“I’m definitely not gonna lay down for no one. I don’t care if they tell me they’re going to naturalize LeBron, I’m still gonna be competitive, I’m still gonna do what I have to do,” said Douthit on the Gilas’ naturalization of Nets’ Andray Blatche

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Marcus Douthit was the Gilas bread and butter in their past tournaments.

Douthit even helped the Philippine national men’s basketball team to a silver medal finish in the FIBA Asia Championship last year, giving the country an opportunity to return to the world stage for the first time in four decades.


“It’s a whole different ballgame now, obviously, we’re now one of the top teams in Asia. Now we’re gonna compete in the world, that’s a whole different beast. I mean, guys are more physical, guys are smarter,” said Douthit.

But with Brooklyn Nets big man Andray Blatche also being considered to take Douthit’s spot, the naturalized center may not make it to Gilas Pilipinas’ final lineup for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in August.

Instead of being threatened, Douthit was open to the possible entry of the NBA player into the Philippine roster. He revealed to Sports5.ph that he and Blatche go way back.

“Me and Andray Blatche grew up in the same place, from the same city,” said Douthit, who like Blatche is a native of Syracuse, New York.

“We played against each other multiple times, so I kinda feel great, proud, ’cause they kinda kept in the family.”

Douthit described the possible inclusion of Blatche as “definitely a good thing.”

“Any kind of help, would definitely help our team, help our chances, so I’m kinda looking forward to it,” said Douthit.

But the 33-year-old center isn’t about to give up his spot on Gilas easily — even to an NBA player.

“I’m definitely not gonna lay down for no one. I don’t care if they tell me they’re going to naturalize LeBron, I’m still gonna be competitive, I’m still gonna do what I have to do,” said Douthit.

Douthit’s Career

He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA Draft after his stint with the Providence Friars 


However, Douthit decided to play ball in Belgium instead since the Lakers already had 15 players on the roster, and it was still awaiting the decision of Karl Malone if he would join the team. Although he never played in the NBA, Douthit had several close stints in signing with a couple of ball clubs, specifically the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.



During the 2006–07 NBA season, the Lakers announced that they would sign Douthit after playing professional ball in Europe. Shortly after, the team placed him on waivers. Douthit along with other aspirants such as J. R. Pinnock, Mamadou N’diaye, and Devin Green were all cut by the Lakers before the start of the regular season.

The Los Angeles Clippers, on the other hand, signed Douthit and Jamaican professional basketball player Kimani Ffriend in the 2007–08 NBA season, including them in the team’s training camp roster. After not playing in the first two preseason games of the team, Douthit was waived by the Clippers.

Douthit played for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds in the NBA Development League, during the 2005–06 season. Playing under coach Michael Cooper, he was part of the team’s starting lineup along with Tony Bland, T. J. Cummings, Andreas Glyniadakis, and Tierre Brown, who was the league’s MVP during the 2003–04 season.

While playing for the Thunderbirds, currently known as the New Mexico Thunderbirds after it moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Douthit averaged 16.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest. Douthit also helped the team defeat the Fort Worth Flyers, 119-108, to win the 2005–06 NBA Development League Championship, scoring 11 points and collecting 15 rebounds during the championship game.


European Stint
Before playing in the NBA D-League, Douthit played in the Basketball League Belgium, also known as the Ligue Ethias, which is the highest professional basketball league in the country. In Belgium, he played for RBC Verviers-Pepinster and Spirou Charleroi, and averaged 7.9 points and 6.0 rebounds while playing for these ball clubs.
During the 2007-08 season, Douthit played for Antalya Büyükşehir Belediyesi in Turkey . That year, the team finished sixth in the league with a total 18 wins, qualifying them to the playoffs. The club was eventually eliminated by Turkish team Fenerbahçe Ülkerspor. While playing for Antalya in Turkey’s top men’s professional basketball league, Turkish Basketball League, Douthit averaged 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds.
After several stints in a number of professional leagues in Europe, Douthit suited up for BC Krasnye Krylya Samara in Russia. The club plays in the Russian Basketball Super League. During the 2009-10 season, the club also participated in the 2010 EuroChallenge, organized by FIBA Europe. Douthit averaged 11.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in 11 games in that year’s EuroChallenge.

Asian Stint

After playing in the NBA D-League, Douthit joined the Daegu Orions in the Korean Basketball League, which is the professional basketball league of South Korea to cap the 2006-07 season.


Gilas Stint

In May 2010, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced that Douthit has been invited to try out for a spot in the Philippines men’s national basketball team, Smart Gilas. He suited up for the team, spearheaded by former Iran national team head coach Rajko Toroman, in the 2010 MVP Invitational Championships.

Douthit joins notable Filipino basketball players Marcio Lassiter, J.V. Casio, Japeth Aguilar, Dylan Ababou, and Chris Tiu, who are members of the Gilas squad.


In February 25, 2011, he scored 16 points and collected 26 rebounds in his debut game with Gilas in the Philippine Basketball Association, the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia, against the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters. He played for the Air21 Express as an import during the 2012 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

In October 2011, it was reported that Douthit has come to terms on a five-month contract to play for the Foshan Dralions, a club based in Foshan, Guangdong that plays in the Chinese Basketball Association. The team is coached by former NBA player Jay Humphries.


Ed Umbao

Founder of PhilNews.xyz | co-Founder of PhilNews.ph

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