Michael Gbinije

Michael Patrick Gbinije (born June 5, 1992) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player recently played for Nevėžis Kėdainiai of the Lithuanian Basketball League. He played one season of college basketball for Duke before transferring to Syracuse in 2012. He was drafted 49th overall by the Pistons in the 2016 NBA draft. He has represented the Nigerian national team.

Michael Gbinije
Gbinije in action with Mitteldeutscher BC.
Free agent
PositionShooting guard / Small forward
Personal information
Born (1992-06-05) June 5, 1992
Hartford, Connecticut
NationalityAmerican / Nigerian
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolBenedictine (Richmond, Virginia)
College
NBA draft2016 / Round: 2 / Pick: 49th overall
Selected by the Detroit Pistons
Playing career2016–present
Career history
2016–2017Detroit Pistons
2016–2017→Grand Rapids Drive
2017–2019Santa Cruz Warriors
2019–2020Mitteldeutscher BC
2020Nevėžis Kėdainiai
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Representing  Nigeria
FIBA Africa Championship
2015 Tunisia

High school career

Gbinije competed for Benedictine High School. As a junior, Gbinije averaged 18.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He averaged 25.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists as a senior and was named first team all-state. He led Benedictine to a 26-5 record and the VISAA Division I State Championship. Gbinije was ranked 28th in the 2011 class by ESPNU 100 and 26th overall by Scout.com.[1]

College career
Gbinije (13) during his time at Duke

Gbinije began his collegiate career at Duke, where he played sparingly as freshman and averaged 1.7 points in 19 games.[2] He opted to transfer to Syracuse after his freshman year and sat out the 2012–13 season as a redshirt.[1] As a sophomore, Gbinije averaged 3.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. He increased those numbers to 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game as a junior in 2014–15.[2] On February 14, 2015, he scored a career-high 27 points against Duke to go along with four assists in an 80–72 loss.[1] As a senior in 2015–16, he averaged 17.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 39% from beyond the three-point line and 46% overall. Gbinije started all 37 games of the season and helped lead the Orange on an improbable run to the 2016 NCAA Final Four.

Professional career

Detroit Pistons (2016–2017)

On June 23, 2016, Gbinije was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the 49th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.[3][4] He was drafted for his defense, versatility and athleticism.[5] On July 3, 2016, he suffered a sprained ankle and was ruled out for the entire 2016 NBA Summer League.[6] Despite the injury, he signed with the Pistons on July 14.[7] During his rookie season, Gbinije had multiple assignments with the Grand Rapids Drive, the Pistons' D-League affiliate.[8] On July 15, 2017, he was waived by the Pistons.[9]

Santa Cruz Warriors (2017–2019)

On September 6, 2017, Gbinije signed a training camp deal with the Golden State Warriors and appeared in 4 preseason games. He was waived by the Warriors on October 14, 2017. A couple days later, Gbinije was then signed with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League.

On June 29, 2018, the Knicks announced that Gbinije would be on their summer league team.

Mitteldeutscher BC (2019–2020)

On July 17, 2019, Gbinije signed with Mitteldeutscher BC of the Basketball Bundesliga.[10] In 17 games, he averaged 11.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.[11]

BC Nevėžis (2020–present)

On February 13, 2020, Gbinije signed with BC Nevėžis of the Lithuanian league.[11]

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
2016–17 Detroit 903.6.100.0001.000.3.2.0.0.4
Career 903.6.100.0001.000.3.2.0.0.4

National team career

Gbinije competed on the Nigerian squad in AfroBasket 2015 because his father, Frank, is a native of Nigeria. He helped Nigeria win gold in the tournament and qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics, scoring five points in the championship game against Angola. "Playing on this team was a unique experience for me," he said. "Overall, I enjoyed playing with these guys."[12] Overall, Gbinije averaged 7.3 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in the tournament and scored in double figures twice in eight games.[13]

Personal life

He is the son of Frank, an All-American soccer player at Temple, and Yvette Gbinije. He enrolled in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and majored in communication and rhetorical studies.[1]

References
  1. "Syracuse University Athletics – Michael Gbinije". Cuse.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  2. "Michael Gbinije Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  3. "Detroit Pistons Select Henry Ellenson with the 18th Pick in the 2016 NBA Draft". NBA.com. June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  4. Farrell, Perry A. (June 24, 2016). "Pistons take Syracuse G/F Michael Gbinije with 49th pick in NBA draft". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  5. Langlois, Keith (June 24, 2016). "Pistons add defense, versatility, athleticism with Syracuse's Gbinije in 2nd round". NBA.com. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  6. Langlois, Keith (July 4, 2016). "Sprained ankle to keep Gbinije out of Summer League as Pistons suffer 2nd camp injury". NBA.com. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  7. "Detroit Pistons Sign Second-Round Pick Michael Gbinije". NBA.com. July 14, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  8. "2016-17 NBA Assignments". NBA.com. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  9. "Pistons waive second-year guard Michael Gbinije". DetroitNews.com. July 15, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  10. Carchia, Emiliano (July 17, 2019). "MBC signs Michael Gbinije". Sportando. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  11. "Nevezis sign Michael Gbinije". Eurobasket. February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  12. Ditota, Donna (August 30, 2015). "Michael Gbinije, Nigeria basketball team win AfroBasket, qualify for Rio Olympics". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  13. Johnson, Raphielle (August 30, 2015). "Syracuse Guard Michael Gbinije Helps Nigeria Clinch Olympic Berth". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
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