Ian Mahinmi

San Antonio Spurs  – No. 28
Power forward/Center
Born	November 5, 1986 (1986-11-05) (age 23) Rouen, France
Nationality	French
Listed height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight	230 lb (104 kg)
League	NBA
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)
Profile	Info Page

Ian Mahinmi (born November 5, 1986, in Rouen) is a French professional basketball player. At 6'11" and 245 lbs., he plays the position of power forward and center. Previously assigned to the San Antonio Spurs' affiliate NBA Development League's Austin Toros, Mahinmi is back on the Spurs' roster.^[1]

[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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4] Mahinmi played for the Austin Toros, the Spurs' affiliate in the NBA Development League, by November.^[5] Mahinmi averaged 17.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in the NBA Development League, leading the Austin Toros to the D-League Finals in which they lost.^[6] 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.^[7]

[edit] NBA career statistics

[edit] Regular season

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Ian Mahinmi Info Page at NBA.com

• "Ian Mahimi is patron of Fast Break Camp" by Michel Gomez