 Lasme withPartizan in February 2009 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1982-12-17)December 17, 1982 (age 42) Port-Gentil, Gabon |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Léon M'ba (Libreville, Gabon) |
| College | UMass (2003–2007) |
| NBA draft | 2007: 2nd round, 46th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Golden State Warriors |
| Playing career | 2002–2019 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 12, 45 |
| Career history | |
| 2002 | Capo Libreville |
| 2007 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2007–2008 | Los Angeles D-Fenders |
| 2008 | Miami Heat |
| 2008–2009 | Partizan |
| 2009–2010 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 2010 | Spartak Saint Petersburg |
| 2010–2011 | Maine Red Claws |
| 2011–2012 | Obradoiro |
| 2012–2014 | Panathinaikos |
| 2014–2015 | Anadolu Efes |
| 2015–2016 | Galatasaray |
| 2017 | Texas Legends |
| 2017–2018 | UNICS |
| 2018–2019 | Panathinaikos |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Yann Ulrich Stéphane Lasme[1] (born December 17, 1982) is a Gabonese former professionalbasketball player. He playedcollege basketball at theUniversity of Massachusetts (UMass), with theUMass Minutemen,[2] and he was selected by theGolden State Warriors in the second round, 46th overall, in the2007 NBA draft.[3] In 2016 Stephane won the EuroCup Championship and earned the Finals MVP award, as well as, anAll-EuroLeague Second Team selection in2014 and won theEuroLeague Best Defender award in2013, among others.
On December 17, 1982, Lasme was born inPort-Gentil,Gabon, to Onanga Liliane. He was brought up inPort-Gentil,Gabon, his father being an oil company engineer. His mother, Liliane, was an economist. Lasme knew how to speak French and his native language ofMyene in his childhood, but learned some English through high school classes.[4]
Lasme grew up lovingsoccer, but began playing basketball at 14,[5] when he was introduced to his school's coach. When asked why he started playing the game, Lasme said, "I was growing faster than the other kids my age." One media report stated that he nailed a basketball hoop to a tree at age 15 and estimated the official NBA requirement of 10 feet, but instead put it 12 feet above the ground. He said, "I had a rim put in at my house. It was higher than 10 feet, though." His favorite players as a child wereScottie Pippen andMichael Jordan, whom he used to watch on television by sneaking out of bed at night. He also grew up as a fan ofMarcus Camby.
Lasme competed for Aveley ClubPort-Gentil, a youth club that was designed to be an after-school program. He attended high school at Léon M'ba in his nativeGabon[2] and was called up by Arimbi Nkolo, head coach of his country'snational team. While at Léon M'ba, whose basketball team competed in the African High School Federation, he played under Ebolo Firmin. Lasme also played for Capo Libreville in the2002 FIBA Africa Basketball Club Championship.[5]
In February 2003 Lasme moved to the United States. Lasme's cousin, Serge Lapeby gave him a home inBoston. He helped him adjust to the new environment, saying, "He had to learn the culture, the language, the colder weather—that was a bit of a challenge—and the lifestyle." He was forced to compete in a gymnasium, as he arrived in the United States in the winter, and played inEmmanuel College. Lapeby tried to recruit Lasme to play for the school's team, and succeeded, but it did not offer athletic scholarships as anNCAA Division III college.[4]
Lasme subsequently enrolled inEmmanuel College, primarily for itsESL program. He began playing basketball for the college and attracted the attention of manyNCAA Division I programs. Lasme's performance in the Eastern Invitational All-Star Game, which took place in New Jersey, was most noted.[5] The game was attended byMassachusetts Minutemen basketball coachSteve Lappas, who was searching for potential recruits.[4]
Lappas was impressed by Lasme's raw skills and offered him a scholarship to play for the Minutemen. He signed an institutional financial aid agreement to compete with Massachusetts for the2003–04 season and was eligible to participate in the winter.[6] When the move was made official, the coach said, "We are excited to have Stephane join our program. We believe that he is a quality student and athlete. It is very exciting to find someone of his caliber at this point in time, and we feel he will be a very good addition to our program."[6]
On November 9, 2003, Lasme made his first appearance in a Massachusetts uniform in an exhibition game against theHarlem Globetrotters. He finished with 1 point and 5 turnovers in 9 minutes of playing time, as the Minutemen fell to Harlem, 68–77.[7] He competed in another exhibition game on November 14 against the Playaz basketball club, but was awarded 22 minutes on the court.[8] In his official collegiate debut, a win overSt. Francis (NY), Lasme contributed 6 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.[9] He grabbed 13 rebounds in a quarterfinals game of the PreseasonNational Invitational Tournament vsTexas Tech, the first time he recorded double-digits in any major statistical category at the collegiate level. He also had four blocked shots,[9] as UMass fell, 50–90.[10] Lasme scored a season-high 13 points on February 8, 2004, vsDayton. He was awarded his first-ever start with the Minutemen on January 18, 2004, againstDuquesne, but scored no points.[9] He was named the winner ofMassachusetts' Jack Leaman Defensive Award at the end of the season, ranking second in theAtlantic 10 Conference in blocked shots. Lasme finished the year with averages of 3.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks.[2]
As a sophomore, he started all 28 games for theMinutemen, and again finished as the league's second-leading shot blocker.
Lasme continued his progression during his junior year. He started 27 of the team's 28 games (Senior Day being the exception), scored in double figures 15 times, and finished the year with a 10.5 average. Lasme was two blocks short of a triple-double againstSt. Peter's on December 27, 2005, with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 8 blocks. By the end of the season, Lasme blocked a total of 108 shots, an average of 3.9 per game, good for third-highest in the nation. The A-10 honored Lasme with their Defensive Player of the Year award.[11]
Lasme's senior year at UMass was filled with personal accomplishments, records, and team success. He was named an AP Honorable Mention All-American,[12] the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.[13] He ranked first in the league in blocks and rebounding, and second in field goal percentage. He scored more than 20 points on four occasions, grabbed 10 or more rebounds on 17 occasions, and 10 or more blocks on four occasions. During the season, Lasme averaged 13.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.1 blocks per game, and led the Minutemen into theNIT, the team's first post-season play since the 1999–2000 season.
In the 2006–07 season, Lasme tied an NCAA record with fourtriple-doubles in a single season, joiningJason Kidd (1994 at Cal) andMichael Anderson (1986 at Drexel). While Kidd and Anderson accomplished the feat by achieving double figures in scoring, rebounds, and assists, Lasme's triple-doubles are in scoring, rebounds and blocks. His four triple-doubles were:
Also in 2006–07 Lasme set new UMass records for career blocked shots (399), single season blocked shots (168), and blocks per game (11), passingMarcus Camby on all three lists.
In June 2007, Lasme was selected in the second round, 46th overall, in the2007 NBA draft by theGolden State Warriors, using the pick they got from theNew Jersey Nets in exchange forClifford Robinson.[3][15] He made hisNBA debut on November 8, playing only 3.8 seconds of game time in the Warriors 120–115 loss to theDallas Mavericks.[16][17] On November 17, Lasme was waived by the Warriors.[18] Later that month, he was signed by theNBA Development League'sLos Angeles D-Fenders.[19][20]
On March 21, 2008, Lasme was signed to a ten-day contract with theMiami Heat,[21] whose roster had been depleted by injuries. He later signed for the rest of the season.[22] In 15 games (four starts), he averaged 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 20.2 minutes.
In September 2008, Lasme signed with theAdriatic League championsPartizan Belgrade, for the 2008–09 season.[23] After the opening three games inEuroLeague, he was ranked second in both blocks and rebounds per game.[24] Lasme finished the season well, averaging 10.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, 25.5 minutes a contest, after Partizan's strong showing that ended in the quarterfinals with a loss toCSKA Moscow. He was instrumental in helping the team to anotherregional ABA championship, with 11.3 points per game. He also wonSerbian national championship and the SerbianRadivoj Korać Cup titles with Partizan.
In July 2009, Lasme signed with theIsraeli League clubMaccabi Tel Aviv, along withAlan Anderson.[25] On June 8, 2010, Maccabi announced that they had released Lasme, after a foot injury had limited his playing time towards the end of the season.[26] In 20 games of EuroLeague play, he averaged 6.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game in 18.5 minutes per game. Lasme then signed a two-year contract with theRussian League clubSpartak Saint Petersburg in July 2010.[27] However, he was released in September, due to some administrative problems that he had in the United States.[28]
Lasme was invited to join theBoston Celtics for their 2010 training camp.[29] However, he was waived on October 20.[30] Subsequently, Lasme joined theMaine Red Claws of theNBA D-League, an affiliate of the Celtics.[31] However, Lasme fractured his foot just 2 minutes into the team's preseason opener against theSpringfield Armor, and immediately underwent surgery.[32] After recovering, he returned to action in March 2011.[33]
In August 2011, Lasme returned to Europe and signed with theSpanish League newcomersObradoiro CAB.[34] On July 5, 2012, the Boston Celtics announced that Lasme was added to their roster for the 2012Orlando Pro Summer League and the2012 NBA Summer League.[35]
On September 29, 2012, Lasme signed a one-year contract with theGreek League clubPanathinaikos Athens.[36] He was named theEuroLeague Best Defender for the2012–13 Euroleague season. He averaged 1.86 blocks and 6.14 rebounds per game, while his team allowed 69.8 points per game, thus displaying the second best team defense in the league.[37] Also, Lasme earned theGreek Basket League MVP award, as well as theGreek League Best Defender award for the 2012–13 season.
On July 1, 2013, Lasme renewed his contract with Panathinaikos for two more years.[38] In May 2014, he was named to theAll-EuroLeague Second Team of the EuroLeague.[39] He also earned the Greek League Best Defender award and was named to theGreek League Best Five for the 2013–14 season. Panathinaikos decided to exercise an "opt out" clause in his contract for the upcoming 2014–15 season, on 12 June 2014.[40]
On June 22, 2014, he signed a two-year contract withAnadolu Efes Istanbul.[41][42] On July 29, 2015, he signed withGalatasaray.[43] Lasme was instrumental in winning the Eurocup title 2015–16, and earned theEurocup Finals MVP award.[44] On August 29, 2016, Lasme was suspended for one year after failing a doping test.[45]
On February 10, 2017, Lasme was acquired by theTexas Legends of the NBA Development League.[46]
On July 13, 2017, Lasme signed with Russian clubUNICS for the 2017–18 season.[47]
On June 27, 2018, Lasme officially returned toPanathinaikos after four years, signing a one-year deal.[48]
In September 2022, Lasme returned from his retirement after four years when he joined the Gabonese clubEspoir to play for them in the2023 BAL qualification tournament.[49] Despite training with the team for a month, he did not join Espoir for their games inYaoundé,Cameroon.[50]
Lasme played with the seniorGabonese national team at the2005 FIBA Africa Championship, averaging 11.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game, in seven games played.[1]
He played his second continental tournament atAfroBasket 2015 and averaged 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.[1]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance index rating |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Golden State | 1 | 0 | .0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Miami | 15 | 4 | 20.2 | .451 | .000 | .594 | 3.5 | .2 | .9 | 1.5 | 5.5 | |
| Career | 16 | 4 | 18.9 | .451 | .000 | .594 | 3.3 | .2 | .8 | 1.4 | 5.2 | |
| Season | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Los Angeles D-Fenders | D-League | 37 | 28.6 | .521 | -- | .755 | 7.3 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 10.4 |
| 2008–09 | Partizan NiS | Adriatic League | 28 | 25.1 | .563 | .250 | .713 | 6.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 4.2 |
| KLS | 15 | 23.7 | .548 | .400 | .809 | 7.4 | 1.3 | .9 | 1.5 | 10.7 | ||
| 2009–10 | Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. | ISBL | 24 | 19.0 | .642 | .000 | .703 | 4.5 | .9 | .5 | 1.7 | 8.8 |
| 2010–11 | Maine Red Claws | D-League | 10 | 20.1 | .449 | .143 | .622 | 6.0 | .7 | .7 | .8 | 7.0 |
| 2011–12 | Blu:sens Monbús | ACB | 34 | 27.1 | .506 | .143 | .721 | 6.3 | .8 | .7 | 1.9 | 10.9 |
| 2012–13 | Panathinaikos | GBL | 32 | 20.1 | .626 | -- | .697 | 5.4 | .8 | .5 | 1.2 | 9.8 |
| 2013–14 | 33 | 19.6 | .619 | -- | .764 | 5.0 | .8 | .6 | .7 | 10.7 | ||
| 2014–15 | Anadolu Efes S.K. | BSL | 36 | 22.3 | .606 | .600 | .800 | 5.3 | 1.1 | .9 | 1.3 | 9.6 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | Partizan | 19 | 9 | 23.6 | .496 | .222 | .691 | 6.6 | .7 | .9 | 1.5 | 10.6 | 13.4 |
| 2009–10 | Maccabi | 20 | 9 | 18.8 | .461 | .000 | .706 | 4.4 | .9 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 6.5 | 8.2 |
| 2012–13 | Panathinaikos | 28 | 9 | 23.9 | .571 | .000 | .767 | 6.1 | .5 | .4 | 1.9 | 10.0 | 12.9 |
| 2013–14 | Panathinaikos | 28 | 25 | 21.1 | .515 | .000 | .825 | 4.8 | .6 | .8 | 1.0 | 8.9 | 10.5 |
| 2014–15 | Anadolu Efes | 27 | 16 | 19.5 | .510 | .000 | .595 | 3.9 | 1.0 | .7 | .8 | 6.7 | 7.2 |
| 2018–19 | Panathinaikos | 18 | 8 | 16.1 | .516 | 1 | .679 | 2.8 | .4 | .6 | .8 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Career | 122 | 68 | 21.8 | .518 | .143 | .735 | 5.1 | .7 | .7 | 1.3 | 8.5 | 10.4 |
· Basketball Reference