Sundiata Kofi Gaines (born April 18, 1986) is an American professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...

player who is a free agent. He played

college basketball In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athleti ...

at the

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

High school career

Gaines attended

Archbishop Molloy High School Archbishop Molloy High School (also called Molloy, Archbishop Molloy, or AMHS) is a co-educational, college preparatory, Catholic school for grades 9-12, located on on 83-53 Manton Street, Briarwood, Queens, New York. It is part of the Roman C ...

in Queens, New York. As a senior, he averaged 28.2 points per game, finishing his career as the number 3 scorer in Stanners' history.

College career

In his freshman season at

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, Gaines had a very productive year as he led the team in minutes, assists, steals, free throw attempts and makes, as well as ranking second in rebounding. In 27 games, he averaged 12.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game. In his sophomore season, he ranked third among all SEC players in steals at 2.0 per game. In 30 games, he averaged 10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He was named the team's MVP by the coaching staff at the season's end. In his junior season, he led Georgia in minutes, starts, rebounds, assists and steals. He was also named to the 2007 All-SEC second team. In 32 games, he averaged 10.5 points, 5.7 rebounds 4.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game. In his senior season, he was named to the 2008 All-SEC second team and All-Defensive team. In 34 games, he averaged 14.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Professional career

NGC Cantù (2008–2009)

Gaines went undrafted in the 2008 NBA draft. In July 2008, he signed with NGC Cantù of Italy for the 2008–09 season.

Idaho Stampede (2009–2010)

On November 5, 2009, Gaines was selected with the 15th overall pick by the

Idaho Stampede Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyomi ...

in the 2009 NBA D-League draft.

Utah Jazz (2010)

On January 5, 2010, Gaines signed a 10-day contract with the

Utah Jazz The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference, Northwest Division (NBA), ...

. On January 14, 2010, in just his fifth NBA game, he hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Jazz a dramatic 97–96 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was the first 3-pointer of his NBA career. On January 15, 2010, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Jazz. On January 25, 2010, he signed with the Jazz for the rest of the season. Gaines joined the Utah Jazz for the 2010 NBA Summer League. On October 22, 2010, he was waived by the Jazz.

Minnesota Timberwolves (2010–2011)

On November 12, 2010, Gaines signed with the

Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. Founded in 19 ...

. On January 4, 2011, he was waived by the Timberwolves.

Toronto Raptors (2011)

On January 13, 2011, Gaines signed a 10-day contract with the

Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They play their home games a ...

. On January 24, 2011, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Raptors. On January 26, 2011, he was waived by the Raptors.

New Jersey Nets (2011)

On February 28, 2011, Gaines signed a 10-day contract with the

New Jersey Nets New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

. On March 10, 2011, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Nets. On March 20, 2011, he signed a multi-year deal with the Nets. On March 23, 2011, Gaines suffered a season-ending right hip injury.

Armia (2011)

On September 9, 2011, Gaines signed with

BC Armia BC Mgzavrebi ( ka, საკალათბურთო კლუბი არმია), also known as Mgzavrebi Tbilisi, is a professional basketball club based in Tbilisi, that plays in the Georgian Super Liga. The club was affiliated to the ...

of Georgia for the duration of the NBA lockout.

Return to New Jersey (2011–2012)

In December 2011, Gaines re-joined the

after the lockout ended.

Fuijan Xunxing (2012–2013)

On September 6, 2012, Gaines signed with the Indiana Pacers. However, he was later waived by the Pacers on October 22, 2012. On November 13, 2012, he signed with the Fujian Xunxing of the

Chinese Basketball Association The Chinese Basketball Association (), often abbreviated as the CBA, is the first-tier professional men's basketball league in China. The league is commonly known by fans as the CBA, and this acronym is even used in Chinese on a regular basis ...

for the 2012–13 season.

Beşiktaş (2013–2014)

Gaines joined the Washington Wizards for the

2013 NBA Summer League The 2013 NBA Summer League is a pro basketball league run by the NBA just after the 2013 NBA draft. It gives newly drafted players a chance to test their skills against each other, and to give them a feel for professional basketball. All 30 NBA ...

. On November 22, 2013, he signed a two-month deal with Beşiktaş of Turkey. On January 15, 2014, he played his final game for Beşiktaş, recording 4 points, 7 assists and 2 steals in 15 minutes of play.

Reno Bighorns (2014)

On January 29, 2014, he was acquired by the Austin Toros. On January 31, 2014, he was traded to the Springfield Armor. On February 4, 2014, he was traded to the Reno Bighorns.

Guaiqueríes de Margarita (2014)

On April 22, 2014, Gaines signed with

Guaiqueríes de Margarita Guaiqueríes de Margarita is a professional basketball team based in La Asunción, Venezuela. The team currently plays in Venezuela's Liga Profesional de Baloncesto. The team has won the Venezuelan championships nine times. Current rosters LPB ...

of Venezuela for the rest of the 2014 LPB season.

Sidigas Avellino (2014–2015)

On August 28, 2014, Gaines signed with Sidigas Avellino of Italy for the 2014–15 season. In 29 games for Sidigas, he averaged 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Return to the Bighorns (2015)

In July 2015, Gaines joined the

Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division and play their home games at L ...

for the

2015 NBA Summer League The 2015 NBA Summer League consisted of three pro basketball leagues organized by the NBA: the Orlando Pro Summer League, Utah Jazz Summer League, and Las Vegas Summer League. Ten teams participated in the week-long Orlando Pro Summer League at ...

. On November 2, 2015, he was acquired by the Reno Bighorns, returning to the franchise for a second stint. On December 8, he was waived by the Bighorns after appearing in just four games.

Ironi Nes Ziona (2016)

On January 2, 2016, Gaines was acquired by Openjobmetis Varese of the Italian League. However, before playing a game for them, he left the Italian club on January 13 to sign with

Ironi Nes Ziona Ironi Ness Ziona B.C. (or spelled as Ironi Nes Ziona B.C.) is a professional basketball club based in Ness Ziona, Israel. The team plays its home games at the Lev Hamoshava, which has capacity for 1,200 people. The club plays in the Israeli Bas ...

of the

Israeli Premier League The Israeli Premier League ( he, ליגת העל, ''Ligat Ha`Al'', ), is a professional association football league which operates as the highest division of the Israeli Football League – the state's league of Israel. The league is contested b ...

for the rest of the season.

Salt Lake City Stars (2016–2017)

On November 12, 2016, Gaines signed with the

Salt Lake City Stars The Salt Lake City Stars are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are affiliated with the Utah Jazz. As of the 2022-23 season, the Stars play in the Maverik Center in West Valley City, U ...

of the NBA Development League. In 2017, Gaines competed for The Washington Generals in

The Basketball Tournament The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an open-application, single-elimination tournament played each summer in the United States. The 2022 edition features 64 teams with a $1 million winner-take-all prize, broadcast by ESPN. TBT was founded in 20 ...

. Gaines was the leading scorer for the team with 22 points in the one game they played before being eliminated by The Matadors. On February 19, 2018, Gaines was reported to have signed with Defensor Sporting of the Liga Uruguaya de Basketball. However, he never played a game for the team.

Peñarol (2021)

Gaines joined

Peñarol Club Atlético Peñarol (; English: ''Peñarol Athletic Club'') —also known as ''Carboneros'', ''Aurinegros,'' and (familiarly) ''Manyas''— is a Uruguayan sports club from Montevideo. The name "Peñarol" comes from the Peñarol neigh ...

for the 2020–21 season.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

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Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

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Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

, 8 , , 0 , , 8.1 , , .318 , , .333 , , .500 , , .8 , , .8 , , .4 , , .0 , , 2.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

, 6 , , 0 , , 15.0 , , .429 , , .200 , , .333 , , 1.3 , , 1.8 , , .7 , , .2 , , 5.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

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, 57 , , 12 , , 13.9 , , .376 , , .341 , , .615 , , 1.9 , , 2.2 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , 5.1 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 113 , , 12 , , 11.6 , , .397 , , .301 , , .562 , , 1.5 , , 1.8 , , .7 , , .0 , , 4.5

Playoffs

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, 5 , , 0 , , 1.4 , , .833 , , 1.000 , , .000 , , .4 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , , 2.2

References

External links