Everipedia Logo
Everipedia is now IQ.wiki - Join the IQ Brainlist and our Discord for early access to editing on the new platform and to participate in the beta testing.
Chinanu Onuaku

Chinanu Onuaku

Chinanu Michael Onuaku (born November 1, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals.

Chinanu Onuaku
Free Agent
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born(1996-11-01)November 1, 1996
Lanham, Maryland
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High schoolRiverdale Baptist
(Upper Marlboro, Maryland)
CollegeLouisville (2014–2016)
NBA draft2016 / Round: 2 / Pick: 37th overall
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Playing career2016–present
Career history
2016–2018Houston Rockets
2016–2018→Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2018–2019Greensboro Swarm

High school career

Onuaku attended Riverdale Baptist School where he averaged 12.4 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 5.5 blocks as a senior, leading Riverdale to a 30–9 record and the Capital Beltway conference title.[1]

When Onuaku graduated, he was considered the 74th best prospect by Rivals.com,[2] 75th by ESPN[3] and was rated as the seventh-best center in the nation by Scout.com.[4]

College career

Onuaku played two seasons of college basketball for the University of Louisville between 2014 and 2016. In his sophomore season, he averaged 9.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks,[5] earning All-ACC Defensive Team and All-ACC honorable mention honors and posting 11 double-doubles.[6]

In May 2016, Onuaku announced he would enter the NBA draft.[6]

Professional career

Houston Rockets (2016–2018)

On June 23, 2016, Onuaku was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 37th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft[7] and later joined them for the 2016 NBA Summer League.[8] On July 20, 2016, he signed with the Rockets.[5] He made his NBA debut on December 26, 2016, coming on in the fourth quarter and recording six points and three rebounds in a 131–115 win over the Phoenix Suns. He hit a pair of free throws in the game with his underhanded free-throw action.[9] During his rookie season, Onuaku had multiple assignments with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets' D-League affiliate.[10] On May 1, 2017, he was suspended two games without pay for pushing a game official. The incident occurred during an altercation in the final seconds of the Vipers' 122–96 loss to Raptors 905 in Game 3 of the 2017 NBA D-League Finals on April 27.[11]

On August 2, 2018, Onuaku was traded from the Rockets to the Dallas Mavericks for the rights to forward Maarty Leunen.[12] He was waived four days later.[13]

On September 4, 2018, Onuaku signed with the Portland Trail Blazers.[14] On October 13, 2018, he was waived by the Trail Blazers.[15]

Greensboro Swarm (2018–present)

On October 20, 2018, Onuaku was selected with the second overall pick in the 2018 NBA G League draft by the Greensboro Swarm.[16]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG% Field goal percentage 3P% 3-point field goal percentage FT% Free throw percentage
 RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game
 BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per gameBoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2016–17Houston5110.4.714
1.0002.0.6.6.22.8
2017–18Houston1022.0.400
4.01.0.0.04.0
Career6112.3.583
1.0002.3.7.5.23.0

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2018Houston103.0
1.01.01.0.0.0
Career103.0
1.01.01.0.0.0

Personal life

Onuaku is the son of Nwaneka and Christopher Onuaku, and has three older siblings: Ify, Arinze and Chuk. Onuaku's brother, Arinze, is also a professional basketball player.[1]

References

[1]
Citation Linkwww.gocards.com"Chinanu Onuaku - 2015-16 Men's Basketball". GoCards.com. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[2]
Citation Linkn.rivals.com"Chinanu Onuaku - Rivals.com". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[3]
Citation Linkwww.espn.com"Chinanu Onuaku Basketball Recruiting". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.scout.com"Chinanu Onuaku - Scout.com". Scout.com. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[5]
Citation Linkwww.nba.com"Rockets Sign Rookie Chinanu Onuaku". NBA.com. July 20, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.courier-journal.comGreer, Jeff (July 20, 2016). "Final answer: Onuaku confirms NBA draft entry". Courier-Journal.com. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[7]
Citation Linkwww.nba.com"Rockets Select Chinanu Onuaku and Zhou Qi in 2016 NBA Draft". NBA.com. June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[8]
Citation Linkwww.nba.com"Rockets to Compete in Samsung NBA Summer League 2016". NBA.com. July 1, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[9]
Citation Linkwww.espn.com"Harden scores 32 points and Rockets cruise past Suns 131-115". ESPN.com. December 26, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[10]
Citation Linkdleague.nba.com"2016-17 NBA Assignments". NBA.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[11]
Citation Linkdleague.nba.com"Rio Grande Valley Vipers' Onuaku Suspended". NBA.com. May 1, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.nba.comhttp://www.nba.com/article/2018/08/02/mavericks-get-center-chinanu-onuaku-trade-rockets
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[13]
Citation Linkwww.espn.com"Mavs waive Chinanu Onuaku, acquired in trade with Rockets". ESPN.com. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[14]
Citation Linkwww.nba.com"TRAIL BLAZERS SIGN THREE PLAYERS". NBA.com. September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[15]
Citation Linkwww.nba.com"Trail Blazers Waive Oliver, Onuaku, & Payton II". NBA.com. October 13, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[16]
Citation Linkgleague.nba.com"Salt Lake City Stars Select Willie Reed With No. 1 Overall Pick Of 2018 NBA G League Draft". NBA.com. October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[17]
Citation Linkwww.gocards.comLouisville Cardinals bio
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[18]
Citation Linkwww.gocards.com"Chinanu Onuaku - 2015-16 Men's Basketball"
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[19]
Citation Linkn.rivals.com"Chinanu Onuaku - Rivals.com"
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM
[20]
Citation Linkwww.espn.com"Chinanu Onuaku Basketball Recruiting"
Sep 29, 2019, 4:56 PM