Cheikh Samb

2.1. Early Life and Family

Cheikh Samb (Samb Cheikh Tidiane^French) was born on October 22, 1984, in Dakar, Dakar Region, Senegal. He stands at 85 in ^{(216 cm)} and weighs 245 lb ^{(111 kg)}. He is the older brother of Mamadou Samb, who is also a professional basketball player, suggesting a strong family connection to the sport.

3.1. Early Professional Career in Spain

During the 2005-06 season, Samb played for WTC Cornellá in the Spanish second division (LEB). In 29 games, he averaged 9.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game, demonstrating his defensive prowess by leading the league in blocked shots and registering more blocks than all but one team in the league. He shot 51.4% from the field and 76.1% from the free-throw line, playing an average of 26 minutes per game. He was loaned back to WTC Cornellá for the 2006-07 season, where he averaged 10.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game in 19 games, shooting 52% from the field and 61% from the free-throw line, despite the season being hampered by injuries.

3.2. NBA Draft and Detroit Pistons Era

Samb was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round, as the 51st overall pick, of the 2006 NBA draft. On the same day, June 28, 2006, his draft rights were traded to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for shooting guard Maurice Evans. Following the draft, he participated in the NBA Summer League with the Pistons, averaging 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks, with shooting percentages of 65.2% from the field and 60.0% from the free-throw line. He joined the Pistons for another Summer League in 2007, where he posted slightly improved numbers. Subsequently, he signed a contract with the Pistons on July 17, 2007.

Samb made his NBA regular season debut on November 16, 2007, against the Los Angeles Lakers, recording four rebounds, two points, and two blocks in 15 minutes. Soon after, on December 10, 2007, he was assigned to the NBA Development League (now G League) with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, becoming the first NBA player in the team's history to be assigned there. During a D-League game on December 14 against the Dakota Wizards, Samb suffered an injury when he took an elbow to his mouth, resulting in the loss of two front teeth and a probable upper jawbone fracture. His teeth were later reset. He was recalled to the NBA on December 21, 2007, but was reassigned to the Mad Ants again on January 29, 2008.

3.3. NBA G League Assignments and Subsequent Trades

While playing for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the D-League, Cheikh Samb had a standout performance on February 3, 2008, when he recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 blocks. He was recalled to the Detroit Pistons once more on March 22, 2008.

On November 3, 2008, Samb was part of a major trade, moving from the Pistons to the Denver Nuggets along with Antonio McDyess and Chauncey Billups in exchange for Allen Iverson. Following this trade, he was assigned to the Colorado 14ers, a Nuggets-affiliated team in the NBA Development League, where he played alongside Sonny Weems. His tenure with the Nuggets was brief, as on January 5, 2009, he was traded again, this time to the Los Angeles Clippers, along with cash considerations, for a conditional second-round draft pick. However, the Clippers waived Samb on February 16, 2009, as part of a roster move that brought in Alex Acker.

3.4. Later NBA Stints and International Play

After being waived by the Clippers, Cheikh Samb signed a 10-day contract with the New York Knicks on March 2, 2009. He later signed a second 10-day contract but was eventually released by the Knicks on March 23, 2009, having appeared in two games for the team.

Following his NBA career, Samb moved to international basketball. On October 1, 2009, he signed a one-month contract with the Spanish club Real Madrid, though he only appeared in one game before being released in November. He also participated in the 2010 NBA Summer League as part of the Toronto Raptors roster, where he demonstrated strong performance in the final game, scoring 11 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and blocking 7 shots. On November 1, 2010, Samb was drafted by the Sioux Falls Skyforce as the 11th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Development League Draft, but he did not make their final 10-man roster. In December 2010, he signed with Mahram Tehran, the defending champions of the Iranian Super League, marking another phase of his professional career abroad.

4.1. Regular Season