Product Code Database
Andray Maurice Blatche (born August 22, 1986) is an American-Filipino former professional basketball player. He played nine seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) between 2005 and 2014 before playing overseas. He played high school basketball at Henninger High School and South Kent School before he was drafted in the second round of the 2005 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards.
Born in New York and an American by birth, Blatche became a naturalized citizen of the Philippines in June 2014, enabling him to join the country's national basketball team.
Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Blatche was listed as the No. 2 power forward and the No. 4 player in the nation in 2005. Andray Blatche Recruiting Profile
He declared for the 2005 NBA draft out of prep-to-pro, and while originally thought of as a first-round prospect, he slipped to the second round and was taken by the Washington Wizards with the 49th overall pick. Wizards re-sign forward Blatche to multiyear deal
With the injuries to Wizards' centers Etan Thomas and Michael Ruffin, Blatche was occasionally pressed into service as a backup center in the 2006–07 season. On August 17, 2007, Blatche re-signed with the Wizards to a multi-year deal. Wizards Re-Sign Forward Andray Blatche During the 2007–08 season, Blatche continued showing improvement, and with center Etan Thomas out with a season-ending heart condition, his minutes increased. At the end of the season, Blatche played in every game for the Wizards, starting 15, averaging 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. Andray Blatche 2007-08 Game Log
On January 9, 2010, Blatche was fined $10,000 by the Wizards for participating in Gilbert Arenas' mimicking gunplay before a game on January 5, 2010, against the Philadelphia 76ers. Arenas was being investigated for a prior incident involving guns in the Wizards' locker room, but made light of the accusations by pointing his finger at his teammates, as if he were shooting them. His teammates were photographed smiling and laughing with him. Wiz fine Blatche, McGee, Foye, Young
On February 28, 2010, he scored a career high 36 points on 17–31 shooting during the Wizards' 89–85 victory against the New Jersey Nets. Blatche continued to be the starter on the team, and his stats significantly improved. Blatche just missed a triple-double as he had 20 points, a career-high 13 assists, nine rebounds and two steals in the Wizards' 109–99 victory over the New Jersey Nets on April 4. Andray Blatche 2009-10 Game Log In September 2010, he signed a veteran extension with the Wizards. The 2010–11 NBA season was a career year for Blatche, with 63 starts in 64 games played, and career highs in points (16.8), rebounds (8.2), assists (2.3) and steals (1.5).
On March 20, 2012, the Wizards announced that they were benching Blatche indefinitely due to lack of conditioning, and on July 16, he was waived via the amnesty clause. WIZARDS WAIVE BLATCHE Blatche would later be vocal about his treatment by the Wizards organization, stating, "When things weren't starting well, they used me as an excuse." He also claimed that the management deliberately tried to ruin his career: "For them to say, ‘Oh, he's a bad teammate. He's a cancer in the locker room.’ He's this and that. All that was a bunch of lies! A bunch of lies. That's what really made me mad. That showed me, they tried to end me." Highlights from Andray Blatche's crazy radio interview Coach Randy Wittman responded to the allegations by saying, "I’m not going to get into that. We did everything we could to help him, as we will with every player that ever comes here."
Blatche played in all 82 regular season games in 2012–13, averaging 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds and set a career high in field goal percentage (51.2%). Blatche also played in seven playoff games for the Nets and averaged 10.3 points and 4.9 rebounds.
On July 11, 2013, Blatche re-signed with the Nets. Nets Re-Sign Andray Blatche In December 2013, starting center Brook Lopez went down with a season-ending foot injury, increasing Blatche's minutes. In the first game without Lopez, Blatche had 11 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes of action in a loss to the Indiana Pacers.
On June 20, 2014, Blatche opted out of his contract with the Nets, thus becoming an unrestricted free agent. Agent: Blatche opts out, is a free agent
In March 2015, Blatche re-signed with Xinjiang on a three-year, $7.5 million contract.
In November 2016, Blatche sustained an injury and was subsequently replaced on the roster temporarily by Ben Bentil. Former Celtic draftee Ben Bentil signs with Chinese team Xinjiang He returned to action in late December and went on to lead Xinjiang to the CBA Finals, where they swept the series against the Guangdong Southern Tigers 4–0 to claim the championship.
On January 4, 2018, it was announced that Augusto Lima was taking Blatche's spot on the roster. Blatche was criticized for his poor performance and negative attitude during the early stages of the 2017–18 season. He averaged 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in the five games he played, and had a negative impact on the team's defensive efforts. He returned to the team in March 2018 for their playoff series against Guangdong.
In 2021, he expressed interest to join the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Despite having Filipino citizenship by this time, naturalized players like himself are still considered as imports. Imports are also subject to height cap restriction.
Blatche joined Strong Group Athletics (SGA), another non-league Philippine-based side, for the Dubai International Basketball Championship in 2024. By this time Blatche has given up on his prospect of playing in the PBA. He rejoined SGA for the 2025 edition of the tournament. Blatche has announced his retirement in February 2025.
| 2014–15 | Xinjiang | 38 | 38.8 | .558 | .372 | .777 | 14.6 | 5.1 | 2.8 | .9 | 31.1 |
| 2015–16 | Xinjiang | 42 | 31.8 | .545 | .401 | .726 | 10.4 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 23.3 |
| 2016–17 | Xinjiang | 37 | 29.6 | .532 | .361 | .719 | 10.4 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 22.5 |
| Career | 117 | 33.4 | .546 | .378 | .743 | 10.91 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 25.6 | |
In August 2014, Blatche was named in the 2014 Philippine FIBA Basketball World Cup and Asian Games squad. Lee, Dillinger, Blatche named to Gilas Asian Games team Blatche says Philippines will continue to impress in FIBA World Cup He was later disqualified to play in the 2014 Asian Games due to eligibility issues cited by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), as he lacked the required three-year residency in the Philippines. Why Andray Blatche might not play in the 2014 Asian Games It’s final: Blatche out of Asian Games In five games at the World Cup, he averaged 21.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup – Andray Blatche With an 18-point, 14-rebound performance, Blatche helped the Philippines to their first World Cup win in 40 years, defeating Senegal 81–79 in overtime. Philippines gets 1st World Cup win in 40 years
In 2015, Blatche played for the Philippines at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship under new head coach Tab Baldwin. In nine games, he averaged 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> 2015 FIBA Asia Championship – Andray Blatche The following year, the team competed in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where in two games, he scored a total of 51 points. 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Andray Blatche
Blatche was expected to suit up for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup but pulled out due to security concerns over the militant situation in the host country Lebanon. He was replaced by Christian Standhardinger as the Philippine team's naturalized citizen.
On July 2, 2018, Blatche was involved in a brawl during the Philippines' 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifier against Australia. Andray Blatche on FIBA brawl: 'When u see a brother hit from the back of his head what do u do'
In January 2020, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas bared that they are "moving on" from Blatche, and is looking for another naturalized player for the national team.
On August 2, 2007, Blatche was charged with sexual solicitation in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. after allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover police officer. The solicitation charge was dropped after Blatche followed court orders and attended a day-long seminar for men who solicit prostitutes. Blatche To Attend 'John School'
Blatche was arrested on June 4, 2008, in Virginia on charges of reckless driving and driving on a suspended license for the third time. Blatche was going 86 mph in a 70 mph zone in a Mercedes-Benz on Interstate 85. He was released on Bail bond. Wizards' Blatche Arrested
In June 2011, Blatche established the Andray Blatche Foundation and went on a charity mission to Jamaica where he donated sneakers, basketballs and gave a $50,000 check to Jamaican schools.
|
|
