Mavericks' big man Ian Mahinmi came out of nowhere on Friday to post 19 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. So who is this guy? And might he provide fantasy value? Well, the 25-year-old Ian (which can be pronounced "Ian" or "Yan") actually grew up in France. (His mother is from Jamaica, and his father is from Benin, Africa.) Though drafted by the Spurs with the 28th overall pick back in 2005 as a raw, athletic project, he didn't actually sign with the team until 2007. Prior to that, he spent time with the French national team and French clubs STB La Havre and Pau Orthez.
Prior to signing with San Antonio, he really hadn't put up especially impressive numbers. But he experienced a breakout of sorts with the Austin Toros of the D-League in the 2007-2008 season, averaging 16.8 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. In fact, he led the Toros to the D-League Finals, where they lost to Idaho.
Unfortunately, Mahinmi suffered a severe ankle injury in 2008 and missed the entire 2008-09 season. In 2009-10, he appeared in 26 games for the Spurs, averaging just six minutes a game. In the offseason, he signed with Dallas, and last season he averaged eight minutes a game for the Mavs.
So, all in all, the 6-11 Mahinmi is a bit of a mystery man. Somewhat of a late bloomer who preferred soccer as a young kid, his 2007-08 numbers offer some promise. And with Tyson Chandler leaving town and Brendan Haywood not exactly tearing it up, he has a chance to establish himself as a legitimate NBA player. Whether he will remains to be seen, but he is definitely worth monitoring or even stashing if you have the space.
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