# Andray Blatche
**Andray Blatche** (born 1986 in [Syracuse, New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/syracuse-new-york)) is an American-born professional basketball player who spent nine NBA seasons with the [Washington Wizards](https://www.edgepedia.org/washington-wizards) and [Brooklyn Nets](https://www.edgepedia.org/brooklyn-nets) and later became a naturalized Filipino citizen, playing as the naturalized player for Gilas Pilipinas at the 2014 and 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cups.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html) • [2](https://www.statmuse.com/nba/player/andray-blatche-315) • [3](https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/3454331353%21.pdf) A 6-foot-11 (2.11 m) power forward and center, he was drafted straight out of high school prep basketball with the 49th overall pick in 2005.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1986, Syracuse, New York[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html) |
| Size | 6'11" (2.11 m); listed at 235 lb by Basketball-Reference and 260 lb (118 kg) by NBA.com[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html) • [4](https://www.nba.com/stats/player/101154/traditional) |
| Draft | Washington Wizards, 2nd round (19th pick, 49th overall), 2005 NBA Draft, out of South Kent School (Connecticut)[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html) |
| NBA career | 9 seasons (2005–2014), Wizards and Nets; 564 games, 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists per game, 46.7 FG%[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html) • [2](https://www.statmuse.com/nba/player/andray-blatche-315) |
| Best NBA season | 2009–10 with Washington: 81 games, 14.1 points per game[5](https://library.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/publications/basketball/yearbooks/KWASBMG-2015.pdf) |
| Philippines career | Naturalized by Philippine legislation; Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player at the 2014 and 2019 FIBA World Cups[3](https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/3454331353%21.pdf) |
| Later career | Played in China after leaving the NBA; a 2025 stint with Strong Group Athletics in Dubai was described as a likely prelude to retirement[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAdo1miY-a4) • [7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBqTLGqdiGk) |
## Early life and high school
Blatche grew up in a single-parent home in a rough part of Syracuse and, for most of his young life, played as a guard who took pride in passing; he did not start organized basketball until his freshman year of high school.[8](https://www.si.com/nba/2007/11/20/inside-nba) He spent four years at Henninger High School in Syracuse, then a postgraduate year at South Kent Prep in [Connecticut](https://www.edgepedia.org/connecticut), where he grew from 6 feet before his freshman year to 6-9 by his senior year and, at South Kent, showed a seven-foot wingspan.[8](https://www.si.com/nba/2007/11/20/inside-nba) • [9](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2005/08/22/wizards-pick-gets-summer-orientation/38a7a79e-0713-4e82-b274-779b58dd8cc8/)
At South Kent he averaged 27.5 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 blocks and led the team to a 32-9 record, drawing NBA scouts by season's end.[9](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2005/08/22/wizards-pick-gets-summer-orientation/38a7a79e-0713-4e82-b274-779b58dd8cc8/) He entered the 2005 draft after earning co-MVP honors at the Jordan Classic at [Madison Square Garden](https://www.edgepedia.org/madison-square-garden), expecting a first-round selection; he fell to the second round, where Washington took him 49th overall.[9](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2005/08/22/wizards-pick-gets-summer-orientation/38a7a79e-0713-4e82-b274-779b58dd8cc8/) He said afterward that he wanted to earn money to move his mother, a younger brother, and a cousin out of Syracuse, where the family had repeated problems with break-ins and car theft.[8](https://www.si.com/nba/2007/11/20/inside-nba)
## Shooting and NBA career
A week before his first Wizards training camp, on September 25, 2005, Blatche was shot during an attempted carjacking in Syracuse. A bullet passed through his wrist, between the bones without hitting arteries or bone, and another pierced his chest and lung; he lost some rotation in the wrist permanently but said it did not affect his shooting.[8](https://www.si.com/nba/2007/11/20/inside-nba) He made his NBA debut on November 11, 2005, at age 19.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html)
His minutes grew steadily: 6.0 per game as a rookie, 12.2 in 2006-07, and 20.4 in 2007-08, when he averaged 7.5 points and 5.2 rebounds over 82 games.[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html) In 2008-09, with injuries opening a larger role, he played 71 games, mostly at center, averaging 10.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 24 minutes.[10](https://www.whatifsports.com/nba-l/profile_player.asp?pid=3248&view=1) His statistical peak came in 2009-10, when he appeared in 81 games and scored 14.1 points per game for Washington.[5](https://library.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/publications/basketball/yearbooks/KWASBMG-2015.pdf) On September 24, 2010, he signed a renegotiation and extension that raised his combined 2010-11 and 2011-12 salaries from $6,780,992 to $12,346,235 and added a three-year, $23,384,762 extension.[11](https://www.shamsports.com/players/andray-blatche)
Analysts of his Washington years repeatedly flagged the same tension: a skilled passer and handler for his size whose shot selection and turnovers limited his efficiency. A 2008-09 season review noted that 57% of his shots were jumpers that season, up from 47% the year before, with only 44% assisted, and that his production per 48 minutes was markedly better at center (21.7 points, 19.6 PER) than at power forward (18.1 points, 12.9 PER).[12](https://www.bulletsforever.com/2009/9/4/1015614/2008-09-player-evaluation) After the 2006-07 season, general manager [Ernie Grunfeld](https://www.edgepedia.org/ernie-grunfeld) called him a "solid contributor," a characterization one analytics writer disputed on the grounds of his shooting efficiency and turnover rates.[13](https://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/19/evaluating-talent-and-the-assessment-of-legal-issues/)
Blatche finished his NBA career with Brooklyn, appearing in the Nets' 2013-14 roster materials, for a total of 564 regular-season games and 9 seasons.[14](https://nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/sportsarchive-documents/prod/698bb7c2b0cfd/2014-nba-guide.pdf) • [1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html)
## Philippines national team
FIBA rules allow one naturalized player per team per tournament, and the Philippines pursued Blatche's naturalization through legislation so he could fill that slot for Gilas Pilipinas.[15](https://web.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/1907716212%21.pdf) He became a naturalized Filipino citizen through a house bill and senate measure, and he played for the national team at the 2014 [FIBA Basketball World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fiba-basketball-world-cup) and the 2019 edition, making him the second naturalized player to represent the Philippines after Marcus Douthit.[3](https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/3454331353%21.pdf) Philippine Senate records describe him as tutoring and mentoring younger players in the program.[16](https://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/1908116205%21.pdf)
## Later career
After leaving the NBA, Blatche moved to China, a decision he discussed publicly as a pivotal career move.[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAdo1miY-a4) In January 2025 he played for Strong Group Athletics at the Dubai International tournament, with coverage describing him as likely to retire afterward.[7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBqTLGqdiGk)
## References
1. [Andray Blatche Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more, Basketball-Reference](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html)
2. [Andray Blatche, StatMuse](https://www.statmuse.com/nba/player/andray-blatche-315)
3. [Republic of the Philippines Senate, naturalization records (Kouame measure referencing Blatche)](https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/3454331353%21.pdf)
4. [Andray Blatche, NBA.com stats](https://www.nba.com/stats/player/101154/traditional)
5. [2014-15 Washington Wizards Media Guide](https://library.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/publications/basketball/yearbooks/KWASBMG-2015.pdf)
6. [Andray Blatche on Getting Shot 2x After Draft, Leaving the NBA for China & Playing w/ Gilbert Arenas, DH12 Above the Rim (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAdo1miY-a4)
7. [Andray Blatche likely retiring after stint with Strong Group Athletics in Dubai International 2025 (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBqTLGqdiGk)
8. [Ian Thomsen, "Against all odds," Sports Illustrated, November 20, 2007](https://www.si.com/nba/2007/11/20/inside-nba)
9. [Ivan Carter, "Wizards' Pick Gets Summer Orientation," The Washington Post, August 21, 2005](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2005/08/22/wizards-pick-gets-summer-orientation/38a7a79e-0713-4e82-b274-779b58dd8cc8/)
10. [Andray Blatche per-game career table, WhatIfSports](https://www.whatifsports.com/nba-l/profile_player.asp?pid=3248&view=1)
11. [ShamSports: Andray Blatche contract history](https://www.shamsports.com/players/andray-blatche)
12. [Mike Prada, "2008/09 Player Evaluation/Projection: Andray Blatche," Bullets Forever, September 4, 2009](https://www.bulletsforever.com/2009/9/4/1015614/2008-09-player-evaluation)
13. [Dave Berri, "Evaluating Talent and the Assessment of Legal Issues," Wages of Wins Journal, August 19, 2007](https://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/19/evaluating-talent-and-the-assessment-of-legal-issues/)
14. [2013-14 NBA Guide, Brooklyn Nets roster materials](https://nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/sportsarchive-documents/prod/698bb7c2b0cfd/2014-nba-guide.pdf)
15. [Republic of the Philippines Senate, Gilas Pilipinas naturalization records](https://web.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/1907716212%21.pdf)
16. [Republic of the Philippines Senate, Blatche naturalization proceedings](https://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/1908116205%21.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › NBA players, 1996–2010 › NBA forwards, 1996–2010*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license