.jpg) Garuba with Spain in 2019 | |
| No. 16 – Real Madrid | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward / Center |
| League | Liga ACB EuroLeague |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 9 March 2002 Madrid, Spain |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 229 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 2021: 1st round, 23rd overall pick |
| Selected by the Houston Rockets | |
| Playing career | 2017–present |
| Career history | |
| 2017–2021 | Real Madrid |
| 2017–2019 | →Real Madrid B |
| 2021–2023 | Houston Rockets |
| 2021–2022 | →Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| 2023–2024 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2023–2024 | →Santa Cruz Warriors |
| 2024–present | Real Madrid |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Medals | |
Destiny Usman Garuba Alari (born 9 March 2002) is a Spanish professional basketball player for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. Listed at 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in), he plays at both the power forward and center positions.
Garuba was born in Madrid, Spain to Nigerian parents and joined the youth academy of Real Madrid at age 11. In 2019, when he was 17 years old, he became the youngest starter in Real Madrid history. In the 2020–21 season, Garuba was named EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player. He earned most valuable player (MVP) honors at the 2016 FIBA U16 European Championship at age 14. In the 2021 NBA draft, he was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 23rd overall pick.