The Golden State Warriors signed 6-foot-8 F/C Usman Garuba to a two-way contract before the start of last season. With a roster spot vacant for most of last year, Golden State eventually converted Garuba to a standard contract before the end of the season.
While he spent most of last season in the G League with the Santa Cruz Warriors, Garuba appeared in six NBA games for Golden State. In his six NBA appearances, Garuba recorded three points, seven rebounds and three blocks in 18 total minutes played.
Garuba’s last NBA appearance was Golden State’s 2023–24 season finale against the Utah Jazz.
The Warriors have converted forward/center Usman Garuba’s two-way contract to a standard NBA contract. pic.twitter.com/A86Qelfdtc
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) 14 April 2024
After finishing last season with Golden State, Garuba was an NBA free agent. He hadn’t signed a contract until this offseason. At just 22 years old, Garuba has decided to take his talent to Spain.
In a post on X, Garuba announced that he is leaving the NBA to sign with Real Madrid:
Lots of content from home! I watched the best version of the new year and it’s anything but this t-shirt that I’ve made for 11 years. We’re going to win all the titles and leave this club in the high. 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/DqqeGQ0PX8
— Usman Garuba Alari (@Usmangaruba) 20 August 2024
“I’m very happy to be back home,” Garuba wrote (translated into English via X). “I’m looking forward to doing my best again and giving everything for this shirt that has given me so much since I was 11 years old. We will fight to win all the titles and leave this club at the top.”
In 22 G League games for Santa Cruz last season, Garuba averaged 13.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in 25.7 minutes per game.
18 POINTS 🔥 19 REB 🔥 8/16 FG
Usman Garuba made HISTORY tonight by winning the @GLeagueWarriors Postseason rebound record in their wild first round #NBAGLeaguePlayoffs Defeat the stars. pic.twitter.com/o4eti6OFGb
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) 3 April 2024
Garuba made his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets in 2021. During his two-year career with Houston, Garuba was traded twice before being released and becoming a free agent in 2023. At that point, he signed a two-way contract with Golden State before being converted to a standard contract.
Garuba is the Warriors’ second free agent to sign outside of the NBA this offseason. Former lottery pick Jerome Robinson signed with Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball in the French LNB Pro A this summer.
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