Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed information about Alexis Ajinça:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Alexis Ajinça
  • Nationality: French
  • Age: Born May 6, 1988
  • Hometown: Saint-Étienne, France
  • Height: 7 feet 2 inches (218 cm)
  • Weight: 248 pounds (112 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 9 inches (236 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 18 (US)
  • Jersey Number: 42
  • Position: Center
  • High School: INSEP (French National Institute of Sport), Paris, France
  • College: Did not attend college (played professionally in Europe before entering the NBA)
  • NBA Draft: 2008, 1st round, 20th overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats
  • Teams Played For:
    • Charlotte Bobcats (2008–2010)
    • Dallas Mavericks (2010–2011)
    • Toronto Raptors (2011)
    • New Orleans Pelicans (2013–2018)
    • International teams in Europe before and after his NBA career
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Alexis Ajinça has two children.
  • Siblings: Information on his siblings is not widely available.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Alexis Ajinça’s player archetype was that of a reserve rim-running center, a long interior big whose value came from size, reach, finishing around the basket, and secondary shot deterrence rather than offensive creation. Defensively, he fit best as a drop-coverage paint protector who used his 7-foot-2 frame and length to contest at the rim, rebound his area, and alter shots, even if he was less comfortable defending in space. Offensively, he operated as a low-usage screener and interior finisher, working as a pick-and-roll target, cleanup scorer, and occasional mid-range touch big instead of a back-to-the-basket focal point. Physically, Ajinça brought rare height with a slender but functional 248-pound build, and his overall play style was built on vertical spacing, soft touch, length-based defense, and complementary minutes as a situational NBA center. (nba.com)

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Alexis Ajinça Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
NBA.com — Alexis Ajinca | Center | New Orleans Pelicans
Bourbon Street Shots — Scouting Report: Alexis Ajinca
ShamSports — Alexis Ajinca Player Profile