Al-Farouq Aminu

Al-Farouq Ajiede Aminu (born September 21, 1990) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays internationally with the Nigeria national basketball team. Aminu was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2010 NBA draft with the eighth overall pick, and has also played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers.

Al-Farouq Aminu

Aminu with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2019
No. 2 – Orlando Magic
Position	Small forward / Power forward
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	September 21, 1990 Atlanta, Georgia
Nationality	American / Nigerian
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school	Norcross (Norcross, Georgia)
College	Wake Forest (2008–2010)
NBA draft	2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Clippers
Playing career	2010–present
Career history
2010–2011	Los Angeles Clippers
2011–2014	New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans
2014–2015	Dallas Mavericks
2015–2019	Portland Trail Blazers
2019–present	Orlando Magic
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-ACC (2010) ACC All-Freshman team (2009) McDonald's All-American (2008) First-team Parade All-American (2008) Mr. Georgia Basketball (2008)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals Men's Basketball Representing  Nigeria FIBA Africa Championship 2015 Tunisia Team

High school career

Aminu went to Norcross High School and was ranked as one of the top college recruits in the nation from the class of 2008. He was ranked #7 in the nation by Rivals.com and #13 by Scout.com.[1]

Aminu transferred to Norcross between his freshman and sophomore years from Wesleyan School but was ruled ineligible and had to play on Norcross' JV team his sophomore year.[2] In his junior year, Aminu and teammate Gani Lawal led Norcross to a 30–3 record and a #12 national seed. Aminu averaged 13.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in his junior year. He led Norcross to back to back Georgia 5A state titles in 2007 and 2008. He averaged 23.1 points and 11.2 rebounds a game as a senior. Norcross finished 29–2 and ranked #6 in 2008. Aminu was a member of the 2008 McDonald's All-American Team and played in the Jordan Brand Classic where he had 12 points and 13 rebounds.[3]

College career

Aminu committed to Wake Forest in July 2007 and in November 2007 Aminu signed a Letter of Intent to play basketball at Wake Forest. He chose Wake Forest over Georgia Tech.

As a freshman during the 2008–09 season, he was a unanimous selection for the ACC All-Freshman Team. Aminu posted 10 double-doubles on the year, including five in conference action. He led all freshmen and ranked sixth in the ACC with 8.3 rebounds per game. Aminu was also second among all league rookies with 13.0 points per contest.

College statistics

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2008–09	Wake Forest	31	30	29.0	.516	.179	.671	8.2	1.5	1.0	1.2	12.9
2009–10	Wake Forest	31	30	31.3	.447	.273	.698	10.7	1.3	1.4	1.4	15.8

Professional career

Los Angeles Clippers (2010–2011)

On April 1, 2010 Aminu hired an agent and declared for the 2010 NBA draft.[4] He was selected with the eighth overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers. In just his eighth game for the Clippers on November 9, 2010, he had a season-best game with 20 points (a career-high until March 31, 2016) and 8 rebounds against the New Orleans Hornets.[5]

New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2011–2014)

Aminu with the Pelicans in 2014

On December 14, 2011, the Clippers traded Aminu, Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon and a 2012 first-round pick (previously acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves) to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Chris Paul and two future second-round picks.[6]

In the final game of the 2012–13 regular season on April 17, Aminu recorded 16 points and a career-high 20 rebounds in an 87–99 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.[7] The next day, the Hornets changed their name to the Pelicans.[8]

On December 4, 2013, against the Dallas Mavericks once again, Aminu tied his career-best game with 16 points and 20 rebounds in a 97–100 loss.[9]

Dallas Mavericks (2014–2015)

On July 29, 2014, Aminu signed with the Dallas Mavericks.[10] On February 20, 2015, he had a season-best game with 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 111–100 win over the Houston Rockets.[11]

Portland Trail Blazers (2015–2019)

On July 9, 2015, Aminu signed a four-year, $30 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.[12][13] On August 1, 2015, he played for Team Africa at the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game. He made his debut for the Trail Blazers in the team's season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 28, recording 9 points and 8 rebounds in a 112–94 win.[14] On March 26, 2016, Aminu matched his career high with 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 108–105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.[15] He set a new career high five days later, scoring 28 points while hitting a career-high six three-pointers in a 116–109 win over the Boston Celtics.[16] On April 6, he scored 27 points in a 120–115 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, helping the Trail Blazers clinch a postseason berth.[17] The Trail Blazers finished the regular season as the fifth seed in the Western Conference with a 44–38 record. In the first round of the playoffs, the Trail Blazers faced the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers, and in a Game 4 win on April 25, Aminu recorded a career-high 30 points and 10 rebounds, helping the team tie the series at 2–2.[18] The Trail Blazers went on to win the series 4–2 and advanced to the second round where they faced the Golden State Warriors. In Game 3 of the series, Aminu recorded 23 points and 10 rebounds to help the Trail Blazers win 120–108, cutting the Warriors' advantage in the series to 2–1.[19] The Trail Blazers went on to lose the series to the Warriors in five games.

After starting in the Trail Blazers' first eight games of the 2016–17 season, Aminu was ruled out for a number of weeks with a calf injury on November 11, 2016.[20][21] He returned to action on December 5 after missing 13 games and had three points in 17 minutes against the Chicago Bulls.[22] He later missed four games in mid-December with a sore back.[23] On February 9, 2017, he scored a season-high 26 points in a 120–111 loss to the Boston Celtics.[24]

Aminu missed 13 games with a right ankle injury during November 2017.[25] On January 1, 2018, he scored a season-high 24 points in a 124–120 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls.[26]

Orlando Magic (2019–present)

On July 6, 2019, Aminu signed with the Orlando Magic.[27] On December 1, 2019, the Orlando Magic announced that Aminu suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and would be out indefinitely.[28]

International career

Aminu represents the Nigerian national basketball team. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics. On August 30, 2015, Aminu with the D'Tigers of Nigeria won the 2015 FIBA Africa Championship (AfroBasket) in Tunisia by defeating Angola 74–65.[29] He was also named in the All-Star Five of the 2015 Afrobasket.[30]

Personal life

Al-Farouq Aminu is married to Helina Tekeste Aminu. The couple have a daughter together.[31] He is a Muslim.[32]

Aminu is descended from a line of Nigerian kings. His name translates to "the chief has arrived."[33] (This also helps explain his nickname, "The Chief.") His brother, Alade Aminu, is also a professional basketball forward.[34] Aminu and his wife's foundation, Aminu Good Works Foundation, organizes a yearly basketball camp in Nigeria since 2016. The camp takes place in Ibadan.[35]

NBA career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2010–11	L.A. Clippers	81	14	17.9	.394	.315	.773	3.3	.7	.7	.3	5.6
2011–12	New Orleans	66	21	22.4	.411	.277	.754	4.7	1.0	.9	.5	6.0
2012–13	New Orleans	76	71	27.2	.475	.211	.737	7.7	1.4	1.2	.7	7.3
2013–14	New Orleans	80	65	25.6	.474	.271	.664	6.2	1.4	1.0	.5	7.2
2014–15	Dallas	74	3	18.5	.412	.274	.712	4.6	.8	.9	.8	5.6
2015–16	Portland	82	82	28.5	.416	.361	.737	6.1	1.7	.9	.6	10.2
2016–17	Portland	61	25	29.1	.392	.329	.706	7.4	1.6	1.0	.7	8.7
2017–18	Portland	69	67	30.0	.395	.369	.738	7.6	1.2	1.1	.6	9.3
2018–19	Portland	81	81	28.3	.433	.343	.867	7.5	1.3	.8	.4	9.4
2019–20	Orlando	18	2	21.1	.291	.250	.655	4.8	1.2	1.0	.4	4.3
Career		688	431	25.1	.421	.335	.745	6.1	1.2	1.0	.6	7.6

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2015	Dallas	5	2	30.0	.548	.636	.789	7.2	1.2	2.0	1.6	11.2
2016	Portland	11	11	33.8	.438	.400	.724	8.6	1.8	.7	.9	14.6
2017	Portland	4	0	28.3	.459	.412	.636	6.5	1.0	.8	1.0	12.0
2018	Portland	4	4	32.8	.519	.433	1.000	9.0	1.3	1.0	.5	17.3
2019	Portland	16	16	24.9	.349	.294	.750	6.3	1.3	.6	.6	7.4
Career		40	33	29.1	.434	.391	.742	7.3	1.4	.9	.9	11.3

Awards

College

• 2009 Sporting News All-Freshman Team
• 2009 ACC All-Freshman Team (unanimous selection)
• 2009 Runner-up for ACC Freshman of the Year
• 2009 ACC Freshman of the Week (five separate selections)

High school

• 2008 Named the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Mr. Georgia Basketball
• 2008 Named to the first team all-state by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• 2008 McDonald's All American East Squad
• 2008 First-team Parade All-American
• 2008 Jordan Brand All-American Classic

References

1. Scout.com College Football Team Recruiting Prospects
2. Hoops – Al-Farouq Aminu ruled Ineligible. Gtsports.blogspot.com (December 7, 2005). Retrieved on December 2, 2015.
3. Jordan Brand Classic Stats Archived September 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Blog.newrecruitsports.com (July 22, 2002). Retrieved on December 2, 2015.
4. Al-Farouq Aminu Declares for NBA Draft. Wakeforestsports.com. Retrieved on December 2, 2015.
5. Hornets extend franchise-best start after pasting Clippers. Espn.go.com (November 9, 2010). Retrieved on December 2, 2015.
6. "Hornets acquire Gordon, Aminu, Kaman and first round pick". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 14, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
7. Mavs avoid first losing season since 1999–2000 with win over Hornets. Scores.espn.go.com (April 17, 2013). Retrieved on December 2, 2015.
8. Hornets officially become Pelicans. Espn.go.com (April 18, 2013). Retrieved on December 2, 2015.
9. Notebook: Mavericks 100, Pelicans 97 Archived April 24, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. Nba.com. Retrieved on December 2, 2015.
10. "Mavericks sign free agent Al-Farouq Aminu". mavs.com. July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
11. Harris, Aminu lead as balanced Mavs hold off Rockets 111–100. Nba.com. Retrieved on December 2, 2015.
12. "Trail Blazers Sign Forward Al-Farouq Aminu". NBA.com. July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
13. "Al-Farouq Aminu, Blazers agree to 4-year, $30M deal, source says". espn.com. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
14. "McCollum scores 37 as Blazers down Pelicans 112–94". NBA.com. October 28, 2015. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
15. "McCollum helps Blazers escape with 108–105 win over 76ers". NBA.com. March 26, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
16. "Aminu leads Trail Blazers to 116–109 win over Celtics". NBA.com. March 31, 2016. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
17. "Trail Blazers defeat Thunder 120–115, clinch playoff berth". NBA.com. April 6, 2016. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
18. "Paul leaves with broken hand, Blazers beat Clippers 98–84". NBA.com. April 25, 2016. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
19. "Lillard has 40, Blazers cut Warriors' advantage to 2–1". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. May 7, 2016. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
20. Holdahl, Casey (November 11, 2016). "AMINU OUT AT LEAST 'A COUPLE WEEKS' WITH LEFT CALF INJURY". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
21. "Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu out for a "couple" of weeks". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
22. "Balanced Blazers beat Bulls 112–110 for 3rd straight win". ESPN.com. December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
23. "Barnes scores 28 and Mavericks hold off Trail Blazers, 96–95". ESPN.com. December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
24. "Thomas has 34 and Celtics beat Blazers 120–111". ESPN.com. February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
25. "Middleton has 26 and Milwaukee beats the Blazers 103-91". ESPN.com. November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
26. "McCollum scores 32, leads Blazers over Bulls 124-120 in OT". ESPN.com. January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
27. "Orlando Magic Sign Al-Farouq Aminu". NBA.com. July 6, 2019.
28. Denton, John (December 1, 2019). "Aminu Out Indefinitely With Torn Meniscus". NBA.com. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
29. "Nigeria defeats Angola to win first-ever FIBA African Championship title in historic Afrobasket 2015 finals". Basketball. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
30. "Chamberlain Oguchi, Al-Farouq Aminu voted into Afrobasket 2015 All-Star Team". Basketball. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
31. http://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/portland-trail-blazers/al-farouq-aminu-and-wife-welcome-baby-girl-emanah
32. Freeman, Joe (July 30, 2015). "Trail Blazers' Al-Farouq Aminu savoring South African visit, taking part in 1st NBA Africa Game". OregonLive.com. The Oregonian. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
33. O'Neill, Lucas (December 5, 2007). "Hail to the Chief: Norcross' Aminu Seeks Ascension to Basketball Royalty". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on March 23, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
34. Al-Farouq Aminu Bio. Wakeforestsports.com. Retrieved on December 2, 2015.
35. https://www.aminugoodworks.org/camp-nigeria/.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NBA.com or Basketball-Reference.com