Andray Blatche facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Andray Blatche

Blatche with the Brooklyn Nets in 2014
Personal information
Born	(1986-08-22) August 22, 1986 (age 38) Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American / Filipino
High school	Henninger (Syracuse, New York) South Kent School (South Kent, Connecticut)
Listed height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight	260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2005 / Round: 2 / Pick: 49th overall
Selected by the Washington Wizards
Pro career	2005–2019
Career history
2005–2012	Washington Wizards
2005–2006	→Roanoke Dazzle
2012–2014	Brooklyn Nets
2014–2018	Xinjiang Flying Tigers
2018–2019	Tianjin Gold Lions
Career highlights and awards
CBA champion (2017) 2× CBA All-Star (2015, 2017)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Philippines FIBA Asia Championships Silver 2015 Changsha Team SEABA Championship Gold 2017 Quezon City Team

Andray Maurice Blatche (born August 22, 1986) is a professional basketball player. He is both American and Filipino. He played for nine seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This was from 2005 to 2014. After that, he played for teams in other countries.

Andray played high school basketball at Henninger High School and South Kent School. The Washington Wizards picked him in the 2005 NBA draft. He was chosen in the second round. Even though he was born in New York, he became a Filipino citizen in 2014. This allowed him to play for the Philippine national basketball team.

Andray Blatche's Early Career

High School Basketball Years

Andray Blatche spent four years playing basketball at Henninger High School. This school is in Syracuse, New York. He then played for one more year at the South Kent School. This school is in South Kent, Connecticut.

During his last year in 2004–05, he was really good. He scored about 27.5 points per game. He also grabbed 16.0 rebounds and blocked 6.0 shots per game. He helped South Kent School win 32 games and lose only 9.

Andray decided to enter the 2005 NBA draft right after high school. Many thought he would be picked in the first round. But he was chosen by the Washington Wizards as the 49th pick. This was in the second round.

Andray Blatche's Professional Basketball Journey

Playing for the Washington Wizards (2005–2012)

Andray Blatche missed his first training camp in 2005 due to an injury. He recovered and played his first game for the Wizards on November 11, 2005. He scored five points in a big win against Seattle. Later, he spent some time with the Roanoke Dazzle. This was a team in the NBA Development League.

In the 2006–07 season, Andray played more. This was because other centers on the Wizards team were injured. He kept getting better each season. In the 2007–08 season, he played in every game. He started 15 of those games. He averaged 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Blatche with the Wizards.

On February 28, 2010, Andray had a career-high game. He scored 36 points against the New Jersey Nets. He became a regular starter for the team. His stats improved a lot. On April 4, he almost got a triple-double. He had 20 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds.

In September 2010, he signed a new contract with the Wizards. The 2010–11 season was his best year with the team. He started 63 out of 64 games. He averaged 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. In 2012, Andray left the Wizards.

Time with the Brooklyn Nets (2012–2014)

On September 12, 2012, Andray Blatche joined the Brooklyn Nets. He chose to wear jersey number 0. He said this number reminded him that "everybody gave up on me." When his teammate Brook Lopez got injured, Andray got a chance to start. He played well, averaging 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds.

Blatche taking a jump shot over Drew Gooden.

On January 4, 2013, Andray played against his old team, the Washington Wizards. Fans booed him when he entered the game. But he still played well, scoring 13 points and getting 12 rebounds.

In the 2012–13 season, Andray played in all 82 regular season games. He averaged 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds. He also played in seven playoff games for the Nets. In July 2013, he signed another contract with the Nets. In December 2013, Brook Lopez got injured again. This meant Andray played even more minutes. On June 20, 2014, Andray decided to leave the Nets. He became a free agent.

Playing in China (2014–2019)

On September 20, 2014, Andray Blatche signed a contract to play in China. He joined the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). In his first season, he played 38 games. He averaged 31.1 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.

In March 2015, he signed a new three-year contract with Xinjiang. In 2016, he had an injury. He returned later and helped his team win the CBA championship in 2017. They won by beating the Guangdong Southern Tigers 4–0.

In January 2018, another player took his spot on the team for a while. Andray returned to play in the playoffs in March 2018. In December 2018, he signed with another Chinese team, the Tianjin Gold Lions. He played 19 games for them. He averaged 20.7 points and 11.0 rebounds.

Later Years in Basketball (2020–)

In 2020, Andray Blatche played in the Dubai Basketball International Championship. He played for a Philippine team called Mighty Sports. He helped them win the championship in the United Arab Emirates.

He also showed interest in playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Even though he is a Filipino citizen, he would still be considered an "import" player. Import players have height limits. In 2024, he joined Strong Group Athletics for the Dubai International Basketball Championship. He played with them again in 2025.

Andray Blatche's Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season Stats

NBA Playoff Stats

CBA Stats

Andray Blatche's National Team Career

Blatche with the Philippine national team at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

In January 2014, the Gilas Pilipinas asked Andray Blatche to play for them. He would be a naturalized player. This meant he would become a citizen of the Philippines to play for their team. On June 11, 2014, he officially became a Filipino citizen.

In August 2014, Andray was part of the Philippine team for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He played five games in the World Cup. He averaged 21.2 points and 13.8 rebounds. He helped the Philippines win their first World Cup game in 40 years. They beat Senegal 81–79 in overtime.

In 2015, Andray played for the Philippines in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship. He averaged 17.8 points and 9.2 rebounds. The next year, the team played in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Andray scored 51 points in two games.

Andray was supposed to play in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup. But he decided not to go due to safety worries in Lebanon, the host country. Another player, Christian Standhardinger, took his place. In January 2020, the Philippine basketball group said they were looking for another naturalized player. This meant Andray would no longer play for the national team.

Andray Blatche's Personal Life

In June 2011, Andray Blatche started the Andray Blatche Foundation. He went on a charity trip to Jamaica. He gave sneakers and basketballs to schools. He also donated $50,000 to help the schools.

Images for kids

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  Blatche with the Brooklyn Nets in 2014

See also

In Spanish: Andray Blatche para niños