American basketball player Kevin Sheppard (center) pictured alongside his Shiraz teammates. He joined the Iranian side in 2008, but has now retired.
American in Iran —
American basketball player Kevin Sheppard (center) pictured alongside his Shiraz teammates. He joined the Iranian side in 2008, but has now retired.
The fans of Shiraz show their enthusiasm and support for the Iranian league's only non-government-sponsored team.
Local appreciation —
The fans of Shiraz show their enthusiasm and support for the Iranian league's only non-government-sponsored team.
With only five seconds left and the scores tied at 73-73, Sheppard prepares to make the game-winning shot.
Match winner —
With only five seconds left and the scores tied at 73-73, Sheppard prepares to make the game-winning shot.
Sheppard tries his hand at bartering at a bazaar in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
A hard bargain —
Sheppard tries his hand at bartering at a bazaar in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
Sara Nodjoumi and Till Schauder
Sheppard has become friends with three Iranian women, one of whom is the team's physical therapist Hilda. Such a relationship is rare in a country where the sexes are forbidden from interacting in public.
Crossing boundaries —
Sheppard has become friends with three Iranian women, one of whom is the team's physical therapist Hilda. Such a relationship is rare in a country where the sexes are forbidden from interacting in public.
Sara Nodjoumi and Till Schauder
A group of young Iranian fans gather to cheer on Shiraz, who reached the Iranian Super League playoffs for the fitst time after Sheppard's arrival.
Making an impact —
A group of young Iranian fans gather to cheer on Shiraz, who reached the Iranian Super League playoffs for the fitst time after Sheppard's arrival.
Sheppard's experience has been documented by American filmmaker Till Schauder in a film called "The Iran Job."
'The Iran Job' —
Sheppard's experience has been documented by American filmmaker Till Schauder in a film called "The Iran Job."