TEHRAN (Iran) - Iran took over the FIBA Asia Cup from the late 2000s to early 2010s riding on a terrific core of players that were arguably the best at their positions in Asia. While Hamed Haddadi took over the mantle of the best center in Asia from Yao Ming and Samad Nikkah Bahrami terrorized defenders from the perimeter, Mahdi Kamrani was orchestrating Iran’s offense.

Here’s a look back at the performances of Iran’s great floor general throughout his Asia Cup career!

Clash of #7 guards at FIBA Asia Cup ‘07

It was Mahdi Kamrani’s  third FIBA Asia Cup at the age of 25 when he and Iran made it to their first ever championship game against Lebanon in 2007. Kamrani was coming off the bench after what might have been his best Asia Cup game up to that point in the Semi-finals against Kazakhstan with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.

After only a few minutes into the game, coach Rajko Toroman subbed the 6’1” guard into the game and he stayed in until the final buzzer. Kamrani had a shaky start with 2 straight turnovers, but eventually got it together for a solid outing. He finished the game with 11 points and orchestrated the offense well, but it was his stingy defense that stood out.

(Mahdi Kamrani vs Rony Fahed, FIBA Asia Cup 2007)

Kamrani (who wore #7) matched up multiple times against Lebanon's Rony Fahed (also donning the #7 jersey). Fahed had a huge game with 23 points, but Kamrani made sure it didn’t come easy and leapt into the passing lanes for an impactful 4 steals.

Immediately after he dealt the final pass of the game before the final buzzer, Kamrani rushed the length of the court to emotionally celebrate the happy ending of a historic run by a historic team.

Best Point Guard in Asia of early 2010s?

Winning Iran’s first ever Asia Cup in 2007 seemed to have signaled Kamrani stepping up a contender for the title as the best point guard in Asia of the era. Over the next three Asia Cups, Kamrani averaged at least 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists per game on the way to win two more titles.

(Mahdi Kamrani, FIBA Asia Cup 2013)

He was at his best in 2013 after leading all players in assists with 6.6 per game. More impressively, Kamrani committed only 11 turnovers that year which resulted in a mind-blowing 5.4 assist/turnover ratio.

During these three Asia Cups of 27 games, Kamrani and a very talented Iran national team won all but one game.

Lucky number 7

FIBA Asia Cup 2015 was the most recent continental appearance for the now 37-year-old Kamrani. The tournament in Changsha summed up a stellar career of seven Asia Cups for the #7 guard with career averages of 8.8 points and 3.8 assists per game.

Kamrani was trusted to be the main floor general for most of his entire career with the Iran national team. Though he has experienced much success at the position for the span of an entire decade, he has admitted to some pressuring times.

"There is additional responsibility to perform," responded Kamrani on the pressure as a point guard back in 2009. "Your actions not only affect your game but also affects the overall performance of your team. In that sense, there is additional responsibility on your shoulders."

"But I enjoy it."

"One of the main reasons for that is the fact that I am really privileged to play alongside great players like Haddadi and Samad Nikkah. Playing with such talented and trustworthy teammates automatically reduces the pressure."

Totally worth it.

FIBA