Zaid Abdul-Aziz interview

[Jar_Lar]

Hi all.

Here's another where are they now-esque interview with Cyclone legend Zaid Abdul-Aziz.

Find out what instrument he played when he was young, as well as a myriad of other topics.

Talking basketball, doo-wop and life with Zaid Abdul-Aziz

Larson catches up with Abdul-Aziz, a member of Iowa State's Hall of Fame (1998)

jarlaros.substack.com

 

[t-noah]

Hi all.

Here's another where are they now-esque interview with Cyclone legend Zaid Abdul-Aziz.

Find out what instrument he played when he was young, as well as a myriad of other topics.

Talking basketball, doo-wop and life with Zaid Abdul-Aziz

Larson catches up with Abdul-Aziz, a member of Iowa State's Hall of Fame (1998)

jarlaros.substack.com

Thanks for the article Jared! Zaid, known at the time he played at ISU as Don Smith, probably my favorite player that I very early on remember and who was really, really, really good. Ten years in the NBA, good! Loved Don Smith! If you followed ISU, he was the man!

 

[Cyclonepride]

Just before my time, but I wish it wasn't. His stat lines were amazing, and I wish I could have watched those games to gain some context on them and see what type of player he was.

 

[IsUaClone2]

Hi all.

Here's another where are they now-esque interview with Cyclone legend Zaid Abdul-Aziz.

Find out what instrument he played when he was young, as well as a myriad of other topics.

Talking basketball, doo-wop and life with Zaid Abdul-Aziz

Larson catches up with Abdul-Aziz, a member of Iowa State's Hall of Fame (1998)

jarlaros.substack.com

I was a Junior when Don Smith came to ISU and I do have some more scoop:

Don Smith was a three year letter winner only because freshmen were not allowed to play Varsity at that time.

There was another freshman basketball player (from New York but I can't remember his name) who told me that Don was "soft" and that he would start over Don when they got to Varsity. That player didn't even make it back to ISU for his sophomore year.

I think Don was a very shy person. I gave him a ride home once and he didn't complain at all even though he had to fold himself up like an accordian and duck his head down to between his knees to be able to sit in the front seat of a Corvair (a loaner given me while my Sunbeam Alpine was in the shop).

Besides helping initiate the "No dunking" rule, I also think that the term "Power Forward" was coined in the NBA because of him. I seem to remember one article that was discussing how valuable he was because of his rebounding and defense even though he was an "ambidextrous" shooter because he couldn't shoot with either hand. I think that was a little unfair; his record speaks for itself.

 

[StClone]

Just before my time, but I wish it wasn't. His stat lines were amazing, and I wish I could have watched those games to gain some context on them and see what type of player he was.

The archives may have a few old Iowa State games with Zaid Abdul-Aziz/Smith. His pro games are likely all available for a fee. The link had a short highlights reel when he was with the Bucks. He played a decade before I became Clone Fan.

 

[CloneSt8]

Statistically on a per game average basis, Zaid holds the ISU career records for points per game at over 20 and rebounds per game at over 13!. He is not higher in the record books because of fewer games played over his career. Great player.

I remember him going up for rebounds with one hand and the ball would make a loud pop when it hit his other hand. Not one got that ball away from him!

 

[exCyDing]

I got to meet Ziad a couple of times at gamewatches in Seattle. I've got to be honest, I had no idea who he was prior to meeting him. He's a very kind, gentle and unassuming man. The next time he came to watch a game, he brought a stack of his autobiography to give away as raffle prizes.

 

[cyclones500]

Fascinating read. I hadn't heard a lot of those details & stories. The Iba/dunking story, and that he could've been on Olympics team but opted out, among others. Personal stories equally insightful.