Atlanta , Georgia ( CNN ) -- Zaza Pachulia is a sporting hero in his home country -- the basketball player has gone from shooting hoops in the Republic of Georgia to playing in the NBA in Atlanta , Georgia . Standing at 6 feet 11 inches tall , Pachulia looks like he was born to play pro basketball . Indeed , the sport is in his blood : His mother was a professional basketball player in the Republic of Georgia and once played for the Soviet national team . Growing up in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi while it was still part of the Soviet Union , Pachulia followed her example . `` My mom used to be a basketball player so I was really into it , '' he told CNN . `` Plus of course my height made it easier for me to decide what kind of sport I wanted to play , so at the age of nine I went to my first basketball practice . '' Five years later he was talent-spotted by the Turkish basketball federation , which was in Georgia accompanying the Turkish national team . Aged 14 Pachulia moved to Turkey to play with the development team for Istanbul club UlkerSpor . `` That was the biggest moment for my life and career , because in that situation , moving to another country for a 14-year-old kid , that was a serious thing , '' said Pachulia . `` Plus I 'm the only child in my family so that was a tough call for my parents as well . With that move we basically made basketball our number one priority . '' `` My goal was like to play in the NBA . I did n't want to leave my country , my people , my friends -- even my school . If I was going there I would go to reach that goal . '' Pachulia nearly returned home the next year , following the death of his father , but he decided to stay in Istanbul . In 2000 , aged 16 , he graduated to the full team , becoming one of the youngest players in the Euroleague . In 2003 he entered his name in the NBA Draft and was selected by Orlando Magic . Since 2005 he has played for the Atlanta Hawks , but Pachulia retains strong ties with his homeland . Pachulia is involved in charity projects to help children in Atlanta and in his homeland to equip and train youth basketball teams . `` It 's definitely important to never forget where you 're coming from , where you were born and raised , '' he told CNN . `` After the season I always go back to my country and try to make the kids happy . That 's the best feeling for me , when I see those smiling faces on the kids and you know how excited they are . I can tell you I feel the same way ... and that 's a great feeling . '' At the end of the NBA season , Pachulia also returns to his country -- where he is captain of the national team -- to play basketball . `` Every summer I go back to my country , '' he says . [ I have ] so many friends and family members . It 's so far from Georgia to Georgia that not everybody can afford to come here , people are working there or they ca n't leave family , so I miss them and they miss me . '' `` I 'm so nervous and excited to play for the national team . It 's a great feeling in front of your fans , [ in ] the place where you were born and raised , and the friends come and see your game because you 're not going to see them until next summer , '' he added . Last year , Pachulia bought an Atlanta restaurant and has introduced one of Georgia 's most traditional products to the menu -- its wine . `` A lot of people do n't know about my country but it 's really old . [ There 's ] a lot of history , a lot of tradition , especially from the wine side . Wine there is really one of the best in the world ... so that 's why I wanted to give people a chance to try this Georgian wine . '' `` I 'm sure people will like it . There are some states actually selling it but we do n't have any in Atlanta , Georgia , so we are really excited to be one of the first restaurants to have Georgian wine . '' Watch CNN 's week-long coverage live from Georgia at 1930 GMT|2030 CET from 19 April . Mark Tutton contributed to this report .
Zaza Pachulia is from the Republic of Georgia and plays basketball for the Atlanta Hawks . The NBA has been criticized by some players who have said they would boycott games if Kaepernick were to take a knee during the national anthem. He owns an Atlanta restaurant and has introduced Georgian wines to the menu . He is involved in charity work in Atlanta and in his home country .