The Golden State Warriors signed 6-foot-10 Usman Garuba to a two-way contract before the start of last season. Garuba, who had a roster spot vacant for most of last year, eventually converted Garuba to a standard contract before the end of the season.
Although he spent most of last season in the G League with the Santa Cruz Warriors, Garuba played in six NBA games for Golden State. In his six NBA appearances, Garuba had three points, seven rebounds and three blocks in 18 total minutes of play.
Garuba’s last NBA appearance came in Golden State’s 2023-24 season finale against the Utah Jazz.
The Warriors have converted forward/center Usman Garuba’s two-way contract to a standard NBA contract. pic.twitter.com/A86Qelfdtc
β Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 14, 2024
An NBA free agent after finishing last season with Golden State, Garuba had not signed a contract until now. At just 22 years old, Garuba decided to take his talents to Spain.
In a post on X, Garuba announced that he was leaving the NBA to sign with Real Madrid:
My content is to go back home! I want to show my best version of new and cherish everything I’ve done for 11 years. We’re going to win all the titles and leave this club on top. π€π€π€π€π€π€π€π€π€π€ #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/DqqeGQ0PX8
β Usman Garuba Alari (@Usmangaruba) August 20, 2024
“I am very happy to be back home,” Garuba wrote (translated into English via X). “I can’t wait to show my best version again and give everything for this jersey that has given me so much since I was 11 years old. We will fight to win all the titles and leave this club at the top.”
In 22 G League games for Santa Cruz last season, Garuba averaged 13.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in 25.7 minutes per game.
18 PTS π₯ 19 REB π₯ 8/16 FG
Usman Garuba made HISTORY tonight by breaking the @GLeagueWarriors playoff rebounding record in their crazy first round #NBAGLeaguePlayoffs win over the Stars. pic.twitter.com/o4eti6OFGb
β NBA G League (@nbagleague) April 3, 2024
Garuba made his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets in 2021. After spending two seasons with Houston, Garuba was traded twice before being released and becoming a free agent in 2023. That’s when he signed with Golden State on a two-way contract before being converted to a standard contract.
Garuba is the Warriors’ second free agent to sign outside the NBA this offseason, with former lottery pick Jerome Robinson signing with Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball of France’s LNB Pro A earlier this summer.
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