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Alexis Ajinça
Ajinça with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2014
Washington Wizards
PositionAssistant coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1988-05-06) 6 May 1988 (age 36)
Saint-Étienne, France
Listed height7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Listed weight248 lb (112 kg)
Career information
High schoolINSEP (Paris, France)
NBA draft2008: 1st round, 20th overall pick
Selected by the Charlotte Bobcats
Playing career2006–2019
PositionCenter
Number8, 21, 42
Coaching career2023–present
Career history
As player:
2006–2007Pau-Orthez
2007–2008Hyères-Toulon
2008–2010Charlotte Bobcats
2009→Sioux Falls Skyforce
2009–2010→Maine Red Claws
2010–2011Dallas Mavericks
2011Toronto Raptors
2011Hyères-Toulon
2011–2013SIG Strasbourg
2013–2018New Orleans Pelicans
2018–2019ASVEL Basket
As coach:
2023–2024Capital City Go-Go (assistant)
2024–presentWashington Wizards (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points1,553 (5.3 ppg)
Rebounds1,150 (3.9 rpg)
Blocks181 (.6 bpg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
FIBA EuroBasket
Gold medal – first place 2013 Slovenia National Team
U-18 European Championship
Gold medal – first place 2006 Greece U-18 Team

Alexis Ajinça (French pronunciation: [alɛksi aʒɛ̃sa]; born 6 May 1988) is a former French professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played seven seasons in the league for the Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans.

Early life

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Ajinça was a promising BMX rider during his childhood and routinely won racing competitions for his age group in France.[1] He started playing basketball at age of 12 because he thought that it would help him improve his bike jumps.[1] Ajinça gave up BMX riding when he blossomed in basketball.[1]

Professional career

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Early years (2006–2008)

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After attending France's INSEP,[2] Ajinça played for Pau-Orthez during the 2006–07 season. He joined Hyères-Toulon for the 2007–08 season and averaged 5.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.[1]

Charlotte Bobcats (2008–2010)

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Ajinça was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats.[3] The Bobcats wanted to select a big man after selecting guard D. J. Augustin earlier in the draft and believed that Ajinça possessed the most potential of players available.[1]

During his rookie season, he spent time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League. During his second season with Charlotte, he spent time with the Maine Red Claws.

Dallas Mavericks (2010–2011)

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On July 13, 2010, Ajinça was traded, along with Tyson Chandler, to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Erick Dampier, Eduardo Nájera, Matt Carroll.[4]

Toronto Raptors (2011)

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On January 24, 2011, Ajinça was traded, along with a future second-round draft pick and cash considerations, to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for the draft rights to Georgios Printezis.[5]

Return to France (2011–2013)

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On November 2, 2011, Ajinça joined Paris-Levallois for a one-week tryout.[6] He left the team on November 8[7] and joined Hyères-Toulon two days later.[8] He appeared in just two games with Hyères-Toulon before parting ways with the team.

After failing to make a return to the NBA following the conclusion of the NBA lockout,[9] Ajinça returned to France and signed with SIG Strasbourg on December 29, 2011.[10] On August 13, 2012, he re-signed with Strasbourg for the 2012–13 season.[11] On August 6, 2013, he re-signed with Strasbourg for the 2013–14 season.[12] On December 18, 2013, he left Strasbourg to return to the NBA.[13]

New Orleans Pelicans (2013–2018)

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On December 20, 2013, Ajinça signed with the New Orleans Pelicans.[14] On July 9, 2015, he re-signed with the Pelicans.[15] On April 8, 2016, he recorded career highs with 28 points and 15 rebounds in a 110–102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.[16]

On December 7, 2017, after missing all of the 2017–18 season up to that point, Ajinça was ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his right patellar tendon, an injury that typically takes four to six months to recover.[17]

On October 15, 2018, Ajinça was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Wesley Johnson.[18] He was waived by the Clippers immediately upon being acquired.[18]

ASVEL (2018–2019)

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On December 28, 2018, Ajinça returned to France and signed with ASVEL Basket.[19]

Coaching career

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On 13 October 2023, Ajinça was hired as an assistant coach by the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League.[20]

On 10 July 2024, Ajinça became an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards.[21]

National team career

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In September 2013, Ajinça represented the French national team at EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia. He averaged 9.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.[22]

Career statistics

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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  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

NBA

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Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2008–09 Charlotte 31 4 5.9 .362 .000 .714 1.0 .1 .2 .2 2.3
2009–10 Charlotte 6 0 5.0 .500 .000 .000 .7 .0 .2 .2 1.7
2010–11 Dallas 10 2 7.5 .375 .429 .667 1.7 .2 .3 .5 2.9
2010–11 Toronto 24 0 11.0 .465 .333 .733 2.5 .3 .3 .6 4.8
2013–14 New Orleans 56 30 17.0 .544 .000 .836 4.9 .7 .4 .8 5.9
2014–15 New Orleans 68 8 14.1 .550 .000 .818 4.6 .7 .3 .8 6.5
2015–16 New Orleans 59 17 14.6 .476 .000 .839 4.6 .5 .3 .6 6.0
2016–17 New Orleans 39 15 15.0 .500 .000 .725 4.5 .3 .5 .6 5.3
Career 293 76 13.3 .503 .286 .797 3.9 .5 .3 .6 5.3

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015 New Orleans 3 0 3.3 1.000 .000 .000 .3 .3 .3 .0 2.7
Career 3 0 3.3 1.000 .000 .000 .3 .3 .3 .0 2.7

EuroLeague

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2006–07 Pau-Orthez 2 0 4.2 .000 .000 .000 1.5 .0 .0 .0 .0 -3.0
2013–14 SIG Strasbourg 9 9 25.5 .553 .000 .757 5.4 1.7 .9 .9 17.1 17.2
Career 11 9 21.6 .534 .000 .757 4.7 1.4 .7 .7 14.0 13.5

Personal life

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Ajinça and his wife Courtney have two sons, Carter and Caysen.[23][24] His cousin, Melvin Ajinça, is a professional basketball player.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Bobcats impressed with Ajinca". The Wilson Times. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Alexis Ajinca". draftexpress.com. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Bobcats Select Augustin, Ajinca and Weaver in 2008 NBA Draft". NBA.com. 26 June 2008. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008.
  4. ^ Stein, Marc (14 July 2020). "Mavs get Chandler from Bobcats". ESPN. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Raptors Acquire Ajinca, Draft Pick And Cash Considerations From Dallas". NBA.com. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Paris-Levallois announced the arrival for a 1-week tryout of Ajinca". Sportando.com. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Alexis Ajinca leaves Paris-Levallois". Sportando.com. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Alexis Ajinca returns to Hyeres-Toulon". Sportando.com. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  9. ^ "SIG Strasbourg to sign Alexis Ajinca?". Sportando.com. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  10. ^ "SIG Strasbourg signs big man Alexis Ajinca". Sportando.com. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  11. ^ "SIG Strasbourg keeps Alexis Ajinca". Sportando.com. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Alexis Ajinca re-signs with SIG Strasbourg". Sportando.com. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  13. ^ "Alexis Ajinca leaves SIG Strasbourg to join New Orleans Pelicans". Sportando.com. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  14. ^ "PELICANS SIGN AJINCA". NBA.com. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Pelicans Re-Sign Ajinca, Asik and Cunningham". NBA.com. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  16. ^ "Pelicans beat Lakers, Kobe Bryant 110-102". NBA.com. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  17. ^ "Alexis Ajinca Medical Update". NBA.com. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  18. ^ a b "Press Release: L.A. Clippers Complete Trade With New Orleans". NBA.com. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Alexis AJINÇA renforce LDLC ASVEL". ldlcasvel.com (in French). 28 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  20. ^ "Capital City Go-Go Announce 2023-24 Coaching Staff". OurSportsCentral.com. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Wizards Announce Coaching Staff Additions". NBA.com. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Alexis Ajinca". fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  23. ^ Eichenhofer, Jim (24 December 2014). "Christmas is special day for NBA; this year it's even more memorable for Pelicans' Alexis Ajinca, John Salmons". NBA.com. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  24. ^ Eichenhofer, Jim (9 October 2017). "Alexis Ajinca relishes joys of fatherhood". NBA.com. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  25. ^ Bertrande, Arnaud (26 April 2022). "Melvin Ajinça : "Faire mieux que mon cousin"". Le Quotidien du Sport (in French). Retrieved 30 November 2023.
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