Gai released by the 76ers after playing only two games

In his career at Fairfield, Deng Gai ’05 was a man playing amongst boys. But that wasn’t the case in the NBA.

Gai, who finished his college career tied for sixth all-time on the NCAA career shot-blocking leader board and was perhaps the best player in team history, was released last week by the Philadelphia 76ers after playing just two games. He did not score a point in the league.

“They told him that they really liked him and they thought he could play in the league, but it was kind of a business decision,” said Fairfield Associate Head Coach Jerry Hobbie, to whom Head Coach Tim O’Toole referred questions. “What was hurting Deng was that they were losing…the way it sounded, I think if they were winning they would have never let him go.”

Hobbie said that Gai was “a little bit down, but positive” when he received the news. He said that according to Gai’s agent, there is a chance he could end up with another NBA team and that he has received “a couple of lucrative offers” to play in Europe, where he could end up within the next several weeks.

One possible suitor was rumored to be the New Jersey Nets, who are in need of low post help, but Nets President Rod Thorn told the Star Ledger that Gai “is long, but he’s really only 6’7″ ½.”

The 76ers simultaneously released Gai and forward James Thomas, while signing forward Matt Barnes, who was released Dec. 3 by the New York Knicks.

Sixers Head Coach Maurice Cheeks told PhillyBurbs.com that the numbers simply didn’t work for Gai to remain with the team.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to see Deng Gai as much because he was hurt or we had too many guys,” he said.

Gai was the second former Stag to play in the league and the first to appear on an opening day roster. The only previous Stag to play in the league was A.J. Whynder ’87, who signed a 10-day contract with the Boston Celtics in 1991.

Last year, Gai easily led the nation in shot-blocking. He averaged 5.5 blocks per game, and finished his career with 444 blocks, the best all-time at Fairfield and in the MAAC.

Gai was the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year three times, and developed a shot-blocking ability that the 76ers deemed worthy of a spot on their opening night roster.

But when the team began to struggle, they opted to go for Barnes, a more experienced player with a more polished offensive game.

“They felt they needed someone who could help right away,” Hobbie said. “They were really positive with him in practice, [but] most people think he needs to polish his game offensively to stay in the league.”