• Esteban Batista
• #55
• Forward-Center

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HOW ESTEBAN BECAME A HAWK: Signed as a free agent on September 12, 2005.

SUMMER 2006: Batista led Uruguay to a runner-up finish in the 2006 FIBA South American championships (in Caracas, Venezuela), after leading all players in total points (85, 21.3 ppg), free throws made (37), rebounding (offensive, defensive and total – 10.8 rpg), and he was 2 nd in blocks (1.0) and 4 th in steals (3.0) •After earning first-team All-Tournament honors, Batista joined Hawks’ summer league team and played in three games at the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City, averaging 6.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg in 13.3 mpg (.667 FG%, .833 FT%).

LAST SEASON (2004-05): Batista became the first native of Uruguay to play in the NBA, and the 6-10 center provided a physical presence off the Hawks’ bench • Appeared in 57 games (three starts) as a rookie, and posted 1.8 ppg and 2.5 rpg in 8.7 mpg (.425 FG%, .623 FT%) • He ranked 17th among all rookies in rebounding • Finished the season strong, averaging 3.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg (including 1.7 off. rpg) in 15.4 mpg in April • Batista recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds @Orl on 4/10 • He totaled 12 pts (3-7 FGs, 6-7 FTs), 5 rebs, 1 stl and 1 blk in 15 mins of action @Phoe on 12/4 • In his first NBA start on 11/5 @Port, Batista posted 3 rebs and 1 stl in 15 mins • Hit his first field goal of his career @LAC (11/4) • As a starter, he averaged 1.3 ppg and 2.7 rpg (0-4 FGs, 4-4 FTs) • SEASON HIGHS: 12 pts @Phoe (12/4/05), 12 rebs @NJ (4/4/06), 2 assts @LAL (2/15/06), 2 stls (2x), 2 blks (2x), 32 mins @NJ (4/4/06), 4 FGM @Orl (4/10/06), 6 FTM @Phoe (12/4/05).

INTERNATIONAL CAREER: In 2004-05, Batista played in eight games with Aguas de Calpe (in the LEB Division in Spain), where he averaged 10.6 ppg and 5.5 rpg • In August and September 2005, he represented Uruguay in the FIBA Americas Tournament 2005, and grabbed a tournament-best 15.6 rpg, adding 18.0 ppg (t8th) in eight contests • Spent most of 2003-04 with Trouville (Montevideo, Uruguay), playing 40 games and averaging 20.1 ppg and 15.0 rpg during the regular season • Also played in two games with Liceo Mixto Los Andes (Chile) and with the Uruguayan National Team in the South American Tournament in Brazil • Played for Salto Uruguay in 2002-03, and averaged 16.4 ppg in 28 contests • Played 23 games for Pozuelo (Spain), where he posted 8.9 ppg and 7.4 rpg • Also played in four games at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan • Played in 2001-02 with Welcome in the National League (Uruguay), and put up 6.2 ppg and 4.5 rpg in 22 games.

PERSONAL INFO: Esteban Damian Batista Hernandez was born September 2, 1983 in Montevideo, Uruguay • He was raised in Playa Pascual, a suburb of Montevideo • Favorite sport outside of basketball is soccer, which he watches religiously on South American sports television • Roots for the Nacional soccer club in Uruguay • Enjoys going online to check out the news in his native country, and emailing friends and family • Likes all styles of music, but prefers hip-hop • Enjoyed the movie Click • Toughest player he’s faced is Shaquille O’Neal • In 2004, he was nominated as the best basketball player in the country by the Uruguayan Olympic Committee • His mentor is Oscar “Osky” Moglia, a former national team player and international star from Uruguay • Off the court, Batista led the Hawks’ first-ever Spanish Reading Timeout for children last season (at STAR House in Roswell), as part of the NBA and team’s Read to Achieve program.