Zaid Abdul-Aziz

Zaid Abdul-Aziz (born Donald A. Smith; April 7, 1946) is an American former professional basketball player. He was known as Don Smith until he changed his name when he converted to Islam in 1976.

Abdul-Aziz starred for the Iowa State Cyclones in college basketball before he was selected by the Cincinnati Royals as the fifth overall pick in the 1968 NBA draft. He played ten seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Royals, Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, Houston Rockets, Buffalo Braves, and Boston Celtics. Abdul-Aziz was nicknamed "The Kangaroo".

Playing career Abdul-Aziz played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones from 1965 to 1968. Abdul-Aziz was chosen by the Cincinnati Royals as the fifth overall pick in the 1968 NBA draft and traded to the Milwaukee Bucks during his rookie season. Abdul-Aziz had been the team's starting center prior to the 1974–75 season. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan coincided with a Rockets training camp where Abdul-Aziz entered an anemic-like state due to his fasting.

Abdul-Aziz studied chemical dependency at Seattle University and earned a state licence.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Personal life As of 2011, Abdul-Aziz lived in the Northgate neighborhood of Seattle with his Moroccan-born wife.