18 Facts About Zaid Abdul-Aziz

Zaid Abdul-Aziz was born on Donald A Smith; April 7,1946 and is an American former professional basketball player.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz was known as Don Smith until he changed his name to Zaid Abdul-Aziz in 1976 after he converted to Islam.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz played ten seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Royals, Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, Houston Rockets, Buffalo Braves, and Boston Celtics.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones from 1965 to 1968.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz was selected as the Big Eight Player of the Year in 1968 and was a three-time first-team All-Big Eight Conference selection.

Zaid 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.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics for Lucius Allen and Bob Boozer in 1970.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz initially disputed the trade and planned to sue the NBA but instead flourished with the SuperSonics.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz converted to Islam during his time with the SuperSonics.

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan coincided with a Rockets training camp where Zaid Abdul-Aziz entered an anemic-like state due to his fasting.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz found himself unable to play and told the team's general manager that he was quitting the team.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz's father convinced him to return but he lost his position in the Rockets' line-up and never again played as a starting center in the NBA.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz played his final three years as a backup on various teams before he announced his retirement in 1978 at the age of 32.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz was an investor in the Seattle Smashers of the International Volleyball Association in 1978 and 1979.

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

Zaid Abdul-Aziz worked as a drug and alcohol counselor in Seattle after his playing career.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz went to a Milwaukee library to learn about religions and borrowed a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, Bible, Quran and Torah.

In 2006, Zaid Abdul-Aziz published a memoir, Darkness to Sunlight, which tells the stories of his basketball career, personal challenges, and spiritual journey.