| Julian Khazzouh | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center Power forward |
| Height | 209 cm (6 ft 10 in) |
| Weight | 109 kg (240 lb) |
| Team | Sydney Kings |
| Nationality | Australia |
| Born | 23 February 1986 Melbourne, Victoria |
| Debut | 2004 |
| Previous Clubs | West Sydney Razorbacks (2004-2005, 2007-2008) Parramatta Wildcats (Waratah League) (2005-2007) Sydney Spirit (2008-2009) Ironi Ramat Gan (Israel) (2009-10) Sydney Kings (2010-present) |
| Career Highlights | 2003 Australian Schoolboys squad member 2009 Australian Boomers squad member 2010-11 All NBL First team |
Julian Khazzouh (born 23 February 1986 in Melbourne, Victoria) in an Australian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sydney Kings. Standing 6'10" (209 cm) tall and weighing 109 kg (240 lb), Khazzouh's position is centre and he is currently considered to be not only the best big man in the NBL but one of the best players in the league.[1]
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At age 18 Khazzouh was discovered by the NSW Institute of Sport and he went on to become a member of the Australian Schoolboys team in late 2003. He was signed as a development player by the NBL's West Sydney Razorbacks in 2004, playing his first game for the club in the 2004 season, his only game for the season in which he played just one minute.[2] From 2005-2007, Khazzouh played for the Parramatta Wildcats in the NSW Waratah League.
Julian Khazzouh turned down an offer from Metro State College in Denver, Colorado to play professionally for the Razorbacks in 2007–08. In that season he finished second in the NBL Rookie of the Year voting behind Joe Ingles of the South Dragons. He also pulled down a career best 15 rebounds against the Wollongong Hawks in Round 21.
The Razorbacks were renamed the Sydney Spirit for the 2008-09 NBL season but the change in name didn't bring a change in fortune for the club. Attendances at the State Sports Centre were poor with the game against the Cairns Taipans in Round 21 only drawing 920 fans. Following the season the club folded leaving Khazzouh without an NBL team for the 2009-10 NBL season. Khazzouh averaged 15.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game for the Spirit in their last season.
In 2009-10 Khazzouh played for Israeli Basketball Super League team Ironi Ramat Gan
After having their licence revoked by the NBL in 2008, the Sydney Kings returned to the league for the 2010-11 season and one of their first signings was Julian Khazzouh. The Kings themselves would have a poor season, finishing last with an 8-20 record but Khazzouh would have a breakout season. He averaged 17.4 points, 10 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for the season and was rewarded with being chosen for his first All NBL First team. Despite playing for the last place NBL club in 2010-11 Khazzouh was a hot favourite for the NBL's MVP award though ultimately he would finish second in MVP voting behind Wollongong's Gary Ervin.
2011-12 started off for Julian Khazzouh as the previous one finished. He pulled down a career best 16 rebounds against the Melbourne Tigers in Round 1 of the season and has so far averaged 17.4 points, 11 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.7 assists over the Kings six games to 8 November 2011 to help the Kings to a 2-4 record and 6th place on the NBL Ladder.
Julian Khazzouh has won the NBL's Player of the Week award four times. The first in Round 1 of the 2010-12 season was followed by winning the award for rounds 16 and 17. He won his 4th PotW award for his efforts in leading the Kings to a 94-71 win over the Adelaide 36ers in Adelaide in Round 3 of the 2011-12 season. He scored 26 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and had 2 blocks in a dominant performance.[3]
Following the 2010-11 season, Khazzouh travelled to the United States for trials with NBA franchises though it was expected by Kings general manager (and former coach) Bob Turner that he would return for the 2011-12 season.[4]
In December 2011, halfway through the 2011-12 NBL season, Khazzouh was invited to the Golden State Warriors NBA pre-season camp. After attending Warriors training sessions all week, Khazzouh played the last 1:24 of the Warriors first pre-season game and scored 2 points against the Sacramento Kings in a 107-96 win.[5] Khazzouh was one of four players waived by the Warriors on 18th December 2011.[6]
Julian Khazzouh was a squad member of the Australian Boomers in 2009. It was reported that he was going to play for Lebanon at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey but this never eventuated.