Iran’s Behnam Yakhchali will not shy away from big challenges in 2017

TEHRAN - Iran had quite a successful run in 2016, impressing in the FIBA OQT in Italy and winning the FIBA Asia Challenge 2016, which was held here in the Iranian capital. These results preserved Iran’s status as one of Asia’s best national basketball teams, and it should serve as a good platform for their campaign to reach even greater heights in 2017.

What made Iran’s accomplishments this year even more impactful was the fact that they played without many veterans who comprised what a lot of Asian basketball fans know as the country’s “golden generation.” To be specific, guys like Samad Nikkhah Bahrami, Mahdi Kamrani and Hamed Afagh — three legends of Iranian basketball - did not play for Iran in any tournament this year.

That Iran did so well despite the trio’s absence is a very good sign for coach Dirk Bauermann, who has been tasked to steer Team Melli back onto the world stage, with a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 as their primary target.

One player who has stepped up in a spectacular way for coach Dirk and Iran is young gun Behnam Yakhchali. The 1.95m combo guard from Shahr-e Kord had a big jump in his playing time and usage this year, and, consequently, his production dramatically increased as well. Yakhchali started playing at the senior level back in 2014 as a wide-eyed 18-year-old. He was initially a back-up for both Bahrami and Afagh, sharing wingman chores with Mohammad Jamshidi, but the soon-to-be 21-year-old has really blossomed as a starter for coach Dirk.

In his last three tournaments (FIBA OQT, FIBA Asia Challenge, FIBA Asia Champions Cup), Yakhchali has done exceptionally well. He actually led Iran in scoring in the OQT with 16.0 points per game - a testament to his explosiveness on the court. He was among the team’s most efficient players in the FIBA Asia Challenge as he scored in double digits in nearly every encounter and sank more than two three-pointers per game. He was also the top local scorer for Petrochimi in the Champions Cup, putting up nearly a dozen points per contest.

Without a doubt, Yakhchali was a barometer for Iran’s success this year, and though the expectations for him are quite high next year, he seems up to the task.

Yakhchali recently spoke with FIBA.com.

FIBA.com: What it did it take for your team to be successful in 2016, especially with the FIBA Asia Challenge?
Yakhchali: This is the first time we played at home after many years, so we all wished to succeed especially due to the presence of our basketball fans. Of course, having a lot of valuable players was another factor in winning the title.

FIBA.com: What kind of role do you see for yourself as a constant member of the national team in the future?
Yakhchali: I see myself as one of the main playerss of the national basketball team right now. Therefore, it is my responsibility to be a very good representative of Iran.

FIBA.com: What is the direction for Iran’s national team in 2017? What are your targets, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Yakhchali: This question can be best answered by the managers of the national team, but we, as players, are always ready to do all our the best to be successful and achieve the targets of the federation.

FIBA.com: How do you feel about possibly playing against teams like Australia and New Zealand in 2017?
Yakhchali: If this happens, we welcome the challenge and the chance to play with these teams, since we will gain good experience from them.

FIBA.com: Do you believe your generation has what it takes to match what the “golden generation” achieved?
Yakhchali: Why not? The golden generation tried a lot to help the national team and Iranian basketball in general, but now the situation is different. For one, techniques and facilities are much better than before. Our generation tries very hard to play well, and surely we now have the opportunity to take the place of the “golden generation” and maybe even go further than they did.

FIBA