Zaid Abdul-Aziz
Encyclopedia
Zaid Abdul-Aziz is a retired American professional basketball
player. Donald Smith changed his name to Zaid Abdul-Aziz in 1976. The 6'9" Abdul-Aziz starred at Iowa State University
before being drafted
by the NBA's Cincinnati Royals
in 1968
. He played ten seasons in the league as a member of the Royals, Milwaukee Bucks
, Seattle SuperSonics
, Houston Rockets
, Buffalo Braves
, and Boston Celtics
. Nicknamed "The Kangaroo", he had his finest season in 1971–1972, when he averaged 13.8 points and 11.3 rebounds for Seattle. He retired in 1978
with career totals of 4,557 points and 4,065 rebounds.
In 2006, Zaid Abdul-Aziz published a memoir, Darkness to Sunlight, which tells the stories of his basketball career, personal challenges and spiritual journey. Abdul-Aziz is now a drug and alcohol counselor in Seattle.
| align="left" | 1968–69
| align="left" | Cincinnati
| 20 || – || 5.4 || .419 || – || .286 || 1.6 || .2 || – || – || 1.9
|-
| align="left" | 1968–69
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 29 || – || 28.9 || .363 || – || .642 || 13.0 || 1.1 || – || – || 11.0
|-
| align="left" | 1969–70
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 80 || – || 20.5 || .434 || – || .643 || 7.5 || .8 || – || – || 7.4
|-
| align="left" | 1970–71
| align="left" | Seattle
| 61 || – || 20.9 || .441 || – || .739 || 7.7 || .7 || – || – || 10.9
|-
| align="left" | 1971–72
| align="left" | Seattle
| 58 || – || 30.7 || .429 || – || .720 || 11.3 || 2.1 || – || – || 13.8
|-
| align="left" | 1972–73
| align="left" | Houston
| 48 || – || 18.8 || .397 || – || .735 || 6.3 || 1.1 || – || – || 8.7
|-
| align="left" | 1973–74
| align="left" | Houston
| 79 || – || 31.1 || .459 || – || .804 || 11.7 || 2.1 || 1.0 || 1.3 || 10.9
|-
| align="left" | 1974–75
| align="left" | Houston
| 65 || – || 22.3 || .437 || – || .783 || 7.5 || 1.3 || .6 || 1.1 || 9.7
|-
| align="left" | 1975–76
| align="left" | Seattle
| 27 || – || 8.3 || .467 || – || .552 || 2.8 || .6 || .3 ||.6 || 3.2
|-
| align="left" | 1976–77
| align="left" | Buffalo
| 22 || – || 8.9 || .338 || – || .767 || 4.1 || .3 || .1 || .4 || 3.8
|-
| align="left" | 1977–78
| align="left" | Boston
| 2 || – || 12.0 || .231 || – || .667 || 7.5 || 1.5 || .5 || .5 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | 1977–78
| align="left" | Houston
| 14 || – || 9.6 || 426 || – || .750 || 2.5 || .5 || .1 || .1 || 3.9
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 505 || – || 21.8 || .428 || – || .728 || 8.0 || 1.2 || .6 || 1.0 || 9.0
|}
| align="left" | 1969–70
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 7 || – || 11.7 || .579 || – || .800 || 3.7 || 0.6 || – || – || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | 1974–75
| align="left" | Houston
| 6 || – || 11.3 || .387 || – || .400 || 2.8 || 0.5 || – || – || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | 1975–76
| align="left" | Seattle
| 5 || – || 12.0 || .700 || – || .727 || 4.2 || 0.4 || – || – || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 18 || – || 11.7 || .529 || – || .500 || 3.6 || 0.5 || – || – || 5.1
|}
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. Donald Smith changed his name to Zaid Abdul-Aziz in 1976. The 6'9" Abdul-Aziz starred at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
before being drafted
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
by the NBA's Cincinnati Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in 1968
1968 NBA Draft
The 1968 NBA Draft was the 22nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 3, 1968 and May 8, 1968 before the 1968–69 season. In this draft, 14 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year...
. He played ten seasons in the league as a member of the Royals, Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
, Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
, Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, Buffalo Braves
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, and Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. Nicknamed "The Kangaroo", he had his finest season in 1971–1972, when he averaged 13.8 points and 11.3 rebounds for Seattle. He retired in 1978
1977-78 NBA season
The 1977–78 NBA season was the 32nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Washington Bullets winning the NBA Championship, beating the Seattle SuperSonics 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
with career totals of 4,557 points and 4,065 rebounds.
In 2006, Zaid Abdul-Aziz published a memoir, Darkness to Sunlight, which tells the stories of his basketball career, personal challenges and spiritual journey. Abdul-Aziz is now a drug and alcohol counselor in Seattle.
Transactions
- 1968 – First round, fifth pick by Cincinnati Royals in 1968 NBA Draft1968 NBA DraftThe 1968 NBA Draft was the 22nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 3, 1968 and May 8, 1968 before the 1968–69 season. In this draft, 14 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year...
. - 1969, January 31 – Traded to Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
for Fred HetzelFred HetzelFred W. Hetzel is a retired American basketball player.-Early life in D.C.:Hetzel initially attended Woodrow Wilson High School in D.C. and played for the Tigers in the 1958 season. He then transferred to Landon School in the Bethesda, MD. suburbs and was a 3 time All Met. As a Soph, he averaged...
plus cash. - 1970, September 17 – Traded to Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonicsThe Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
for Lucius AllenLucius AllenLucius Oliver Allen, Jr. is a former professional basketball player. Prior to his NBA career, he became an All-American as part of two of legendary coach John Wooden's UCLA NCAA Championship teams, 1967 and 1968...
and Bob BoozerBob BoozerRobert Louis "Bob" Boozer is a retired American professional basketball player. Boozer was born and raised in North Omaha, Nebraska and graduated from Tech High in Omaha....
. - 1972, September 18 – Transferred to Houston RocketsHouston RocketsThe Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. - 1975, August 1 – released from Houston Rockets.
- 1976, January 31 – Free agentFree agentIn professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
signed by Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonicsThe Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
. - 1976, November 26 – Free agent signed by Buffalo BravesBuffalo BravesThe Buffalo Braves were a team in the National Basketball Association. They later moved to San Diego, California to become the San Diego Clippers then subsequently the Los Angeles Clippers....
from Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonicsThe Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
. - 1977, January 20 – released from Buffalo BravesLos Angeles ClippersThe Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. - 1978, February 14 – Free agent signed by Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. - 1978, February 24 – released by Boston Celtics.
- 1978, March 2 – Free agent signed by Houston RocketsHouston RocketsThe Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. - 1978, June 20 – released by Houston Rockets.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1968–69
| align="left" | Cincinnati
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 20 || – || 5.4 || .419 || – || .286 || 1.6 || .2 || – || – || 1.9
|-
| align="left" | 1968–69
| align="left" | Milwaukee
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
| 29 || – || 28.9 || .363 || – || .642 || 13.0 || 1.1 || – || – || 11.0
|-
| align="left" | 1969–70
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 80 || – || 20.5 || .434 || – || .643 || 7.5 || .8 || – || – || 7.4
|-
| align="left" | 1970–71
| align="left" | Seattle
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
| 61 || – || 20.9 || .441 || – || .739 || 7.7 || .7 || – || – || 10.9
|-
| align="left" | 1971–72
1971–72 NBA season
The 1971–72 NBA season was the 26th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA Championship, beating the New York Knicks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals....
| align="left" | Seattle
| 58 || – || 30.7 || .429 || – || .720 || 11.3 || 2.1 || – || – || 13.8
|-
| align="left" | 1972–73
| align="left" | Houston
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
| 48 || – || 18.8 || .397 || – || .735 || 6.3 || 1.1 || – || – || 8.7
|-
| align="left" | 1973–74
| align="left" | Houston
| 79 || – || 31.1 || .459 || – || .804 || 11.7 || 2.1 || 1.0 || 1.3 || 10.9
|-
| align="left" | 1974–75
| align="left" | Houston
| 65 || – || 22.3 || .437 || – || .783 || 7.5 || 1.3 || .6 || 1.1 || 9.7
|-
| align="left" | 1975–76
| align="left" | Seattle
| 27 || – || 8.3 || .467 || – || .552 || 2.8 || .6 || .3 ||.6 || 3.2
|-
| align="left" | 1976–77
| align="left" | Buffalo
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 22 || – || 8.9 || .338 || – || .767 || 4.1 || .3 || .1 || .4 || 3.8
|-
| align="left" | 1977–78
| align="left" | Boston
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
| 2 || – || 12.0 || .231 || – || .667 || 7.5 || 1.5 || .5 || .5 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | 1977–78
| align="left" | Houston
| 14 || – || 9.6 || 426 || – || .750 || 2.5 || .5 || .1 || .1 || 3.9
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 505 || – || 21.8 || .428 || – || .728 || 8.0 || 1.2 || .6 || 1.0 || 9.0
|}
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 1969–70
1970 NBA Playoffs
The 1970 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1969-1970 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion New York Knicks defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers, four games to three in the NBA Finals...
| align="left" | Milwaukee
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
| 7 || – || 11.7 || .579 || – || .800 || 3.7 || 0.6 || – || – || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | 1974–75
1975 NBA Playoffs
The 1975 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1974-1975 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeating the Eastern Conference champion Washington Bullets, four games to none in the NBA Finals...
| align="left" | Houston
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
| 6 || – || 11.3 || .387 || – || .400 || 2.8 || 0.5 || – || – || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | 1975–76
1976 NBA Playoffs
The 1976 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1975-1976 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns, four games to two in the NBA Finals; the series was...
| align="left" | Seattle
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
| 5 || – || 12.0 || .700 || – || .727 || 4.2 || 0.4 || – || – || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 18 || – || 11.7 || .529 || – || .500 || 3.6 || 0.5 || – || – || 5.1
|}