Melvin Ajinça
Melvin Pierre Ajinça is a French professional basketball player for LDLC ASVEL of the LNB Élite and the EuroLeague.
Professional career
Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball (2019–2022)
Born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, Ajinça started his playing career with Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball of the Nationale Masculine 1 in 2019.Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (2022–2024)
Ajinça signed with Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball of the LNB Pro B on 30 June 2022. During the 2022–23 season, he averaged 8.4 points per game and was voted the best young player in the league, as Saint-Quentin earned a promotion to the LNB Pro A.During the 2023–24 season, he averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists across 24.5 minutes per game.
LDLC ASVEL (2024–present)
On 23 July 2024, Ajinça signed with LDLC ASVEL of the LNB Élite.NBA rights
On 2 May 2024, the NBA confirmed that Ajinça was one of the international players who had declared for the 2024 NBA draft.On 27 June, Ajinça was selected with the 51st overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 2024 NBA draft, but was later traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for draft rights to the 58th pick, Ariel Hukporti. He was one of five French players selected during the entire draft, following Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Tidjane Salaün and Pacôme Dadiet.