Usman Garuba

Destiny Usman Garuba Alari, commonly known as Usman Garuba, has trailed a blazing track in the world of professional basketball since his birth on March 9, 2002, in Madrid, Spain. Standing tall and menacing at 2.03m, he currently does his tricks for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA while working on a two-way deal with Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League. Sprinting forward and soaring high to block, this giant can effortlessly transition between the power forward and center positions, proving his versatility.

Garuba’s journey to stardom began in the Spanish capital, where he sprouted under the care and guidance of Nigerian parents, developing an interest in sports from an early stage. After getting his feet wet in the sport of football, he made a switch to basketball, given his impressive stature. He later affiliated himself with the youth academy of Real Madrid at the tender age of 11.

At 17, he created history by becoming the youngest starter in the annals of Real Madrid. His performance didn’t drop as his career progressed, and he was decorated with the title of EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player for his fabulous show in the 2020-21 season. He was no stranger to accolades at a young age, bagging the MVP at the 2016 FIBA U16 European Championship when he was just 14. His skills were lauded at the 2021 NBA draft, where he was the 23rd pick of the Houston Rockets.

Garuba’s love for football gave way to basketball due to diminutive success coupled with his massive height. His inspiration for this path change was the former NBA legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He began his basketball journey at Escuela Municipal de Baloncesto de Azuqueca, a Municipal Basketball School in Azuqueca, mentored by coach David Serrano. His grace and style earned him the nickname “La pantera de Azuqueca” or “The Panther of Azuqueca”.

In 2013, Garuba affiliated himself with the younger teams of Real Madrid. The giant, at 12 years old, stood at 1.89m and weighed 81 kg, baring an early indication of a potential NBA player. His career got off to a promising start when his debut saw him posting 24 points and 16 rebounds, steering his team to victory over Valencia. Their triumph was repeated the following year thanks to Garuba’s extraordinary performance, which also led him to be named the MVP of the competition.

Garuba’s career experienced a rise when he joined the Real Madrid Under 18 team, earning himself a spot on the All-Tournament Team in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament. His performance in the final tournament earned him the title of ANGT Rising Star.

Garuba made his debut in Liga ACB, the top-tier Spanish league, at the age of 16 in a match against Miraflores. He rose to fame as the youngest center in the history of the league. He later transitioned to play primarily in the Real Madrid B team in the fourth-tier league, Liga EBA. His debut in the senior team of Real Madrid further buoyed his reputation, where he etched his name as the youngest starter in the history of the club.

In 2023, he changed gears and started a new chapter with Atlanta Hawks in a five-team trade, but his tenure was short-lived as he moved to Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite his illustrious career, the Thunder waived him off before he found a new home in the Golden State Warriors, signing a two-way contract.

At the national level, Garuba made his debut in the 2016 FIBA U16 European Championship, leading Spain to gold and earning himself the MVP title. Despite his injury absence in 2017, he bounced back to lead Spain to silver in the 2018 European Championship and gold in the 2019 Championship. His talent was visible on the global stage when he represented Spain in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and was picked by the Houston Rockets in the NBA draft.

Garuba owed his strength and resilience to his family’s early struggles after escaping conflict in Nigeria and settling in Madrid without any work permits. Despite the adversities, their love and supportive bond kept the family together. His father, Mustapha, and mother, Betty, both work in Azuqueca de Henares. Garuba is blessed with a younger brother and sister, Sediq and Uki, respectively. Usman Garuba’s journey from a Nigerian immigrant family to NBA stardom depicts resilience, talent, and hard work, with his tale shining brightly under the global spotlight.