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HOW ZAZA BECAME A HAWK: Re-signed as a free agent on July 13, 2009 • Originally signed with the Hawks as a free agent on August 11, 2005 • Traded by the Charlotte Bobcats to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for a 2004 second round draft pick on June 23, 2004 • Selected by Charlotte in the 2004 NBA Expansion Draft on June 22, 2004 • Originally selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.
LAST SEASON (2008-09): A valuable piece of the Hawks' big man rotation, Pachulia returned to form after struggling with injuries much of 2007-08 • Played in 77 games (started 26 times) and averaged 6.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 0.7 apg in 19.1 mpg (.497 FG%, .709 FT%) • After shooting just 32.2% from the floor in November, hit .586 in December, .550 in January, .518 in February and .569 in March • Ranked t30th in the NBA in offensive rpg (2.2) • Ranked 3rd on the team in FG% • Averaged 6.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg (.451 FG%, .745 FT%) in his starts • Scored in double-figures 15 times and pulled down double-digit rebounds on nine occasions • Recorded four double-doubles • Tied a career-high with 18 rebs (8 off. rebs), while adding 4 pts, a season-best 4 assts (tied) and 1 stl v/Wash (11/19) • Grabbed 17 boards (8 off.) @Tor on 11/28 • Scored a season-best 18 pts on 6-11 FGs (season-high FGM) and 6-7 FTs @Chi on 1/20 • Tied his career-high with 3 blks @Mia (1/26) • Missed four games due to injury/illness (sore left shoulder on 11/15; flu-like symptoms on 1/7 - 1/9; lower back contusion on 4/14) • SEASON HIGHS: 18 pts @Chi (1/20/09), 18 rebs v/Wash (11/19/08), 4 assts (2x), 3 stls (2x), 3 blks @Mia (1/26/09), 39 mins @Chi (1/20/09), 6 FGM @Chi (1/20/09), 7 FTM v/NJ (1/30/09).
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Through six seasons, Pachulia has appeared in 422 career games (162 starts), averaging 7.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists (.457 FG%, .737 FT%) • Has missed 37 games due to injury/illness • CAREER HIGHS: 27 pts v/Wash (3/7/07), 18 rebs (2x), 6 assts (4x), 4 stls (3x), 3 blks (3x), 50 mins @NY (3/15/06), 11 FGM v/Sac (3/19/07), 12 FTM v/Tor (1/3/06) • 2007-08: Recorded averages of 5.2 ppg and 4.0 rpg in 15.2 mpg (.437 FG%, .706 FT%) in 62 games on the campaign • In his five starts, averaged 6.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.8 spg and 17.6 mpg (.410 FG%, .500 FT%) • Had two double-doubles on the season, and scored 10-or-more 10 times • 2006-07: For the third straight season, upped his career averages in key categories - scoring, FG% and FT% - and equaled his personal bests in blocks and steals per game • "Big Z" averaged 12.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocks and 28.1 minutes (.474 FG%, .786 FT%) in 72 games • He was 16th in the NBA with 2.8 offensive rebounds and ranked 30th in rebound average • Second on the team in rebounds, 3rd in FG% and steals and 5th in points per game • Ranked 3rd among all NBA centers in spg (behind Ben Wallace and Marcus Camby) • In 47 starts, Pachulia posted 13.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.3 spg and 0.5 bpg (.484 FG%, .766 FT%) • He scored in double figures 47 times, including 11 20-point contests • His best game was a career-high 27 points v/Washington (3/7) when he knocked down 10-17 FGs and 7-9 FTs in 34 minutes in a 100-97 Atlanta victory, also tying a career-high with 3 blks • Scored 23 pts on career-high 11 FGM (11-12) v/Sac on 3/19 • He led the team (or tied) in scoring four times, in rebounds 17 times and in assists once • Recorded 13 double-doubles • Missed nine games due to various injuries • 2005-06: In his first season with the Hawks, Pachulia averaged 11.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 31.4 minutes (.451 FG%, .735 FT%) in 78 games • Ranked 3rd in the NBA with 3.4 offensive rebounds per game and 5th in total offensive rebounds (264) • He led the Hawks in rebounding (20th in the league), while finishing third in scoring, steals, and blocks (0.5 bpg) • In a Mar. 19 game against his former team - Orlando - Pachulia pulled down a NBA season-high 12 offensive rebounds, finishing the game with 13 points and career-best 18 total boards • He was Atlanta's team leader in double-doubles with 21 • Finished second among all NBA centers in steals (trailing only Ben Wallace) • Paced the club in rebounding 38 times • Posted double-figure outings in points 51 times and rebounds on 25 occasions • He set or tied then career-highs in points (26), made field goals (nine) and minutes (50) @NY on 3/15 • Missed four games due to injury or illness • 2004-05 (with Milwaukee): Averaged 6.2 points and 5.1 rebounds and 18.9 minutes (.452 FG%, .746 FT%) in 74 games (four starts) for the Bucks • Ranked third on the team in rebounding and 6th in scoring • Scored a season-high 15 points against Golden State on 3/30 • Notched his first career double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds) on 2/23 against New Jersey • Grabbed a season-best 13 boards on 12/8 against the Heat • Averaged 6.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals in four starting assignments • Also posted career-highs during the season with six assists (12/29 @Orl) and three blocks (2/12 v/Atl) • Missed five games with a right foot injury • 2003-04 (with Orlando): Saw action in 59 games (two starts) for the Magic, averaging 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds (.389 FG%, .644 FT%) in 11.3 minutes • Scored a season-high 14 points at Toronto on 2/4 • Tallied seven points, six rebounds, one assist and two steals in 16 minutes in his NBA debut vs. Chicago (11/5).
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Played in all 11 Hawks postseason games in 2009, starting one, averaging 6.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg in 23.6 mpg (.415 FG%, .762 FT%) • Came up huge in first round game four win at Miami, pulling down 18 rebounds in an 81-71 Atlanta win • In seven games off the bench against Boston in the ’08 playoffs, averaged 4.1 ppg and 2.9 rpg in 15.0 mpg (.280 FG%, .714 FT%) • Provided a tremendous spark off the bench in game six win over the Celtics (5/2/08), recording 9 points, 6 boards and 2 steals in 28 minutes of action • PLAYOFF CAREER HIGHS: 12 pts @Mia (4/27/09), 18 rebs @Mia (4/27/09), 2 assts v/Mia (4/29/09), 2 stls (2x), 1 blk (3x), 35 mins @Clev (5/7/09), 5 FGM @Mia (4/27/09), 6 FTM (2x).
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: Appeared in 73 games during parts of four seasons for Ulker of Istanbul at the top level in Turkey, averaging 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game (1999-2003) • Helped capture the 2001 and 2002 Turkish President's Cup • Also helped Ulker to the 2001 Turkish National Championship • 2002-03: Averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in nearly 16 minutes per game for Ulker • In Euroleague play, started against Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos, where he produced 26 points (10-13 FG) and eight rebounds in 36 minutes • In the following game, played all 40 minutes vs. Skipper Bologna, tallying 13 points and 17 rebounds • 2001-02: Averaged 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field for Ulker • In Euroleague play, averaged 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in limited playing time • 2000-01: Played in 17 games for Ulker, averaging 3.5 points and 2.3 rebounds (.521 FG%) • 1999-00: In his first professional season, averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 boards over 10 games for Ulker.
PERSONAL INFO: Given name is Zaur Pachulia • Legally changed his first name to Zaza (pronounced Za-Za Pa-CHUL-e-ya) • He and his wife, Tina, have two sons, Davit and Saba • This past summer, purchased a restaurant in downtown Atlanta, Eno, a Mediterranean-style eatery and wine shop • Born in Tbilisi, Georgia • Nickname is "Z" • Last season, took 20 children from the Mother’s Raising Sons organization on a holiday shopping “Z-Spree” to Toys “R” Us • After the kids selected their toys, the group assisted Pachulia in purchasing gifts for children from his home country • The gifts were sent to children who lost fathers in the nation’s military conflict in 2008 • Played with the Georgian National Team the last three summers • Took business classes at Georgia State this summer • Spent a week in the 2008 offseason studying business at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, as part of the High Growth Entrepreneurship Program (HGEP), an MBA-like seminar • In addition, Pachulia took an active role politically, when he spoke passionately against the Russian invasion of his homeland • Critiques fashion for the Hawks team magazine, 360, and serves as the Style Editor for HOOP Magazine • In conjunction with the U.S. Department of State, along with the NBA and Vladimir Stepania and Nikoloz Tskitishvili, has donated products to basketball academies in his home country • A participant in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders initiative, Pachulia spent a portion of the summer of 2006 assisting in the Sarunas Marciulionis Basketball Academy in Vilnius, Lithuania • Began playing for Ulker when he was just 15 years old in 1999 • Left his native Georgia in 1998 to go to Turkey and pursue his basketball career • Has also been a member of the Georgian Junior National Team and the Georgian Cadets National Team • Names Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro and Sasha Baron-Cohen as his favorite actors, and he would like to one day meet Pacino • Favorite sports outside of basketball include tennis and soccer • A fan of the AC Milan soccer team • Lists Jay-Z and 50 Cent as his favorite musical artists • Hobbies include traveling and fashion • He wears a size 17 basketball shoe • His favorite TV shows are "Punk'd" and "Chappelle's Show" • Enjoys eating steak and pasta • His favorite athlete is Michael Jordan.
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