Ian Mahinmi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Position | Power forward/Center |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| League | NBA |
| Team | San Antonio Spurs |
| Jersey | #28 |
| Born | November 5, 1986 Rouen, France |
| Nationality |  French |
| College | none |
| Draft | 28th overall, 2005 San Antonio Spurs |
| Pro career | 2003–present |
| Former teams | STB Le Havre (2003–2006) ÉB Pau-Orthez (2006–2007) |
| Official profile | Info Page |
Ian Mahinmi (pronounced [jan mainˈmi]; born November 5, 1986, in Rouen, France) is a French basketball player. At 6'11" and 245 lbs., he plays the position of power forward and center. He is currently with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Mahinmi was born to a Beninese father who helped other Africans immigrate to France and a Jamaican mother who taught preschool. Mahinmi preferred playing soccer as a child along with his older brother, but eventually switched to playing basketball. He was 6 feet tall when he was 14 years old. He also played some volleyball.
[edit] French basketball career
Mahinmi made his impression on international scouts at the 2004 Under-18 European Championships in Zaragoza, Spain. It was there that he first caught the attention of international scouts, including San Antonio Spurs scout Sam Presti. After playing with the French national team he signed his first contract with the club STB Le Havre (France). He played three seasons with Le Havre, averaging 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 2005-06.[1]
In the summer of 2006, he signed a contract to play for Pau Orthez in France's top professional league. He averaged 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 12.7 minutes in the 2006-07 season, helping the team win the French Cup.
[edit] NBA career
Mahinmi was selected 28th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, which surprised many other teams and league officials because he wasn't among the 128 players listed in the league's draft guide. Mahinmi was considered a "project" that would be a couple of years from competing in the NBA. The Spurs' interest in Mahinmi relates to their need for an athletic big man since David Robinson retired. Playing for the Spurs' 2006 summer-league team at Rocky Mountain Revue, Mahinmi demonstrated his athleticism, but had difficulty maintaining rebounding or post position without fouling. After Mahinmi moved to Pau Orthez, which had a more developed strength and nutrition program than the one at Le Havre, the Spurs also began to send a strength coach to monitor his progress.[2]
During the 2007 Summer League, Mahinmi tore his right pectoralis minor shortly after the start of play. Despite this setback, he was signed by the Spurs on August 23, 2007.[3] Mahinmi is expected to be sent to play for the Austin Toros, the Spurs' newly purchased affiliate in the NBA Development League, by November.[4] On October 30, 2007, Mahinmi made his NBA debut with the Spurs against the Portland Trail Blazers, playing only 74 seconds and registering no statistics.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ basketballinfo.com Player Stats
- ^ Spurs' 2005 draft pick Mahinmi remains intriguing work in progress, MySA.com, July 29, 2006
- ^ Spurs Sign Ian Mahinmi
- ^ Spurs: Rookies could be Toros teammates, MySA.com, October 16, 2007
- ^ Trail Blazers at Spurs boxscore at nba.com, October 30, 2007
[edit] External links
|
|||||
