Usman Garuba, who currently is a power forward for the Houston Rockets, toured with European basketball teams before he landed in the NBA.
The Rockets chose him as their 23rd overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft after witnessing his dominance & excellence in the Summer League games.
Before that, from 2017 to 2021, the Spanish basketball player, who hails from Nigerian roots, played for Real Madrid Baloncesto of the Liga EBA. The team competes internationally in the EuroLeague.
With the Madrid Baloncesto, Garuba earned notable accolades like EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player, both in 2021.
While he is yet to leave a mark in the NBA, keen eyes are locked on Usman, who is regarded as a watch-out player in the league.
Also, Garuba has gained recognition for his impressive skills, representing the Spanish national basketball team at both the junior and senior levels.
But did you know that basketball wasn’t the first sport he fell for?
Actually, he played football as a kid, but due to his exceptional height, he decided to go for the hoops. In fact, he was already 6 feet 2 inches (1.89 m) at 12 years old.
In this article, we will take a closer look at Usman Garuba’s family background, early life, NBA career, net worth, and contracts.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Destiny Usman Garuba Alari |
| Known As | Usman Garuba |
| Date of Birth | March 9, 2002 |
| Age | 22 Years Old |
| Birth Place | Madrid, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Father’s Name | Mustapha Garuba |
| Mother’s Name | Betty Garuba |
| Siblings | Two |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Height | 6 feet 8 inches/ 203 cm/ 2.03 m |
| Weight | 220 lbs/ 99 kg |
| NBA Draft | 2021/ Round: 1/ Pick: 23rd Overall |
| Playing Career | 2021-Present |
| Current Team |
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| Awards & Achievements |
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| Position | Power Forward |
| Jersey Number | 16 |
| Average Annual Salary | $2.9 Million |
| Net Worth | $2 Million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Merch | Trading Card |
| Last Update | April 2024 |
Usman Garuba’s Family Details!
Parents
Usman Garuba was born on March 9, 2002, in Madrid, Spain, to Nigerian parents Mustapha and Betty, who left Benin City in the 1990s to escape the conflict there.
After a brief stay in Brussels, they settled in Madrid without work permits.
Garuba spent his childhood in Villaverde Alto before relocating to Azuqueca due to his parent’s work reasons.
His father, Mustapha, is employed at Bimbo, a manufacturing company in Azuqueca de Henares, while his mother, Betty, works for the Azuqueca employment program.
Siblings
Garuba has two siblings, a younger brother named Ab Sediq (born on February 2, 2004) and a younger sister named Uki (born in 2010)- both born in the Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid.
Sediq Garuba is also a basketball player who has played for Real Madrid U-18 and the senior team.
He has also represented the national team in U18 Euro Championship A and U18 Euro Challengers.
Currently, he plays for CB Cartagena in the LEB Silver League.
Transition To Basketball, How & When?
Due to his exceptional height, Usman Garuba switched from football, his original passion, to basketball as it suited him better.
His basketball journey began at the Municipal Basketball School of Azuqueca in November 2011, where coach David Serrano helped him get started.
Two years later, in November 2013, Real Madrid signed him when he was just 11 years old.
Garuba spent the 2017-18 season playing for Real Madrid B, the reserve team for Real Madrid in the fourth-tier league of Spain called Liga EBA.
At 16 years and seven months old, Garuba made his debut for Real Madrid in the Liga ACB, the first-tier league in Spain, against Miraflores.
He became the youngest center in Liga ACB history and the third-youngest Real Madrid debutant, behind Luka Dončić and Roberto Núñez.
The following season, at 17 years, six months, and 19 days old, he became Real Madrid’s youngest-ever starter during his debut against Joventut Badalona.
NBA Career
Usman Garuba was selected by the Houston Rockets as the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft on July 29, 2021.
The center made his NBA debut on October 20, 2021, playing his first game for the Houston Rockets against the Minnesota Timberwolves, scoring four points in nine minutes.
In his rookie season (2021-22), Garuba featured in only twenty-four games, starting in only two of them, and averaged two points per game.
The 2021 EuroLeague Rising Star missed a considerable number of games during his first season due to a fractured left wrist, which required surgery.
In the 2022-23 season, he achieved his career-high score of 12 points on November 16, 2022, while playing against the Dallas Mavericks.
National Team
Usman Garuba has represented the Spanish national basketball team at both junior and senior levels.
He made his debut for the junior team in the 2016 FIBA U16 European Championship, where he was named MVP after leading his team to a gold medal.
In the final against Lithuania, he recorded a triple-double, becoming one of only three players in history to achieve this feat, joining Dario Šarić & Ricky Rubio.
Garuba also earned a silver medal and a spot on the All-Star Five in the 2018 FIBA U16 European Championship and helped Spain win the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship, earning another All-Star Five selection.
In 2021, the power forward competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo as part of the Spanish men’s national basketball team.
Net Worth & Contracts
Net Worth
Usman Garuba’s net worth is reported to be around $2 million as of 2024, which came mainly from his basketball career.
In addition to his basketball earnings, the professional athlete is also an endorser of the clothing brand Cuts.
Although he has yet to land any major endorsement deals, given his talent and potential, it is likely that he will attract some significant brand deals in the future.
Contracts
On August 15, 2021, he agreed to a four-year/$11.81 million rookie scale contract with the Rockets. It includes an average annual salary of $2.9 million and a guaranteed amount of $4.8 million.
In the 2022-23 season, Usman Garuba earned a base salary of $2.47 million. It is about $100K more than his paycheck of $2.35 million from the previous season (2021-22 season).
The Rockets exercised a $2.59 million option for 2023-24 on October 30, 2022.
The deal makes Garuba eligible for a five-year rookie extension contract valued at $205 million, with an annual average salary of $35.31 million.
However, if not offered a new deal or extension, he will be a restricted agent by the end of the 2024-25 season with a qualifying offer of $6.39 million.
Relationship & Social Media Presence
Usman Garuba’s relationship status is a topic of curiosity for many fans. But currently, there is little information available as he has not made any public statements about his love life.
Some sources claim that he is single and focusing on his career, while others suggest that he is in a relationship. Though, the NBA player prefers to keep it private.
Garuba is an active social media user and is available on Instagram and Twitter, where he has a significant following of 58.7k and 21.1k, respectively.
His social media feeds feature pictures of his basketball games for the Rockets, Real Madrid, and the Spanish national team primarily.
Interesting Facts
- Usman Garuba idolizes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant.
- At the age of 14, Garuba received the Most Valuable Player award at the 2016 FIBA U16 European Championship.
- He was the second-youngest player in that tournament and became the first-ever player from a lower age group to win the MVP award at the event.
Popularity Graph
Garuba has received several accolades for his basketball skills, including the 2021 ACB Best Young Player and the 2021 EuroLeague Rising Star.
He has also been recognized twice as a member of the ACB All-Young Players Team in 2020 and 2021.
No surprise that he is on search trends for his past & current achievements.
Additionally, the above graph shows that interest in Garuba peaked in April 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Usman Garuba’s wingspan?
Garuba boasts an impressive wingspan measuring 7 feet 2 inches.
How much does Garuba make?
On an annual basis, Garuba earns an average salary of $2.9 million.
