Miguel Ali Berdiel (born December 27, 1983) is a Puerto Rican former professional basketball player who played for over 20 years in the NCAA, the CBA, the NBA G League, and most notably in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). Internationally, he has played in Belgium, Slovenia, Cyprus, Mexico and Uruguay. Berdiel was a member of the Puerto Rico national basketball team from 2007 until 2014.
Berdiel played his college career with Valparaiso from 2001 to 2006. During his college career he earned the Second Team All-Mid-Continent.
Berdiel has played professionally in the National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico since 1999.
During the 2006–2007 season, Berdiel played with the Utah Eagles of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). Berdiel also played internationally in Belgium.
On 11 June 2007, Berdiel signed a contract with the New York Knicks of the NBA to participate in the 2007 Summer League. The Knicks had shown interest in Berdiel during the 2006–2007 season having offering him a 10-Day contract in which he was not released by the Dexia-Mons Hainaut of the Belgium league and could not accept the offer.
During the summer of 2007, Berdiel participated in the Las Vegas Summer Pro League with the New York Knicks. After playing in the Summer Pro League he continued to Brazil for the 2007 Pan-American Games as a member of the Puerto Rican National Basketball Team winning the silver medal.
On 1 Nov 2007, Berdiel was drafted for a second season in row in the NBDL Draft. He was chosen by the Albuquerque Thunderbirds with the 12th pick in the sixth round. On May 21, 2008, the Indiana Pacers invited Berdiel to participate with the team in the NBA's summer rookie league. [1]
Berdiel is known for his playmaking and defensive prowess. At 6'6", he is an exceptionally-large point guard who can see over defenses and get in the passing lanes when defending. Twice he led the BSN in steals, earning all-defensive team honors.
Berdiel's NCAA stats in 124 games are 981 points with a 7.9 PPG, 507 assists with a 4.1 APG, 340 rebounds with a 2.7 RPG, 176 steals with a 1.4 SPG, .391 field goal percentage, .668 free-throw percentage, and .338 3-point percentage.
