Ian Mahinmi
 |
|
| No. 28 – Washington Wizards | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born |
November 5, 1986 Rouen, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 28th overall |
| Selected by the San Antonio Spurs | |
| Playing career | 2003–present |
| Career history | |
| 2003–2006 | STB Le Havre |
| 2006–2007 | ÉB Pau-Orthez |
| 2007–2010 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2007–2009 | →Austin Toros |
| 2010–2012 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2011 | STB Le Havre |
| 2012–2016 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2016–present | Washington Wizards |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Ian Mahinmi (born November 5, 1986) is a French professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). At 6'11" and 250 lb, he plays the center position. He was selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs.
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.
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.
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.
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 related 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.
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