Mamadou N'Diaye

This article is about the basketball player. For the footballer (soccer player) with the same name, see Mamadou N'Diaye (footballer).

Mamadou N'Diaye

Position	Center
Height	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Weight	255 lb (116 kg)
Born	June 16, 1975 (1975-06-16) (age 36) Dakar, Senegal
Nationality	Senegalese
College	Auburn
Draft	26th overall, 2000 Denver Nuggets
Pro career	2000–present
Career history	Toronto Raptors Dallas Mavericks Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Clippers Asheville Altitude PAOK BC Panellinios BC Žalgiris Kaunas Maccabi Haifa B.C.

Mamadou N'Diaye (born June 16, 1975 in Dakar) is a Senegalese professional basketball player. After a college career at Auburn University, in the United States, N'Diaye was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft. He played for the Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA. He most recently played for Maccabi Haifa.^[1]

Early years

As an assistant basketball coach at the University of Maine, Mike LaPlante (later coached Jacksonville State University) served as a consultant with the Senegalese Basketball Federation. N'Diaye was part of the federation's development program and had a desire to continue his studies and improve his basketball skills in the United States. Mamadou matriculated to a prep school in Pittsfield, Maine (Maine Central Instititue) and excelled playing for Max Good (currently the head basketball coach at Bryant College). Following his Post Grad year, N'Diaye enrolled at Auburn University, where LaPlante was an assisiant, and played for Cliff Ellis (currently the head basketball coach at Coastal Carolina University) from 1996–2000.

Upon completion of his senior year N'Diaye was drafted in the 1st round of the NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets.

College career

N'Diaye got off to a slow start at Auburn but improved every year. In his junior year, he broke Charles Barkley's career record for blocks. His long reach and athleticism made him the anchor of Auburn University's defense for much of his time there.

His averages per game during his senior season there were 26.3 minutes, 8.9 points, 8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 2.2 turnovers, and 3.1 fouls. He made 2.9 of 5.5 field goals (53%) and 3.1 of 4.6 free throws (67%) that senior year. He finished his college career with averages of 21.7 minutes, 6.8 points on 50.7% shooting and 64.1% free throws, 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 turnovers and 1.9 blocks per game. He left Auburn with the record for the most number of blocked shots.

NBA career

N'Diaye was the 26th first-round selection by the Denver Nuggets in the 2000 NBA Draft. He was one of the oldest players ever selected in the NBA draft at 25 years of age. In January 2001, N'Diaye was traded with Keon Clark and Tracy Murray to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Kevin Willis, Aleksandar Radojević, Garth Joseph, a second round draft pick and a $564,603 trade exception.

N'Diaye appeared in his first NBA game during the 2000-01 season with the Raptors. He played in Toronto through the 2002-03 season. His tenure in Toronto coincided with that of the tail-end of that of veteran All-Star Hakeem Olajuwon's. Mamadou admits, "practicing against Hakeem helped me tremendously."

He signed with the Dallas Mavericks in January 2004 but was released later that month. He signed with the Atlanta Hawks in February 2004 but was assigned to the Asheville Altitude of the NBDL. In March 2004, he was released by the Hawks and returned to the Altitude. He also signed again with the Hawks later that month.

N'Diaye signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in August 2004 but was waived in June 2005. In 11 games with the Clippers, he averaged 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 6.5 minutes per contest.

In October 2005, he joined the Golden State Warriors, wearing number 32, but was waived later that month. He signed with PAOK BC later that season.

He played in 69 games in the NBA, averaging 3.8 points on .427 shooting and .736 free throws with 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 fouls and 0.9 blocks in 12.4 minutes.

References

1. ^ "Mamadou N'diaye signs for Maccabi Haifa" (URL). Sportando. http://www.sportando.net/eng/europa/esteri/5786/mamadou_n_diaye_signs_for_maccabi_haifa_to_cover_the_flop_of_jeremy_tyler.html. Retrieved 2010-03-02. 

External links

• NBA.com bio
• ESPN.com bio
• Slam Sports feature
• NBA draft scouting report
• HoopsHype.com bio

Persondata
Name	Ndiaye, Mamadou
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 16, 1975
Place of birth	Dakar, Senegal
Date of death
Place of death