Ali Traoré (born February 28, 1985) is an Ivorian-born French former professional basketball player. He also represented the France national basketball team internationally. Standing at 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in), he played at the center position.

Ali Traoré
Traore playing for ASVEL in 2008
Personal information
Born (1985-02-28) February 28, 1985 (age 39)
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
NationalityFrench
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
CollegeCollege of Southern Idaho (2004–2005)
NBA draft2007: undrafted
Playing career2001–2022
PositionCenter
Career history
2001–2004ASVEL Basket
2005UJAP Quimper 29
2005–2006Chorale Roanne
2006–2008STB Le Havre
2008–2010ASVEL Basket
2010–2011Virtus Roma
2011–2012Lokomotiv Kuban
2013Alba Berlin
2013JSF Nanterre
2014Amchit Club
2014–2015Strasbourg IG
2015–2016Limoges CSP
2016–2017Estudiantes
2017Byblos Club
2017Antibes Sharks
2018AS Monaco
2018–2020Strasbourg IG
2020–2022Antibes Sharks
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  France
FIBA EuroBasket
Silver medal – second place 2011 Lithuania

Professional career

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Traoré made his professional debut with ASVEL Basket during the 2001–02 season.[1] In the 2004–05 season he played college basketball at the College of Southern Idaho. In February 2005, he returned to France and signed with UJAP Quimper 29 for the rest of the season.[1] For the 2005–06 season he signed with Chorale Roanne. From 2006 to 2008 he played with STB Le Havre.

On June 28, 2008, he signed a one-year deal with ASVEL Basket.[2] On June 30, 2009, he re-signed with ASVEL.[3] On July 22, 2010, he signed a two-year contract with Italian club Virtus Roma.[4] He left Roma after one season. On August 1, 2011, Traore signed a two-year contract with Russian club Lokomotiv Kuban.[5] On December 10, 2012, he parted ways with Lokomotiv.[6]

On December 27, 2012, he signed with Serbian club KK Crvena zvezda.[7] However, he left the club on February 6, 2013, due to a knee injury.[8] On February 18, 2013, he signed with German club Alba Berlin for the rest of the season.[9] On September 24, 2013, he signed with JSF Nanterre.[10] On December 22, 2013, he parted ways with Nanterre.[11] On February 19, 2014, he signed with Amchit Club of Lebanon for the rest of the season.[12]

On July 24, 2014, Traore signed a one-year deal with Strasbourg IG.[13] On July 8, 2015, he signed a one-year deal with Limoges CSP.[14]

On August 3, 2016, Traore signed with Spanish club Estudiantes.[15] On January 26, 2017, he parted ways with Estudiantes.[16] On March 14, 2017, he signed with Byblos Club of Lebanon.[17]

On November 22, 2017, Traore signed with Antibes Sharks.[18] On January 3, 2018, he moved to AS Monaco for the rest of the 2017–18 Pro A season.[19] Traore joined Strasbourg IG in 2018. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game during the 2019–20 season. He rejoined Antibes Sharks on September 10, 2020.[20]

On March 1, 2022, he has announced his retirement from professional basketball.[21]

National team career

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As a member of the senior French national team he won the silver medal at the 2011 EuroBasket in Lithuania.

References

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  1. ^ a b Ali Traore at Euroleague.net
  2. ^ Asvel brings big man Ali Traore home
  3. ^ Ali Traore extends with Asvel
  4. ^ Virtus Roma adds size with Ali Traore
  5. ^ Lokomotiv Kuban announces Ali Traore
  6. ^ Ali Traore leaves Lokomotiv Kuban
  7. ^ Red Star signs Ali Traore
  8. ^ Red Star will not sign Ali Traore
  9. ^ Alba Berlin lands Traore until end of season
  10. ^ JSF Nanterre officially signs Ali Traore
  11. ^ Ali Traore leaves JSF Nanterre
  12. ^ Ali Traore officially signs with Amchit
  13. ^ SIG Strasbourg signs Ali Traore
  14. ^ Limoges CSP signs center Traore
  15. ^ Ali Traore signs with Estudiantes
  16. ^ Acuerdo de desvinculación entre Movistar Estudiantes y Ali Traore Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
  17. ^ Ali Traore signs with Byblos
  18. ^ Ali Traore signs with Antibes Sharks
  19. ^ Ali Traoré : "Monaco, le challenge idéal" (in French)
  20. ^ "Traore is back at Antibes". Eurobasket. September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  21. ^ "Ali Traore announces retirement". Eurobasket. March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
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