003 and 2009. Lebanon would qualify to three World Championship with Fadi el Khatib yaking part.
Michael Jordan's personal trainer Tim Grover personally invited him to work out with Michael Jordan, Michael Finley, Ray Allen, Charles Oakley, Sam Mack and Juwan Howard. They were all very impressed and told Fadi he should be in the NBA. Michael Jordan was quoted in the New York Times, "Michael Jordan believes Lebanon's premiere player should be in the NBA." He was also quoted in Time Magazine that "Fady el Khatib may be the strongest player at the moment we just need to see him play in the NBA against players like Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Tim Duncan... and I'm sure he'll impress us big time. I personally see that he may even be able to achieve results against me (laughs)"
Khatib led Lebanon in their hopes of qualifying for the 2008 Summer Olympics via the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament; however, following a pre-tournament injury to Joe Vogel, Khatib conceded that Lebanon did not have the "slightest possibility of winning" against host Greece.[1] Indeed, Lebanon lost to Greece on the opening day of the tournament. After another loss to Brazil, Khatib and Lebanon failed to qualify for the 2008 games.
In Lebanon's opening game, El Khatib scored 31 points leading Lebanon to win over Canada 81-71. In the second half, Fadi scored 26 points he was 5/5 from the field. As Lebanon’s head coach Tab Baldwin pointed out, the bigger the game, the bigger and better El Khatib is likely to play.
Many Lebanese fans in Turkey were upset that Lebanon did not qualify to the next round. After Lebanon's last match against Lithuania, Fadi El Khatib said in an interview that this will be his last World Championship.
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