Abdul Wahab "Alade" Aminu (born September 14, 1987) is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, before playing professionally in France, Turkey, Italy, Israel, and Lebanon. In 2015âÂÂ16, he was the top rebounder in the Israel Basketball Premier League.
Aminu attended Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He played college basketball for the Georgia Institute of Technology's Yellow Jackets.
In his freshman year at Georgia Tech, Aminu came off the bench in 24 games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 48.9% from the floor.
In his sophomore year, Aminu's role increased slightly, in which he played 18 games, averaging 5.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, shooting 58.3% from the floor (his best shooting percentage during his college career).
In his senior year, he averaged 11.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 52.2% from the floor.
After going undrafted in the 2009 NBA draft, Aminu joined the Washington Wizards for the 2009 NBA Summer League. On November 5, 2009, Aminu was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NBA D-League by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. However, he was subsequently acquired by the Erie BayHawks in a trade. On February 13, 2010, Aminu participated in the 2010 D-League All-Star Game.
On March 2, 2010, The BayHawks sent Aminu in a trade to the Bakersfield Jam. In 9 games played for the Jam, he averaged 19.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
On March 26, 2010, Aminu signed a 10-day contract with the Miami Heat. However, Aminu was later waived by the Heat on April 7.
In July 2010, Aminu joined the Charlotte Bobcats and the Atlanta Hawks for the 2010 NBA Summer League.
On July 9, 2010, Aminu signed with the French team ÃÂlan Chalon for the 2010âÂÂ11 season. On May 21, 2011, Aminu recorded a career-high 27 points, shooting 13-of-14 from the field, along with six rebounds in an 85âÂÂ107 blowout loss to ASVEL Basket. Aminu won the 2011 French Cup with Chalon.
On June 13, 2011, Aminu signed a one-year contract extension with Chalon. In his second season with the team, Aminu won the a treble â the 2012 French Leaders Cup, the 2012 French Cup and the 2012 French League Championship titles with Chalon. In 54 games played during the 2011âÂÂ12 season, he averaged 11.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1 steals per game.
On August 24, 2012, Aminu signed with the Turkish team Pñnar Karà Âñyaka for the 2012âÂÂ13 season. Aminu helped Karà Âñyaka reach the 2013 FIBA EuroChallenge Finals, where they eventually lost to Krasnye Krylia.
In July 2013, Aminu joined the Toronto Raptors for the 2013 NBA Summer League.
On September 23, 2013, Aminu signed a one-year deal with the Italian team Enel Brindisi. However, on December 30, 2013, Aminu parted ways with Brindisi. On January 6, 2014, Aminu returned to Turkey for a second stint, joining Banvit for the rest of the season. Aminu helped Banvit reach the 2014 Turkish League Semifinals, where they were eventually eliminated by Galatasaray.
On August 15, 2014, Aminu signed with TED Ankara for the 2014âÂÂ15 season. On February 28, 2015, Aminu recorded a season-high 26 points without missing a single shot (12-of-12 from the field), along with eleven rebounds in an 85âÂÂ97 loss to Eskià Âehir.
On September 11, 2015, Aminu signed a one-year deal with the Israeli team Hapoel Eilat. On October 26, 2015, Aminu recorded a season-high 25 points, shooting 8-of-13 from the field, along with twelve rebounds, five assists and two steals in an 84âÂÂ86 loss to Ironi Nahariya. On March 25, 2016, Aminu participated in the 2016 Israeli All-Star Game and the Slam Dunk Contest during the same event.
In 37 games played for Eilat, Aminu finished the season as the 2016 Israeli League Rebounding Leader with 10 rebounds per game, and third-leading player in efficiency rating (22.6 per game). He also averaged 14.7 points, 1.5 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. Aminu helped Eilat reach the 2016 Israeli League Semifinals, where they eventually lost to Hapoel Jerusalem.
On August 8, 2016, Aminu signed with the Lebanese team Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut. In 37 games played during the 2016âÂÂ17 season, he averaged 15 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists. 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Aminu won the 2017 Lebanese League Championship with Al Riyadi.
On July 28, 2017, Aminu returned to France for a second stint, signing a one-year deal with Nanterre 92. Aminu helped Nanterre reach the 2018 FIBA Champions League Round of 16, where they were eventually eliminated by his former team Banvit.
On July 26, 2018, Aminu signed with the Israeli team Hapoel Tel Aviv for the 2018âÂÂ19 season. On November 19, 2018, Aminu recorded a season-highs 21 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 9-of-13 from the field, in an 85âÂÂ62 win over Maccabi Rishon LeZion. Aminu helped Hapoel reach the 2019 Israeli League Playoffs, where they eventually were eliminated by Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Quarterfinals.
On September 10, 2019, he signed with Polski Cukier Toruà  of the PLK.
On December 16, 2020, Aminu signed a two-month contract with Bilbao Basket of the Liga ACB.
On February 8, 2021, Aminu signed with Shahrdari Gorgan of the Iranian Basketball Super League (IBSL). In April, he won the 2020âÂÂ21 IBSL championship.
On May 27, 2021, Aminu signed with Atléticos de San Germán of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional. On May 2, 2022, he parted ways with the team. The next day, he signed with Gigantes de Carolina.
Aminu is a member of the senior men's Nigerian national basketball team. He participated in the 2012 and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
In August 2015, Aminu helped the Nigerian team to win the 2015 AfroBasket and earning a gold medal.
Aminu's father is from Nigeria, and his mother is from New York City. He was born in Atlanta, and grew up in nearby Stone Mountain, Georgia. His brother, Al-Farouq, was a professional basketball player who most notably played for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA.