Francisco Elson on try-out in Iran

Francisco Elson (211 cm, California’99) has left for Iran, where he will try out for ten days with Mahram Tehran.

Coach of the Iranian team is Slovenian Mehmed Becirovic. He knows Elson very well, from the time that he played in the Spanish ACB and with the Dutch national team. Coach Becirovic is also coaching the Iranian national team. He is a real globetrotter and has coached in Belgium, Ukraine, Italy and his native Slovenia.

His son Sani Becirovic is playing in Iran at the moment, for Petrochimi Bandar Imam Harbour.

Mahram is the champion of Iran and has won the championship five times in a row. They are also current WABA Club Champions.

Dutchman Francisco Elson was a second round draft pick (41) in 1999, but didn’t accept the non-guaranteed minimum contract that the Nuggets offered him each year. Instead, he went to Spain where he played for Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla.

In 2003 the Denver Nuggets had the last chance to sign him, or lose his rights, and as a result Francisco Elson signed a multi-year contract which at that moment was the best of any 2nd round picks.

Francisco Elson went on to have a solid NBA career and became known as a hard working role player, coming off the bench and always having a professional attitude and life style. He played for Denver, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Seattle, Utah and Philadelphia.

Last season Elson didn’t find a team until January and would only play four games for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Francisco Elson turns 37 years old in February and many people thought that he had retired. Especially, since he didn’t express much interest in returning back to a European club. Also, because the minimum salary in the NBA for a veteran like Elson is still over a million Dollars and some change.