SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - Tunisian ace Salah Mejri may be having limited playing time with Euroleague and Spain giants Real Madrid this season, but it might not prevent him from crossing the Atlantic, where an NBA team has reportedly shown interest in his services.

The AfroBasket 2011 MVP, whose contract runs out in July, is averaging 9.1 minutes per game in his second, and possible final season with Real, and he might be on his way to a more challenging experience.

If last week's report from Spain's reputable Gigantes del Basket magazine are to be taken seriously, then Mejri could have his shot with an NBA franchise.

The report suggest that the Cleveland Cavaliers have shown interest in signing the 2.17m center, who has emerged from out of nowhere to become one of Tunisia's most influential players, in just five years.

What the possibility of Mejri signing with the Cavaliers mean is: 

- The 28-year-old Real Madrid big man could become the first Tunisian to sign with an NBA team.

- It also means that the ACB Liga Endesa continues to be the NBA entry door for a number of African-born players such was the cases of Serge Ibaka, Bismack Biyombo and Christian Eyenga.

If, in fact, the Cavaliers are keen in Mejri, he would become the third international player, along with Australian Matthew Dellavedova and Russian Timofey Mozgov to work under former Russia head coach David Blatt stateside.

Should Mejri join the playoff-bound Cavaliers next season, the Tunisian would be 29, and one of the oldest rookies in the NBA in the recent years, with the exception of Houston Rockets guard Argentine Pablo Prigioni who entered the league in 2012 at the age of 35.

Considering that the age factor is not a concern for Mejri now, that was not the case three summers ago.

At the end of his summer league tryouts with a number of NBA teams, including the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz, Mejri told me in a phone interview that he felt confident that he was going to get his NBA chances.

"If I don't make it now [to the NBA], because I am 26, I don't think I will make it later," he told me at the time.

Mejri did not receive the phone call he waited for at the time, but after leading all players with 3.4 blocks per games, and averaging 10 rebounds per contest at the London Olympics, Liga Endesa outfit Blusens Monbus offered him a contract, before Real Madrid lured the Tunisian in the summer of 2013.

During that 2012-13 season, Mejri was named the ACB's Revelation of the Year after averaging 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 20 minutes per game with the Obradoiro C.A.B. (Blusens).

Despite his shortened playing time, the Tunisian could play his second consecutive Euroleague Final Four next month, should the Madrid side progress in the competition.

Meanwhile, one thing is for certain - Mejri will have little holiday time this summer.

After all, his country will host the 2015 edition of the AfroBasket from 19 to 30 August in the Tunisian cities of Nabeul and Tunis, and one place at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics will be at stake.

For a man who had his first European basketball experience in the 2010-11 season with the Belgium side Antwerp Giants as a raw offensive player, to be tipped for an NBA experience less than five years later shows that Mejri has done exceptional well.

Let the time tell us how the supposedly Cleveland Cavaliers interest evolve.

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

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