Alexis Ajinça played for 9 seasons in NBA after his 2008 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. He also earned a gold medal in FIBA U 18 European Championship.
The center came from an eastern-central city in France, Saint-Etienne, and solidified himself as a competitive force in the NBA, NBA G League, and Overseas.
It’s hard not to notice Ajinça when he paced on the floor; he is extraordinarily gigantic and had good ball-handling skills with a 7’9″ (2.36 m) wingspan.
The center player started his basketball career in his native land, France, and spent a long and successful career with various French teams.
He also played with four diverse NBA teams during his active years, showcasing his skills on the world’s biggest basketball stage.
Even after Alexis’ successful career in the NBA, he returned to France and eventually retired from basketball in 2019, which he officially announced via a tweet on Nov. 26, 2021.
Further highlighting his talent and skill on the court, Alexis’ achievements mainly comprise French league awards as well as one from the NBA D-League.
In France, Ajinca won the French Cup in 2007 and was named to the LNB Pro A All-Star team in 2013. He was also a member of the France team that won gold in the 2013 FIBA EuroBasket championship and was named the NBA D-League All-Star in 2010.
Excavate further intriguing information about the competent former player, and have a timely peek at the informative classified below in the quick facts.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Alexis Ajinça |
| Birth Date | May 6, 1988 |
| Birth Place | Saint-Etienne |
| Nick Name | Unknown |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | French |
| Ethnicity | Unknown |
| Education | INSEP High School |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Father’s Name | Unknown |
| Mother’s Name | Ajinça-roux Joelle |
| Siblings | Two (A Brother & A Sister) |
| Age | 35 Years Old |
| Height | 7’2″/ 2.18 m/ 218 cm |
| Weight | 112 Kg/ 248 lb. |
| Jersey No. | 42- New Orleans Pelicans |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Athletic |
| Profession | Former Basketball Player |
| NBA Draft | 2008 / Round: 1 / Overall 20th pick |
| League | International, NBA & NBA G League |
| Active Years | 2006 – 2019 |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Courtney Sadler |
| Kids | Two (Sons) |
| Net Worth | $1 – $5 Million |
| Position | Center |
| Last Played NBA Team | ASVEL Basket |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Merch | The View From Here (Hardcover) |
| Last Update | April 2024 |
Early Life & Family
An athletic player, Alexis Ajinça was born in Saint-Etienne, France, on May 6, 1988. He holds French nationality and follows Christianity.
The center was born to his mother, Ajinça-roux Joell, a housemaker. But his father was a wrestler from French Island, but his name and other information are not revealed.
During Alexis’s growing years, his father was reportedly present and instilled in him the values of discipline and mental discipline.
Therefore, losing his father was his biggest grief, but further detail about the related case and his family is unknown.
Alexis grew up with two siblings, a sister, Elodie Ajinca Caprili, and an older brother, whose name is not revealed.
Interestingly, his basketball career was initiated when he was 12; before that, he began his career as a world-class BMX rider and used to compete in BMX races.
Ajinça attended INSEP High School in Paris, France, and played for Pau-Orthez and Hyères-Toulon between 2006 and 2008.
Basketball Career
Professional Career
Charlotte Bobcats assigned Ajinça the 20th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
The player spent his rookie season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League and finished his second season in Charlotte with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G League.
Ajinça was traded to Dallas Mavericks in 2010 and got traded to Toronto Raptors in 2011.
Afterward, he joined the French professional basketball team, Paris-Levallois, in 2011, for a week tryout. Later he joined Hyères-Toulon and left the team after appearing in two games.
Other Teams
After returning to France, Ajinça signed with SIG Strasbourg on December 29, 2011, and resigned for the 2012-13 season on August 13, 2012, after his successful year with the team.
Later he again resigned for the 2013-14 season, which showed his dedication to the sport and his team.
Finally, on December 18, 2013, he left Strasbourg, returned to the NBA, and got signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in December 2013.
Due to his good performance, he stayed with the Pelicans for 2015 and got resigned. After a year, he scored a career-high of 28 points and 15 rebounds in a victory (110-102) over the Lakers.
Ajinça confronted a horrible injury that sidelined him for four to six months, due to which he was ruled out for the entire 2017-18 season during his time with the Pelicans.
In October 2018, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers due to his right patellar tendon injury, but the team waived him right after they acquired him.
Then, Ajinça took off to France again and signed with ASVEL Basket in December 2018. After that season, he finally hung his boots.
Honors & Grants
Ajinça commenced his playing career professionally in 2006 and wrapped it up in 2019 with some awards and acclaim.
During this juncture, he spent his stints with most of France’s teams, NBA G League, and NBA and won most of the recognition for his continuous commitment and allegiance.
- All-French League First Team (2013)
- LNB Pro A All-Star (2013)
- All French League Third Team (2012)
- All-French League Defensive Team (2012)
- French Cup winner (2007)
- All French League Domestic Team for two consecutive years (2012 & 2013)
- NBA D-League All-Star (2010)
- Albert Schweitzer Tournament Most Talented Player (2006)
A Great Memory
Ajinça represented the French national team at EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia, averaging 9.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
In the meantime, he earned a gold medal for the national team at FIBA EuroBasket.
Additionally, Ajinça partook in the U-18 European Championship in Greece in 2006, winning another gold medal representing the nation.
End Of The Career
After spending significant assignments with NBA, NBA G League, and International teams, Ajinça ended his basketball career.
The player last played for ASVEL Basket, the French professional basketball team, from 2018 to 2019.
And it was visible to pretend about his retirement as he hadn’t played a single game since his stint with ASVEL.
The sensational French center had played 293 NBA games and attempted to bestow his best at every platform during his stint with a diverse league. Then, he declared he’d quit his career via Twitter.
He asserted, “Time has come for me to turn the page as a professional player. Basketball has brought me a lot, and I want to thank the fans, clubs, coaches, and teammates for all the moments. Also, I thank my family, who always supported me.”
Moreover, he validated that he had retired and engaged in other projects. On the flip side, he confessed that he stopped his career because being away from his family and children was difficult.
Charity & Book
Ajinça settled in North Carolina after retiring from basketball, assembled his activities portfolio, and founded Ajinça TRU Home. This non-profit organization intends to support the homeless community and provide job opportunities.
Conversely, his creativity pattern surfaced when he released his book “The View From Here,” on June 15, 2021.
The book is a detailed itinerary of the practical tools and mindset shifts that Alexis has developed to build his confidence.
The Iconic
During his epoch in the NBA, Ajinça was precisely detected with several hairdos; he was sighted with short haircuts, making them effortlessly styled.
Also, he grew his hair to the medial length to give extra charm to his look with curly black hair.
Alexis is passionate about fashion and trends; he’s serious about his style and gives some easy cues to get a flawless outfit.
His style symbolizes class and sophistication; he cherishes wearing suits and chooses his apparel with a keen eye.
He carefully selects designer clothing that complements his physique and mostly prefers to wear the curated designer clothes of Gucci.
Ajinça was sighted with the iconic style of fashion sense on and off the court. The couple’s power plays through their internal and external personality is outstanding.
Body Features
A competent center player, Alexis Ajinça, was born on May 6, 1988, and scrutinizing his birth date, he is 35 years old.
About his physical stats, he stands at a gigantic height of 7 feet 2 inches (2.10 m), and his body weight is around 248 lb (112 kg).
Regarding the physical outlook, Ajinça is an exceptionally robust and agile seven-footer with great athleticism and long arms to run the floor well and exhibits solid passing mastery.
His incredible wingspan tower above the maximum number of players enables him to block opportunities at high rates.
Net Worth & Salary
The 7’2″ prominent basketball player Alexis Ajinça had a $1-$5 million net worth as of 2024.
Addressing the player’s salary, in the 2018-19 season, he earned $5,285,394 with Los Angeles Clippers.
In the previous season for the 2017-18 season with New Orleans Pelicans, his estimated salary was $4,961,798; before that, for the 2016-17 season, it was $4,863,206.
During 2014-15 with New Orleans Pelicans, he accumulated $981,084; in the 2013-14 season, he amassed $635,880.
In the 2010-11 season, he was expected to earn $1,467,840 with the Toronto Raptors.
After Alexis entered the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets, he earned $1,372,080 during the 2009-10 season, and in the 2008-09 season, for his debut year, he earned $1,276,320 as his first salary for the NBA.
The total earning for his nine seasons of the NBA, according to Spotrac, is $24,933,206.
Social Media Presence
Alexis is famous on and off the court for his skilled performance with the France league teams and 9 seasons in the NBA.
His social media handles comprise above 40k followers, which is still good on an average scale for an athlete’s fame.
- Instagram: @ajincaalexis (40.4 K Followers)
- Twitter: @AjincaAlexis (62 K Followers)
Who Is Alexis Ajinça’s Wife?
The graceful player Alexis Ajinça has married a gorgeous lady, Courtney. They had a perfect affectionate love story to share; they met on Facebook through a mutual friend.
After Ajinça sent her a friend request, Courtney was the one to slide in his DM, and they felt the connection and built such a decent bond that they became indivisible after meeting for the first time.
They announced it officially after three weeks of meet-ups and dated one another for four years before marriage.
Their story is a beautiful strip of love and resilience decorated by a perfect seal of marriage.
Ajinça and Courtney are blessed with two adorable sons; they welcomed their first child, Carter, in 2014 and their second child Caysen in 2017.
The couple’s parenthood wasn’t without any challenges, as in 2016, they suffered a devastating miscarriage just a year after the birth of their first child.
Despite the heartbreaking misfortune, they emerged even stronger; as they managed the demands of parenting and their careers on mutual ground.
Ajinça and Courtney took turns and supported each other. When Ajinça was away playing basketball, Courtney took care of the kids, and when Courtney’s event planning career took off, Ajinça stayed at home with the kids, and Courtney traveled to meet her clients.
As difficulties strengthened their minds, they remained committed to each other, creating a sense of magic in their parenting and business endeavors. Their journey is a testament to the power of companionship and the strength of willpower.
Search Graph
Alexis’ nine-season successful journey with the NBA was a major part of his career, impeding him good earnings and fame.
Due to his skillful performance, he has accumulated an appropriate amount of fanbase, as showcased in the graph.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who are Alexis Ajinça's inspirational idols?
Ajinça's inspirational idols are Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, and former president Barack Obama, he too hopes to be a youth's inspiration with his advice.
What other activities does Alexis Ajinça is involved in?
Ajinça after his retirement started as an entrepreneur, real estate, author, and producer.
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