Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed information about Zaid Abdul-Aziz, a former professional basketball player:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Donald Smith (changed his name to Zaid Abdul-Aziz after converting to Islam in 1976)
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on April 7, 1946
  • Hometown: Brooklyn, New York, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm)
  • Weight: 235 pounds (107 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 10 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: Wore jersey numbers 11, 16, 32, 35, 43, and 45
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: John Jay High School in Brooklyn, New York
  • College: Iowa State University (1965–1968)
  • NBA Draft: Selected in the 1st round (5th overall pick) in the 1968 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals
  • Teams Played For:
    • Cincinnati Royals (1968–1970)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1971)
    • Houston Rockets (1971–1972)
    • Seattle SuperSonics (1972–1975)
    • Buffalo Braves (1974–1975)
    • Boston Celtics (1976)
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA
  • Kids: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Zaid Abdul-Aziz’s player archetype was that of a powerful interior big, a bruising center-forward type who made his impact through rebounding, physical defense, and straightforward low-post scoring rather than finesse or perimeter creation. Defensively, he operated as a paint protector and strong interior presence who used his size, strength, and toughness to battle centers near the rim, control the glass, and absorb contact in a more rugged era, while offensively he fit as a close-range scorer and second-chance threat who could finish inside, score on simple post touches, and generate value through effort around the basket. His physical traits pointed to a sturdy, muscular frontcourt body built for contact play, and his overall style was that of a hard-nosed, productive big man whose rebounding and interior competitiveness anchored much of his value at both ends of the floor. (Basketball Reference)

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Zaid Abdul-Aziz Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Iowa State Cyclones — Zaid Abdul-Aziz (1998) – Hall of Fame
Iowa State Cyclones — Zaid Abdul-Aziz – Hall of Fame Class of 1998