1. Early Life and Amateur Career
Al-Farouq Aminu's early basketball career was marked by significant achievements in high school and college, establishing him as a top prospect before entering the professional league.
1.1. High School Career
Aminu attended Norcross High School in Norcross, Georgia, transferring there between his freshman and sophomore years from Wesleyan School. Due to transfer rules, he was ruled ineligible to play varsity basketball during his sophomore year and instead played on Norcross's junior varsity team. Despite this setback, he emerged as one of the nation's top college recruits from the class of 2008, ranked #7 by Rivals.com and #13 by Scout.com.
In his junior year, Aminu and teammate Gani Lawal led Norcross to an impressive 30-3 record and a national ranking of #12. During this season, Aminu averaged 13.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. He continued to be a pivotal player, guiding Norcross to back-to-back Georgia 5A state titles in 2007 and 2008. As a senior, his performance improved further, averaging 23.1 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, as Norcross finished with a 29-2 record and was ranked #6 nationally. Aminu was recognized for his talent by being selected for the 2008 McDonald's All-American Team and also participated in the Jordan Brand Classic, where he contributed 12 points and 13 rebounds.
1.2. College Career
Aminu committed to Wake Forest University in July 2007, signing a Letter of Intent in November 2007 to play for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team. He chose Wake Forest over Georgia Tech.
As a freshman during the 2008-09 season, Aminu was a unanimous selection for the ACC All-Freshman Team. He recorded 10 double-doubles throughout the year, with five occurring in conference play. He led all freshmen and ranked sixth overall in the ACC with an average of 8.3 rebounds per game. Additionally, he was second among all league rookies with 13.0 points per contest. His strong freshman year earned him the ACC Freshman of the Week award five times, a feat that tied Wake Forest records held by Rodney Rogers and Chris Paul. In his sophomore season (2009-10), Aminu had a game where he achieved 20 rebounds, a mark not reached by a Wake Forest player since Tim Duncan in 1997. Following his sophomore season, Aminu declared for the 2010 NBA draft.
1.2.1. 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 |
2. Professional Career
Al-Farouq Aminu's professional career began in 2010, spanning multiple teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and significant contributions to the Nigerian national team.
2.1. NBA Career
Aminu's NBA journey involved stints with several teams, showcasing his development as a versatile forward known for his defense and rebounding.
2.1.1. Los Angeles Clippers (2010-2011)
On April 1, 2010, Aminu hired an agent and officially declared for the 2010 NBA draft. He was subsequently selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the eighth overall pick. Early in his rookie season, in just his eighth game on November 9, 2010, he achieved a season-best performance with 20 points and 8 rebounds against the New Orleans Hornets. This marked a career-high in points for him until March 31, 2016.
2.1.2. New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2011-2014)
On December 14, 2011, Aminu was part of a major trade deal, moving from the Clippers to the New Orleans Hornets. This trade involved Aminu, Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon, and a 2012 first-round pick (previously acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves) in exchange for Chris Paul and two future second-round picks.
During his tenure with the Hornets, Aminu continued to develop his game. In the final game of the 2012-13 regular season on April 17, 2013, he recorded 16 points and a career-high 20 rebounds in an 87-99 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The following day, the New Orleans Hornets officially changed their name to the New Orleans Pelicans. On December 4, 2013, Aminu once again showcased his rebounding prowess, tying his career-best with 20 rebounds, alongside 16 points, in a close 97-100 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
2.1.3. Dallas Mavericks (2014-2015)
On July 29, 2014, Aminu signed with the Dallas Mavericks. During his single season with the team, he delivered several notable performances. On February 20, 2015, he had a season-best game, scoring 17 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 111-100 victory over the Houston Rockets.
2.1.4. Portland Trail Blazers (2015-2019)
On July 9, 2015, Aminu signed a four-year contract worth 30.00 M USD with the Portland Trail Blazers. Prior to the start of the season, on August 1, 2015, he represented Team Africa in the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game. He made his debut for the Trail Blazers on October 28, 2015, against the New Orleans Pelicans, contributing 9 points and 8 rebounds in a 112-94 win.
The 2015-16 season was particularly strong for Aminu. He started all games for the Trail Blazers and was instrumental in their progress. On March 26, 2016, he matched his career high with 20 points, adding eight rebounds, in a 108-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Just five days later, he set a new career high, scoring 28 points and hitting a career-best six three-pointers in a 116-109 win against the Boston Celtics. On April 6, he scored 27 points in a 120-115 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, which helped the Trail Blazers secure a postseason berth. The team finished the regular season as the fifth seed in the Western Conference with a 44-38 record. In the first round of the playoffs, facing the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers, Aminu recorded a playoff career-high of 30 points and 10 rebounds in a Game 4 win on April 25, helping the team tie the series at 2-2. The Trail Blazers went on to win the series 4-2, advancing to the second round, where they faced the Golden State Warriors. In Game 3 of that series, Aminu's 23 points and 10 rebounds contributed to a 120-108 victory, reducing the Warriors' series lead to 2-1. The Trail Blazers ultimately lost the series in five games.
The 2016-17 season saw Aminu playing more from the bench, and his three-point shooting percentage declined compared to the previous year. After starting the first eight games of the season, he was sidelined for several weeks with a calf injury on November 11, 2016, missing 13 games before returning on December 5 against the Chicago Bulls. He later missed four more games in mid-December due to a sore back. On February 9, 2017, he scored a season-high 26 points in a 120-111 loss to the Boston Celtics.
In November 2017, Aminu missed 13 games due to a right ankle injury. Upon his return, he continued to be a key contributor, scoring a season-high 24 points on January 1, 2018, in a 124-120 overtime victory against the Chicago Bulls.
2.1.5. Orlando Magic (2019-2021)
On July 6, 2019, Aminu signed with the Orlando Magic. His time with the Magic was unfortunately impacted by injuries. On December 1, 2019, the Orlando Magic announced that Aminu had suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee, which would keep him out indefinitely.
2.1.6. Chicago Bulls (2021)
On March 25, 2021, Aminu was traded to the Chicago Bulls alongside Nikola Vučević in exchange for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., and two future first-round draft picks. His tenure with the Bulls was brief. On August 11, 2021, Aminu, Thaddeus Young, and several draft picks were traded to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a sign-and-trade deal for DeMar DeRozan. Aminu was subsequently waived by the Spurs on October 18, 2021, after participating in only one pre-season game.
2.1.7. Boston Celtics (2021)
On December 25, 2021, Aminu signed a 10-day contract with the Boston Celtics. However, he did not appear in any games for the team during this period.
2.2. International Career
Al-Farouq Aminu is a prominent member of the Nigerian national basketball team, affectionately known as the D'Tigers. He has represented his country in several major international competitions. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
On August 30, 2015, Aminu played a crucial role when Nigeria won their first-ever FIBA Africa Championship (AfroBasket) in Tunisia, defeating Angola 74-65 in the final. Following this historic victory, he was named to the All-Star Five of the 2015 Afrobasket. He also participated in the 2013 AfroBasket and the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
3. Playing Style
Al-Farouq Aminu is characterized by his long wingspan of 86 in (218 cm) and physical playing style, making him a formidable defender. Standing at 81 in (206 cm) and weighing 216 lb (98 kg), despite his slender build, he was frequently tasked with matching up against larger opponents. After joining the Trail Blazers, he significantly increased his attempts from beyond the arc. In the 2015-16 season, he successfully made 128 three-pointers, a notable increase from his previous years, showcasing an expansion of his offensive game.
4. Career Statistics
4.1. 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 | 0.475 | .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 | 0.8 | 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 | 0.369 | .738 | 7.6 | 1.2 | 1.1 | .6 | 9.3 |
| 2018-19 | Portland | 81 | 81 | 28.3 | .433 | .343 | 0.867 | 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 |
| 2020-21 | Orlando | 17 | 14 | 21.6 | .404 | .226 | .824 | 5.4 | 1.7 | 1.0 | .5 | 5.5 |
| 2020-21 | Chicago | 6 | 0 | 11.2 | .200 | .167 | .800 | 3.2 | .3 | .3 | .0 | 1.5 |
| Career | 711 | 445 | 24.9 | .420 | .332 | .746 | 6.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | .6 | 7.5 | |
4.2. Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Dallas | 5 | 2 | 30.0 | 0.548 | 0.636 | .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 | |
5. Achievements and Awards
Al-Farouq Aminu received numerous accolades for his exceptional talent during his high school and college basketball careers.
5.1. 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
5.2. College
- 2010: Second-team All-ACC
- 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)
6. Personal Life
Al-Farouq Aminu is married to Helina Tekeste Aminu, and they have a daughter. He comes from a diverse background; his father is of Yoruba descent from Nigeria, and his mother is African American from New York. Aminu is also descended from a line of Nigerian kings, and his name, Al-Farouq, translates to "the chief has arrived," which contributes to his nickname, "The Chief." He practices Islam.
His brother, Alade Aminu, is also a professional basketball player. Al-Farouq and his wife established the Aminu Good Works Foundation, which organizes a yearly basketball camp in Ibadan, Nigeria. This charitable initiative has been active since 2016, aiming to contribute positively to the community.
7. Controversies
In March 2007, Al-Farouq Aminu was arrested and charged with aggravated assault after shooting a BB gun at a woman from a car, causing injury. As it was his first offense, he received probation and was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service.